Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 281 - Water and sewage.
281.41 - Approval of plans.

281.41 Approval of plans.
(1)
(a) Except as provided under sub. (2), every owner within the time prescribed by the department, shall file with the department a certified copy of complete plans of a proposed system or plant or extension thereof, in scope and detail satisfactory to the department, and, if required, of existing systems or plants, and any other information concerning maintenance, operation and other details that the department requires, including the information specified under s. 281.35 (5) (a), if applicable. Material changes with a statement of the reasons shall be likewise submitted. Before plans are drawn, a statement concerning the improvement may be made to the department and the department may, if requested, outline generally what it will require. Upon receipt of the plans for approval, the department or its authorized representative shall notify the owner of the date of receipt.
(b) Within 90 days from the time of receipt of complete plans or within the time specified in s. 281.35 (5) (c), if applicable, the department or its authorized representative shall examine and take action to approve, approve conditionally or reject the plans and shall state in writing any conditions of approval or reasons for rejection. Approval or disapproval of the plans and specifications may not be contingent upon eligibility of the proposed project for federal aid. The time period for review may be extended by agreement with the owner if the plans and specifications cannot be reviewed within the specified time limitation due to circumstances beyond the control of the department or in the case of extensive installation involving expenditures of $350,000 or more. The extension may not exceed 6 months. Failure of the department or its authorized representative to act before the expiration of the time period allowed for review shall constitute an approval of the plans, and upon demand a written certificate of approval shall be issued. Approval may be subject to modification by the department upon due notice.
(c) Construction or material change shall be according to approved plans only. The department may disapprove plans that are not in conformance with any existing approved areawide waste treatment management plan prepared pursuant to the federal water pollution control act, P.L. 92-500, as amended, and shall disapprove plans that do not meet the grounds for approval specified under s. 281.35 (5) (d), if applicable.
(2) The department may, by rule, exempt an owner of a specific type of system or plant from the requirements of sub. (1) or modify the requirements of sub. (1) for a specific type of system or plant.
(3)
(a) In this subsection, “septage service area" means the area containing private on-site wastewater treatment systems served or anticipated to be served by a sewage disposal plant during the planning period.
(b) If an owner proposes a sewage disposal plant or an extension of an existing sewage disposal plant that increases the capacity of the existing plant by at least 20 percent, the department shall require that owner, in preparing a plan under this section, to address the need for, and include plans for, the disposal of septage, as defined in s. 281.48 (2) (d). The department shall require an owner to address all of the following under this paragraph:
1. The amount of septage produced throughout the septage service area and the expected increase in septage production during the planning period.
2. The capacity for the disposal of septage during the planning period on land within the septage service area, in the sewage disposal plant, and by other available methods.
3. The location of private on-site wastewater treatment systems within the septage service area, and the distances required to haul septage for disposal either on land or in the sewage disposal plant.
4. The potential for contracts with private on-site wastewater treatment system owners, licensed disposers, as defined in s. 281.49 (1) (b), or municipalities to assure delivery of septage to the sewage disposal plant.
(c) In addressing the need for the disposal of septage and the information required under par. (b), the owner is required only to use data or other information that has previously been collected, whether by the owner or by others, and the owner is not required to conduct new research.
(d) The information required under par. (b) is for the purpose of assuring that septage disposal needs are considered in the decision-making process for sewage disposal plant planning, but par. (b) does not require construction of facilities for the handling or disposal of septage.
(4) When the department receives for review a plan under sub. (1) that would result in returning water transferred from the Great Lakes basin to the source watershed through a stream tributary to one of the Great Lakes, the department shall provide notice of the plan or revision to the governing body of each city, village, and town through which the stream flows or that is adjacent to the stream downstream from the point at which the water would enter the stream.
(5) The department shall establish an expedited procedure for approval of plans under this section. The expedited procedure shall apply, in lieu of the procedure under sub. (1) (b), if the department determines that all of the following are satisfied:
(a) The plan design is of a common construction and size or is for a minor addition to an existing facility.
(b) The plan design is submitted by a registered professional engineer.
(c) The plan design is submitted by a person who has designed similar facilities and none of those similar facilities has caused adverse impacts to the environment.
(d) The plan design contains no unusual siting requirements or other unique design features.
(e) The plan design is not likely to have an adverse impact on the environment.
History: 1977 c. 418; 1985 a. 60; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 227 s. 405; Stats., 1995 s. 281.41; 1999 a. 85; 2005 a. 347; 2007 a. 227; 2011 a. 146, 167; 2021 a. 126.
NOTE: 2005 Wis. Act 347, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

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