Chapter NR 728

NR 728.065 Note Note: Sections 292.11 and 292.31, Stats., require the department to assess interest on the unpaid balance of monies required to be reimbursed to the department, when these monies are to be paid over time.

NR 728.065 History History: CR 12-023: cr. Register October 2013 No. 694 eff. 11-1-13.

NR 728.07 NR 728.07 Environmental agreements.

NR 728.07(1) (1) Agreements. The department may enter into an environmental agreement with any person for response actions pursuant to ch. 292, Stats., or into intergovernmental agreements with local governments or municipalities pursuant to s. 66.0301, Stats.

NR 728.07(2) (2) Content. All environmental agreements entered into pursuant to ch. 292, Stats., shall contain at a minimum, all of the following provisions:

NR 728.07(2)(a) (a) A description of the site or facility, and its location.

NR 728.07(2)(b) (b) A listing of the parties to the agreement.

NR 728.07(2)(bm) (bm) A description of the roles and responsibilities of the persons who are parties to the agreement.

NR 728.07(2)(c) (c) A schedule for completing the response action covered by the agreement.

NR 728.07(2)(d) (d) Provision for stipulated penalties if the response action is not completed in accordance with the agreement schedule.

NR 728.07(2)(e) (e) The method for resolving any disputes which may arise during the implementation of the response actions.

NR 728.07(2)(f) (f) The method for modifying the agreement.

NR 728.07(2)(g) (g) Fees associated with the department’s cost of review and approval as set forth in ch. NR 749.

NR 728.07 History History: Cr. Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; am. (1), (2) (intro.), Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; CR 12-023: am. (title), (1), (2) (intro.), (b), cr. (bm), am. (2) (c), (d), (f), cr. (2) (g) Register October 2013 No. 694 eff. 11-1-13.

NR 728.09 NR 728.09 Special orders.

NR 728.09(1) (1) Emergency orders. The department may issue emergency orders without prior hearing, pursuant to s. 292.11 (7) (c), Stats., to the person or persons responsible for a hazardous substance discharge, for the purpose of protecting public health, safety, or welfare. Such an emergency order shall become effective upon receipt. However, the recipient of the order shall have 10 days after service of the order to file a petition for judicial review pursuant to ss. 227.52 and 227.53, Stats. The emergency order shall remain in effect after the filing of a petition for judicial review unless the reviewing court issues a stay.

NR 728.09(1m) (1m) Orders for prevention of a discharge.

NR 728.09(1m)(a) (a) The department may require that preventive measures be taken by any person possessing or having control over a hazardous substance if the department finds that existing control measures are inadequate to prevent discharges.

NR 728.09(1m)(b) (b) The department shall specify necessary preventive measures by order. The order shall be effective 10 days after issuance, unless the person named requests a hearing, in which case no order may become effective until the conclusion of the hearing.

NR 728.09(2) (2) Unilateral administrative orders. The department may issue unilateral administrative orders pursuant to s. 292.11 (7) (c), Stats. Such an administrative order shall become effective 30 days after service of the order, unless the order recipient petitions for a contested case hearing within that 30-day period. All such petitions shall be filed in accordance with the requirements of s. NR 2.05.

NR 728.09(3) (3) Consent orders. The department may, in its discretion, issue a consent order pursuant to s. 292.11 (7) (c), Stats., if the order recipient is willing to stipulate to the order’s issuance.

NR 728.09 Note Note: Section 292.94, Stats., allows the department to assess and collect fees to cover the costs incurred by the department. Chapter NR 749 specifies the fees that apply to these situations.

NR 728.09 History History: Cr. Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; CR 12-023: cr. (1m) Register October 2013 No. 694 eff. 11-1-13.

NR 728.10 NR 728.10 Entry of a property on the department database.

NR 728.10(1) (1) General. Where the department has information to demonstrate that the source of contamination is on the property and the property owner or other responsible party has failed to take adequate response action, the department may list the properties where contamination from a hazardous substance discharge has been identified on the department database. The department shall notify the property owner in writing of the department’s intention to list the property on the department database in order to provide notice to the public of the contamination. If the property owner does not respond within 30 calendar days from the date on the letter indicating that the property will be promptly investigated and remediated in compliance with applicable statutes and rules or provides information which clearly demonstrates that no further investigation or remediation of environmental contamination is necessary, the department may proceed to list all properties where contamination from a hazardous substance discharge has been identified on the database.

NR 728.10(2) (2) Subsequent modifications.

NR 728.10(2)(a) (a) If the property owner or other responsible party subsequently decides to investigate and remediate the remaining contamination the department shall modify or remove the property from the database in accordance with the provisions in ch. NR 727.

NR 728.10(2)(b) (b) If a deed affidavit was previously recorded for the property and subsequent action was taken that results in the need to modify or supplement the information contained within that affidavit the department shall record a second affidavit at the office of the register of deeds for the county in which the property is located to supersede the current affidavit. If any of the requirements in ch. NR 726 for listing a property on the database are met following completion of the additional investigation and remediation, the department will proceed with listing the appropriate property or properties concurrently with filing the subsequent affidavit.

NR 728.10 Note Note: Chapter NR 749 specifies the fees that must accompany all requests to add, modify or remove a site or property from the department database.

NR 728.10 History History: CR 12-023: cr. Register October 2013 No. 694 eff. 11-1-13.

NR 728.11 NR 728.11 Recording a notice of contamination.

NR 728.11(1) (1) General. Except for contamination caused by a discharge from a fuel oil tank used solely for residential purposes, the department may in addition to using the provisions in s. NR 728.10 and, after following the procedures in sub. (2), record an affidavit at the office of the register of deeds for the county in which the property is located which specifies the legal description of the property, indicates that contamination from a hazardous substance discharge has been identified on the property which has not been adequately defined or remediated and gives notice to the public, and any prospective purchaser, of the existing contamination and the environmental liability associated with the property.

NR 728.11(2) (2) Procedure. Where the department has information to demonstrate that the source of contamination is on the property and the property owner or other responsible party has failed to take adequate response action, the department may record an affidavit at the office of the register of deeds for the county in which the property is located once the following steps have been taken:

NR 728.11(2)(a) (a) The department shall send the property owner a letter, by certified mail, stating the department’s intention to record an affidavit at the county register of deeds office giving notice of the contamination, unless the property owner responds by the deadline in the letter indicating that the property will be promptly investigated and remediated in compliance with applicable statutes and rules or provides information which clearly demonstrates that there is no environmental contamination on the property.

NR 728.11(2)(b) (b) If the department receives no response, or an unacceptable response, to the letter sent in par. (a), the department shall send a second letter to the property owner and to any mortgagee of record, by certified mail, indicating the department’s decision to record an affidavit at the county register of deeds office unless the property owner responds by the deadline in the letter indicating that the property will be promptly investigated and remediated in compliance with applicable statutes and rules or appeals the department’s determination. The deadline in this letter may not be less than 30 days from the date the property owner receives this letter. A copy of the affidavit to be recorded shall be attached to this letter.

NR 728.11(2)(c) (c) If an acceptable response is not received within the time period set forth in the letter sent in par. (b), the department may, as soon as practicable but in no case less than 15 days after the deadline in the letter sent in par. (b), record the affidavit at the office of the register of deeds for the county in which the property is located.

NR 728.11(3) (3) Subsequent filings. If the contamination identified in the affidavit is subsequently remediated or otherwise addressed to the satisfaction of the department, the department shall record a second affidavit at the office of the register of deeds for the county in which the property is located to supersede an affidavit filed under sub. (2), after giving written notice to the property owner. A second affidavit shall specify the legal description of the property and indicate whether or not there is any residual contamination exceeding existing state standards on the property that is inaccessible or otherwise impracticable to remediate.

NR 728.11 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; r. (4), Register, August, 1997, No. 500, eff. 9-1-97; CR 12-023: am. (1) Register October 2013 No. 694 eff. 11-1-13.