299.47 History
History: 1999 a. 9.
299.49
299.49
Products containing mercury. 299.49(1)(a)
(a) "Mercury-added product" means a product to which mercury is intentionally added during formulation or manufacture, or a product containing one or more components to which mercury is intentionally added during formulation or manufacture.
299.49(1)(b)
(b) "Mercury-added thermostat" means a product or device that uses a mercury switch to sense and control room temperature through communication with heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning equipment. "Mercury-added thermostat" includes thermostats used to sense and control room temperature in residential, commercial, industrial, and other buildings, but does not include a thermostat used to sense and control temperature as part of a manufacturing process or in the generating, transmission, or distributing facilities for electric energy, gas, or water.
299.49(1)(c)
(c) "Mercury relay" means a mercury-added product or device that opens or closes electrical contacts to effect the operation of other devices in the same or another electrical circuit. "Mercury relay" includes mercury displacement relays, mercury wetted reed relays, and mercury contact relays.
299.49(1)(d)
(d) "Mercury switch" means a mercury-added product or device that opens or closes an electrical circuit or gas valve. "Mercury switch" includes mercury float switches actuated by rising or falling liquid levels, mercury tilt switches actuated by a change in the switch position, mercury pressure switches actuated by a change in pressure, mercury temperature switches actuated by a change in temperature, and mercury flame sensors. "Mercury switch" does not include a mercury-added thermostat.
299.49(2)
(2) Restrictions on sale and use of mercury. 299.49(2)(a)(a)
Fever thermometers. No person may sell or supply a mercury fever thermometer to a consumer or patient, unless the thermometer has been prescribed for the consumer or patient by a practitioner, as defined in
s. 450.01 (17). A mercury fever thermometer manufacturer shall supply with each thermometer clear instructions on the careful handling of the thermometer to avoid breakage, on proper cleanup if the thermometer breaks, and on proper disposal. For purposes of this subsection, "mercury fever thermometer" means a thermometer that contains mercury for the purpose of measuring body temperature, but does not include a thermometer containing mercury solely within a button cell battery.
299.49(2)(b)
(b)
Manometers. No person may sell or distribute a mercury-containing manometer of the type in milking machines on dairy farms. Manufacturers of such mercury-containing manometers shall notify wholesalers and retailers that the sale or distribution of such manometers is prohibited and shall instruct them on the proper disposal of remaining inventory.
299.49(2)(c)
(c)
Mercury-added thermostats. No person may sell, or distribute for promotional purposes, a mercury-added thermostat.
299.49(2)(d)1.1. No person may sell or distribute any of the following items, if the item contains mercury:
299.49(2)(d)1.b.
b. An esophageal dilator, bougie tube, or gastrointestinal tube.
299.49(2)(d)1.i.
i. A thermometer other than a thermometer prohibited from sale under
par. (a).
299.49(2)(d)2.
2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to the sale of a mercury-added product listed in
subd. 1. a. to
i. if use of the product is required under federal law or if the only mercury-added component in the product is a button cell battery.
299.49(2)(e)1.1. No person may sell or distribute, individually or as a product component, a mercury switch or mercury relay. This subdivision does not apply to a switch or relay that is used to replace a switch or relay that is a component in a larger product in use prior to October 1, 2010, if one of the following applies:
299.49(2)(e)1.a.
a. The larger product is used in manufacturing or in the generating, transmission, or distributing facilities for electric energy, gas, or water.
299.49(2)(e)1.b.
b. The switch or relay is integrated with, and not physically separate from, other components of the larger product.
299.49(2)(e)2.
2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to the sale of a mercury switch or mercury relay if use of the switch or relay is a federal requirement.
299.49(2)(f)
(f)
Household items. No person may sell or distribute any of the following items if the item contains mercury, unless the only mercury-added component in the item is a button cell battery:
299.49(2)(f)4.
4. An over-the-counter pharmaceutical product for human use.
299.49(3)(a)(a) The prohibitions under this section do not apply to the sale of a mercury-added product for which the department grants an exemption under this subsection.
299.49(3)(b)
(b) A manufacturer or user of a product may apply for an exemption from this section by filing a written petition with the department. The department may grant an exemption with or without conditions if it finds that the mercury-added product is reasonable and appropriate for a specific use. The department shall find that a product is reasonable and appropriate for a specific use only if a manufacturer or user establishes all of the following:
299.49(3)(b)1.
1. A system exists for the proper collection, transportation, and processing of the product at the end of its life.
299.49(3)(b)2.a.
a. Use of the product provides a net benefit to the environment, public health, or public safety when compared to available nonmercury alternatives.
299.49(3)(b)2.b.
b. Technically feasible nonmercury alternatives are not available at comparable cost.
299.49(3)(c)
(c) Prior to approving an exemption, the department may consult with neighboring states to promote consistency in the regulation of mercury-added products. The department may request a person who is granted an exemption to maintain records and provide reasonable reports to the department that characterize mercury use in the products for which the exemption was granted. Exemptions may not exceed 5 years and may be renewed upon written application if the department finds that the mercury-added product continues to meet the criteria specified in
par. (b) and the manufacturer or other persons comply with the conditions of its original approval. The department shall promulgate rules for processing an exemption application that provide for public participation, taking into account the role of the interstate clearinghouse under
sub. (4).
