Green Tier Background and History

2009	Governor Doyle signs Green Tier bill (Senate Bill 126) into law [PDF 32]. Green Tier releases second biennial progress report [PDF 829KB]
2008	First Tier 1 participant in Green Tier applies for Tier 2 status New Green Tier logo and communication strategy unveiled [PDF 2.10MB] Second working session, titled Green Tier Advantage 2008, held in Madison with Governor Doyle in attendance Mercury reduction Green Tier charter signed with Municipal Environmental Group
2007	Green Tier charter signed with Wisconsin Dairy Business Association Five Tier 1 and one Tier 2 participants join Green Tier DNR awarded EPA State Innovation Grant [Exit DNR PDF 177KB] to assist large dairy farms in implementing Environmental Management Systems Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program extends agreements with four participants Northern Engraving amends Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program agreement Green Tier releases first biennial progress report [PDF 829KB] DNR representatives, Green Tier and Environmental Cooperative Pilot Program participants, and the Green Tier Advisors attend the first Green Tier Working Session
2006	Five new Tier 1 participants accepted into Green Tier Green Tier named Environmentalist of the Year [PDF 87KB] by The Daily Reporter and Wisconsin Builder. Green Tier chosen as one of 18 finalists for Harvard University and the Ash Institute’s Innovations in American Government Award [PDF 218KB] Environmental Compliance Audit Program releases first annual progress report [PDF 274KB] We Energies’ Pleasant Prairie Power Plant and Cook Composites and Polymers amend and extend their Environmental Cooperative Pilot Program agreements DNR negotiates Clear Waters Initiative Charter, the first charter to include multiple levels of government
2005	Green Tier Advisors group prescribed by Wisconsin Act 276 convenes for the first time Green Tier receives substantial attention from several media outlets (radio, T.V. and newspaper articles). Memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between USEPA Region V and DNR [PDF 122KB], linking EPA’s Performance Track program with DNR’s Green Tier Original Green Tier logo unveiled DNR signs first Green Tier agreements: two charters with trade associations, three Tier 1 companies and one Tier 2 company Wisconsin Environmental Initiative hosts Green & Growing conference DNR and several Wisconsin printers agree to participate in the Title V Permit Pilot Project [Exit DNR PDF 106KB] with financial assistance from USEPA Innovations Grant
2004	Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program agreement with 3M amended DNR begins implementation of Green Tier program Governor signs Wisconsin Act 276 into law UW La Follette School wins Wisconsin Idea Endowment to promote environmental policy reforms [Exit DNR] SB61 [PDF 60KB] with Green Tier and compliance audit/citation system passes Senate 25-8; Assembly by voice vote
2003	Bureau receives grant from Joyce Foundation to establish Dairy Gateway project State Congress passes AB 228 [PDF 4.03MB] with Green Tier and audit immunity and is vetoed [PDF 151KB] Initial data from Pilot Project participants show economic, environmental and community benefits Gov Doyle embraces Green Tier's "good actor" concepts in Grow Wisconsin initiative [Exit DNR PDF 485KB]
2002	Pilot Project law sunsets October 1 Five additional Pilot Program cooperative agreements signed WI State Assembly passes AB 479 [PDF 35KB] 97-2 with Green Tier and audit immunity but bill stalls in Senate
2001	Two Pilot Program cooperative agreements signed DNR proposes Green Tier applications to agriculture [PDF 33KB] and links to agricultural environmental management systems [PDF 25KB] Green Tier is proposed in 2001-03 state budget [Exit DNR] combined with compliance audit provisions but eliminated from final version Green Tier Advisory Committee proposes the Green Tier program [PDF 51KB] and recommends consensus language to Legislature
2000	DNR forms Green Tier Advisory Committee to develop new program
1999	DNR Secretary develops article to promote Green Tier concept: 'A Green Tier for Greater Environmental Protection' [PDF 205KB] DNR white paper [PDF 25KB] issued on Green Tier concept and a performance-based regulatory system Green Tier concept proposed at Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful seminar WI is 1st state to sign Regulatory Innovation Agreement with EPA
1998	Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program releases first annual progress report
1997	Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program authorized in 1997-99 state budget as WI statute 299.80 [Exit DNR PDF 187KB]
1996	DNR proposes cooperative agreement pilot project law DNR Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance created

In remembrance of Lynda Wiese, May 1, 1959 to September 24, 2000 Director, Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance

Last Revised: Friday August 21 2009