Waste_Content Page_Waste Materials Management Program announcements and public comment opportunities

Waste & Materials Management Program announcements and public comment opportunities

Public comment opportunities from the DNR's Waste & Materials Management Program are available on this page. You can also view DNR-wide public hearings, meetings and public comment opportunities.

Current opportunities for public comment

One landfill feasibility determination, one coal combustion residual landfill draft decision and a hazardous waste facility licensing determination are available for comment.

Waste and Materials Management Program Guidance in public comment

The Waste and Materials Management Program welcomes input on all program guidance. To offer feedback on existing program guidance, email Waste and Materials Management general mailbox. For guidance open for public comment, email the designated contact person.

There are no guidance documents available for public comment.

Landfill feasibility

Solid Waste Landfill Feasibility

Under s. 289.23, Wis. Stats., a landfill owner proposing a new landfill or an expansion of an existing landfill must submit a detailed feasibility report to the DNR. Once the DNR determines the report is complete -- i.e., it contains all the elements required by Wisconsin Administrative Code -- the report and its associated documents are posted on our website for public review and comment. This is also an opportunity for qualified persons to request an informational hearing or a contested case hearing. Section 289.26, Wis. Stats., provides a 30-day deadline for public comments and hearing requests to be submitted.

Chapter NR 512, Wis. Adm. Code, specifies the minimum information that must be included in a feasibility report. This includes:

  • a comprehensive and detailed site-specific geologic and hydrogeologic investigation that includes baseline groundwater quality data;
  • a preliminary engineering design;
  • an environmental analysis is conducted;
  • documentation of the need for the proposed landfill; and
  • an analysis of the alternatives to landfilling, such as waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and energy recovery initiatives and services.

After the public comment period has ended, the DNR issues a feasibility determination which, if positive, allows the applicant to proceed with development of a detailed plan of operation for the proposed landfill. The feasibility determination will include a determination of compliance with WEPA and NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code.

Current Opportunities

Emerald Park

Notice of Feasibility Report Update for the Proposed Emerald Park Landfill Western Expansion, located in the City of Muskego, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The facility’s DNR license number is 3290.

Public notice date: March 21, 2024
Public comment deadline: April 19, 2024, 4:30 p.m.

Warning: Several of these files are large, so downloading may take a few minutes on slow internet connections. The documents available here can also be viewed at one of the locations listed in the public notice.

Documents prepared by the DNR:

Documents prepared and submitted on behalf of the landfill applicant:

Feasibility Report - Addendum 1

Feasibility Report - Addendum 2

Email Requesting Additional NR 140 Exemptions

For information, contact:
David M. Buser
Hydrogeologist
DNR Waste and Materials Management Program

Hazardous waste facility licensing determinations

Hazardous waste facility licensing determinations

Once the DNR determines a hazardous waste facility seeking an operating license has a complete and technically accurate feasibility and plan of operation report, the DNR prepares a preliminary determination, a public notice, a fact sheet and a radio announcement. Information on preliminary determinations is posted on this webpage for public review and comment.

Chapters NR 664 and NR 670, Wis. Adm. Code, specify hazardous waste facility standards and hazardous waste licensing and decision-making procedures. The feasibility determination will include a determination of facility need and compliance with WEPA and NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code.

Current Opportunities

A hazardous waste license renewal is available for comment.

WM Waste, Inc.

WM Waste, Inc. operates a licensed hazardous waste storage facility in the town of Dover, near Union Grove in Racine County, Wisconsin, has submitted an application to renew this license. The application consists of a Feasibility and Plan of Operation Report (FPOR). The DNR has reviewed the FPOR and found it to be sufficiently complete, and has preliminarily determined that the project continues to be feasible. The DNR intends to issue a conditional approval and renew the hazardous waste facility storage and treatment licenses.

Warning: Several of these files are large, so downloading may take a few minutes on slow internet connections. The documents available here can also be viewed at one of the locations listed in the public notice.

Public notice date: March 4, 2024
Public comment deadline: April 18, 2024

Documents prepared by the DNR:

Documents prepared and submitted on behalf of the applicant:

Feasibility and Plan of Operation Report (FPOR) for WM Waste, Inc.

Any member of public is invited to submit written comments concerning the preliminary determination by April 18. A public hearing can also be requested during this period. Members of the public can request to be placed on the DNR’s mailing list of interested parties for the facility.

Submit written comments by April 18 to:
Doug Coenen
Waste Management Engineer
DNR Waste and Materials Management Program

Past Renewals

Hydrite Chemical Company

Hydrite Chemical Company operates a licensed hazardous waste storage and treatment facility in Cottage Grove, and has submitted an application to renew these licenses. The application consists of a Feasibility and Plan of Operation Report (FPOR). The DNR has reviewed the FPOR and found it to be sufficiently complete, and has preliminarily determined that the project continues to be feasible. The DNR intends to issue a conditional approval and renew the hazardous waste facility storage and treatment licenses.

