Public Notice

DNR Requests Proposals For Three Brownfield Projects

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Coreen Fallat

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has posted requests for proposals on three brownfield planning projects. The projects are funded by a fiscal year 2025 Small Technical Assistance Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Peshtigo Brownfield Site Reuse Concept Planning
The DNR is seeking proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning to identify redevelopment opportunities for a 0.54-acre property in downtown Peshtigo, Wisconsin, formerly known as The Landmark. The property has been vacant for 15 years and poses safety concerns for the city.

Turtle Lake Brownfield Site Reuse Concept Planning
The DNR is seeking proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning at the 1.037-acre site of the former Turtle Lake Creamery in the village of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. Following 50 years of use as a creamery, the property was used to store telecommunications equipment. Residual contamination is present at the site after some cleanup in 2015. The village took ownership of the property in 2022.

Wisconsin Rapids Brownfield Site Reuse Planning
The DNR is seeking proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning at the 1.69-acre former site of the Northern Steel Castings foundry in the city of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. The city is interested in acquiring the property from Wood County, which took ownership of the property in 2023. This project will help advance the redevelopment of the site for the benefit of the city and the county.

Proposals are due Nov. 22, 2024. The RFPs are available on the RR Program Public Notices webpage.

Public Input Opportunity On Two Publications – Guidance: Contaminated Soil Quick Reference Table (RR-106) and Guidance: Soil Residual Contaminant Level (RCL) Spreadsheet (RR-0151)

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Coreen Fallat

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is now seeking input on two publications.

Guidance: Contaminated Soil Quick Reference Table (RR-106)

Guidance: Soil Residual Contaminant Level (RCL) Spreadsheet (RR-0151)

The purpose of the publications is to provide resources for externals to look up soil residual contaminant levels, or RCLs, that are developed using standard equations in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Screening Level (RSL) Calculator. RCLs are commonly used at remediation sites but are not required. The responsible party (RP) has the option to develop and propose a site-specific soil standard. The Contaminated Soil Quick Reference Table contains contaminants commonly encountered at remediation sites. The Soil RCL Spreadsheet “does the math” to make it easier for the RP and their consultant, but using it is optional.

The DNR updated the publications in response to the U.S. EPA’s May 2024 update to its RSLs. Screening levels for 18 contaminants changed since the last update to the DNR’s publications in 2018. Ten common contaminants were added to the Soil RCL Spreadsheet and it also incorporates a cumulative risk calculator for carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs).

The documents can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices webpage. Comments may be submitted through Oct. 2, 2024, to Erin Endsley at Erin.Endsley@wisconsin.gov or DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

NR 700 Reporting Due Jan. 30, 2024

Posted on January 3, 2024December 29, 2023 by Christine Sieger

Semi-annual reporting for the period of July 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023, is due by Jan. 30, 2024. Semi-annual reporting is required of responsible parties for all open sites, including those sites the DNR formerly classified as “conditionally closed” in the Bureau for Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) online database. Consultants may submit these reports on behalf of responsible parties.

The DNR sent an email with a unique Report Identification (ID) number to contacts of sites listed in the database during early Dec. 2023. If you do not receive an email by Dec. 30, 2023, you can request a Report ID number by submitting the Report ID Request Form.

The Report ID number uniquely identifies the activity you can report, the reporting period and verifies the person using the Report ID is authorized to submit the report. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Zeichert at Timothy.Zeichert@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-2240.

State law requires semi-annual reports from people who meet the definition of a responsible party in Wisconsin Administrative Code ch. NR 700. Property owners, such as local governments, that have an exemption under Wisconsin Statutes §§ 292.11(9)(e) or 292.23 and lenders that have an exemption under Wisconsin Statute § 292.21 for specific properties are not required to submit a semi-annual report for those exempt properties under state law.

Sites formerly classified by the DNR as “conditionally closed” are open sites that have not been granted case closure and, by definition, have remaining action(s) needed (e.g., properly abandoning monitoring wells or investigative waste needing to be removed).

Semi-annual reporting for sites formerly classified as “conditionally closed” should indicate what actions are being taken to complete the remaining actions.
The next reporting period is from Jan. 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024.

Preliminary Public Hearing On Statements Of Scope

Posted on December 14, 2023December 14, 2023 by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will hold a preliminary public hearing on two statements of scope.

The statements of scope are subject to the approval of the Natural Resources Board. If approved, the statements of scope would allow the DNR to begin drafting administrative rule revisions affecting Wisconsin Administrative Code chapters NR 700-799.

Scope Statement for Board Order RR-14-23 (Continuing Obligations) – Proposes developing administrative rules that affect chapters NR 700, 708, 714, 722, 724, 725, 726, 727 and 749 related to definitions, notifications, fees, agreements, reports, and procedures for interim action and remedial action continuing obligations for environmental contamination.
Scope Statement for Board Order RR-15-23 (Soil Standards) – Proposes developing administrative rules that affect chapters NR 700, 720 and 722 related to definitions, land use classifications, procedures for identifying environmental standards for soil, and soil cleanup standards used to investigate and remediate environmental contamination.

