Chapter ATCP 31

ATCP 31.01(2) (2) “Department” means the state of Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

ATCP 31.01(3) (3) “Enforcement standard” means a numerical value expressing the concentration of a substance in groundwater which is adopted under ss. 160.07 and 160.09, Stats.

ATCP 31.01(4) (4) “Fertilizer” means a fertilizer as defined in s. 94.64 (1) (e), Stats., except that it does not include anhydrous ammonia.

ATCP 31.01(5) (5) “Fertilizer substance” means either of the following for which an enforcement standard or preventive action limit has been adopted by the department of natural resources:

ATCP 31.01(5)(a) (a) A fertilizer; or

ATCP 31.01(5)(b) (b) A degradation product or metabolic product of fertilizer.

ATCP 31.01(6) (6) “Groundwater” means any of the waters of the state, as defined in s. 280.01 (2), Stats., occurring in a saturated sub-surface geological formation of rock or soil.

ATCP 31.01(7) (7) “Official groundwater sample” means a groundwater sample from which an official groundwater test result is obtained.

ATCP 31.01(8) (8) “Official groundwater test result” means a groundwater test result which is:

ATCP 31.01(8)(a) (a) Obtained by department analysis of a groundwater sample collected by the department or its agent; or

ATCP 31.01(8)(b) (b) Reported and certified to the department by the department of natural resources pursuant to s. ATCP 31.02.

ATCP 31.01(9) (9) “Nonpotable water supply” means an excavation or opening into the ground made by digging, boring, drilling, driving or other methods for the purpose of obtaining groundwater for a use other than human consumption or preparation of food products.

ATCP 31.01(10) (10) “Pesticide” means a pesticide as defined in s. 94.67 (25), Stats., or a pesticide active ingredient as defined in s. 94.67 (1), Stats.

ATCP 31.01(11) (11) “Pesticide substance” means any of the following for which an enforcement standard or preventive action limit has been adopted by the department of natural resources:

ATCP 31.01(11)(a) (a) A pesticide;

ATCP 31.01(11)(b) (b) An isomer of a pesticide; or

ATCP 31.01(11)(c) (c) A degradation product or metabolic product of a pesticide.

ATCP 31.01(12) (12) “Pesticide use” means the mixing, use, application, handling, transport, storage or disposal of a pesticide.

ATCP 31.01(13) (13) “Point of standards application” means a location at which the concentration of a substance in groundwater may be measured to determine whether a preventive action limit or enforcement standard has been attained or exceeded, as provided in s. 160.21 (2) (b), Stats., and s. ATCP 31.03.

ATCP 31.01(14) (14) “Preventive action limit” means a numerical value expressing the concentration of a substance in groundwater which is adopted under s. 160.15, Stats.

ATCP 31.01(15) (15) “Property boundary” means the boundary of a total contiguous parcel of land owned by a common owner, regardless of whether public or private roads run through the parcel.

ATCP 31.01(16) (16) “Secretary” means the secretary of the department.

ATCP 31.01(17) (17) “Site-specific response” means a localized regulatory response by the department to groundwater sample findings obtained at a point of standards application, as provided in s. ATCP 31.07.

ATCP 31.01(18) (18) “Special order” means an order of the department which is directed to an individually named or identified respondent.

ATCP 31.01(19) (19) “Substance” means any solid, liquid, semisolid, dissolved solid or gaseous material, naturally occurring or synthetic chemical, parameter for measurement of water quality or biological organism which, in its original form, or as a metabolic or a degradation or waste product, may decrease the quality of groundwater.

ATCP 31.01 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 5., Stats., Register, February, 1993, No. 447; corrections in (6) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, January, 1998, No. 505.

ATCP 31.02 ATCP 31.02 Groundwater test results; use by department.

ATCP 31.02(1) (1) Use of official groundwater test results. An official groundwater test result is presumed to be reliable for purposes of regulatory or enforcement action under this chapter whether or not the department collected or analyzed the official groundwater sample.

ATCP 31.02(2) (2) Use of unofficial groundwater test results. A regulatory or enforcement action under this chapter may be based on a groundwater test result which is not an official groundwater test result only if the department determines that the unofficial groundwater test result is reliable for purposes of the regulatory or enforcement action.

ATCP 31.02 Note Note: If an unofficial groundwater sample is not determined to be reliable for purposes of regulatory or enforcement action under this chapter, the department may nevertheless:

ATCP 31.02 Note 1. Refer the unofficial groundwater test result to the department of natural resources, with or without a recommendation for official sampling and testing.

