LRB-5172/1
MCP&ZDW:skw
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
December 2, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Kitchens, Novak, Tranel,
Shankland, Krug, Hong, Milroy, Mursau, Neubauer, Oldenburg,
Penterman, Plumer, Tauchen, Petryk, Subeck, Spiros, Considine, Pope,
Vining, Spreitzer, Ohnstad, Conley and Tusler, cosponsored by Senators
Cowles, Testin, Ballweg, Bernier, Petrowski, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roys, Smith
and Wimberger. Referred to Committee on Agriculture.
AB728,1,9
1An Act to repeal 281.75 (2) (e), 281.75 (9) (a), 281.75 (11) (a) 8. and 281.75 (11)
2(ae);
to renumber and amend 281.75 (5) (f) and 281.75 (9) (b);
to amend 92.14
3(6) (c), 93.59 (2) (a), 93.59 (2) (d), 93.59 (3), 281.68 (1t) (intro.), 281.68 (3) (a) 1.,
4281.75 (7) (c) 7. and 281.75 (11m); and
to create 281.68 (1) (ar), 281.70 (1) (am),
5281.70 (4) (a) 4., 281.75 (2) (g), 281.75 (5) (f) 2., 281.75 (7) (d) and 281.75 (9) (am),
6(bm), (c) and (d) of the statutes;
relating to: nitrates under the well
7compensation program; eligibility for producer-led watershed, lake, and river
8protection grants; and the annual allocation plan for county conservation
9grants.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill expands eligibility for nitrate-contaminated wells under the well
compensation grant program; expands eligibility for producer-led watershed
protection grants, lake protection grants, and river protection grants; and creates a
factor to be considered during preparation of the annual allocation plan for soil and
water resource conservation grants to counties.
Nitrates under the well compensation grant program
The bill makes changes to the well compensation grant program administered
by the Department of Natural Resources. Under the program currently, an
individual owner or renter of a contaminated private well, subject to eligibility
requirements, may apply for a grant from DNR to cover a portion of the costs to treat
the water, reconstruct the well, construct a new well, connect to a public water
supply, or fill and seal the well.
Under current law, a well that is contaminated only by nitrates, and not by any
other substance, is eligible for a grant only if the well is a water supply for livestock,
is used at least three months in each year, provides more than 100 gallons of water
per day for consumption by livestock, and contains nitrates in excess of 40 parts per
million. The bill removes the requirements that a water supply contaminated only
by nitrates be used for livestock, provide more than 100 gallons of water per day, and
contain nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million in order to be eligible for a grant
under the program. Under the bill, a well that is contaminated only by nitrates is
eligible for a grant if the well is used at least three months in each year.
Current law requires DNR to allocate money for payments of claims under the
program according to the order in which claims are received. The bill retains this
requirement but provides that, among claims for contamination only by nitrates,
DNR must allocate payments according to a specified priority ranking based on
levels of nitrate contamination.
Also under current law, a residential well that is contaminated only by bacteria
is not eligible for a grant unless the well is in an area that is contaminated by fecal
bacteria and the contamination is caused by livestock. The bill eliminates this
restriction.
The bill also requires DNR to award grants under the program only for the
remediation method that is most effective for the health and welfare of the claimant.
Finally, the bill requires DNR to report to the Joint Committee on Finance after the
end of each fiscal year on the number of applicants under the well compensation
program and the number and amount of grants provided during that fiscal year.
Producer-led watershed protection grants
Under current law, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection administers a program to provide watershed protection grants to
producer-led groups made up of farmers located in one watershed. The bill allows
grants under the program to be awarded to producer-led groups that are made up
of farmers located in adjacent watersheds.
Lake protection grants and river protection grants
Under current law, DNR provides lake protection grants for monitoring and
improving water quality in lakes. Currently, eligible recipients for these grants
include nonprofit conservation organizations, counties and municipalities, qualified
lake associations, town sanitary districts, qualified school districts, public inland
lake protection and rehabilitation districts, and other local governmental units that
are established for the purpose of lake management.
Under current law, DNR provides river protection grants for monitoring and
improving water quality in rivers. Currently, eligible recipients for these grants
include local governmental units, qualified river management organizations, and
nonprofit conservation organizations.
The bill provides that producer-led groups are eligible to receive lake
protection grants and river protection grants provided by DNR. The bill defines
“producer-led group” to mean any group that meets the criteria for a producer-led
watershed protection grant issued by DATCP.
Soil and water resource conservation grants—allocation plan
Under rules promulgated by DATCP, when DATCP prepares its annual
allocation plan for soil and water resource conservation grants to counties, it may
consider a county's demonstrated commitment to implementing the county's
approved land and water resource management plan. Under the bill, if DATCP
considers this factor in preparing the annual allocation plan, it must also take into
account any externalities, such as weather, that may have affected the county's
ability to implement its management plan.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB728,1
1Section 1
. 92.14 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB728,3,132
92.14
(6) (c) When preparing an annual grant allocation plan under par. (b),
3the department and the department of natural resources shall consider the existence
4and location of impaired water bodies that the department of natural resources has
5identified to the federal environmental protection agency under
33 USC 1313 (d) (1)
6(A) and agricultural enterprise areas designated under s. 91.84, and shall give
7priority to providing cost-sharing for nutrient management planning projects that
8are in or near, or that affect, those areas.
When preparing an annual grant allocation
9plan, if the department considers a county's demonstrated commitment to
10implementing a land and water resource management plan approved under s. 92.10
11(4) (d), the department shall take into account any externalities, such as weather,
12that may have affected the county's ability to demonstrate commitment to
13implementing the plan.
