Chapter 285

285.37(1) (1) Definitions. In this section, “reformulated gasoline” means gasoline formulated to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds and toxic air pollutants as provided in 42 USC 7545 (k) (1) to (3).

285.37(2) (2) Areas.

285.37(2)(a) (a) The department shall issue documents that describe the areas of the state in which the use of reformulated gasoline is required under 42 USC 7545 (k) (5).

285.37(2)(b) (b) The department shall issue documents that describe areas of the state, other than areas described under par. (a) or (c), in which the use of reformulated gasoline is required, if the governor designates the areas in an application under 42 USC 7545 (k) (6) that is approved by the administrator of the federal environmental protection agency.

285.37(2)(c) (c) The department may, by rule, determine areas of the state, other than areas described under par. (a) or (b), in which the department will require the use of reformulated gasoline. The department may not require the use of reformulated gasoline in an area unless that requirement is authorized under s. 285.11 (6).

285.37(2)(d) (d) Notwithstanding ss. 227.01 (13) and 227.10 (1), a document issued under par. (a) or (b) is not a rule. A document issued under par. (a) may be reviewed under ss. 227.42 and 227.52.

285.37(3) (3) Prohibitions.

285.37(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), beginning on January 1, 1995, no person may sell gasoline in an area described under sub. (2) (a), (b) or (c) unless the gasoline satisfies the minimum specifications for reformulated gasoline under s. 168.04.

285.37(3)(b) (b) The secretary, with the approval of the administrator of the federal environmental protection agency, may grant temporary waivers from the prohibition under par. (a) if fuel that satisfies the minimum specifications for reformulated gasoline is unavailable.

285.37 History History: 1991 a. 302; 1995 a. 227 s. 466, 467; Stats. 1995 s. 285.37.

285.39 285.39 Volatile organic compounds growth accommodation and replenishment.

285.39(1) (1) Growth accommodation calculation.

285.39(1)(a) (a) The growth accommodation for any specified year, as calculated by the department, is the predicted emissions specified in par. (b) minus the sum of:

285.39(1)(a)1. 1. Net actual emissions specified in par. (c);

285.39(1)(a)2. 2. Net certified accommodation credits specified in par. (d);

285.39(1)(a)3. 3. Net offset credits specified in par. (e); and

285.39(1)(a)4. 4. Set asides specified in par. (f).

285.39(1)(b) (b) Predicted emissions are the total predicted annual emissions of volatile organic compounds in the volatile organic compound accommodation area necessary to attain and maintain the ambient air quality standard for ozone for the year 2 years before the specified year, as set forth in the plan approved by the U.S. environmental protection agency under 42 USC 7502 (a).

285.39(1)(c) (c) Net actual emissions are the total actual annual emissions of all volatile organic compounds in the volatile organic compound accommodation area for the year 2 years before the specified year as reported under sub. (2) (a) minus:

285.39(1)(c)1. 1. The sum of the annual emissions of volatile organic compounds attributable to shutdowns of facilities in the volatile organic accommodation area during the previous year; and

285.39(1)(c)2. 2. If a rule has been promulgated under sub. (3), the sum of the annual emissions reductions of volatile organic compounds attributable to the sources subject to the rule promulgated under sub. (3) during the previous year.

285.39(1)(d) (d) Net certified accommodation credits are the sum of all volatile organic compound growth accommodation credits certified to date under s. 285.63 (7) or (8) minus the sum of the actual annual emissions of volatile organic compounds for the year 2 years before the specified year attributable to the sources receiving volatile organic compound growth accommodation credits certified to date under s. 285.63 (7) or (8).

285.39(1)(e) (e) Net offset credits are the sum of all allowable emissions of volatile organic compounds authorized to date attributable to sources subject to an annual volatile organic compounds emission limitation that is specified in an air pollution control permit to operate under an emission reduction option or specified as an emission credit under a plan approved by the U.S. environmental protection agency under 42 USC 7502 (a) or in reports submitted to the U.S. environmental protection agency under the plan minus the sum of the actual annual emissions of volatile organic compounds for the year 2 years before the specified year attributable to sources subject to an annual volatile organic compounds emission limitation that is specified in an air pollution control permit to operate under an emission reduction option or specified as an emission credit under a plan approved by the U.S. environmental protection agency under 42 USC 7502 (a) or in reports submitted to the U.S. environmental protection agency under the plan.

