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NR 700 Semi-Annual Reporting Due Soon

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Clip art of reportSemi-annual reporting for the period of January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017 is due August 8, 2017. Semi-annual reporting is required of responsible parties (RPs) for all “open” sites, including those sites the DNR formerly classified as “conditionally closed,” in the BRRTS online database. Consultants may submit these reports on behalf of the RPs.

An email from the DNR with your unique report identification number will go out on July 7, 2017. If you do not receive an email, you can request a number by submitting the Report ID Request Form. The Report ID number you will receive uniquely identifies the activity for which you wish to report, the reporting period, and verifies the person using the ID is authorized to submit the report. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Zeichert at (608) 266-5788.

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Snapshot: PECFA Financials

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The RR Program will provide monthly updates on the status of PECFA claims and the overall PECFA budget. The table below provides information on the number and value of claims submitted, the number and value of claims paid, and the remaining available funding for the fiscal year.

Below are the updated PECFA numbers for May 2017.

Number Value
Claims Received 68 $357,590
Claims Paid 38 $163,448
Claims in audit line (as of May 31) 56 $279,340
Remaining fiscal year funding $1,030,795

 

Certificate of Completion Issued for Large Madison Brownfield

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Sign at Royster Clark Property with contact information and list of financial supporters.

The Royster Clark project benefited from several financial incentives including the DNR’s Ready for Reuse program.

After more than 200 environmental reports and approvals over the course of ten years, the Wisconsin DNR issued a final Certificate of Completion for the former Royster-Clark facility in Madison. The Certificate of Completion was issued in March 2017 when the Wisconsin DNR approved the final investigation and remedial action and provided a liability exemption through the Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE) program.

The 27 acre Royster-Clark facility was once a fertilizer factory operating from 1952 until it closed in 2006. In 2011, Ruedebusch Development and Construction (RDC), a Madison-based real estate developer, purchased the property and took on the task of cleanup and redevelopment of the unique project.

The cleanup included contamination from leaking underground storage tanks and the excavation of more than 50,000 tons of nitrogen-contaminated soil removed from the site. The property went through extensive meetings, planning and approvals from the neighborhood association and the city of Madison. The redevelopment, some of which is already complete, includes affordable housing, market rate apartments, and commercial development, including a new public library branch and potential grocery store. The project also includes 50+ lots ready for single family homes.

The cleanup project benefited from several financial incentives including the Wisconsin DNR’s Ready for Reuse program, which is funded through a RLF brownfields grant from the EPA, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation grants, and funding from the city of Madison.

DNR Hosts Nearly 300 at Consultants’ Day Events

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Attendees listening to presentations.

The DNR welcomed nearly 300 guests and staff to Consultants’ Day 2017.

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program at DNR would like to thank the nearly 300 guests and staff who recently attended Consultants’ Day events in Stevens Point and Pewaukee. Guests heard from a number of program staff on subjects such as submittals required by NR 700.11, site investigation completeness, PAH reassessment, case closure reconsideration, modifications to continuing obligations and vapor intrusion outreach. A video recording of the presentations given at the Pewaukee location will soon be available for on-demand viewing on the program’s Conference and Training webpage at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Brownfields/Training.html.

February 8, 2017 Issues & Trends: Environmental Issues for Demolition

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The RR Program’s February webinar will provide answers to common questions related to the management of demolition related materials, including asbestos, PCB containing material, lead based paints and hazardous building components that commonly contain mercury and other compounds of concern. The presentation will focus on processes and recommendations for successful demolition project coordination.

Ed Lynch, Hazardous Waste Section Chief, will provide an overview of requirements for managing hazardous materials as part of renovation and demolition projects. The DNR’s Asbestos Coordinator Mark Davis and Mark Chamberlain, Air Management Specialist, will provide an overview on Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 447 “Control of Asbestos Emissions.” When facilities are undergoing renovation or demolition and asbestos containing materials could be disturbed, the requirements of the EPAs National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS) apply. The presentation will discuss the asbestos inspection, notification, and disposal requirements for demolition/renovations projects involving commercial/industrial facilities.