AB728,2
14Section 2
. 93.59 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB728,4,4
193.59
(2) (a) The producer-led group includes at least 5 agricultural producers
2each of whom operates an eligible farm, as defined in s. 91.86 (1), in one watershed
3or in adjacent watersheds. The group may include additional agricultural producers
4who are not required to be operators of eligible farms.
AB728,3
5Section 3
. 93.59 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB728,4,86
93.59
(2) (d) The group assists agricultural producers in the watershed
or
7watersheds under par. (a) to voluntarily conduct nonpoint source water pollution
8abatement activities.
AB728,4
9Section 4
. 93.59 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB728,4,1310
93.59
(3) A producer-led group that receives, or on whose behalf a legal entity
11receives, a grant under this section shall annually file a report with the department
12describing the activities conducted with the grant and the impact of those activities
13on water quality in the watershed
or watersheds under sub. (2) (a).
AB728,5
14Section 5
. 281.68 (1) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
AB728,4,1615
281.68 (1) (ar) “Producer-led group” means any group that meets the criteria
16under s. 93.59 (2).
AB728,6
17Section 6
. 281.68 (1t) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB728,4,2118
281.68
(1t) Lake monitoring and protection contracts. (intro.) The
19department may award contracts to
public groups or persons for the creation and
20support of a statewide lake monitoring network. The contracts may include
21payments for the costs of all of the following:
AB728,7
22Section 7
. 281.68 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB728,5,323
281.68
(3) (a) 1. Eligible recipients to consist of nonprofit conservation
24organizations, as defined in s. 23.0955 (1),
producer-led groups conducting
25producer-led group projects, counties, cities, towns, villages, qualified lake
1associations, town sanitary districts, qualified school districts, public inland lake
2protection and rehabilitation districts, and other local governmental units, as
3defined in s. 66.0131 (1) (a), that are established for the purpose of lake management.
AB728,8
4Section 8
. 281.70 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB728,5,65
281.70
(1) (am) “Producer-led group” means any group that meets the criteria
6under s. 93.59 (2).
AB728,9
7Section 9
. 281.70 (4) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
AB728,5,88
281.70
(4) (a) 4. Producer-led groups conducting producer-led group projects.
AB728,10
9Section 10
. 281.75 (2) (e) of the statutes is repealed.
AB728,11
10Section
11. 281.75 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB728,5,1311
281.75
(2) (g) Submit a report to the joint committee on finance after the end
12of each fiscal year that includes the number of claims submitted and the number and
13amount of awards provided under this section during that fiscal year.
AB728,12
14Section 12
. 281.75 (5) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 281.75 (5) (f) 1. and
15amended to read:
AB728,5,2116
281.75
(5) (f) 1.
The Subject to subd. 2., the department shall allocate money
17for the payment of claims according to the order in which completed claims are
18received. The department may conditionally approve a completed claim even if the
19appropriation under s. 20.370 (6) (cr) is insufficient to pay the claim. The department
20shall allocate money for the payment of a claim which is conditionally approved as
21soon as funds become available.
AB728,13
22Section 13
. 281.75 (5) (f) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB728,6,423
281.75
(5) (f) 2. For claims of contamination by nitrates and not by any other
24substance, the department shall allocate money for the payment of those collective
25claims as provided under subd. 1. but shall allocate money for the payment of
1individual claims according to the priority order established under sub. (9). The
2department shall determine the method for allocating money for the payment of
3those claims in the manner that most effectively accomplishes the requirements of
4this paragraph and sub. (9).
AB728,14
5Section 14
. 281.75 (7) (c) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB728,6,96
281.75
(7) (c) 7. If the claim is based on a
contaminated water supply that is
7eligible under sub. (11) (ae) contaminated by bacteria, the cost of properly
8abandoning any improperly abandoned private water supply located on the property
9owned or leased by the claimant.
AB728,15
10Section 15
. 281.75 (7) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB728,6,1311
281.75
(7) (d) The department may issue an award only for the eligible cost
12under this subsection that the department determines is the remediation method
13that is most effective for the health and welfare of the claimant.
AB728,16
14Section 16
. 281.75 (9) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
AB728,17
15Section 17
. 281.75 (9) (am), (bm), (c) and (d) of the statutes are created to read:
AB728,6,1716
281.75
(9) (am) Water containing nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million
17expressed as nitrate-nitrogen.
AB728,6,1918
(bm) Water containing nitrates in excess of 30 parts per million expressed as
19nitrate-nitrogen.
AB728,6,2120
(c) Water containing nitrates in excess of 25 parts per million expressed as
21nitrate-nitrogen.
AB728,7,222
(d) Water containing nitrates at no fewer than 10 parts per million and not in
23excess of 25 parts per million expressed as nitrate-nitrogen. Notwithstanding sub.
24(11) (b) 2., for awards under this paragraph, the department shall emphasize the use
25of reverse osmosis or similar methods prior to well remediation methods if the
1department determines these methods are the most effective option for the health
2and welfare of the claimant.
AB728,18
3Section 18
. 281.75 (9) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 281.75 (9) (intro.) and
4amended to read:
AB728,7,115
281.75
(9) Contamination standard; nitrates. (intro.) Notwithstanding the
6requirement of contamination under sub. (7),
if a private water supply meets the
7criteria under par. (a) and the claim is for claims based upon contamination by
8nitrates and not by any other substance, the department may make an award only
9if the private water supply
produces water containing nitrates in excess of 40 parts
10per million expressed as nitrate-nitrogen. is used at least 3 months each year and 11shall make awards in the following order of priority: