Chapter 281

281.625(1)(a) (a) “Community water system” means a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or that regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.

281.625(1)(b) (b) “Local governmental unit” has the meaning given in s. 281.61 (1) (am), except that the term does not include a joint local water authority created under s. 66.0823.

281.625(1)(c) (c) “Noncommunity water system” means a public water system that is not a community water system.

281.625(1)(d) (d) “Public water system” has the meaning given in s. 281.61 (1) (c).

281.625(2) (2) The department, in consultation with the department of administration, shall promulgate rules for determining whether a loan is an eligible loan under s. 234.86 (3) for a loan guarantee under s. 234.86. The rules shall be consistent with 42 USC 300j-12.

281.625(3) (3) The department shall determine whether a loan to the owner of a community water system or the nonprofit owner of a noncommunity water system is an eligible loan under s. 234.86 (3) for the purposes of the loan guarantee program under s. 234.86.

281.625(4) (4) With the approval of the department of administration, the department of natural resources may transfer funds from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.320 (2) (s) and (x) to the Wisconsin drinking water reserve fund under s. 234.933 to guarantee loans under s. 234.86.

281.625(5) (5) The department may contract with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority for the administration of the program under this section and s. 234.86.

281.625 History History: 1997 a. 27; 2013 a. 12; 2015 a. 55.

281.63 281.63 Financial assistance program; combined sewer overflow abatement.

281.63(1) (1) Legislative findings. The legislature finds that state financial assistance for the elimination of combined sewer overflow to the waters of the state is a public purpose and a proper function of state government.

281.63(2) (2) Definitions. As used in this section:

281.63(2)(a) (a) “Combined sewer” means a sewer intended to serve as a sanitary sewer and a storm sewer or as an industrial sewer and a storm sewer.

281.63(2)(b) (b) “Combined sewer overflow” means a discharge of a combination of storm and sanitary wastewater or storm and industrial wastewater directly or indirectly to the waters of the state when the volume of wastewater flow exceeds the transport, storage or treatment capacity of a combined sewer system.

281.63(2)(c) (c) “Facilities plan” means that plan or study which demonstrates the need for the proposed sewerage system or sewerage system component and which demonstrates through a systematic evaluation of alternatives that the selected alternative is the most cost-effective means of correcting combined sewer overflows.

281.63(2)(d) (d) “Federal act” means the federal water pollution control act, as amended, 33 USC 1251 to 1376.

281.63(3) (3) Administration. The department shall administer the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program. The department shall promulgate rules necessary for the proper execution of this program.

281.63(4) (4) Eligibility.

281.63(4)(a) (a) Eligible municipalities. Only a municipality with a sewerage system which is violating ch. 283 or title III of the federal act because of combined sewer overflow is eligible to receive financial assistance under the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program.

281.63(4)(b) (b) Eligible projects. Only a project for construction necessary to abate combined sewer overflows identified in department-approved facilities plans as cost-effective and reasonably necessary for water quality improvements is eligible for financial assistance under the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program, except that the department need not determine the cost-effectiveness of projects performed under a contract awarded under s. 200.49.

281.63(4)(c) (c) Facility planning; engineering design. Only a municipality which has completed facility planning and engineering design requirements for a combined sewer overflow abatement project is eligible to receive financial assistance under the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program.

281.63(5) (5) Application. A municipality which seeks financial assistance under the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program shall submit an application to the department. The application shall be in the form and include the information the department prescribes by rule. The department shall review all applications for financial assistance under this program. The department shall determine those applications which meet the eligibility requirements of this section.

281.63(6) (6) Priority. Each municipality shall notify the department of its intent to apply for financial assistance under the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program. For those municipalities that notify the department of their intention to apply for financial assistance under this program by December 31, the department shall establish annually a priority list which ranks these projects in the same order as they appear on the list prepared under s. 281.57 (6) (a).

281.63(7) (7) Payment. Upon the completion by the municipality of all application requirements, the department may enter into an agreement with the municipality for a grant of up to 50 percent of the eligible construction costs of a combined sewer overflow abatement project if the municipality can begin construction within 3 months after the department is ready to allocate funds.

