Development on landfills
The DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment and Waste and Materials Management programs have jointly developed a process and guidance for development on landfills. The process and guidance discuss two general categories of landfills: historic fill sites and licensed landfills.
Historic fill sites are landfills that were built before 1970 and were not licensed by the DNR. In the past, requirements that covered these sites could be confusing and inconsistent, causing interested parties to shy away from building or developing on these properties.
Fact Sheets And Approval Process
The following guidance documents and forms are currently under revision by the DNR.
DNR staff have streamlined and simplified the process to develop on both historic fill sites and licensed landfills. The following fact sheets describe the process:
- Development at Historic Fill Sites and Licensed Landfills: What You Need to Know (RR-683) [PDF]
- Development at Historic Fill Sites and Licensed Landfills: Guidance for Investigation (RR-684) [PDF]
- Development at Historic Fill Sites and Licensed Landfills: Considerations and Potential Problems (RR-685) [PDF]
In addition, the DNR has applications forms for anyone looking to build on a historic fill site or licensed landfill, or to construct a new water supply well near a landfill:
- Development at historic fill site or licensed landfill
- Exemption Application (Form 4400-226) [PDF]
- Expedited Exemption Application (Form 4400-226a) [PDF] — must be submitted along with Form 4400-226
- Application for a variance to construct a water supply well within 1200 feet of a landfill
Application submittals and review fees
| Facility type | Application/Plan submitted to | Review fee | Code or statutory reference for fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic fill site | Remediation and Redevelopment Program | $700 | Ch. NR 749, Wis. Adm. Code |
| Licensed landfill without a closure or plan of operation approval | Waste and Materials Management Program | $700 | Ch. NR 749, Wis. Adm. Code |
| Licensed landfill with a closure or plan of operation approval | Waste and Materials Management Program | $1,650 | Ch. NR 520, Wis. Adm. Code |
Information on potential development sites
For information about the locations of landfill sites, please see Solid and Hazardous Waste Information Management System (SHWIMS) and the Historic Registry of Waste Disposal Sites spreadsheet.
Where to direct questions
For development on historic waste sites, contact the appropriate regional environmental program associate with the Remediation and Redevelopment Program:
For development on closed licensed landfills, contact the appropriate regional landfill engineer with the Waste and Materials Management Program: