The DNR Spills Program

• Reporting Spills and Releases
• Spill Law General Information
• Spills Fact Sheets
• Spill Cleanup Highlight
• Other Agency Links

Reporting Spills and Releases

* All spills should be immediately reported using the 24-hour toll free hotline (1-800-943-0003). However, if you discover a discharge through analysis of soil or water, use the Hazardous Substance Release Fax Notification Form [PDF, 42KB]. Please include a summary of lab data with the form.

• Regional Spill Coordinators [PDF, 40KB]

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Spill Law General Information

Section 292.11, Wis. Stats [exit DNR]., also known as the "spills law" requires that a person who possesses or controls a hazardous substance which is discharged or who causes the discharge of a hazardous substance shall notify the department immediately of any discharge not exempted by law. In addition, those same persons must take the actions necessary to restore the environment to the extent practicable and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge to the air, lands or waters of this state. Chapter NR706 [exit DNR], is the administrative rule that further defines notification requirements.

If a responsible party is unable or unwilling to provide adequate response, the DNR has the authority to identify, locate, monitor, contain, remove or dispose of the hazardous substance or take any other emergency action which it deems appropriate under the circumstances. In addition, the department may enter any property, premises or place at any time for the purpose of taking removal or other emergency action if the entry is necessary to prevent increased damage to the air, land or waters of the state. Notice is not required if the delay would result in imminent risk to public health, safety or the environment. The DNR can then seek cost recovery for costs incurred to providing those services.

In order to help implement this law, the DNR spills program was established to provide technical assistance and support within the agency and to those outside the agency. Each DNR region has a spill coordinator specifically trained to help responsible parties, response agencies and other DNR staff when a spill occurs. These same spill coordinators are also available to work with specific parties in establishing spill prevention programs. There are also a number of outreach materials available as part of the DNR spills program to help plan, prepare and prevent spills.

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Spills Fact Sheets

The following fact sheets will help you learn more about the DNR spills program:

DNR Staff Provide Spill Response and Support (RR-559) [PDF, 48KB]

Describes how the DNR staff (including regional staff, central office staff, wardens and spill coordinators) provide spill response and support when a spill occurs, and includes contact numbers for the spill coordinators.

Wisconsin Spill Reporting Requirements (RR-558) [PDF, 4,000KB]

Outlines the reporting requirements for discharges of hazardous substances in Wisconsin. Includes a description of de-minimis reporting requirements and when those de-minimis requirements apply.

Wisconsin Spill Reporting Requirements - Condensed Version (RR-560) [PDF, 12KB]

Summary of spills law and de minimis exemptions from ch. NR 706. Intended for posting in businesses and other enterprises where spills may occur so that reporting requirements can be quickly determined and followed.

Agricultural Spills and How to Handle Them (RR-687) [PDF, 362KB]

This publication is intended to help the agricultural community in preventing and responding to spills that might occur from various activities. Information on both DNR spills program and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection are highlighted in this publication.

Why and How to Protect Your Home from Fuel Oil Spills (RR-630) [PDF, 55KB]

Throughout the state there are a number of spills associated with the delivery of fuel. This fact sheet presents tips and information to help prevent spills in and around private homes.

Household Mercury Spill Clean Up Options (RR-629) [PDF, 15KB]

A fact sheet on mercury produced with the Department of Health and Family Services' Division of Public Health. Describes what mercury is, how to prevent spills, and how to handle mercury if there is a spill.

Wisconsin Spills Factsheet (RR-604) [PDF, 159KB]

Provides information about the location, substance, source, and impact of Wisconsin spills. Also included is the Honey Creek Spills Response Case Study.

Mechanical and Chemical/Biological Spill Response Methods (RR-710) [PDF, 108KB]

Summary of spill response methods allowed in Wisconsin for spills on land and water.

Demolition Debris: Guidance on the Emergency Management of Debris Resulting from Natural Disasters (WA-601) [PDF, 39KB]

This guidance provides information on options for managing debris resulting from natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, or other events.

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Spill Cleanup Highlight

To learn about other RR program successes please see the RR success stories page. The page includes a chart that links to individual sucesss stories involving the RR Program. Included is a list of assistance received for each site (e.g. funding, liability, exemptions, etc.).

Oshkosh Train Fire - October 16, 2000

On the afternoon of Saturday October 16 a citizen noticed smoke emanating from a rail car that was located on the Hydrite Chemical Companies property. The Oshkosh Fire Department and a DNR Spill Response Team immediately responded to the site. After investigation, it was concluded that the railcar contained 140,000 pounds of dry sodium hydrosulfite, a chemical used in paper making which is harmful to humans if inhaled or ingested.

A computer model was made of the projected gas plume and based on that risk, they evacuated 550 families and 75 businesses. The next day the rail car was moved into a safer area where they proceeded to accelerate the burn. By Monday evening, the majority of the burn had been treated and the evacuation zone had been reduced. After the fire was completely out, the remaining waste was removed and the equipment and area was decontaminated.

Oshkosh Train Fire

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Other Agency Links

All of the following links exit the DNR web site:

• The Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) provides information on various chemicals and health impacts of those chemicals as well as other environmental health related information.
• The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has information about agricultural spills and cleanup programs they offer. For more information on their programs visit them on their website.
• The US EPA implements the Spills Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC) program. More information on SPCC plans can be found at the EPA web site.
• MethFields Brochure (US EPA)
• Sara Title III Consolidated Lists of Lists
• Also see: EPA's Searchable Database for the Consolidated List of Chemicals Subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act
• Wisconsin Emergency Management - provides you with information about the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). The EPCRA Program requires communities to prepare for hazardous chemical releases through emergency planning and by maintaining hazardous chemical information that is submitted to them by the facilities covered under the law. Information about Wisconsin Regional Response Teams and federal reporting is also included at this site.

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For more information on this specific page, contact:

Roxanne Chronert
920.662.5488