Waste_Content Page_Waste Materials Management Program announcements and public comment opportunities

Waste & Materials Management Program announcements and public comment opportunities

Public comment opportunities from the DNR's Waste & Materials Management Program are available on this page. You can also view DNR-wide public hearings, meetings and public comment opportunities.

Current opportunities for public comment

There is one guidance document available for public comment.

Waste and Materials Management Program Guidance in public comment

The Waste and Materials Management Program welcomes input on all program guidance. To offer feedback on existing program guidance, email Waste and Materials Management general mailbox. For guidance open for public comment, email the designated contact person.

There is one guidance document available for public comment.

Guidance available for comment

Document title and link Public comment deadline Staff contact
Guidance for Disposal of Nonmetallic Mining and Processing Waste Materials (WA-2024) June 23 Phil Fauble
Landfill feasibility

Solid Waste Landfill Feasibility

Under s. 289.23, Wis. Stats., a landfill owner proposing a new landfill or an expansion of an existing landfill must submit a detailed feasibility report to the DNR. Once the DNR determines the report is complete -- i.e., it contains all the elements required by Wisconsin Administrative Code -- the report and its associated documents are posted on our website for public review and comment. This is also an opportunity for qualified persons to request an informational hearing or a contested case hearing. Section 289.26, Wis. Stats., provides a 30-day deadline for public comments and hearing requests to be submitted.

Chapter NR 512, Wis. Adm. Code, specifies the minimum information that must be included in a feasibility report. This includes:

  • a comprehensive and detailed site-specific geologic and hydrogeologic investigation that includes baseline groundwater quality data;
  • a preliminary engineering design;
  • an environmental analysis is conducted;
  • documentation of the need for the proposed landfill; and
  • an analysis of the alternatives to landfilling, such as waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and energy recovery initiatives and services.

After the public comment period has ended, the DNR issues a feasibility determination which, if positive, allows the applicant to proceed with development of a detailed plan of operation for the proposed landfill. The feasibility determination will include a determination of compliance with WEPA and NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code.

Current Opportunities

There are no public comment opportunity related to landfill feasibility at this time.

Hazardous waste facility licensing determinations

Hazardous waste facility licensing determinations

Once the DNR determines a hazardous waste facility seeking an operating license has a complete and technically accurate feasibility and plan of operation report (FPOR), the DNR prepares a preliminary determination, a public notice, a fact sheet and a radio announcement. Information on preliminary determinations is posted on the DNR website for public review and comment.

Chapters NR 664 and NR 670, Wis. Adm. Code, specify hazardous waste facility standards and hazardous waste licensing and decision-making procedures. The feasibility determination will include a determination of facility need and compliance with WEPA and NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code.

Current Opportunities

There are no public comment opportunity related to hazardous waste facility licensing at this time.

For documents related to the R. Stresau Laboratory Inc. license renewal, visit the Waste Facility and Transporter Licenses page.

Dredged Material Disposal Facility meeting

Meetings for Dredged Material Disposal

Wisconsin law (s. 289.54, Wis. Stats.) requires the DNR to hold a public meeting before issuing an approval or grant of exemption for disposal or reuse of dredged material. The law applies to all proposals where someone is proposing to dispose of dredged material in a landfill, whether licensed or approved or not, dispose in accordance with a land spreading plan of operation, or dispose of or beneficially reuse dredged material subject to a grant of exemption under the low hazard exemption of s. 289.43 (8), Wis. Stats. The public meeting requirement does not apply to facilities for disposal of dredged material that meets the exemption from licensing and plan review requirements under s. NR 500.08 (3), Wis. Adm. Code.

At the public meeting, the DNR will describe the nature of the requested disposal and solicit public comment.

Past Public Meetings

Demolition Landfill Solutions, LLC (DLS) Landfill

The DNR held a public meeting March 23 to discuss using dredged material at the Demolition Landfill Solutions, LLC (DLS) Landfill.

Document prepared and submitted on behalf of the project applicant, DLS Landfill:

Documents prepared by the DNR:

Written public comments were accepted through March 31, 2023.

Contact information

For information, contact:
Sonny Zentner
Waste Management Engineer
DNR Waste and Materials Management Program
Mail:  Wisconsin DNR, 1300 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire, WI  54701, Attn:  Sonny Zentner 
(715) 579-5361

Dane County Landfill No. 2 (Rodefeld)

The DNR held a public meeting Jan. 26, 2023, for proposed changes to the special waste plan to allow disposal of dredged materials at Dane County Landfill No. 2 (Rodefeld).

Document prepared and submitted on behalf of the project applicant, Dane County:

Written public comments were accepted through Feb. 3, 2023.

Contact information

For information, contact:
Carolyn Cooper
Hydrogeologist
DNR Waste and Materials Management Program

Milwaukee Dredge Material Management Facility

As of January 2023, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District is making revisions to the design of the facility in response to requests for information from the DNR.

The DNR held a public meeting for a low hazard waste exemption request for the disposal of dredged material at the proposed Dredge Material Management Facility (DMMF), located in the city of Milwaukee, on May 20, 2021.

Warning: Several of these files are large, so downloading may take a few minutes on slow internet connections. The documents available here can also be viewed at one of the locations listed in the public notice.

Documents prepared and submitted on behalf of the project applicant, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District:

Low Hazard Exemption request

Final Design Report

Documents prepared by the DNR:

Revision to State Statutes to Permit the MMSD to Construct the DMMF

In a section describing MMSD’s authorized shoreland projects, the Wisconsin statutes are being amended to replace “Shore Protection Projects” with “Area of Concern Project” to allow financing and constructing a dredged material management facility: 

AN ACT to repeal 200.35 (14) (d) 2., 3. and 4. and 200.35 (14) (e) and (g); to amend 200.35 (14) (title), 200.35 (14) (a) 2., 200.35 (14) (b) and 200.35 (14) (c); to repeal and recreate 200.35 (14) (d) 1.; and to create 200.35 (14) (d) 2m. of the statutes; relating to: authorization for metropolitan sewerage districts containing a first-class city to finance and construct a dredged material management facility located in the city of Milwaukee.

During the May 20, 2021, public information meeting, the following wording was incorrectly stated, and included in the chat box, at the end of the above citation:

"and requiring allocation of a portion of federal moneys received from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 toward construction of a dredged material management facility."