RR Home

RR Basics

Related Information

Contaminated Lands Environmental Action Network (CLEAN)

Brownfields Study Group

Successes

The Brownfields Study Group was created in 1998 at the direction of the governor and State Legislature, to evaluate Wisconsin's current brownfields initiatives and recommend changes, as well as propose additional incentives for the cleanup and reuse of brownfields, which are abandoned or underused properties with real or perceived contamination. Now in its eleventh year of existence, the Study Group continues to build on its legacy of progress, which has included the following recommendations:

  • created the DNR Brownfields Site Assessment Grant Program; to date the SAG Program has awarded more than $15 million to 199 communities to begin investigation and cleanup on more than 1,500 acres; these activities included 777 site assessments and investigations, the removal of more than 496 storage tanks and containers, and the demolition of more than 590 structures and buildings;
  • created the DNR Brownfields Green Space and Public Facilities Grant Program, one of the only state programs in the nation helping communities clean up contaminated properties for public use; to date the Green Space Program has awarded more than $2 million to 18 communities;
  • created the Wisconsin Brownfields Insurance Program (WBIP) and VPLE insurance program; only two other states in the country have similar programs, which enable developers, businesses, local governments and other parties involved in cleaning up contaminated properties to obtain insurance, helping them manage risks for unplanned expenses related to brownfields redevelopment;
  • helped establish the One Cleanup Program (OCP) Agreement between U.S. EPA Region 5 and the DNR; the OCP is the most comprehensive agreement of its kind in the country and will help expedite cleanups of contaminated properties across Wisconsin; and
  • numerous other changes to state liability and financial programs, which continue to help expedite the efficient cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields across the state, and maintain Wisconsin's status as one of the top brownfield programs in the nation.

Back to Top

2009 Study Group

April, 2009 Brownfields Study Group Meeting at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center.

More than 40 people attended the April 15 Study Group meeting, held at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center near Baraboo, Wisconsin (photo by Eric Ballas, DNR).

Brownfields Study Group "Green Meeting" Goals & Objectives -- Adopted April 22, 2009

Brownfields Study Group -- Green Meeting Goals

  1. To reduce energy consumption as it relates to Brownfields Study Group meetings (e.g. meeting travel, meeting materials, etc.).
  2. To reduce/reuse any meeting materials/waste.
  3. To promote Green Meeting goals and objectives within the Study Group and among all meeting participants.

Brownfields Study Group -- Green Meeting Objectives

  1. To limit driving/traveling to and from meetings and car pool wherever possible.
  2. No bottled water at meetings; utilize on-site water fountains or let people know they can bring their own bottles of water.
  3. No styrofoam coffee cups; ask caterer to supply washable coffee cups and encourage participants to bring their own (RR Program also has coffee cups, coffee pots).
  4. Limit the amount of napkins, straws and coffee creamers/sugar packets, and encourage the use of compostable materials wherever possible.
  5. Request caterer to leave any uneaten food to be taken by participants and DNR staff after event is over, or check if caterer donates leftover food.
  6. Limit the amount of paper copies of information at the meeting and reuse any leftover information from meeting (already being done by RR Program).
  7. Evaluate initial efforts after one year.
  8. Share information on "Green Meetings" with members, state agency staff and any meeting attendees. Information includes the following links:

2009 General Meeting Information

April 15, 2009

2009 Subgroups

Plant Closings Subgroup

2009 Meeting Notes

Back to Top

2008 Study Group

2008 General Meeting Information

December 3, 2008

July 18, 2008

March 26, 2008

2008 Meeting Notes

2008 Subgroups

Financial Incentives/Big Picture Subgroup

Plant Closings Subgroup

Grants & Reimbursements Subgroup

Back to Top

2007 Study Group

2007 General Meeting Information

November 8, 2007

June 28, 2007

March 28, 2007

2007 Meeting Notes

Back to Top

History

The Brownfields Study Group was created in 1998 at the direction of the governor and State Legislature, to evaluate Wisconsin's current brownfields initiatives and recommend changes, as well as propose additional incentives for the cleanup and resue of brownfields, which are abandoned or underused properties with real or perceived contamination.

Interest in cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields properties has become a major policy issue at the national, state and local levels. With the passage of the Land Recycling Law in 1994 and brownfields provisions in the 1997-99 biennial budget, Wisconsin continued it's efforts toward becoming a national leader in the area of brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. Within the brownfields language of that 1997-99 budget, members of the Brownfields Study Group were asked to work with a number of parties with similar interests in brownfields, from a wide array of backgrounds.  The Study Group served as an overall coordinating body and policy development group, while brownfields issues were discussed at length in the smaller, issue-driven subgroups, whose membership expanded beyond the formal membership of the Brownfields Study Group.  State staff were assigned to help facilitate these smaller issue groups and ensured that momentum was maintained on addressing those issues.

The Brownfields Study Group submitted its Final Report to the Joint Finance Committee of the State Legislature January 1, 1999, achieving its goal of providing the state with an effective package of brownfields incentives to further enhance the cleanup and reuse of these properties.  Many of these provisions were included in the 1999-2001 state budget (please see "Brownfields Initiatives in the 1999-2001 State Budget" for more information).

Thanks to the good work of the 1998 Study Group, the State Legislature requested the Study Group continue its efforts in 2000.  The Study Group met throughout the year and again presented a final report to the Legislature in November, 2000.  Both of these repors are available as links on this web page (please see "Study Group Reports" below).

Since that time, the Study Group has provided recommendations for every biennial budget session, and continues to meet and work on brownfield funding and policy initiatives in 2009.

Study Group Reports

Back to Top

Please contact Darsi Foss (608.267.6713), or Andrew Savagian (608.261.6422) if you have any questions about this group.

For more information on this specific page, contact:

Andrew Savagian
Last Revised: Wednesday November 18 2009