285.39(1)(f) (f) Set asides are:

285.39(1)(f)1. 1. Fifteen percent of the annual emissions of volatile organic compounds attributable to shutdowns of facilities in the volatile organic compound accommodation area since January 1, 1987; and

285.39(1)(f)2. 2. If a rule has been promulgated under sub. (3), 15 percent of the sum of the annual emissions reductions of volatile organic compounds attributable, since January 1, 1987, to the sources subject to the rule promulgated under sub. (3).

285.39(2) (2) Annual reports. The department shall prepare an annual report by January 15, which may be combined with other reports published by the department, that:

285.39(2)(a) (a) States, on a calendar year basis, the total annual emissions, for the year 2 years before the year in which the report is prepared, of all volatile organic compounds in the volatile organic compound accommodation area, except methylene chloride and methyl chloroform and other volatile organic compounds that the department determines by rule to be compounds that do not contribute to the formation of ozone in the troposphere.

285.39(2)(b) (b) Includes an annual plan for the management of the volatile organic compounds growth accommodation and replenishment and the growth accommodation replenishment grant program. At a minimum, the plan shall:

285.39(2)(b)1. 1. Indicate the amount of the growth accommodation at the beginning of the year.

285.39(2)(b)2. 2. Indicate the likely amount of the growth accommodation at the end of the year.

285.39(2)(b)3. 3. Report the status of the development and implementation of plans or rules under subs. (3) to (5).

285.39(2)(b)4. 4. Report if, during the prior year, the replenishment implementation period has expired.

285.39(3) (3) Growth accommodation replenishment. The department shall:

285.39(3)(a) (a) Promulgate rules under s. 285.30 (6) (e), relating to the inspection of vehicles for tampering with air pollution control equipment.

285.39(3)(b) (b) Promulgate rules restricting the amount of volatile organic compounds that may be contained in architectural coatings sold at retail in the volatile organic compound accommodation area or for use by a service provider in the volatile organic compound accommodation area. The department may exempt from a rule under this paragraph one or more categories of architectural coatings, based upon the type of coating or the use to which a coating is put, if it would be technically impractical to prohibit a category of architectural coating. The proposed rules shall include a provision to allow for the limited sale and use of the supplies of prohibited architectural coatings that retailers and suppliers in the volatile organic compound area already have in stock at the time of promulgation of the rules.

285.39(3)(c) (c) Promulgate rules requiring persons who refinish auto bodies in the volatile organic compound accommodation area to use compounds, as solvents to clean painting and related equipment, that do not react to form ozone in the troposphere. The proposed rules shall allow the use of cleaning solvents containing volatile organic compounds that were purchased before the effective date of the proposed rules.

285.39(4) (4) Report on new replenishment mechanisms. After expiration of the replenishment implementation period, if the department reports under sub. (2) (b) 1. or determines at any other time that the growth accommodation is less than 3,500 tons, the department shall, with the advice of the department of safety and professional services, submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) on how to most effectively and equitably replenish the growth accommodation. The report shall review existing studies and data to evaluate the accuracy of this state’s state implementation plan with respect to the effect of emissions from inside and outside the volatile organic compound accommodation area on the ambient air quality within the area.

