Green Tier Background and History

1996	Formed ISO 14001 working group with agency, business, environmental and academic members Wisconsin helps found the Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Performance (MSWG) [exit DNR] Two ISO 14001 round tables held with Wharton and PA Dept. of Environmental Protection MSWG holds its second meeting in Wisconsin DNR proposes cooperative agreement pilot project law Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance created
1997	Third ISO 14001 round table with Wharton and Pennsylvania 10 regulatory innovation pilot projects authorized in 1997-99 budget; WI statute 299.80 DNR white paper links reduced business risk with environmental policy innovation
1998	WI firms contribute to environmental management system longitudinal study at UNC-Chapel Hill EPA agrees with WI and 5 others states in MSWG not to unfairly target innovative firms UW La Follette School documents environmentalists' desire for performance system WI and Bavaria sign regulatory reform working agreement La Follette-Brookings conference cites gap between environmental needs and regulatory policies La Follette School documents general frustration with and limits of existing regulatory system La Follette-Brookings round table reacts favorably to performance-tier concept (future Green Tier)
1999	WI is 1st state to sign Regulatory Innovation Agreement with EPA Progressive Policy Institute recommends that environmental innovation be based in law WI Atty Gen opinion tells EPA that cooperative agreements are enforceable WI pilot project law described a "regulatory first" in National Environmental Enforcement Journal Green Tier concept proposed at Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful seminar DNR white paper [PDF 25KB] issued on Green Tier concept and a performance-based regulatory system DNR Secretary's article: 'A Green Tier for Greater Environmental Protection' [PDF 205KB] WI hosts the second MSWG annual innovation workshop; many DNR employees attend Green Tier featured as a leading reform concept at California reform summit Bavarian environmental authority visits to brief DNR on innovative policies WI DNR officials visit Bavaria and Netherlands for innovation policy briefings WI environmentalists release "sniff test" to guide innovation projects WI innovation policies featured at Quandt Foundation International Policy meeting in Washington WI delegation visits Bavaria and Netherlands to see results of innovative policies BMW officials brief DNR leaders on environmental performance systems and business needs
2000	DNR forms Green Tier committee to develop a tiered approach to environmental results Green Tier committee develops concept papers WI agriculture delegation visits Netherlands on environmental innovation WI Europe delegation suggests DNR be trained in and use environmental management systems Dutch authorities visit WI to brief DNR on innovative policies and links to economic growth
2001	Green Tier committee proposes the Green Tier program [PDF 51KB] and recommends consensus language to Legislature First Pilot Program Cooperative Agreements signed Green Tier proposed in 2001-03 state budget combined with compliance audit provisions (failed) Dutch environmental authority briefs DNR employees on value of innovation Australian agricultural environmental systems expert briefs DNR and DATCP DNR proposes Green Tier applications to agriculture [PDF 33KB] and links to agricultural environmental management systems [PDF 25KB] Environmental Discovery Farms conceived out of Dutch DATCP-DNR visits WI cited as environmental policy innovator at International Seminar in San Francisco DNR employees trained to engage companies using environmental management systems DNR employee studies environmental policy innovation in Australia at his own expense American Bar Assn article [PDF 22KB] says Green Tier is leading thought on next generation law DNR culture change projects commence
2002	AB 479 with Green Tier and audit immunity passes Assembly 97-2; stalls in Senate DNR employee studies policy innovation in Bavaria at his own expense WI delegation visits Germany to learn of cooperative approaches to environmental results Amsterdam Law School paper in The Netherlands calls WI Green Tier "remarkable" Dutch environmental authority briefs DNR on innovation progress DNR-MIT establish WI Partnership on innovation with Dutch authorities and others United Kingdom environmental authority visits to brief DNR on innovation Univ. of North Carolina environmental management system study published Pilot project law sunsets; new applicants prohibited; seven agreements underway
2003	Green Tier Committee members recommend language to new legislative session WI Environmental Initiative holds forum on Green Tier Gov Doyle embraces Green Tier's "good actor" concepts in Grow Wisconsin initiative DNR external Innovation Stakeholder Group adopts mission for excellence Pilot project data shows economic, environmental and community benefits UW, MIT, Penn and Harvard meet to scope Green Tier evaluation research Penn Law describes Green Tier as most significant policy breakthrough since the Clean Air Act Sec Hassett asks DNR employees to make innovation work for the environment and economy Sec Hassett articulates Phase Two of environmental law to WI State Bar AB 228 with Green Tier and audit immunity passes and is vetoed Economist magazine environmental editor says DNR pioneers reform that others copy DNR forms team to help Green Tier firms benefit through Financial Sector decisions Bavarian Environmental Minister says Green Tier is a "world famous" reform Joyce Foundation supports Green Tier in a farming, environment and community project DNR "zero waste" policy EMS earns ISO 14001 certification DNR Spooner facilities’ EMS earns ISO 14001 certification DNR Lake Kegonsa State Park's EMS earns ISO 14001 certification
2004	SB61 with Green Tier and compliance audit/citation system passes Senate 25-8; Assembly by voice vote SB100 with small business regulatory reform passes La Follette School wins WI Idea grant to promote environmental policy reforms UW Law School announces fall 2004 course on environmental policy innovation Governor signs Green Tier, Wisconsin Act 276, into law. Photographs of Governor Doyle signing the Green Tier Bill into Law are avaliable. DNR Secretary speaks to the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club [PDF 19KB] Numerous Wisconsin delegates visit Bavaria, Germany; a continuation of the Wisconsin-Bavaria Pact* DNR begins implementation of Green Tier program DNR actively seeks companies with ISO 14001 certification
2005	La Follette School hosts the first international “Environmental Law in a Connected World” conference The Agriculture Convening Group, comprised of various government and non government interests, provides recommendations for how to tie together Green Tier and Wisconsin’s agricultural sector John Shenot, sector specialist with CEA, completes a fellowship in the U.K., focusing on Agriculture and Environmental Policy similarities and differences between the U.S. and U.K. DNR and the University of Amsterdam continue to share information about the Netherlands Protein Highway Project and Wisconsin’s Dairy Gateway Program ECOS and USEPA engage in ongoing discussions about how to develop incentives faster DNR and several Wisconsin printers agree to participate in the Title V Permit Pilot Project with financial assistance from USEPA Innovations Grant Analysis of several Green Tier agreements was completed by Professor Kenneth Kowalski. The UW-Madison Law School offers an evaluation of Green Tier’s charters Wisconsin Environmental Initiative hosts Green & Growing conference. Agenda included several bus trips to Superior Environmental Performing Wisconsin businesses DNR’s Green Tier logo unveiled DNR signs the first Green Tier agreements with two trade associations and three companies DNR negotiates Clear Waters Initiative Charter with Veridian Homes; the first charter to include multiple levels of government Memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between USEPA Region V and DNR [PDF 122KB], linking EPA’s Performance Track program with DNR’s Green Tier 3M Environmental Cooperative Pilot Project agreement amended Green Tier receives substantial attention from several media outlets (radio, T.V. and newspaper articles). Green Tier Advisors convene for the first time

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

Last Revised: Friday April 25 2008