30.207(3)(d)2.
2. Specify the department's plans for proceeding on the application.
30.207(4)
(4) Environmental analysis; hearing; consultation. After receiving an application that the department does not deny under
sub. (3) (d) 1. and before determining whether to issue the general permit, the department shall do all of the following:
30.207(4)(c)
(c) Consult with any of the following as the department considers appropriate:
30.207(4)(c)1.
1. Any local entity, as defined in
s. 30.77 (3) (dm), that has an interest in the quality or use of or that has jurisdiction over the navigable waters located in the proposed permit area.
30.207(4)(c)2.
2. Any contractor who is or has been involved in the construction of structures or improvements in or along navigable waters located in the proposed permit area.
30.207(4)(c)3.
3. Any riparian owners whose property rights may be affected by the issuance of the general permit.
30.207(4)(c)4.
4. Any other interested party, as determined by the department or the applicant.
30.207(6)(a)(a) The department shall issue a general permit under this section if the department determines that the cumulative adverse environmental impact of the activity in the proposed permit area is insignificant and that the issuance of the general permit will not injure public rights or interest, cause environmental pollution, as defined in
s. 299.01 (4), or result in material injury to the rights of any riparian owners.
30.207(6)(b)
(b) The standards for the activity contained in a general permit issued under this section shall supersede any conflicting standards required under this chapter for the activity.
30.207(7)
(7) Activities under general permits. 30.207(7)(a)(a) At least 15 days before beginning the activity that is authorized by a general permit under this section the person who wishes to conduct the activity shall submit a notice to the department and shall pay the fee specified in
s. 30.28 (1) (d). The notice shall describe the activity, state the name of the person that will be conducting the activity and state the site where the activity will be conducted. The notice shall also contain a statement signed by the person conducting the activity that the person will act in conformance with the standards contained in the general permit.
30.207(7)(b)
(b) Upon receipt of a notice that complies with
par. (a), the department may inform the person that the activity may not be conducted under the general permit if conditions at the site where the activity would be conducted would cause adverse environmental impact, injure public rights and interests or cause environmental pollution, as defined in
s. 299.01 (4). The department shall respond to the person within 15 days after receiving the notice. Failure of the department to respond within 15 days shall constitute the department's approval of the activity under the general permit.
30.207(7)(c)
(c) A person conducting an activity that is authorized by a general permit under this section shall comply with any applicable local ordinances.
30.207(8)
(8) Option to request individual permits. A person proposing an activity for which a general permit has been issued under this section may apply for an individual permit under this chapter in lieu of seeking authorization under the general permit. A person proposing an activity for which a general permit has not been issued under this section may apply for an individual permit under this chapter.
30.207(9)
(9) Access to property. For inspection purposes, an employee or agent of the department shall have free access during reasonable hours to any site where an activity is proposed to be, is or has been authorized under a general permit issued under this section if the employee or agent shows to any person who is present at the site and who owns the site or is otherwise in control of the site either of the following:
30.207(9)(a)
(a) For an employee of the department, proper identification issued by the department.
30.207(9)(b)
(b) For an agent who is not an employee of the department, written documentation that the agent is authorized by the department to have access for inspection purposes.
30.207(10)
(10) Sunset. The department may not issue any further general permits under this section on or after the date on which 5 years have lapsed after the effective date of the first general permit issued under this section.
30.208
30.208
Applications for individual permits and contracts; department determinations. 30.208(1)
(1)
Application required. A person who seeks to obtain or modify an individual permit under this subchapter or to enter into a contract under
s. 30.20 shall submit an application to the department. The application may contain a request for a public hearing on the application.
30.208(2)
(2) Procedure for completing applications. 30.208(2)(a)(a)
Review; no additional information required. In issuing individual permits or entering contracts under this subchapter, the department shall review an application, and within 30 days after the application is submitted, the department shall determine that either the application is complete or that additional information is needed. If the department determines that the application is complete, the department shall notify the applicant in writing of that fact within the 30-day period, and the date on which the notice under this paragraph is sent shall be considered the date of closure for purposes of
sub. (3) (a).
