AB917: Bill Text

AB917,45,17 (c) The record shall consist of the contested case portion of the proceeding. Views given under par. (a) and all written comments submitted from any source shall be placed in the file of the proceeding and shall be given appropriate probative value by the hearing examiner or decisionmaker.

AB917,45,18 (d) Hearings conducted under this section may be continued for just cause.

AB917,45,25 (e) If evidence of conformance with applicable zoning ordinances as required by s. 293.49 (1) (a) 6. is not presented by the time testimony is completed, the department shall close the record and continue the hearing. The duration of the continuance of the hearing shall be specified by the department at the time the continuance begins, after first requesting the applicant to state the anticipated time at which the evidence will be provided. The continuance may be extended by the department prior to its expiration upon notice to all parties if good cause is shown.

AB917,46,3 (f) Each approval or denial of a license or permit considered at the hearing under this section shall be made in findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an order setting forth reasons with clarity and in detail.

AB917,160 Section 160 . 293.47 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,46,9 293.47 (1) (b) “Geologic information" means information concerning descriptions of a nonferrous an ore body, descriptions of reserves, tonnages, and grades of nonferrous ore, descriptions of a drill core or bulk sample including analysis, and descriptions of drill hole depths, distances, and similar information related to the nonferrous ore body.

AB917,161 Section 161 . 293.49 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,46,13 293.49 (1) (a) (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (2) and s. 293.50 and except with respect to property specified in s. 41.41 (11), within 90 days of the completion of the public hearing record, the department shall issue the mining permit if it finds:

AB917,162 Section 162 . 293.49 (1) (a) 2m. of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,163 Section 163 . 293.495 of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,164 Section 164. 293.50 of the statutes is created to read:

AB917,46,18 293.50 Moratorium on issuance of permits for mining of sulfide ore bodies. (1) In this section:

AB917,46,24 (a) “Pollution" means degradation that results in any violation of any environmental law as determined by an administrative proceeding, civil action, criminal action, or other legal proceeding. For the purpose of this paragraph, issuance of an order or acceptance of an agreement requiring corrective action or a stipulated fine, forfeiture, or other penalty is considered a determination of a violation, regardless of whether there is a finding or admission of liability.

AB917,47,2 (b) “Sulfide ore body" means a mineral deposit in which nonferrous metals are mixed with sulfide minerals.

AB917,47,4 (2) The department may not issue a permit under s. 293.49 for the purpose of the mining of a sulfide ore body until all of the following conditions are satisfied:

AB917,47,10 (a) The department determines, based on information provided by an applicant for a permit under s. 293.49 and verified by the department, that a mining operation has operated in a sulfide ore body which, together with the host nonferrous rock, has a net acid generating potential in the United States or Canada for at least 10 years without the pollution of groundwater or surface water from acid drainage at the tailings site or at the mine site or from the release of heavy metals.

AB917,47,16 (b) The department determines, based on information provided by an applicant for a permit under s. 293.49 and verified by the department, that a mining operation that operated in a sulfide ore body which, together with the host nonferrous rock, has a net acid generating potential in the United States or Canada has been closed for at least 10 years without the pollution of groundwater or surface water from acid drainage at the tailings site or at the mine site or from the release of heavy metals.

AB917,47,22 (2m) (a) The department may not base its determination under sub. (2) (a) or (b) on any mining operation that has been listed on the national priorities list under 42 USC 9605 (a) (8) (B) or any mining operation for which the operator is no longer in business and has no successor that may be liable for any contamination from the mining operation and for which there are no other persons that may be liable for any contamination from the mining operation.

AB917,48,2 (b) The department may not base its determination under sub. (2) (a) or (b) on a mining operation unless the department determines, based on relevant data from groundwater or surface water monitoring, that the mining operation has not caused significant environmental pollution from acid drainage at the tailings site or at the mine site or from the release of heavy metals.

AB917,48,4 (3) This section applies without regard to the date of submission of the permit application.

AB917,165 Section 165 . 293.51 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,48,6 293.51 (title) Bonds and other security.

AB917,166 Section 166 . 293.51 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,48,23 293.51 (1) Upon notification that an application for a prospecting or mining permit has been approved by the department but prior to commencing prospecting or mining, the operator shall file with the department a bond conditioned on faithful performance of all of the requirements of this chapter and all rules adopted by the department under this chapter. The bond shall be furnished by a surety company licensed to do business in this state. In lieu of a bond, the operator may deposit cash, certificates of deposit, or government securities with the department. Interest received on certificates of deposit and government securities shall be paid to the operator. The amount of the bond or other security required shall be equal to the estimated cost to the state of fulfilling the reclamation plan, in relation to that portion of the site that will be disturbed by the end of the following year. The estimated cost of reclamation of each prospecting or mining site shall be determined by the department on the basis of relevant factors including, but not limited to, expected changes in the price index, topography of the site, methods being employed, depth and composition of overburden and depth of nonferrous metallic mineral deposit being mined.

AB917,167 Section 167 . 293.51 (1g) of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,168 Section 168 . 293.51 (1m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,169 Section 169. 293.51 (1r) of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,170 Section 170 . 293.51 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,49,6 293.51 (3) Upon approval of the operator's bond or other security under subs. (1), (1g), (1m), and (1r), mining application, and certificate of insurance, the department shall issue written authorization to commence mining at the permitted mining site in accordance with the approved mining and reclamation plans.

AB917,171 Section 171 . 293.51 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,172 Section 172 . 293.55 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,49,12 293.55 (1) (c) Substantial changes. The department shall determine if any change in the mining or reclamation plans is substantial and provide notice of its determination in the same manner as specified under s. 293.43 (2m) (b) (3) (b) 1. to 3.

AB917,173 Section 173 . 293.55 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,49,19 293.55 (1) (d) Notice. The department shall provide notice of any modification which involves an increase or decrease in the area of a mining site or a substantial change in the mining or reclamation plan in the same manner as an original application for a mining permit under s. 293.43 (2m) (3). If 5 or more interested persons do not request a hearing in writing within 30 days of notice, no hearing is required on the modification. The notice shall include a statement to this effect.

AB917,174 Section 174 . 293.65 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,49,25 293.65 (3) (a) An approval under s. 281.34 is required to withdraw groundwater for prospecting or mining or to dewater mines if the capacity and rate of withdrawal of all wells involved in the withdrawal of groundwater or the dewatering of mines exceeds 100,000 gallons each day. A permit under s. 283.31 is required to discharge pollutants resulting from the dewatering of mines.

AB917,175 Section 175. 293.65 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,50,23 293.65 (3) (b) The department may not issue an approval under s. 281.34 if the withdrawal of groundwater for prospecting or mining purposes or the dewatering of mines will result in the unreasonable detriment of public or private water supplies or the unreasonable detriment of public rights in the waters of the state. No withdrawal of groundwater for prospecting or mining purposes or the dewatering of mines may be made to the unreasonable detriment of public or private water supplies or the unreasonable detriment of public rights in the waters of the state. Notwithstanding any limitation on approval conditions in s. 281.34, if the department determines that a proposed withdrawal of groundwater or dewatering of mines will result in the unreasonable detriment of public or private water supplies or the unreasonable detriment of public rights in the waters of the state the department shall include conditions in the mining or prospecting permit or in an approval issued under s. 281.34 to ensure that the withdrawal or dewatering will not result in the unreasonable detriment of public or private water supplies or the unreasonable detriment of public rights in the waters of the state. These conditions may include a requirement that the applicant for the mining or prospecting permit or approval under s. 281.34 provide a replacement water supply of similar quality, provide an increased amount of water to the water supply, or temporarily augment the quantity of water in, or flowing into or from, the affected waters of the state that is of substantially similar quality and that has substantially similar characteristics to the water that was in the affected waters of the state before any proposed mining or prospecting activity began.

AB917,176 Section 176 . 293.66 of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,177 Section 177 . 293.81 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,51,16 293.81 Exploring, bulk sampling, prospecting, and mining without authorization. Any person who engages in exploration without a license or bulk sampling without the necessary license or approvals shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each parcel as defined under s. 293.21 (1) (b) on which unlicensed exploration or bulk sampling without the necessary license or approvals took place. Any person who authorizes or engages in prospecting without a prospecting permit or any operator who authorizes or engages in mining without a mining permit and written authorization to mine under s. 293.51 (3) shall forfeit all profits obtained from such illegal activities and not more than $10,000 for each day during which the mine was in operation. The operator shall be liable to the department for the full cost of reclaiming the affected area of land and any damages caused by the mining operation. Each day's violation of this section shall be deemed a separate offense. If the violator is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or association, any officer, director, member, manager or partner who knowingly authorizes, supervises or contracts for exploration, bulk sampling, prospecting, or mining shall also be subject to the penalties of this section.

