Publications & Guidance

Now Available: Publication Soil Cleanup Standards Guidance (RR-0152)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Following a public comment period and consideration of the comments received, the publication Soil Cleanup Standards Guidance (RR-0152) is now posted and available online.  

This publication provides guidance for performing investigation and remediation of sites with contamination under Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700 – 799 and Wisconsin Statute (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292. The guidance is intended for responsible parties, property owners, environmental consultants and attorneys involved with the investigation and remediation of soil contamination.   

Soil cleanup standards for soil contamination are established in Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 720. This guidance describes how to establish and apply soil cleanup standards at a site or facility where a hazardous substance discharge impacted the soil.   

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

Public Input Opportunity – Guidance: Investigation Of Human-Made Preferential Pathways Including Utility Corridors (RR-649)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is seeking input on the updated publication Guidance: Investigation of Human-made Preferential Pathways Including Utility Corridors (RR-649). The publication explains how human-made preferential pathways can influence contaminant migration of vapor and groundwater, soil or surface water and includes specific information on vapor migration in utility corridors. The guidance describes methods and options to assess and sample the pathways to meet the requirements of Wis. Admin. Code § NR 716.11(5)(a) and incorporates new information from studies and investigations published since 2021. 

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under Current Notices. Comments may be submitted through Sept. 7, 2026, to DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

Now Available: Guidance: What Landowners Should Know About Using Natural Attenuation To Clean Up Contaminated Groundwater (RR-671)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Following a public comment period and consideration of the comments received, the publication Guidance: What Landowners Should Know About Using Natural Attenuation to Clean Up Contaminated Groundwater (RR-671) is now posted and available online.   

This publication helps property owners understand what natural attenuation is and how it can help ensure long-term protectiveness of public health, safety and the environment. The publication must be provided by responsible parties to owners of property impacted by contamination where natural attenuation is used as a final remedy to address the contamination (Wis. Admin. Code § NR 725.07(4)(a)).  

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

Contact your RR project manager or program specialist with questions.   

 

Now Available: Vapor Quick Lookup Tables (RR-136)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The updated Guidance: Vapor Quick Lookup Tables (RR-0136) and companion publication History of Changes to Vapor Quick Lookup Tables (RR-0137) are now posted and available online.  

The Vapor Quick Lookup Tables (RR-0136) summarizes indoor air vapor action levels (VALs) and sub-slab, soil gas and groundwater vapor risk screening levels (VRSLs) for chemicals commonly found in Wisconsin based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Regional Screening Levels (RSLs). Changes include updated instructions when calculating the VALs and VRSLs for consistency with the Vapor Intrusion Guidance (RR-800). Additional changes to the publication and to the companion document improve the readability of information in the tables.   

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

Contact a DNR vapor intrusion specialist with any questions. 

Public Input Opportunity – Publication Soil Cleanup Standards Guidance (RR-0152)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is seeking input on the publication Soil Cleanup Standards Guidance (RR-0152). 

This publication provides guidance for persons who perform investigation and remediation of sites with contamination under Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700 – 799 and Wisconsin Statute (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292. Specifically, this guidance is intended for responsible parties, property owners, environmental consultants and attorneys involved with the investigation and remediation of soil contamination.   

Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 720 establishes soil cleanup standards for soil contamination. This guidance describes how to establish and apply soil cleanup standards at a site or facility where a hazardous substance discharge impacted the soil. 

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under Current Notices. Comments may be submitted through March 26, 2026, to  DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

Now Available: Vapor Intrusion Building Evaluation Form

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) developed a new web-based form to assist environmental professionals when completing vapor investigations and mitigation. The new Vapor Intrusion Building Evaluation (Form 4400-011) helps document building-specific information including:  

  • Ownership and occupancy
  • Construction type and use
  • Presence and number of elevators, stairwells and sumps 
  • Water supply source 
  • Wastewater disposal method 
  • Foundation details 
  • Potential vapor sources  
  • Heating, ventilation and air conditioning 

The Vapor Intrusion Building Evaluation form can be downloaded as a PDF and included as supporting information through the DNR’s RR Submittal Portal. 

New users must create a login to access the web-based form.   

Contact the DNR with questions regarding vapor intrusion. Go to the Remediation & Redevelopment Program staff contacts webpage. Click on “Vapor Intrusion Contacts.” 

Now Available: Publication Vapor Intrusion Guidance (RR-800)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Following a public comment period and consideration of the comments received, the publication Vapor Intrusion Guidance (RR-800) is now posted and available online. The publication includes: 

  • Science-based recommendations for vapor investigations and mitigation following industry research, scientific publications and collected data 
  • Updated soil and groundwater screening recommendations for chlorinated solvents 
  • Comprehensive information on: 
    • A general vapor intrusion conceptual model 
    • Variables affecting vapor intrusion 
    • Passive sampling techniques 
    • Real-time analysis and on-site laboratories 
    • Parking garages and elevators 
    • Active notification for vapor mitigation systems 
    • Continuing obligations assigned at interim action 
    • Example vapor investigation status map 
  • Building decision matrices with recommended time frames for immediate and interim response actions 
  • History of dry cleaners and other sources of chlorinated solvents 
  • Evacuated canister sub-slab vapor sampling recommendations (previously RR-986) 
  • Educational and visually descriptive figures 

The publication provides guidance for persons who investigate, remediate and mitigate contaminated sites under Wisconsin Statute (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292 and Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700 – 799. The guidance applies to sites where contaminated vapor has, or has the potential, to migrate to any current or future buildings.  

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

Subscribe to the RR Report to receive notification of future training events regarding RR-800. 

Submit questions on the publication to Jennifer Borski at Jennifer.Borski@wisconsin.gov. 

Now Available: Vapor Mitigation System Inspection Log Form

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Information gathered during inspections of vapor mitigation systems can now be submitted online through a new web-based form.  

Use the updated Vapor Mitigation System Inspection Log (Form 4400-321) to conduct annual inspections of vapor mitigation systems. Information is automatically saved, and changes can be made before the form is submitted to the DNR. In addition, related photographs can be uploaded directly to the form. 

New users must create a login to access the web-based form.  

Contact the DNR with questions regarding vapor intrusion. Go to “dnr.wi.gov” and search “RR Program Staff.” Click on “Vapor Intrusion Contacts.” Contact DNRRRVAPOR@wisconsin.gov with issues related to the forms. 

Now Available: Publication Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156) 

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

Following a public comment period and consideration of the comments received, the publication Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156) is now posted and available online.  

This publication provides guidance for persons who investigate, remediate and mitigate contaminated sites under Wisconsin Statute (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292 and Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700 – 799 and gives direction for characterization, assessment and monitoring of sites at sites where natural attenuation is under consideration as a possible remedial option for petroleum or chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination.  

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

Contact your RR project manager or program specialist with questions.  

Public Input Opportunity – Publication Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156)

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is seeking input on the publication Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156).  

This publication provides guidance for persons who investigate, remediate and mitigate contaminated sites under Wisconsin Statute (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292 and Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700 – 799 and gives direction for characterization, assessment and monitoring of sites at sites where natural attenuation is under consideration as a possible remedial option for petroleum or chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination.  

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under Current Notices. Comments may be submitted through Nov. 4, 2025, to DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.