285.39(5) (5) Contingent restrictions on existing sources. If at any time the department finds that the growth accommodation is less than 2,500 tons and determines that it is unlikely that the growth accommodation will exceed 2,500 tons in the report under sub. (2) (b) 1. for the following year because of the inadequacy of replenishment activities at the time or because of facility shutdowns, the department shall implement the rules that specify emission limitations for emissions of volatile organic compounds from stationary sources located in the volatile organic compound accommodation area that were required to report their emissions under s. 299.15 during calendar year 1987. The emission limitations shall be designed to ensure that the growth accommodation in the subsequent year is not less than 2,500 tons. The emission limitations may not be more restrictive than the lowest achievable emission rate. The department shall implement the emission limitations by source category. For the purpose of this section, the department shall determine a source category according to the type and level of emissions. The department may also use other characteristics which relate to air pollution to determine source categories. The department shall implement the emission limitations based upon ease of implementation, cost-effectiveness and the relative equity of imposing a limitation upon a source category, given any prior limitations of emissions imposed upon that source category. To the extent feasible, the emission limitations shall provide affected sources the opportunity to choose to be subject to either an annual emission limitation or a more restrictive applicable reasonably available control technology rule than was in effect in 1987.

285.39 History History: 1987 a. 27, 399; 1991 a. 302; 1995 a. 27 s. 9116 (5); 1995 a. 227 s. 500; Stats. 1995 s. 285.39; 2011 a. 32.

285.39 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. NR 485 and 488, Wis. adm. code.

subch. V of ch. 285 SUBCHAPTER V

SULFUR DIOXIDE AND NITROGEN OXIDE
EMISSION RATES AND GOALS

285.41 285.41 Sulfur dioxide emission rates after 1992; major utilities.

285.41(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

285.41(1)(a) (a) “Annual emissions” means the number of pounds of sulfur dioxide emissions from all boilers under the ownership or control of a major utility in a given year.

285.41(1)(b) (b) “Annual heat input” means the heat input, measured in millions of British thermal units, from all boilers under the ownership or control of a major utility in a given year.

285.41(1)(c) (c) “Boiler” means a fossil fuel-fired boiler.

285.41(1)(d) (d) “Commission” means the public service commission.

285.41(1)(e) (e) “Environmental dispatching” means the operation of the various units under the ownership or control of a major utility in a manner that minimizes the discharge of sulfur dioxide emissions rather than minimizing the cost of operation.

285.41(1)(f) (f) “Major utility” means a Class A utility, as defined under s. 199.03 (4), which generates electricity or an electrical cooperative association organized under ch. 185, if the total sulfur dioxide emissions from all stationary air contaminant sources in this state under the ownership or control of the utility or association exceeded 5,000 tons in any year after 1979.

285.41(1)(g) (g) “Traded emissions” means the pounds of sulfur dioxide emissions in a given year that a major utility which is the grantor in an agreement under sub. (2) (b) 1. makes available to the major utility which is the grantee in the agreement.

285.41(2) (2) Corporate emission rate; trading.

285.41(2)(a) (a) Except as provided under sub. (4), beginning with 1993, the average number of pounds of sulfur dioxide emissions per million British thermal units of heat input from all boilers under the ownership or control of a major utility for any year may not exceed 1.20.

285.41(2)(b) (b)

285.41(2)(b)1. 1. Two major utilities may enter into an agreement for trading emissions unless the sum of the proposed traded emissions and the projected annual emissions of the grantor major utility for the year to which the agreement will apply would exceed the actual annual emissions of the grantor major utility in 1985.

285.41(2)(b)2. 2. To determine whether the major utility that is the grantor in an agreement under subd. 1. is in compliance with par. (a) in a given year, the department shall add the traded emissions and the grantor’s annual emissions and divide the sum by the annual heat input of the grantor.

285.41(2)(b)3. 3. To determine whether the major utility that is the grantee in an agreement under subd. 1. is in compliance with par. (a) in a given year, the department shall subtract the traded emissions from the grantee’s annual emissions and divide the difference by the annual heat input of the grantee.

285.41(4) (4) Variance.

285.41(4)(a) (a) Request; variance conditions. A major utility may request a variance from the emission rate under sub. (2) (a) by submitting the request to the department. No request for a variance may be submitted if the department has served the major utility with written notice under s. 285.83 that the major utility has violated sub. (2) (a). Upon receipt of a request, the department shall, within 45 days, determine if any of the following variance conditions exists:

285.41(4)(a)1. 1. A major electrical supply emergency within or outside this state.

285.41(4)(a)2. 2. A major fuel supply disruption.

