Chapter 295

295.60(10)(a)4. 4. An artificial wetland as part of an active mining operation.

295.60(10)(b) (b) Other exempted activities. All of the following activities that are associated with a mining operation or bulk sampling are exempt from the wetland individual permit and mitigation requirements under this section, from the general permit requirements under s. 281.36 (3g), and from any requirement for any other approval for which a wetland impact evaluation is required if the applicant minimizes any adverse effect on the environment as a result of any of these activities:

295.60(10)(b)1. 1. Maintenance, emergency repair, or reconstruction of damaged parts of structures that are in use in a wetland.

295.60(10)(b)2. 2. Construction or maintenance of irrigation ditches.

295.60(10)(b)3. 3. Construction or maintenance of farm roads, forest roads, or temporary mining roads that is performed in accordance with best management practices, as determined by the department.

295.60(10)(b)4. 4. Maintenance of drainage ditches.

295.60(10)(c) (c) An exemption under par. (a) or (b) does not apply to a federal wetland if the exemption conflicts with 33 USC 1344.

295.60(11) (11) Relationship to other laws. None of the following apply to a mining operation or bulk sampling:

295.60(11)(a) (a) Section 281.36, except as otherwise specifically provided in this section.

295.60(11)(b) (b) Any rule promulgated under s. 281.36, except as otherwise specifically provided in this section.

295.60(11)(c) (c) Any other rule promulgated by the department that relates to wetlands that conflicts with this section.

295.60 History History: 2013 a. 1; 2013 a. 168 s. 21; 2015 a. 196; 2019 a. 59.

295.605 295.605 Impacts to navigable waters.

295.605(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “navigable water activity” means an activity for which an approval is required under s. 30.12, 30.123, 30.19, 30.195, or 30.20.

295.605(1m) (1m) Limitation. This section does not apply to any navigable water activity associated with a mining operation if the application for the approval for the navigable water activity is filed after the department issues a mining permit for the mining operation.

295.605(2) (2) Approval required. No person may engage in any navigable water activity associated with bulk sampling or mining unless the person has been granted an approval as provided under sub. (4).

295.605(3) (3) Application; riparian status.

295.605(3)(a) (a) For purposes of an approval under ss. 30.12, 30.123, 30.19, 30.195, and 30.20, a person who is not the owner of a piece of riparian property may exercise a riparian right held by the owner of the piece of riparian property if any of the following apply:

295.605(3)(a)1. 1. The person leases the piece of riparian property from the owner.

295.605(3)(a)2. 2. The person holds an easement on the piece of riparian property and the easement authorizes the person to exercise that riparian right.

295.605(3)(b) (b) If a person is applying for more than one approval for a navigable water activity, the person may file a single application. The application shall include any information requested by the department under s. 295.45 (3).

295.605(4) (4) Requirements.

295.605(4)(a) (a) Generally. The department shall grant an approval for a navigable water activity if the navigable water activity meets all of the following requirements:

295.605(4)(a)1. 1. The navigable water activity will not significantly impair public rights and interests in a navigable water.

295.605(4)(a)2. 2. The navigable water activity will not significantly reduce the effective flood flow capacity of a stream.

295.605(4)(a)3. 3. The navigable water activity will not significantly affect the rights of riparian owners or the applicant obtains the consent of the riparian owners.

295.605(4)(a)4. 4. The navigable water activity will not significantly degrade water quality.

295.605(4)(b) (b) Measures. The person applying for the approval shall submit a plan to the department containing proposed measures to meet the requirements under par. (a) and a proposed schedule for implementing the measures. The plan shall include one or more of the following measures:

295.605(4)(b)1. 1. Measures to offset significant impacts to navigable waters by providing public access to, restoring, or enlarging up to 1.5 acres, but not less than one acre, of navigable waters in exchange for each acre of navigable waters that is significantly impacted.

295.605(4)(b)2. 2. Measures to improve public rights or interests in navigable waters.

295.605(4)(b)3. 3. Measures to offset significant impacts to water quality or quantity.

295.605(4)(b)4. 4. Measures to enhance flood storage.

295.605(4)(b)5. 5. A mitigation program as provided under s. 295.60 (8).

295.605(4)(b)6. 6. Conservation measures as provided in s. 295.61.