This overview will provide information on permits, DNR approval and reporting requirements, as well as information on contacting the DNR for assistance when questions arise during the completion of demolition work.

Date: February 8, 2017 Time: Noon – 1:00 p.m. Join by phone: 1-855-947-8255, passcode: 6612 745# Questions in advance can be sent to DNRRRComments@wisconsin.gov

The presentation notes for this teleconference will be available soon on the RR Program Training Page. The audio will be available in the training library shortly after the conclusion of the teleconference.

A schedule of future Issues & Trends events is also available in the Training Library, along with recordings of previous presentations.

The Brownfields 2017 Call for Ideas Is Open

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Help design a fantastic conference agenda — submit your educational programming proposals for the EPA’s 2017 National Brownfields Training Conference.

Join the next National Brownfields Training Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 5 -7, 2017.  In addition to regular conference programming, EPA will hold pre-conference workshops on December 4.

You are invited to submit your ideas for dynamic educational sessions that encourage conversation and participation from your fellow attendees. A great Brownfields 2017 educational program will motivate brownfields stakeholders to engage, learn, and share their experiences and knowledge of community revitalization challenges and solutions.

How to Submit an Idea

Submit an abstract for a Brownfields 2017 session or presentation using our online submission form on www.brownfields2017.org. Deadline is March 17, 2017.

For questions, contact Patricia Overmeyer, at the EPA Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, 202-566-2774, Overmeyer.Patricia@epa.gov

Prepared Workbook: Process for Risk Evaluation, Property Analysis and Reuse Decisions

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The Prepared Workbook for Brownfields and Land Revitalization from the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is a risk management framework for evaluating various actions that a local government might take to bring about a desired reuse at contaminated properties that it does not currently own.

The workbook is available now from the CDFA and is a good resource for municipal officials who are looking to clean up and redevelop contaminated property.

 

Temporary groundwater monitoring wells

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Temporary wells have become increasingly common as part of site investigations and Phase II environmental site assessments. Although temporary wells can be useful tools, they have limitations in their use. It is critical that temporary wells are properly installed to ensure the integrity of the results and that they are adequately protected to avoid becoming a conduit for contaminant migration.

Installation of temporary wells requires prior approval from the department, as described in s. NR 141.29, Wis. Adm. Code. In addition, compliance with Ch. NR 141 is required for all wells installed for the purposes of Ch. 292, Wis. Stats. This means all monitoring wells installed for site investigations and Phase II reports submitted to the department must meet the NR 141 requirements, which includes prior department approval for temporary wells.

To avoid incurring additional costs and unneeded project delays, refer to the DNR guidance on the appropriateness and limitations of temporary wells, publication RR-647, “Fact Sheet of Frequently Asked Questions about Temporary Wells“.

 

Register Now for Consultants’ Day 2017

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Registration is now open for Consultants’ Day 2017, hosted by the DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment Program. Our events this year will be held in two locations: the Stevens Point Holiday Inn Convention Center on April 12 and at the Country Springs Conference Center in Pewaukee on April 20. Presentation content will be the same at each location.

This popular event sold out in 2015; space is limited at both events again this year. Early registration is available until March 19.

  •  Who should attend? Environmental consultants, developers and anyone else interested in technical aspects of contaminated land cleanup.
  •  What’s on the agenda? Guests will learn the ins-and-outs of case closure, vapor intrusion, post-closure modifications and more. We also have “conversation corners” and other chances to meet with project managers and topic experts.

We are working with UW-Stevens Point to provide continuing education credits and will provide more information as it becomes available.

Questions? Please contact Mick Skwarok at 608-266-9263.

 

2017 Informational Papers from Legislative Fiscal Bureau Available Now

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Informational papers from the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau are now online. The nearly-100 documents updated for 2017 cover a range of topics from general fund taxes to justice to transportation. Included in the revised documents under Environmental Programs are two from Remediation and Redevelopment: Contaminated Lands and Brownfields Cleanup and Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) Program.

 Printed copies of these and other papers are available in limited quantities from the Fiscal Bureau office at One East Main Street, Suite 301, in Madison. If you’d like five or more copies of a specific, please contact the Bureau at 608-266-3847 to make arrangements for those copies.