General Program Announcements

Now Available: Publication RR-619, Guidance: General Liability Clarification Letters

Following a public comment period and consideration of the comments received, the publication RR-619, Guidance: General Liability Clarification Letters, is now posted and available online.

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

RR-619 describes when general liability clarification letters, as defined in Wis. Stat. § 292.55, may be helpful and how parties can request a general liability clarification letter from the DNR.

Questions regarding these documents may be submitted to Michael Prager at Michael.Prager@wisconsin.gov.

Remediation and Redevelopment Program 128(a) Year-End Report Available

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program’s year-end report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now available.

The CERCLA Section 128(a) Grant Final Report, for the reporting period of Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021, highlights work undertaken and completed within the latest funding year.

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New Community Resource For Vapor Intrusion Evaluation

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now offering an online resource tool for local governments, neighborhood associations and property owners to evaluate sources and minimize the risks of vapor intrusion from historical dry-cleaning operations in their communities.

For much of the 1900s, dry cleaning was a common business especially in Iarge cities where the service could be found on almost every commercial block. The disposal or spilling of cleaning solvents used by historical dry cleaners, long before current waste management laws were in effect, may have resulted in chemical vapors in the ground that can migrate into present-day buildings.

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DNR Awards Brownfields Grant To City Of Altoona

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the department awarded a Brownfields Grant to the City of Altoona.

The grant is from the DNR’s Wisconsin Assessment Monies program, which provides contractor services worth up to $35,000 for the environmental assessment and cleanup of eligible brownfields sites.

Brownfields are abandoned, idle and underused commercial or industrial properties where reuse is stalled by potential contamination. Brownfields vary in size, location, age and past use; they can be anything from a 500-acre former automobile assembly plant to a small, abandoned gas station.

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Deadline For State Letter Of Acknowledgement For EPA MARC Grants Nov. 17

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting applications for FY22 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) & Cleanup (MARC) Grants. The deadline for applications is Dec. 1, 2021.

If your community or organization intends to apply for an FY22 MARC Grant, the U.S. EPA requires grant applicants – not including tribal entities – to obtain a state acknowledgement letter from the Wisconsin DNR.

The letter acknowledges that the state is aware of the community or organization’s application for a federal grant and intent to conduct brownfield assessment or cleanup activities.

The DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program suggests making your request for a state acknowledgement letter no later than Nov. 17, 2021 to allow staff adequate time to draft and deliver the letter.

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Now Available: Publication RR-0126, Guidance for Sediment-Related Continuing Obligations for Environmental Protection, Wis. Stat. § 292.12(5m) and Publication RR-0117, Guidance: When Should a Site Investigation Enter Surface Water?

Following a public comment period and consideration of the comments received, the publications RR-0126, Guidance for Sediment-Related Continuing Obligations for Environmental Protection, Wis. Stat. § 292.12(5m) and RR-0117, Guidance: When should a site investigation enter surface water? are now posted and available online.

The documents can be found here: RR-0126 and RR-0117. Additional documents and guidance from the Remediation and Redevelopment Program may be found using the search tools available on the publications and forms webpage.

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Reminder: Issues & Trends Webinar Next Week: Vapor Intrusion – Revised Guidance, Recent Training and Rule Reminders

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program reminds you that the next webinar in the Issues & Trends series will take place next week, on November 16, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The scheduled presentation is: Vapor Intrusion – Revised Guidance, Recent Training and Rule Reminders.

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DNR Awards Brownfields Grant To Village Of Johnson Creek

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the department awarded a Brownfields Grant to the Village of Johnson Creek.

The financial award is from the DNR’s Wisconsin Assessment Monies program, which provides contractor services worth up to $35,000 for the environmental assessment and cleanup of eligible brownfields sites.

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New Online Form To Report Hazardous Substance Discharges

An online form is now available from the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program to report the discovery of hazardous substances identified through sampling. The Notification for Hazardous Substance Discharge Form – Non-emergency Only (4400-225) is now a web-based form found on the RR Program Submittal Portal.

Form 4400-225 should be used to report the discovery of a discharge that is identified through laboratory analysis of soil, water, sediment, vapor or indoor air. Hazardous substance discharges must be reported immediately according to Wis. Stat. § 292.11.

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Issues & Trends Webinar on November 16, 2021: Vapor Intrusion – Revised Guidance, Recent Training and Rule Reminders

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program reminds you that the next webinar in the Issues & Trends series will take place on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The scheduled presentation is: Vapor Intrusion – Revised Guidance, Recent Training and Rule Reminders.

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