Reminder Letter Sent To Responsible Parties To Prioritize Vapor Intrusion Evaluations At Sites With TCE

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is sending a reminder letter regarding vapor intrusion to parties responsible for cleanup at open remediation sites in Wisconsin. A copy of the letter will also be sent to the responsible party’s (RP) environmental consultant.

The letter is a reminder to RPs and consultants that the potential for short-term (i.e., acute) health risks associated with trichloroethylene (TCE) in indoor air are serious enough that it should be one of the first things evaluated as part of a site investigation. This is especially true on sites where contamination may impact sensitive populations and should be routinely reassessed throughout a project’s life to ensure protectiveness.

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DNR Adopts the Department of Health Services’ Recommended Hazard Index (HI) Approach

DNR Adopts the Department of Health Services’ Recommended Hazard Index (HI) Approach for Evaluating Human Health Risk of Certain PFAS due to Ingestion of Drinking Water

On Nov. 6, 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) provided the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommended groundwater standards for 16 PFAS substances (known as “Cycle 11”). Shortly thereafter, DHS provided recommendations to DNR for utilizing a hazard index approach to assess the cumulative risk of these PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS from Cycle 10. The hazard index risk assessment approach is used to assess the cumulative risks of compounds with similar health effects that are typically found as mixtures in environmental samples. This approach has been employed by DHS to evaluate certain classes of pesticides and volatile organic compounds as well as by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate the risk posed by non-carcinogenic chemicals found at Superfund sites.

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Reminder: Issues & Trends Webinar on April 20, 2021: Vapor Intrusion – Acute Risk Associated with TCE

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program reminds you that the next webinar in the Issues & Trends series will take place on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The scheduled presentation is: Vapor Intrusion – Acute Risk Associated with TCE.

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DNR Requests NRB Adoption of Permanent Rule RR-10-17 on April 14, 2021

As part of a continuing effort to ensure efficient and effective guidance and standards for the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites in Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is working with key public and industry stakeholders, state agencies, the State Legislature, the governor and the general public to update portions of chs. NR 700-799, Wis. Adm. Code.

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RR Program’s Contaminated Sites Database Viewer Updated

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program has updated the public interface of its online database of open and closed cleanup sites with new functions and a style that matches the DNR’s redesigned website.

BRRTS On The Web (BOTW) is our searchable, public database that allows users to find information about the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination in Wisconsin.

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New Guidance And Training For Investigation And Remediation Of 1,4-Dioxane

Newly updated and comprehensive information related to the investigation and cleanup of 1,4-dioxane is now available from the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC).

View the fact sheets and guidance documents on ITRC’s website.

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Public Input Opportunity Ends Soon for Publication RR-606, Guidance on the Case Closure Process and Continuing Obligations: Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 725 to727

The public comment period ends next week (March 24, 2021) for publication RR-606, Guidance on the Case Closure Process and Continuing Obligations: Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 725 to 727.

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance web page under the “Program Guidance” tab. Comments may be submitted through March 24, 2021 to Jane Lemcke at Jane.Lemcke@wisconsin.gov or DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

The purpose of the guidance is to guide users in preparing for a case closure request, particularly at sites where contamination remains after response actions are complete and continuing obligations are needed to address exposure pathways. This guidance document is intended for use by responsible parties, consultants or other interested parties, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection staff.

Reminder: Issues & Trends Webinar on March 16, 2021: BRRTS on the Web (BOTW) Updates and Highlights of the RR Sites Map (RRSM) User Survey

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

The scheduled presentation features updates to BRRTS on the Web (BOTW) and highlights of the user survey related to the RR Sites Map (RRSM).

A Zoom web conferencing registration link, along with a schedule of future Issues & Trends presentations, may be found on the RR Program’s Conferences and Training webpage.

Danielle Wincensten and Jesse Papez, data services and GIS specialists with the RR program will demonstrate recent improvements to BOTW and discuss results of a user survey, including ways that survey responses have been, and could be, addressed in the RRSM application. BOTW and RRSM are the two applications that allow the public to access the RR program’s online database of Wisconsin’s contaminated land activities.

Recordings of previous Issues & Trends webinars can be found in the RR Program’s Training Library.

Wisconsin Adjusts PFAS Default Reporting List for Regulatory Sampling and Lab Certification from 36 to 33 PFAS Compounds

After careful consideration, effective March 1, 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) no longer expects regulated entities, unless otherwise directed by DNR, to sample for or laboratories to report three of the 36 PFAS compounds on the default PFAS list. Site-specific circumstances may influence whether the DNR approves a deviation for sampling for those 33 PFAS compounds.

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Public Input Opportunity – Publication RR-606, Guidance on the Case Closure Process and Continuing Obligations: Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 725 to727

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is now seeking input on the publication RR-606, Guidance on the Case Closure Process and Continuing Obligations: Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 725 to 727.

The purpose of the guidance is to guide users in preparing for a case closure request, particularly at sites where contamination remains after response actions are complete and continuing obligations are needed to address exposure pathways. This guidance document is intended for use by responsible parties, consultants or other interested parties, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection staff.

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance web page under the “Program Guidance” tab. Comments may be submitted through March 24, 2021 to Jane Lemcke at Jane.Lemcke@wisconsin.gov or DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.