Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 100-199 - Environmental Protection General
Chapter NR 151 - Runoff Management
Subchapter II - Agricultural Performance Standards and Prohibitions
Section NR 151.096 - Local livestock operation ordinances and regulations

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 151.096

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) LOCAL REGULATIONS THAT EXCEED STATE STANDARDS; APPROVAL REQUIRED.

(a) Except as provided in par. (b), a local governmental unit may not enact a livestock operation ordinance or regulation for water quality protection that exceeds the performance standards or prohibitions in ss. NR 151.05 to 151.08 or the related conservation practices or technical standards in ch. ATCP 50, unless the local governmental unit obtains approval from the department under sub. (2), or receives approval from DATCP pursuant to s. ATCP 50.60.

(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any of the following:
1. Local ordinances or regulations that address cropping practices that are not directly related to the livestock operation.

2. Local ordinances or regulations enacted prior to October 1, 2002.

Note: See s. 92.15, Stats. A person adversely affected by a local livestock regulation may oppose its adoption at the local level. The person may also challenge a local regulation in court if the person believes that the local governmental unit has violated sub.

(1) or s. 92.15, Stats. A local governmental unit is responsible for analyzing the legal adequacy of its regulations, and may exercise its own judgment in deciding whether to seek state approval under this section.

Note: Subsection (1) does not limit or expand the application of s. 92.15, Stats., to ordinances or regulations enacted prior to October 1, 2002.

(2) DEPARTMENT APPROVAL.

(a) To obtain department approval under sub. (1) for an existing or proposed regulation, the head of the local governmental unit or the chair of the local governmental unit's governing board shall do all of the following:
1. Submit a copy of the livestock operation ordinance or regulation or portion thereof to the department and to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

2. Identify the provisions of the regulation for which the local governmental unit seeks approval.

3. Submit supporting documentation explaining why the specific regulatory provisions that exceed the performance standards, prohibitions, conservation practices or technical standards are needed to achieve water quality standards, and why compliance cannot be achieved with a less restrictive standard.

(b) The department shall notify the local governmental unit in writing within 90 calendar days after the department receives the ordinance or regulation as to whether the ordinance or regulation, or portion thereof is approved or denied and shall state the reasons for its decision. Before the department makes its decision, the department shall solicit a recommendation from DATCP. If the department finds the regulatory provisions are needed to achieve water quality standards, the department may approve the ordinance or regulation or portion thereof.

(3) LOCAL PERMITS. Local permits or permit conditions are not subject to the review and approval procedures in this section unless the permit conditions are codified in a local ordinance or regulation.

A local permit requirement does not, in and of itself, violate sub. (1), but permit conditions codified in a local ordinance or regulation must comply with sub. (1). If a local governmental unit routinely requires permit holders to comply with uncodified water quality protection standards that exceed state standards, those uncodified requirements may be subject to court challenge for noncompliance with s. 92.15, Stats., and sub. (1) as de facto regulatory enactments. A local governmental unit may forestall a legal challenge by codifying standard permit conditions and obtaining any necessary state approval under this section. The department will review codified regulations, but will not review individual permits or uncodified permit conditions under sub. (2).

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.
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