Chapter 299

299.83(1m) (1m) Administration of program. In administering the program, the department shall attempt to do all of the following:

299.83(1m)(a) (a) Promote, reward, and sustain superior environmental performance by participants.

299.83(1m)(b) (b) Promote environmental performance that voluntarily exceeds legal requirements related to health, safety, and the environment and that results in continuous improvement in this state’s environment, economy, and quality of life.

299.83(1m)(c) (c) Provide clear incentives for participation that will result in real benefits to participants.

299.83(1m)(d) (d) Promote attention to unregulated environmental problems and provide opportunities for conservation of resources and environmental restoration by entities that are subject to environmental requirements and entities that are not subject to environmental requirements.

299.83(1m)(e) (e) Make the program compatible with federal programs that create incentives for achieving environmental performance that exceeds legal requirements.

299.83(1m)(f) (f) Increase levels of trust, communication, and accountability among regulatory agencies, entities that are subject to environmental requirements, and the public.

299.83(1m)(g) (g) Reduce the time and money spent by regulatory agencies and entities that are subject to environmental requirements on tasks that do not benefit the environment by focusing on more efficient performance of necessary tasks and eliminating unnecessary tasks.

299.83(1m)(h) (h) Report information concerning environmental performance and data concerning ambient environmental quality to the public in a manner that is accurate, timely, credible, relevant, and usable to interested persons.

299.83(1m)(i) (i) Provide for the measurement of environmental performance in terms of accomplishing goals and require the reporting of the results.

299.83(1m)(j) (j) Implement an evaluation system that provides flexibility and affords some protection for experimentation by participants that use innovative techniques to try to achieve superior environmental performance.

299.83(1m)(k) (k) Remove disincentives to achieving superior environmental performance.

299.83(1m)(L) (L) Provide for sustained business success as well as a reduction in environmental pollution.

299.83(1m)(m) (m) Promote the transfer of technological and practical innovations that improve environmental performance in an efficient, effective, or safe manner.

299.83(1m)(n) (n) Lower the administrative costs associated with environmental requirements and with achieving superior environmental performance.

299.83(3) (3) Eligibility for tier i.

299.83(3)(a) (a) General. An applicant is eligible for tier I of the program if the applicant satisfies the requirements in pars. (b) to (d), subject to par. (e). If an applicant consists of a group of entities, each requirement in pars. (b) to (d) applies to each entity in the group. An applicant for tier I of the program shall identify the facilities or activities that it intends to include in the program.

299.83(3)(b) (b) Enforcement record. To be eligible to participate in tier I of the program, an applicant shall demonstrate all of the following, subject to par. (e):

299.83(3)(b)1. 1. That, within 60 months before the date of application, no judgment of conviction was entered against the applicant, any managing operator of the applicant, or any person with a 25 percent or more ownership interest in the applicant for a criminal violation involving a covered facility or activity that resulted in substantial harm to public health or the environment or that presented an imminent threat to public health or the environment.

299.83(3)(b)2. 2. That, within 36 months before the date of application, no civil judgment was entered against the applicant, any managing operator of the applicant, or any person with a 25 percent or more ownership interest in the applicant for a violation involving a covered facility or activity that resulted in substantial harm to public health or the environment.

299.83(3)(b)3. 3. That, within 24 months before the date of application, the department of justice has not filed a suit to enforce an environmental requirement, and the department of natural resources has not issued a citation to enforce an environmental requirement, because of a violation involving a covered facility or activity.

299.83(3)(c) (c) Environmental performance. To be eligible to participate in tier I of the program, an applicant shall submit an application that describes all of the following:

299.83(3)(c)1. 1. The applicant’s past environmental performance with respect to each covered facility or activity.

299.83(3)(c)2. 2. The applicant’s current environmental performance with respect to each covered facility or activity.

299.83(3)(c)3. 3. The applicant’s plans for activities that enhance the environment, such as improving the applicant’s environmental performance with respect to each covered facility or activity.

299.83(3)(d) (d) Environmental management system. To be eligible to participate in tier I of the program, an applicant shall do all of the following:

299.83(3)(d)1. 1. Demonstrate that it has implemented, or commit itself to implementing within one year of the department’s approval of its application, an environmental management system, for each covered facility or activity, that is in compliance with the standards for environmental management systems issued by the International Organization for Standardization or determined by the department to be a functionally equivalent environmental management system.

299.83(3)(d)2. 2. Include, in the environmental management system under subd. 1., objectives in at least 2 of the following areas:

299.83(3)(d)2.a. a. Improving the environmental performance of the applicant, with respect to each covered facility or activity, in aspects of environmental performance that are regulated under chs. 29 to 31, 160, or 280 to 299.

299.83(3)(d)2.b. b. Improving the environmental performance of the applicant, with respect to each covered facility or activity, in aspects of environmental performance that are not regulated under chs. 29 to 31, 160, or 280 to 299.

299.83(3)(d)2.c. c. Voluntarily restoring, enhancing, or preserving natural resources.

299.83(3)(d)3. 3. Explain to the department the rationale for the choices of objectives under subd. 2. and describe any consultations with residents of the areas in which each covered facility or activity is located or performed and with other interested persons concerning those objectives.

299.83(3)(d)4. 4. Conduct, or commit itself to conducting, annual environmental management system audits, with every 3rd environmental management system audit performed by an outside environmental auditor approved by the department, and commit itself to submitting to the department an annual report on the environmental management system audit that is in compliance with sub. (6m) (a).

299.83(3)(d)5. 5. Commit itself to submitting to the department an annual report on progress toward meeting the objectives under subd. 2.

299.83(3)(e) (e) Waiver of enforcement record requirements. The secretary of natural resources may waive requirements in par. (b) 2. or 3. based on the request of an applicant. The department shall provide public notice of the request and shall provide at least 30 days for public comment on the request. The secretary may not grant a waiver under this paragraph unless he or she finds that the waiver is consistent with sub. (1m) and will not erode public confidence in the integrity of the program.

299.83(4) (4) Process for tier i.

299.83(4)(a) (a) Upon receipt of an application for participation in tier I of the program, the department shall provide public notice about the application in the area in which each covered facility or activity is located or performed.

299.83(4)(b) (b) After providing public notice under par. (a) about an application, the department may hold a public informational meeting on the application.

299.83(4)(c) (c) The department shall approve or deny an application within 60 days after providing notice under par. (a) or, if the department holds a public informational meeting under par. (b), within 60 days after that meeting, unless the department and the applicant agree to a longer period. The department may limit the number of participants in tier I of the program, or limit the extent of participation by a particular applicant, based on the department’s determination that the limitation is in the best interest of the program.

299.83(4)(d) (d) Notwithstanding s. 227.42 (1), a decision by the department under par. (c) to approve or deny an application is not subject to review under ch. 227.

299.83(4m) (4m) Incentives for tier i.

299.83(4m)(a) (a) The department shall issue a numbered certificate of recognition to each participant in tier I of the program.

299.83(4m)(b) (b) The department shall identify each participant in tier I of the program on an Internet site maintained by the department.

299.83(4m)(c) (c) The department shall annually provide notice of the participation of each participant in tier I of the program to newspapers in the area in which each covered facility or activity is located.

299.83(4m)(d) (d) A participant in tier I of the program may use a Green Tier Program logo selected by the department on written materials produced by the participant.

299.83(4m)(e) (e) The department shall assign an employee of the department, who is acceptable to the participant, to serve as the contact with the department for a participant in tier I of the program for communications concerning participation in the program, for any approvals that the participant is required to obtain, and for technical assistance.

299.83(4m)(f) (f) After a participant in tier I of the program implements an environmental management system that complies with sub. (3) (d) 1., the department shall conduct any inspections of the participant’s covered facilities or activities that are required under chs. 29 to 31, 160, or 280 to 299 at the lowest frequency permitted under those chapters, except that the department may conduct an inspection whenever it has reason to believe that a participant is out of compliance with a requirement in an approval or with an environmental requirement.

299.83(5) (5) Eligibility for tier ii.

299.83(5)(a) (a) General. An applicant is eligible for tier II of the program if the applicant satisfies the requirements in pars. (b) to (d), subject to par. (e). If an applicant consists of a group of entities, each requirement in pars. (b) to (d) applies to each entity in the group. An applicant for tier II of the program shall identify the facilities or activities that it intends to include in the program.

299.83(5)(b) (b) Enforcement record. To be eligible to participate in tier II of the program, an applicant shall demonstrate all of the following, subject to par. (e):

299.83(5)(b)1. 1. That, within 120 months before the date of application, no judgment of conviction was entered against the applicant, any managing operator of the applicant, or any person with a 25 percent or more ownership interest in the applicant for a criminal violation involving a covered facility or activity that resulted in substantial harm to public health or the environment or that presented an imminent threat to public health or the environment.

