30.204(1) (1) Authorization. Between May 15, 1984, and January 1, 2008, the department is authorized to conduct a lake acidification experiment on the lake specified under sub. (2).

30.204(2) (2) Lake selection. The department shall select Little Rock Lake in the town of Arbor Vitae, Vilas County, township 41 north, range 6 east, for the lake acidification experiment.

30.204(3) (3) Experiment. In conducting the lake acidification experiment, the department shall deny access to and prohibit navigation on the lake by posted notice, may place a barrier or dyke across the lake, may place chemicals or other substances in the lake and may take other actions necessary for the experiment.

30.204(4)(a)(a) Before artificially acidifying the lake, the department shall establish an escrow account containing sufficient funds to restore the lake and its aquatic life as provided under par. (c).

30.204(4)(b) (b) After the department has artificially acidified the lake, it may allow and monitor the natural restoration of the lake and its aquatic life as part of the experiment.

30.204(4)(c) (c) At the conclusion of the experiment or in the event of an unanticipated occurrence that requires that the lake be restored before the conclusion of the experiment, the department shall do all of the following to the fullest extent possible given available technology:

30.204(4)(c)1. 1. Artificially restore the lake to its original acid level if the lake has not been naturally restored to the original acid level during the experiment.

30.204(4)(c)2. 2. Artificially reestablish the lake's aquatic life if the aquatic life has not been naturally reestablished during the experiment.

30.204(5) (5) Exemption from certain statutes and rules. Activities of the department in conducting the lake acidification experiment are exempt from any prohibition, restriction, requirement, permit, license, approval, authorization, fee, notice, hearing, procedure or penalty specified under s. 29.601 (3), 30.01 to 30.03, 30.06 to 30.16, 30.18 to 30.29, 30.50 to 30.99, 59.692, 87.30, 287.81, 299.15 to 299.23, 299.91, 299.95 or 299.97 or chs. 281, 283 or 289 to 292 or specified in any rule promulgated, order issued or ordinance adopted under any of those sections or chapters.

30.204(6) (6) Compliance with environmental impact statute. The department shall comply with the requirements under s. 1.11 in conducting the experiment authorized by this section. The department shall initiate compliance by preparing and reviewing, under the procedures it has established under s. 1.11, an environmental assessment for this experiment.

30.205 30.205 Water resources development projects. The department may cooperate with and enter into agreements with the appropriate federal agencies for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating water resources development projects. Such agreements may contain any indemnification provisions required by federal law.

30.206(1)(a)(a) The department shall issue the statewide general permits required under ss. 30.12 (3) (a) and (b), 30.123 (7), 30.19 (3r), and 30.20 (1t) (a).

30.206(1)(ag) (ag) To ensure that the cumulative adverse environmental impact of the activities authorized by a general permit is insignificant and that the issuance of the general permit will not injure public rights or interests, cause environmental pollution, as defined in s. 299.01 (4), or result in material injury to the rights of any riparian owner, the department may impose any of the following conditions on the permit:

30.206(1)(ag)1. 1. Construction and design requirements that are consistent with the purpose of the activity authorized under the permit.

30.206(1)(ag)2. 2. Location requirements that ensure that the activity will not materially interfere with navigation or have an adverse impact on the riparian property rights of adjacent riparian owners, except that if the activity is necessary in order to maintain or repair a utility facility that is owned or operated by a public utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (5), or a cooperative association organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, water, or power to its members only, the department may not impose a condition on the permit that requires the relocation of the facility.

30.206(1)(aj) (aj) Paragraph (ag) applies only to general permits issued under par. (a).

30.206(1)(am) (am) In addition to the general permits required under par. (a), the department may issue a general permit authorizing an activity for which an individual permit is issued, or a contract is entered into, under this subchapter. In issuing general permits under this paragraph, the department shall establish requirements and conditions to ensure that the activities subject to the permit will cause only minimal adverse environmental impacts, will not materially interfere with navigation, and will not have an adverse impact on the riparian property rights of adjacent riparian owners.

30.206(1)(ar) (ar) A permit issued under par. (a) or (am) is in lieu of any permit or contract that would otherwise be required for that activity under this subchapter.

30.206(1)(b) (b) Except as provided in sub. (1r), a general permit issued under par. (a) or (am) is valid for a period of 5 years, and an activity that the department determines is authorized by a general permit remains authorized under the general permit for a period of 5 years from the date of the department's determination or until the activity is completed, whichever occurs first, regardless of whether the general permit expired before the activity is completed. The department may renew or modify, or revoke a general permit issued under par. (a) or (am) or s. 30.2065 upon compliance with the requirements under subs. (2b) and (2m).

30.206(1r) (1r) Transitions between permits. Any general permit issued under this section that is valid on August 1, 2012, shall remain valid until the date upon which a general permit issued under sub. (1) (a) or (am) that authorizes the same activity becomes effective.