196.496(2) (2) Rules. The commission shall promulgate rules establishing standards for the connection of distributed generation facilities to electric distribution facilities. To the extent technically feasible and cost effective, the standards shall be uniform and shall promote the development of distributed generation facilities. The standards shall address engineering, electric reliability, and safety concerns and the methods for determining charges for interconnection.

196.496 History History: 2001 a. 16.

196.496 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PSC 119, Wis. adm. code.

196.497 196.497 State policy regarding the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste and transuranic waste.

196.497(1) (1) Definitions. As used in this section unless the context requires otherwise:

196.497(1)(b) (b) “Federal department of energy” means the federal department of energy or any successor agency assigned responsibility for the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste and transuranic waste.

196.497(1)(c) (c) “High-level radioactive waste” means:

196.497(1)(c)1. 1. Fuel that is withdrawn from a nuclear reactor after irradiation and which is packaged and prepared for disposal; or

196.497(1)(c)2. 2. Highly radioactive waste resulting from reprocessing irradiated nuclear fuel including both the liquid waste which is produced directly in reprocessing and any solid material into which the liquid waste is transformed.

196.497(1)(d) (d) “Transuranic waste” means waste material containing alpha-emitting radioactive elements having an atomic number greater than 92 in concentrations greater than 10 nanocuries per gram.

196.497(2) (2) Coordination.

196.497(2)(a) (a) Initial agency to be contacted. The commission shall serve as the initial agency in this state to be contacted by the federal department of energy or any other federal agency on any matter related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste.

196.497(2)(b) (b) Receipt of information. The commission shall serve as the initial agency in this state to receive any report, study, document, information or notification of proposed plans from the federal department of energy or any other federal agency on any matter related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste. Notification of proposed plans include notification of proposals to conduct field work, on-site evaluation, on-site testing or similar activities.

196.497(2)(c) (c) Dissemination of information. The commission shall disseminate or arrange with the federal department of energy or other federal agency to disseminate information received under par. (b) to appropriate state agencies, local units of government, regional planning commissions, American Indian tribal governing bodies, the general public, interested citizen groups and persons who have requested in writing to receive this information.

196.497(2)(d) (d) Response. The commission shall respond to contacts under par. (a) and information received under par. (b) if a response is appropriate. The commission shall consult with appropriate state agencies, local units of government, regional planning commissions, American Indian tribal governing bodies, the general public and interested citizen groups in preparing this response.

196.497(3) (3) Advocate. The commission shall serve as an advocate on behalf of the citizens of this state before the federal department of energy and other federal agencies on matters related to the long-term disposal of radioactive waste and transuranic waste.

196.497(5) (5) Review of applications for federal funds. The commission shall review any application to the federal department of energy or other federal agency by a state agency, local unit of government or regional planning commission for funds for any program related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste. If the commission finds that the application is not consistent with the commission’s policy related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste or that the application is not in the best interest of the state, the commission shall forward its findings to the governor, the joint committee on finance and the federal agency to which the application for funds is being made. If the commission finds that the application of a state agency is not consistent with the commission’s policy related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste or that the application of a state agency is not in the best interest of the state, the findings forwarded to the governor shall include a recommendation that the governor act under s. 16.54 (1) and stipulate conditions for the acceptance of the funds which are necessary to safeguard the interests of the state.

196.497(6) (6) Monitor federal activity. The commission shall monitor activity in congress and the federal government related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste and transuranic waste. The commission may advise the congressional delegation from this state of action which is needed to protect the interests of the state.

196.497(7) (7) Request attorney general to intervene. If appropriate the commission shall request the attorney general to intervene in federal proceedings to protect the state’s interests and present the state’s point of view on matters related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste.

196.497(8) (8) Negotiation of agreements.

196.497(8)(a) (a) Negotiations with the federal department of energy. The commission shall serve as the agency in this state to negotiate written agreements and modifications to these agreements, with the federal department of energy on any matter related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste.

196.497(8)(b) (b) Negotiations with other federal agencies. The commission shall serve as the agency in this state to negotiate written agreements and modifications to these agreements, with any federal agency other than the federal department of energy on any matter related to the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste.

196.497(8)(d) (d) Hearings. The commission shall conduct public hearings on any proposed agreement or modification to an agreement negotiated under par. (a) or (b). The commission shall provide 30 days’ notice of the date and location of hearings conducted under this paragraph. The commission shall prepare a written summary of testimony presented at hearings conducted under this paragraph and shall consider the need for modifications to the negotiated agreement as a result of the hearings.

196.497(8)(f) (f) Approval of agreements and modifications by the legislature and governor. No agreement or modification to an agreement negotiated under par. (a) or (b) may take effect unless it is approved under sub. (10).

196.497(8)(g) (g) Technical revisions. The commission may negotiate what in the commission’s judgment are technical revisions to any agreement approved under sub. (10).

196.497(8)(i) (i) Review of technical revisions by the legislature and governor. No technical revision to an agreement negotiated under par. (g) may take effect unless it is considered approved under sub. (11).

196.497(9) (9) Agreements with the federal department of energy.

196.497(9)(a) (a) Separate agreements. The commission may negotiate separate agreements with the federal department of energy concerning different stages of the process of evaluating and selecting a site for the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste. The commission shall negotiate a separate agreement with the federal department of energy for the final stages of the selection of any site for the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste.

196.497(9)(b) (b) Contents. Any agreement negotiated by the commission with the federal department of energy under sub. (8) (a) shall include all of the following: