Benefits and Requirements of Green Tier Participation

Your participation in Tier 2 shows strong leadership with a track record of environmental achievements. You emphasize superior environmental performance outcomes that support the economy and well-being of Wisconsin residents. As a Tier 2 participant you have agreed to:

Superior environmental performance

You have already demonstrated a history of superior environmental performance. As a Tier 2 participant you have also committed to maintain and improve these outcomes that are connected to your environmental goals and documented through the annual report.

Engage with key stakeholders

You may be required to maintain an interested parties' group. This group consists of important stakeholders that may be affected by your operations. This group can help add value and influence your goal setting and strategy to achieve superior environmental performance.

Implement an environmental management system

You have agreed to operate under a functioning environmental management system (EMS) by joining the Green Tier program. More information about your EMS is included in the Green Tier Participation Contract.

Your EMS can either be ISO 14001 certified or functionally equivalent under Green Tier law. Detailed information on both types of systems can be found on our environmental management systems webpage.

Internal audits of the environmental management system

You have agreed to conduct regular internal audits of the EMS. Internal audits should occur at least on an annual basis; however, more frequent audits may help you realize greater benefits from your system. The internal audit requirements are defined in your Green Tier Participation Contract.

You can choose your own internal auditor. The auditor should be competent and knowledgeable of the EMS requirements that are relevant to your Green Tier participation. The auditor should demonstrate good auditing techniques and be objective, impartial, and independent of the activity being audited. They should also act in a manner that is free from bias and conflict of interest.

Internal auditors could be anyone with EMS auditing experience, perhaps from another facility, from corporate, from another Green Tier participant, or at least from an area of the business other than the activity that is being audited.

External audits of the environmental management system

You must also conduct an external audit of the EMS every year. The external audit requirements are defined in your Green Tier Participation Contract.

Green Tier law requires that a DNR approved outside environmental auditor must perform these external audits. You can find our list of approved auditors here. We are happy to work with your preferred EMS auditor(s) and get them approved.

Audit environmental compliance

You must conduct a compliance audit every year to verify that your organization is meeting or exceeding the minimum environmental requirements. Detailed compliance audit requirements are defined in your Green Tier Participation Contract.

Submit an annual report

You must submit an Annual Report to the DNR each year. Your individual reporting requirements and due date can be found in your Green Tier Participation Contract.

The annual reports must contain a narrative and a metrics component that demonstrate your progress towards achieving your environmental goals. Detailed information and guidelines can be found on our annual reporting webpage.

The DNR is committed to supporting your leadership to make lasting environmental improvements. We also provide additional recognition for meeting the rigorous requirements of Tier 2. As a valued Green Tier participant, we commit to providing you with resources and incentives like:

Assignment of a Green Tier project coordinator

You are assigned to a Green Tier staff member who is there to support you through the application process. Your project coordinator will send reminders to help ensure that you are meeting all the requirements listed above. They will also recognize your accomplishments as part of the program. Your project coordinator's contact information can be found in your Green Tier Participation Contract.

Assignment of a single point of contact at the DNR

You are matched with a knowledgeable single point of contact (SPOC) who can help you navigate the DNR. Your SPOC can help you find the resources needed to move quickly and efficiently. Their proactive support and technical expertise can even help your organization identify opportunities to systematically improve your environmental footprint while building a valuable relationship with the DNR. Your SPOC's contact information can be found in your Green Tier Participation Contract.

Brand your organization with the Green Tier logo

In today's crowded marketplace, environmental commitments are more important to your customers, stakeholders, and supply chain. You can use the Green Tier logo in your marketing efforts to build your brand. You can access the logo through our secure portal. Your project coordinator can provide you with your organization’s current access code.

Stand out from your competition with a marketing advantage

Green Tier highlights your organization's environmental performance and helps you stand out from the crowd. We promote your accomplishments through news releases, social media, and a DNR hosted webpage that highlights your work.

Reduced inspection frequency

Your organization is eligible for the lowest inspection frequency provided by law. This is one benefit that shows the trust extended by the state to organizations like yours who employ an environmental management system and participate in Green Tier.

Limited liability protections

You may be eligible for limited liability protections under Green Tier. Deferred civil enforcement is offered to participants should a minor compliance issue occur. We know mistakes can happen, so we can offer some liability protections for a self-reported and self-corrected violation. The intent of this benefit is to acknowledge the proactive efforts of having an EMS as well as to support your organization’s innovative spirit to try new methods to go beyond compliance. This document has more information on how you can use deferred civil enforcement.

Receive operational flexibility

You can unlock the full potential of regulatory flexibilities by negotiating a custom participation contract. Regulatory flexibilities could result in streamlined permitting, modified reporting or monitoring requirements, alternative compliance methods, and more!

Green Tier is committed to helping participants improve performance, save staff time, and cut costs. We are always looking for new ways to help participants operate more efficiently and reward them for continually working toward superior environmental performance. The ROP-G Air Permit is our first streamlined permit that is exclusive to Tier 2 participants. While we are working on new streamlining initiatives, we also look to our participants to request facility-specific regulatory flexibilities.

Charter Agreements provide opportunities and a framework for groups of businesses, supply chains, industry sectors, public sector entities or other groups to work collaboratively towards environmental goals that might not be achievable under the existing regulatory system. Charter members sign an agreement with DNR that details the goals, activities and administration of the charter. As a member of a charter, you have committed to:

Work towards the goals of the charter

Each charter is tasked with developing goals, member responsibilities, and methods to accomplish shared goals in an agreement with the DNR. You are required to work towards the goals established in your Green Tier Charter Agreement.

Submit annual reports

Charters must submit annual reports to the DNR that detail the group's progress towards achieving the goals established in the charter agreement. The annual report due dates and reporting requirements are specific to each charter and are established in your Green Tier Charter Agreement.

The DNR is committed to provide recognition and incentives for meeting the goals and activities set forth in each Green Tier Charter Agreement. We commit to providing each charter with resources and incentives like:

Assignment of a Green Tier project coordinator

You are assigned to a Green Tier staff member who is there to support you through the charter process. Your project coordinator will send reminders to help ensure that you are meeting all the requirements listed above. They will also recognize your accomplishments as part of the charter. Your project coordinator’s contact information can be found in your Green Tier Charter Agreement.

Assignment of a single point of contact as your liaison to the DNR

The DNR is a large organization that can be tough for businesses to navigate. We pair a charter group with a knowledgeable single point of contact (SPOC) who can help find the resources needed to move quickly and efficiently. The SPOC's proactive support and technical expertise can even help your charter identify opportunities to meet your charter's goals while building a valuable relationship with the department. Your SPOC's contact information can be found in your Green Tier Charter Agreement.

Brand your initiative with the Green Tier logo

Green Tier supports your charter's goals and helps you to be recognized in the state. You can use the Green Tier logo in your charter's marketing efforts. The Green Tier logo is available to participants thorough our secure portal. Your Green Tier project coordinator can provide you with your organization's current access code.

Share your efforts with a DNR webpage

Green Tier highlights your charter's environmental performance and helps you share your story. We promote your accomplishments through news releases, social media, and a DNR hosted webpage that highlights the Green Tier Charter Agreement.

Receive operational flexibility

As a charter member, you can unlock the potential of flexibilities when the Green Tier Charter Agreement is negotiated. Flexibilities and additional benefits are specific to each charter. Please review your Green Tier Charter Agreement to learn more!