281.63(8) (8) Advance commitments for reimbursement of engineering design costs. The department may make an advance commitment to a municipality for the reimbursement of engineering design costs from funds appropriated under s. 20.866 (2) (to) subject to all of the following requirements:

281.63(8)(a) (a) The advance commitment shall include a provision making the reimbursement of engineering design costs conditional on the award of a construction grant.

281.63(8)(b) (b) The advance commitment may be made only for engineering design activities commenced after the department makes the advance commitment.

281.63(8)(c) (c) The advance commitment may be made only if the municipality has completed all facility planning requirements.

281.63(8)(d) (d) The advance commitment may be made only for engineering design costs related to a project that is eligible for assistance under sub. (4).

281.63(8)(e) (e) The advance commitment shall be subject to a priority determination system consistent with sub. (6).

281.63 History History: 1981 c. 20, 317; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1995 a. 227 s. 427; Stats. 1995 s. 281.63; 1999 a. 150 s. 672.

281.65 281.65 Financial assistance; nonpoint source water pollution abatement.

281.65(1) (1) The purposes of the nonpoint source pollution abatement financial assistance program under this section are to:

281.65(1)(a) (a) Provide the necessary administrative framework and financial assistance for the implementation of measures to meet nonpoint source water pollution abatement needs identified in areawide water quality management plans.

281.65(1)(b) (b) Provide coordination with all elements of the state’s water quality program in order to ensure that all activities and limited resources are optimally allocated in the achievement of this state’s water quality goals.

281.65(1)(c) (c) Provide technical and financial assistance for the application of necessary nonpoint source water pollution abatement measures.

281.65(1)(d) (d) Focus limited technical and financial resources in critical geographic locations where nonpoint source related water quality problems and threats are the most severe and control is most feasible.

281.65(1)(e) (e) Provide for program evaluation, subsequent modifications and recommendations.

281.65(2) (2) In this section:

281.65(2)(a) (a) “Best management practices” means practices, techniques or measures, except for dredging, identified in areawide water quality management plans, which are determined to be effective means of preventing or reducing pollutants generated from nonpoint sources, or from the sediments of inland lakes polluted by nonpoint sources, to a level compatible with water quality objectives established under this section and which do not have an adverse impact on fish and wildlife habitat. The practices, techniques or measures include land acquisition, storm sewer rerouting and the removal of structures necessary to install structural urban best management practices, facilities for the handling and treatment of milkhouse wastewater, repair of fences built using grants under this section and measures to prevent or reduce pollutants generated from mine tailings disposal sites for which the department has not approved a plan of operation under s. 289.30 or s. 295.51.

281.65(2)(am) (am) “Governmental unit” means any governmental unit including, but not limited to, a county, city, village, town, metropolitan sewerage district created under ss. 200.01 to 200.15 or 200.21 to 200.65, town sanitary district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, regional planning commission or drainage district operating under ch. 89, 1961 stats., or ch. 88. “Governmental unit” does not include the state or any state agency.

281.65(2)(b) (b) “Nonpoint source” means a land management activity which contributes to runoff, seepage or percolation which adversely affects or threatens the quality of waters of this state and which is not a point source as defined under s. 283.01 (12).

281.65(2)(be) (be) “Priority lake” means any lake or group of lakes that are identified under sub. (3) (am).

281.65(2)(bs) (bs) “Priority lake area” means a priority lake and the area surrounding the priority lake designated by the department for the implementation of the nonpoint source pollution abatement project for the priority lake.

281.65(2)(c) (c) “Priority watershed” means any watershed that is identified under sub. (3) (am) or (4) (cm) or (co).

281.65(2)(d) (d) “Structural urban best management practices” means detention basins, wet basins, infiltration basins and trenches and wetland basins.

281.65(3) (3) The land and water conservation board shall do all of the following:

281.65(3)(a) (a) Review the lists submitted under sub. (4) (c) and (cd) and reports submitted under sub. (4) (c) and (cg).

281.65(3)(am) (am) Identify priority watersheds and priority lakes as provided in sub. (3m).

281.65(3)(ap) (ap) Review and approve priority lake and priority watershed plans prepared under sub. (5m) and modifications to those plans prepared under sub. (5s). The board may exempt minor plan modifications from the requirement of board approval.

281.65(3)(at) (at) Review rules drafted under this section and make recommendations regarding the rules before final approval of the rules by the natural resources board.

281.65(3)(b) (b) Before September 1 of each even-numbered year, submit to the governor and the department a report that includes all of the following:

281.65(3)(b)1. 1. Recommendations for the amount to be appropriated for the program under this section for the following fiscal biennium.

281.65(3)(b)5. 5. Any changes that the board determines would improve the efficiency or effectiveness of the program under this section.

281.65(3)(bm) (bm) Whenever the board determines necessary, submit to the governor and the department recommendations concerning changes to the amounts appropriated for the program under this section or recommendations concerning any changes that would improve the efficiency or effectiveness of the program under this section.

281.65(3)(c) (c) Assist counties and the department to resolve concerns about the program under this section.

281.65(3)(d) (d) Establish priorities for the allocation of funds in the event that program needs exceed available funding in any fiscal biennium.

281.65(3)(e) (e) After reviewing a plan submitted under sub. (4) (k), request the building commission to authorize public debt to be contracted in the amount that the board determines to be necessary for the purposes of the program under this section.

281.65(3)(f) (f) Require the department and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection to conduct or contract for another person to conduct any evaluation or audit of the program under this section and of individual priority watershed or priority lake projects that the board determines is necessary.

281.65(3m) (3m) 

281.65(3m)(a) (a)

281.65(3m)(a)1. 1. No later than July 1, 1998, the board shall identify priority watersheds based on the list submitted under sub. (4) (c) and recommendations by the department and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection without regard to any priority watershed designations made before the board acts under this subdivision, except for priority watershed designations under sub. (4) (cm) or (co). The department and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall limit the number of watersheds that they recommend to the board to the number that they determine will enable the department to comply with sub. (4) (g) 9., assuming that the level of funding for the program under this section remains the same as on October 14, 1997.

281.65(3m)(a)2. 2. If a watershed is designated as a priority watershed before the board acts under subd. 1. and the board does not identify the watershed as a priority watershed under subd. 1., the board shall terminate the watershed’s designation as a priority watershed. This subdivision does not apply to priority watershed designations made under sub. (4) (cm) or (co).

281.65(3m)(b) (b)

281.65(3m)(b)1. 1. No later than July 1, 1998, the board shall identify priority lakes based on the list submitted under sub. (4) (cd) and recommendations by the department and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection without regard to any priority lake designations made before the board acts under this subdivision.

281.65(3m)(b)2. 2. If a lake is designated as a priority lake before the board acts under subd. 1. and the board does not identify the lake as a priority lake under subd. 1., the board shall terminate the lake’s designation as a priority lake.

281.65(3m)(c) (c) If the board terminates a priority watershed or priority lake designation under this subsection, the board shall direct the department to eliminate funding for the project in the former priority watershed or priority lake area.

281.65(3m)(d) (d)

281.65(3m)(d)1. 1. If a watershed is designated as a priority watershed before the board acts under par. (a) 1. and the board identifies the watershed as a priority watershed under par. (a) 1., the board shall direct the department to continue funding for the project in the priority watershed.

281.65(3m)(d)2. 2. If a lake is designated as a priority lake before the board acts under par. (b) 1. and the board identifies the lake as a priority lake under par. (b) 1., the board shall direct the department to continue funding for the project in the priority lake area.

281.65(4) (4) The department shall:

281.65(4)(a) (a) Administer the nonpoint source water pollution program under this section.

281.65(4)(am) (am) Be responsible for the integration of the nonpoint source water pollution abatement program into the state’s overall water quality management program.

281.65(4)(ar) (ar) Serve as the designated state agency with the federal environmental protection agency on all aspects related to the nonpoint source program management requirements of P.L. 100-4, including the development and submittal of the nonpoint source assessment report and management program required under P.L. 100-4, section 316 and preparation of the annual grant application for federal funding from the environmental protection agency to implement that program.

281.65(4)(as) (as) Consult with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection in developing any federal grant application under par. (ar). Every application is subject to s. 16.54 and shall include the proposed expenditures of federal nonpoint source water pollution abatement grant moneys and the allocation of such moneys between the department and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

281.65(4)(b) (b) Identify through the areawide water quality management plans provided for under section 208 of the federal water pollution control act, P.L. 92-500, as amended, the designated local management agencies.

