Chapter NR 502

NR 502.09(4)(b) (b) A plot plan of the incinerator site including means of limiting access such as fencing, gates, natural barriers; methods of acceptably screening the facility from the surrounding area; general layout of equipment and flow pattern; road access; and location of existing and proposed utilities serving the incinerator.

NR 502.09(4)(c) (c) A report which shall include the following information:

NR 502.09(4)(c)1. 1. The legal description of the property where the incinerator will be located.

NR 502.09(4)(c)2. 2. Population, area and facilities to be served by the incinerator.

NR 502.09(4)(c)3. 3. Anticipated type and quantity of waste to be handled by the incinerator.

NR 502.09(4)(c)4. 4. Persons responsible for incinerator operations.

NR 502.09(4)(c)5. 5. Methods of collecting and treating or disposing of any liquid wastes or waste waters resulting from the operation of the incinerator.

NR 502.09(4)(d) (d) A description of all appurtenances and procedures intended to store refuse beyond the end of the working day and to control dust, odors, fire outside the burning chamber and windblown materials.

NR 502.09(4)(e) (e) A description of all methods of volume reduction including compaction, compression, baling, shredding, grinding, tamping, separating or classifying.

NR 502.09(4)(f) (f) A description of daily clean up procedures.

NR 502.09(4)(g) (g) A description of incinerator inspection and maintenance schedule and procedures.

NR 502.09(4)(h) (h) Detailed drawings and specifications of all structures, equipment and site.

NR 502.09(4)(i) (i) A report which includes furnace design criteria and expected performance data, including emission data.

NR 502.09(4)(j) (j) Identification of the site at which the ash residue will be disposed and alternative sites available for use when the primary site is inoperative.

NR 502.09(5) (5) Operational requirements. No person may operate or maintain an incinerator except in conformance with the following minimum requirements, unless an exemption is granted by the department in writing:

NR 502.09(5)(a) (a) The incinerator shall be equipped, operated and maintained in a nuisance-free manner.

NR 502.09(5)(b) (b) Adequate shelter and sanitary facilities shall be available for personnel.

NR 502.09(5)(c) (c) A sign shall be prominently posted at the entrance to the facility which indicates the name, license number, the hours of operation, necessary safety precautions and any other pertinent information.

NR 502.09(5)(d) (d) All incoming solid waste shall be confined to the designated storage area.

NR 502.09(5)(e) (e) Solid waste shall be stored in conformance with s. NR 502.05.

NR 502.09(5)(f) (f) Dust shall be controlled in the unloading and charging areas.

NR 502.09(5)(g) (g) Permanent records shall be maintained including the weights of material incinerated, the quantity of resulting residue, hours of plant operation, combustion temperatures, residence time and other pertinent information.

NR 502.09(5)(h) (h) Appropriate fire-fighting equipment shall be available in the storage and charging areas and elsewhere as needed.

NR 502.09(5)(i) (i) Arrangements shall be made with the local fire protection agency to provide adequate emergency fire-fighting forces.

NR 502.09(5)(j) (j) Means of communication with emergency facilities shall be provided.

NR 502.09(5)(k) (k) Adequate equipment shall be provided and used to clean the waste storage, waste handling, waste charging, and ash handling areas as may be required in order to maintain the facility in a sanitary condition.

NR 502.09(5)(L) (L) The charging openings as well as all equipment throughout the plant shall be provided with adequate safety equipment.

NR 502.09(5)(m) (m) The incinerator shall be designed and operated such that it will not cause a nuisance because of the emission of noxious odors, gases, contaminants or particulate matter or exceed emission limitations established by state air management rules.

NR 502.09(5)(n) (n) Ash shall be disposed of at a solid waste facility licensed by the department to accept the material or be handled by an alternate method approved in writing by the department. Approval will be issued on a case-by-case basis after review of the information specified in sub. (6).

NR 502.09(5)(o) (o) All wastewater from the incinerator shall be discharged into a sanitary sewer or other system approved in writing by the department.

