Chapter 292

292.35(9)(e)3.a. a. The responsible party establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the responsible party exercised due care with respect to the hazardous substances that caused environmental pollution.

292.35(9)(e)3.b. b. In exercising due care under subd. 3. a., the responsible party took into consideration the characteristics of the hazardous substances, in light of all relevant facts and circumstances.

292.35(9)(e)3.c. c. The responsible party took precautions against foreseeable acts or omissions of the 3rd party and the consequences that could foreseeably result from those acts or omissions.

292.35(9)(f) (f) Any responsible party may seek contribution from any other responsible party. Such a contribution claim may be brought as a separate action or may be brought in the action commenced against the responsible party under this section.

292.35(10) (10) Technical assistance. The department shall provide technical assistance to an umpire at the request of the umpire. The department may limit the amount of staff time allocated to each negotiation.

292.35(11) (11) Liability. Except as provided in sub. (7), no common law liability, and no statutory liability that is provided in other statutes, for damages resulting from a site or facility is affected in any manner by this section. The authority, power and remedies provided in this section are in addition to any authority, power or remedy provided in any other statutes or provided at common law.

292.35(13) (13) Fees. The department may, by rule, assess and collect fees to offset the cost of the department’s activities under this section. The fees may include an advance deposit, from which the department shall return the amount in excess of the cost of the department’s activities under this section.

292.35 History History: 1995 a. 227 s. 613 to 616; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16, 103.

292.35 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 749, Wis. adm. code.

292.37 292.37 Confidentiality of records.

292.37(1) (1) Records. Except as provided under sub. (2), any records or other information furnished to or obtained by the department in the administration of ss. 292.31 and 292.35 are public records subject to s. 19.21.

292.37(2) (2) Confidential records.

292.37(2)(a) (a) Application. An owner or operator of a solid waste facility may seek confidential treatment of any records or other information furnished to or obtained by the department in the administration of ss. 292.31 and 292.35.

292.37(2)(b) (b) Standards for granting confidential status. Except as provided under par. (c), the department shall grant confidential status for any records or information received by the department and certified by the owner or operator of the solid waste facility as relating to production or sales figures or to processes or production unique to the owner or operator of the solid waste facility or which would tend to adversely affect the competitive position of the owner or operator if made public.

292.37(2)(c) (c) Emission data; analyses and summaries. The department may not grant confidential status for emission data. Nothing in this subsection prevents the department from using records and other information in compiling or publishing analyses or summaries relating to the general condition of the environment if the analyses or summaries do not identify a specific owner or operator or the analyses or summaries do not reveal records or other information granted confidential status.

292.37(2)(d) (d) Use of confidential records. Except as provided under par. (c) and this paragraph, the department or the department of justice may use records and other information granted confidential status under this subsection only in the administration and enforcement of ss. 292.31 and 292.35. The department or the department of justice may release for general distribution records and other information granted confidential status under this subsection if the owner or operator expressly agrees to the release. The department or the department of justice may release on a limited basis records and other information granted confidential status under this subsection if the department or the department of justice is directed to take this action by a judge or hearing examiner under an order which protects the confidentiality of the records or other information. The department or the department of justice may release to the U.S. environmental protection agency, or its authorized representative, records and other information granted confidential status under this subsection if the department or the department of justice includes in each release of records or other information a request to the U.S. environmental protection agency, or its authorized representative, to protect the confidentiality of the records or other information.

292.37 History History: 1995 a. 227 s. 993.

292.41 292.41 Abandoned containers.

292.41(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “abandoned container” means any container which contains a hazardous substance and is not being monitored and maintained.

292.41(2) (2) Applicability.

292.41(2)(a) (a) This section does not apply to abandoned containers which are located in an approved facility or a nonapproved facility.

292.41(2)(b) (b) Action by the department under this section is not subject to s. 292.31.

292.41(3) (3) Contingency plan.

292.41(3)(a) (a) After consultation with other affected federal, state and local agencies and private organizations, the department shall establish by rule criteria and procedures for the development, establishment and amendment of a contingency plan for the taking of emergency actions in relation to abandoned containers.

292.41(3)(b) (b) The contingency plan shall establish procedures and techniques for locating, identifying, removing and disposing of abandoned containers.

292.41(4) (4) Removal or other emergency action. The department or its authorized representative may contain, remove or dispose of abandoned containers or take any other emergency action which it deems appropriate under the circumstances.

292.41(5) (5) Access to property and records. Any officer, employee or authorized representative of the department, upon notice to the owner or occupant, may enter onto any property, premises or place at any time for the purposes of sub. (3) if the entry is necessary to prevent increased damage to the air, land or waters of the state, or may inspect any record relating to abandoned container management for the purpose of ascertaining the state of compliance with this section and the rules promulgated under this section. Notice to the owner or occupant is not required if the delay in providing the notice is likely to result in imminent risk to public health or welfare or the environment.