30.208(2)(b)
(b)
Additional information requested. If the department determines that the application is incomplete, the department shall notify the applicant in writing and may make only one request for additional information during the 30-day period specified in
par. (a). Within 10 days after receiving all of the requested information from the applicant, the department shall notify the applicant in writing as to whether the application is complete. The date on which the 2nd notice under this paragraph is sent shall be set as the date of closure for purposes of
sub. (3) (a). The department may request additional information from the applicant to supplement the application, but the department may not request items of information that are outside the scope of the original request unless the applicant and the department both agree. A request for any such additional information may not affect the date of closure.
30.208(2)(c)
(c)
Specificity of notice; limits on information. Any notice stating that an application has been determined to be incomplete or any other request for information that is sent under
par. (b) shall state the reason for the determination or request and the specific items of information that are still needed.
30.208(2)(d)
(d)
Failure to meet time limits. If the department fails to meet the 30-day time limit under
par. (a) or 10-day time limit under
par. (b), the application shall be considered to have a date of closure that is the last day of that 30-day or 10-day time period for purposes of
sub. (3) (a).
30.208(3)
(3) Notice of complete application; request for public hearing; decision. 30.208(3)(a)(a) Within 15 days after the date of closure, as determined under
sub. (2) (a) or
(b), the department shall provide notice of pending application to interested members of the public, as determined by the department. If the applicant has requested a public hearing as part of the submitted application, a notice of public hearing shall be part of the notice of pending application.
30.208(3)(b)
(b) If the notice of pending application does not contain a notice of public hearing, any person may request a public hearing in writing or the department may decide to hold a public hearing with or without a request being submitted if the department determines that there is a significant public interest in holding a hearing.
30.208(3)(c)
(c) A request for a public hearing under
par. (b) must be submitted to the department or the department's decision to hold a public hearing must occur within 20 days after the department provides the notice of pending application. The department shall provide notice of public hearing within 15 days after the request for public hearing is submitted or the department makes its decision to hold a public hearing.
30.208(3)(d)
(d) The department shall hold a public hearing within 30 days after the notice of hearing has been provided under
par. (a) or
(c).
30.208(3)(e)
(e) Within 20 days after the period for public comment under
sub. (4) (b) has ended or, if no public hearing is held, within 30 days of the 30-day comment period under
sub. (4) (a), the department shall render a decision issuing, denying, or modifying the permit or approving or disapproving the contract that is the subject of the application submitted under
sub. (1).
30.208(3)(eg)1.1. The department and the applicant may agree to extend the 20-day or 30-day time period specified in
par. (e) one time for a specific number of additional days. The extension may not exceed 30 days.
30.208(3)(eg)2.
2. The department may also extend the 20-day or 30-day time period specified in
par. (e) if adverse weather conditions prevent the department from conducting an accurate on-site inspection during the 20-day or 30-day time period. The department shall give notice to the applicant of this extension. The department shall complete the inspection as soon as weather conditions permit, but the extension may not exceed 30 days under any circumstances.
30.208(3)(er)
(er) If the decision rendered by the department under
par. (e) is a denial or disapproval, the department shall include in the decision the specific grounds and reasons as to how the applicable provisions of this subchapter were not met. If the denial or disapproval is based on an incomplete application, the department shall inform the applicant of the areas of the application that were incomplete.
30.208(3)(f)
(f) If the department fails to comply with the time periods under
par. (e), a decision issuing the permit, modifying the permit, or approving the contract shall be considered to be rendered. The permit that is issued or is modified, or the contract that is approved, shall authorize the activity as proposed by the applicant, but the department may impose terms and conditions on the permit or contract that are consistent with the applicant's basic proposal.
