291.95 Enforcement.

(1) Department action. If the department determines that any person is in violation of any requirement of this chapter or any rule promulgated or special order, plan approval or term or condition of a license or variance issued under this chapter, the department may do one or more of the following:

(a) Give written notice to the violator of his or her failure to comply with the requirement.

(b) Issue a special order requiring compliance within a specified time period.

(c) Refer the matter to the department of justice for enforcement under s. 299.95.

(2) Department of justice action; disposition. The department of justice may initiate the legal action requested by the department under sub. (1) (c) after receipt of the written request. In any action commenced by it under this subsection, the department of justice shall, prior to stipulation, consent order, judgment or other final disposition of the case, consult with the department for the purpose of determining the department's views on final disposition. The department of justice may not enter into a final disposition different than that previously discussed without first informing the department.

(3) Assistance of district attorney. In any criminal action commenced under s. 291.97, the department of justice may request the assistance of the district attorney of any county in which the violation occurred, and the district attorney shall provide the requested assistance.

(4) Venue. Any action on a violation shall be commenced in the circuit court for the county in which the violation occurred. If all parties stipulate and the circuit court for Dane County agrees, the proceedings may be transferred to the circuit court for Dane County.

History: 1977 c. 377; 1981 c. 374; 1987 a. 384; 1995 a. 227 s. 695; Stats. 1995 s. 291.95.

Enforcement of ch. 144 [now chs. 281 to 299] is not contingent on the issuance of a compliance order. State v. Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc. 170 Wis. 2d 646, 489 N.W.2d 708 (Ct. App. 1992).