292.41(6) (6) Abandoned containers; appropriations.

292.41(6)(a) (a) The department may utilize moneys appropriated under s. 20.370 (4) (dv) and (ms) in taking action under sub. (4). The department shall utilize these moneys to provide for the procurement, maintenance, and storage of necessary equipment and supplies, personnel training, and expenses incurred in locating, identifying, removing, and disposing of abandoned containers.

292.41(6)(b) (b) No more than 25 percent of the total of all moneys available under the appropriation under s. 20.370 (4) (dv) and (ms) may be used annually for the procurement and maintenance of necessary equipment during that fiscal year.

292.41(6)(c) (c) The department is entitled to recover moneys expended under this section from any person who caused the containers to be abandoned or is responsible for the containers. The funds recovered under this paragraph shall be deposited into the environmental fund for environmental management.

292.41 History History: 1983 a. 410; 1985 a. 29 ss. 1957, 3202 (39); 1987 a. 27, 384; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 453; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 227 s. 716; Stats. 1995 s. 292.41; 1995 a. 378 s. 46; 1997 a. 27; 2017 a. 59.

292.41 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 714, Wis. adm. code.

292.51 292.51 Cooperative remedial action.

292.51(1) (1) In this section, “costs of remedying environmental contamination” means costs determined by the department to be necessary to reduce or eliminate environmental contamination and restore the environment, including costs of investigation and of providing public information and education related to reducing or eliminating environmental contamination and restoring the environment.

292.51(2) (2) The department may seek and receive voluntary contributions of funds from a municipality or any other public or private source for all or part of the costs of remedying environmental contamination if the activities being funded are part of a cooperative effort, by the department and the person providing the funds, to remedy that environmental contamination. All contributions received under this subsection shall be deposited in the environmental fund.

292.51(2m) (2m) Any person engaged in a cooperative effort with the department that is described in sub. (2) may seek and receive voluntary contributions of funds on behalf of the effort.

292.51(3) (3) Provision of funding under sub. (2) or (2m) is not evidence of liability or an admission of liability for any environmental contamination.

292.51(4) (4) In carrying out its regulatory and enforcement duties, the department may not base its treatment of a person on whether the person did or did not provide funding under sub. (2).

292.51 History History: 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 227 s. 824; Stats. 1995 s. 292.51; 1997 a. 27.

292.53 292.53 Availability of environmental insurance. The department, in cooperation with the department of administration, may undertake activities to make private environmental insurance products available to encourage and facilitate the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated property. The department of natural resources may negotiate with, select, and contract with one or more insurers to provide insurance products under this section, subject to the approval of the department of administration under s. 16.865 (5).

292.53 History History: 2003 a. 315.

292.55 292.55 Requests for liability clarification and technical assistance.

292.55(1) (1) 

292.55(1)(a) (a) The department may, upon request, assist a person to determine whether the person is or may become liable for the environmental pollution of a property.

292.55(1)(b) (b) The department may, upon request, assist in, or provide comments on, the planning and implementation of an environmental investigation of a property or the environmental cleanup of a property.

292.55(1)(c) (c) The department may determine whether further action is necessary to remedy environmental pollution of a property.

292.55(1)(d) (d) The department may issue a letter to a person seeking assistance under this subsection concerning any of the following:

292.55(1)(d)1. 1. The liability of a person owning or leasing a property for environmental pollution of the property.

292.55(1)(d)2. 2. The type and extent of environmental pollution of a property.

292.55(1)(d)3. 3. The adequacy of an environmental investigation.

292.55(1)(d)4. 4. Any other matter related to the request for assistance under this subsection.

292.55(2) (2) The department may assess and collect fees from a person to offset the costs of providing assistance under sub. (1). The department shall promulgate rules for the assessment and collection of fees under this subsection. Fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (4) (dh).

292.55 History History: 1997 a. 27; 2017 a. 59.

292.55 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 749, Wis. adm. code.

292.57 292.57 Database of properties with residual contamination.

292.57(1) (1) In this section, “groundwater standard” means an enforcement standard, as defined in s. 160.01 (2), or a preventive action limit, as defined in s. 160.01 (6).

292.57(2) (2) 

292.57(2)(a) (a) The department may promulgate a rule specifying a fee for placing information into a database concerning a property on which a groundwater standard is exceeded, a property on which residual contamination is present in soil, or a property that is subject to s. 292.12 (3) (b). The department may also specify a fee for modifying information in the database.

292.57(2)(b) (b) Any moneys collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (4) (dh).

292.57 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 25, 418; 2017 a. 59.

292.63 292.63 Petroleum storage remedial action; financial assistance.

