Chapter 291

291.89 291.89 Review of alleged violations. Any 6 or more citizens or any municipality may petition for review of an alleged violation of this chapter or any rule promulgated or special order, plan approval, license or any term or condition of a license issued under this chapter in the following manner:

291.89(1) (1) They shall submit to the department a petition identifying the alleged violator and setting forth in detail the reasons for believing a violation occurred. The petition shall state the name and address of a person within the state authorized to receive service of answer and other papers in behalf of the petitioners and the name and address of a person authorized to appear at a hearing in behalf of the petitioners.

291.89(2) (2) Upon receipt of a petition under this section, the department may:

291.89(2)(a) (a) Conduct a hearing in the matter within 60 days of receipt of the petition. A hearing under this paragraph shall be a contested case under ch. 227. Within 60 days after the close of the hearing, the department shall either:

291.89(2)(a)1. 1. Serve written notice specifying the law or rule alleged to be violated, containing findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order, which shall be subject to review under ch. 227; or

291.89(2)(a)2. 2. Dismiss the petition.

291.89(2)(b) (b) Initiate action under s. 291.95.

291.89(3) (3) If the department determines that a petition has been filed maliciously or in bad faith it shall issue a finding to that effect and the person complained against is entitled to recover expenses on the hearing in a civil action.

291.89 History History: 1981 c. 374; 1995 a. 227 s. 694; Stats. 1995 s. 291.89.

291.91 291.91 Inspections and right of entry.

291.91(1) (1) The department may inspect hazardous waste facility construction projects to determine compliance with this chapter and rules promulgated and licenses issued under this chapter.

291.91(2) (2) Upon the request of any officer, employee or authorized representative of the department and with notice provided no later than upon the officer’s, employee’s or authorized representative’s arrival, any person who generates, stores, treats, transports or disposes of hazardous wastes shall permit the officer, employee or authorized representative access to vehicles, premises and records relating to hazardous wastes at reasonable times. An officer, employee or authorized representative of the department may take samples of any hazardous waste. The officer, employee or authorized representative shall commence and complete inspections with reasonable promptness. If samples are taken, the officer, employee or authorized representative shall give a receipt for each sample to the person in charge of the facility and, upon request, half of the sample taken. The department shall furnish promptly a copy of the results of any analysis of any sample which is taken and a copy of the inspection report to the person in charge of the facility.

291.91 History History: 1977 c. 377; 1981 c. 374; 1987 a. 27, 384; 1995 a. 227 ss. 670, 690, 691.

291.93 291.93 Orders. The department may issue orders to effectuate the purposes of this chapter and enforce those orders by all appropriate administrative and judicial proceedings.

291.93 History History: 1995 a. 227 s. 672.

291.95 291.95 Enforcement.

291.95(1) (1) Department action. If the department determines that any person is in violation of any requirement of this chapter or any rule promulgated or special order, plan approval or term or condition of a license or variance issued under this chapter, the department may do one or more of the following:

291.95(1)(a) (a) Give written notice to the violator of his or her failure to comply with the requirement.

291.95(1)(b) (b) Issue a special order requiring compliance within a specified time period.

291.95(1)(c) (c) Refer the matter to the department of justice for enforcement under s. 299.95.

291.95(2) (2) Department of justice action; disposition. The department of justice may initiate the legal action requested by the department under sub. (1) (c) after receipt of the written request. In any action commenced by it under this subsection, 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.

291.95(3) (3) Assistance of district attorney. In any criminal action commenced under s. 291.97, the department of justice may request the assistance of the district attorney of any county in which the violation occurred, and the district attorney shall provide the requested assistance.

291.95(4) (4) 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.

291.95 History History: 1977 c. 377; 1981 c. 374; 1987 a. 384; 1995 a. 227 s. 695; Stats. 1995 s. 291.95.

291.95 Annotation Enforcement of ch. 144 [now chs. 281 to 299] is not contingent on the issuance of a compliance order. State v. Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc. 170 Wis. 2d 646, 489 N.W.2d 708 (Ct. App. 1992).

291.97 291.97 Violations and penalties.

291.97(1) (1) Civil penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or any rule promulgated or special order, plan approval or term or condition of a license or variance issued under this chapter shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $25,000 for each violation. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense.

291.97(2) (2) Criminal penalties.

291.97(2)(a) (a) Any person who willfully does any of the following shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year in the county jail or both:

291.97(2)(a)1. 1. In connection with an application, label, manifest, record, report, license or other document relating to this chapter, makes an untrue statement of a material fact or fails to state a material fact with the result that the statements made in the document are misleading.

291.97(2)(a)2. 2. Destroys, alters, conceals or fails to submit a record required to be maintained or submitted under this chapter or a rule promulgated or special order, plan approval or term or condition of a license or variance issued under this chapter.

291.97(2)(b) (b) Any person who willfully does any of the following is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $100,000:

291.97(2)(b)1. 1. Transports any hazardous waste to a facility or site that does not have a license as required under s. 291.25.

291.97(2)(b)2. 2. Stores, treats, transports or disposes of any hazardous waste without a license required under s. 291.23 or 291.25 or in violation of a rule promulgated or special order, plan approval or term or condition of a license or variance issued under s. 291.23, 291.25, 291.29, 291.31 or 291.87.

291.97(2)(c) (c)

291.97(2)(c)1. 1. For a 2nd or subsequent violation under par. (a), a 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.

291.97(2)(c)2. 2. For a 2nd or subsequent violation under par. (b), a person is guilty of a Class F felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (f), the person may be fined not more than $150,000.

291.97(2)(d) (d) Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate offense.

291.97(2)(e) (e) If a person commits a violation in connection with an enterprise, as defined under s. 946.82 (2), the maximum penalties specified in pars. (a), (b) and (c) shall be doubled.

291.97(3) (3) Cost recovery. In addition to the penalties provided under subs. (1) and (2), the court may award the department of justice the reasonable and necessary expenses of the investigation and prosecution of the violation, including attorney fees and the costs of performing monitoring. The department of justice shall deposit in the state treasury for deposit into the general fund all moneys that the court awards to the department or the state under this subsection. The costs of investigation and the expenses of prosecution, including attorney fees, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.455 (1) (gh).

291.97 History History: 1977 c. 377; 1981 c. 374; 1987 a. 384; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 227 s. 698; Stats. 1995 s. 291.97; 1997 a. 283; 2001 a. 109; 2007 a. 20; 2013 a. 168.

291.97 Annotation Bankruptcy trustees acting within the scope of their official capacities may not be held personally liable under this section. State v. Better Brite Plating, 168 Wis. 2d 363, 483 N.W.2d 574 (1991).

291.97 Annotation To obtain a conviction under s. 144.74 (2) (b) [now s. 291.97 (2) (b)] the state need not prove that the defendant knew a license was required. State v. Fettig, 172 Wis. 2d 428, 493 N.W.2d 254 (Ct. App. 1992).