Site Investigations Basics; TAB Webinar on May 2, 2019

Posted on by Mick

Register today for a free webinar about the environmental assessment and investigation of real property and how the results of these processes impact redevelopment options.

The webinar is May 2, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. (CST), and is sponsored by the National Technical Assistance to Brownfields Program, which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You can register here: https://www.ksutab.org/education/webinars/details?id=352.

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RR Program Seeks Four Hydrogeologists

Posted on by Mick

The DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program has four Hydrogeologist positions to fill; two positions in the Milwaukee office, one position based in either Ashland, Park Falls, Rhinelander or Superior, and one position based in the Eau Claire office. All four jobs will be filled at the senior level position.

These are technical positions in which the qualified candidate must have solid knowledge of geology and hydrogeology, well hydraulics, chemistry, soil science, environmental clean-ups, and biological processes in subsurface soil and groundwater environments. They support regional coordination of a major environmental program that affects other department programs, state agencies, local communities and the public. Specifically, this involves providing technical advice and recommendations to management, co-workers, senior staff, and central office personnel.

Please see the job announcement for details on the position descriptions and how to apply.

The deadline to apply for these positions is April 29, 2019.

Electronic Documents to be Submitted Via RR Submittal Portal

Posted on by Mick

Under the NR 700 rule series, responsible parties (RPs), or their representative, must provide DNR with one paper copy and one electronic copy of all submitted documents, including those related to case closure requests. These submittal requirements can be found in Wis. Admin. Code § NR 700.11 (3g), as well as throughout Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700 ‐ 754 for specific situations.

Since January 2019, the RR Program has directed RPs and consultants to submit all electronic documents required by Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700-754 via the RR Program Submittal Portal.

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PFAS Technical Advisory Group – Fate and Transport Subgroup to Meet April 18

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The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will host a meeting of the PFAS Technical Advisory Group – Fate and Transport subgroup on Thursday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in Madison, at the Natural Resources Building, in Room 513.

Fate and transport of PFAS is fundamental to the investigation and cleanup of a contaminated site.

To attend the meeting in person, please RSVP to Mick Skwarok. To join the meeting via conference call, dial 1-855-947-8255, passcode 6612 745#.

The RR Program has convened the PFAS Technical Advisory Group to discuss PFAS-related concerns that are specific to the assessment and cleanup of environmental contamination. The goal of the group is to examine the what, where, when and how of PFAS investigation and remediation by sharing concerns, identifying current and proposed practices and strategizing on issues requiring solutions.

A meeting agenda and presentation materials will soon be posted on the PFAS Technical Advisory Group web page.

DNR and DHS Work Together to Improve Water Quality in Wisconsin

Posted on by Mick

The Department of Natural Resources announced two new water quality initiatives as part of Governor Evers’ Year of Clean Drinking Water declaration for 2019.

This week the DNR worked with Department of Health Services (DHS) to ask the health agency to review 40 contaminants for possible groundwater quality standards. This work comes on the heels of the department asking DHS last spring to review an initial 27 contaminants, including two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used for decades in numerous products, such as non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain resistant sprays and firefighting foam.

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NR 700 – 754 Rules Meeting on April 18, 2019

Posted on by Mick

On April 18, 2019, the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program will host a meeting to provide information and seek input on the development of revisions to select provisions of Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700–799, Environmental Protection – Investigation and Remediation of Environmental Contamination.

This meeting is part of a series of rule development meetings that the RR program is hosting as it develops proposed rule revisions.  The April 18 meeting will be a subgroup discussion of rule development regarding financial assurance costs, mechanisms, and procedures for the implementation of statutory requirements relating to:

  • Financial responsibility for engineering control and structural impediment removal at sediment cleanup sites and related requirements (new chapter NR 756) and
  • Insurance or other forms of financial responsibility for Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE) sediment cleanup sites (new chapter NR 758).

The meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the DNR’s Madison office in room 513, with remote access available.  If you plan to attend the meeting in person, please RSVP to Molly Schmidt.

To participate via conference call, please call 1-855-947-8255 using the code: 6961 559#.

Public Input Opportunity: Implementation of Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 749 and NR 750 Fees

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program seeks your input on a draft publication entitled “Implementation of Wis. Admin. Code Chs. NR 749 and NR 750 (RR-997)”.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for responsible parties, environmental consultants, and others who request technical assistance or oversight from the Department of Natural Resources’ RR Program. The guidance addresses fees for DNR oversight and assistance at sites regulated under Wis. Admin. Code chs. 700 – 754. Fees applicable to most cases are defined in Wis. Admin Code ch. NR 749. Fees for Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE) cases are defined in Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 750.

The document can be reviewed at http://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/guidance.html and comments can be submitted through May 1, 2019 to the Fiscal and Information Technology Section Chief, Jenna Soyer, at Jenna.Soyer@wisconsin.gov.

RR Program Offers New SI Checklists

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Two site investigation checklists are now available from the Wisconsin DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program.

The Site Investigation Work Plan Preparation Checklist (RR-096) and the Site Investigation Report (SIR) Preparation Checklist (RR-097) are optional tools that environmental consultants and responsible parties can use to help develop site investigation work plans and reports in compliance with Wis. Admin. Code NR 716.

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PECFA U&C Cost Schedule #25 Updates; Off-Site and Right-of-Way Notifications

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The Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program’s Usual and Customary Cost Schedule Task Reference Guide #25 (RR-107) has been updated to reflect a clarification on impacted property notifications.

All impacted off-site notifications, including right-of-way (ROW) notifications, should be claimed under Task 5, CR20. Previously, claimants or agents were instructed to claim ROW notifications under Task 7 (Regulatory Correspondence).

Please note that only one CR20 per property or ROW may be claimed, regardless of the number of notifications sent for that property or ROW. For example, if a property has four owners requiring the claimant or agent to send four letters, CR20 may still only be claimed once.

Questions about this update may be directed to Jenna Soyer, 608-267-2465.