Environmental Enforcement

Clean air, land and water fuel life itself. They also are the foundation for Wisconsin's special quality of life--from time at play to time on the job.

Environmental Enforcement staff support the Department's mission to preserve and to enhance our natural resources by taking actions to correct violations of state laws that protect public health, as well as fish, and wildlife habitats.

You Can Help

Everyone can help make sure the air we breathe, the land where we live and the water we drink is safe - now and for the generations to follow.

Please report suspected violations to the Department's Violation Hotline. You may confidentially report suspected environmental, fish, and wildlife and recreational safety violations by using this toll-free number, or by Email

1-800-TIP-WDNR
(1-800-847-9367)
#367 by cellular (free for U.S. Cellular customers)

Early detection and resolution of violations helps prevent harm to the public and ecosystems, and increases the chances for successful cleanup or restoration. It also helps businesses who invest time and money to operate in compliance with the law. Enforcement actions also helps make sure those who break the law don't benefit financially over those who do.

Pollution does not recognize maps nor stop at county lines or city limits. Contamination found miles from you can still affect you, your family or your friends.

Recent Case Settlements

• Rothschild Company [PDF 12KB]
• Waste Management of Wisconsin [PDF 12KB]
• Knox Ventures, LLC [PDF 13KB]
• Drews Well Drilling [PDF 1KB]
• New Page Wisconsin System, Inc [PDF 13KB]
• Dresser, Inc [PDF 13KB]
• Tousey Manufacturing, Inc [PDF 13KB]
• Fuhrmann Mink Farm [PDF 43KB]
• Knutson & CAAP Inc. [PDF 41KB]
• Village of Cambridge [PDF 48KB]
• Marawood Sand and Gravel 200, LLC [PDF 41KB]
• Richlen Excavating, Inc., and Steven W. Stock [PDF 33KB]

Stepping up to Enforcement

The Department uses a Stepped Enforcement process to resolve most violation(s). Stepped Enforcement is a series of smaller actions - all aimed to resolve violations appropriate for the circumstances. The Department is not required to follow each step. Our actions are tailored to the specifics of each situation, particularly considering the speed the action must be taken to prevent or halt significant threats to public health.

Violations involving willful, negligent or intentional conduct may be investigated by environmental wardens for potential criminal prosecution and do not typically follow the Stepped Enforcement process.

Civil cases are handled by Environmental Enforcement Specialists, using one or more of the following steps:

Notice of Violation: A Notice of Violation is a formal letter from the Department which specifies the laws or codes alleged to have been violated and the Department's jurisdiction over the matter. The letter typically asks for a written response that describes the circumstances surrounding the violation, any steps that have been taken into compliance, including any necessary restoration, and any steps that will be taken to prevent similar violations in the future. The letter also may request an Enforcement Conference.

Enforcement Conference: An Enforcement Conference is a meeting between the Department and the recipient of the Notice of Violation, along with their attorney and sometimes their engineering or scientific consultants. The intent of the conference is to get a greater understanding of the circumstances surrounding the violation as well as the corrective actions, interim steps and expected time required for the individual or business to regain compliance and prevent future violations.

Order: The Department has the ability to enter into Consent Orders or issue unilateral orders requiring the recipient to take certain actions to return to compliance and/or repair damage to the environment. If the order recipient complies with the conditions of the order, no penalties are pursued and the action is closed. Violations of orders may be prosecuted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Referral for Prosecution: Violations of the state environmental protection laws are typically prosecuted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, though some violations may be prosecuted by the District Attorney's office or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In programs where the Department has citation authority, certain violations may be resolved through citation by a conservation or environmental warden and prosecution by the local district attorney.

Why do we use Stepped Enforcement

Stepped Enforcement uses both education and enforcement to resolve violations. Stepped Enforcement is effective in gaining voluntary compliance and making progress in protecting and restoring the environment.

The graph below illustrates the enforcement actions taken in fiscal year 2008 and shows the effectiveness of early violation detection and the cooperation gained through Notices of Violation and Enforcement Conferences. This system allows limited staff and judicial resources to be focused on the most serious violations or those who are most reluctant to comply.

Enforcement Actions 2008

Enforcement Decision Making

Enforcement decisions are based on the consideration of a number of factors, such as:

• Actual or potential impact to public health or the environment
• Nature or toxicity of the pollutant
• Number and duration of violations
• Cause of the violation and level of intent or negligence
• Compliance history
• Actions to correct and minimize the impact of the violation
• Mitigating or extenuating circumstances
• Aggravating circumstances
• Extent of monetary or other gain
• Impact on regulatory program integrity
• Deterrence

Minimizing Environmental Harm and Liability

The best possible scenario from an environmental and economic standpoint is to prevent violations from occurring. The effects of pollution can be difficult and expensive to correct. They also may contribute to accumulative health, habitat or quality of life concerns over time.

The risk of harm and liability may be minimized by:

• Determining if permits or approvals are required for your business or project
• Obtaining required permits or approvals and studying the conditions
• Contacting the Department if you have questions
• Developing a system to monitor compliance responsibilities
• Keep accurate records
• Immediately reporting spills of hazardous substances to the DNR 24-hour spill reporting line: 800-943-0003 and taking actions to minimize the harmful effects of the spill and restoring the environment to the extent practicable.

What Else Can I Do?

The personal choices we all make every day can have a small but positive effect on the environment. Choosing to walk, carpool, take a bus, maintain your car or reduce water and electrical use benefits the environment and saves you money. There are many Web sites with suggestions for saving money and reducing your impact on the environment. Here's one to help you get started:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Going Green [exit DNR]

What Will be Our Legacy?

A healthy environment and healthy economy are not mutually exclusive. They are interdependent. In fact, Wisconsin has made great environmental progress during the past 40 years while sustaining a growing population and economy.

Wisconsin's waterways have benefited from investments in water pollution control and fish restoration efforts. Many waterways now support fisheries significantly more diverse and healthy than they have been for many years. For example in the 1960s, the Root and Milwaukee rivers in southeast Wisconsin were grossly polluted with sewage and industrial pollutants, but over time have made significant recoveries. Today, the Root River hosts a DNR salmon and trout egg collection facility and the Milwaukee River supports more than 30 fish species, including the recently re-introduced Lake Sturgeon. Recreational fishing in Wisconsin is so popular it yields $2.75 billion annually in economic benefits.

Wisconsin has restored its bald eagle population to a level where it could be removed from the Endangered Species list. Wisconsin also developed a breeding population of Trumpeter Swans and re-introduced the Whooping Crane, one of the world's most endangered birds, to Wisconsin's wetlands.

There are many other success stories, none of which were possible without strong support from Wisconsin citizens. While it's important to celebrate our successes, we also must be mindful of the need to sustain the progress that has been made and tackle the pollution challenges that lie ahead.

The late Gaylord Nelson, a former Wisconsin governor, U.S. Senator and the Founder of Earth Day in 1970, said: "The ultimate test of a person's conscience may be the willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will never be heard."

Our actions each day - good or bad - will be felt by future generations. By working together, we can leave a legacy of clean air, land, water and abundant natural resources for generations to come.