Semi-annual reporting for the period of Jan. 1 to June 30, 2025, is due by July 31, 2025. Semi-annual reporting is required of responsible parties (RPs) for all open sites, including those sites the DNR formerly classified as “conditionally closed” in the Bureau for Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) online database. Consultants may submit these reports on behalf of RPs. 

The DNR sent an email with a unique Report Identification (ID) number to contacts of sites listed in the database the first week of July 2025. If you did not receive an email, you can request a Report ID number by submitting the Report ID Request Form.  

The Report ID number uniquely identifies the activity you can report, the reporting period and verifies the person using the Report ID is authorized to submit the report. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Zeichert at Timothy.Zeichert@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-2240. 

State law requires semi-annual reports from people who meet the definition of a responsible party in NR 700. Property owners, such as local governments that have an exemption under Wis. Stats. §§ 292.11(9)(e) or 292.23, and lenders that have an exemption under Wis. Stats. § 292.21 for specific properties are not required to submit a semi-annual report for those exempt properties under state law. 

Sites formerly classified by the DNR as “conditionally closed” are open sites that have not been granted case closure and, by definition, have remaining action(s) needed (e.g., properly abandoning monitoring wells or investigative waste needing to be removed).  

Semi-annual reporting for sites formerly classified as “conditionally closed” should indicate what actions are being taken to complete the remaining actions. 

The next reporting period is from July 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025. 

The DNR is seeking qualified individuals to act as umpires for local government negotiation and cost recovery actions related to environmental remediation activities. The DNR maintains a list of qualified umpires and when requested from a local government, appoints an umpire to assist the local government (Wisconsin Statutes § 292.35).

Individuals qualified in the areas of mediation or arbitration who would like to be considered for the umpire list should complete the linked questionnaire by June 23, 2025.  Background in environmental law, specifically in the area of environmental remediation, is preferred.

Please contact MollyE.Schmidt@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-2153 with questions about serving as an umpire.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a meeting of the Remediation and Redevelopment External Advisory Group (RR EAG) Vapor Intrusion subgroup on Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.  

The RR EAG was formed to address a broad range of issues, encompassing both technical and policy topics related to encouraging the investigation, cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites in Wisconsin. The RR EAG identifies issues and topics of interest that may be addressed by ad hoc subgroups. Subgroup members are expected to research and develop recommendations on the selected topics for presentation to the full group. RR EAG subgroup meetings are open to the public. Interested individuals may register to attend by zoom. 

Zoom attendance registration.   

Visit the DNR’s RR EAG webpage for meeting agendas, materials and additional information. Subscribe for updates on future RR EAG meetings.

An update to the layers on the RR Sites Map is available as of Feb. 6, 2025, to improve performance of the application.  

The RR Sites Map is the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s web-based mapping system that provides information about contaminated properties and other activities related to the investigation and cleanup of contaminated soil or groundwater in Wisconsin. The RR Sites Map is part of the DNR’s Wisconsin Remediation and Redevelopment Database, an interlinked system tracking information on different contaminated land activities.   

As of Feb. 6, some layers that were previously available by default will require additional steps to display on the map. This change affects layers from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  

The updates to layers will not affect DNR layers such as open and closed sites, or layers such as tax parcels and municipal boundaries. 

Instructions for viewing layer on the RR Sites Map are available on the RR Sites Map webpage under User Tips. 

Questions about the change may be directed to the DNR at DNRRRBRRTSFeedback@wisconsin.gov. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a meeting of the Remediation and Redevelopment External Advisory Group (RR EAG) on Jan. 23, 2025.

The RR EAG was formed to address a broad range of issues, encompassing technical and policy topics related to encouraging the investigation, cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites in Wisconsin.

The RR EAG identifies issues and topics of interest that may be addressed by subgroups. Subgroups are expected to research and develop recommendations on the selected topics for presentation to the full group. RR EAG meetings are open to the public.

What: RR EAG Meeting
When: Jan. 23, 2025, 9 a.m. to noon
Where: In-person or virtual.
State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2)
Room G09
101 S Webster St.
Madison, WI

In-person attendees should RSVP to Coreen Fallat at CoreenR.Fallat@wisconsin.gov by noon on Jan. 22, 2025. Please check in at the security desk before taking the elevator. Virtual attendees can register to attend online via Zoom.

Visit the DNR’s RR EAG webpage for meeting agendas, materials and additional information. Subscribe for updates on future RR EAG meetings.

The updated Quick Reference Chart: Brownfield Cleanup and Redevelopment Funding (RR-077) publication is now available. 

This publication provides a reference table with various sources of grants, loans and other funding sources and assistance for brownfield cleanup and redevelopment. The chart provides a simplified summary of the eligible applicants, properties and activities offered through various federal, state and local programs. 

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Molly Schmidt at Mollye.Schmidt@wisconsin.gov. 
 
Additional documents and guidance from the Remediation and Redevelopment Program may be found using the search tools available on the publications and forms webpage.