295.605(4)(bg) (bg) Measures excluded from consideration. In determining if a navigable water activity meets the requirements under par. (a) with regard to a navigable water, the department may not consider any proposed measure under par. (b) if the navigable water is any of the following:

295.605(4)(bg)1. 1. A perennial stream, if the drainage area of the portion of the stream upstream from the farthest downstream point of the navigable water activity is more than 2 square miles. In this subdivision, “perennial stream” means a stream that has a continuous flow every day of every year in which there is average precipitation.

295.605(4)(bg)2. 2. A navigable water, other than a stream, that is more than 2 acres in area every day of every year in which there is average precipitation and that is not a freeze-out pond, as defined in s. 29.001 (29).

295.605(4)(bg)3. 3. A class I, class II, or class III trout stream.

295.605(4)(bn) (bn) Plan review; finding. In reviewing the plan, the department may require that measures that are in addition to, or in conjunction with, one or more of the measures specified in par. (b) 1. to 6. be included in the plan. After reviewing the plan and application, if the department finds that the requirements under par. (a) will be met by implementing some or all of the measures contained in the plan, the department shall determine which measures shall be required, shall approve a schedule for implementation, and shall grant the approval.

295.605(4)(c) (c) Applicability of requirements. The requirements that are specified in par. (a) 1. to 4. are in lieu of any requirements required for approvals under ss. 30.12 (3m) (c), 30.123 (8) (c), 30.19 (4) (c), 30.195 (2) (c), and 30.20, including those that relate to the state’s or public’s interests, and shall be used, in conjunction with the measures required under par. (b), in any evaluation by the department pursuant to 33 USC 1341.

295.605(5) (5) Approval conditions. The department may impose conditions in an approval for a navigable water activity that it determines to be necessary to ensure that the navigable water activities subject to the approval meet the requirements under sub. (4) (a).

295.605(6) (6) Relationship to other laws.

295.605(6)(a) (a) Chapter 30 and any rules promulgated under that chapter apply to any navigable water activity subject to this section to the extent that they do not conflict with this section, except as provided in par. (b).

295.605(6)(b) (b) Sections 30.209 and 30.2095 and any rules promulgated under those sections, do not apply to any navigable water activity that is subject to this section.

295.605 History History: 2013 a. 1.

295.607 295.607 Shoreland and floodplain zoning.

295.607(1) (1) 

295.607(1)(a) (a) In this section:

295.607(1)(a)1. 1. “Development or construction activity” means a waste site, structure, building, fill, or other development or construction activity.

295.607(1)(a)2. 2. “Shoreland zoning ordinance” means a shoreland zoning ordinance or regulation adopted under s. 59.692, 61.351, 61.353, 62.231, 62.233, or 281.31.

295.607(2) (2) 

295.607(2)(a) (a) The department may not prohibit a development or construction activity to be located in an area that would otherwise be prohibited under a shoreland zoning ordinance if the development or construction activity is authorized by the department as part of a mining operation covered by a mining permit under s. 295.58.

295.607(2)(b) (b) A development or construction activity located in an area that would otherwise be prohibited under a shoreland zoning ordinance does not violate the applicable ordinance if the development or construction activity is authorized by the department as part of a mining operation covered by a mining permit under s. 295.58. No shoreland zoning variance is required for a development or construction activity located as provided under this paragraph.

295.607(3) (3) A municipal floodplain zoning ordinance under s. 87.30 may not prohibit development or construction activity authorized by the department as part of a mining operation covered by a mining permit under s. 295.58, except to the extent necessary for the municipality to which the floodplain zoning ordinance applies to maintain eligibility for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.

295.607 History History: 2013 a. 1, 80.

295.61 295.61 Withdrawals of surface waters and groundwater.

295.61(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

295.61(1)(a) (a) “Authorized base level of water loss” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (b).

295.61(1)(b) (b) “Environmentally sound and economically feasible water conservation measures” has the meaning given in s. 281.346 (1) (i).

295.61(1)(c) (c) “Great Lakes basin” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (d).

295.61(1)(d) (d) “High capacity well” has the meaning given in s. 281.34 (1) (b).

295.61(1)(e) (e) “Interbasin diversion” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (g).

