DNR Awards Brownfield Grant To Village Of Clinton

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the department has awarded brownfield assessment services to the village of Clinton in Rock County to assist with the investigation of environmental contamination at the former site of the Doug’s Standard gas station.

The award is from the DNR’s Wisconsin Assessment Monies program, which provides contractor services for the environmental assessment of eligible brownfield sites.

A brownfield is a property where expansion, redevelopment or reuse is complicated by real or potential contamination. Brownfields vary in size, location, age and past use; they can be anything from a 500-acre former automobile assembly plant to a small, abandoned gas station.

The award will support the assessment of environmental conditions at the former Doug’s Standard gas station, where there is confirmed environmental contamination from past use. Historically, the property was a gas station until it became a repair shop and convenience store in the 1980s. In the 1990s, the underground storage tanks were removed and some environmental work was completed before the owner at the time ultimately declared bankruptcy.

In 2021, the village of Clinton acquired the tax delinquent property, and, with funds from the Wisconsin Assessment Monies program, conducted a limited site investigation that confirmed the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE) groundwater on the site. The current award will continue the environmental investigation at the site and will provide a plan for the cleanup of the property.

“Conducting a full environmental assessment at this brownfield will be an important first step towards cleaning up and redeveloping the property,” said Jodie Thistle, DNR Brownfields, Outreach and Policy Section Chief. “The DNR applauds the village’s continued efforts at this property and looks forward to a continued partnership in developing a plan to clean it up.”

Since 2009, the DNR’s Wisconsin Assessment Monies program has provided over $3.3 million in services and grant funds to over 70 communities across Wisconsin, partnering to help clean up and redevelop often run-down or underused properties that detract from a community’s potential. Because there is no local financial match required, the Wisconsin Assessment Monies program grants present an attractive opportunity for communities to learn about environmental conditions. Applications for assistance may be submitted to the DNR at any time.

Interested in learning how cleaning up brownfields can help your community? The DNR’s series of on-demand Brownfields Fundamentals webinars cover planning, cleanup, liability, and other topics as part of a well-rounded crash course in Wisconsin brownfield redevelopment.

The DNR has a wide range of financial and liability tools available to help local governments, businesses, lenders and others clean up and redevelop brownfields in Wisconsin, including Ready for Reuse financial awards, which may be used for environmental cleanup. DNR staff around the state are available to meet with community leaders, bankers, developers and private individuals to discuss brownfield projects through Green Team meetings.

More information about the DNR’s brownfield cleanup programs and services is available on the DNR’s Brownfields webpage.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.