Wisconsin cleanup rules and laws
Wisconsin statutes and administrative code govern the investigation and cleanup actions that are required after a discharge of a hazardous substance occurs or is discovered. In general, a person responsible for a discharge is required to report, investigate and clean up the contamination. The person responsible is defined by law as one who "causes," "possesses" or "controls" the contamination (e.g., owns property with a contaminant discharge or owns a container that has ruptured). These general requirements are established in ch. 292, Wis. Stats. [PDF exit DNR] and chs. NR 700 to 754, Wis. Adm. Code [exit DNR].
Official copies of Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Codes may be purchased from the Office for Document Sales at 608-266-3358 or 800-362-7253 (for Visa/MC orders only).
NR 700-754 rule changes
As part of a continuing effort to ensure efficient and effective guidance and standards for the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites in Wisconsin, the DNR is working with key public and industry stakeholders, state agencies, the State Legislature, the governor and the general public to update portions of chs. NR 700-754, Wis. Adm. Code. Learn more about the rule updates.
State statutes
State statutes
The following state statutes relate to remediation and redevelopment of contamination.
| Wisconsin Statute [PDF exit DNR] |
Chapter Title |
|---|---|
| ch. 292 | Remedial action (the "Spills" Law) |
| ch. 280 | Well drilling, heat exchange and pump Installing |
| ch. 281 | Water and sewage |
| ch. 283 | Pollution discharge elimination |
| ch. 285 | Air pollution |
| ch. 287 | Solid waste reduction, recovery and recycling |
| ch. 289 | Solid waste facilities |
| ch. 291 | Hazardous waste management |
| ch. 293 | Nonferrous metallic mining |
| ch. 295 | Nonmetallic mining reclamation; oil and gas; ferrous metallic mining |
| ch. 299 | General environmental provisions |
NR 700
NR 700 rule series
The NR 700, Wis. Adm. Code [PDF] govern the investigation and remediation of environmental contamination.
| Wis. Adm. Code [PDF exit DNR] |
Chapter Title |
|---|---|
| ch. NR 700 [PDF] | General requirements |
| ch. NR 702 [PDF] | Contingency planning for hazardous substance discharge response by state agencies |
| ch. NR 704 [PDF] | Contingency planning for abandoned container response |
| ch. NR 706 [PDF] | Hazardous substance discharge notification and source confirmation requirements |
| ch. NR 708 [PDF] | Immediate and interim actions |
| ch. NR 712 [PDF] | Personnel qualifications for conducting environmental response actions |
| ch. NR 714 [PDF] | Public participation and notification |
| ch. NR 716 [PDF] | Site investigations |
| ch. NR 718 [PDF] | Management of contaminated soil or solid wastes excavated during response actions |
| ch. NR 720 [PDF] | Soil cleanup standards |
| ch. NR 722 [PDF] | Standards for selecting remedial actions |
| ch. NR 724 [PDF] | Remedial and interim action design, implementation, operation, maintenance and monitoring requirements |
| ch. NR 725 [PDF] | Notification requirements for residual contamination and continuing obligations |
| ch. NR 726 [PDF] | Case closure |
| ch. NR 727 [PDF] | Continuing obligations requirements and reopening closed cases |
| ch. NR 728 [PDF] | Enforcement and compliance authorities |
| ch. NR 730 [PDF] | Superfund cost sharing |
| ch. NR 732 [PDF] | Cost reimbursement for municipal landfill monitoring |
| ch. NR 734 [PDF] | Selecting and contracting environmental consulting services |
| ch. NR 736 [PDF] | Public notice, bidding and award of environmental construction contracts |
| ch. NR 738 [PDF] | Temporary emergency water supplies |
| ch. NR 747 [PDF] | Petroleum environmental cleanup fund |
| ch. NR 749 [PDF] | Fees for providing assistance; remediation and redevelopment program |
| ch. NR 750 [PDF] | Fees for providing oversight for the contaminated land recycling program |
| ch. NR 754 [PDF] | Environmental insurance requirements |
Webinars on ch. NR 700, Wis. Adm. Code revisions (2013)
Department staff lead online webinars with a variety of environmental professionals over the course of several weeks to introduce and discuss the changes to the 2013 NR 700, Wis. Adm. Code revisions. The webinars are available on the RR Program training library.
Other information and documents
- NR 700 Semi-Annual Site Progress Report [PDF]
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Concerning Changes to the ch. NR 700 Series of Administrative Rules (RR-968) [PDF]
- Summary of Changes to the 2013 ch. NR 700 Series of Administrative Rules (RR-965) [PDF]
- NR 700 Site Investigation Process & Timeline (RR-967) [PDF]
- RR Program Fee Schedule (RR-966) [PDF]
Staff contacts
List of staff contacts for NR 100 and NR 700 rules
| Code | Title | DNR Contact |
|---|---|---|
| NR 140 | Groundwater quality | Bruce Rheineck |
| NR 141 | Groundwater monitoring well requirements | Bruce Rheineck |
| NR 149 | Lab certification and registration | Tom Trainor |
| NR 169 | Dry cleaner environmental response program | Jennifer Borski |
| NR 700 | General requirements | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 702 | Contingency planning for hazardous substance discharge response by state agencies. | John Sager |
| NR 704 | Contingency planning for abandoned container response | John Sager |
| NR 706 | Hazardous substance discharge notification and source confirmation requirements | John Sager |
| NR 708 | Immediate and interim actions | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 712 | Personnel qualifications for conducting environmental response actions | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 714 | Public Information and participation | Jodie Peotter |
| NR 716 | Site investigations | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 718 | Management of contaminated soil or solid wastes excavated during response actions | Paul Grittner |
| NR 720 | Soil cleanup standards | Erin Endsley |
| NR 722 | Standards for selecting remedial actions | Angela Carey |
| NR 724 | Remedial and interim action design, implementation, operation, maintenance and monitoring requirements | Angela Carey |
| NR 725 | Notification requirements for residual contamination and continuing obligations | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 726 | Case closure | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 727 | Continuing obligation requirements and reopening closed cases | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 728 | Enforcement and compliance authorities | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 730 | Superfund cost sharing | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 732 | Cost reimbursement for municipal landfill monitoring | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 734 | Selecting and contracting environmental consulting services | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 736 | Public notice, bidding and award of environmental construction contracts | Shelley Fox |
| NR 738 | Temporary emergency water supplies | Jenna Soyer |
| NR 747 | Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund | Jenna Soyer |
| NR 749 | Fees for providing assistance; Remediation and Redevelopment program | Judy Fassbender |
| NR 750 | Fees for providing oversight for the contaminated land recycling program | Michael Prager |
| NR 754 | Environmental insurance requirements | Michael Prager |