Chapter 285

MISCELLANEOUS

285.70 285.70 Confidentiality of records.

285.70(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), the department shall make any record, report or other information obtained in the administration of this chapter and s. 299.15 available to the public.

285.70(2) (2) The department shall keep confidential any part of a record, report or other information obtained in the administration of this chapter and s. 299.15, other than emission data or an air pollution control permit, upon a showing satisfactory to the department by any person that the part of a record, report or other information would, if made public, divulge a method or process that is entitled to protection as a trade secret, as defined in s. 134.90 (1) (c), of that person.

285.70(3) (3) Subsection (2) does not prevent the disclosure of any information to a representative of the department for the purpose of administering this chapter and s. 299.15 or to an officer, employee or authorized representative of the federal government for the purpose of administering the federal clean air act. When the department provides information that is confidential under sub. (2) to the federal government, the department shall also provide a copy of the application for confidential status.

285.70 History History: 1971 c. 125 s. 522 (2); 1979 c. 34; 1979 c. 221 s. 2202 (39); 1981 c. 335 s. 26; 1991 a. 302; 1995 a. 227 s. 460; Stats. 1995 s. 285.70.

285.71 285.71 Federal aid. Subdivisions of this state and interlocal agencies may make application for, receive, administer and expend any federal aid for the control of air pollution or the development and administration of programs related to air pollution control if first submitted to and approved by the department. The department shall approve any such application if it is consistent with the purposes of this chapter and any other applicable requirements of law.

285.71 History History: 1979 c. 34; 1995 a. 227 s. 459; Stats. 1995 s. 285.71.

285.72 285.72 Air quality monitoring stations.

285.72(1) (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.370 (4) (cv), the department shall fund the construction, operation, and maintenance of an air quality monitoring station in a county identified in its entirety as a nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour national ambient air quality standard for ozone under 40 CFR 50.15 for the purpose of assessing ozone concentrations. The department may designate the monitoring station as a special purpose monitor under 40 CFR 58.20.

285.72(2) (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.370 (4) (cv), the department shall fund the operation and maintenance of an air quality monitoring station in a county where a sulfur dioxide monitor has been in place for 3 years as a result of sulfur dioxide monitoring requirements under 40 CFR part 51 and the data requirement rule for the 2010 one-hour sulfur dioxide primary national ambient air quality standard published in the federal register on August 21, 2015. The department may designate the monitoring station as a special purpose monitor under 40 CFR 58.20.

285.72(3) (3) 

285.72(3)(a) (a) The department may not include the air monitoring site located at Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan County in the state’s initial monitoring network plan required under 40 CFR 58.10.

285.72(3)(b) (b) The department shall request a waiver of the relevant provisions of the federal Clean Air Act relating to the state implementation plan, as required under 42 USC 7410, that may be implicated by discontinuing the use of the air monitoring site located at Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan County.

285.72(3)(c) (c) If the federal environmental protection agency does not approve the initial plan submitted by the department under par. (a), the department may submit a revised plan that includes the air monitoring site located at Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan County.

285.72 History History: 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59, 159.

285.73 285.73 Local air pollution control programs.

285.73(1) (1) After consultation with incorporated units of local government, any county may establish and thereafter administer within its jurisdiction, including incorporated areas, an air pollution control program which:

285.73(1)(a) (a) Provides by ordinance for requirements compatible with, or stricter or more extensive than those imposed by this chapter and rules issued thereunder. Such ordinances shall supersede any existing local ordinances;

285.73(1)(b) (b) Provides for the countywide enforcement of such requirements by appropriate administrative and judicial process;

285.73(1)(c) (c) Provides for administrative organization, staff and financial and other resources necessary to effectively and efficiently carry out its program;

285.73(1)(d) (d) May authorize municipalities to participate in the administration and enforcement of air pollution programs; and

285.73(1)(e) (e) Is approved by the department as adequate to meet the requirements of this chapter and any applicable rules pursuant thereto.

285.73(2) (2) Any county may consult with regional planning commissions and may administer all or part of its air pollution control program in cooperation with one or more other counties or municipalities. Performance by or on behalf of a county pursuant to such cooperative undertaking shall be considered to be performance by the county for purposes of this section.

285.73(3) (3) If the department finds that the location, character or extent of particular concentrations of population, air contaminant sources, the geographic, topographic or meteorological considerations, or any combinations thereof, are such as to make impracticable the maintenance of appropriate levels of air quality without an area-wide air pollution control program, the department may determine the boundaries within which such program is necessary and require it.

285.73(4) (4) 

285.73(4)(a) (a) If the department has reason to believe that a program in force pursuant to this section is inadequate to prevent and control air pollution in the jurisdiction to which such program relates, or that such program is being administered in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter, the department shall, on due notice, conduct a hearing on the matter.

285.73(4)(b) (b) If, after such hearing, the department determines that a program is inadequate to prevent and control air pollution in the county to which such program relates, or that such program is not accomplishing the purposes of this chapter, it shall require that necessary corrective measures be taken within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 60 days.

285.73(4)(c) (c) If the county fails to take such necessary corrective action within the time required, the department shall administer within such county all of the regulatory provisions of this chapter. Such air pollution control program shall supersede all county air pollution regulations, ordinances and requirements in the affected jurisdiction.

285.73(5) (5) Any county in which the department administers its air pollution control program under sub. (4) may, with the approval of the department, resume a county air pollution control program which meets the requirements of sub. (1).

285.73(6) (6) Nothing in this chapter supersedes the jurisdiction of any county air pollution control program in operation on July 26, 1967, but any such program shall meet all requirements of this chapter for a county air pollution control program. Any approval required from the department shall be deemed granted unless the department takes specific action to the contrary.

285.73 History History: 1973 c. 90; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (39) (g); 1995 a. 227 s. 506; Stats. 1995 s. 285.73.

285.73 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 403, Wis. adm. code.

285.75 285.75 County program. Instead of state review of plans and specifications, the department may authorize counties which are administering approved air pollution control programs to review and approve plans, specifications and permits of air contaminant sources being constructed, modified or operated within the jurisdiction of these counties.

285.75 History History: 1979 c. 34; 1995 a. 227 s. 501; Stats. 1995 s. 285.75.

285.75 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 403, Wis. adm. code.

285.76 285.76 Notice concerning proposed area redesignations.

285.76(1) (1) Within 5 days after the department receives notification that an American Indian tribal governing body proposes to redesignate an area under 42 USC 7474 for the purpose of the federal clean air act provisions concerning the prevention of significant deterioration of air quality and that a consultation meeting is requested among the tribal governing body, the federal environmental protection agency and this state, the department shall report that notification to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, as determined by the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate, under s. 13.172 (3).

285.76(2) (2) Within 15 days after receiving notification that an American Indian tribal governing body proposes to redesignate an area under 42 USC 7474 for the purpose of the federal clean air act provisions concerning the prevention of significant deterioration of air quality, the department shall do all of the following:

285.76(2)(a) (a) Publish a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, of the proposed redesignation and request for consultation with the state in a newspaper of general circulation in the area that would be affected by the redesignation, as determined using standards established by the federal environmental protection agency, and in the official state newspaper and provide a written statement concerning the proposed redesignation to those newspapers. The notices published under this paragraph shall include information on how to locate the redesignation proposal on the department’s Internet website.

285.76(2)(am) (am) Publish notice of the proposed redesignation and request for consultation with the state on the department’s Internet website.

285.76(2)(ar) (ar) Provide to interested persons, upon request, notice of the proposed redesignation and request for consultation with the state. The notice may be given through an electronic notification system established by the department. The notice shall include information indicating where the redesignation proposal may be viewed on the department’s Internet website.

285.76(2)(b) (b) Report that notification to the governor, and to the agency responsible for administering air pollution control laws, of any other state with an area that would be affected by the redesignation, as determined using standards established by the federal environmental protection agency.

285.76(2m) (2m) For the purpose of determining the date on which notice of the proposed redesignation and request for consultation with the state is provided under sub. (2), the date on which the department first publishes the notice on its Internet website shall be considered the date of notice.

285.76(3) (3) Within 15 days after receiving notification of the time and place of a public hearing under 42 USC 7474 (b) (1) (A) concerning a proposal by an American Indian tribal governing body to redesignate an area, the department shall provide notice of the time and place of the public hearing in the manner provided in subs. (1) and (2) (a) and by publication of the notice on the department’s Internet website. If the department receives notification of a hearing at the same time that it receives notification of the proposed redesignation, it shall combine the notices under this subsection with the notices under sub. (2) (a) and (am).

285.76(4) (4) The department shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, as determined by the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate, under s. 13.172 (3), on the results of any consultations, under 40 CFR 52.21 (g) (4) (ii), with an American Indian tribal governing body that proposes to redesignate an area under 42 USC 7474.

285.76 History History: 1997 a. 270; 2011 a. 167; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.

285.77 285.77 Machinery use. The department may not require the use of machinery, devices or equipment from a particular supplier or produced by a particular manufacturer, if the required performance standards may be met by machinery, devices or equipment otherwise available.

285.77 History History: 1979 c. 34; 1987 a. 27; Stats. 1987 s. 144.404; 1995 a. 227 s. 503; Stats. 1995 s. 285.77.

285.78 285.78 Registration of early emission reductions.

285.78(1) (1) In this section:

285.78(1)(a) (a) “Carbon reserve” means any system that takes in and stores more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases to the atmosphere.

285.78(1)(b) (b) “Fine particulate matter” means solid or liquid particles with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers or emissions that are precursors to solid or liquid particles with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers.

285.78(1)(c) (c) “Greenhouse gas” means carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride or any other gas that traps heat in the atmosphere.

285.78(2) (2) 

285.78(2)(a) (a) The department shall establish and operate a system under which the department registers reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases if the reductions are made before the reductions are required by law. Under the system, the department may register carbon sequestration from the creation or preservation of carbon reserves and may register avoided emissions resulting from energy efficiency measures and from the use of renewable energy sources. Under the system, the department may not register a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases if the reduction was made before January 1, 1991.

285.78(2)(b) (b) The department may establish and operate systems under which the department registers reductions in emissions of fine particulate matter, mercury or other air contaminants identified by the department if the reductions are made before the reductions are required by law.

285.78(2)(c) (c) The department may verify and quantify, or require the verification and quantification of, emission reductions that a person seeks to register under par. (a) or (b).

285.78(2)(d) (d) Registration of emission reductions under this section is voluntary.

285.78(3) (3) 

285.78(3)(a) (a) The department shall promulgate rules for the system under sub. (2) (a). In promulgating the rules, the department shall make the system as consistent as possible with other state, federal and international programs designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

285.78(3)(b) (b) The department shall promulgate rules for any system that the department establishes under sub. (2) (b). In promulgating the rules, the department shall make the system as consistent as possible with other state, federal and international programs designed to reduce emissions of the substances covered by the system.

285.78 History History: 1999 a. 195.

285.79 285.79 Small business stationary source technical and environmental compliance assistance program.

285.79(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “small business stationary source” means a stationary source designated under sub. (2) (a) or, except as provided in sub. (2) (b), a stationary source that satisfies all of the following criteria:

285.79(1)(a) (a) Is owned or operated by a person that employs 100 or fewer individuals.

285.79(1)(b) (b) Is a small business concern, as determined under 15 USC 632 (a).

285.79(1)(c) (c) Is not a major stationary source, as defined in rules promulgated by the department.

