Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 289 - Solid waste facilities.
289.67 - Environmental repair fee and surcharge.

289.67 Environmental repair fee and surcharge.
(1) Environmental repair fee for generators.
(a) Imposition of fee. Except as provided under pars. (f) to (fm) and s. 289.675 (1), a generator of solid or hazardous waste shall pay an environmental repair fee for each ton or equivalent volume of solid or hazardous waste which is disposed of at a licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility. If a person arranges for collection or disposal services on behalf of one or more generators, that person shall pay the environmental repair fee to the licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility or to any intermediate hauler used to transfer wastes from collection points to a licensed facility. An intermediate hauler who receives environmental repair fees under this paragraph shall pay the fees to the licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility. Tonnage or equivalent volume shall be calculated in the same manner as the calculation made for tonnage fees under s. 289.62 (1).
(b) Collection. The owner or operator of a licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility shall collect the environmental repair fee from the generator, a person who arranges for disposal on behalf of one or more generators or an intermediate hauler and shall pay to the department the amount of the fees required to be collected according to the amount of solid or hazardous waste received and disposed of at the facility during the preceding reporting period.
(cm) Amount of environmental repair fee. Except as provided under pars. (cv) and (d), the environmental repair fee imposed under par. (a) is 20 cents per ton.
(cp) Amount of environmental repair fee. Notwithstanding par. (cm) and except as provided under pars. (cv) and (d), the environmental repair fee imposed under par. (a) is $1.60 per ton for solid or hazardous waste, other than high-volume industrial waste, disposed of before July 1, 2009, and $5.70 per ton disposed of on or after July 1, 2009.
(cv) Environmental repair fee for certain sediments. The environmental repair fee imposed under par. (a) is $4.05 per ton for solid or hazardous waste disposed of on or after July 1, 2009, that consists of sediments that are contaminated with PCBs, as defined in s. 299.45 (1) (a), and that are removed from the bed of a navigable water of this state in connection with a phase of a project to remedy contamination of the bed of the navigable water if the quantity of the sediments removed, either in the phase or in combination with other planned phases of the project, will exceed 200,000 cubic yards and if removal of sediments under the project began before July 1, 2009.
(d) Amount of environmental repair fee; prospecting or mining waste. The environmental repair fee imposed under par. (a) is one cent per ton for prospecting or mining waste, including tailing solids, sludge or waste rock.
(e) In addition to other fees. The environmental repair fee collected and paid under par. (b) is in addition to the base fee imposed under sub. (2), the surcharge imposed under sub. (3), the tonnage fee imposed under s. 289.62 (1) and the groundwater and well compensation fees imposed under s. 289.63.
(f) Exemption from environmental repair fee; certain materials used in operation of the facility. Solid waste materials approved by the department for lining, daily cover or capping or for constructing berms, dikes or roads within a solid waste disposal facility are not subject to the environmental repair fee imposed under par. (a), except that foundry sands or shredder fluff approved for use under s. 289.30 (5) or 289.31 (9) are subject to the environmental repair fee.
(fj) Exemption from environmental repair fee; recycling residue.
1. In this paragraph, “ qualified facility" means one of the following:
a. A materials recovery facility, as defined in s. 287.27 (1), if the operator of the facility is self-certified under s. NR 544.16 (2), Wis. Adm. Code, and, if the facility has an approved plan of operation, the facility is in compliance with its approved plan of operation.
b. A facility at which materials generated by construction, demolition, and remodeling of structures are processed for recycling if the facility is licensed under this chapter as a solid waste processing facility, the approved plan of operation for the facility requires the reporting of the volume or weight of materials processed, recycled, and discarded as residue, and the facility is in compliance with its approved plan of operation.
c. A facility that is in operation on July 10, 2021, at which solid waste is incinerated for the purpose of energy recovery, if the facility is licensed as a municipal solid waste combustor; the approved plan of operation for the facility requires the reporting of the weight of material coming into the facility, the weight of material rejected by the facility and where it was sent, and the weight of residue produced and where it was sent; and the facility is in compliance with its approved plan of operation.
2. Subject to subd. 3., the following amounts of solid waste materials are not subject to the environmental repair fee imposed under par. (a):
a. For a qualified facility described in subd. 1. a., an amount equal to the weight of the residue generated by the qualified facility or 10 percent of the total weight of material accepted by the qualified facility, whichever is less.
b. For a qualified facility described in subd. 1. b. or c., an amount equal to the weight of the residue generated by the qualified facility or 30 percent of the total weight of material accepted by the qualified facility, whichever is less. This exemption does not apply to ash residue generated by a qualified facility described in subd. 1. c.
3.
a. The department may require an operator that claims the exemption under this paragraph to certify that the operator's facility satisfies the criteria in subd. 1. a., b., or c. and to report the weight of the residue for which the operator does not pay the environmental repair fee and any other information needed to determine eligibility for the exemption.
b. The department may require the owner or operator of a licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility to report the weight of any residue received by the solid or hazardous waste disposal facility for which the environmental repair fee is not paid and to identify the facilities that generate that residue.
c. If the operator of a facility claims the exemption under this paragraph for a greater weight of residue than is authorized under subd. 2., the operator is ineligible for the exemption for any additional residue until it pays the balance of the environmental repair fee that it owes.
(fm) Exemption from environmental repair fee; certain materials resulting from natural disasters.
1. In this paragraph, “ natural disaster" means a severe natural or human-caused flood or a severe tornado, heavy rain, or storm.
2. Solid waste materials that are generated as the result of a natural disaster are not subject to the environmental repair fee imposed under par. (a) if all of the following apply:
a. The natural disaster resulted in a federal or state disaster declaration.
b. The solid waste materials were generated within a municipality that was included in the federal or state disaster declaration.
c. The solid waste materials were disposed of in the solid waste disposal facility within 60 days after the occurrence of the natural disaster.
d. The solid waste materials were removed as part of the disaster recovery effort and were segregated from other solid wastes when delivered to the solid waste disposal facility.
(fp) Exemption from environmental repair fee; soils and dredged sediments. Soils and dredged sediments are not subject to the environmental repair fee imposed under par. (a).
(g) Reporting period. The reporting period under this subsection is the same as the reporting period under s. 289.62 (1). The owner or operator of any licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility shall pay environmental repair fees required to be collected under par. (b) at the same time as any tonnage fees under s. 289.62 (1).
(h) Use of environmental repair fee. The fees collected under par. (b) shall be credited to the environmental fund.
(i) Failure to pay environmental repair fee.
1. If a person required under par. (a) to pay an environmental repair fee to a licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility fails to pay the fee, the owner or operator of the licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility shall submit to the department with the payment required under par. (b) an affidavit stating facts sufficient to show the person's failure to comply with par. (a).
2. If the person named in the affidavit under subd. 1. is a generator or a person who arranges for collection or disposal services on behalf of one or more generators and the person holds a license for the collection and transportation of solid or hazardous waste, the department shall immediately notify the person that the license will be suspended 30 days after the date the notice is mailed unless the person submits to the department an affidavit stating facts sufficient to show that it has paid the fee as required under par. (a).
3. If the person named in the affidavit under subd. 1. is an intermediate hauler that holds a license for the collection and transportation of solid or hazardous waste, the department shall immediately notify the person that the license will be suspended 30 days after the date the notice is mailed unless the person submits to the department an affidavit stating facts sufficient to show that either of the following has occurred:
a. The person named in the affidavit under subd. 1. received the required fee from a generator, from a person who arranges for collection or disposal services on behalf of one or more generators or from an earlier intermediate hauler, and paid the fee to the licensed solid or hazardous waste disposal facility or to a subsequent intermediate hauler.
b. A generator, a person who arranges for collection or disposal services on behalf of one or more generators or an earlier intermediate hauler failed to pay the required fees to the person named in the affidavit under subd. 1.
4. If the department does not receive an affidavit under subd. 2. or 3. within 30 days after the date the notice is mailed, the department shall suspend the license issued to the person for the collection and transportation of solid or hazardous waste. Notwithstanding s. 227.42, the department is not required to provide the licensee with a hearing before the suspension.
5. When a person whose license is suspended under subd. 4. provides the department with proof that the person has paid the owner or operator of the licensed solid or hazardous waste facility the amount of the unpaid fee, the department shall immediately reinstate the suspended license.
(j) Repayment or waiver of overdue environmental repair fee.
1.
a. If a person required under par. (a) to pay the environmental repair fee to a licensed solid waste or hazardous waste disposal facility fails, within 120 days after the date of disposal, to pay the environmental repair fee and to pay the charges imposed by the licensed solid waste or hazardous waste disposal facility, the owner or operator of the licensed solid waste or hazardous waste disposal facility may submit an affidavit to the department that includes identifying information for the person that failed to pay the environmental repair fee; a description of the efforts made to collect the environmental repair fee that is overdue; and a commitment that the owner or operator will not accept any solid waste or hazardous waste from the person that failed to pay the environmental repair fee until the overdue environmental repair fee is paid.
b. When the department receives an affidavit that complies with subd. 1. a., the department shall refund to the owner or operator any amount of the overdue environmental repair fee paid by the owner or operator and shall grant a waiver to the owner or operator from the requirement to pay any additional amount of the overdue environmental repair fee. If the person later pays the overdue environmental repair fee to the owner or operator, the owner or operator shall pay the full amount received to the department.
2.
a. If a person required under par. (a) to pay the environmental repair fee to an intermediate hauler fails, within 120 days after the date of disposal, to pay the environmental repair fee and to pay the charges imposed by the intermediate hauler, the hauler may submit an affidavit to the owner or operator of the licensed solid waste or hazardous waste disposal facility at which the solid or hazardous waste is disposed of that includes identifying information for the person that failed to pay the environmental repair fee; a description of the efforts made to collect the environmental repair fee that is overdue; and a commitment that the hauler will not accept any solid waste or hazardous waste from the person that failed to pay the environmental repair fee until the overdue environmental repair fee is paid.
b. When the owner or operator of a licensed solid waste or hazardous waste disposal facility receives an affidavit under subd. 2. a., the owner or operator shall submit the affidavit to the department.
c. When the department receives an affidavit that complies with subd. 2. a., the department shall refund to the owner or operator any amount of the overdue environmental repair fee paid by the hauler and shall grant a waiver to the hauler from the requirement to pay any additional amount of the overdue environmental repair fee and the owner or operator shall pay any refund to the hauler. If the person later pays the overdue environmental repair fee to the hauler, the hauler shall pay the full amount received to the owner or operator and the owner or operator shall forward the payment to the department.
(2) Environmental repair fee for generators of hazardous waste.
(a) A generator of hazardous waste who is required to report annually on hazardous waste activities according to rules promulgated under s. 291.05 (6) (b) shall pay an annual environmental repair fee.
(b) The annual environmental repair fee under par. (a) shall be assessed as follows:
1. A generator of hazardous waste shall pay a base fee of $470, if the generator is a large quantity generator, or $350, if the generator is a small quantity generator if the generator has generated more than zero pounds in that particular year, plus $20 per ton of hazardous waste generated during the reporting year.
2. No generator is required to pay a fee that is greater than $17,500.
(c) No tonnage fees may be assessed under par. (a) for the following hazardous wastes:
1. Hazardous wastes which are recovered for recycling or reuse including hazardous wastes incinerated for the purpose of energy recovery.
2. Leachate which contains hazardous waste which is being transported to a wastewater treatment plant or is discharged directly to a sewer pipe.
3. Hazardous wastes which are removed from a site or facility to repair environmental pollution. In this subdivision, “site or facility" has the meaning given in s. 292.01 (18).
4. Household hazardous wastes that are collected by a municipality under a program for the collection and disposal of household hazardous wastes.
5. Hazardous wastes that are collected by a county under a program for the collection and disposal of chemicals that are used for agricultural purposes, including pesticides, as defined in s. 94.67 (25).
(d) The department shall assess fees under par. (a) on the basis of the generator's report that is submitted according to the rules promulgated under s. 291.05 (6) (b).
(de) The department shall promulgate a rule that defines “large quantity generator" and “small quantity generator" for the purposes of this subsection.
(dm) The department may promulgate a rule setting a late fee to be assessed against a generator of hazardous waste who fails to pay the annual environmental repair fee under par. (a) when it is due. If the department promulgates a rule under this paragraph, it shall set the fee at a level designed to offset the increased costs of collecting annual fees that are not paid when due.
(e) All moneys received under this subsection shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management.
(3) Environmental repair base fee.
(a) Imposition of environmental repair base fee. The owner or operator of a nonapproved facility shall pay to the department an environmental repair base fee for each calendar year.
(b) Amount of environmental repair base fee.
1. The environmental repair base fee is $100 if the owner or operator of the nonapproved facility enters into an agreement with the department to close the facility on or before July 1, 1999. The $100 base fee first applies for the calendar year in which the owner or operator of a nonapproved facility enters into a closure agreement. If the owner or operator of a nonapproved facility fails to comply with the closure agreement, the department shall collect the additional base fees which would have been paid by the owner or operator under subd. 2. in the absence of the closure agreement.
2. The environmental repair base fee is $1,000 if the owner or operator of a nonapproved facility has not entered into an agreement with the department to close the facility on or before July 1, 1999.
(c) Use of environmental repair base fees. Environmental repair base fees shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management.
(d) Reduction of base fee; monitoring. This paragraph applies to a nonapproved facility which is subject to the $1,000 base fee under par. (b) 2. and which is required by the department to conduct monitoring under s. 289.31 (7). The base fee under par. (b) 2. shall be reduced by the cost of monitoring for the calendar year to which the base fee applies, or $900, whichever is less.
(4) Environmental repair surcharge.
(a) Imposition of environmental repair surcharge. If the owner or operator of a nonapproved facility is required to pay a tonnage fee under s. 289.62 (1), the owner or operator shall pay to the department an environmental repair surcharge for each calendar year.
(b) Amount of environmental repair surcharge.
1. With respect to solid or hazardous waste disposed of at a nonapproved facility for which the owner or operator enters into an agreement with the department to close the facility on or before July 1, 1999, the owner or operator shall pay to the department an environmental repair surcharge equal to 25 percent of the tonnage fees imposed under s. 289.62 (1). The 25 percent surcharge first applies for the calendar year in which the owner or operator enters into a closure agreement. If the owner or operator fails to comply with the closure agreement, the department shall collect the additional tonnage fees which would have been paid by the owner or operator under subd. 2. in the absence of the closure agreement.
2. With respect to solid or hazardous waste disposed of at a nonapproved facility for which the owner or operator has not entered into an agreement with the department to close the facility on or before July 1, 1999, the owner or operator shall pay to the department an environmental repair surcharge equal to 50 percent of the tonnage fees imposed under s. 289.62 (1).
(c) Use of environmental repair surcharge. Environmental repair surcharges shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management.
History: 1995 a. 227 s. 601 to 604, 991; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 301, 333; 2015 a. 195; 2021 a. 58, 93.

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