Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 100-199 - Environmental Protection General
Chapter NR 133 - Radioactive Waste Site Exploration
Section NR 133.05 - Issuance

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 133.05

Current through August 26, 2024

Upon satisfactory completion of all conditions contained in this chapter, the department shall issue an exploration license to the explorer and shall provide copies of the license and license application to the radioactive waste review board and the Wisconsin geological and natural history survey. Licenses shall be issued within 10 business days after the department receives a complete application unless the application is for the immediately forthcoming license year. If the application is for the immediately forthcoming license year, the license shall be issued either within 10 business days after the department receives a complete application or on the following July 1, whichever is later. The issuance of an exploration license is subject to the following conditions:

(1) Immediately following completion of drilling, radioactive waste site exploration drillholes shall be abandoned as follows:

(a) Permanent abandonment.
1. `Filling material.' All drillholes shall be filled from the bottom of the hole upward to the ground surface with concrete grout, neat cement grout or other material approved by the department.

2. `Filling procedure restrictions.'
a. Filling material shall be applied through a conductor pipe, except that when practical a dump bailer may be used. When concrete is placed under water by a conductor pipe, the bottom end of the conductor pipe shall be submerged in the concrete at all times.

b. Upon removal of all or part of the casing from an unconsolidated formation that may not stand open (such as sand or gravel) upon abandonment of a drillhole, the casing shall be removed concurrently with the filling of the drillhole, and the bottom end of the casing shall be kept below the surface of the fill material throughout the abandonment operation.

3. `Flowing drillhole.' Prior to permanently abandoning a drillhole which penetrates an aquifer under artesian pressure such that groundwater flows at the ground surface, the explorer shall obtain approval of the abandonment procedures from the department.

(b) Temporary abandonment. If the explorer wants to temporarily retain a drillhole for further evaluation, the casing shall be left in place, and the upper terminal of the casing shall be sealed with a watertight threaded or welded cap.

(2) The explorer shall comply with minimum standards for radioactive waste site exploration activities and reclamation of drilling sites as contained in s. 293.13(2) (b) and (c), Stats., where applicable.

(3) The fee for drilling the first 20 drillholes or less in any license year shall be $100 per drillhole and the fee for drilling each subsequent drillhole in that same license year shall be $50 per drillhole. All fees shall be paid to the department upon submission of the temporary abandonment report, if temporary abandonment occurs, or the permanent abandonment report if temporary abandonment does not occur. For the purpose of determining the appropriate fee, drillholes shall be assigned to the license year in which drilling on that particular hole ceases and the drillhole is initially abandoned either temporarily or permanently. Within 30 business days after receipt of the abandonment report, the department may adjust the fee to accurately reflect the actual costs incurred by the department in administering this chapter, including costs associated with monitoring or verification activities conducted by the department or other state agencies as a condition of the approval issued under s. NR 133.09(6), provided that these activities are not funded through other available means.

(4) The explorer must comply with other conditions which the department deems necessary to safeguard the natural resources of this state during and after radioactive waste site exploration.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.