TALKING POINTS REGARDING DNR HEARING
• Brown County has submitted a request to the DNR to be allowed to use contaminated soils for so-called “beneficial” purposes at the landfill.

• These soils are the type that previously had to be disposed of in the landfill and properly covered for health and safety purposes. Now, the County is asking the DNR to be able to use them for things like stockpiling, building road base, and daily cover. Rather than being buried safely in the landfill, these soils will be in the open and exposed to the air.

• To make matters worse, the County is asking permission to do this with soils that are up to ten times more contaminated than the DNR regulations would otherwise allow.

• The County has not demonstrated that this practice will be safe or that it will be free from human health risks for those who live in the area. Nor have they demonstrated that adequate controls will be in place to prevent contaminated dusts from migrating offsite and impacting the air and water.

• The Town’s position is that, because the County has not demonstrated that its proposal will be safe, it should be denied. The Town’s priority is the safety of its residents, not the efficiency or profitability of the landfill.

• The Town has requested that the DNR hold a virtual hearing to obtain input from interested parties regarding the County’s request. That hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

•The public can participate in the hearing in three ways - from any location via Zoom or telephone following these instructions shown below; attending the hearing in-person at the Town Hall; or leaving a message by phone or email;   

See details below:

• to access remotely, using your phone or computer:
  o Preregister online before the meeting using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4Bu_5MgjSsyzZJkZ70Sywg#/registration
  o Use either the following Zoom meeting ID or phone number and passcode to participate:
  ▪ Zoom Meeting ID: 811 5354 6449
  ▪ Phone No. and Code: 1-305-224-1968; 81153546449#
  
  
• To make things easier for residents, the Town will be hosting a remote participation site at the Town Hall during the hearing. Residents are encouraged to attend in-person by coming to the Town Hall and view the hearing or comment from there. No pre-registration is necessary to attend this site.
• Comments can also be directed to Emily Storm, DNR waste management engineer with the Waste and Materials Management Program, who can be reached by phone at 920-873-0773, or by email at [email protected]. Be sure to state your name and address when leaving comment.