292.63(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

292.63(1)(ad) (ad) “Bodily injury” does not include those liabilities which are excluded from coverage in liability insurance policies for bodily injury other than liabilities excluded because they are caused by a petroleum product discharge from a petroleum product storage system.

292.63(1)(bm) (bm) “Enforcement standard” has the meaning given in s. 160.01 (2).

292.63(1)(c) (c) “Groundwater” has the meaning designated under s. 281.75 (1) (c).

292.63(1)(cm) (cm) “Home oil tank system” means an underground home heating oil tank used for consumptive use on the premises together with any on-site integral piping or dispensing system.

292.63(1)(cq) (cq) “Natural attenuation” means the reduction in the concentration and mass of a substance, and the products into which the substance breaks down, due to naturally occurring physical, chemical and biological processes.

292.63(1)(cs) (cs) “Occurrence” means a contiguous contaminated area resulting from one or more petroleum products discharges.

292.63(1)(d) (d) “Operator” means any of the following:

292.63(1)(d)1. 1. A person who operates a petroleum product storage system, regardless of whether the system remains in operation and regardless of whether the person operates or permits the use of the system at the time environmental pollution occurs.

292.63(1)(d)2. 2. A subsidiary or parent corporation of the person specified under subd. 1.

292.63(1)(e) (e) “Owner” means any of the following:

292.63(1)(e)1. 1. A person who owns, or has possession or control of, a petroleum product storage system, or who receives direct or indirect consideration from the operation of a system regardless of whether the system remains in operation and regardless of whether the person owns or receives consideration at the time environmental pollution occurs.

292.63(1)(e)2. 2. A subsidiary or parent corporation of the person specified under subd. 1.

292.63(1)(e)3. 3. A person who formerly owned a farm tank and who satisfies the criteria in sub. (4) (ei) 1m. b.

292.63(1)(f) (f) “Petroleum product” means gasoline, gasoline-alcohol fuel blends, kerosene, fuel oil, burner oil, diesel fuel oil or used motor oil.

292.63(1)(fg) (fg) “Petroleum product storage system” means a storage tank that is located in this state and is used to store petroleum products together with any on-site integral piping or dispensing system. The term does not include pipeline facilities; tanks of 110 gallons or less capacity; residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity storing petroleum products that are not for resale; farm tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity storing petroleum products that are not for resale, except as provided in sub. (4) (ei); tanks used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored, except for heating oil tanks owned by school districts and heating oil tanks owned by technical college districts and except as provided in sub. (4) (ei); or tanks owned by this state or the federal government.

292.63(1)(g) (g) “Program year” means the period beginning on August 1, and ending on the following July 31.

292.63(1)(gm) (gm) “Property damage” does not include those liabilities that are excluded from coverage in liability insurance policies for property damage, other than liability for remedial action associated with petroleum product discharges from petroleum product storage systems. “Property damage” does not include the loss of fair market value resulting from contamination.

292.63(1)(gs) (gs) “Service provider” means a consultant, testing laboratory, monitoring well installer, soil boring contractor, other contractor, lender or any other person who provides a product or service for which a claim for reimbursement has been or will be filed under this section, or a subcontractor of such a person.

292.63(1)(h) (h) “Subsidiary or parent corporation” means a business entity, including a subsidiary, parent corporation or other business arrangement, that has elements of common ownership or control or that uses a long-term contractual arrangement with a person to avoid direct responsibility for conditions at a petroleum product storage system site.

292.63(1)(hm) (hm) “Terminal” means a petroleum product storage system that is itself connected to a pipeline facility, as defined in 49 USC 60101 (18) or is one of a number of connected petroleum product storage systems at least one of which is connected to a pipeline facility, as defined in 49 USC 60101 (18).

292.63(1)(i) (i) “Underground petroleum product storage tank system” means an underground storage tank used for storing petroleum products together with any on-site integral piping or dispensing system with at least 10 percent of its total volume below the surface of the ground.

292.63(1m) (1m) Rules concerning 3rd-party compensation. The commissioner of insurance shall promulgate rules defining “liabilities which are excluded from coverage in liability insurance policies for bodily injury” and “liabilities which are excluded from coverage in liability insurance policies for property damage” for the purposes of sub. (1) (ad) and (gm). The definitions shall be consistent with standard insurance industry practices.

292.63(2) (2) Powers and duties of the department.

292.63(2)(b) (b) The department shall promote the program under this section to persons who may be eligible for awards under this section.

292.63(2)(c) (c) The department shall keep records and statistics on the program under this section and shall periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

292.63(2)(d) (d) The department shall reserve a portion, not to exceed 20 percent, of the amount annually appropriated under s. 20.370 (6) (fr) for awards under this section to be used to fund emergency remedial action and claims that exceed the amount initially anticipated.