ATCP 31.02 Note 2. Inform affected persons of the unofficial groundwater test result.

ATCP 31.02 Note 3. Refer the unofficial groundwater test result to state or local health authorities, and to county agricultural extension agents.

ATCP 31.02 Note 4. Initiate further investigation or research related to the unofficial groundwater sample result.

ATCP 31.02(3) (3) Memorandum of understanding. Pursuant to ss. 160.21 (2) (e) and 160.27, Stats., the department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department of natural resources to ensure the reliability of official groundwater test results used by the department for purposes of regulation and enforcement under this chapter. The memorandum of understanding shall govern the reporting and certification of official groundwater test results to the department by the department of natural resources. It shall also govern the collection, handling and analysis of official groundwater samples by the department of natural resources or its designated agents. The memorandum of understanding shall include:

ATCP 31.02(3)(a) (a) Standards for the collection of official groundwater samples, including standards related to:

ATCP 31.02(3)(a)1. 1. Collection equipment and containers.

ATCP 31.02(3)(a)2. 2. Collection procedures.

ATCP 31.02(3)(a)3. 3. Collection records.

ATCP 31.02(3)(b) (b) Standards for the handling of official groundwater samples, including:

ATCP 31.02(3)(b)1. 1. Temperature conditions under which samples are to be kept.

ATCP 31.02(3)(b)2. 2. Time periods within which samples are to be analyzed.

ATCP 31.02(3)(b)3. 3. Chain of custody requirements.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c) (c) Standards for the analysis of official groundwater samples, including:

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)1. 1. Required quality assurance programs for laboratories engaged in the analysis of official groundwater samples under this chapter.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)2. 2. Control sample requirements.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)3. 3. Required analytical methods.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)4. 4. Required confirmation of analytical results.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)5. 5. Instrument calibration and maintenance requirements.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)6. 6. Required analytical worksheets and documentation.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)7. 7. Chain of custody requirements in the laboratory.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)8. 8. Requirements for the timely reporting of analytical results.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)9. 9. Continuing sample custody requirements.

ATCP 31.02(3)(c)10. 10. Access to laboratory records by the department and the department of natural resources.

ATCP 31.02(3)(d) (d) Contract requirements applicable to designated agents engaged in the collection or analysis of official groundwater samples under this chapter.

ATCP 31.02(3)(e) (e) Reports and certifications required to accompany official groundwater samples and test results obtained by designated agents of the department of natural resources.

ATCP 31.02(3)(f) (f) Standards for the reporting and certification of official groundwater test results to the department by the department of natural resources.

ATCP 31.02(4) (4) Department contracts with agents designated to collect or analyze official groundwater samples. Every person or entity designated to collect or analyze an official groundwater sample as the agent of the department, rather than as the agent of the department of natural resources, shall first enter into a written contract with the department. Contracts shall include specific standards for the collection, handling and analysis of official groundwater samples, to ensure the reliability of official groundwater test results used by the department for purposes of regulation and enforcement under this chapter. Agents contracting directly with the department shall be held to the same requirements which are applicable to agents designated by the department of natural resources pursuant to a memorandum of understanding under sub. (3).

ATCP 31.02 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85.

ATCP 31.03 ATCP 31.03 Points of standards application.

ATCP 31.03(1) (1) To determine whether an enforcement standard or preventive action limit for a fertilizer substance or pesticide substance has been attained or exceeded, the concentration of the fertilizer substance or pesticide substance shall be measured at a point of standards application. Except as otherwise provided in this section, points of standards application for fertilizer substances and pesticide substances include:

ATCP 31.03(1)(a) (a) A community water system covered under ch. NR 811.

ATCP 31.03(1)(b) (b) A private water supply, high capacity water system, school water system or public water system covered under ch. NR 812.

ATCP 31.03(1)(c) (c) A monitoring well or other groundwater sample source, regardless of whether the well or source is covered under par. (a) or (b), if the well or source is reasonably designed and of adequate depth to permit the collection of representative groundwater samples.

ATCP 31.03(1)(d) (d) A monitoring well approved by the department under s. ATCP 31.08 (4) (a) 1. as a substitute for another point of standards application which is no longer available for testing.

