289.41(11)(a)4.
4. The department may request the department of justice to initiate court action against the owner or operator to recover moneys sufficient to pay the cost of complying with the closure and long-term care requirements of the plan of operation or approved plan under
s. 291.29. Any moneys recovered in this type of action or as a settlement in anticipation of this type of action shall be credited to the waste management fund.
289.41(11)(am)
(am)
Failure to comply with corrective action requirements. If the owner or operator of the facility fails to comply with any corrective action requirements under
s. 291.37:
289.41(11)(am)1.
1. The department may require the forfeiture or convert any standard method of establishing proof of financial responsibility if the owner or operator established proof of financial responsibility under
sub. (3). All moneys received from the forfeiture or conversion of any standard method of establishing proof of financial responsibility shall be credited to the waste management fund.
289.41(11)(am)3.
3. The department may issue an assessment order under
sub. (9) (c) if the owner or operator established proof of financial responsibility by complying with minimum financial standards under
sub. (7) and minimum security requirements under
sub. (9). All moneys received from the assessment order shall be credited to the waste management fund.
289.41(11)(am)4.
4. The department may request the department of justice to initiate court action against the owner or operator to recover moneys sufficient to pay the cost of complying with a corrective action required under
s. 291.37. Any moneys recovered in this type of action or as a settlement in anticipation of this type of action shall be credited to the waste management fund.
289.41(11)(b)
(b)
Compliance with closure and long-term care requirements. 289.41(11)(b)1.1. If the owner or operator of a waste facility fails to comply with the closure and any long-term care requirements in any plan of operation or approved plan under
s. 291.29, the department may take action or contract with a person to take action to comply with these requirements from moneys obtained for that purpose under
par. (a).
289.41(11)(b)2.
2. If the owner or operator of an approved facility for which the plan of operation was approved under
s. 289.30 (6) before August 9, 1989, fails to comply with long-term care requirements in the plan of operation after the requirement to provide proof of financial responsibility expires under
sub. (1m) (b) or
(f) and if the department takes reasonable administrative and legal action to require compliance or to obtain moneys under
par. (a) 4., then the department may take action or contract with a person to take action to comply with the requirements even though no moneys have been obtained under
par. (a).
289.41(11)(bm)
(bm)
Compliance with corrective action requirements. If the owner or operator of a waste facility fails to comply with any corrective action required under
s. 291.37, the department may take action or contract with a person to take action to comply with a corrective action required under
s. 291.37 from moneys obtained for that purpose under
par. (am).
289.41(11)(c)
(c)
Prevention of imminent hazard; closure and long-term care. If the owner or operator of an approved facility for which the plan of operation was approved under
s. 289.30 (6) before August 9, 1989, fails to comply with the closure and any long-term care requirements in any plan of operation during the period for which the owner or operator is required to provide proof of financial responsibility, if the department determines that the failure to comply with these requirements presents an imminent or substantial danger to the health or environment and if the department takes reasonable administrative and legal action to require compliance or to obtain moneys under
par. (a), then the department may take action or contract with a person to take action to comply with these requirements even though no moneys have been obtained under
par. (a).
289.41(11)(cm)
(cm)
Prevention of imminent hazard; corrective action. If the owner or operator of an approved facility for which the plan of operation was approved under
s. 289.30 (6) before August 9, 1989, fails to comply with any corrective action required under
s. 291.37, if the department determines that the failure to comply with a corrective action requirement presents an imminent or substantial danger to the health or environment and if the department takes reasonable administrative and legal action to require compliance or to obtain moneys under
par. (am), then the department may take action or contract with a person to take action to comply with a corrective action required under
s. 291.37 even though no moneys have been obtained under
par. (am).
289.41(12)
(12) No environmental impact statement requirements. A determination under this section does not constitute a major state action under
s. 1.11 (2).
289.41 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
NR 520, Wis. adm. code.
289.42
289.42
Operation of facilities. 289.42(1)(a)(a) The department shall, by rule, establish a program for the certification of persons participating in or responsible for the operation of solid waste disposal facilities. The department shall do all of the following:
289.42(1)(a)1.
1. Identify those persons or positions involved in the operation of a solid waste disposal facility who are required to obtain certification.
289.42(1)(a)2.
2. Establish the requirements for and term of initial certification and requirements for recertification upon expiration of that term. At a minimum, the department shall require applicants to complete a program of training and pass an examination in order to receive initial certification.
289.42(1)(a)3.
3. Establish different levels of certification and requirements for certification for different sizes or types of facilities, as the department determines is appropriate.
289.42(1)(a)4.
4. Impose fees for the operator training and certification program.
289.42(1)(a)5.
5. Require that there be one or more certified operators on the site of a solid waste disposal facility, except for a facility designed for the disposal of high-volume industrial waste, at all times during the facility's hours of operation.
289.42(1)(b)
(b) The department may not apply the requirements established under
par. (a) to a nonapproved facility until January 1, 1992.
289.42(1)(c)
(c) The training required under
par. (a) 2. may be conducted by the department or by another person with the approval of the department.
289.42(1)(d)
(d) The department may suspend or revoke a solid waste disposal facility's operating license if persons at the facility fail to obtain certification required under
par. (a) 1. or for failure to have a certified operator on the site as required under
par. (a) 5.
289.42(1)(e)
(e) The department may suspend or revoke an operator's certification for failure to comply with this chapter, rules promulgated under this chapter or conditions of operation made applicable to a solid waste disposal facility by the department.
289.42(2)(a)(a) No person engaged in the construction, operation or maintenance of a solid waste disposal facility or hazardous waste disposal facility may dismiss, discipline, demote, transfer, reprimand, harass, reduce the pay of, discriminate against or otherwise retaliate against any employee, or threaten to take any of those actions, because the employee reported to any supervisor, appointing authority, law enforcement official, member of the governing body of the local governmental unit in which the solid waste disposal facility or hazardous waste disposal facility is located or the department any information gained by the employee which the employee reasonably believes demonstrates a violation of this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter.
289.42(2)(b)
(b) Paragraph (a) does not restrict the right of an employer to take appropriate disciplinary action against an employee who knowingly makes an untrue statement or discloses information the disclosure of which is expressly prohibited by state or federal law.
289.42(2)(c)1.1. Any employee who believes that his or her rights under
par. (a) have been violated may, within 30 days after the violation occurs or the employee obtains knowledge of the violation, whichever is later, file a written complaint with the department specifying the nature of the retaliatory action or threat of retaliatory action and requesting relief. The department shall investigate the complaint and shall determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a violation of
par. (a) has occurred. If the department finds that probable cause exists, it shall attempt to resolve the complaint by conference, conciliation or persuasion. If the complaint is not resolved, the department shall proceed with notice and a contested case hearing on the complaint as provided in
ch. 227. The hearing shall be held within 60 days after receipt of the complaint by the department, unless the parties to the proceeding agree otherwise.
289.42(2)(c)2.
2. The department shall issue its decision and order on the complaint within 30 days after the hearing. If the department finds that a violation of
par. (a) has occurred, it may order the employer to take action to remedy the effects of the violation, including reinstating the employee, providing back pay to the employee or taking disciplinary action against employees responsible for the violation.
289.42(2)(d)
(d) This subsection does not limit other protections or remedies available to an employee, including those granted by ordinance, statute, rule, contract or collective bargaining agreement.
289.42 History
History: 1995 a. 227 ss.
531,
532,
991.
289.42 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
NR 524, Wis. adm. code.
289.43
289.43
Waivers; exemptions. 289.43(1)(1)
Definition. In this section, "recycling" means the process by which solid waste is returned to productive use as material or energy, but does not include the collection of solid waste.
289.43(3)
(3) Waiver; research projects. The intent of this subsection is to encourage research projects designed to demonstrate the feasibility of recycling certain solid wastes while providing adequate and reasonable safeguards for the environment. The department may waive compliance with the requirements of this chapter for a project developed for research purposes to evaluate the potential for the recycling of high-volume industrial waste if the following conditions are met:
289.43(3)(a)
(a) The project is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of recycling solid waste or the feasibility of improved solid waste disposal methods.
289.43(3)(b)
(b) The department determines that the project is unlikely to violate any law relating to surface water or groundwater quality including this chapter or
ch. 160 or
283.
289.43(3)(c)
(c) The department reviews and approves the project prior to its initiation.
289.43(3)(d)
(d) The owner or operator of the project agrees to provide all data, reports and research publications relating to the project to the department.
289.43(3)(e)
(e) The owner or operator of the project agrees to take necessary action to maintain compliance with surface water and groundwater laws, including this chapter and
chs. 160 and
283 and to take necessary action to regain compliance with these laws if a violation occurs because of the functioning or malfunctioning of the project.
289.43(4)
(4) Exemption from licensing or regulation; development of improved methods. For the purpose of encouraging the development of improved methods of solid waste disposal, the department may specify by rule types of solid waste facilities that are not required to be licensed under
ss. 289.21 to
289.32 or types of solid waste that need not be disposed of at a licensed solid waste disposal facility.
289.43(5)
(5) Exemption from regulation; single-family waste disposal. The department may not regulate under
chs. 281,
285 or
289 to
299 any solid waste from a single family or household disposed of on the property where it is generated.
289.43(6)
(6) Exemption from licensing; agricultural landspreading of sludge. The department may not require a license under
ss. 289.21 to
289.32 for agricultural land on which nonhazardous sludges from a treatment work, as defined under
s. 283.01 (18), are land spread for purpose of a soil conditioner or nutrient.
289.43(6m)
(6m) Exemption from licensing, agricultural use of wood ash. No license is required under
ss. 289.21 to
289.32 for the agricultural use of wood ash.
289.43(7)
(7) Exemption from licensing; recycling of high-volume industrial waste. 289.43(7)(a)(a) Any person who generates, treats, stores or disposes of high-volume industrial waste may request the department to exempt an individual solid waste facility or specified types of solid waste facilities from this chapter for the purpose of allowing the recycling of any high-volume industrial waste.
289.43(7)(b)
(b) A person who requests an exemption under
par. (a) shall provide any information requested by the department relating to the characteristics of the high-volume industrial waste, the characteristics of the site of the recycling and the proposed methods of recycling.
289.43(7)(c)
(c) The department shall approve the requester's exemption proposal if the department finds that the proposal, as approved, will comply with this chapter and
chs. 30,
31,
160 and
280 to
299 and
ss. 1.11,
23.40,
59.692,
59.693,
60.627,
61.351,
61.354,
62.231,
62.234 and
87.30. If the proposal does not comply with one or more of the requirements specified in this paragraph, the department shall provide a written statement describing how the proposal fails to comply with those requirements. The department shall respond to an application for an exemption under this subsection within 90 days.
289.43(7)(d)
(d) The department may require periodic testing and may impose other conditions on any exemption granted under this subsection. The department may require a person granted an exemption under this subsection to identify the location of any site where high-volume industrial waste is recycled.
289.43(7)(e)1.1. Each applicant for an exemption under this subsection shall submit a nonrefundable fee of $500 with the application to cover the department's cost for the initial screening of the application. The department may waive this fee if the cost of the initial screening to the department will be minimal.
289.43(7)(e)2.
2. The department shall, by rule, establish fees for approved applications which, together with the $500 application fees, shall, as closely as possible, equal the actual cost of reviewing applications.
289.43(8)
(8) Exemption from regulation; low-hazard waste. 289.43(8)(a)(a) The department shall conduct a continuing review of the potential hazard to public health or the environment of various types of solid wastes and solid waste facilities. The department shall consider information submitted by any person concerning the potential hazard to public health or the environment of any type of solid waste.
289.43(8)(b)
(b) If the department, after a review under
par. (a), finds that regulation under this chapter is not warranted in light of the potential hazard to public health or the environment, the department shall either:
289.43(8)(b)1.