The statements of scope may be viewed on the DNR’s Administrative Rules webpage under the “RR – Remediation and Redevelopment” row.

HEARING DETAILS
What: RR Program Preliminary Public Hearing on two Statements of Scope
When: Dec. 21, 2023, at 1 p.m.
Where: Online; To register and attend via Zoom, please view the Notice of Preliminary Hearing on Statement of Scope on the DNR’s Administrative Rules webpage for instructions.

The public has the opportunity to testify at the hearing. Comments on the proposed scope statements must be received on or before Dec. 21, 2023. Email written comments to DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov.

DNR Requests Proposals For Two Brownfield Projects

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has posted requests for proposals (RFPs) on two brownfield planning projects. The projects are funded by a FY23 Small Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Cuba City Brownfield Site Reuse Concept Planning
The DNR is seeking proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with the community engagement and visioning process for a large, soon-to-be vacant senior care and rehabilitation facility located in Cuba City, Wisconsin. The senior care facility is a 9-acre site with asbestos-containing materials and other potential environmental conditions.

Port Edwards Brownfield Site Reuse Concept Planning
The DNR is seeking proposals from qualified firms interested in providing consulting services to assist with brownfield redevelopment planning at a former paper mill in the village of Port Edwards, Wisconsin. This planning project is focused on an approximately 46-acre portion of the 180-acre former paper mill.

Proposals are due Nov. 20, 2023. The RFPs are available on the RR Program Public Notices webpage.

Public Input Opportunity – Publication: Local Government Environmental Liability Exemptions and Responsibilities in Wisconsin (RR-055)

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Christine Sieger

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is now seeking input on the publication Local Government Environmental Liability Exemptions and Responsibilities in Wisconsin (RR-055).

The purpose of this guidance is to provide basic information about Wisconsin’s local government unit environmental liability exemption (LGU exemption). The method of property acquisition used by an LGU determines if the exemption is acquired or applicable. DNR brownfields staff can help LGUs understand the exemption before taking title to a contaminated property and provide liability clarification letters.

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under the “Program Guidance” tab. Comments may be submitted through June 7, 2023, to Michael Prager at Michael.Prager@wisconsin.gov or DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

Public Input Opportunity – Five-Year Review of the Onalaska Municipal Landfill Superfund Site

Posted on February 24, 2023February 20, 2023 by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now seeking input on the Five-Year Review of the Onalaska Municipal Landfill Superfund Site.

The public notice can be found at the Remediation and Redevelopment Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under the “Public Notices” tab. Comments may be submitted through March 25, 2023, to BJ LeRoy at Bruce.LeRoy@wisconsin.gov.

Public Input Opportunity – Five-Year Review of the Stoughton City Landfill Superfund Site

Posted on February 23, 2023February 20, 2023 by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now seeking input on the Five-Year Review of the Stoughton City Landfill Superfund Site.

Public Input Opportunity for DNR Publication Guidance on Addressing Contaminated Sediment Sites in Wisconsin (RR-0124)

Posted on December 1, 2022December 2, 2022 by Jodie Thistle

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is now seeking input on the publication Guidance on Addressing Contaminated Sediment Sites in Wisconsin (RR-0124).

The purpose of this guidance is to outline approaches for investigating and remediating hazardous substances discharges that impact sediment to comply with the requirements in Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292 and the applicable provisions of Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700-799. This guidance explains the steps recommended for assessment of contaminated sediment, evaluation of remedial options and the selection, design, implementation and monitoring of remedial actions. This guidance will clarify closure requirements at sites with contaminated sediments, including continuing obligations, long term stewardship and financial assurance.

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under the “Program Guidance” tab. Comments may be submitted through Jan. 11, 2023 to Carrie Webb at Carrie.Webb@wisconsin.gov or DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

Public Input Opportunity for DNR Publications – Guidance: Voluntary Party Exemption Liability (RR-0141), Guidance: Registering and Removing Underground Storage Tanks (RR-627), Guidance: Environmental Contamination & Your Real Estate (RR-973)

Posted on November 17, 2022November 15, 2022 by Jodie Thistle

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program is currently seeking input three publications:

Guidance: Voluntary Party Exemption Liability (RR-0141)
RR-0141 provides information about the voluntary party liability exemption (VPLE), which was created by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1994 when Wisconsin Statutes § 292.15 was enacted to aid in the redevelopment of brownfield properties.

Submit comments to Michael Prager or to DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov by Dec. 7, 2022.

Guidance: Registering and Removing Underground Storage Tanks (RR-627)
RR-627 outlines responsibilities for underground storage tanks and suggests best practices for registering and removing them.

Submit comments to Barry Ashenfelter or to DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov by Dec. 7, 2022.

Guidance: Environmental Contamination & Your Real Estate (RR-973)
RR-973 provides information to help property owners understand the impact contamination may have on the market value of their property and the legal obligations they have should the property be sold in the future.