Chapter NR 133

NR 133.03(9) (9) “Neat cement grout” means a mixture consisting of 94 pounds of type A portland cement and approximately 6 gallons of water.

NR 133.03(10) (10) “Parcel” means an identified section, fractional section or government lot.

NR 133.03(11) (11) “Radioactive waste” means high-level radioactive waste and transuranic waste, as defined in s. 196.497 (1) (c) and (d), Stats.

NR 133.03(12) (12) “Radioactive waste disposal site” means any site or facility for the long-term storage or disposal of radioactive waste including any underground storage area and related facilities.

NR 133.03(13) (13) “Radioactive waste site exploration” means the on-site geologic examination from the surface of an area by core, rotary, percussion or other drilling for the purpose of determining the subsurface and geologic characteristics of an area in order to establish whether the area is suitable for a radioactive waste disposal site and includes associated activities such as clearing and preparing sites or constructing roads for drilling. For the purposes of this definition, geologic examination does not include construction of drillholes for the purpose of collecting soil samples or monitoring or sampling groundwater in unconsolidated deposits.

NR 133.03(14) (14) “Termination” means permanent abandonment of drillholes and reclamation and revegetation of drilling sites.

NR 133.03 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; correction in (7) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, October, 1999, No. 526; correction in (11) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2011 No. 663.

NR 133.04 NR 133.04 Application for an exploration license.

NR 133.04(1) (1) No person may engage in radioactive waste site exploration without securing an exploration license.

NR 133.04(2) (2) Any person wishing to engage in radioactive waste site exploration shall file an application for an exploration license with the department upon forms prepared and furnished by the department. The application shall be accompanied by the following:

NR 133.04(2)(a) (a) A fee of $300 for the exploration license.

NR 133.04(2)(b) (b)

NR 133.04(2)(b)1. 1. A bond payable to the department in the amount of $5,000 conditioned on faithful performance of the provisions of this chapter.

NR 133.04(2)(b)1.a. a. The bond shall be issued by a surety company licensed to do business in Wisconsin. If the surety company’s license to do business is revoked or suspended, the explorer, within 30 days after receiving written notice from the department, shall substitute surety underwritten by a surety company licensed to do business in Wisconsin. Upon failure of the explorer to make a substitution of surety, the department shall suspend the explorer’s exploration license until substitution has been made.

NR 133.04(2)(b)1.b. b. Each bond shall provide that the bond may not be canceled by the surety, except after 90 days written notice to the department by registered or certified mail. Not less than 30 days prior to the expiration of the 90 day notice of cancellation, the explorer shall deliver to the department a replacement bond in the absence of which all radioactive waste site exploration being conducted in this state by the explorer shall cease.

NR 133.04(2)(b)1.c. c. The department may require that the amount of the bond be increased at any time, if the department determines that the explorer’s current level of activity makes it likely that the bond may be inadequate to fund the termination of all holes drilled for which the explorer is responsible.

NR 133.04(2)(b)1.d. d. One year after the issuance of the last certificate of completion, and provided that the explorer is not holding an exploration license, the department shall release the bond if the department determines that the explorer has complied with provisions of this chapter.

NR 133.04(2)(b)2. 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1. the department may waive the bond requirement for an explorer who is authorized to engage in radioactive waste site exploration by a federal agency if the federal agency provides sufficient guarantees that the explorer or the federal agency will comply with the requirements of the department relating to termination.

NR 133.04(2)(c) (c) A certificate of insurance certifying that the explorer has in force a liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state covering all radioactive waste site exploration of the explorer in this state and affording personal injury and property damage protection in a total amount deemed adequate by the department but not less than $50,000.

NR 133.04 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85.

NR 133.05 NR 133.05 Issuance. Upon satisfactory completion of all conditions contained in this chapter, the department shall issue an exploration license to the explorer and shall provide copies of the license and license application to the radioactive waste review board and the Wisconsin geological and natural history survey. Licenses shall be issued within 10 business days after the department receives a complete application unless the application is for the immediately forthcoming license year. If the application is for the immediately forthcoming license year, the license shall be issued either within 10 business days after the department receives a complete application or on the following July 1, whichever is later. The issuance of an exploration license is subject to the following conditions:

NR 133.05(1) (1) Immediately following completion of drilling, radioactive waste site exploration drillholes shall be abandoned as follows:

NR 133.05(1)(a) (a) Permanent abandonment.

NR 133.05(1)(a)1. 1. ‘Filling material.’ All drillholes shall be filled from the bottom of the hole upward to the ground surface with concrete grout, neat cement grout or other material approved by the department.

NR 133.05(1)(a)2. 2. ‘Filling procedure restrictions.’

NR 133.05(1)(a)2.a. a. Filling material shall be applied through a conductor pipe, except that when practical a dump bailer may be used. When concrete is placed under water by a conductor pipe, the bottom end of the conductor pipe shall be submerged in the concrete at all times.

NR 133.05(1)(a)2.b. b. Upon removal of all or part of the casing from an unconsolidated formation that may not stand open (such as sand or gravel) upon abandonment of a drillhole, the casing shall be removed concurrently with the filling of the drillhole, and the bottom end of the casing shall be kept below the surface of the fill material throughout the abandonment operation.

NR 133.05(1)(a)3. 3. ‘Flowing drillhole.’ Prior to permanently abandoning a drillhole which penetrates an aquifer under artesian pressure such that groundwater flows at the ground surface, the explorer shall obtain approval of the abandonment procedures from the department.

NR 133.05(1)(b) (b) Temporary abandonment. If the explorer wants to temporarily retain a drillhole for further evaluation, the casing shall be left in place, and the upper terminal of the casing shall be sealed with a watertight threaded or welded cap.

NR 133.05(2) (2) The explorer shall comply with minimum standards for radioactive waste site exploration activities and reclamation of drilling sites as contained in s. 293.13 (2) (b) and (c), Stats., where applicable.

NR 133.05(3) (3) The fee for drilling the first 20 drillholes or less in any license year shall be $100 per drillhole and the fee for drilling each subsequent drillhole in that same license year shall be $50 per drillhole. All fees shall be paid to the department upon submission of the temporary abandonment report, if temporary abandonment occurs, or the permanent abandonment report if temporary abandonment does not occur. For the purpose of determining the appropriate fee, drillholes shall be assigned to the license year in which drilling on that particular hole ceases and the drillhole is initially abandoned either temporarily or permanently. Within 30 business days after receipt of the abandonment report, the department may adjust the fee to accurately reflect the actual costs incurred by the department in administering this chapter, including costs associated with monitoring or verification activities conducted by the department or other state agencies as a condition of the approval issued under s. NR 133.09 (6), provided that these activities are not funded through other available means.

NR 133.05(4) (4) The explorer must comply with other conditions which the department deems necessary to safeguard the natural resources of this state during and after radioactive waste site exploration.

NR 133.05 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, October, 1999, No. 526.

NR 133.06 NR 133.06 Renewals.

NR 133.06(1) (1) An explorer may renew an exploration license by filing an annual renewal application with the department upon forms prepared and furnished by the department. The renewal application shall be accompanied by the following:

NR 133.06(1)(a) (a) A fee of $150.00.

NR 133.06(1)(b) (b) A bond in accordance with s. NR 133.04 (2) (b) unless the bond requirement is waived in accordance with s. NR 133.04 (2) (b) 2.

NR 133.06(1)(c) (c) A certificate of insurance in accordance with s. NR 133.04 (2) (c).

NR 133.06(2) (2) Renewal licenses shall be for a period commencing on the date of issuance and terminating on the following June 30. Renewal applications shall be reviewed and licenses issued under the same time limitations specified in s. NR 133.05.

NR 133.06 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; corrections in (1) (b) and (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2011 No. 663.

NR 133.07 NR 133.07 License revocation or suspension.

NR 133.07(1) (1) After a due process hearing, the department may revoke or suspend an exploration license if it is determined that:

NR 133.07(1)(a) (a) Statutes or rules of the department or any condition in the exploration license or approval under s. NR 133.09 (6) have not been complied with; or

NR 133.07(1)(b) (b) The explorer has failed to increase bond amounts to adequate levels as provided in s. NR 133.04 (2) (b) 1. c.

NR 133.07(2) (2) The department shall notify the radioactive waste review board upon the revocation or suspension of any exploration license.

NR 133.07 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; correction in (1) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2011 No. 663.

NR 133.08 NR 133.08 Denials.