30.208(3m)
(3m) Notice to downstream communities. When the department receives an application for an individual permit under
s. 30.12 for a structure through which water transferred from the Great Lakes basin would be returned to the source watershed through a stream tributary to one of the Great Lakes, the department shall provide notice of the application to the governing body of each city, village, and town through which the stream flows or that is adjacent to the stream downstream from the point at which the water would enter the stream.
30.208(4)(a)(a) The department shall provide a period for public comment after the department has provided a notice of pending application under
sub. (3) (a), during which time any person may submit written comments with respect to the application for the permit or contract. The department shall retain all of the written comments submitted during this period and shall consider all of the comments in the formulation of the final decision on the application. The period for public comment shall end on the 30th day following the date on which the department completes providing the notice of pending application, except as provided in
par. (b).
30.208(4)(b)
(b) If a public hearing is held, the period for public comment shall end on the 10th day following the date on which the public hearing is completed.
30.208(4)(d)
(d) The department shall promulgate rules to establish procedures for the conduct of public hearings held under this subsection. Notwithstanding
s. 227.42, a public hearing held under this subsection shall be an informational hearing and may not be treated as, nor converted to, a contested case under
s. 227.01 (3).
30.208(5)(a)(a) The department shall, by rule, establish procedures for providing notices of pending applications and notices of public hearings to be provided under
sub. (3), and notices of administrative hearings to be provided under
s. 30.209 (1m). The procedures shall require all of the following:
30.208(5)(a)2.
2. That the notice be mailed to any person or group upon request.
30.208(5)(a)3.
3. That the notice be published on the department's Internet Web site.
30.208(5)(b)
(b) The department shall, by rule, prescribe the form and content of notices of pending applications and notices of public hearings to be provided under
sub. (3), and notices of administrative hearings to be provided under
s. 30.209 (1m). Each notice shall include all of the following information:
30.208(5)(b)1.
1. The name and address of each applicant or permit holder.
30.208(5)(b)2.
2. A brief description of each applicant's activity or project that requires the permit.
30.208(5)(b)3.
3. The name of the waterway in or for which the activity or project is planned.
30.208(5)(b)3m.
3m. For a notice of public hearing under
sub. (3), the time, date, and location of the hearing.
30.208(5)(b)3r.
3r. For a notice of pending application and a notice of public hearing under
sub. (3), a brief, precise, easily understandable, plain language description of the subject matter of the pending application and information indicating where the pending application may be viewed on the department's Internet Web site.
30.208(5)(b)4.
4. For a notice of pending application and a notice of public hearing under
sub. (3), a statement of the tentative determination to issue, modify, or deny a permit, or to approve or disapprove a contract, for the activity or project described in the application.
30.208(5)(b)5.
5. For a notice of pending application and a notice of public hearing under
sub. (3), a brief description of the procedures for the formulation of final determinations, including a description of the comment period required under
sub. (4).
30.208(5)(bm)
(bm) For the purpose of determining the date on which notice is provided under this subsection, the date of the notice shall be the date on which the department first publishes the notice on its Internet Web site.
30.208(5)(c)1m.1m. The department may delegate the department's requirement to provide notice under
sub. (3) in the manner specified under
par. (a) 1. or
2. or to provide notice under
s. 30.209 (1m) by doing any of the following:
30.208(5)(c)1m.a.
a. Requiring that the applicant for the permit or contract provide by publication, mailing, or other distribution one or more of the notices.
30.208(5)(c)1m.b.
b. Requiring that the applicant for the permit or contract pay for the publication, mailing, or any other distribution costs of providing one or more of the notices.
30.208(5)(c)2m.
2m. If, under
subd. 1m., the department delegates to an applicant the requirement to provide notice under
sub. (3) by publishing a class 1 notice under
ch. 985, the applicant may in lieu of publishing the class 1 notice request that the department publish the class 1 notice. The department shall charge the applicant a fee for publishing the class 1 notice in an amount that equals the average cost to the department for publishing under this chapter class 1 notices under
ch. 985.
30.209
30.209
Contracts and individual permits; administrative and judicial review. 30.209(1)
(1)
Definition. In this section, "applicant" means any person applying to receive a permit or contract under this subchapter or any person who has received a permit or contract under this subchapter.
