Reminder Letter Sent to Responsible Parties to Evaluate for Emerging Contaminants During Site Investigations

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The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is sending 3,038 letters to parties responsible for cleanup at open remediation sites in Wisconsin.

The letter is a reminder to those responsible parties (RPs) to consider per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or other suspected emerging contaminants (e.g. 1,4 – Dioxane) during the site investigation scoping phase of their remediation efforts, per NR 716.07 and NR 716.09. A site investigation may be considered incomplete if the RP does not consider and address all hazardous substances or environmental pollution at a known site or facility subject to ch. 292, Wis. Stats., including emerging contaminants like PFAS.  Failure to do so could result in the need for additional assessment work or field work and potential closure delays.

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Employment Opportunities: Regional Spills Coordinator and Complex Sites Project Manger

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The Wisconsin DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program is hiring a Regional Spills Coordinator and a Complex Sites Project Manager.

Both positions will be stationed in Dane County – the Regional Spills Coordinator at the Fitchburg DNR office, and the Complex Sites Project Manager at the downtown Madison DNR office. Note that DNR staff are teleworking during the current phase of the state employee Bounce Back Plan. These positions will report to the Fitchburg and Madison offices, respectively, with return to normal operations.

The deadline to apply for the Spills Coordinator position is August 18, 2020. The application deadline for the Complex Sites position is August 31, 2020.

For additional information, please see the job announcement for the Spills Coordinator position or the Complex Sites position.

Coastal Management Grants Available

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The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) seeks proposals to enhance, preserve, protect and restore resources within the state’s coastal zone – all counties adjacent to Lakes Superior and Michigan – with their nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline. The WCMP anticipates awarding up to $1.5 million in grant funding.

Applications are due November 2, 2020.

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Register Today for the 2020 EPA Region 5 Brownfields Grant-writing Virtual Workshop

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Please join the Wisconsin DNR, U.S. EPA Region 5 state partners and representatives from the Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB) program at Kansas State University for a no-cost brownfields grant-writing webinar on August 25, 2020 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. (CST).

This reuse and redevelopment of abandoned, idled, or underutilized real property (a.k.a. brownfields) are both a challenge and an opportunity. Putting these sites back into productive use can serve as a catalyst for local economic revitalization.

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Issues & Trends – August PFAS Webinar Postponed

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Due to unforeseen circumstances, the August 18, 2020 Issues & Trends webinar, PFAS: Fate and Transport, Site Characterization and Remediation with Ginny Yingling from the Minnesota Department of Health has been postponed.

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will share information regarding a reschedule date as soon as it has been determined.

Please visit the RR Program conference and training web page for the latest information and to register for any Issues & Trends webinars.

 

Reminder: Issues & Trends Webinar on August 18, 2020 – PFAS: Fate and Transport, Site Characterization and Remediation

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The Remediation and Redevelopment Program reminds you that the next webinar in the Issues & Trends series will take place on Tuesday, August 18 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The presentation is a discussion of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) with Ginny Yingling. Ginny is a senior hydrogeologist in the Environmental Health Division of the Minnesota Department of Health. Since 2003, she has been the agency’s lead PFAS investigator. Ginny also served as the co-chair of the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council’s PFAS Team that developed an in-depth report on the current state of PFAS science and related factsheets, online training modules, workshops and a risk communication toolkit.

Ginny Yingling, MN DHS

The unique nature PFAS present significant challenges to environmental professionals, from identifying potential sources, to characterizing sites and the human and ecological risks they may pose, to determining appropriate and effective remedial actions. This presentation will review the current understanding of PFAS (and what we don’t know) and how various states are responding to these unique environmental contaminants.

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

 

NR 700 Reporting Due July 30

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Semi-annual reporting for the period of January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 is due July 30, 2020. Semi-annual reporting is required of responsible parties (RPs) for all “open” sites, including those sites the DNR formerly classified as “conditionally closed” in the BRRTS online database. Consultants may submit these reports on behalf of the RPs.

An email from DNR with your unique report identification number was sent during the first week of July 2020. If you did not receive an email, you can request a Report ID number by submitting the Report ID Request Form. The Report ID number you will receive uniquely identifies the activity for which you wish to report, the reporting period, and verifies the person using the ID is authorized to submit the report. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Zeichert at (608) 266-5788.

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Public meeting for input on proposed emergency rule RR-11-17E

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The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will host the second of two public meetings to seek input on the development of revisions to Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700–799, Environmental Protection – Investigation and Remediation of Environmental Contamination.

The meeting will focus on gathering input regarding proposed emergency rules (board order RR-11-17E). The proposed emergency rules implement statutory financial assurance requirements under 2015 Wis. Act 204 that apply to certain types of sites with contaminated sediment.

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Consultants’ Day 2020 Now Online Webinars Series; Issues & Trends Returns

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The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program to postpone in-person Consultants’ Day 2020 events in Stevens Point and Pewaukee. However, those same topics (and more) will be presented in a monthly webinar series, the first of which will be held on July 15th.

The new series is modeled after the RR Program’s Issues & Trends monthly conference calls and is now simply referred to as the new Issues & Trends.

The upcoming Issues & Trends presentations will be held using Zoom web conferencing. There is no cost to participate, but Zoom will request that you register for each event by supplying your name and email address.

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COVID-19 Update

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Thank you for your patience as state agencies continue their core operations in response to the COVID-19 health emergency.  As we all work together, please understand that most of our staff are continuing teleworking and may have limited access to files and on-line connectivity. The department is following the state of Wisconsin Badger Bounce Back plan’s phased approach to the resumption of activities that have been delayed or put on hold.

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