Chapter 281

281.70(5)(c)1. 1. The purchase of land or of a conservation easement, as defined in s. 700.40 (1) (a) if the recipient enters into a contract under s. 281.71 and if the purchase will substantially contribute to the protection or improvement of the river’s water quality or its natural ecosystem.

281.70(5)(c)2. 2. The restoration of in-stream or shoreline habitat.

281.70(5)(c)3. 3. The development of local regulations or ordinances that will protect or improve the river’s water quality or its natural ecosystem.

281.70(5)(c)4. 4. An activity that is approved by the department and that is needed to implement a recommendation made as a result of a plan to protect or improve the river’s water quality or its natural ecosystem.

281.70(5)(c)5. 5. Installation of pollution control practices.

281.70(5)(c)6. 6. The placement of a floating treatment wetland in a river.

281.70(6) (6) Eligibility; types of rivers. The department shall promulgate rules establishing the types of natural riverine ecosystems that are eligible for grants under this section.

281.70(7) (7) Eligibility; other. At the completion of a planning project, upon request of the recipient of the grant for the planning project, the department may approve as eligible activities for a management project grant the recommendations that were made as a result of the project.

281.70 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 30; 2019 a. 177; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 5.

281.70 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 193, Wis. adm. code.

281.71 281.71 Lake management project grants; river protection grants; purchases.

281.71(1) (1) In order to receive a grant for a purchase under s. 281.69 (3) (b) 1. or 281.70 (5) (c) 1., the recipient shall enter into a contract with the department that contains all of the following provisions:

281.71(1)(a) (a) Standards for the management of the property to be acquired.

281.71(1)(b) (b) A prohibition against using the property to be acquired as security for any debt unless the department approves the incurring of the debt.

281.71(1)(c) (c) A prohibition against the property being closed to the public unless the department determines it is necessary to protect wild animals, plants or other natural features.

281.71(1)(d) (d) A clause that any subsequent sale or transfer of the property to be acquired is subject to subs. (2) and (3).

281.71(2) (2) The recipient of the grant used for a purchase under s. 281.69 (3) (b) 1. or 281.70 (5) (c) 1. may subsequently sell or transfer the acquired property to a 3rd party other than a creditor of the recipient if all of the following apply:

281.71(2)(a) (a) The department approves the subsequent sale or transfer.

281.71(2)(b) (b) The party to whom the property is sold or transferred enters into a new contract with the department that contains the provisions under sub. (1).

281.71(3) (3) The recipient of the grant used for a purchase under s. 281.69 (3) (b) 1. or 281.70 (5) (c) 1. may subsequently sell or transfer the acquired property to satisfy a debt or other obligation if the department approves the sale or transfer.

281.71(4) (4) If the recipient violates any essential provision of the contract, title to the acquired property shall vest in the state.

281.71(5) (5) The instrument conveying the property to the recipient shall state the interest of the state under sub. (4). The contract entered into under sub. (1) and the instrument of conveyance shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of each county in which the property is located.

281.71 History History: 1999 a. 9 s. 2548.

281.72 281.72 River protection; contracts with nonprofit organizations.

281.72(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “nonprofit conservation organization” means a river management organization that meets the qualifications under s. 281.70 (4) (b) or a nonprofit corporation, a charitable trust or other nonprofit association whose purposes include the protection of rivers and that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

281.72(2) (2) Requirements to receive contracts. The department shall provide contracts to nonstock, nonprofit corporations that are described under section 501 (c) (3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and that are organized in this state. For a nonstock, profit corporation to qualify for a contract, the corporation shall meet all of the following requirements:

281.72(2)(a) (a) The corporation is exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

281.72(2)(b) (b) The corporation provides support to nonprofit conservation organizations.

281.72(2)(c) (c) The corporation has a board of directors that has a majority of members who are representatives of nonprofit conservation organizations.

281.72(2)(d) (d) The corporation contributes, to be used with the contract, $1 for every $3 it receives under the contract.

281.72(3) (3) Requirements under contracts. A corporation receiving a contract under this subsection shall do all of the following:

281.72(3)(a) (a) Assist in the establishment of nonprofit conservation organizations.

281.72(3)(b) (b) Provide technical assistance to nonprofit conservation organizations.

281.72(3)(c) (c) Conduct conferences on topics for which technical assistance is provided under par. (b).

281.72 History History: 1999 a. 9.

subch. VI of ch. 281 SUBCHAPTER VI

COMPENSATION

281.75 281.75 Compensation for well contamination and abandonment.

281.75(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

281.75(1)(a) (a) “Alternate water supply” means a supply of potable water obtained in bottles, by tank truck or by other similar means.

281.75(1)(b) (b) “Contaminated well” or “contaminated private water supply” means a well or private water supply which:

281.75(1)(b)1. 1. Produces water containing one or more substances of public health concern in excess of a primary maximum contaminant level promulgated in the national drinking water standards in 40 CFR 141 and 143;

281.75(1)(b)2. 2. Produces water containing one or more substances of public health concern in excess of an enforcement standard under ch. 160; or

281.75(1)(b)3. 3. Is subject to a written advisory opinion, issued by the department, containing a specific descriptive reference to the well or private water supply and recommending that the well or private water supply not be used because of potential human health risks.

281.75(1)(c) (c) “Groundwater” means any of the waters of the state occurring in a saturated subsurface geological formation of permeable rock or soil.

281.75(1)(d) (d) “Livestock” has the meaning specified under s. 95.80 (1) (b) and includes poultry.

281.75(1)(e) (e) “Livestock water supply” means a well which is used as a source of potable water only for livestock and which is:

281.75(1)(e)1. 1. Approved by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection for grade A milk production under s. 97.24; or

281.75(1)(e)2. 2. Constructed by boring or drilling.