30.209(1m)
(1m) Request for administrative review. 30.209(1m)(a)(a) Any interested person may file a petition with the department for administrative review within 30 days after any of the following decisions given by the department:
30.209(1m)(a)1.
1. The issuance, denial, or modification of any individual permit issued or contract entered into under this subchapter.
30.209(1m)(a)2.
2. The imposition of, or failure to impose, a term or condition on any individual permit issued or contract entered into under this subchapter.
30.209(1m)(b)
(b) If the petitioner is not the applicant, the petition shall describe the petitioner's objection to the permit or contract and shall contain all of the following:
30.209(1m)(b)1.
1. A description of the objection that is sufficiently specific to allow the department to determine which provisions of this subchapter may be violated if the proposed activity or project under the permit or contract is allowed to proceed.
30.209(1m)(b)2.
2. A description of the facts supporting the petition that is sufficiently specific to determine how the petitioner believes the activity or project, as proposed, may result in a violation of the provisions of this subchapter.
30.209(1m)(b)3.
3. A commitment by the petitioner to appear at the administrative hearing and present information supporting the petitioner's objection.
30.209(1m)(c)
(c) The activity or project shall be stayed pending an administrative hearing under this section, if the petition contains a request for the stay showing that a stay is necessary to prevent significant adverse impacts or irreversible harm to the environment.
30.209(1m)(d)
(d) If a stay is requested under
par. (c), the stay shall be in effect until either the department denies the request for an administrative hearing or the hearing examiner determines that the stay is not necessary.
30.209(1m)(e)
(e) The petitioner shall file a copy of the petition with the department. If the petitioner is not the applicant, the petitioner shall simultaneously provide a copy of the petition to the applicant. The applicant may file a response to the petition with the department. If the applicant files a response under this paragraph, it shall be filed within 15 days after the petition is filed.
30.209(1m)(f)
(f) The department shall grant or deny the petition within 30 days after the petition is filed. The failure of the department to dispose of the petition within this 30-day period is a denial. The department shall deny the petition if any of the following applies:
30.209(1m)(f)1.
1. The petitioner is not the applicant and the petition does not comply with the requirements of
par. (b).
30.209(1m)(f)2.
2. The objection contained in the petition is not substantive. The department shall determine that an objection is substantive if the supporting facts contained in the objection appear to be substantially true and raise reasonable grounds to believe that the provisions of this subchapter may be violated if the activity or project is undertaken.
30.209(1m)(fm)
(fm) If the department denies the petition, the department shall send the petitioner the denial in writing, stating the reasons for the denial.
30.209(1m)(g)
(g) If the department grants a petition under this subsection, the department shall refer the matter to the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration within 15 days after granting the petition unless the petitioner and the applicant agree to an extension.
30.209(2)(a)(a) An administrative hearing under this section shall be treated as a contested case under
ch. 227.
30.209(2)(b)
(b) If a stay under
sub. (1m) (c) is in effect, the hearing examiner shall, within 30 days after receipt of the referral under
sub. (1m) (g), determine whether continuation of the stay is necessary to prevent significant adverse impacts or irreversible harm to the environment pending completion of the administrative hearing. The hearing examiner shall make the determination based on the request under
sub. (1m) (c), any response from the applicant under
sub. (1m) (e), and any testimony at a public hearing or any public comments. The determination shall be made without a hearing.
30.209(2)(c)
(c) An administrative hearing under this section shall be completed within 90 days after receipt of the referral of the petition under
sub. (1m) (g), unless all parties agree to an extension of that period. In addition, a hearing examiner may grant a one-time extension for the completion of the hearing of up to 60 days on the motion of any party and a showing of good cause demonstrating extraordinary circumstances justifying an extension.
30.209(2)(d)
(d) Notwithstanding
s. 227.44 (1), the department shall provide a notice of the administrative hearing at least 30 days before the date of the hearing to all of the following:
