Open Records and Information Access

All persons are entitled access to factual information in the possession of the DNR, whatever its form. All records that are created or received by the DNR and its employees in connection with the transaction of public business are subject to public inspection. The working principle is that unless a piece of information is specifically exempt from this requirement, the information is an Open Record to be released to the public.

• Chapter 19.31-39, Wis. State Statutes[exit DNR]
• Freedom of Information Act Guide[exit DNR]

Locate Records

The DNR Web Site provides a great deal of information about DNR activities. The best way to find this information is to use the search feature.

Frequently Requested Records

Environmental Protection

• Remediation and Redevelopment: Rules and guidance for the investigation and clean up of contaminated soil and groundwater, including financial help and liability exemptions. Brownfield information for local governments and others.
• Databases of contaminated properties: Databases of contaminated properties, including leaking underground storage tanks, spills, Superfund, waste disposal sites and other contaminated sites. Includes a GIS Registry of completed cleanups with residual contamination, and links to databases maintained by other agencies.
• Lower Fox River PCB Clean-up: Reports and documents for the Lower Fox River PCB Clean-up project.

Recreational Licensing

• Hunting and Fishing License Customer Lists

Hard Copy Records

Paper records are in decentralized locations where the Department conducts business, in service centers and regional offices throughout the State, and in Central office bureaus that are responsible for particular functions. Records may be duplicated across the agency. However, the DNR is unable to assure requesters that files are exact duplicates.

Requesting DNR Records

A formal letter is generally not required, and often the most efficient method of locating records is by calling DNR staff in regions and bureaus. [See staff search by subject]

Record Description

Provide the following information:

• Complete names of businesses or property owners
• Complete address of the property or other data about the location of the property
• Facility identification number FID # if known. Many DNR records are filed by site and FID #
• Other identifiers such as case number
• Dates when events of interest occurred
• Other descriptive information about the subject or topic of interest

Reasonable Limit: A request for a record that does not have a reasonable limit as to subject matter or length of time represented by the record is not sufficient. If DNR personnel are unable to determine what records are being requested, they may ask the requester to be more specific. Requesters are responsible for determining which records from among those located are relevant to their specific needs.

Hours of Business and Times to Inspect Records: DNR records are available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in DNR offices unless other hours are posted. Except for legal holidays, those hours are:

Monday - Friday
7:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Fees for Copies of Records

Further Assistance

The DNR Records Officer maintains general information to help requesters locate records and provides policy and procedural information to comply with the records laws.

Records Coordinators are appointed for each division, bureau and region. They also may provide advice and assistance to respond to Public (open) Records requests and help locate records. Contact the division that would be responsible for the records you are requesting and ask to be directed to their Records Coordinator.

If a request should be denied, contact DNR Records Officer for additional advice and assistance.