Chapter 293

293.87(2) (2) Any person who makes or causes to be made in an application or report required by this chapter a statement known to the person to be false or misleading in any material respect or who refuses to file an annual report under s. 293.53 (2) (a) or who refuses to submit information required by the prospecting or mining permit may be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. If the false or misleading statement is material to the issuance of the permit, the permit may be revoked. If any violation under this subsection is repeated the permit may be revoked.

293.87(3) (3) Any person holding a prospecting or mining permit who violates this chapter or any order issued or rule adopted under this chapter shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $10,000 for each violation. Each day of violation is a separate offense. If the violations continue after an order to cease has been issued, the permit shall be revoked.

293.87(4) (4) 

293.87(4)(a) (a) Except for the violations enumerated in subs. (2) and (3), any person who violates this chapter or any rule promulgated or any plan approval, license or special order issued under this chapter shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $5,000 for each violation. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense. While an order is suspended, stayed or enjoined, this penalty does not accrue.

293.87(4)(b) (b) In addition to the penalties provided under par. (a), the court may award the department of justice the reasonable and necessary expenses of the investigation and prosecution of the violation, including attorney fees. The department of justice shall deposit in the state treasury for deposit into the general fund all moneys that the court awards to the department or the state under this paragraph. The costs of investigation and the expenses of prosecution, including attorney fees, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.455 (1) (gh).

293.87 History History: 1973 c. 318; 1977 c. 421; 1995 a. 227 s. 796, 994; Stats. 1995 s. 293.87; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 309.

293.89 293.89 Citizen suits.

293.89(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), any citizen may commence a civil action on his or her own behalf:

293.89(1)(a) (a) Against any person who is alleged to be in violation of this chapter.

293.89(1)(b) (b) Against the department where there is alleged to be a failure of the department to perform any act or duty under this chapter which is not discretionary with the department.

293.89(2) (2) No action may be commenced:

293.89(2)(a) (a) Under sub. (1) (a):

293.89(2)(a)1. 1. Prior to 30 days after the plaintiff has given notice of the alleged violation to the department and to the alleged violator; or

293.89(2)(a)2. 2. If the department has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action, but in any such action any citizen may intervene as a matter of right.

293.89(2)(b) (b) Under sub. (1) (b) prior to 30 days after the plaintiff has given notice of such action to the department.

293.89(3) (3) The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought under this section, shall award costs of litigation including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees to the plaintiff if he or she prevails, and the court may do so if it determines that the outcome of the controversy is consistent with the relief sought by the plaintiff irrespective of the formal disposition of the civil action. In addition, the court shall award treble damages to any plaintiff proving damages caused by a person mining without a permit or willfully violating this chapter or any permits or orders issued under this chapter.

293.89(4) (4) Nothing in this section restricts any right which any person or class of persons may have under any other statute or common law.

293.89 History History: 1977 c. 421; 1995 a. 227 s. 797; Stats. 1995 s. 293.89.

293.91 293.91 Nonconforming sites.

293.91(1) (1) All prospectors and operators conducting mining operations in this state on July 3, 1974 shall submit to the department, within 90 days after that date, applications for prospecting permits or mining permits as provided in ss. 293.35 and 293.37. Sections 293.13 (1) (b) and 293.49 (2) shall not apply to such operators.

293.91(2) (2) Modification of existing prospecting and mining sites and of operating procedures to conform with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter shall be accomplished as promptly as possible, but the department shall give special consideration to a site where it finds that the degree of necessary improvement is of such extent and expense that compliance cannot be accomplished.

293.91 History History: 1973 c. 318; 1977 c. 421; 1995 a. 227 s. 794; Stats. 1995 s. 293.91.

293.93 293.93 Effect of other statutes. If there is a standard under other state or federal statutes or rules which specifically regulates in whole an activity also regulated under this chapter the other state or federal statutes or rules shall be the controlling standard. If the other state or federal statute or rule only specifically regulates the activity in part, it shall only be controlling as to that part.

293.93 History History: 1977 c. 421; 1995 a. 227 s. 798; Stats. 1995 s. 293.93.

293.95 293.95 Review.

293.95(1) (1) Limits on contested case hearings. No person is entitled to a contested case hearing on a decision by the department on an exploration license or relating to bulk sampling. No person is entitled to a contested case hearing on a decision by the department on a mining or prospecting permit application or any other approval, except as provided in subs. (2) and (3).

293.95(2) (2) Contested case hearings; after initial mining or prospecting permit decision or decision on amended plan.

293.95(2)(a) (a) Entitlement.

293.95(2)(a)1. 1. A person is entitled to a contested case hearing on a decision by the department related to a mining or prospecting permit for a proposed mining operation, including a decision related to the environmental impact statement for the proposed mining or prospecting operation, or on any decision that is related to an approval associated with the proposed mining or prospecting operation and that is issued no later than the day on which the department issues its decision on the application for the mining or prospecting permit, only if the person is entitled to a contested case hearing on the decision under s. 227.42 and the person requests the hearing within 30 days after the department issues the decision to approve or deny the application for the mining or prospecting permit.

293.95(2)(a)2. 2. A person is entitled to a contested case hearing on a decision by the department related to an amended mining plan, reclamation plan, or mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation or to any amendment to an approval associated with the amended mining plan, reclamation plan, or mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation only if the person is entitled to a contested case hearing on the decision under s. 227.42 and the person requests the hearing within 60 days after the department issues the decision to approve or deny the amended mining plan, reclamation plan, or mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation.

293.95(2)(a)3. 3. All issues raised by all persons requesting a contested case hearing in accordance with subd. 1. or 2. in connection with the same mining or prospecting operation shall be considered in one contested case hearing.

293.95(2)(b) (b) Deadline for decision. The hearing examiner presiding over a contested case hearing under this subsection shall issue a final decision on the case no more than 270 days after the department issues the decision to grant or deny the mining or prospecting permit or to approve or deny the amended mining plan, reclamation plan, or mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation.

293.95(2)(d) (d) Judicial review. A person seeking judicial review of the decision in a contested case hearing under this subsection shall comply with the requirements for service and filing in s. 227.53 (1) (a) and shall commence the action, in the circuit court for the county in which the majority of the proposed mining or prospecting site is located, no more than 30 days after service of the decision or, if the hearing examiner does not issue a final decision by the deadline under par. (b), no more than 30 days after that deadline.

293.95(3) (3) Contested case hearings on other decisions. A person is entitled to a contested case hearing on a decision by the department related to a mining or prospecting operation that is issued after the department issues the decision to approve the application for the mining or prospecting permit for the mining or prospecting operation, other than a decision described in sub. (2) (a) 2., if the person is entitled to a contested case hearing under s. 227.42 and complies with the requirements for service and filing in s. 227.53 (1) (a).

293.95(4) (4) Venue. Notwithstanding s. 227.53 (1) (a) 3., any person seeking judicial review of the decision on a contested case under sub. (2) or (3) or of any decision of the department related to an exploration, bulk sampling, mining, or prospecting operation shall bring the action in the circuit court for the county in which the majority of the mining or prospecting site is located or in which the majority of the exploration or bulk sampling will occur.

293.95 History History: 1973 c. 318; 1977 c. 421; 1995 a. 227 s. 799; Stats. 1995 s. 293.95; 2017 a. 134.