Contested Case Hearing: Vernon County Landfill
Start Date: 01/20/2027
End Date: 01/22/2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. - End of Agenda
Location: In-Person & Virtual Options; See Details for Information
Susan Burns, Susan.Burns2@wisconsin.gov
On Aug. 17, 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Department) issued a letter holding that the Feasibility Report from Vernon County regarding a proposed expansion of the Vernon County Landfill was complete, and that the environmental analysis was integrated in the project summary.
On Sept. 25, 2026, Tom Lukens, Matt Wagner, William Spann, AnnaJo Doerr, Kyle Kruizenga, Kelvin Rodolfo, Dennis Brault, Amy Allison Arnold, Gregory S. Wahl, Richard Lobeck, Steven Adams and Friends of Vernon County Waters, (Petitioners) filed a Petition for a Contested Case Hearing with the Department pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 289.27 and 227.42.
By letter dated Sept. 29, 2026, the Department granted the Petitioners’ request for a contested case hearing. The issues for hearing are whether the Department correctly determined that the Vernon County Landfill Expansion Feasibility Report was complete pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 289.24 and that no separate environmental impact statement was needed.
On Sept. 30, 2026, the Division of Hearings and Appeals received an original request for hearing from the Department. On Oct. 20, 2026, an informal conference was held by ALJ Benjamin Jones with the preliminarily identified parties and dates for a prehearing conference and hearing were agreed.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State of Wisconsin Division of Hearings and Appeals will hold a contested case hearing on the above-captioned matter pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.44, Wis. Admin Code § NR 2.13 and Wis. Admin. Code § HA 1.12 at person at 400 Courthouse Square, Viroqua, WI 54665, 3rd floor of the Courthouse Annex, commencing at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027. The hearing will continue, as necessary, on Thursday, Jan. 21, and Friday Jan. 22, at conference and training room at 1320 Bad Axe Court, Viroqua, WI 54665. Administrative Law Judge Benjamin Jones shall preside.
The hearing in this matter is a Class 1 contested case pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.01(3)(a), and the fair play provisions of Wis. Stat. Ch. 227 will apply. The procedures relating to contested cases set forth in Wis. Admin. Code Ch. NR 2 will be followed. Said procedures will closely resemble those that are normally followed at a trial in state circuit court. All parties are advised that they have the right to seek the aid and assistance of legal counsel and to be represented by legal counsel at the contested case hearing.
Members of the public desiring to participate in this hearing pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code § NR 2.08 will be allowed the opportunity to do so at the beginning of the first day of hearing prior to the parties’ presentation of evidence. Such interested persons must enter an appearance either prior to or at the commencement of the contested case hearing. Information about the hearing may be found at the DNR website. Public comments may be made in person at the hearing, and will also be allowed virtually through Zoom, using the following link and meeting ID.
Zoom link
Meeting ID: Meeting ID: 165 489 6499
Pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations will be made to any qualified individual upon request. Please call the Division of Hearings and Appeals at 608-266-7709 with specific information on your request prior to the date of the scheduled prehearing or hearing.