AB917,178 Section 178 . 293.86 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,52,4 293.86 Visitorial powers of department. Any duly authorized officer, employee or representative of the department may enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or at which any prospecting or metallic mining operation or facility is located or is being constructed or installed at any reasonable time for the purpose of ascertaining the state of compliance with this chapter and chs. 281, 285, 289 to 292, 295, and 299, subchs. I and II of ch. 295, and rules adopted pursuant thereto. No person may refuse entry or access to any such authorized representative of the department who requests entry for purposes of inspection, and who presents appropriate credentials, nor may any person obstruct, hamper or interfere with any such inspection. The department shall furnish to the prospector or operator, as indicated in the prospecting or mining permit, a written report setting forth all observations, relevant information and data which relate to compliance status.

AB917,179 Section 179 . 293.95 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB917,52,7 293.95 Review. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the department under this chapter may obtain its review under ch. 227.

AB917,180 Section 180 . Chapter 295 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,52,9 CHAPTER 295

AB917,52,11 NONMETALLIC MINING RECLAMATION; OIL AND GAS; FERROUS METALLIC MINING

AB917,181 Section 181 . 295.16 (4) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,52,14 295.16 (4) (f) Any mining operation, the reclamation of which is required in a permit obtained under ch. 293 or subch. III of ch. 295.

AB917,182 Section 182 . Subchapter III of chapter 295 [precedes 295.40] of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,183 Section 183 . 299.85 (7) (a) 2. and 4. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB917,53,6 299.85 (7) (a) 2. Notwithstanding minimum or maximum forfeitures specified in ss. 29.314 (7), 29.334 (2), 29.604 (5) (a), 29.611 (11), 29.889 (10) (c) 2., 29.969, 29.971 (1) (a), (1m) (a), (3), (3m), (11g) (b), (11m) (b), and (11r) (b), 30.298 (1), (2), and (3), 30.49 (1) (a) and (c), 31.23 (2), 281.75 (19), 281.98 (1), 281.99 (2) (a) 1., 283.91 (2), 285.41 (7), 285.57 (5), 285.59 (8), 285.87 (1), 287.95 (1), (2) (b), and (3) (b), 287.97, 289.96 (2) and (3) (a), 291.97 (1), 292.99 (1) and (1m), 293.81, 293.87 (3) and (4) (a), 295.19 (3) (a) and (b) 1., 295.37 (2), 295.79 (2) and (4), 299.15 (4), 299.51 (5), 299.53 (4) (c) 1., 299.62 (3) (a) and (c), and 299.97 (1), if a regulated entity that qualifies under sub. (2) for participation in the Environmental Compliance Audit Program corrects violations that it discloses in a report that meets the requirements of sub. (3) within 90 days after the department receives the report that meets the requirements of sub. (3), the regulated entity may not be required to forfeit more than $500 for each violation, regardless of the number of days during which the violation continues.

AB917,53,17 4. Notwithstanding minimum or maximum forfeitures specified in ss. 29.314 (7), 29.334 (2), 29.604 (5) (a), 29.611 (11), 29.889 (10) (c) 2., 29.969, 29.971 (1) (a), (1m) (a), (3), (3m), (11g) (b), (11m) (b), and (11r) (b), 30.298 (1), (2), and (3), 30.49 (1) (a) and (c), 31.23 (2), 281.75 (19), 281.98 (1), 281.99 (2) (a) 1., 283.91 (2), 285.41 (7), 285.57 (5), 285.59 (8), 285.87 (1), 287.95 (1), (2) (b), and (3) (b), 287.97, 289.96 (2) and (3) (a), 291.97 (1), 292.99 (1) and (1m), 293.81, 293.87 (3) and (4) (a), 295.19 (3) (a) and (b) 1., 295.37 (2), 295.79 (2) and (4), 299.15 (4), 299.51 (5), 299.53 (4) (c) 1., 299.62 (3) (a) and (c), and 299.97 (1), if the department approves a compliance schedule under sub. (6) and the regulated entity corrects the violations according to the compliance schedule, the regulated entity may not be required to forfeit more than $500 for each violation, regardless of the number of days during which the violation continues.