NR 502.09(5)(p) (p) Upon completion of construction of a new incinerator and at least 10 days prior to initial operation, the department shall be notified to allow inspection of the incinerator both prior to and during any performance tests and initial operation.

NR 502.09(5)(q) (q) Open burning of solid waste may not be conducted.

NR 502.09(5)(r) (r) An approved alternative method shall be used for solid waste disposal during any time that the incinerator is inoperable.

NR 502.09(5)(s) (s) The incoming waste shall be screened to eliminate unacceptable material from entering the facility such as hazardous waste, asbestos, explosive materials or other materials which may endanger operator safety.

NR 502.09(6) (6) Ash characterization. The owner or operator of an incinerator shall undertake a testing program as follows and submit the test results to the department:

NR 502.09(6)(a) (a) An ash testing program shall be completed within 60 days after construction and shake-down of the incinerator. Representative samples of both fly ash and bottom ash shall be tested for physical characteristics, bulk chemical composition, analysis using the appropriate leaching test and analysis using the toxicity characteristics leaching procedure as specified in s. NR 661.0024. Sample collection methods, the number of tests, detection limits, and parameters to be tested for will be specified by the department.

NR 502.09(6)(b) (b) A long-term ash testing program shall be established. For the first year of operation, quarterly testing shall be performed using approved methods and procedures. Thereafter, annual sampling and testing shall be performed. At least one sample of bottom ash and one sample of fly ash, if the ashes are not mechanically combined, or one sample of combined bottom and fly ash, if the ashes are mechanically combined, shall be collected for the required testing. The department may specify an alternate testing program.

NR 502.09 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1988, No. 385, eff. 2-6-88; r. and recr. (1), renum. (4) and (5) to be (5) and (6), cr. (2) (c) and (4), Register, May, 1992, No. 437, eff. 6-1-92; cr. (2) (d), Register, May, 1995, No. 473, eff. 6-1-95; r. and recr. (1), (3), (4) (c), am. (2) (a) to (d), (4) (intro.), (d) to (g), (j), (5) (intro.), (a), (k), (n), (q), (6), (intro.), (a), (b), Register, June, 1996, No. 486, eff. 7-1-96; corrections in (2) (d), (6) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2011 No. 661; CR 19-082: am. (6) (a) Register August 2020 No. 776, eff. 9-1-20.

NR 502.10 NR 502.10 Air curtain destructors.

NR 502.10(1) (1) General.

NR 502.10(1)(a) (a) No person may operate or maintain an air curtain destructor unless the person complies with the general requirements specified in s. NR 502.04 and has obtained a plan of operation approval as specified in sub. (3) and an operating license from the department.

NR 502.10(1)(b) (b) Owners and operators of new or expanded air curtain destructors shall demonstrate compliance with the locational criteria listed in sub. (2).

NR 502.10(2) (2) Locational criteria for air curtain destructor facilities.

NR 502.10(2)(a) (a) Except as otherwise specified in this section, new or expanded air curtain destructor facilities may not be located in any of the following areas, unless an exemption has been granted under par. (b):

NR 502.10(2)(a)1. 1. Within a floodplain.

NR 502.10(2)(a)2. 2. Within 250 feet of any private water supply well, or within 1,200 feet of any public water supply well.

NR 502.10(2)(a)3. 3. Within 250 feet of any navigable lake, pond or flowage.

NR 502.10(2)(a)4. 4. Within 250 feet of any navigable river or stream.

NR 502.10(2)(a)5. 5. Within 100 feet of land owned by a person other than the owner or operator of the facility, unless the facility is screened by natural objects, plantings, fences or other appropriate means so that it is not visible from the property boundary.

NR 502.10(2)(a)6. 6. Within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of any state trunk highway, interstate or federal aid primary highway or the boundary of any public park or state natural area under ss. 23.27 (1) and 23.28 (1), Stats., unless the facility is screened by natural objects, plantings, fences or other appropriate means so that it is not visible from the highway, park or state natural area.

NR 502.10(2)(b) (b) The standards listed under par. (a) 2. to 6. do not apply to above ground self contained air curtain destructors. The department may grant exemptions from the requirements of par. (a) 2. to 6. only upon demonstration by the applicant of circumstances which warrant the exemptions. Exemption from compliance with par. (a) 1. may not be granted.

NR 502.10(3) (3) Plan of operation. No person may establish or construct an air curtain destructor or expand an existing air curtain destructor prior to obtaining approval in writing from the department of a plan of operation for the facility. The plan of operation shall include a design which complies with the design and operational requirements in sub. (4) and contains at a minimum the following:

NR 502.10(3)(a) (a) Name, address and telephone number of the facility operator.

NR 502.10(3)(b) (b) A description of the types, quantity and sources of material proposed to be burned, and anticipated frequency of burning.

NR 502.10(3)(c) (c) Written consent to operate the facility from all adult residents and business owners within 1/4 mile of the burning pad, except that consent is not required from any person who was not an adult resident or proprietor at the time the facility was initially licensed by the department, unless that person is a successor in interest to a person who was an adult resident or proprietor at the time. If a resident or proprietor who previously consented to operation of the facility withdraws the consent in writing, the withdrawal is not effective until the end of the current license period for the facility.

NR 502.10(4) (4) Design and operational requirements. No person may construct, operate or maintain an air curtain destructor except in conformance with all local burning regulations and permits, state air management rules, with any approved plan of operation and the following minimum requirements:

NR 502.10(4)(a) (a) The burning pit shall be constructed of a material which will result in a pit of permanent dimensions. Unconsolidated soils are not an acceptable material for construction of the burning pit. Maintenance shall be performed on the pit to keep its dimensions constant to keep the air curtain destructor operating properly.

NR 502.10(4)(b) (b) The burning pit floor shall be constructed in a manner which provides for proper drainage.

NR 502.10(4)(c) (c) The burning pit shall be oriented perpendicular to the prevailing wind with the plenum chamber and blower on the downwind side.

NR 502.10(4)(d) (d) The charging area shall be paved with the concrete pad for a distance of at least 10 feet from the edge of the burning pit and sloped away from the chamber. Adequate safety devices shall be provided to prevent loading equipment from falling into the burning pit.

NR 502.10(4)(e) (e) Only clean wood and brush may be burned in an air curtain destructor. Brush shall be burned only in conformance with s. 287.07, Stats.

NR 502.10(4)(f) (f) The stockpile of waste material shall be kept a minimum of 100 feet from the burner. The total amount of stockpiled waste shall be limited to the amount that can be burned in 5 days.

NR 502.10(4)(g) (g) Charging shall be done to prevent damage to the pit wall and floor.

NR 502.10(4)(h) (h) Waste shall be placed so that it does not extend above the burning pit or interfere with air circulation.

NR 502.10(4)(i) (i) Start-up shall be accomplished by using wood kindling material to ignite larger materials. Where sufficient quantities of wood kindling materials are unobtainable, other methods approved by the department in writing may be used.

NR 502.10(4)(j) (j) Burning may be conducted only during daylight hours. Quantities of materials to be burned shall be restricted to allow for complete burnout while the facility is attended.

NR 502.10(4)(k) (k) Fire-fighting equipment shall be kept at the facility in case of emergency. Arrangements shall also be made with the local government to provide fire protection. Fire breaks shall be provided for a distance of at least 100 feet from the air curtain destructor. Greater setbacks may be specified by the department.

NR 502.10(4)(L) (L) The burning pit shall be cleaned out on a regular schedule. Ashes may not be allowed to accumulate to a depth of greater than 3 feet. The department may specify a lesser depth.

NR 502.10(4)(m) (m) The air curtain destructor shall be surrounded by a fence with a lockable gate. The gate shall be kept locked when no attendant is on duty.

NR 502.10(4)(n) (n) An attendant shall be on duty at all times when the blower unit is in operation. All fires shall be extinguished when the blower unit is shut off.

NR 502.10(4)(o) (o) Warning signs shall be posted at intervals around the entire air curtain destructor installation notifying people to keep out of the area.