1. Promulgate a rule specifying types of solid waste that need not be disposed of at a licensed solid waste disposal facility.
289.43(8)(b)2.
2. On a case-by-case basis, exempt from regulation under this chapter specified types of solid waste facilities.
289.43(8)(b)3.
3. Authorize an individual generator to dispose of a specified type of solid waste at a site other than a licensed solid waste disposal facility.
289.43(8)(b)4.
4. Authorize use of the solid waste in public works projects.
289.43(8)(c)
(c) The department may require periodic testing of solid wastes and impose other conditions on exemptions granted under
par. (b).
289.43(9)
(9) Exemption from regulation; animal carcasses. The department may not regulate under
chs. 281,
285 or
289 to
299 any animal carcass buried or disposed of, in accordance with
ss. 95.35 and
95.50, on the property owned or operated by the owner of the carcass, if the owner is a farmer, as defined under
s. 102.04 (3).
289.43 History
History: 1995 a. 227 ss.
574,
577 to
580;
1997 a. 27,
35;
2003 a. 88.
289.43 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
NR 538, Wis. adm. code.
289.43 Annotation
Exemption from regulation under s. 144.44 (7) (g) (now s. 289.43 (8)) preempts municipal regulation. DeRosso Landfill Co. v. City of Oak Creek,
200 Wis. 2d 642,
547 N.W.2d 770 (1996),
94-0440.
289.44
289.44
Exemption for certain alcohol fuel production systems. 289.44(1)(1)
Definitions. As used in this section:
289.44(1)(a)
(a) "Distillate waste product" means solid, semisolid or liquid by-products or wastes from the distillation or functionally equivalent process of an alcohol fuel production system.
289.44(1)(b)
(b) "Environmentally sound storage facility" means a facility, including a holding lagoon, which is used to store distillate waste products so that no waste products from the facility enter or leach into the waters of the state.
289.44(1)(c)
(c) "Private alcohol fuel production system" means an alcohol fuel production system from which no alcohol is sold and from which all the alcohol is used as a fuel by the owner.
289.44(2)
(2) Exemption. No permit, license or plan approval is required under this chapter for the owner of a private alcohol fuel production system to establish, construct or operate a system for the treatment, storage or disposal of distillate waste products if the distillate waste product is stored in an environmentally sound storage facility and disposed of using an environmentally safe land spreading technique and the storage, treatment or disposal is confined to the property of the owner.
289.44 History
History: 1979 c. 221;
1995 a. 227 s.
537.
289.445
289.445
Exemption for certain fruit and vegetable washing facilities. 289.445(1)(1)
Definitions. As used in this section:
289.445(2)
(2) Exemption. No permit, license or, except as provided in
par. (d), plan approval is required under this chapter for the owner of a washing station to establish, construct or operate a solid waste facility for the treatment, storage or disposal of wash water or to compost or land spread plant parts separated from wash water if all of the following requirements are met:
289.445(2)(a)
(a) The washing station is not adjacent to or operated as part of a food processing plant, as defined in
s. 97.29 (1) (h).
289.445(2)(b)
(b) All wash water is either stored in a sealed wash water storage facility or is dispersed on land owned or leased by the owner of the washing station in a manner which avoids ponding, runoff or nuisance conditions and in accordance with acceptable agricultural practices or acceptable practices for the land spreading of waste.
289.445(2)(c)
(c) All plant parts that are separated from wash water are either composted or stored in a plant parts storage facility and disposed of using an environmentally safe land spreading technique. The treatment, storage, disposal or composting under this paragraph must be confined to property owned or leased by the owner of the washing station.
289.445(2)(d)
(d) For a washing station that anticipates operating at least 100 days per year or that operated at least 100 days during the immediately preceding year, do all of the following:
289.445(2)(d)1.
1. Register annually with the department as a washing station.
289.445(2)(d)2.
2. Submit annually an operating plan that implements best management practices and that is approved by the department.
289.445(2)(d)3.
3. Operate only in accordance with the approved operating plan.
