Section 670.431. Pre-application public meeting and notice.

 

(1)  This section applies to all owners or operators submitting feasibility and plan of operation reports for initial operating licenses for hazardous waste management facilities. This section also applies to owners or operators submitting feasibility and plan of operation reports for reissuance of licenses for those facilities, where the submittal is proposing a significant change in facility operations. For the purposes of this section, a "significant change" is any change that would qualify as a class 3 license modification under s. NR 670.042 . This section does not apply to license applications submitted for the sole purpose of conducting long-term care activities or long-term care activities and corrective action at a facility.

(2)  Prior to the submission of a feasibility and plan of operation report for a facility, the applicant shall hold at least one meeting with the public in order to solicit questions from the community and inform the community of proposed hazardous waste management activities. The applicant shall post a sign-in sheet or otherwise provide a voluntary opportunity for attendees to provide their names and addresses.

(3)  The applicant shall submit a summary of the meeting, along with the list of attendees and their addresses developed under sub. (2) , and copies of any written comments or materials submitted at the meeting, to the department as a part of the feasibility and plan of operation report, according to s. NR 670.014 (2) .

(4)  The applicant shall provide public notice of the pre-application meeting at least 30 days prior to the meeting. The applicant shall maintain, and provide to the department upon request, documentation of the notice.

(a) The applicant shall provide public notice in all of the following forms:

1. `A newspaper advertisement . ' The applicant shall publish a notice, fulfilling the requirements in par. (b) , in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or equivalent jurisdiction that hosts the proposed location of the facility. In addition, the applicant shall publish the notice in newspapers of general circulation in adjacent counties or equivalent jurisdictions, where the department determines that publication is necessary to inform the affected public. The notice shall be published as a display advertisement.

2. `A visible and accessible sign . ' The applicant shall post a notice on a clearly marked sign at or near the facility, fulfilling the requirements in par. (b) . If the applicant places the sign on the facility property, then the sign shall be large enough to be readable from the nearest point where the public would pass by the site.

3. `A broadcast media announcement . ' The applicant shall broadcast a notice, fulfilling the requirements in par. (b) , at least once on at least one local radio station or television station. The applicant may employ another medium with prior approval of the department.

4. `A notice to the department . ' The applicant shall send a copy of the newspaper notice to the department and to the appropriate units of local government, according to s. NR 670.410 (3) (a) 10.

(b) The notices required under par. (a) shall include all of the following:

1. The date, time and location of the meeting.

2. A brief description of the purpose of the meeting.

3. A brief description of the facility and proposed operations, including the address or a map (e.g., a sketched or copied street map) of the facility location.

4. A statement encouraging people to contact the facility at least 72 hours before the meeting if they need special access to participate in the meeting.

5. The name, address and telephone number of a contact person for the applicant.

CR 05-032 : cr. Register July 2006 No. 607 , eff. 8-1-06.