Time is running out on a 30-year old reimbursement program that has helped clean up more than 10,000 petroleum-contaminated properties in Wisconsin.

Funded through a portion of a $0.02/gallon gasoline tax, the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program is scheduled to end in just under two years, on June 30, 2020, as authorized under Wis. Act 55 (2015).

As the end of PECFA approaches, the Remediation and Redevelopment Program offers these important reminders:

• No new applicants. The program was closed to new applicants as of July 20, 2015. Only applicants that received eligibility on or before that date can submit claims for reimbursement.
• Timely claim submittal. Claimants and consultants planning to seek reimbursement for costs incurred on PECFA-eligible projects are reminded that they have 180 days from the day the expense was incurred, but no later than June 30, 2020, whichever occurs first, to submit the claim to the DNR. If a claim for costs incurred is not submitted within this deadline, the costs will not be eligible for PECFA reimbursement.
• Liability for cleanup doesn’t end when the program expires. The responsible party’s obligation to address environmental contamination associated their site continues whether PECFA reimbursement funding is available or not. Therefore, the DNR highly encourages responsible parties to complete PECFA-eligible cleanup work as soon as possible.
• Reaching the finish line. By now, all PECFA-eligible sites should have an approved remedial action plan in place and be actively implementing remedial action (if not already complete.) Eight rounds of quarterly groundwater monitoring is required unless otherwise directed for case closure. Currently there are only eight quarters left remaining in the PECFA program.

If you have site-specific questions, please contact the project manager assigned to the site. Other PECFA-related questions may be directed to Jenna.Soyer@wisconsin.gov.