Notice of Feasibility Report and Preliminary Environmental Impact Decision for Hydrite Chemical Company's Hazardous Waste License Renewal Public Notice: Hydrite Chemical Company Fact Sheet: Hydrite Chemical Company

The DNR accepted public comments through Oct. 31. For information, contact:
Doug Coenen
Waste Management Engineer
DNR Waste and Materials Management Program

R. Stresau Laboratory Inc.

For documents related to the R. Stresau Laboratory Inc. license renewal, visit the Waste Facility and Transporter Licenses page.

Dredged Material Disposal Facility meeting

Meetings for Dredged Material Disposal

Wisconsin law (s. 289.54, Wis. Stats.) requires the DNR to hold a public meeting before issuing an approval or grant of exemption for disposal or reuse of dredged material. The law applies to all proposals where someone is proposing to dispose of dredged material in a landfill, whether licensed or approved or not, dispose in accordance with a land spreading plan of operation, or dispose of or beneficially reuse dredged material subject to a grant of exemption under the low hazard exemption of s. 289.43 (8), Wis. Stats. The public meeting requirement does not apply to facilities for disposal of dredged material that meets the exemption from licensing and plan review requirements under s. NR 500.08 (3), Wis. Adm. Code.

At the public meeting, the DNR will describe the nature of the requested disposal and solicit public comment.

Current comment opportunity

There are currently no public comment opportunities related to dredge projects.

Coal combustion residual landfills

Coal combustion residual landfill public comment opportunities

The Aug. 1, 2022, revisions to chs. NR 500–520, Wis. Adm. Code, for CCR landfills created additional public participation opportunities for CCR landfill plans submitted to the DNR. The DNR must provide opportunities for public participation upon submittal of the following documents by CCR landfill owners and operators and before certain DNR decisions.

  • Plan of operation modification for initial permitting [s. NR 514.045, Wis. Adm. Code]
    • Plan of operation modification report: After the DNR determines a plan of operation modification report is complete, a notice and copy of the report will be published on this webpage. Written comments are due within 60 days after the notice is published. The DNR holds a virtual or in-person public meeting during the 60-day comment period to receive oral comments on the complete submittal.
    • Draft and final decision issued by the DNR: The DNR issues a draft decision within 60 days after the end of the comment period. The draft decision includes a written response to comments and is posted on this webpage for 30 days for public comment. The DNR issues a final decision within 30 days following the end of the comment period.
  • Remedial action options report [s. NR 508.06(3)(e), Wis. Adm. Code.]: When a remedial action is necessary, the DNR holds a public informational hearing to discuss the results of the remedial action options report with interested and affected parties at least 30 days before selection of a remedy.
  • Draft plan of operation or plan of operation modifications after initial permitting [ss. NR 514.04(7) and (8), Wis. Adm. Code]: CCR landfill owners and operators are required to submit a draft copy of any plan of operation or plan of operation modification affecting the closure plan, liner system, leachate system or changes that reduce the stringency of groundwater monitoring requirements. These plans are required to be posted for public comment for at least 30 days. During this time, any county, city, village or town, the applicant, or any six or more individuals may file a written request for a public meeting with the DNR. If a public meeting is held, the DNR will solicit public comments on the report at the meeting.
  • Feasibility report for new or expanded facility [ss. 289.23-289.29, Wis. Stats., and ch. NR 512, Wis. Adm. Code]: After the DNR determines the feasibility report is complete, the report and associated documents are posted for public review and a 30-day public comment period. This is also an opportunity for qualified individuals to request an informational hearing or a contested case hearing. Refer to the landfill feasibility section of this page for more information and current opportunities.

Find additional reports and information on websites CCR landfill owners and operators are required to maintain.

Monitoring data for each facility is available through the DNR's Groundwater and Environmental Monitoring System.

Current opportunities for public participation

There is one public comment opportunity related to CCR landfills at this time.

Columbia Energy Center

Draft initial permitting plan modification approval for the Columbia Energy Center Dry Ash Disposal Facility Coal Combustion Residual Landfill Initial Permitting located in the town of Pacific, Columbia County, Wisconsin. The facility’s DNR license number is 3025.

Public comment begins: April 2, 2024
Public comment deadline: May 2, 2024

Documents prepared by the DNR:

Any member of public is invited to submit written comments concerning the draft decision by May 2. Members of the public can request to be placed on the DNR’s mailing list of interested parties for the facility.

For information, contact:
Tony Peterson
Engineer
DNR Waste and Materials Management Program

or

Tyler Sullivan
Hydrogeologist
DNR Waste and Materials Management Program