NR 661.0143(3)(g)(g) Whenever the current cost estimate increases to an amount greater than the amount of the credit, the owner or operator, within 60 days after the increase, shall either cause the amount of the credit to be increased so that it at least equals the current cost estimate and submit evidence of such increase to the department, or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this section to cover the increase. Whenever the current cost estimate decreases, the amount of the credit may be reduced to the amount of the current cost estimate following written approval by the department.
NR 661.0143(3)(h)(h) Following a determination by the department that the hazardous secondary material do not meet the conditions of the exclusion under s. NR 661.0004 (1) (x), the department may draw on the letter of credit.
NR 661.0143(3)(i)(i) If the owner or operator does not establish alternate financial assurance as specified in this section and obtain written approval of such alternate assurance from the department within 90 days after receipt by both the owner or operator and the department of a notice from the issuing institution that it has decided not to extend the letter of credit beyond the current expiration date, the department will draw on the letter of credit. The department may delay the drawing if the issuing institution grants an extension of the term of the credit. During the last 30 days of any such extension the department will draw on the letter of credit if the owner or operator has failed to provide alternate financial assurance as specified in this section and obtain written approval of such assurance from the department.
NR 661.0143(3)(j)(j) The department will return the letter of credit to the issuing institution for termination when any of the following apply:
NR 661.0143(3)(j)1.1. An owner or operator substitutes alternate financial assurance as specified in this section.
NR 661.0143(3)(j)2.2. The department releases the owner or operator from the requirements of this section in accordance with sub. (9).
NR 661.0143(4)(4)Insurance.
NR 661.0143(4)(a)(a) An owner or operator may satisfy the requirements of this section by obtaining insurance that conforms to the requirements of this subsection and submitting a certificate of such insurance to the department. At a minimum, the insurer shall be licensed to transact the business of insurance, or eligible to provide insurance as an excess or surplus lines insurer, in one or more states.
NR 661.0143(4)(b)(b) The wording of the certificate of insurance shall be identical to the wording specified in s. NR 661.0151 (4).
NR 661.0143(4)(c)(c) The insurance policy shall be issued for a face amount at least equal to the current cost estimate, except as provided in sub. (6). The term “face amount” means the total amount the insurer is obligated to pay under the policy. Actual payments by the insurer will not change the face amount, although the insurer’s future liability will be lowered by the amount of the payments.
NR 661.0143(4)(d)(d) The insurance policy shall guarantee that funds will be available whenever needed to pay the cost of removal of all hazardous secondary material from the unit, to pay the cost of decontamination of the unit, to pay the costs of the performance of activities required under subch. G of ch. NR 664 or subch. G of ch. NR 665, as applicable, for the facilities covered by this policy. The policy shall also guarantee that once funds are needed, the insurer will be responsible for paying out funds, up to an amount equal to the face amount of the policy, upon the direction of the department, to such party or parties as the department specifies.
NR 661.0143(4)(e)(e) After beginning partial or final closure under ch. NR 664 or 665, as applicable, an owner or operator or any other authorized person may request reimbursements for closure expenditures by submitting itemized bills to the department. The owner or operator may request reimbursements only if the remaining value of the policy is sufficient to cover the maximum costs of closing the facility over its remaining operating life. Within 60 days after receiving bills for closure activities, the department will instruct the insurer to make reimbursements in such amounts as the department specifies in writing if the department determines that the expenditures are in accordance with the approved plan or otherwise justified. If the department has reason to believe that the maximum cost over the remaining life of the facility will be significantly greater than the face amount of the policy, the department may withhold reimbursement of such amounts as the department deems prudent until the department determines, in accordance with sub. (8), that the owner or operator is no longer required to maintain financial assurance for the particular facility. If the department does not instruct the insurer to make such reimbursements, the department will provide to the owner or operator a detailed written statement of reasons.
NR 661.0143(4)(f)(f) The owner or operator shall maintain the policy in full force and effect until the department consents to termination of the policy by the owner or operator as specified in par. (j). Failure to pay the premium, without substitution of alternate financial assurance as specified in this section, will constitute a significant violation of this section warranting such remedy as the department deems necessary. Such violation will be deemed to begin upon receipt by the department of a notice of future cancellation, termination, or failure to renew due to nonpayment of the premium, rather than upon the date of expiration.
NR 661.0143(4)(g)(g) Each policy shall contain a provision allowing assignment of the policy to a successor owner or operator. Such assignment may be conditional upon consent of the insurer, provided such consent is not unreasonably refused.
NR 661.0143(4)(h)(h) The policy shall provide that the insurer may not cancel, terminate, or fail to renew the policy except for failure to pay the premium. The automatic renewal of the policy shall, at a minimum, provide the insured with the option of renewal at the face amount of the expiring policy. If the owner or operator fails to pay the premium, the insurer may elect to cancel, terminate, or fail to renew the policy by sending notice by certified mail to the owner or operator and the department. Cancellation, termination, or failure to renew may not occur, however, during the 120 days beginning with the date of receipt of the notice by both the department and the owner or operator, as evidenced by the return receipts. Cancellation, termination, or failure to renew may not occur and the policy will remain in full force and effect in the event that, on or before the date of expiration, any of the following occurs:
NR 661.0143(4)(h)1.1. The department deems the facility abandoned.
NR 661.0143(4)(h)2.2. Conditional exclusion or interim status is lost, terminated, or revoked.
NR 661.0143(4)(h)3.3. Closure is ordered by the department or a U.S. district court or other court of competent jurisdiction.
NR 661.0143(4)(h)4.4. The owner or operator is named as debtor in a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy proceeding under Title 11, U.S. Code.
NR 661.0143(4)(h)5.5. The premium due is paid.
NR 661.0143(4)(i)(i) Whenever the current cost estimate increases to an amount greater than the face amount of the policy, the owner or operator, within 60 days after the increase, shall either cause the face amount to be increased to an amount at least equal to the current cost estimate and submit evidence of such increase to the department, or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this section to cover the increase. Whenever the current cost estimate decreases, the face amount may be reduced to the amount of the current cost estimate following written approval by the department.
NR 661.0143(4)(j)(j) The department will give written consent to the owner or operator that the owner or operator may terminate the insurance policy when any of the following apply:
NR 661.0143(4)(j)1.1. The owner or operator substitutes alternate financial assurance as specified in this section.
NR 661.0143(4)(j)2.2. The department releases the owner or operator from the requirements of this section in accordance with sub. (9).
NR 661.0143(5)(5)Financial test and corporate guarantee.
NR 661.0143(5)(a)(a) An owner or operator may satisfy the requirements of this section by demonstrating that the owner or operator passes a financial test as specified in this subsection. To pass this test the owner or operator shall meet the criteria of either subd. 1. or 2.:
NR 661.0143(5)(a)1.1. The owner or operator shall have all of the following:
NR 661.0143(5)(a)1.a.a. Two of the following 3 ratios: A ratio of total liabilities to net worth less than 2.0; a ratio of the sum of net income plus depreciation, depletion, and amortization to total liabilities greater than 0.1; and a ratio of current assets to current liabilities greater than 1.5.
NR 661.0143(5)(a)1.b.b. Net working capital and tangible net worth each at least 6 times the sum of the current cost estimates and the current plugging and abandonment cost estimates.