281.98 Penalties.
(1) Except as provided in ss. 281.344 (14) (a), 281.36, 281.346 (14) (a), 281.47 (1) (d), 281.75 (19), and 281.99 (2), any person who violates this chapter or any rule promulgated or any plan approval, license, special order, or water quality certification issued under this chapter shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $5,000 for each violation. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense. While an order is suspended, stayed, or enjoined, this penalty does not accrue.
(2) In addition to the penalties provided under sub. (1) or s. 281.99 (2), the court may award the department of justice the reasonable and necessary expenses of the investigation and prosecution of a violation of this chapter, including attorney fees. The department of justice shall deposit in the state treasury for deposit into the general fund all moneys that the court awards to the department or the state under this subsection. The costs of investigation and the expenses of prosecution, including attorney fees, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.455 (1) (gh).
(3) In addition to the penalties under sub. (1), the court may order the defendant to abate any nuisance, restore a natural resource or take, or refrain from taking, any other action as necessary to eliminate or minimize any environmental damage caused by the defendant.
History: 1995 a. 227; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 147; 2001 a. 6, 109; 2003 a. 309; 2007 a. 227; 2011 a. 118.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 281 - Water and sewage.
281.11 - Statement of policy and purpose.
281.12 - General department powers and duties.
281.13 - Surveys and research.
281.14 - Wisconsin River monitoring and study.
281.145 - River and stream monitoring and study.
281.15 - Water quality standards.
281.16 - Water quality protection; nonpoint sources.
281.165 - Compliance with water quality standards for wetlands.
281.17 - Water quality and quantity; specific regulations.
281.20 - Orders; nonpoint source pollution.
281.31 - Navigable waters protection law.
281.33 - Construction site erosion control and storm water management.
281.34 - Groundwater withdrawals.
281.343 - Great Lakes — St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.
281.344 - Water conservation, reporting, and supply regulation; when compact is not in effect.
281.346 - Water conservation, reporting, and supply regulation; after the compact takes effect.
281.348 - Water supply service area plans for public water supply systems.
281.35 - Water resources conservation and management.
281.36 - Permits for discharges into wetlands; mitigation.
281.37 - Wetland mitigation grant program.
281.43 - Joint sewerage systems.
281.47 - Sewage drains; sewage discharge into certain lakes.
281.49 - Disposal of septage in municipal sewage systems.
281.51 - Financial assistance program; local water quality planning.
281.53 - Municipal clean drinking water grants.
281.55 - Financial assistance program.
281.56 - Financial assistance program; sewerage systems.
281.57 - Financial assistance program; point source pollution abatement.
281.58 - Clean water fund program; financial assistance.
281.59 - Environmental improvement fund; financial management.
281.60 - Land recycling loan program.
281.61 - Safe drinking water loan program.
281.62 - Other drinking water quality activities.
281.625 - Drinking water loan guarantee program.
281.63 - Financial assistance program; combined sewer overflow abatement.
281.65 - Financial assistance; nonpoint source water pollution abatement.
281.66 - Urban nonpoint source water pollution abatement and storm water management program.
281.665 - Municipal flood control and riparian restoration program.
281.68 - Lake management planning grants and lake monitoring and protection contracts.
281.69 - Lake management and classification grants and contracts.
281.695 - Aids to municipalities for prevention and abatement of water pollution.
281.70 - River protection grants.
281.71 - Lake management project grants; river protection grants; purchases.
281.72 - River protection; contracts with nonprofit organizations.
281.75 - Compensation for well contamination and abandonment.
281.77 - Damage to water supplies.
281.83 - Remedial action in the Great Lakes and their tributaries.
281.85 - Great Lakes protection fund share.
281.87 - Great Lakes contaminated sediment removal.
281.91 - State agency personnel to report water pollution.
281.93 - Hearings on certain water use actions.
281.94 - Investigation of alleged water withdrawal violations.
281.95 - Remedies; water withdrawal violations.
281.96 - Visitorial powers of department.
281.99 - Administrative forfeitures for safe drinking water violations.