General Program Announcements

Electronic Documents to be Submitted Via RR Submittal Portal

Posted on by Mick

Under the NR 700 rule series, responsible parties (RPs), or their representative, must provide DNR with one paper copy and one electronic copy of all submitted documents, including those related to case closure requests. These submittal requirements can be found in Wis. Admin. Code § NR 700.11 (3g), as well as throughout Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700 ‐ 754 for specific situations.

Since January 2019, the RR Program has directed RPs and consultants to submit all electronic documents required by Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700-754 via the RR Program Submittal Portal.

Continue reading “Electronic Documents to be Submitted Via RR Submittal Portal” →

PFAS Technical Advisory Group – Fate and Transport Subgroup to Meet April 18

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will host a meeting of the PFAS Technical Advisory Group – Fate and Transport subgroup on Thursday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in Madison, at the Natural Resources Building, in Room 513.

Fate and transport of PFAS is fundamental to the investigation and cleanup of a contaminated site.

To attend the meeting in person, please RSVP to Mick Skwarok. To join the meeting via conference call, dial 1-855-947-8255, passcode 6612 745#.

The RR Program has convened the PFAS Technical Advisory Group to discuss PFAS-related concerns that are specific to the assessment and cleanup of environmental contamination. The goal of the group is to examine the what, where, when and how of PFAS investigation and remediation by sharing concerns, identifying current and proposed practices and strategizing on issues requiring solutions.

A meeting agenda and presentation materials will soon be posted on the PFAS Technical Advisory Group web page.

DNR and DHS Work Together to Improve Water Quality in Wisconsin

Posted on by Mick

The Department of Natural Resources announced two new water quality initiatives as part of Governor Evers’ Year of Clean Drinking Water declaration for 2019.

This week the DNR worked with Department of Health Services (DHS) to ask the health agency to review 40 contaminants for possible groundwater quality standards. This work comes on the heels of the department asking DHS last spring to review an initial 27 contaminants, including two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used for decades in numerous products, such as non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain resistant sprays and firefighting foam.

Continue reading “DNR and DHS Work Together to Improve Water Quality in Wisconsin” →

Remediation & Redevelopment Seeks Program Director

Posted on by Mick

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking a diverse, qualified, and talented candidate pool for the Remediation & Redevelopment (RR) Program Director position.

The deadline to apply for this position is March 13, 2019. The position is based in Madison, Wis.

This is a critical position in the agency. The director serves as the leader and strategist in developing and directing a comprehensive, statewide program, assuring that applicable state laws are met. Among other duties, this position directs and provides oversight for all policy development, technical work, program administration, planning, legislative and intergovernmental liaison work, and personnel and fiscal management related to the proper management and implementation of remediation and redevelopment work.

If you are interested in the position, please see the job description, which also contains information on how to apply.

NR 700–754 Rule Development Meeting on March 5, 2019

Posted on by Mick

On March 5, 2019, the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program will host a meeting 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.

This meeting is part of a series of rule development meetings that the RR program will host as it develops proposed rule revisions. The March 5, 2019, meeting will include:

Continue reading “NR 700–754 Rule Development Meeting on March 5, 2019” →

DNR RR Program Seeking Applicants for Web/Publications Coordinator Position

Posted on by Mick

The Wisconsin DNR seeks to fill a position with the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program in the Madison office (GEF 2).

The deadline to apply is February 24, 2019. 

Web and Publications Coordinator: The Web and Publications Coordinator directs intranet development and supports internet content development across the RR Program. The position supports program business functions through information systems including organizing web content, managing information storage and display, web page formatting, text conversion, and web publishing. The position identifies opportunities for use of the web and new IS technology, participates in planning, coordinating, and implementing new or modified web services and trains employees in preparation of information for delivery to customers.

Please see the job announcement for additional information.

RR Program Case Closure Form Certification Page Updated

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program has updated its Case Closure Form 4400-202 to reflect the requirements of Personnel Qualifications for Conducting Environmental Response Actions, as described in Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 712.

Updates to the form regarding NR 712 only effect the final page (page 11), where you will notice a disclaimer: “This page has been updated as of February 2019 to comply with the requirements of Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 712.” No other changes have been made to the form and the updated version remains dated August, 2016 (R 8/16).

Continue reading “RR Program Case Closure Form Certification Page Updated” →

Darsi Foss Named Administrator of Environmental Management Division at DNR

Posted on by Mick

Darsi Foss has been named Division Administrator for the Environmental Management (EM) Division. Along with the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program, the EM Division also consists of the Air Management, Drinking Water and Groundwater, Office of Great Waters, Waste and Materials Management and the Water Quality programs.

Foss has been at the helm of the RR Program since 2014 and served as the Program’s Brownfields and Outreach Section Chief from 1998 to 2014.

Foss leaves the RR Program well-positioned to meet the demands and challenges in the months ahead as it not only oversees cleanup and redevelopment efforts around the state, but as the Program works through revisions to the NR 700-799 rules and issues regarding emerging chemical contamination, including PFAS.

Darsi starts her new position as part of the DNR management team on February 17.

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.