NR 133.08(1) (1) The department shall deny an exploration license if the department finds:

NR 133.08(1)(a) (a) The radioactive waste site exploration activity may not comply with the minimum standards in s. 293.13 (2) (b) 1. to 12. and (c) 1. to 8., Stats., where applicable.

NR 133.08(1)(b) (b) The explorer is in violation of ch. 293, Stats., or any provision of this chapter.

NR 133.08(2) (2) Within 10 business days from the date of application, the department shall furnish the explorer in writing the reasons for the denial.

NR 133.08 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, October, 1999, No. 526.

NR 133.09 NR 133.09 Preliminary project description approval.

NR 133.09(1) (1) Any explorer who holds a valid exploration license and intends to conduct radioactive waste site exploration in this state shall submit 15 copies of the preliminary project description to the department for each county in which drilling is expected to occur. The preliminary project description shall include, at a minimum, the identification of affected parcels, the proposed number and anticipated depth and diameter of the drillholes, the proposed methods of construction and termination, a description of site access, documentation that the explorer has applied for or intends to apply for necessary approvals and permits required under other applicable state laws and rules and local ordinances and the projected date of commencement of exploration. If the explorer is the federal department of energy or an agent or employee of the federal department of energy, the preliminary project description must include evidence that the Public Service Commission has certified that the explorer has complied with any requirement imposed by the radioactive waste review board under s. 196.497, Stats., or any agreement entered into under that section. The preliminary project description shall be submitted to the department at least 120 days prior to the proposed date of commencement of exploration and shall be considered as submitted on the date of its receipt by the department. Upon receipt, the department shall provide copies of the preliminary project description to the Public Service Commission and the Wisconsin geological and natural history survey. The explorer shall also submit a copy of the preliminary project description to the county clerk of the county, within which the radioactive waste site exploration is to take place.

NR 133.09(2) (2) Each preliminary project description shall be accompanied by a fee of $1500 which shall cover the cost to the department of evaluating the preliminary project description and preparing for and conducting the hearing under s. 293.25 (2) (c), Stats. After issuance of a decision under sub. (6) the department may revise the fee to reflect actual costs incurred.

NR 133.09(3) (3) Upon receipt of a complete preliminary project description, the department shall determine, under s. NR 150.20, whether a statement under s. 1.11, Stats., is required for the proposed exploration. In making this determination the department shall limit its consideration of environmental effects to those impacts associated with the proposed radioactive waste site exploration. The department may require the explorer to submit additional information concerning the proposed exploration. If it is determined that a statement under s. 1.11, Stats., is required, the explorer shall reimburse the department for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement under s. NR 150.40.

NR 133.09(4) (4) Within 15 business days after completing the process required to comply with s. 1.11, Stats., the department shall schedule the hearing under s. 293.25 (2) (c), Stats. Notice of the hearing shall be published in the official newspaper designated under s. 985.04 or 985.05, Stats., or if none exists, in a newspaper likely to give notice in the area of the proposed activity.

NR 133.09(5) (5) The hearing conducted under s. 293.25 (2) (c), Stats., shall be held in the county where the radioactive waste site exploration is proposed to occur.

NR 133.09(6) (6) Within 60 business days of the close of the hearing record, the department shall issue or deny approvals authorizing drilling on the individual parcels identified in the preliminary project description. Each approval or denial shall be made in findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order setting forth reasons with clarity and in detail. The department may modify the explorer’s preliminary project description in order to meet the requirements of ch. 293, Stats., and as modified grant the approval or may impose conditions on the approval as appropriate.

NR 133.09 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; corrections in (2) and (4) and (5) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, October, 1999, No. 526; corrections in (1) and (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2011 No. 663; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register March 2019 No. 759.

NR 133.095 NR 133.095 Modifications.

NR 133.095(1) (1) The explorer may at any time seek modification of the preliminary project description, as approved by the department under s. NR 133.09 (6). All requests for modifications shall be made in writing to the department and shall fully document the need for the modification. The department shall approve or deny requests for modifications within 15 business days after receiving the modification request unless the modification involves conducting exploration on a parcel not identified in the preliminary project description, in which case, the limitations under sub. (2) (b) shall apply.