ATCP 31.03(2) (2) Except with the consent of the property owner, neither a high capacity water system covered under ch. NR 812, nor a well or source not covered under sub. (1) (a) or (b) may be considered a point of standards application for a fertilizer substance or pesticide substance for purposes of a site-specific response under s. ATCP 31.07 (5) if:

ATCP 31.03(2)(a) (a) The system, well or source is located within the property boundary of a parcel of land on which an activity subject to department regulation is conducted; and

ATCP 31.03(2)(b) (b) The activity subject to department regulation is a potential source of the fertilizer substance or pesticide substance in groundwater; and

ATCP 31.03(2)(c) (c) The system, well or source is not used as a source of potable water. A system, well or source under this subsection shall be clearly posted to warn potential users that the system, well or source is not a potable water supply. The system, well or source shall be locked when not in use, to prevent any use of the system as a potable water supply.

ATCP 31.03(3) (3) A private water supply system or high capacity water supply system covered under ch. NR 812 shall, upon request of the system owner, be excluded as a point of standards application for purposes of a site-specific response under s. ATCP 31.07 (5) if the system is located within the property boundary of a parcel of land on which an activity subject to department regulation is conducted, and if:

ATCP 31.03(3)(a) (a) Use of the system has been discontinued, and the discontinued system is locked or otherwise secured to prevent any use of the system; or

ATCP 31.03(3)(b) (b) The system is used solely as a nonpotable water supply. A nonpotable water supply system under this paragraph shall be clearly posted to warn potential users that the system is not a potable water supply. The system shall also be locked or otherwise secured when not in use, to prevent any use of the system as a potable water supply.

ATCP 31.03(4) (4) A well or system shall be excluded as a point of standards application if the department or the department of natural resources determines that groundwater samples collected from the well or system do not reliably reflect groundwater conditions, because of the design or construction of the well or system.

ATCP 31.03 Note Note: Since groundwater monitoring is not usually required under existing rules for activities subject to department regulation, the points of standards application in this section are specified pursuant to s. 160.21 (2) (b), Stats.

ATCP 31.03 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; Register, January, 1998, No. 505; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.; cr. (1) (d), Register, March, 1998, No. 507, eff. 4-1-98.

ATCP 31.04 ATCP 31.04 Preliminary investigation based on groundwater sample test results.

ATCP 31.04(1) (1) Upon receipt of groundwater test results indicating the presence of a fertilizer substance or pesticide substance in groundwater, the department shall undertake a preliminary investigation to determine whether the presence of the fertilizer substance or pesticide substance may have resulted from, or may be affected by an activity subject to department regulation. The department may investigate on the basis of unofficial groundwater test results if the test results are sufficiently reliable to warrant investigation.

ATCP 31.04(2) (2) If, upon preliminary investigation, the department finds that the presence of a fertilizer substance or pesticide substance in groundwater has resulted from, or may be affected by an activity subject to department regulation, the department shall investigate to determine:

ATCP 31.04(2)(a) (a) Whether the presence of the fertilizer substance or pesticide substance in groundwater has resulted from a violation of an existing statute, rule or order administered by the department under s. 94.645, Stats., or ss. 94.67 through 94.71, Stats.

ATCP 31.04(2)(b) (b) Whether the concentration of the fertilizer substance or pesticide substance attains or exceeds an enforcement standard or preventive action limit.

ATCP 31.04 Note Note: If an unofficial groundwater test result is not sufficiently reliable to warrant investigation, the department may nevertheless:

ATCP 31.04 Note 1. Refer the groundwater test results to the department of natural resources, with or without a recommendation for official sampling or other action.

ATCP 31.04 Note 2. Refer the groundwater test results to another regulatory agency, with or without a recommendation for action.

ATCP 31.04 Note 3. Refer the groundwater test results to state or local health authorities, and to county agricultural extension agents.

ATCP 31.04 Note 4. Inform affected persons of the groundwater test results, and suggest voluntary measures to prevent, limit or reduce any substance concentrations which may exist in groundwater.

ATCP 31.04 Note 5. Initiate further investigation or research related to the groundwater test results.

ATCP 31.04 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85.

ATCP 31.05 ATCP 31.05 Violation of existing statute or rule; enforcement options.

ATCP 31.05(1) (1) Fertilizer and pesticide bulk storage; violation of existing rules. If, upon investigation under s. ATCP 31.04 (2), the department finds that the concentration of a fertilizer substance or pesticide substance in groundwater has resulted from a violation of rules adopted by the department under s. 94.645, Stats., the department may proceed against the violator using any of the following enforcement options, even if the concentration does not exceed an enforcement standard or preventive action limit: