295.18 Department review.

(1) Review. The department shall periodically review the nonmetallic mining reclamation program under this subchapter of each county and each city, village or town that exercises jurisdiction under this subchapter to ascertain compliance with this subchapter and the rules promulgated under this subchapter. This review shall include all of the following:

(a) A performance audit of the nonmetallic mining reclamation program of the county, city, village or town.

(b) Verification, by on-site inspections, of county, city, village or town compliance with this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter.

(c) A written determination by the department, issued at least once every 10 years, of whether the county, city, village or town is in compliance with this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter.

(2) Noncompliance; hearing. If the department determines under sub. (1) that a county, city, village or town is not in compliance with this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter, the department shall notify the county, city, village or town of that determination. If the department decides to pursue the matter, it shall conduct a hearing, after 30 days' notice, in the county, city, village or town. As soon as practicable after the hearing, the department shall issue a written decision regarding compliance with this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter.

(3) Municipal noncompliance; consequences. If the department determines under sub. (2) that a city, village or town is not in compliance with this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter, the city, village or town may not administer the nonmetallic mining reclamation program. The county nonmetallic mining reclamation ordinance applies to that city, village or town and the county shall administer the nonmetallic mining reclamation program in that city, village or town. The city, village or town may apply to the department to resume its authority to administer the nonmetallic mining reclamation program, but not sooner than 3 years after the department issues a decision under sub. (2). The department, after a hearing, may approve the city, village or town request to administer the nonmetallic mining reclamation program if the city, village or town demonstrates the capacity to comply with this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter.

(4) County noncompliance; consequences. If the department issues a written decision under sub. (2) that a county is not in compliance with this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter, the department shall administer the nonmetallic mining reclamation program in that county, including the collection of fees, review and approval of plans, inspection of nonmetallic mining sites and enforcement, except that the department may not administer the nonmetallic mining reclamation program in a city, village or town that enacted an ordinance that complies with s. 295.14 before the department made its determination under sub. (2) and is administering that ordinance. The county may apply to the department at any time to resume administration of the nonmetallic mining reclamation program. The department, after a hearing, may approve the county request to administer the nonmetallic mining reclamation program if the county demonstrates the capacity to comply with this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter. No city, village or town may enact an ordinance for and begin to implement a nonmetallic mining reclamation program during the time that the department administers the nonmetallic mining reclamation program in the county in which the city, village or town is located.

History: 1995 a. 227 s. 809; 1997 a. 27.