General Program Announcements

New Guidance Documents Now Available on Managing Contaminated Soil and other Wastes

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

The RR Program recently finalized four new guidance documents regarding the management of contaminated soil and other waste materials excavated at sites or facilities in locations other than a licensed landfill.

This guidance is the culmination of several years of discussion between the RR Program and external stakeholders, including more than 20 individuals who served on the program’s Contaminated Materials Management Advisory Group and other interested parties who also participated in meetings. The group was formed in May 2015 and met more than a dozen times to provide input on issues related to materials management. The RR Program thanks those who participated for sharing their time and perspective.

These new guidance documents include:

  • RR-060, Management of Contaminated Soil and Other Solid Wastes Wis. Admin. Code §§ NR 718.12 and NR 718.15, provides a general overview of the exemptions available under NR 718 for managing excavated material, a description of when these exemptions may apply, and a summary of the application process and requirements.
  • RR-071, NR 718.12 Sample Results Notification, provides a cover page that may be used when submitting laboratory reports to the DNR to satisfy the requirements of NR 718.12(1)(e)(4).
  • RR-072, Recommended Format for Exemption Request Wis. Admin Code NR 718.12 or NR 718.15, provides a consistent format to demonstrate that the proposed management of solid waste material, as a remedial or interim action, qualifies for a NR 718.12 or NR 718.15 exemption and to request written approval of the exemption from the DNR.
  • RR-073, Request for Exemption from Location Criteria of NR 718.12(1)(c) for Managing Soil as an Immediate Action, provides a format to request that the DNR allow management of soil, as an immediate action, in an area that will not comply with the location criteria listed in NR 718.12(1)(c).

Contact Paul Grittner at (608) 266-0941 or paul.grittner@wisconsin.gov regarding questions related to these documents.

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

Posted on by elisabethkuisis

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.

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

Posted on by elisabethkuisis

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

Posted on by elisabethkuisis

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

Posted on by elisabethkuisis

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.

 

Free Webinar – Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization: Meet the Funders – Parks, Community Health, and the Arts February 28, 2017

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

Brownfield grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are one of many sources of funds that can support redevelopment of contaminated sites. This webinar will highlight a number of redevelopment resources available from the National Park Service (NPS), The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to leverage your brownfield dollars.

The webinar will also feature a presentation from a community that has successfully used grants, loans and other support from these agencies for its revitalization efforts. It is the fourth in OBLR’s webinar series on what communities need to know to successfully leverage resources for brownfields revitalization. Register online.

2017 Informational Papers from Legislative Fiscal Bureau Available Now

Posted on by elisabethkuisis

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.

 

South Central Region RR Team Supervisor Linda Hanefeld To Retire February 3

Posted on by elisabethkuisis

After nearly 27 years, the Remediation and Redevelopment Program says goodbye to its SCR Team Supervisor, Linda Hanefeld. Linda began her career as an LTE in 1981 in Fitchburg (now the SCR office and then called the Southern District) in the Wastewater Landspreading Program. In 1984, Linda again held an LTE position in the Fitchburg office in the Solid and Hazardous Waste Program, completing preliminary site assessments for the Superfund program.

Linda was hired permanently in 1990 in the Wisconsin Rapids office, first as a Landspreading Specialist and Laboratory Certification Inspector, then for about 9 months in the Solid and Hazardous Waste program working on petroleum tank clean-up sites. In September of 1991, Linda transferred to the regional office in SCR as a Solid and Hazardous Waste Inspector for Dane County.

In 1999, Linda transferred to the RR Program as a Hydrogeologist in the Dodgeville office for nearly 6 years, then transferred to SCR. Linda served on the program’s Land Recycling team, using her excellent customer service and communication skills to help promote the redevelopment of brownfields properties. She was promoted to RR Team Supervisor in October 2010. Linda wishes her co-workers well and plans to immediately sleep late and vacation.

Linda’s last day with the DNR will be February 3, 2017.

Updated Guidance Document: Frequently Asked Questions about the Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE)

Posted on by elisabethkuisis

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program has finalized a guidance document to help people using the Voluntary Party Liability Exemption program. The final version of the document, “Frequently Asked Questions about the Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE),” DNR publication RR-507, is now available. The VPLE program allows people to conduct an environmental investigation and cleanup of a contaminated property with DNR oversight and receive an exemption from future liability. This document provides detailed information about the VPLE program that has helped facilitate many successful brownfield remediation and redevelopment projects across Wisconsin.

The DNR response to public comments received about this guidance is also available. Questions should be directed to Michael Prager, 608-261-4927.

2017 Issues & Trends Schedule

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

The RR Program’s popular conference call and Skype-based training series, Issues & Trends, continues in 2017 and the year’s full schedule can be viewed in the Program’s Training Library web page, along with presentations from previous events.

Please note that the schedule is subject to change. Visit the Program’s Conference and Training web page for the latest information. Questions about any of the upcoming events can be sent to DNRRRComments@wisconsin.gov.