299.83(5)(b)2. 2. That, within 60 months before the date of application, no civil judgment was entered against the applicant, any managing operator of the applicant, or any person with a 25 percent or more ownership interest in the applicant for a violation involving a covered facility or activity that resulted in substantial harm to public health or the environment.

299.83(5)(b)3. 3. That, within 24 months before the date of application, the department of justice has not filed a suit to enforce an environmental requirement, and the department of natural resources has not issued a citation to enforce an environmental requirement, because of a violation involving a covered facility or activity.

299.83(5)(c) (c) Environmental management system. To be eligible to participate in tier II of the program, an applicant shall do all of the following:

299.83(5)(c)1. 1. Demonstrate that it has implemented an environmental management system, for each covered facility or activity, that is in compliance with the standards for environmental management systems issued by the International Organization for Standardization or determined by the department to be a functionally equivalent environmental management system.

299.83(5)(c)2. 2. Commit itself to having an outside environmental auditor approved by the department conduct an annual environmental management system audit and to submitting to the department an annual report on the environmental management system audit that is in compliance with sub. (6m) (a).

299.83(5)(c)3. 3. Commit itself to annually conducting, or having another person conduct, an audit of compliance with environmental requirements that are applicable to the covered facilities and activities and to reporting the results of the audit to the department in compliance with sub. (6m) (a).

299.83(5)(d) (d) Superior environmental performance. To be eligible to participate in tier II of the program, an applicant shall demonstrate a record of superior environmental performance and shall describe the measures that it proposes to take to maintain and improve its superior environmental performance.

299.83(5)(e) (e) Waiver of enforcement record requirements. The secretary of natural resources may waive requirements in par. (b) 2. or 3. based on the request of an applicant. The department shall provide public notice of the request and shall provide at least 30 days for public comment on the request. This public comment period may be concurrent with the notice period under sub. (6) (c) to (f). The secretary may not grant a waiver under this paragraph unless he or she finds that the waiver is consistent with sub. (1m) and will not erode public confidence in the integrity of the program.

299.83(6) (6) Process for tier ii.

299.83(6)(a) (a) Letter of intent. To apply for participation in tier II of the program, an entity shall submit a letter of intent to the department. In addition to providing information necessary to show that the applicant satisfies the requirements in sub. (5), the applicant shall do all of the following in the letter of intent:

299.83(6)(a)1. 1. Describe the involvement of interested persons in developing and implementing the proposal for maintaining and improving the applicant’s superior environmental performance, identify the interested persons, and describe the interests that those persons have in the applicant’s participation in the program.

299.83(6)(a)2. 2. Outline the provisions that it proposes to include in the participation contract.

299.83(6)(a)3. 3. Explain how the measures that the applicant proposes to take to maintain and improve its superior environmental performance are proportional to the incentives that it proposes to receive under the participation contract.

299.83(6)(b) (b) Limitation. The department may limit the number of letters of intent that it processes based on the staff resources available.

299.83(6)(c) (c) Notice. If the department decides to process a letter of intent, within 90 days of receiving the letter of intent the department shall provide public notice about the letter of intent in the area in which each covered facility or activity is located or performed.

299.83(6)(d) (d) Public meeting. After providing public notice under par. (c) about a letter of intent, the department may hold a public informational meeting on the letter of intent.

299.83(6)(e) (e) Request to participate. Within 30 days after the public notice under par. (c), interested persons may request the department to grant them authorization to participate in the negotiations under par. (f). A person who makes a request under this paragraph shall describe the person’s interests in the issues raised by the letter of intent. The department shall determine whether a person who makes a request under this paragraph may participate in the negotiations under par. (f) based on whether the person has demonstrated sufficient interest in the issues raised by the letter of intent to warrant that participation.

299.83(6)(f) (f) Negotiations. If the department determines that an applicant satisfies the requirements in sub. (5), the department may begin negotiations concerning a participation contract with the applicant and with any persons to whom the department granted permission under par. (e). The department may begin the negotiations no sooner than 30 days after providing public notice under par. (c) about the applicant’s letter of intent.

299.83(6)(g) (g) Termination of negotiations. The department may terminate negotiations with an applicant concerning a participation contract. Notwithstanding s. 227.42 (1), a decision to terminate negotiations is not subject to review under ch. 227. The department shall conclude negotiations within 12 months of beginning negotiations unless the applicant and the department agree to an extension.

