323.71 Local agency response and reimbursement.

(1) A person who possesses or controls a hazardous substance that is released or who causes the release of a hazardous substance shall take the actions necessary to protect public health and safety and prevent damage to property.

(2) If action required under sub. (1) is not being adequately taken or the identity of the person responsible for an emergency involving a release or potential release of a hazardous substance is unknown and the emergency involving a release or potential release threatens public health or safety or damage to property, a local agency may take any emergency action that is consistent with the contingency plan for the undertaking of emergency actions in response to the release or potential release of hazardous substances established by the department of natural resources under s. 292.11 (5) and that it considers appropriate under the circumstances.

(3) The division shall reimburse a local emergency response team for costs incurred by the team in responding to an emergency involving a hazardous substance release, or potential release, if the team followed the procedures in the rules promulgated under s. 323.70 (7) (c) to determine if an emergency requiring the team's response existed. Reimbursement under this subsection is limited to the amount appropriated under s. 20.465 (3) (dr). Reimbursement is available under s. 20.465 (3) (dr) only if the local emergency response team has made a good faith effort to identify the person responsible under sub. (4) and that person cannot be identified, or, if that person is identified, the team has received reimbursement from that person to the extent that the person is financially able or has determined that the person does not have adequate money or other resources to reimburse the local emergency response team.

(4)

(a) Except as provided in par. (b), a person shall reimburse a local agency as provided in sub. (5) for actual, reasonable, and necessary expenses incurred in responding to an emergency involving the release or potential release of a hazardous substance if any of the following conditions applies:

1. The person possessed or controlled a hazardous substance involved in the emergency.

2. The person caused the emergency.

(b) A local emergency response team may receive reimbursement under par. (a) only if the team followed the procedures established under s. 323.70 (7) (c) to determine if an emergency requiring the team's response existed.

(5)

(a) The county board may designate a county employee or body as the reviewing entity under this subsection. If the county board does not make a designation, the local emergency planning committee is the reviewing entity.

(am) A local agency seeking reimbursement under sub. (4) shall submit a claim stating its expenses to the reviewing entity for the county in which the emergency occurred.

(b) The reviewing entity shall review claims submitted under par. (am) and determine the amount of reasonable and necessary expenses incurred. The reviewing entity shall provide a person who is liable for reimbursement under sub. (4) with a notice of the amount of expenses it has determined to be reasonable and necessary that arose from the emergency involving the release or potential release of a hazardous substance and that were incurred by all local agencies from which the reviewing entity receives a claim.

(c) If a person receiving a notice under par. (b) objects to the amount of expenses in the notice, the person may ask the reviewing entity to review its determination. The reviewing entity may modify the determination and shall notify the person of the result of its review.

(d) A person liable for reimbursement under sub. (4) shall pay the reimbursement directly to each local agency.

(6) A county may enact an ordinance in conformity with this section that governs the administration of claims under sub. (5).

History: 1989 a. 256; 1995 a. 13, 227, 247; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 42 ss. 222, 225 to 231; Stats. 2009 s. 323.71.