285.79(1)(d) (d) Does not emit 50 tons or more per year of any regulated pollutant.

285.79(1)(e) (e) Emits a total of less than 75 tons per year of all regulated pollutants.

285.79(2) (2) Designations and exclusions.

285.79(2)(a) (a) In response to a petition by a stationary source, the department may, by rule, designate as a small business stationary source any stationary source that does not meet the criteria of sub. (1) (c), (d) or (e) but that does not emit a total of more than 100 tons per year of all regulated pollutants.

285.79(2)(b) (b) The department may, by rule, after consultation with the administrators of the federal environmental protection agency and the federal small business administration, exclude from the definition of small business stationary source any category or subcategory of stationary source that the department determines to have sufficient technical and financial capabilities to meet the requirements of the federal clean air act without the assistance provided under this section.

285.79(3) (3) Assistance program. The department shall develop and administer a small business stationary source technical and environmental compliance assistance program. The program shall include all of the following:

285.79(3)(a) (a) Mechanisms to develop, collect and coordinate information concerning methods and technologies that small business stationary sources can use to comply with the federal clean air act and programs to encourage lawful cooperation among small business stationary sources or other persons to further compliance with the federal clean air act.

285.79(3)(b) (b) Mechanisms for providing small business stationary sources with information concerning alternative technologies, process changes, products and methods of operation that help reduce air pollution and with other assistance in pollution prevention and accidental release detection and prevention.

285.79(3)(c) (c) A compliance assistance program that assists small business stationary sources in determining applicable requirements under this chapter and s. 299.15 and in receiving air pollution control permits in a timely and efficient manner.

285.79(3)(d) (d) Mechanisms to ensure that small business stationary sources receive notice of their rights under the federal clean air act and state laws implementing the federal clean air act in a manner and form that assures reasonably adequate time for small business stationary sources to evaluate compliance methods and any relevant or applicable proposed or final regulation or standard issued under the federal clean air act.

285.79(3)(e) (e) Mechanisms for referring small business stationary sources to qualified auditors to determine compliance with the federal clean air act and state laws implementing the federal clean air act and other mechanisms for informing small business stationary sources of their obligations under the federal clean air act and state laws.

285.79(3)(f) (f) Procedures for consideration of a request from a small business stationary source for alteration of any required work practice or technological method of compliance with this chapter or of the schedule of measures that must be taken to implement a required work practice or method of compliance before an applicable compliance date, based on the technological and financial capability of the small business stationary source.

285.79(4) (4) Granting alterations. The department may not grant an alteration under sub. (3) (f) unless the alteration complies with the requirements of the federal clean air act and any applicable plan under s. 285.11 (6). If those applicable requirements are set forth in federal regulations, the department may only grant alterations authorized in those regulations.

285.79 History History: 1991 a. 302; 1995 a. 227 s. 462; Stats. 1995 s. 285.79; 2011 a. 32.

285.79 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 437, Wis. adm. code.

285.795 285.795 Small business environmental council.

285.795(1) (1) The small business environmental council shall do all of the following:

285.795(1)(a) (a) Advise the department concerning the effectiveness of the small business stationary source technical and environmental compliance assistance program under s. 285.79, difficulties encountered by small business stationary sources, as defined in s. 285.79 (1), in complying with s. 299.15 and ch. 285 and the degree and severity of enforcement of s. 299.15 and ch. 285 against small business stationary sources.

285.795(1)(c) (c) Review information to be provided to small business stationary sources in connection with s. 299.15 and ch. 285 to ensure that the information can be understood by persons without technical training.

285.795(1)(d) (d) Provide other advice, as directed by the secretary, related to assisting small businesses in complying with federal and state air pollution laws.

285.795(2) (2) The employees of the department who staff the small business stationary source technical and environmental compliance assistance program under s. 285.79 shall provide the small business environmental council with the assistance necessary to comply with sub. (1).