General Program Announcements

Brownfields Study Group Member Karen Dettmer to Lead Milwaukee Water Utility

Posted on by Mick

Karen Dettmer has been named to head up the Milwaukee Water Works. The Milwaukee Common Council’s Public Works Committee unanimously approved the appointment during its January 23, 2018 meeting.

Dettmer, a licensed engineer who’s held various positions with the City of Milwaukee, has been a formal member of the Wisconsin Brownfields Study Group since May 2015.

Most recently, Dettmer was the public works coordination manager for Milwaukee’s Dept. of Public Works. Before that, she spent several years with the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee.

 

Public Comment Open Now on Glatfelter Settlement to Clean up Fox River

Posted on by Mick

Papermaker P.H. Glatfelter has agreed to pay $20.5 million to reimburse past and future EPA costs to clean up PCBs in Fox River sediment in a settlement with the US EPA and the US DOJ.

The settlement requires Glatfelter to assume responsibility for cleanup tasks, as well as the long-term monitoring and maintenance that will continue for years following dredging and a cap installation that is scheduled to be finished this year.

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Snapshot: January 2019 PECFA Financials

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides a monthly update on the status of Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program claims and the overall PECFA program budget.

Below are the updated PECFA numbers for January 2019.

Number Value
Claims Received 73 $328,256
Claims Paid 116 $811,824
Claims in Audit Line (as of 1/31/19) 22 $94,339
Total Paid Biennium to Date $11,222,439

RR Program Seeks Applicants for Emerging Contaminants Position

Posted on by Mick

The Wisconsin DNR seeks to fill a position with the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program in the downtown Madison office.

The deadline to apply is February 12, 2019. 

Technical Program Coordinator – Emerging Contaminants: The purpose of this position is to provide leadership in the development of statewide, science-related initiatives in the RR program, particularly related to emerging contaminants (EC), including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This includes leading the RR program’s statewide EC team and co-chairing the EC external advisory group. This is a technical position in which the candidate must have detailed knowledge of geology and hydrogeology, chemistry, soil science, remedial system design, and biology relating to environmental remediation.

Please see the job announcement for additional information.

First Rule Development Meeting Scheduled for February 5, 2019

Posted on by Mick

On February 5, 2019, the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program will host the first meeting in a series of public meetings to provide information and seek input on the development of revisions to select provisions of Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700–799, Environmental Protection – Investigation and Remediation of Environmental Contamination.

The RR program is initiating the rulemaking process following the Natural Resource Board’s approval on January 23, 2019, of two statements of scope that describe the proposed content of the rulemaking.  These scope statements are available online in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

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Hold the Date: First Rule Development Meeting Tentatively Scheduled for February 5, 2019

Posted on by Mick

On January 23, 2019, the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program will seek the approval of the Natural Resource Board (NRB) to initiate the rulemaking process for revisions to select provisions of Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700–799, Environmental Protection – Investigation and Remediation of Environmental Contamination. If this request is approved, the RR program will host a series of open meetings to seek input on the development of the proposed rules.

Pursuant to Wisconsin’s administrative rulemaking process, the RR program has prepared two statements of scope that describe the proposed content of the rulemaking.  These scope statements are available online in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

Continue reading “Hold the Date: First Rule Development Meeting Tentatively Scheduled for February 5, 2019” →

Requests for DNR “Acknowledgment Letter” Due January 18

Posted on by Mick

If you plan to apply for an FY2019 EPA brownfield grant, you have until Friday, January 18 to request your letter of acknowledgment from the Wisconsin DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment Program as part of your federal grant application.

To learn how to get a DNR letter of acknowledgment, and other useful information, visit the DNR Federal brownfield grants web page.

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Reminder: Submitting Complete PECFA Claims in 2019

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program reminds claimants and agents that all PECFA claims should be complete and accurate when submitted for reimbursement.

This includes proof of payment for all invoices, properly detailed and itemized receipts, claims for eligible costs only, documentation of work performed (e.g. field notes, photographs, weigh tickets, phone logs, etc.), and proof of deductible, if applicable. All claims must also include 2019 tax documents.

Please remember to use current forms, guidance and invoices by visiting the DNR’s PECFA website.

Incomplete claims may result in delay in payment or be returned to the claimant or agent for revision and resubmittal.

NR 700 Semi-Annual Reporting Due Soon

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Semi-annual reporting for the period of July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 is due February 1, 2019. 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 was sent during the first week of January 2019. If you did not receive an email, you can request a Report ID 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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RR Program Requesting NR Board Approval to Initiate Rulemaking

Posted on by barryashenfelter

On January 23, 2019, the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will seek the approval of the Natural Resource Board (NRB) to initiate the rulemaking process for revisions to select provisions of Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700–799, Environmental Protection – Investigation and Remediation of Environmental Contamination.

Pursuant to Wisconsin’s administrative rulemaking process, the RR Program has prepared two statements of scope that detail the proposed content of the rulemaking.  These scope statements have been approved by the governor are now available online in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

Continue reading “RR Program Requesting NR Board Approval to Initiate Rulemaking” →