Environmental Protection Unit | Wisconsin Department of Justice

Environmental Protection

The Environmental Protection Unit enforces state environmental laws by prosecuting violations referred to the Attorney General by environmental regulatory agencies or requested by district attorneys. Most environmental violations are referred by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), although underground storage tank violations are referred by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Fish and game laws generally are enforced by local district attorneys, who also enforce some environmental laws referred by the DNR. The unit enforces the laws relating to:

air pollution
solid and hazardous waste
wastewater
hazardous substance spills
water supply
water regulation and zoning
underground storage tanks

superfund
water pollution
public nuisance
natural resource protection
radioactive waste
land use
public trust in navigable waters

The unit defends the state and state agencies in:

environmental or natural resource related lawsuits
actions raising regulatory takings
constitutional claims related to environmental protection
litigation on environmental matters related to Indian law

The unit also represents the state’s interests in federal environmental cases upon authorization from the governor.

Wisconsin law does not authorize the Attorney General and employees of the Department of Justice to provide legal advice to private individuals. If you need legal advice or representation you may want to contact a private attorney. The State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral and Information Service can help you determine if you need a lawyer, and how to proceed if you do.

Information on how to report an environmental law violation or emergency is here.

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