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DNR To Hold RR External Advisory Group Meeting And Back To Basics Training

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Upcoming Remediation And Redevelopment External Advisory Group (RR EAG) Meeting
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a meeting of the RR EAG on Jan. 23, 2026. The RR EAG was formed to address a broad range of issues, encompassing technical and policy topics related to encouraging the investigation, cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites in Wisconsin. RR EAG meetings are open to the public.  

The agenda and meeting materials will be posted in advance on the DNR’s RR EAG webpage.  

Registration Open For Fourth Session Of The Back To Basics Training Series
The Back to Basics training series will be presented in conjunction with the RR EAG meetings throughout 2025 and early 2026. Each session of the series provides information and practitioner perspectives on the investigation and cleanup of contaminated properties.  

Individuals involved in or affected by the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination and the redevelopment of contaminated properties are encouraged to attend, including environmental consultants, developers, attorneys, responsible parties, local governments, property owners and those affected by contamination in their communities. 

The session on Jan. 23, Back to Basics: Applying for Closure, will lay out the requirements and best practices when applying for closure. The session will also explore considerations for notifying affected parties of continuing obligations prior to applying for closure. 

Topics and presenters include: 

  • Impact of Remedial Action Planning on Closure Application, Jodie Thistle, DNR  
  • Basics of Applying for Site Closure from the DNR, Kevin McKnight, DNR 
  • Notification of Continuing Obligations Process, Judy Fassbender, DNR  
  • On the Ground: Preparing a Site for Closure (Case Studies), Cory Katzban, The Sigma Group 
  • Best Practices for Submitting Closure Application, Issac Ross, DNR 
  • Moderated Discussion, Bill Nelson or Derek Punches, Godfrey & Kahn  

Information and registration for the Back to Basics training sessions is posted on the RR Program Presentations & Trainings webpage. 

Attending On Jan. 23
In-person and virtual attendance options are available for both the training and for the RR EAG meeting. 

Schedule
9 to 9:30 a.m.: In person arrival and coffee with the DNR
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Back to Basics: Applying for Closure and Maintaining Continuing Obligations
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.: RR EAG Meeting  

In-person attendees will have an opportunity to meet and greet regional DNR staff members from the RR Program; RSVP to Coreen Fallat at CoreenR.Fallat@wisconsin.gov by noon on Jan. 21, 2026.  

Attend in-person in Madison or Milwaukee:
State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2)   
Room G09
101 S. Webster St.
Madison, WI   

Wisconsin DNR – Milwaukee Service Center
1027 West St. Paul Ave.
Harbor Room, Rm 107 
Milwaukee, WI 

Attend via Zoom: Register to attend by Zoom [exit DNR] 

Now Available: Vapor Mitigation System Inspection Log Form

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Information gathered during inspections of vapor mitigation systems can now be submitted online through a new web-based form.  

Use the updated Vapor Mitigation System Inspection Log (Form 4400-321) to conduct annual inspections of vapor mitigation systems. Information is automatically saved, and changes can be made before the form is submitted to the DNR. In addition, related photographs can be uploaded directly to the form. 

New users must create a login to access the web-based form.  

Contact the DNR with questions regarding vapor intrusion. Go to “dnr.wi.gov” and search “RR Program Staff.” Click on “Vapor Intrusion Contacts.” Contact DNRRRVAPOR@wisconsin.gov with issues related to the forms. 

Now Available: Publication Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156) 

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Following a public comment period and consideration of the comments received, the publication Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156) is now posted and available online.  

This publication provides guidance for persons who investigate, remediate and mitigate contaminated sites under Wisconsin Statute (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292 and Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700 – 799 and gives direction for characterization, assessment and monitoring of sites at sites where natural attenuation is under consideration as a possible remedial option for petroleum or chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination.  

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

Contact your RR project manager or program specialist with questions.  

The RR Program Submittal Portal Is Live With MyWisconsin ID And Multi-Factor Authentication! 

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The DNR is excited to announce that the RR Program Submittal Portal (Submittal Portal) has switched to MyWisconsin ID.  

You can now use your MyWisconsin ID to log in to Submittal Portal. You may need to update your bookmark to this system. You will be prompted to verify your identity with the multi-factor authentication (MFA) option you selected during the enrollment process.  

If you have not created a MyWisconsin ID, details and a step-by step guide are available on the Department of Administration’s MyWisconsin ID Self Registration webpage.   

