Month: October 2024

Now Available – Two Publications: Guidance: Contaminated Soil Quick Reference Table (RR-106) And Guidance: Soil Residual Contaminant Level (RCL) Spreadsheet (RR-0151)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Following a public comment period two publications are now posted and available online at the RR Program’s Contaminated Soil and Sediment  webpage: 

  • Guidance: Contaminated Soil Quick Reference Table (RR-106) 
  • Guidance: Soil Residual Contaminant Level (RCL) Spreadsheet (RR-0151) 

The purpose of the publications is to provide resources for externals to look up soil residual contaminant levels, or RCLs, that are developed using standard equations in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Screening Level (RSL) Calculator. 

The DNR updated the publications in response to the U.S. EPA’s May 2024 update to its RSLs. Screening levels for 18 contaminants changed since the last update to the DNR’s publications in 2018. Ten common contaminants were added to the Soil RCL Spreadsheet and it also incorporates a cumulative risk calculator for carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs).

Questions on the publications may be submitted to Erin Endsley at Erin.Endsley@wisconsin.gov.

Additional documents and guidance from the Remediation and Redevelopment Program may be found using the search tools available on the publications and forms webpage.    

DNR Requests Proposals For Three Brownfield Projects

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has posted requests for proposals on three brownfield planning projects. The projects are funded by a fiscal year 2025 Small Technical Assistance Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Peshtigo Brownfield Site Reuse Concept Planning 
The DNR is seeking proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning to identify redevelopment opportunities for a 0.54-acre property in downtown Peshtigo, Wisconsin, formerly known as The Landmark. The property has been vacant for 15 years and poses safety concerns for the city.  

Turtle Lake Brownfield Site Reuse Concept Planning
The DNR is seeking proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning at the 1.037-acre site of the former Turtle Lake Creamery in the village of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. Following 50 years of use as a creamery, the property was used to store telecommunications equipment. Residual contamination is present at the site after some cleanup in 2015. The village took ownership of the property in 2022.  

Wisconsin Rapids Brownfield Site Reuse Planning
The DNR is seeking proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning at the 1.69-acre former site of the Northern Steel Castings foundry in the city of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. The city is interested in acquiring the property from Wood County, which took ownership of the property in 2023. This project will help advance the redevelopment of the site for the benefit of the city and the county. 

Proposals are due Nov. 22, 2024. The RFPs are available on the RR Program Public Notices webpage.   

Issues And Trends Webinar: Investigation Of Vapor Intrusion Along The Utility Conduit Pathway

Posted on by Coreen Fallat
Issues and Trends Banner

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program’s next webinar in the Issues & Trends series will take place on Nov. 7, 2024.

Understanding vapor intrusion pathways at contaminated sites is an important aspect of protecting human health when investigating discharges to the environment that include volatile compounds. The steps to investigate the utility conduit pathway of vapor intrusion, which may include sanitary and storm sewers, sumps and building plumbing, is the topic of an upcoming webinar presented by the DNR.

Investigation of Vapor Intrusion along the Utility Conduit Pathway
Nov. 7, 2024
10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register to attend by Zoom.

The webinar will cover important information about vapor intrusion along the conduit pathway. Presenters will summarize the results of a multi-year effort to collect several hundred samples within conduits at approximately 70 sites in Wisconsin. Attendees will learn some of the basic concepts of how contaminant vapors enter and travel through utility conduits, eventually reaching indoor air. The webinar will review options to sample for vapor intrusion including a discussion of the DNR’s approach to conduit sampling during state-funded investigations.

The webinar is part of the RR Program’s Issues & Trends series. This series offers webinars that provide program and rulemaking updates and information on issues related to environmental contamination and cleanup. Past “Issues & Trends” are available to view by visiting our RR Presentations & Training Library.