Chapter 299 — GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROVISIONS

299.01 Definitions. In this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (3) “Department” means the department of natural resources. (4) “Environmental pollution” means the contaminating or rendering unclean or impure the air, land or waters of the state, or making the same in…

299.05 Deadlines for action on certain applications. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “approval” means a license, registration, or certification specified in sub. (2). (2) DEADLINES. (a) The department shall establish periods within which the department intends to approve or disa…

299.07 License denial, nonrenewal, and revocation based on delinquent taxes or unemployment insurance contributions. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (am), the department shall require each applicant to provide the department with the applicant’s social security number, if the …

299.08 License denial, nonrenewal, suspension or restriction based on failure to pay support. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (am), the department shall require each applicant who is an individual to provide the department with the applicant’s social security number as a condi…

299.09 Military training or experience. (1) In this section, “approval” means a well driller license under s. 280.15 (2m), certification for an incinerator operator under s. 285.51 (2), certification for an operator of a solid waste disposal facility under s. 289.42 (1), or certi…

299.11 Laboratory certification program. (1) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section: (a) “Accuracy” means the closeness of a measured value to its generally accepted value or its value based upon an accepted reference standard. (b) “Certified laboratory” means a laboratory which pe…

299.13 Pollution prevention. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (b) “Capacity assurance plan” means the plan submitted under 42 USC 9604 (c) (9) for the management of hazardous waste generated in this state. (be) “Center” means the solid and hazardous waste education center under …

299.15 Reports on substances used; wastewater fee. (1) The department shall require by rule that all persons discharging industrial wastes, hazardous substances or air contaminants in this state report the manner used, amount used and amount discharged for each such waste, substa…

299.17 Website information. To the greatest extent possible, the department shall publish on the department’s Internet website the current status of any application filed with the department for a permit, license, or other approval under chs. 281 to 285 or 289 to 299. The informa…

299.21 Gifts and grants. The department may accept gifts and grants from any private or public source for any purpose relating to its environmental quality functions and may expend or use such gifts and grants for the purposes for which received. History: 1991 a. 39 s. 2553; Stat…

299.23 Financial interest prohibited. The secretary of natural resources and any other person in a position of administrative responsibility in the department may not have a financial interest in any enterprise which might profit by weak or preferen- May 22, 2026, are designated …

299.31 Groundwater protection. The department shall comply with the requirements of ch. 160 in the administration of any program, responsibility or activity assigned or delegated to it by law. History: 1983 a. 410; 1995 a. 227 s. 819; Stats. 1995 s. 299.31.

299.33 Uniform transboundary pollution reciprocal access act. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Person” means an individual person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government in its private or public capacity, governmental…

299.43 Collection and disposal of products containing 2,4,5-T and silvex. (1) AUTHORIZATION. The department is authorized to establish facilities for the collection and disposal of pesticide products prohibited from use under s. 94.707. The department may establish the location o…

299.45 Manufacture and purchase of polychlorinated biphenyls. (1) In this section: (a) “PCBs” mean the class of organic compounds generally known as polychlorinated biphenyls and includes any of several compounds or mixtures of compounds produced by replacing 2 or more hydrogen a…

299.47 Sale and delivery of dry cleaning solvent. (1) In this section: (a) “Dry cleaning facility” has the meaning given in s. 292.65 (1) (d). (b) “Dry cleaning solvent” has the meaning given in s. 292.65 (1) (e). (c) “Owner” means a person who owns, or has possession or control …

299.49 Products containing mercury. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Mercury-added product” means a product to which mercury is intentionally added during formulation or manufacture, or a product containing one or more components to which mercury is intentionally added duri…

299.50 Products containing synthetic plastic microbeads. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Over-the-counter drug” means a substance or product that may be dispensed without a prescription and that contains a label which identifies the product as a drug as required by 21 CFR …

299.51 Medical waste management. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Clinic” has the meaning given in s. 287.07 (7) (c) 1. a. (am) “Manifest” means a form used for identifying the quantity, composition, origin, routing and destination of medical waste during its transport and …

299.53 Used oil fuel. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Used oil” means any petroleum-derived or synthetic oil which, as a result of use or management, is contaminated. “Used oil” includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Engine, turbine and gear lubricants. 2. Hydr…

299.55 Confidentiality of records; used oil collection facilities and used oil fuel facilities. (1) RECORDS. Except as provided under sub. (2), records and other information furnished to or obtained by the department in the administration of ss. 287.15 and 299.53 are public recor…

299.62 Environmental protection requirements for tank vessels. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Bulk” means an undivided quantity of a substance that is loaded directly into a vessel and is not divided into individual containers. (am) “Discharge” has the meaning given in s.…

299.64 Open burning on commercial vessels. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Commercial vessel” means a vessel that is operated to transport property or passengers for hire or used by its operator or owner to earn a livelihood. (b) “Open burning” has the meaning given in s. …

299.66 Inspecting vessels. An employee or agent of the department may board and inspect any vessel that is subject to s. 299.62 or 299.64 to determine the state of compliance with those provisions. History: 1995 a. 290 s. 13; 1997 a. 35 s. 331.

299.80 Environmental cooperation pilot program. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Approval” means a permit, license or other approval issued by the department under chs. 280 to 295. (b) “Cooperative agreement” means an agreement entered into under sub. (6). (c) “Environmenta…

299.83 Green Tier Program. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Covered facility or activity” means a facility or activity that is included, or intended to be included, in the program. (b) “Environmental management system” means an organized set of procedures to evaluate enviro…

299.85 Environmental Compliance Audit Program. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Environmental compliance audit” means a systematic, documented, and objective review, conducted by or on behalf of May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 299.85 GENERAL ENVIR…

299.91 Hearings; procedure; review. The department shall hold a public hearing relating to alleged or potential environmental pollution upon the verified complaint of 6 or more cit- Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 24 izens filed with the department. The complaint shall state the name a…

299.93 Environmental surcharge. (1) If a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of a provision of this chapter or chs. 280 to 285 or 289 to 295 or a rule or order issued under this chapter or chs. 280 to 285 or 289 to 295, the court shall impose an environmental surch…

299.95 Enforcement; duty of department of justice; expenses. The attorney general shall enforce chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 and this chapter, except ss. 285.57, 285.59, and 299.64, and all rules, special orders, licenses, plan approvals, per- May 22, 2026, are designated by NO…

299.97 (1), if a regulated entity that qualifies under sub. (2) for participation in the Environmental Compliance Audit Program corrects violations that it discloses in a report that meets the requirements of sub. (3) within 60 days or, if the entity is a small business stationar…