SB494: Bill Text

2021 Senate BILL 494

August 5, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Feyen, Ballweg, Cowles, Felzkowski, Jacque, Marklein, Stafsholt and Stroebel, cosponsored by Representatives Steineke, Kitchens, Knodl, Kuglitsch, Loudenbeck, Murphy, Mursau, Rozar, Schraa, Tittl and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

SB494,1,4 An Act to amend 23.24 (2) (a) 1., 23.24 (2) (a) 2., 23.24 (2) (c) 7., 23.24 (3) (b) and 23.24 (3) (c); and to create 23.24 (1) (je), 23.24 (4) (b) 5. and 23.24 (4) (b) 6. of the statutes; relating to: aquatic plant management plans and permit exemptions.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes numerous changes relating to the control of aquatic plants using chemicals or biological agents.

Current law requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish a program for the waters of this state that meet several goals, including implementing efforts to protect and develop native aquatic plants and regulate how aquatic plants are managed. The bill requires that DNR efforts to protect native aquatic plants rely on widely accepted methods supported by peer-reviewed science to suppress or eradicate invasive or nuisance aquatic plants. The bill also requires that DNR plans to regulate aquatic plants ensure invasive and nuisance aquatic plants are suppressed or eradicated to the greatest extent possible.

Under current law, subject to exceptions, a person may not control aquatic plants in waters of the state by the use of chemicals or the introduction of biological agents without a valid aquatic plant management permit issued by DNR. As a condition of receiving an aquatic plant management permit, DNR may require the applicant to submit a plan for how aquatic plants will be introduced, removed, or controlled. The bill provides that DNR must give equal consideration to plans that will suppress or eradicate invasive or nuisance aquatic plants by use of chemicals and provides that the plan requirements may not impose an undue financial burden on permit applicants or property owners.

The bill also creates exemptions from the permit requirement for the introduction of chemicals or biological agents to a private pond, which the bill defines as “a surface water less than 10 acres in size that is surrounded by the private property of one or more owners, with no public access to the water, and that has either no surface water discharge or surface water discharge that can be controlled.” Under the bill, a person who applies a chemical treatment to a private pond to suppress or eradicate invasive or nuisance aquatic plants is exempt if the person is certified as a commercial applicator by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in the aquatic and mosquito pest control category and follows U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for chemical type and use. The bill also exempts a person who applies to a private pond a biological agent to improve water quality at a concentration that does not cause acute or chronic toxicity for aquatic organisms or a dye that is not labeled for herbicide use.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB494,1 Section 1. 23.24 (1) (je) of the statutes is created to read:

SB494,2,5 23.24 (1) (je) “Private pond” means a surface water less than 10 acres in size that is surrounded by the private property of one or more owners, with no public access to the water, and that has either no surface water discharge or surface water discharge that can be controlled.

SB494,2 Section 2. 23.24 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB494,2,10 23.24 (2) (a) 1. Implement efforts to protect and develop diverse and stable communities of native aquatic plants using widely accepted methods that are supported by peer-reviewed science to suppress or eradicate invasive or nuisance aquatic plants.

SB494,3 Section 3. 23.24 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB494,2,14 23.24 (2) (a) 2. Regulate how aquatic plants are managed to ensure invasive or nuisance aquatic plants are suppressed or eradicated to the greatest extent possible.

SB494,4 Section 4. 23.24 (2) (c) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB494,3,4 23.24 (2) (c) 7. The requirements for plans that the department may require under sub. (3) (b). Plan requirements may not impose an undue financial burden on permit applicants or property owners.

SB494,5 Section 5. 23.24 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB494,3,11 23.24 (3) (b) The department may require that an application for an aquatic plant management permit contain a plan for the department's approval as to how the aquatic plants will be introduced, removed, or controlled. The department shall give equal consideration to plans that will suppress or eradicate invasive or nuisance aquatic plants by use of chemicals that have been labeled and registered for aquatic plant control by the U.S. environmental protection agency.

SB494,6 Section 6. 23.24 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB494,3,17 23.24 (3) (c) The department may promulgate a rule to establish fees for aquatic plant management permits. Under the rule, the department may establish a different fee for an aquatic plant management permit to manage aquatic plants that are located in a body of water that is entirely confined on the property of one private property owner owners.

SB494,7 Section 7. 23.24 (4) (b) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

SB494,3,21 23.24 (4) (b) 5. A person who applies a chemical treatment to a private pond to suppress or eradicate invasive or nuisance aquatic plants if all of the following apply:

SB494,3,24 a. The person is certified as a commercial applicator by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection in the aquatic and mosquito pest control category.

SB494,4,2 b. The person uses only those chemicals that have been labeled and registered for aquatic plant control by the U.S. environmental protection agency.

SB494,4,4 c. The person follows U.S. environmental protection agency label directions for appropriate application methods and rates.

SB494,8 Section 8. 23.24 (4) (b) 6. of the statutes is created to read:

SB494,4,8 23.24 (4) (b) 6. A person who applies to a private pond a biological agent to improve water quality at a concentration that does not cause acute or chronic toxicity for aquatic organisms or a dye that is not labeled for herbicide use.

SB494,4,9 (End)