Chapter 283

283.41 History History: 1973 c. 74; 1975 c. 349; 1995 a. 227 s. 869; Stats. 1995 s. 283.41; 2007 a. 227.

283.43 283.43 Public access to information.

283.43(1) (1) 

283.43(1)(a) (a) The department shall make available to and provide facilities for the public to inspect and copy completed permit application forms, fact sheets, draft permits, or any public document thereon.

283.43(1)(b) (b) The department shall make available to the U.S. environmental protection agency any completed permit application forms, fact sheets, draft permits, or any public comments thereon, and shall also make available any other records, reports, plans or other information obtained by the department under this chapter.

283.43(2) (2) The department shall protect as confidential any information, other than effluent data, contained in permit application forms, or in other records, reports or plans, that is found to be confidential under s. 283.55 (2) (c).

283.43(3) (3) Any information afforded confidential status may be disclosed by the department to the U.S. environmental protection agency or its authorized representative.

283.43 History History: 1973 c. 74; 1995 a. 227 s. 870; Stats. 1995 s. 283.45.

283.45 283.45 Fact sheets.

283.45(1) (1) For every discharge which has a total volume of more than 500,000 gallons on any day of the year, except a storm water discharge for which a permit is issued under s. 283.33, the department shall, following public notice, prepare and send to any person who so requests, a fact sheet concerning the application described in the public notice.

283.45(2) (2) The contents of such fact sheets shall be established by the department by rule and shall include at least the following information:

283.45(2)(a) (a) A sketch or detailed description of the location of the discharge described in the application;

283.45(2)(b) (b) A quantitative description of the discharges described in the application;

283.45(2)(c) (c) A statement of the tentative determination to issue or deny the permit application;

283.45(2)(d) (d) If a determination to issue a permit is made, then the following information shall also be included:

283.45(2)(d)1. 1. The proposed effluent limitation for those pollutants proposed to be limited;

283.45(2)(d)2. 2. A proposed schedule of compliance, including interim dates and requirements, for meeting the proposed effluent limitations;

283.45(2)(d)3. 3. A brief description of any other proposed special conditions which will have a significant impact upon the discharge described in the application;

283.45(2)(e) (e) A brief description of the uses for which the receiving waters have been classified, of the applicable water quality standards and effluent standards;

283.45(2)(f) (f) A more detailed description of the procedures for the formulation of final determinations than that given in the public notice.

283.45(3) (3) If the department proposes to include a water quality based effluent limitation in the permit, a fact sheet prepared under this section shall include all of the following:

283.45(3)(a) (a) A description of the calculation used by the department to derive the water quality based effluent limitation.

283.45(3)(b) (b) A discussion of the rationale used by the department to determine whether or not a compliance schedule for the water quality based effluent limitation shall be included in the proposed permit and the rationale used to develop any such schedule. The discussion shall include a description of treatment technologies or control strategies that may be available to the permittee for achieving compliance with the water quality based effluent limitation.

283.45(3)(c) (c) The assumptions and information used by the department to calculate the mixing zone for the discharge.

283.45 History History: 1973 c. 74; 1987 a. 60; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 227 s. 867; Stats. 1995 s. 283.45.

283.45 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 201, Wis. adm. code.

283.47 283.47 Requests for information by permittee. When a permit for which a fact sheet is required to be prepared under s. 283.45 is issued, reissued or modified, if the permittee submits, during the public comment period afforded under s. 283.39, to the department a written request for information on the background levels in the receiving water of substances for which a water quality based effluent limitation under s. 283.13 (5) is included in the proposed permit, the department shall, to the extent the information is available, provide to the permittee no later than the time that the permit is issued, reissued or modified such information or list of documents which present such information. Nothing in this section limits rights under ss. 19.31 to 19.37.

283.47 History History: 1987 a. 60; 1995 a. 227 s. 868; Stats. 1995 s. 283.47.

283.49 283.49 Public hearing.

283.49(1) (1) 

283.49(1)(a) (a) The department shall provide an opportunity for the applicant, any affected state, the U.S. environmental protection agency, any interested state or federal agency, person or group of persons to request a public hearing with respect to a permit application. Such request for a public hearing shall be filed with the department within 30 days after the public notice of the complete permit application is provided and shall indicate the interest of the party filing the request and the reasons why a hearing is warranted.

283.49(1)(b) (b) The department shall hold a public hearing on a permit application or a group of applications if requested by the U.S. environmental protection agency, any affected state, on the petition of 5 or more persons or if the department deems that there is a significant public interest in holding such a hearing.

283.49(1)(c) (c) The department shall promulgate by rule procedures for the conduct of public hearings held under this section. Hearings held under this section are not contested cases under s. 227.01 (3).

283.49(2) (2) 

283.49(2)(a) (a) Public notice of any hearing held under this section shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of s. 283.39 (1) and the public notice shall be considered to be provided on the date specified in s. 283.39 (1m).

283.49(2)(b) (b) The form and content of such public notice shall be established by departmental rule.

283.49 History History: 1973 c. 74; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1995 a. 227 s. 871; Stats. 1995 s. 283.49; 2011 a. 167.

283.49 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 203.04, Wis. adm. code.

283.51 283.51 Mining hearing. If a hearing on the permit application is conducted as a part of a hearing under s. 293.43, the notice, comment and hearing provisions in that section supersede the notice, comment and hearing provisions of ss. 283.39, 283.41 and 283.49.

283.51 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1995 a. 227 s. 872; Stats. 1995 s. 283.51.

283.53 283.53 Permit duration, modification, revocation and reissuance.

283.53(1) (1) No permit issued by the department under s. 283.31 or 283.33 shall have an initial term for more than 5 years. Upon the request of a permit holder, the department may renew the permit for a term of not more than 5 years, subject to sub. (3).

283.53(2) (2) 

283.53(2)(a) (a) Any permit issued by the department under s. 283.31 or 283.33 may, after an opportunity for hearing, be modified, terminated, or revoked and reissued, in whole or in part, for cause, including but not limited to:

283.53(2)(a)1. 1. Violation of any terms or conditions of the permit;

283.53(2)(a)2. 2. Obtaining a permit by misrepresentation or failure to disclose fully all relevant facts;

283.53(2)(a)3. 3. A change in any condition that requires either a temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of the permitted discharge;

283.53(2)(b) (b) Whenever, on the basis of any information available to it, the department finds that there is cause for modifying, terminating, or revoking and reissuing a permit, in whole or in part, the department shall notify the permittee by certified mail or personal service of its intention to modify, terminate, or revoke and reissue the permit, in whole or in part, except that if the department proposes to modify a permit to authorize a substantial change to a nutrient management plan of a concentrated animal feeding operation, the department may notify the permittee by electronic mail. Such notice shall specify the information upon which the department relies, and if the department intends to modify the permit, shall explain the modifications which the department intends to make in the permit.

283.53(2)(c) (c) The department shall also notify the U.S. environmental protection agency, the U.S. army corps of engineers, any affected state, any interested agency of this state, and any interested members of the public of its intention to modify, terminate, or revoke and reissue a permit. Such notice shall incorporate the terms of the notice sent to the permittee and shall be provided to members of the public in accordance with s. 283.39 (1), except that if the department proposes to modify a permit to authorize a substantial change to a nutrient management plan of a concentrated animal feeding operation, the department is not required to provide notice of the substantial change under s. 283.39 (1) (a). The department shall provide a 14-day period, from the date on which notice is provided under s. 283.39 (1) (d), for written comments on a proposed modification to authorize a substantial change to a nutrient management plan.

283.53(2)(d) (d) The department may hold a public hearing on a proposed permit modification, termination, or revocation and reissuance if the department determines that there is a significant public interest in holding such a hearing or upon the petition of 5 or more persons. The petition shall indicate the interest of the petitioners and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. A petition for a hearing on a proposed permit modification to authorize a substantial change to a nutrient management plan of a concentrated animal feeding operation shall be filed within 14 days of the date notice is provided under s. 283.39 (1) (d).

283.53(2)(e) (e) Public notice of any hearing held under this section shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of pars. (b) and (c).

283.53(2)(f) (f) Hearings held under this section are not contested cases under s. 227.01 (3).

283.53(2d) (2d) The department may, with the consent of the permittee, modify a permit issued under s. 283.31 or 283.33 without following the procedures in sub. (2) (b) to (f) in order to do any of the following:

283.53(2d)(a) (a) Correct a typographical error.

283.53(2d)(b) (b) Require more frequent monitoring or reporting by the permittee.

283.53(2d)(c) (c) Change an interim compliance date in a schedule of compliance to a date that is not more than 120 days after the date specified in the existing permit if the change does not delay attainment of final compliance.

283.53(2d)(d) (d) Reflect a change in the owner or operator of a facility if the department determines that no other change in the permit is necessary and if the current and new owners or operators submit to the department a written agreement that specifies a date for the new owner to assume responsibility for compliance with the permit and liability for violations of the permit.

283.53(2d)(e) (e) Change the construction schedule for a new source if the change does not affect the permittee’s obligation to have required pollution control equipment installed and in operation before beginning to discharge.

283.53(2d)(f) (f) Eliminate a point source from a permit if the discharge from that point source terminates and that termination does not cause the discharge of pollutants from other point sources to exceed permit limits.

283.53(2d)(g) (g) Incorporate into a permit a condition of a publicly owned treatment works pretreatment program that has been approved by the department.

283.53(2h) (2h) The department may, with the consent of the permittee, terminate a permit issued under s. 283.31 or 283.33 without following the procedures in sub. (2) (b) to (f).

283.53(2m) (2m) The department may, upon request of the permittee, revise or modify a schedule of compliance in an issued permit if it determines that the revision or modification is necessary because of the happening of an event over which the permittee has little or no control. The first revision made under this subsection during the term of a permit need comply only with sub. (2) (c). Subsequent requests shall be subject to sub. (2) (b) to (f).

283.53(3) (3) 

283.53(3)(a) (a) Any permittee who wishes to continue to discharge after the expiration date of the permittee’s permit shall file an application for reissuance of the permit at least 180 days prior to its expiration.

283.53(3)(b) (b) The department shall review each application for reissuance of a permit to ensure that:

283.53(3)(b)1. 1. The permittee is in substantial compliance with all the terms, conditions, requirements and schedules of compliance of the expired permit;

283.53(3)(b)2. 2. The department has current information on the permittee’s production levels, waste treatment practices, and the nature, volume, content and frequency of the permittee’s discharge;

283.53(3)(b)3. 3. The discharge is consistent with applicable effluent limitations and standards, water quality standards and any other legally applicable requirements, including any additions to, or revisions or modifications of such effluent limitations and standards, water quality standards, or other legally applicable requirements made during the term of the permit.

283.53(3)(c) (c) If, after such review, the department finds that the requirements of par. (b) have not been met, the department shall not reissue such a permit.

283.53(3)(d) (d) The department shall adhere to the notice and public participation procedures specified in ss. 283.39 to 283.49 in connection with each request for reissuance of a permit.

283.53(3)(e) (e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, any new source the construction of which is commenced after October 18, 1972, and which is so constructed to meet all standards of performance adopted under s. 283.19 shall not be subject to any more stringent standard of performance during either the 10-year period beginning on the date of completion of such construction or the period of depreciation or amortization of such facility for the purposes of section 167 or 169 of the internal revenue code, whichever period ends first.

283.53(3)(f) (f) For the purposes of s. 283.63, denial of any application for the reissuance of a permit shall be treated as a denial of an application for a permit.