AB917,184 Section 184 . 299.95 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,54,10 299.95 Enforcement; duty of department of justice; expenses. The attorney general shall enforce chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 and this chapter, except ss. 285.57, 285.59, and 299.64, and all rules, special orders, licenses, plan approvals, permits, and water quality certifications of the department, except those promulgated or issued under ss. 285.57, 285.59, and 299.64 and except as provided in ss. 281.36 (14) (f), 285.86 and 299.85 (7) (am). Except as provided in s. 295.79 (1), the The circuit court for Dane county or for any other county where a violation occurred in whole or in part has jurisdiction to enforce chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 or this chapter or the rule, special order, license, plan approval, permit, or certification by injunctional and other relief appropriate for enforcement. For purposes of this proceeding where chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 or this chapter or the rule, special order, license, plan approval, permit or certification prohibits in whole or in part any pollution, a violation is considered a public nuisance. The department of natural resources may enter into agreements with the department of justice to assist with the administration of chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 and this chapter. Any funds paid to the department of justice under these agreements shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.455 (1) (k).

AB917,185 Section 185 . 323.60 (1) (gm) of the statutes is repealed.

AB917,186 Section 186 . 323.60 (5) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,54,22 323.60 (5) (d) 3. All facilities with 10 or more employees in major group classifications 10 to 13 in the standard industrial classification manual, 1987 edition, published by the U.S. office of management and budget, at which a toxic chemical is used at or above an applicable threshold quantity, except that compliance with the toxic chemical release form requirements under this subdivision is not required for the placement of a toxic chemical in a storage or disposal site or facility that is located at a facility with a permit under ch. 293 or a mining permit under subch. III of ch. 295 if the toxic chemical consists of or is contained in merchantable by-products, as defined in s. 293.01 (7) or 295.41 (25), minerals, as defined in s. 293.01 (8), or refuse, as defined in s. 293.01 (25) or 295.41 (41).

AB917,187 Section 187 . 706.01 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,54,25 706.01 (9) “Mining company" means any person or agent of a person who has a prospecting permit under s. 293.45 or a mining permit under s. 293.49 or 295.58.

AB917,188 Section 188. 710.02 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,55,3 710.02 (2) (d) An exploration mining lease as defined in s. 107.001 (1) and land used for mining and associated activities under chs. 293 and 295.

AB917,189 Section 189 . 2013 Wisconsin Act 1, section 103 is repealed.

AB917,190 Section 190 . 2017 Wisconsin Act 183, section 27 is repealed.

AB917,191 Section 191 . NR 132.06 (4) of the administrative code is created to read:

AB917,55,23 NR 132.06 (4) The department has been directed, pursuant to ch. 421, laws of 1977, to assure that mining activities conducted in this state result in a minimization of disturbance to wetlands. The legislature has also directed, in ch. 377, laws of 1977, that department rules relating to metallic mining wastes take into consideration the special requirements of metallic mining operations in the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of sites and facilities for the disposal of such wastes as well as any special environmental concerns that will arise as a result of the disposal of the same. The department has established, in s. NR 1.95 an overall framework for its decisions affecting wetlands. It is, therefore, the intent of this subsection to implement these directives recognizing that, depending on the location and site conditions involved in a particular case, it may be relatively easy to avoid entirely the use of wetlands in some cases while being virtually impossible to avoid their limited and carefully contemplated use in others and that the goal of the siting process shall be the selection of sites that are most favorable taking into account all pertinent factors. For purposes, therefore, of administering these directives and rules and acting on permits, licenses and approvals, the following standards shall be applied:

AB917,56,2 (a) The objective of the applicant's site selection process for mining facilities, and for the disposal or storage of wastes or materials produced by such activities, shall be the selection of a viable site that would result in the least overall adverse environmental impact.

AB917,56,9 (b) The applicant's site selection process shall include the identification and analysis of various alternatives so that a legitimate comparison between the most viable sites can be made by the department, realizing that a comparison will be made between several sites, all of which may have some imperfections with regard to environmental acceptability and none of which, in some cases, may be found to be environmentally acceptable as a result of compliance with s. 1.11, Stats., and other applicable Wisconsin laws.

AB917,56,19 (c) To ensure compliance with the requirement to minimize the disturbance of wetlands, the applicant shall identify and the department shall analyze viable sites which would result in the least overall adverse environmental impact and which would also avoid the use of any wetlands. If such sites avoiding the use of wetlands cannot be identified pursuant to the standards in this subsection, then the applicant shall identify and the department shall analyze those viable sites which would result in the least overall adverse environmental impact and which would also utilize, consistent with minimizing total environmental impacts, the least acreage and the least valuable wetlands directly and which would cause the least adverse impact on the wetlands and waters of the state outside the proposed area of use.

AB917,56,24 (d) The use of wetlands for mining activities, including the disposal or storage of mining wastes or materials, or the use of other lands for such uses which would have a significant adverse effect on wetlands, are presumed to be unnecessary unless the applicant demonstrates, taking into account economic, environmental, technical, recreational and aesthetic factors, that the site proposed for use:

AB917,56,25 1. Constitutes a viable site;

AB917,57,2 2. Is the alternative which causes the least overall adverse environmental impact;

AB917,57,9 3. Will be used in a manner so as to minimize the loss of wetlands functions which those wetlands may serve with respect to related wetlands or other waters of the state, or both, outside the proposed area of use. As used in this paragraph, a presumption shall not be construed to be a prohibition, but rather the creating of a burden of proof on the applicant to demonstrate by the preponderance of evidence that it has complied with all the siting principles and standards of this subsection. As used in this section, viable means technically and economically feasible.

AB917,57,25 (e) With respect to mining activities sited, in whole or in part, in wetlands and predating these rules as well as ch. 377, laws of 1977, the use of such wetlands for such activities shall be deemed necessary hereunder and the site of such use shall be deemed a viable site. The standards of minimization herein established to the extent applicable to such preexisting activities by reason of s. 293.13 (2) (c) 8., Stats., shall be so applicable only to the extent specified in s. 293.91 (2), Stats. Furthermore, any additional activities undertaken in wetlands by an applicant subsequent to the effective date of these rules, which additional activities are undertaken to bring activities of the applicant, which were sited in wetlands prior to these rules, into prompt compliance with chs. 30, 281 and 283, Stats., as well as regulations, orders and decisions thereunder, shall be deemed to be necessary so long as the applicant demonstrates that, taking into account economic, environmental, technical, recreational and aesthetic factors, the site proposed for use by such additional activities will be used in a manner so as to minimize the loss of wetlands and the net loss of functions which those wetlands may serve with respect to related wetlands or other waters of the state, or both, outside the proposed area of use.

AB917,58,3 (f) The department shall give special consideration to a site where it finds that the degree of necessary improvement is of such extent and expense that compliance cannot be accomplished without affecting wetlands.

AB917,58,6 (g) The applicant shall assist in the evaluation of environmental impacts as mandated herein. All of the applicable following wetlands functions and values shall be considered except as provided in par. (h):

AB917,58,22 1. `Biological functions.' Wetlands are environments in which a variety of biological functions occur. In many cases, wetlands are very productive ecosystems which support a wide diversity of aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Many wetland areas are vital spawning, breeding, nursery or feeding grounds for a variety of indigenous species. Wetlands are sometimes the habitats for state or federally designated rare, threatened or endangered species. Evaluation of the biological functions should include consideration of the kinds, numbers and relative abundance and distribution of plant and animal species supported by the area, net primary productivity of plant communities, wildlife production and use, and the kinds and amount of organic material transported to other aquatic systems as a potential energy source for consumer organisms in those systems. Habitat evaluation should consider the short- and long-term importance of the wetlands to both aquatic and terrestrial species. In addition, the evaluation should include any specialized wetland functions essential for an organism to complete its life cycle requirements such as cover, spawning, feeding and the like. Each wetland under consideration should be evaluated on a site specific basis.

AB917,59,11 2. `Watershed functions.' In addition to their biological functions, wetlands may serve important physical and chemical functions with respect to other wetlands and waters of the state. A specific wetland, or set of wetlands, may play a critical role in maintaining the stability of the entire system to which it is physically and functionally related. This functional role may include the maintenance of both the hydrologic patterns and the physical and chemical processes of related wetlands and other related waters of the state. Evaluation of wetland functions requires a thorough analysis of the manner and extent to which the wetland serves to maintain the hydrologic, physical and chemical processes of the larger ecosystem to which it belongs. Factors to be considered in the evaluation process are discussed below. The use of non-wetland areas may alter the hydrologic, chemical and physical processes of wetlands outside the proposed area of use. The possibility of such impacts from the use area into wetlands and other waters of the state outside the proposed area of use should be carefully considered.

