Notification of Events at Active Landfills

State law requires active landfills to notify the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in writing within a specified time period when certain events occur. This page provides more information about the types of events and required notification timeframes. Find detailed requirements under s. NR 506.17 (5), Wis. Adm. Code.

The DNR encourages landfill owners and operators to use the following form to submit a detailed notification to the DNR. You can reach out directly to the DNR engineer assigned to your facility with questions or for notifications of ongoing events.

• DNR landfill event notification form

Landfill Fires And Elevated Temperatures

Landfills must notify the DNR of a landfill surface fire within one day of the occurrence. This initial notification should be made to the DNR engineer assigned to your facility. Additionally, more detailed information must be submitted to the DNR within five days of the fire, including the following:

• The location, size, duration and potential cause of the surface fire.
• The actions taken to extinguish the fire by the landfill owner or operator or a fire department, including the volume of any water or firefighting foams added to put out the fire.
• A discussion of any impacts to landfill features or equipment.

Landfills must notify the DNR of suspected landfill subsurface fire or elevated temperatures within five days of verification. The notification must include all of the following:

• The actions taken, or to be taken, to determine if there is a subsurface fire or elevated temperatures.
• The actions taken, or to be taken, to prevent the spreading of the fire or elevated temperatures.
• The actions taken, or to be taken, to reduce impacts to the surrounding landfill features.
• If the actions taken, or to be taken, will impact the operations of the landfill.

Leachate Seeps or Spills

Landfills must initially notify the DNR of a leachate seep or leachate spill outside the limits of filling within one day of the occurrence. Send this notification directly to the DNR engineer assigned to your facility. The landfill must also report the seep or spill to the DNR Spills Hotline at 1-800-943-0003 if it leaves the landfill footprint.

Additionally, more detailed information must be submitted to the DNR within five days of the discovery of the seep or spill, including the following:

• Discussion of how the seep or spill was found and identified.
• A map showing the location, flow directions and extent of the seep or spill.
• Discussion of the cause of the seep or spill and the approximate volume of the seep or spill.
• Discussion of environmental impacts, such as impacts to storm water features or wetlands.
• Photographic documentation of the release and any environmental impacts.
• Methods used to stop and contain the release.
• Methods used, or proposed to be used, to clean up the release and contaminated soil below the release.
• Date and time the DNR Spills Hotline and any other DNR programs were notified.

Landfills must also notify the DNR of completion of the cleanup of a leachate seep or spill within 30 days of discovery of the occurrence. The notification must include all of the following:

• Verification that the release and any impacted soil or other environmental media have been cleaned up.
• Soil sample results and a map of sample collection locations used to verify that any impacted soil has been removed.
• Discussion of measures taken to prevent future releases.