283.53 History History: 1973 c. 74, 243; 1979 c. 221; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16, 482; 1995 a. 227 s. 855; Stats. 1995 s. 283.53; 2011 a. 167; 2015 a. 307.

283.53 Annotation Timely review under s. 147.20 [now s. 283.63] of a modified permit does not reopen for consideration those unmodified portions of the permit for which the review period has expired. Village of Thiensville v. DNR, 130 Wis. 2d 276, 386 N.W.2d 519 (Ct. App. 1986).

283.55 283.55 Monitoring and reporting; access to premises.

283.55(1) (1) Monitoring and reporting requirements. Every owner or operator of a point source who is required to obtain a permit issued under s. 283.31 shall do all of the following:

283.55(1)(a) (a) Establish and maintain records of the volume of effluent discharged and the amount of each pollutant discharged from each point source under the owner’s or operator’s ownership or control.

283.55(1)(b) (b) Make regular reports to the department on the volume of effluent discharged and the amount of each pollutant discharged from each point source under the owner’s or operator’s ownership or control.

283.55(1)(c) (c) Install, use and maintain such monitoring equipment or methods, including where appropriate, biological monitoring methods, as are necessary to determine the volume of effluent discharged and to identify and determine the amount of each pollutant discharged from each point source under the owner’s or operator’s ownership or control.

283.55(1)(d) (d) Sample the effluents discharged from each point source under the owner’s or operator’s ownership or control in accordance with such methods, at such locations and in such manner as the department shall by rule prescribe.

283.55(1)(dm) (dm) Report any unscheduled discharge of untreated sewage or other wastewater to the department orally within 24 hours of the discharge and in writing within 5 days after the discharge.

283.55(1)(e) (e) Provide such other information as the department finds is necessary to identify the type and quantity of any pollutants discharged from the point source.

283.55(1m) (1m) Reports to water utilities. The department shall determine, after consultation with the owner or operator of the point source, whether to notify a public utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (5), that furnishes water to the public about a discharge reported under sub. (1) (dm) that may affect the public utility. The department shall base the determination on the public health risk caused by the discharge.

283.55(2) (2) Access to monitoring equipment and records.

283.55(2)(a) (a) Any duly authorized officer, employee or representative of the department shall have right to enter upon or through any premises in which an effluent source that is required to be covered by a permit issued under s. 283.31 is located or in which any records required to be maintained by this section are located, and may at reasonable times have access to and copy any records, inspect any monitoring equipment or method required by this section, and sample any effluents which the owner and operator of such source is required to sample under this section.

283.55(2)(b) (b) No person shall refuse entry or access to any authorized representative of the department who requests entry under this subsection, and who presents appropriate credentials nor shall any person obstruct, hamper or interfere with any such inspection.

283.55(2)(c) (c) Any records or other information furnished to or obtained by the department in the administration of this chapter, including effluent data, shall be a public record as provided in subch. II of ch. 19. Any records or other information, except effluent data, provided to the department may be treated as confidential upon a showing to the secretary that said records or information is entitled to protection as a trade secret as defined in s. 134.90 (1) (c). Nothing herein shall prevent the use of any confidential records or information obtained by the department in the administration of this section in compiling or publishing general analyses or summaries, if such analyses or summaries do not identify a specific owner or operator.

283.55(3) (3) Construction of law. Subsection (1) shall be construed so as not to require actions unnecessarily redundant with s. 299.15. When a publicly owned treatment facility is required under state or federal law to monitor discharges into its system, records of such monitoring provided to the department, if substantially in compliance with the requirements of this section, shall serve in the place of the monitoring which would ordinarily be required of a person discharging into such system. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the validity of s. 299.15, nor shall that section be construed to limit the application of this section.

283.55 History History: 1973 c. 74; 1979 c. 221 s. 2202 (39); 1981 c. 335 s. 26; 1985 a. 236; 1993 a. 16, 482; 1995 a. 227 s. 865; Stats. 1995 s. 283.55; 1999 a. 85.