281.75(1)(h)(h) “Well,” if not followed by the words, “subject to abandonment,” means an excavation or opening in the ground made by boring, drilling or driving for the purpose of obtaining a supply of groundwater. “Well” does not include dug wells. 281.75(1)(i)(i) “Well subject to abandonment” means a well that is required to be filled and sealed under s. NR 812.26 (4) (a), Wis. Adm. Code, or that the department may require to be filled and sealed under s. NR 812.26 (4) (b), Wis. Adm. Code. 281.75(2)(2) Duties of the department. The department shall: 281.75(2)(a)(a) Establish by rule procedures for the submission, review and determination of claims under this section. 281.75(2)(b)(b) Assist claimants in submitting applications for compensation under this section. 281.75(2)(d)(d) Establish casing depth and other construction requirements for a new or reconstructed private water supply. 281.75(2)(e)(e) Declare an area of special eligibility for compensation for well contamination, based on contamination reported after December 31, 2005, if all of the following criteria are satisfied: 281.75(2)(e)1.1. Results of tests performed by a laboratory certified under s. 299.11 establish that wells in the area are contaminated by fecal bacteria. 281.75(2)(e)2.2. Evidence demonstrates that the bacterial contamination is caused by livestock. 281.75(2)(f)(f) Establish requirements for the filling and sealing of wells subject to abandonment. 281.75(3)(3) Wells for which a claim may be submitted. A claim may be submitted for a private water supply which, at the time of submitting the claim, is contaminated or for a well subject to abandonment. 281.75(4)(a)(a) Except as provided under par. (b), a landowner or lessee of property on which is located a contaminated private water supply or a well subject to abandonment, or the spouse, dependent, heir, assign or legal representative of the landowner or lessee, may submit a claim under this section. 281.75(4)(b)(b) The following entities may not submit a claim: 281.75(4)(b)2.2. An office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government. 281.75(4)(b)4.4. A city, village, town, county or special purpose district. 281.75(4m)(a)(a) In order to be eligible for an award under this section, the annual family income of the landowner or lessee of property on which is located a contaminated water supply or a well subject to abandonment may not exceed $65,000. 281.75(4m)(b)(b) Except as provided under par. (d), annual family income shall be based upon the adjusted gross income of the landowner or lessee and the landowner’s or lessee’s spouse, if any, as computed for Wisconsin income or franchise tax purposes for the taxable year prior to the year in which the claim is made. The county median income shall be determined based upon the most recent statistics published by the federal department of housing and urban development for the year prior to the year of the enforcement order. 281.75(4m)(c)(c) In order to be eligible for an award under this section, the claimant shall submit a copy of the designated income or franchise tax returns for the taxable year prior to the year in which the claim is made together with the application under sub. (5). The claimant shall submit a copy of the landowner’s or lessee’s Wisconsin franchise tax return, joint Wisconsin income tax return or, if filing separately, the landowner’s or lessee’s separate Wisconsin income tax return and the separate Wisconsin income tax return of his or her spouse, if any. 281.75(4m)(d)(d) The department may disregard the Wisconsin income tax return for the taxable year prior to the year in which the claim is made and may determine annual family income based upon satisfactory evidence of adjusted gross income or projected taxable income of the landowner or lessee and the landowner’s or lessee’s spouse in the current year. 281.75(5)(a)(a) A claimant shall submit a claim on forms provided by the department. The claimant shall verify the claim by affidavit. 281.75(5)(b)1.1. Test results which show that the private water supply is contaminated, as defined under sub. (1) (b) 1. or 2., information to show that the private water supply is contaminated as defined under sub. (1) (b) 3., or information to show that the well is a well subject to abandonment; 281.75(5)(b)2.2. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, any information available to the claimant regarding possible sources of contamination of the private water supply; and 281.75(5)(c)(c) The department shall notify the claimant if the claim is complete or specify the additional information which is required to be submitted. If the claimant does not submit a complete claim, as determined by the department, the department may not proceed under this section until it receives a complete claim. 281.75(5)(d)(d) A claim constitutes consent by the claimant to: 281.75(5)(d)1.1. Enter the property where the private water supply or well subject to abandonment is located during normal business hours and conduct any investigations or tests necessary to verify the claim; and 281.75(5)(d)2.2. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, cooperate with the state in any administrative, civil or criminal action involving a person or activity alleged to have caused the private water supply to become contaminated. 281.75(5)(e)(e) The department shall consolidate claims if more than one claimant submits a claim for the same private water supply or for the same well subject to abandonment. 281.75(5)(f)(f) The department shall allocate money for the payment of claims according to the order in which completed claims are received. The department may conditionally approve a completed claim even if the appropriation under s. 20.370 (6) (cr) is insufficient to pay the claim. The department shall allocate money for the payment of a claim which is conditionally approved as soon as funds become available. 281.75(6)(a)(a) Contamination of a private water supply, as defined under sub. (1) (b) 1. or 2., is required to be established by analysis of at least 2 samples of water, taken at least 2 weeks apart, in a manner which assures the validity of the test results. The samples shall be tested by a laboratory certified under s. 299.11. 281.75(6)(b)(b) The department may reject test results which are not sufficiently recent. 281.75(6)(c)(c) The department, at its own expense, may test additional samples from any private water supply for which a claim is submitted. 281.75(7)(a)(a) If the department finds that the claimant meets all the requirements of this section and rules promulgated under this section and that the private water supply is contaminated or that the well is a well subject to abandonment, the department shall issue an award. The award may not pay more than 75 percent of the eligible costs. The award may not pay any portion of eligible costs in excess of $16,000. 281.75(7)(b)(b) If the annual family income of the claimant exceeds $45,000, the amount of the award is the amount determined under par. (a) less 30 percent of the amount by which the claimant’s income exceeds $45,000. 281.75(7)(c)(c) Eligible costs under this subsection include the following items only: 281.75(7)(c)1.1. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the cost of obtaining an alternate water supply; 281.75(7)(c)2.2. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the cost of any one of the following: 281.75(7)(c)2.d.d. Providing for a public water supply to replace the private water supply including costs related to connection to the public water supply and costs related to special assessments and one-time municipal charges for capital improvements and services involved in providing the public water supply; or 281.75(7)(c)3.3. The cost of abandoning a contaminated private water supply, if a new private water supply is constructed, if connection to a public or private water supply is provided, or if the claim is based on a well subject to abandonment; 281.75(7)(c)4.4. The cost of obtaining 2 tests to show that the private water supply was contaminated if the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply and the cost of those tests was originally paid by the claimant; 281.75(7)(c)5.5. The cost of purchasing and installing a pump, if the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply and a new pump is necessary for the new or reconstructed private water supply; and 281.75(7)(c)6.6. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the cost of relocating pipes, as necessary, to connect the replacement water supply to the buildings served by it. 281.75(7)(c)7.7. If the claim is based on a contaminated water supply that is eligible under sub. (11) (ae), the cost of properly abandoning any improperly abandoned private water supply located on the property owned or leased by the claimant. 281.75(8)(8) Copayment. The department shall require a copayment of $250 unless the claim is solely for well abandonment. 281.75(9)(9) Contamination standard; nitrates. 281.75(9)(a)(a) This subsection applies to a private water supply which: 281.75(9)(a)1.1. Is a livestock water supply or is a residential water supply which is used as a source of potable water for livestock as well as for a residence; and 281.75(9)(a)2.2. Is used at least 3 months each year and while in use provides an estimated average of more than 100 gallons per day for consumption by livestock. 281.75(9)(b)(b) Notwithstanding the requirement of contamination under sub. (7), if a private water supply meets the criteria under par. (a) and the claim is based upon contamination by nitrates and not by any other substance, the department may make an award only if the private water supply produces water containing nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million expressed as nitrate-nitrogen. 281.75(10)(a)(a) The department shall issue awards without regard to fault. 281.75(10)(b)(b) Contributory negligence is not a bar to recovery and no award may be diminished as the result of negligence attributable to the claimant or to any person who is entitled to submit a claim. 281.75(10)(c)(c) The department shall pay each claim within 30 days after a completed payment request is submitted. The department shall pay eligible costs under sub. (7) based upon cost tables and rules promulgated under sub. (11) (c). 281.75(11)(a)(a) Denial of claim. The department shall deny a claim if: 281.75(11)(a)3.3. The claim is for reimbursement of costs incurred before the department determined that the claim was complete under sub. (5) (c). 281.75(11)(a)4.4. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, one or more of the contaminants upon which the claim is based was introduced into the well through the plumbing connected to the well. 281.75(11)(a)5.5. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, one or more of the contaminants upon which the claim is based was introduced into the well intentionally by a claimant or a person who would be directly benefited by payment of the claim. 281.75(11)(a)6.6. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, all of the contaminants upon which the claim is based are naturally occurring substances and the concentration of the contaminants in water produced by the well does not significantly exceed the background concentration of the contaminants in groundwater at that location. 281.75(11)(a)7.7. Except as provided in sub. (14), an award has been made under this section within the previous 10 years for the parcel of land where the private water supply is located and the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply. 281.75(11)(a)8.8. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the contaminated private water supply is a residential water supply, is contaminated by bacteria or nitrates or both, and is not contaminated by any other substance, except as provided in par. (ae). 281.75(11)(a)9.9. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the contaminated private water supply is a livestock water supply, is contaminated by bacteria, and is not contaminated by any other substance. 281.75(11)(ae)(ae) Bacterial contamination. Paragraph (a) 8. does not apply to a residential well that is contaminated by bacteria and is in an area of special eligibility for compensation for well contamination as declared by the department under sub. (2) (e). 281.75(11)(am)(am) Emergency. Notwithstanding par. (a) 3., the department may authorize expenditures before a claim is submitted if the department determines that an emergency situation exists. The department shall establish standards and procedures for the payment of claims in emergency situations. 281.75(11)(b)(b) Limits on awards for contaminated wells; purposes. 281.75(11)(b)1.1. An award may be issued for purchasing and installing a pump if a pump is necessary for the new or reconstructed private water supply. 281.75(11)(b)2.2. An award may be issued for water treatment only if the contamination cannot be remedied by reconstruction or replacement of the private water supply, or connection to another water supply is not feasible. 281.75(11)(b)3.3. An award may not be issued for the replacement of a sand point well with a drilled well unless: 281.75(11)(b)3.a.a. The department determines that replacement with another sand point well is not feasible; and 281.75(11)(b)3.b.b. The department determines that the person had no knowledge or reason to believe the sand point well would become contaminated at the time it was constructed. 281.75(11)(b)4.4. An award may not be issued for the reimbursement of costs of an alternative water supply incurred before the department confirmed that contamination existed.
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Chs. 279-299, Natural Resources
statutes/281.75(5)(b)1.
statutes/281.75(5)(b)1.
section
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