AB917,60,17 2c. `Hydrologic support functions.' A particular wetland may function to maintain the hydrologic characteristics, and thereby the physical and chemical integrity of an entire aquatic ecosystem. Assessment of the hydrologic support function shall consider the effects that modifications of a particular area could have on the hydrologic relations to the whole wetland or aquatic ecosystem, and on the cumulative effects of piecemeal alterations. Evaluation of wetlands hydrologic functions shall include consideration of the wetland's location and topographic position, the areal extent of the wetland within the associated system, the degree of connection with other wetlands and waters of the state, and the hydrologic regime. Hydrologic regime refers to the hydrologic characteristics of a wetland such as the source of the water, its velocity, depth and fluctuation, renewal rate and temporal patterns on timing. The water source determines ionic composition, oxygen saturation, and potential pollutant load. Velocity affects turbulence and the ability of the water to carry suspended particulate matter. Water depth and fluctuation patterns have a critical influence on the vegetation, wildlife, and physical-chemical properties of the sediments and overlying waters. Renewal rate describes the frequency of replacement of the water which depends on water depth and volume, frequency of inundation and velocity. The temporal pattern refers to the frequency of inundation and its regularity or predictability. The hydrologic regime of a wetland influences the biological availability and transport of nutrients, detritus and other organic and inorganic constituents between the particular wetland and other water bodies. Other facets of the hydrologic regime may be considered in specific cases. The location and topographic position of any particular wetland in relation to other water systems determine in part the degree to which they are hydrologically connected. The strongest hydrologic connections are likely to occur between wetlands and other water systems which exchange water frequently and/or are nearest to each other. The areal extent of any particular wetland in relation to the total area of the surrounding watershed is an important criterion in evaluating the hydrologic support function. This includes the relative spatial relationships between specific areas under study and the total area of the adjacent wetland and any open water areas in the watershed.

AB917,60,24 2f. `Groundwater function.' Groundwater may discharge to a wetland, recharge from a wetland to another area, evaporate from, and/or flow through a wetland. The direction and rate of groundwater flow in a given wetland may change. The criteria that should be considered for their influence on the recharge potential include the total areal extent of wetlands and other waters in the particular drainage basin, and the hydrologic characteristics of the associated aquifer or aquifers including porosity, permeability and transmissivity.

AB917,61,13 2i. `Storm and flood water storage.' Some wetlands may be important for storing water and retarding flow during periods of flood or storm discharge. Even wetlands without surface water connections to other water bodies may serve this function. Such wetlands can reduce or at least modify the potentially damaging effects of floods by intercepting and retaining water which might otherwise be channelled through open flow systems. The importance of a given wetland for storm and flood water storage may be modified by the cumulative effects of the proposed activities and previous activities within the watershed. The flood storage capacity of a particular wetland is primarily a function of its area, basin shape, substrate texture and previous degree of saturation. In general, the greater the area of the wetland and the coarser the texture of the substrate, the greater the potential for flood water storage, given unsaturated field conditions. Similarly, wetland vegetation is an important factor in reducing the energy of flood or storm water.

AB917,62,2 2m. `Shoreline protection.' Wetlands also function to dissipate the energy of wave motion and runoff surges from storms and snowmelt, and thus lessen the effects of shoreline erosion. Wave action shielding by wetlands is not only important in preserving shorelines and channels, but also in protecting valuable residential, commercial and industrial acreage located adjacent to the aquatic ecosystems. The capacity of a particular wetland to act as an erosional buffer for a shoreline depends on such factors as the vegetation characteristics, the shape and size of the wetland and the adjacent shoreline morphology. The protection of shorelines by wetlands depends primarily on the floristic composition, structure and density of the plant community. Shoreline morphology along with fetch, adjacent bottom topography and wetland vegetation are important considerations in evaluating a wetland for its shoreline protection functions. Wetlands along shorelines with long fetches are likely to be associated with major waters of the state and shall not be considered for use.

AB917,62,12 2p. `Other watershed functions.' A wetland may perform a variety of other important functions within a watershed. Wetlands may degrade, inactivate, or store materials such as heavy metals, sediments, nutrients, and organic compounds that would otherwise drain into waterways. However, wetlands may subsequently release potentially harmful materials if the wetland soil is disturbed or its oxidation-reduction conditions altered. Potential alterations of these processes must be considered in the analysis, especially with regard to impacts on wetlands outside the proposed area of use. In assessing the importance of a particular wetland to the performance of watershed functions which influence the physical, chemical and biological properties of related waters, the following shall be considered:

AB917,62,13 a. Density and distribution of plants;

AB917,62,14 b. Area, depth and basin shape;

AB917,62,15 c. Hydrologic regime;

AB917,62,16 d. Physical, chemical and biological properties of the water and soil;

AB917,62,17 e. Relationship of wetland size to watershed size;