NR 502.10(4)(p) (p) A sign acceptable to the department shall be posted at the entrance to the operation which indicates the name, acceptable wastes, license number, the hours of operation, penalty for nonauthorized use, necessary safety precautions and any other pertinent information.

NR 502.10(4)(q) (q) Surface water shall be diverted away from the active operating area, storage area and access areas.

NR 502.10(4)(r) (r) Ash resulting from the operation shall be disposed of at a facility approved by the department to receive such material.

NR 502.10(4)(s) (s) The facility shall be operated in a nuisance-free manner consistent with this chapter and in accordance with the state air management rules in chs. NR 400 to 499.

NR 502.10 Note Note: Air curtain destructor facilities must obtain a burning permit during certain times of the year under s. 26.12, Stats., or may be required to obtain a burning permit from the township in which the burning will occur.

NR 502.10 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1988, No. 385, eff. 2-1-88; r. and recr. (1), (2), (3), am. (4) (intro.), (a), (e), (f), (h), (i), r. (4) (m), (n), (5), r. (4) (m), (n), (5), rn. (4) (o) to (u) to be (4) (m) to (s) and am. (4) (n), (p), (s), Register, June, 1996, No. 486, eff. 7-1-96; CR 05-020: am. (2) (a) 6., Register January 2006 No. 601, eff. 2-1-06.

NR 502.11 NR 502.11 Woodburning facilities and open burning.

NR 502.11(1) (1) General.

NR 502.11(1)(a) (a) Unless exempt under sub. (2), owners and operators of woodburning facilities shall comply with the general requirements in s. NR 502.04, comply with the design and operational requirements in sub. (5), and obtain a plan of operation approval as specified in sub. (4) and an operating license from the department.

NR 502.11(1)(b) (b) Unless exempt under sub. (2), owners and operators of new or expanded woodburning facilities shall demonstrate compliance with the locational criteria in sub. (3).

NR 502.11(2) (2) Exemptions. The following woodburning facilities are exempt from licensing and all requirements of this section, although a burning permit from the department may still be required during certain times of the year in counties within a forest fire control area. These exempt facilities may not burn wet combustible rubbish, garbage, oily substances, asphalt, plastic or rubber products, unless these substances are exempt under s. NR 429.04.

NR 502.11(2)(a) (a) Burning of trees, limbs, stumps, brush or weeds, except for yard waste, as a result of agricultural or silvicultural activities, if the burning is conducted on the property where the waste is generated.

NR 502.11(2)(b) (b) Burning of trees, limbs, stumps, brush or weeds, except for yard waste, as a result of clearing or maintenance of highway, railroad or utility rights-of-way and other land clearing operations, if the burning is conducted on the property where the waste is generated.

NR 502.11(2)(c) (c) Burning existing structures for practice and instruction of fire fighters or testing of fire fighting equipment. If the burning includes a building, a demolition notification shall be submitted to the air management program of the department. Asphalt shingles and asphalt and plastic siding shall be removed from structures unless they are considered necessary to the fire practice. All material containing asbestos shall be removed in compliance with ch. NR 447. Ash from the burned structure shall be disposed of, when cool, in a landfill approved by the department. The department may approve alternate ash disposal sites if groundwater and surface water quality will not be affected.

NR 502.11(2)(d) (d) Burning of yard waste and small quantities of dry combustible household rubbish, including paper, cardboard and clean untreated wood from a single family or household, on property where it is generated, unless prohibited by local ordinance.

NR 502.11(2)(e) (e) In emergency situations such as natural disasters, brush and other yard waste can be disposed in a landfill or burned without energy recovery, with approval from the department.

NR 502.11(2)(f) (f) One time burning of dry, unpainted and untreated wood, stumps, trees and brush in conformance with s. 287.07, Stats. Department staff shall be notified prior to the burn to obtain concurrence that the burn is in accordance with this provision and that the amount of this wood to be burned on a one time basis and the rate of burning comply with state air management rules in chs. NR 400 to 499.

NR 502.11 Note Note: Woodburning facility license requirements do not apply to backfires set by fire control personnel to aid in controlling forest fires or fires set for forest, wildlife habitat or grassland management purposes.