Tips For Successful Registration  

  • Registration is time-sensitive. Once the base information is entered, registration must be completed within 2 hours (including MFA setup).   
  • A specific MyWisconsin ID is for an individual person, not a facility or company and should NEVER be used by others. 
  • Because multi-factor authentication is used, the MyWisconsin account cannot be shared with others – all users must have their own account.  

Some state systems will transition to using MyWisconsin ID sooner than others. In the meantime, you may need a WAMS ID for some systems and a MyWisconsin ID for others.  

Questions?  

Now Available: U.S. EPA FY 2026 Brownfields Grant Guidelines And Wisconsin State Letters Of Acknowledgement

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is accepting applications for Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) Grants for fiscal year 2026. The deadline for applications is Jan. 28, 2026. Grants offered by the U.S. EPA Brownfields Program can be used to help transform contaminated sites into community assets that attract jobs and achieve broader economic development outcomes. 

The U.S. EPA will host two webinars to share information about the application criteria on the dates below.   

  • Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at noon ET 
  • Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET  

Visit the U.S. EPA’s webpage for application resources for information about these webinars and to access additional information about the grants. 

Wisconsin State Acknowledgement Letters
To apply for an FY26 MAC Grant, grant applicants – except tribal entities – must obtain a state acknowledgement letter from the DNR. The letter acknowledges that the state is aware of the community or organization’s application for a federal grant to conduct a brownfield assessment or cleanup activities. 

Submit a written request for a DNR Acknowledgement Letter to Molly Schmidt at MollyE.Schmidt@Wisconsin.gov by Jan. 14, 2026. More information about state acknowledgement letter requirements is available on the DNR Federal Brownfields Grants webpage under “State Letter of Acknowledgement.”

DNR’s RR Program Seeks Four Hydrogeologists To Fill Project Manager Positions

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is recruiting four hydrogeologists to serve as project managers.  

The entry- and senior-level positions can be based in Fitchburg, Milwaukee, Oshkosh or Green Bay. The deadline to apply is Dec. 8, 2025. 

Project managers in the RR Program provide geologic and hydrogeologic expertise and oversight during the investigation and remediation of contaminated properties. Qualified individuals will have education, training or experience with hydrogeology, geology, hydrology, soil science, or fate and transport of contaminants.  

Project managers collaborate with internal and external stakeholders as part of the investigation and cleanup environmental contamination. Entry-level project managers gather, analyze and interpret data collected from a property and process the documentation from all project stages. Senior-level project managers provide oversight and technical advice to consultants and responsible parties to address soil and groundwater contamination at projects throughout the region.   

Full position descriptions for both the entry-level and senior-level positions, including necessary qualifications, are available online at the Wisc.jobs website (Job ID number 19310).

DNR Requests Proposals For Two Brownfield Projects

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) posted requests for proposals on two brownfield planning projects. The projects are funded through federal Technical Assistance Grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Evansville Brownfield Site Reuse Concept Planning
The DNR seeks proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning to identify redevelopment opportunities for a former auto service shop located in the city of Evansville. The project will advance the redevelopment of the city-owned property for the benefit of the community.  

Rice Lake Brownfield Site Reuse Concept Planning
The DNR seeks proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning at two lakefront properties within the city of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. One city-owned property is vacant, and the other property owner may reconsider relocating operations to allow the city of Rice Lake to pursue lakefront redevelopment opportunities. The project will help advance the reuse of the properties for the benefit of the community.  

Proposals are due Dec. 19, 2025, by 4 p.m. The RFPs are available on the RR Program Public Notices webpage.

Updates Made To Banner Language In BRRTS

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) updated select banners that appear in the Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS). BRRTS is a public database with information on potential contamination, contaminated properties, cleanup activities and redevelopment in Wisconsin.  

The Activity Detail Page now lists all continuing obligations for a site under the orange Continuing Obligations Apply banner, including contaminated vapor and monitoring well abandonment details. The list updates automatically as continuing obligations are updated or changed. If all continuing obligations are removed, the banner will no longer be displayed.   

These improvements make it easier to quickly identify all continuing obligations. The information shown under the banner is a summary only. Users should still review the complete record of activities and available documents under the Actions and Documents section for more complete information.   

To learn more about BRRTS, visit the DNR webpage.

Public Input Opportunity – Publication Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is seeking input on the publication Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156).  

This publication provides guidance for persons who investigate, remediate and mitigate contaminated sites under Wisconsin Statute (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292 and Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700 – 799 and gives direction for characterization, assessment and monitoring of sites at sites where natural attenuation is under consideration as a possible remedial option for petroleum or chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination.  

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under Current Notices. Comments may be submitted through Nov. 4, 2025, to DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.