299.49(4)
(4) Interstate clearinghouse. The department may participate in the establishment and implementation of a regional, multistate clearinghouse to assist in carrying out the requirements of this section.
299.49 History
History: 2009 a. 44.
299.51
299.51
Medical waste management. 299.51(1)(am)
(am) "Manifest" means a form used for identifying the quantity, composition, origin, routing and destination of medical waste during its transport and disposal.
299.51(1)(b)
(b) "Medical waste" means infectious waste, as defined in
s. 287.07 (7) (c) 1. c., and other waste that contains or may be mixed with infectious waste.
299.51(2)
(2) Medical waste reduction. Except as provided under
sub. (3) (am), every clinic, nursing home and hospital shall implement a policy for the reduction of the amount of medical waste generated as required by the department by rule.
299.51(3)
(3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules that do all of the following:
299.51(3)(a)
(a) Establish requirements for medical waste reduction by hospitals.
299.51(3)(am)
(am) Exempt types of generators of medical waste that generate less than 50 pounds of medical waste per month from the requirement under
sub. (2).
299.51(3)(b)
(b) Establish requirements for packaging, handling, shipping and transporting medical waste.
299.51(3)(c)
(c) Require a license for persons who transport medical waste and impose a fee for that license.
299.51(3)(d)
(d) Require the use of manifests to monitor the transport and disposal of medical waste.
299.51(4)(a)(a) No person may transport medical waste without a license issued by the department under
sub. (3) (c).
299.51(4)(b)
(b) No person may dispose of medical waste in a facility for solid waste disposal unless the medical waste has undergone solid waste treatment.
299.51(5)
(5) Penalty. Any person who violates
sub. (4) (b) may be required to forfeit not more than $25,000. Each act of disposal in violation of
sub. (4) (b) constitutes a separate offense.
299.51 History
History: 1991 a. 39,
300;
1995 a. 227 s.
643; Stats. 1995 s. 299.51.
299.53(1)(a)
(a) "Used oil" means any petroleum-derived or synthetic oil which, as a result of use or management, is contaminated. "Used oil" includes, but is not limited to, the following:
299.53(1)(a)3.
3. Metalworking fluid, including cutting, grinding, machining, rolling, stamping, quenching and coating oils.
299.53(1)(b)
(b) "Used oil fuel" means any fuel designated by the department by rule that contains used oil or is produced from used oil or from a combination of used oil and other material.
299.53(2)(a)(a) A person who does any of the following shall notify the department of the location and description of each facility used and the description of the used oil fuel:
299.53(2)(a)1.
1. Owns or operates a facility that produces used oil fuel or a facility that recovers energy by burning used oil fuel.
299.53(2)(b)
(b) The department may by rule exempt specific persons or facilities from the requirements of
par. (a).
299.53(3)
(3) Inspections and right of entry. Upon the request of any officer or employee of the department and with notice provided no later than upon the officer's or employee's arrival, any person subject to
sub. (2) (a) shall permit the officer or employee access to vehicles, premises and records relating to used oil fuel at any reasonable time. An officer or employee of the department may take samples of any used oil fuel. The officer or employee shall commence and complete inspections with reasonable promptness. The officer or employee shall give the person a receipt for each sample taken and, upon request, half of the sample. The department shall promptly furnish the person with a copy of the results of the analysis of each sample and a copy of the inspection report.
299.53(4)(a)(a)
Compliance orders. If the department determines that any person is in violation of
sub. (2) (a) or
(3) or any rule promulgated under this section, the department may do one or more of the following:
299.53(4)(a)2.
2. Issue a special order requiring compliance within a specified time period.
299.53(4)(b)
(b)
Department of justice action; disposition. The department of justice may initiate the legal action requested by the department under
par. (a) 3. after receipt of the written request. In any action commenced by it under this paragraph, the department of justice shall, prior to stipulation, consent order, judgment or other final disposition of the case, consult with the department for the purpose of determining the department's views on final disposition. The department of justice may not enter into a final disposition different than that previously discussed without first informing the department.
299.53(4)(c)1.1. Any person who violates
sub. (2) (a) or
(3) or any rule promulgated or special order issued under this section shall forfeit not more than $25,000 for each violation.
299.53(4)(c)2.
2. Any person who intentionally makes any false statement or representation in complying with
sub. (2) (a) shall be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year in the county jail or both. For a 2nd or subsequent violation, the person is guilty of a Class I felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in
s. 939.50 (3) (i), the person may be fined not more than $50,000.
299.53(4)(d)
(d)
Venue. Any action on a violation shall be commenced in the circuit court for the county in which the violation occurred. If all parties stipulate and the circuit court for Dane County agrees, the proceedings may be transferred to the circuit court for Dane County.