295.61(1)(em) (em) “Riparian restoration project” means a project that will restore or enhance the natural beneficial uses and value of a watercourse.

295.61(1)(f) (f) “Upper Mississippi River basin” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (j).

295.61(1)(g) (g) Unless the context otherwise requires, “use” includes dewatering.

295.61(1)(h) (h) “Water loss” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (L).

295.61(1)(i) (i) “Withdrawal” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (m).

295.61(2) (2) Permit required. No person may engage in any withdrawal or use of surface water as part of a mining operation or bulk sampling, including a withdrawal or use associated with a system or plant under s. 281.41, unless the person has been issued a water withdrawal permit under this section. No person may engage in any withdrawal or use of groundwater, including a withdrawal or use associated with a system or plant under s. 281.41, as part of a mining operation or bulk sampling if the capacity and rate of withdrawal of all wells involved in the withdrawal of groundwater or in the dewatering of mines exceeds 100,000 gallons each day unless the person has been issued a water withdrawal permit under this section.

295.61(3) (3) Permit application.

295.61(3)(a) (a) Application. A person applying for a water withdrawal permit is required to submit only one application. An application for a water withdrawal permit shall include any information requested by the department under s. 295.45 (3).

295.61(3)(am) (am) Applicant status.

295.61(3)(am)1. 1. A person is not required to be the owner of a piece of riparian property in order to obtain a permit to withdraw surface water from that piece of riparian property if any of the following applies:

295.61(3)(am)1.a. a. The person leases the piece of riparian property from the owner.

295.61(3)(am)1.b. b. The person holds an easement on the piece of riparian property.

295.61(3)(am)2. 2. A person is not required to be the owner of a piece of property in order to obtain a permit to withdraw groundwater from that piece of property if any of the following applies:

295.61(3)(am)2.a. a. The person leases the piece of property from the owner.

295.61(3)(am)2.b. b. The person holds an easement on the piece of property.

295.61(3)(am)2.c. c. The person has obtained permission from the owner to withdraw groundwater from that piece of property.

295.61(3)(b) (b) Siting analysis. If withdrawal of water at a mining operation or for bulk sampling will involve one or more high capacity wells, the department shall require an applicant for a water withdrawal permit to submit a siting analysis for the purpose of determining the location of the high capacity wells. The analysis shall include alternate proposed locations for each high capacity well. In evaluating a submitted analysis, the department shall recognize there is a need for mining waste sites and processing facilities, including wastewater and sludge storage or treatment lagoons, to be contiguous to the location of the ferrous mineral deposit, and shall allow any high capacity well to be located so that need will be met. The department shall approve the location of each high capacity well as part of the permit issued under sub. (4).

295.61(3)(c) (c) Entry to land. After an application for a water withdrawal permit has been submitted under this section, the applicant may enter any land from which the applicant proposes to withdraw water or use water for the purpose of making any surveys required for the mining operation or bulk sampling, but no work may be commenced necessary for the mining operation or the bulk sampling until the department issues the permit under this section.

295.61(4) (4) Permit issuance.

295.61(4)(a) (a) General requirements. The department shall issue a water withdrawal permit if it determines that the withdrawal or use of the surface water or groundwater meets all of the following requirements:

295.61(4)(a)1. 1. The proposed withdrawal and uses of the water are substantially consistent with the protection of public health, safety, and welfare and will not be significantly detrimental to the public interest.

295.61(4)(a)2. 2. The proposed withdrawal and uses of the water will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and ecosystem of the Great Lakes basin or the Upper Mississippi River basin.

295.61(4)(a)3. 3. The proposed withdrawal and use of the water will not be significantly detrimental to the quantity and quality of the waters of the state.

295.61(4)(a)4. 4. The proposed withdrawal and use of the water will not significantly impair the rights of riparian owners or the applicant obtains the consent of the riparian owners.

295.61(4)(a)5. 5. The proposed withdrawal and use of the water will not result in significant injury to public rights in navigable waters.

295.61(4)(a)6. 6. If the withdrawal or the use of the water will result in an interbasin diversion, the requirements of s. 281.35 (5) (d) 7. are met.

295.61(4)(a)7. 7. The proposed withdrawal or use of the water will comply with any requirements imposed by the department under par. (cm).