Publications & Guidance

Now Available: Consensus-Based Sediment Quality Guidelines (RR-088) – Updated Note To Users

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

An updated “Note to User” is now available for the publication Interim Guidance: Consensus-Based Sediment Quality Guidelines (RR-088). The note clarifies that the normalization of total organic carbon (TOC) content at sites with contaminated sediment is not recommended as the standard practice for actions at the site. The DNR recommends evaluating all available information to make site-specific investigative, remedial and management decisions for each site. No changes were made to the publication. 

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

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Carrie Webb.   

Now Available: Updated Publication Wisconsin Vapor Quick Look-Up Table Indoor Air Vapor Action Levels And Vapor Risk Screening Levels (RR-0136)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The publication Guidance: Wisconsin Vapor Quick Look-Up Table Indoor Air Vapor Action Levels and Vapor Risk Screening Levels (RR-0136) is now updated and available on the DNR website. The U.S. EPA updated toxicity information for 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE) in November 2024 by changing from U.S. EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) chronic inhalation reference concentration (RfC) to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) RfC for this chemical. The update decreased the VALs and VRSLs for 1,1-DCE.    

The purpose of this look-up table is to list volatile organic compounds frequently encountered at cleanup sites in Wisconsin. Consultants should compare vapor data for open sites to the updated table for potential additional actions. Vapor data for chemicals not listed on RR-0136 should accessed via the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Vapor Intrusion Screening Level (VISL) Calculator; instructions on using VISL are included in RR-0136.    

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

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Jennifer Borski at Jennifer.Borski@wisconsin.gov.  

 

Now Available – Two Publications: Guidance: Contaminated Soil Quick Reference Table (RR-106) And Guidance: Soil Residual Contaminant Level (RCL) Spreadsheet (RR-0151)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Following a public comment period two publications are now posted and available online at the RR Program’s Contaminated Soil and Sediment  webpage: 

  • 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. 

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).

Questions on the publications may be submitted to Erin Endsley at Erin.Endsley@wisconsin.gov.

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

Now Available: Guidance: DNR’s Superior Lien Authority and What It Means for Property Owners (RR-507), Guidance: Environmental Liability Exemptions for Lenders and Representatives (RR-508) and Guidance: Post-Closure Modifications (RR-982)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

Following a public comment period, the following publications are now posted and available online:

Guidance: DNR’s Superior Lien Authority and What It Means for Property Owners (RR-507)
This guidance is intended for property owners and mortgagees. It defines and explains a superior lien, which is a type of environmental lien that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) places on properties when the DNR cleans up contamination on a property and is not reimbursed. A superior lien allows the DNR to recover the public funds spent on the cleanup.

Guidance: Environmental Liability Exemptions for Lenders and Representatives (RR-508)
The purpose of this guidance is to provide information to lenders and representatives about environmental liability exemptions available for sites with hazardous substance discharges to the environment.

Guidance: Post-Closure Modifications (RR-982)
The purpose of this guidance is to aid in the preparation and review of post-closure modification (PCM) submittals to the DNR. Information about the types of PCMs, the process, fees and types of responses available from the DNR is provided. This guidance is for use by property owners, responsible parties, environmental consultants and DNR staff. It is based on authority provided under Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stat.) § 292.12(6) and Wisconsin Administrative Code (Wis. Admin. Code) ch. NR 727.

Additional documents and guidance from the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program may be found using the search tools available on the RR Document Search and Resource Portal.

Questions regarding RR-507 and RR-508 may be submitted to Molly Schmidt at MollyE.Schmidt@wisconsin.gov. Questions regarding RR-982 may be submitted to Jodie Thistle at Jodie.Thistle@wisconsin.gov.

Public Input Opportunity – Guidance: DNR’s Superior Lien Authority and What It Means for Property Owners (RR-507) and Guidance: Environmental Liability Exemptions for Lenders and Representatives (RR-508)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

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

Guidance: DNR’s Superior Lien Authority and What It Means for Property Owners (RR-507)
This guidance is intended for property owners and mortgagees. It defines and explains a superior lien, which is a type of environmental lien that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) places on properties when the DNR cleans up contamination on a property and is not reimbursed. A superior lien allows the DNR to recover the public funds spent on the cleanup.

Guidance: Environmental Liability Exemptions for Lenders and Representatives (RR-508)
The purpose of this guidance is to provide information to lenders and representatives about environmental liability exemptions available for sites with hazardous substance discharges to the environment.

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under the “Program Guidance” tab. Comments may be submitted through Oct. 19, 2023, to Molly Schmidt at MollyE.Schmidt@wisconsin.gov or DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

Public Input Opportunity – Guidance: Post-Closure Modifications (RR-982)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is now seeking input on the publication Guidance: Post-Closure Modifications (RR-982).

The purpose of this guidance is to aid in the preparation and review of post-closure modification (PCM) submittals to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Information about the types of PCMs, the process, fees and types of responses available from the DNR is provided. This guidance is for use by property owners, responsible parties, and environmental consultants. It is based on authority provided under Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stat.) § 292.12(6) and Wisconsin Administrative Code (Wis. Admin. Code) ch. NR 727.

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under the “Program Guidance” tab. Comments may be submitted through Oct. 5, 2023 to Jenna Soyer at Jenna.Soyer@wisconsin.gov or DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

Now Available: Publication Guidance: Wisconsin Vapor Quick Look-Up Table Indoor Air Vapor Action Levels and Vapor Risk Screening Levels (RR-0136)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The publication Guidance: Wisconsin Vapor Quick Look-Up Table Indoor Air Vapor Action Levels and Vapor Risk Screening Levels (RR-0136) is now updated and available online. There were no changes to the Vapor Action Levels (VALs) or Vapor Risk Screening Levels (VRSLs) for the compounds listed.

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.

The purpose of the guidance is to list volatile organic compounds frequently encountered at cleanup sites in Wisconsin. Consultants should compare vapor data for open sites to the updated table for potential additional actions. Vapor data for chemicals not listed on RR-0136 should accessed via the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Vapor Intrusion Screening Level (VISL) Calculator; instructions on using VISL are included in RR-0136.

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Jennifer Borski at Jennifer.Borski@wisconsin.gov.

Now Available: Guidance on Addressing Contaminated Sediment Sites in Wisconsin (RR-0124)

Posted on by Jodie Thistle

Following a public comment period, the publication Guidance on Addressing Contaminated Sediment Sites in Wisconsin (RR-0124) 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.

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.

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Carrie Webb at CarrieA.Webb@wisconsin.gov.

Now Available: Publication Brownfields Redevelopment in Wisconsin (RR-933)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

Following a public comment period, the publication Brownfields Redevelopment in Wisconsin (RR-933) 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.

The purpose of the guidance is to provide a definition of brownfield and provide essential steps and resources for successful redevelopment of brownfield properties.

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Michael Prager at Michael.Prager@wisconsin.gov.

Now Available: Publication Local Government Environmental Liability Exemptions and Responsibilities in Wisconsin (RR-055)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

Following a public comment period, the publication Local Government Environmental Liability Exemptions and Responsibilities in Wisconsin (RR-055) 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.

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. DNR brownfields staff can help LGUs understand the exemption before taking title to a contaminated property and provide liability clarification letters.

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Michael Prager at Michael.Prager@wisconsin.gov.