Use of beds of Great Lakes by public utilities

Wis. Stat. § 30.21
in effect
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(1) Water intake facilities. Upon compliance with such applicable regulations as may be imposed by the government of the United States and subject to chs. 196 and 197 and rules and orders of the public service commission issued pursuant thereto, any public utility may, pursuant to permit granted by resolution of the governing body of any city, village or town situated on any waters of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior or in the Great Lakes basin, construct, maintain and operate, upon and under the bed thereof adjoining such city, village or town, all cribs, intakes, basins, pipes and tunnels necessary or convenient for securing an adequate supply of water suitable for the purposes of such utility, provided only, that concurrently with the construction of facilities for the withdrawal of water from the lakes, the city, town or village must construct sewage treatment and disposal works adequate to treat completely all sewage of the municipality. Any city, village or town, the limits of which are within 50 miles of any such waters and any public utility serving the same shall be deemed to be situated on such waters within the meaning of this section and such municipality or public utility serving the same shall, subject to this section, have authority to acquire and own or lease sufficient real estate, not to exceed 50 miles beyond the corporate limits of such municipality, for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating thereon or thereunder, transmission facilities and structures, including cribs, intakes, basins, pipes and tunnels, necessary or convenient for securing an adequate supply of water suitable for the purposes of such municipality or utility. Such facilities shall be so constructed, maintained and operated as to avoid material obstruction to existing navigation or the use of private property not owned by such utility. (2) Harbor facilities; public utility structures. Pursuant to the authority and conditions specified in sub. (1), any such utility may also: (a) Improve the navigability of any of the waters specified in sub. (1) and construct upon the shore and the adjoining bed of such waters, harbor facilities adapted for the reception, docking, unloading and loading of vessels carrying supplies required for the operation of such utility. (b) Place any public utility structure, including all or part of any plant for the generation of electricity and the appurtenances, upon the bed of any of the waters specified in sub. (1), provided the utility first obtains approval under this chapter and obtains the approval of the public service commission as required by s. 196.49 or rules or orders of the public service commission issued pursuant thereto, and also obtains the approval of the department to the making of any payment to be made to the municipality with respect to the erection of such structure. (3) Compliance with other permit requirements. (a) Each public utility operating under a permit under this section on January 1, 1986, shall comply with s. 281.35 (2), if applicable. (b) On and after January 1, 1986, no city, village or town may issue a permit under sub. (1) unless the public utility applying for the permit complies with s. 30.18 (2) (b), if applicable.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/30.21Fetched: 10/7/2026