Gov. Walker Signs Two Laws Repealing Regulations

Governor Walker has signed into law two bills introduced by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules repealing existing air regulations.

SB 111 repeals NR 411: Construction and Operation Permits for Indirect Sources. Under current law, the DNR issues permits for certain stationary sources of air pollution, which includes facilities that indirectly emit air pollution, such as parking lots and highways. SB 111 prohibits the DNR from requiring air pollution control permits for indirect sources.

The second law concerns agricultural-related emissions. The DNR had in place rules requiring an owner or operator of a source of emissions of hazardous air contaminants associated with agricultural waste to implement, by July 31, 2011, best management practices for handling those emissions. Those rules, portions of sections NR 406.04, 407.03, and 445.08, are repealed by SB 138, which prohibits the DNR from regulating sources that emit hazardous air contaminants associated with agricultural waste except to the extent required by federal law.

This post was authored by GLLF staff attorney Emily Kelchen.