299.83(6)(h) (h) Notice of proposed contract. If negotiations under par. (f) result in a proposed participation contract, the department shall provide public notice about the proposed participation contract in the area in which each covered facility or activity is located or performed.

299.83(6)(i) (i) Meeting on proposed contract. After providing public notice under par. (h) about a proposed participation contract, the department may hold a public informational meeting on the proposed participation contract.

299.83(6)(j) (j) Participation decision. Within 30 days after providing notice under par. (h) or, if the department holds a public informational meeting under par. (i), within 30 days after that meeting, the department shall decide whether to enter into a participation contract with an applicant, unless the applicant and the department agree to an extension beyond 30 days.

299.83(6)(jm) (jm) Participation contract.

299.83(6)(jm)1. 1. In a participation contract, the department shall require that the participant maintain the environmental management system described in sub. (5) (c) 1. and abide by the commitments in sub. (5) (c) 2. and 3. The department shall include in a participation contract a provision that describes how the participant will maintain the involvement of interested parties during the term of the participation contract. The department may not reduce the frequency of required inspections or monitoring as an incentive in a participation contract if the audit under sub. (5) (c) 3. is conducted by a person other than an outside environmental auditor. The department shall ensure that the incentives provided under a participation contract are proportional to the environmental benefits that will be provided by the participant under the participation contract. The department shall include in a participation contract remedies that apply if a party fails to comply with the participation contract.

299.83(6)(jm)2. 2. The term of a participation contract may not be less than 3 years or more than 10 years, with opportunity for renewal for additional terms of the same length as the original term upon agreement of the parties. The term of a participation contract may not exceed 5 years if the participation contract incorporates, modifies, or otherwise affects the terms or conditions of a permit issued under s. 283.31, 283.33, or 285.62, unless federal and state law authorize a longer term for the permit.

299.83(6)(k) (k) Review of decision. Notwithstanding s. 227.42, there is no right to an administrative hearing on the department’s decision to enter into a participation contract under par. (j) or (L), but the decision is subject to judicial review.

299.83(6)(L) (L) Alternate process.

299.83(6)(L)1. 1. A person participating in the program under s. 299.80 may choose to apply for participation in tier II using the process under this paragraph, rather than under pars. (a) to (j), by submitting a letter notifying the department of its choice, before the expiration of the cooperative agreement under s. 299.80, along with a copy of its most recent performance evaluation under s. 299.80 (3) (j).

299.83(6)(L)2. 2. The department shall enter into discussions with a person submitting a letter under subd. 1. to develop a proposed participation contract that is based on the cooperative agreement under s. 299.80, making the changes necessary to ensure that the participation contract complies with par. (jm). For the purposes of par. (jm) 1., if the person agrees to include in the participation contract the measures to maintain and improve its environmental performance that were included in the cooperative agreement, the operational flexibility and variances granted to the person in the cooperative agreement are presumed to be proportional to the environmental benefits that will be provided by the participant.

299.83(6)(L)3. 3. The department shall provide public notice about a proposed participation contract developed under subd. 2. in the area in which each covered facility or activity is located or performed.

299.83(6)(L)4. 4. After providing public notice under subd. 3., the department may hold a public informational meeting about a proposed participation contract.

299.83(6)(L)5. 5. The department may enter into a participation contract under this paragraph with a person with whom the department has developed a proposed participation contract unless significant concerns are raised in comments arising from public notice under subd. 3. or from an informational meeting under subd. 4. and the person is unable or unwilling to respond to the concerns to the department’s satisfaction.

299.83(6m) (6m) Compliance reports and deferred civil enforcement.

299.83(6m)(a) (a) Compliance reports. If an audit under sub. (3) (d) 4. or (5) (c) 2. or 3. reveals any violations, the participant shall include all of the following in the report of the results of the audit:

299.83(6m)(a)1. 1. A description of all of the violations.

299.83(6m)(a)2. 2. A description of the actions taken or proposed to be taken to correct the violations identified in subd. 1.

299.83(6m)(a)3. 3. A commitment to correct the violations identified in subd. 1. within 90 days of submitting the report or according to a compliance schedule approved by the department.

299.83(6m)(a)4. 4. If the participant proposes to take more than 90 days after submitting the report to correct the violations identified in subd. 1., a proposed compliance schedule that contains the shortest reasonable periods for correcting the violations, a statement that justifies the proposed compliance schedule, a description of measures that the participant will take to minimize the effects of the violations during the period of the compliance schedule, and proposed stipulated penalties to be imposed if the participant fails to comply with the proposed compliance schedule.