285.41(4)(a)3. 3. An extended and unplanned disruption in the operation of a nuclear plant or low sulfur coal-fired boiler under the ownership or control of the major utility.

285.41(4)(a)4. 4. The occurrence of an uncontrollable event.

285.41(4)(a)5. 5. A plan by the major utility to install and place into operation new technological devices that will enable it to achieve compliance with sub. (2) (a).

285.41(4)(b) (b) Compliance plan required. With the request for a variance, the major utility shall submit its plan for achieving compliance with the emission rate. If the request is based on a variance condition specified under par. (a) 1. to 4., the request shall include an explanation of why the major utility cannot achieve or remain in compliance by using fuel with a lower sulfur content or by environmental dispatching.

285.41(4)(c) (c) Grant of variance. The department shall grant a request for a variance if the department determines that a variance condition exists and the major utility’s compliance plan is adequate.

285.41(4)(d) (d) Denial of variance. The department shall deny a request for a variance if the department determines that no variance condition exists or the major utility’s compliance plan is not adequate.

285.41(4)(e) (e) Time limit for response. The department shall grant or deny a request for a variance within 90 days after its receipt of the request.

285.41(5) (5) No impact on other provisions. Nothing in this section exempts a major utility from any provision of ss. 285.01 to 285.39 or 285.51 to 285.87. Compliance with this section is not a defense to a violation of any of those provisions.

285.41(6) (6) Determination of compliance. The department shall determine compliance with sub. (2) (a) using data submitted by the major utilities. Each major utility shall provide the department with any information needed to determine compliance.

285.41(7) (7) Penalty. Notwithstanding s. 285.87, any major utility that exceeds the annual emission rate under sub. (2) (a) in violation of this section shall forfeit not less than $100,000 nor more than $500,000 for each year of violation.

285.41 History History: 1985 a. 296; 1995 a. 227 s. 481; Stats. 1995 s. 285.41; 2015 a. 299.

285.43 285.43 Sulfur dioxide emission rates; state-owned facilities.

285.43(1) (1) Limit. After June 30, 1988, the average number of pounds of sulfur dioxide emissions per million British thermal units of heat input during any year from any large source, as defined under s. 285.45 (1) (a), that is owned by this state may not exceed 1.50.

285.43(2) (2) Compliance. The department shall determine compliance with sub. (1) using data submitted by state agencies. Each state agency shall provide the department with any information needed to determine compliance.

285.43(3) (3) Noncompliance; report required. Noncompliance report required. If the department determines that any large source owned by this state is not in compliance with sub. (1), the department shall submit to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (2), a report of the noncompliance and recommendations for bringing the large source into compliance.

285.43 History History: 1985 a. 296; 1995 a. 227 s. 482; Stats. 1995 s. 285.43.

285.45 285.45 Sulfur dioxide emission goals after 1992; major utilities and other large air contaminant sources.

285.45(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

285.45(1)(a) (a) “Large source” means a stationary source in this state, other than a fossil fuel-fired boiler under the ownership or control of a major utility, that had sulfur dioxide emissions averaging at least 1,000 tons annually in the most recent 5-year period, that became operational before May 2, 1986, and that is not a boiler subject to the standard of performance for new stationary sources for sulfur dioxide emissions established under s. 285.27 (1).

285.45(1)(b) (b) “Major utility” has the meaning given under s. 285.41 (1) (f).

285.45(2) (2) Goals. It is the goal of this state that, beginning with 1993, total annual sulfur dioxide emissions do not exceed the following:

285.45(2)(a) (a) From all major utilities and large sources, 325,000 tons.

285.45(2)(b) (b) From all fossil fuel-fired boilers under the ownership and control of the major utilities, 250,000 tons.

285.45(2)(c) (c) From all large sources, 75,000 tons.

285.45 History History: 1985 a. 296; 1987 a. 186; 1995 a. 227 s. 483; Stats. 1995 s. 288.45; 2015 a. 299.

285.47 285.47 Nitrogen oxide emission goal; major utilities.

285.47(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “major utility” has the meaning given in s. 285.41 (1) (f).