NR 133.095(2) (2) 

NR 133.095(2)(a) (a) If a modification request is for approval to drill on a parcel not identified in the preliminary project description, the department shall provide notice of the modification request in the same manner as the hearing notice under s. NR 133.09 (4) within 15 business days after receipt of the modification request. If 5 or more interested persons do not request a hearing in writing within 20 business days of notice, no hearing is required on the modification. The notice shall include a statement to this effect.

NR 133.095(2)(b) (b) The department shall approve or deny requests for modifications under sub. (1) within 35 business days after publication of the notice under sub. (1) if no hearing is requested or within 20 business days after the close of the hearing record if a hearing is held.

NR 133.095 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85.

NR 133.10 NR 133.10 Notice procedures.

NR 133.10(1) (1) If a specific parcel is approved by the department under s. NR 133.09 (6), the explorer shall notify the department by registered or certified mail of the explorer’s intent to drill on that parcel at least 10 days in advance of the commencement of exploration. The explorer shall provide a copy of the notice of intent to drill to the county clerk of each county in which drilling is proposed to occur as specified in the notice. The notice of intent to drill shall indicate the legal description of the affected parcel, the number of drillholes expected to be constructed and the date that exploration is expected to begin. The 10 day notice of intent to drill shall be considered as given on the date of its receipt by the department. The department shall transmit copies of the notice of intent to drill to the Public Service Commission and the Wisconsin geological and natural history survey.

NR 133.10(2) (2) The explorer shall notify the department prior to the actual commencement of drilling on an approved parcel. This notice may be oral or written and shall be made to the department’s regional office in Rhinelander.

NR 133.10(3) (3) The explorer shall notify the department at least 24 hours in advance of permanently abandoning a drillhole. The 24 hour requirement may be reduced by the department. This notice may be oral or written and shall be made to the department’s regional office in Rhinelander.

NR 133.10(4) (4) If a drillhole penetrates an aquifer under artesian pressure such that groundwater flows at the ground surface, the explorer shall contact the department and seek approval of the method of containing such flow and the procedures for permanently abandoning the drillhole.

NR 133.10 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., Register, October, 1999, No. 526; correction in (1), (2), (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register March 2019 No. 759.

NR 133.11 NR 133.11 Reports.

NR 133.11(1) (1) Within 10 days after completion of temporary or permanent abandonment of a drillhole the explorer shall file an exploration abandonment report with the department on forms supplied by the department and signed by an authorized representative of the explorer attesting to the accuracy of the information contained therein.

NR 133.11(2) (2) All abandonment reports shall be submitted to the department’s regional office in Rhinelander.

NR 133.11(3) (3) Following permanent abandonment of the drillhole, and regrading and revegetation of the drilling site, the explorer shall notify the department of completion of termination of each drilling site. This notification shall be made in writing and sent to the department’s regional office in Rhinelander.

NR 133.11(4) (4) The department shall notify the explorer in writing of the satisfactory or unsatisfactory completion of termination. If termination is unsatisfactory, the department shall inform the explorer of all necessary corrective measures. Following implementation of corrective measures, the explorer shall file written notice with the department’s regional office in Rhinelander specifying what measures were taken and stating that termination is complete. Failure of the explorer to comply with the department’s corrective measures may result in license revocation or suspension in accordance with s. NR 133.07. Upon satisfactory completion of termination of a drilling site, the department shall issue a certificate of completion. No temporarily abandoned drilling site will receive a certificate of completion until permanently abandoned in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

NR 133.11 Note Note: The address and telephone number of the department’s regional office in Rhinelander are:

  Department of Natural Resources
  Northern Region Headquarters
  107 Sutliff
  P.O. Box 818
  Rhinelander, WI 54501
  Telephone: [phone]

NR 133.11 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; correction in (2), (3), (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register March 2019 No. 759.

NR 133.12 NR 133.12 Inspections.

NR 133.12(1) (1) Any duly authorized officer, employee or representative of the department may enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or at which any radioactive waste site exploration is being performed at any reasonable time for the purpose of ascertaining the state of compliance with this chapter and ch. 293, Stats.

NR 133.12(2) (2) No explorer may refuse entry or access to any authorized representative of the department who requests entry for purposes of inspection and who presents appropriate credentials.

NR 133.12(3) (3) No person may obstruct, hamper or interfere with any such inspection.

NR 133.12 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, October, 1999, No. 526.