PECFA Usual & Customary Schedule #25 Now Available Online

The Usual & Customary (U&C) Cost Standardized Invoice #25 and Task Reference Guide #25 are now available for January 2019 through June 2019.

Both documents are available on the Remediation and Redevelopment Program’s PECFA webpage on the reimbursement tab.

Please note the following updates:

  • A 10 percent increase in the mobilization/demobilization rates compared to the previous schedule, and
  • All standard labor rates have increased by three percent over the U&C #24 rates, and
  • The following sub-tasks based wholly or partially on labor rates were increased:
    • WAB32 increased to $81.58 to reflect the new field professional rate, and
    • VIS05 increased to $510.26 to reflect the new staff professional rate.

For additional information, please review the Task Reference Guide #25.

NR 700 Semi-Annual Reporting Due Soon

Semi-annual reporting for the period of July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 is due February 1, 2019. 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 the DNR with your unique report identification number was sent during the first week of January 2019. 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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DNR Interim Decision on Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE) Program and Emerging Contaminants

Wisconsin’s Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE) program allows a person to clean up a property and receive an exemption from future liability for historic contamination. Once cleanup is complete, the VPLE Certificate of Completion (COC) provides liability protection for the owner of the property. It is also transferrable to future owners. Since 1995, the DNR has issued 186 COCs. Eighty-three voluntary parties are currently pursuing a VPLE COC.

Recent concerns over emerging contaminants, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) chemicals in Wisconsin and nationally have prompted the DNR to evaluate the potential for historical discharges of PFAS and other emerging contaminants at properties enrolled in the VPLE program that are pursuing a COC.

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RR Program Requesting NR Board Approval to Initiate Rulemaking

On January 23, 2019, the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will seek the approval of the Natural Resource Board (NRB) to initiate the rulemaking process for revisions to select provisions of Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700799, Environmental Protection – Investigation and Remediation of Environmental Contamination.

Pursuant to Wisconsin’s administrative rulemaking process, the RR Program has prepared two statements of scope that detail the proposed content of the rulemaking.  These scope statements have been approved by the governor are now available online in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

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New Document Submittal Portal for RR Program

The Remediation and Redevelopment program’s new RR Program Submittal Portal is now live and available to use.

The new portal allows consultants and other customers to submit documents required by Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700-754 related to the assessment, investigation, cleanup, closure, or redevelopment of contaminated properties.

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FET to Host Brownfields Seminar

The South Central Wisconsin chapter of the Federation of Environmental Technologists (FET) will host a half-day seminar on brownfields redevelopment topics on Tuesday, February 26, 2019.

The event will take place at the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District facility, located at 1610 Moorland Road. Seminar speakers will provide information related to brownfields development and compliance in Wisconsin. Presentation topics include:

  • An update and overview of Wisconsin’s Brownfields Study Group
  • Online resources for potential brownfields projects
  • An update on vapor intrusion issues
  • Redevelopment funding sources
  • Brownfields case studies

Please visit the FET website for more information and for registration instructions.

 

 

Public Input Opportunity: PECFA Usual & Customary Schedule #25

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program seeks your input on the Usual & Customary (U&C) Task Reference Guide #25 (RR-107) and U&C Schedule Standard Invoice #25 (RR-107a). Both documents are available on the Wisconsin DNR’s proposed program guidance web page.

Comments on these documents are due by December 30, 2018, and may be directed to Jenna.Soyer@wisconsin.gov.

Document updates include a 10 percent increase in the mobilization / demobilization (mobs/demobs) rates compared to the previous schedule, and all standard labor rates have increased by three percent.

NR 712 Consultant Qualification Guidance Posted

Following much collaboration and public comment, Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 712 Qualifications and Certifications (RR-081) is now available. In addition to the guidance being available on the Remediation and Redevelopment program’s Publications and Forms search page, it can also be found on the program’s web page for Environmental Professionals.

The document identifies the professional qualifications and certifications for performing and supervising work required by Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 712, and the requirement for certifying specific submittals for actions conducted under Wis. Stat. ch. 292 and Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700 – 754.

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Save the Date: Consultants’ Day Events in Spring 2019

Plans are underway for the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program to host two Consultants’ Day events in the spring of 2019.

The first day-long conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30 in Stevens Point at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. The second conference will take place on Thursday, May 9 in Pewaukee at the former Country Springs Conference Center (now called The Ingleside).

The two conference may vary slightly, with possible changes to geographical references or examples to make the conference more relevant to the location, but will essentially be the same.

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Kansas State TAB Program Offers EPA Grant Review

With the competitive nature of securing an EPA Multipurpose, Assessment, or Cleanup (MAC) grant, it doesn’t hurt to have an objective review of your grant application. (See Nov. 30 RR Report article regarding EPA MAC Grants)

The Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB) program at Kansas State University provides such a review of your MAC grant proposals. The review is available for applicants in EPA Regions 5 through 8.

Staff at “K State” request at least a week’s notice that you will be sending a draft of the MAC application for review. The review is free of charge and can usually be turned around within a few days.

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