281.75(1)(f) (f) “Private water supply” means a residential water supply or a livestock water supply.

281.75(1)(g) (g) “Residential water supply” means a well which is used as a source of potable water for humans or humans and livestock and is connected to 14 or less dwelling units.

281.75(1)(h) (h) “Well,” if not followed by the words, “subject to abandonment,” means an excavation or opening in the ground made by boring, drilling or driving for the purpose of obtaining a supply of groundwater. “Well” does not include dug wells.

281.75(1)(i) (i) “Well subject to abandonment” means a well that is required to be filled and sealed under s. NR 812.26 (4) (a), Wis. Adm. Code, or that the department may require to be filled and sealed under s. NR 812.26 (4) (b), Wis. Adm. Code.

281.75(2) (2) Duties of the department. The department shall:

281.75(2)(a) (a) Establish by rule procedures for the submission, review and determination of claims under this section.

281.75(2)(b) (b) Assist claimants in submitting applications for compensation under this section.

281.75(2)(c) (c) Issue awards under this section.

281.75(2)(d) (d) Establish casing depth and other construction requirements for a new or reconstructed private water supply.

281.75(2)(e) (e) Declare an area of special eligibility for compensation for well contamination, based on contamination reported after December 31, 2005, if all of the following criteria are satisfied:

281.75(2)(e)1. 1. Results of tests performed by a laboratory certified under s. 299.11 establish that wells in the area are contaminated by fecal bacteria.

281.75(2)(e)2. 2. Evidence demonstrates that the bacterial contamination is caused by livestock.

281.75(2)(f) (f) Establish requirements for the filling and sealing of wells subject to abandonment.

281.75(3) (3) Wells for which a claim may be submitted. A claim may be submitted for a private water supply which, at the time of submitting the claim, is contaminated or for a well subject to abandonment.

281.75(4) (4) Who may submit a claim.

281.75(4)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (b), a landowner or lessee of property on which is located a contaminated private water supply or a well subject to abandonment, or the spouse, dependent, heir, assign or legal representative of the landowner or lessee, may submit a claim under this section.

281.75(4)(b) (b) The following entities may not submit a claim:

281.75(4)(b)1. 1. The state.

281.75(4)(b)2. 2. An office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government.

281.75(4)(b)3. 3. An authority created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, or 238.

281.75(4)(b)4. 4. A city, village, town, county or special purpose district.

281.75(4)(b)5. 5. A federal agency, department or instrumentality.

281.75(4)(b)6. 6. An interstate agency.

281.75(4m) (4m) Income limitation.

281.75(4m)(a) (a) In order to be eligible for an award under this section, the annual family income of the landowner or lessee of property on which is located a contaminated water supply or a well subject to abandonment may not exceed $65,000.

281.75(4m)(b) (b) Except as provided under par. (d), annual family income shall be based upon the adjusted gross income of the landowner or lessee and the landowner’s or lessee’s spouse, if any, as computed for Wisconsin income or franchise tax purposes for the taxable year prior to the year in which the claim is made. The county median income shall be determined based upon the most recent statistics published by the federal department of housing and urban development for the year prior to the year of the enforcement order.

281.75(4m)(c) (c) In order to be eligible for an award under this section, the claimant shall submit a copy of the designated income or franchise tax returns for the taxable year prior to the year in which the claim is made together with the application under sub. (5). The claimant shall submit a copy of the landowner’s or lessee’s Wisconsin franchise tax return, joint Wisconsin income tax return or, if filing separately, the landowner’s or lessee’s separate Wisconsin income tax return and the separate Wisconsin income tax return of his or her spouse, if any.

281.75(4m)(d) (d) The department may disregard the Wisconsin income tax return for the taxable year prior to the year in which the claim is made and may determine annual family income based upon satisfactory evidence of adjusted gross income or projected taxable income of the landowner or lessee and the landowner’s or lessee’s spouse in the current year.

281.75(5) (5) Application.

281.75(5)(a) (a) A claimant shall submit a claim on forms provided by the department. The claimant shall verify the claim by affidavit.

281.75(5)(b) (b) The claim shall contain:

281.75(5)(b)1. 1. Test results which show that the private water supply is contaminated, as defined under sub. (1) (b) 1. or 2., information to show that the private water supply is contaminated as defined under sub. (1) (b) 3., or information to show that the well is a well subject to abandonment;

281.75(5)(b)2. 2. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, any information available to the claimant regarding possible sources of contamination of the private water supply; and

281.75(5)(b)3. 3. Any other information requested by the department.

281.75(5)(c) (c) The department shall notify the claimant if the claim is complete or specify the additional information which is required to be submitted. If the claimant does not submit a complete claim, as determined by the department, the department may not proceed under this section until it receives a complete claim.

281.75(5)(d) (d) A claim constitutes consent by the claimant to:

281.75(5)(d)1. 1. Enter the property where the private water supply or well subject to abandonment is located during normal business hours and conduct any investigations or tests necessary to verify the claim; and

281.75(5)(d)2. 2. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, cooperate with the state in any administrative, civil or criminal action involving a person or activity alleged to have caused the private water supply to become contaminated.

281.75(5)(e) (e) The department shall consolidate claims if more than one claimant submits a claim for the same private water supply or for the same well subject to abandonment.

281.75(5)(f) (f) The department shall allocate money for the payment of claims according to the order in which completed claims are received. The department may conditionally approve a completed claim even if the appropriation under s. 20.370 (6) (cr) is insufficient to pay the claim. The department shall allocate money for the payment of a claim which is conditionally approved as soon as funds become available.