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RR Sites Map layer information

Definitions for each of the layers on RR Sites Map are listed below. The RR Sites Map User's Guide [PDF] is also provided as a reference when using the desktop version of RR Sites Map.

Open and closed sites

Open sites

Includes Environmental Repair Program (ERP) and Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) sites where contamination has affected soil, groundwater or other media and the environmental investigation and/or cleanup needs to begin or is underway. This includes sites where cleanup of environmental contamination is ongoing. A "site" is a contamination incident, not a property. A site may be smaller than a property or may include more than one property.

Does not include:

  • spills (immediate cleanup);
  • sites where the DNR required no action;
  • sites not yet mapped; and
  • sites never reported to the DNR.

To find more information about the site from RR Sites Map, click on the site using the “Identify” button, then click on "View Activity Details on BOTW" in the left pane.

Closed sites

Includes Environmental Repair Program (ERP) and Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) sites where contamination affected soil, groundwater or other media, but the department determined, based on information at the time, that no further remedial action is required. A "site" is a contamination incident, not a property. A site may be smaller than a property or may include more than one property.

Does not include:

  • spills (immediate cleanup);
  • sites where the DNR required no action;
  • sites not yet mapped; and
  • sites never reported to the DNR.

To get to the continuing obligations packet from RR Sites Map, click on the site using the “Identify” button, then click on "View Activity Details on BOTW" in the left pane. Click on the link for the PDF associated with the action "Continuing Obligations Applied".

Additional site information

Identifies characteristics of sites. This layer group identifies sites with continuing obligations and/or sites that have impacted another property, and properties affected by contamination from another property(ies).

Affected by contamination from another property

Summary: Includes locations that were affected by contamination from another property, and that impact was reported by the DNR.

Source: Wisconsin DNR, Remedition and Redevelopment Program

Date: Continuously updated

For more information:

The two most common continuing obligations are:

  1. proper management of contaminated soil if it is excavated; and
  2. obtaining approval for construction of water supply wells.

Other property-specific obligations may apply.

Source: Wisconsin DNR, Remediation and Redevelopment Program
Date: Continuously Updated
For more information: Continuing obligations; Continuing Obligations for Environmental Protection (RR-819) [PDF]; Technical Documentation

Impacted another property(ies)

Summary: Includes Environmental Repair Program (ERP) and Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) sites where contamination from one property crossed a property line and affected another property, and that impact was reported to the DNR.

Source: Wisconsin DNR, Remediation and Redevelopment Program
Date: Continuously Updated
For more information: Offsite contamination – contamination that crosses property lines; When Contamination Crosses a Property Line - Rights and Responsibilities of Property Owners (RR-589) [PDF]; Technical Documentation

 

No Action Required (NAR) sites

Summary: NARs are sites where, after notification of a hazardous substance discharge, the DNR determined that the responsible party did not need to undertake an investigation or cleanup in response to that discharge because there was no or insignificant contamination. NAR activities in BRRTS on the Web (BOTW) have an activity number prefix of "09". For more information on any of these sites, view their BOTW page. 

All NAR sites with information sufficient to geolocate were mapped. Some historical sites could not be located on the layer because of lack of sufficient information to create an accurate point location.

Source: Wisconsin DNR, Remediation and Redevelopment Program
Date: Continuously Updated
 

Facility-wide sites

Summary: This activity type is the umbrella activity of a subset of activities at a facility that are part of the same negotiated agreement. Generally, these activity types are large sites with continuing operations that have smaller releases over time. There may also be some activities at the same location that should not be part of the Facility-wide Activity Type because they are not covered by the negotiated agreement.

Feature Representation:
Facility-wide Site Boundary (polygon) – represents the boundary of the site in the negotiated agreement.
Facility-wide Site (point) – represents the centroid of the site in the negotiated agreement.

Source:
Wisconsin DNR, Remediation and Redevelopment Program

Date:
Continuously Updated

Does not include:
Negotiated agreements not yet finalized or mapped.

For more information: 
From RR Sites Map, click on the site using the "Identify" button, then click on "View Activity Details on BOTW" in the left pane. This will provide which sites are associated with the Facility-wide site.

Liability limitations and clarifications

Includes sites where the DNR has:

  • written a general liability clarification letter to answer environmental liability questions;
  • approved a permanent liability exemption based on a thorough investigation and cleanup of a property through the voluntary party liability exemption (VPLE) process; or
  • worked with EPA to place a site on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).
Liability clarification letter site

The DNR provided a fee-based liability clarification letter to clarify liability for site specific questions as they relate to environmental contamination and remediation of a property. This includes sites with any of the following conditions:

  • General liability clarification (GLC) letter issued
  • LGU exemption liability confirmation or clarification issued
  • Lease liability clarification letter issued
  • Lender liability exception clarification letter issued
  • Offsite exemption letter issued
Superfund NPL

The EPA’s list of contaminated sites, the National Priorities List (NPL), where potentially responsible parties pay for the cleanup or where the EPA uses government funds. Also includes sites proposed for and deleted from the NPL, as well as Superfund alternative sites, which are eligible for the NPL but are instead covered by an agreement for NPL-equivalent standards. Due to newer state cleanup programs, Wisconsin now adds few sites to the NPL.

Voluntary party liability exemption (VPLE)

An individual, business or unit of government entered the VPLE process, completed an environmental investigation and cleanup of an entire property, and received a permanent liability exemption for that contamination, which applies to future owners.

VPLE website for more information.

DNR financial actions

Includes sites where the DNR has:

  • provided financial assistance via grants, loans or other reimbursements; or
  • hired an environmental consultant because there is no responsible party available.

Does not include:

Specific funding options include Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Fund, Green Space and Public Facilities Grants, Site Assessment Grants, State Funded Response, Ready for Reuse and Sustainable Urban Development Zones.

Drycleaner Environmental Response Fund (DERF)

The DNR provided funds originating from dry cleaner licenses and solvent fees for the cleanup of dry cleaning solvents.

Please see the DERF website for more information.

Green Space and Public Facility Grants

The DNR awarded a grant to a local government for environmental cleanup of a property that would be used for green space, public recreation or local government operations. Grants were awarded from April 2004 to March 2009. A total of 21 grants were awarded at 16 sites.

Wisconsin Ready for Reuse Loan and Grant Program Sites

The DNR awarded a loan or grant for environmental cleanup from the Ready for Reuse Loan and Grant Program. Ready for reuse loans and grants are used for environmental cleanup of hazardous substances or petroleum at brownfields throughout Wisconsin. More information can be found at Wisconsin Ready for Reuse Loan and Grant Program.

Site Assessment Grants (SAG)

The DNR awarded a SAG to a local government for assessment or investigation of contamination, demolition, tank/container removal or other actions. Grants were awarded from September 2000 (Round 1) to November 2009 (Round 11). Applications for Round 12 were processed, scored and graded but not awarded.

Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) 

Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) program provides funding to address specific brownfields sites where potential or known contamination is acting as an impediment to economic redevelopment. More information can be found at Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) program

Sustainable Urban Development Zone

The DNR awarded funding designated by the Wisconsin Legislature for seven municipalities to investigate and clean up area-wide contamination.

DNR Layers

Hillshade (elevation in feet)

Summary: Hillshade is a raster image that portrays a grayscale 3D representation of the surface, with the sun's relative position taken into account for shading the image. This base layer can be combined with other basemaps (roads, topo, aerials) to provide a 3D-like appearance. Data sources vary by county and range in date (2002-present) and resolution of pixels (two to 10 feet); as of January 2019, data is not available for a few counties. For more information on this service see: DW_Elevation/EN_Hillshade_from_LiDAR

Elevation is in feet and calculates “bare earth” elevation. Caution should be used when using this product for determining elevation for water. Data sources vary by county and range in date (2002-present) and resolution of pixels (two to 10 feet); as of January 2019, data is not available for a few counties. For more information on this service see: DW_Elevation/EN_DEM_from_LiDAR_Feet

Layer catalog

DNR Data

DNR office locations

Summary: Wisconsin DNR office locations
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Technology Services
Date: Continuously updated
For more information: Technical Documentation

EM/DG - private well locations

Summary: Private well locations from the DNR well construction database.
Note: The well construction database only has township, range and section for many older wells. In those situations, points are a centroid. For more recent wells, a latitude and longitude are available. This layer is available for public use.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Drinking Water and Groundwater Program
Date: Continuously updated
For more information: Technical Documentation

EM/DG - dual aquifer

Summary: Area of the state where there is an aquifer above and below the Maquoketa Formation. Well drillers constructing a well in this location must abide by certain requirements per ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Drinking Water and Groundwater Program
Date: Continuously updated
For more information: Technical Documentation