281.65(4)(c) (c) Prepare a list of the watersheds in this state in order of the level of impairment of the waters in each watershed caused by nonpoint source pollution, taking into consideration the location of impaired water bodies that the department has identified to the federal environmental protection agency under 33 USC 1313 (d) (1) (A), and submit the list to the board no later than January 1, 1998.

281.65(4)(cd) (cd) Prepare a list of the lakes in this state in order of the level of impairment of the waters in the lakes caused by nonpoint source pollution, taking into consideration the location of impaired water bodies that the department has identified to the federal environmental protection agency under 33 USC 1313 (d) (1) (A), and submit the list to the board no later than January 1, 1998.

281.65(4)(cg) (cg) Before July 1 of each even-numbered year, submit its recommendations on the matters under sub. (3) (b) 1. and 5. to the land and water conservation board.

281.65(4)(cm) (cm) Identify watershed areas in the Milwaukee River basin as priority watershed areas, notwithstanding par. (c), and identify the best management practices necessary to meet water quality objectives in those watershed areas. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Kinnickinnic River shall be treated as being within a watershed area in the Milwaukee River basin. The department shall appoint an advisory committee which represents appropriate local interests to assist it in the planning and implementation of projects and best management practices in these watershed areas. The advisory committee shall include a member of the county board from each county with any area in the Milwaukee River basin.

281.65(4)(co) (co) Identify the Root River watershed as a priority watershed.

281.65(4)(d) (d) Review and approve the detailed program for implementation prepared by the designated local management agencies identified under par. (b).

281.65(4)(dm) (dm) Establish water quality objectives for each water basin and for each priority watershed and priority lake and identify the best management practices to achieve the water quality objectives.

281.65(4)(dr) (dr) Appoint a committee for each priority watershed and priority lake, to advise the department, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and the counties, cities and villages concerning all aspects of the nonpoint source pollution abatement financial assistance program. Each committee shall include at least 2 farmers as members if the priority watershed or priority lake area includes property in agricultural use. Each committee shall include at least 2 representatives of a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district that is within the priority watershed or priority lake area or, if one does not exist, of riparian property owners. Each committee for a priority watershed or priority lake area with any area in the Milwaukee River basin shall include a member of the county board from each county with any area in that priority watershed or priority lake area.

281.65(4)(e) (e) Promulgate rules, in consultation with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, as are necessary for the proper execution and administration of the program under this section. Before promulgating rules under this paragraph, the department shall submit the rules to the land and water conservation board for review under sub. (3) (at). The rules shall include standards and specifications concerning best management practices which are required for eligibility for cost-sharing grants under this section. The standards and specifications shall be consistent with the performance standards, prohibitions, conservation practices and technical standards under s. 281.16. The department may waive the standards and specifications in exceptional cases. The rules shall specify which best management practices are cost-effective best management practices. Only persons involved in the administration of the program under this section, persons who are grant recipients or applicants and persons who receive notices of intent to issue orders under s. 281.20 (1) (b) are subject to the rules promulgated under this paragraph. Any rule promulgated under this paragraph which relates or pertains to agricultural practices relating to animal waste handling and treatment is subject to s. 13.565.

281.65(4)(em) (em) In identifying best management practices under pars. (dm) and (g) 4., identify cost-effective best management practices, as specified under par. (e), except in situations in which the use of a cost-effective best management practice will not contribute to water quality improvement or will cause a water body to continue to be impaired as identified to the federal environmental protection agency under 33 USC 1313 (d) (1) (A).

281.65(4)(f) (f) Administer the distribution of grants and aids to governmental units for local administration and implementation of the program under this section. A grant awarded under this section may be used for cost-sharing for management practices and capital improvements, easements, or other activities determined by the department to satisfy the requirements of this section. A grant under this section to a lake district for a priority lake identified under sub. (3m) (b) 1. may be used for plan preparation, technical assistance, educational and training assistance, and ordinance development and administration. A grant may not be used for promotional items, except for promotional items that are used for informational purposes, such as brochures or videos.

281.65(4)(g) (g) In cooperation with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and the appropriate governmental unit, prepare priority watershed and priority lakes plans to implement nonpoint source water pollution abatement projects in priority watersheds and priority lake areas. In preparing the plans, the department shall:

281.65(4)(g)1. 1. Conduct the planning process in a cost-effective and timely manner and scale the planning process in accordance with the scale and nature of the pollution problem addressed in the plan.