EM/DG - landfills with 1,200-foot buffer

Summary: Landfills with a 1,200-foot buffer around them. Well drillers constructing wells within this buffer must apply for a variance per ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Drinking and Groundwater Program
Date: Continuously updated
For more information: Technical Documentation
Disclaimer: LANDFILL DATA: This Geographic Information System (GIS) landfill data consist of polygons that represent landfill boundaries; it approximates the limits of waste based on available information derived from several data sources, including maps contained in DNR files and aerial photograph interpretation by DNR staff. Landfill GIS locations should not be solely relied upon to make compliance decisions. Some of the landfills shown in GIS may be depicted by a point only, because GIS boundaries have not yet been determined. For an accurate depiction of the landfill boundary, please see information contained in the DNR's landfill file located at one of the DNR regional headquarters across the state.
Landfill GIS locations may be used by well drillers and the DNR Drinking Water and Groundwater Program to help identify the general location of the landfill and to assist in whether a well variance may be needed from ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code, minimum setback distance of 1,200 feet from a landfill. Because the 1,200-foot setback required by ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code is based on the landfill footprint, the landfill point location should not be used to determine compliance with setback distance requirements.

EM/DG - special casing areas

Summary: Locations with special drilling requirements per ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code, due to water quality issues.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Drinking and Groundwater Program
Date: Continuously updated
For more information: Technical Documentation

Landfill/waste sites and areas

Summary:

  • Landfill/Waste Sites: Point representation of all Landfills and Historic Waste Sites (070-079, 135) regardless of status (Active vs Inactive).
  • Landfill/Waste Area: Polygon representation of Landfills and Historic Waste Sites (070-079,135) Activity Status (Active, Transitional, Inactive, Monitoring, Long Term Care, and NULL values).

Feature representation: not available
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Division of Environmental Management, Bureau of Solid Waste Management
Date: Continuously updated
For more information: Solid waste management in Wisconsin

Green Tier participants

Summary:

  • Tier 1 is designed for those who are committed to enhanced environmental protection to distinguish themselves from others. Tier 1 participants are generally environmental innovators with proactive management teams. The DNR is committed to supporting these participants with incentives, including use of the Green Tier logo, that are not available to other companies.
  • Tier 2 is designed for superior environmental companies. These companies can demonstrate a history of superior environmental performance and have an effective environmental management system (EMS). Tier 2 participants represent the truly exceptional companies who are not only committed to going above and beyond but are also committed to bringing about change in their industry, region or within their supply chain.

Feature representation: Location of participant’s address.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Division of External Services, Bureau of Environmental Analysis and Sustainability
Date: Continuously updated
For more information: Overview of the Green Tier Program

Green Tier Charter participants

Summary:

  • A charter is a contract entered into by the DNR and an association committed to helping its members participate in Green Tier. An association may consist of private entities, public entities or a combination. In a charter, the association must describe its goals, the responsibilities of its members and the methods its members will use to accomplish their goals. The term of a charter can be between three and 10 years, with opportunity for renewal. Charters help business sectors, regions, supply chains or other creative groupings of organizations establish and meet environmental objectives.

Feature representation: Location of participant’s address.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Division of External Services, Bureau of Environmental Analysis and Sustainability
Date: Continuously updated
For more information: Overview of the Green Tier Program

Non-DNR Data

WI/DATCP - Environmental Enforcement Contacts

Summary:

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Environmental Enforcement Staff has broad knowledge related to storage, use and handling of agricultural products (feed, seed, pesticides and fertilizer). They can be of assistance when dealing with cleanup or disposal related to any of these products.

Feature representation: Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Environmental Enforcement Staff Regions
Source: Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Date: Data is continuously updated.
For more information: DNRRRBRRTSFeedback@wisconsin.gov

US/USDA - NRCS Soil Data

Summary: The Wetlands Program within the Environmental Management Division of the Wisconsin DNR worked with NRCS to produce the following three layers.
Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
Date: Last updated May 2008
For more information: for domains see the SSURGO Metadata - Domains Report [exit DNR].

US/DOC/CB - 2010 Census Blocks

Summary: 2010 Census Blocks
Source: US Census Bureau
Date: June 2010
Details: Technical Documentation [exit DNR]