RR Program Seeks Two Hydrogeologists

Posted on by Christine Sieger

*Correction: deadline to apply was incorrectly written as June 12, 2023. Updated to the correct date of July 12, 2023. 

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is recruiting two hydrogeologists. These positions will be filled at the Entry or Senior level depending on applicant qualifications.

Both positions will be located in the DNR’s Milwaukee, WI office The deadline to apply is July 12, 2023*.

Hydrogeologist – Entry

  • This is a technical position in which the incumbent must have solid knowledge of geology and hydrogeology, well hydraulics, chemistry, soil science, environmental cleanups, and biological processes in subsurface soil and groundwater environments. Job duties include gathering data on potentially contaminated sites, analyzing and interpreting site data, applying State regulations and standards to cleanup efforts, and processing the submittals of documentation completed for all stages of a project. This position is supervised by the Southeast Region RR Team Supervisor for work assignments.
  •  Full position description.

Hydrogeologist – Senior

  • This is a technical position in which the incumbent must have a detailed knowledge of geology, hydrogeology, contaminate transport, chemistry, vapor intrusion, soil science, remedial system design, and biological processes in subsurface soil and groundwater environments. Specifically, this involves providing technical advice to responsible parties, their consultants, local government units and officials and other staff in the region for actions taken to address soil and groundwater contamination at Leaking Underground Storage Tank, Environmental Repair Program, Brownfield Redevelopment, Spill, Abandoned Landfill, Dry Cleaner Program and hazardous waste remediation sites throughout the region. This position is supervised by the Southeast Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Team Supervisor for work assignments This position will evaluate and approve work on complex sites, often having program-wide policy impacts.
  • Full position description.

Additional information, including necessary qualifications, is available online at the Wisc.jobs website (Job ID number 10914).

DNR To Hold Remediation And Redevelopment External Advisory Group Meeting

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host its quarterly Remediation and Redevelopment External Advisory Group (RR EAG) meeting from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, July 13, 2023.

The DNR’s RR Program oversees the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination and the redevelopment of contaminated properties. The DNR has a business need to receive constructive and practical input from, and provide information to, interested parties on a wide variety of regulatory and policy issues.

The RR EAG was formed to address a broad range of issues encompassing both technical and policy topics related to encouraging the investigation, cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites.

The RR EAG meetings are open to the public. In-person attendees should RSVP to Jody.Irland@wisconsin.gov by noon on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

In-person attendance appreciated, if you feel comfortable, to encourage a more productive discussion.

EVENT DETAILS
What: Remediation and Redevelopment External Advisory Group Meeting
When: 9 a.m. – noon on Thursday, July 13, 2023
Where: DNR La Crosse Service Center
Room B-19
3550 Mormon Coulee Rd
La Crosse, WI 54601

Register to join the meeting via Zoom.

Visit the DNR’s RR EAG webpage for meeting agendas, materials and additional information. Subscribe for updates on future meetings.

Updates To Remediation And Redevelopment Program Guidance And Publications Search Tool

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Remediation And Redevelopment (RR) Program Guidance And Publication Search Tool is currently undergoing maintenance that will result in a new look and web address, https://widnr.widencollective.com/portals/n3gjtfty/RRDocumentSearchPortal.

Starting June 30, 2023, the former web address will no longer be accessible and will result in a ‘page not found’ error. During the transition, both links will be active. Please update your bookmarks as soon as possible.

The update to the search tool includes a visual interface featuring publications, templates and forms as searchable collections. Multiple documents can be selected and downloaded at once and documents can be viewed in the web browser. Traditional search tools (i.e., general search and by subject/keyword) are available in the upper left-hand corner of each collection.

Links to other RR Program webpages, publications and documents should be unaffected. Contact DNRRRWebRequests@wisconsin.gov if you experience any issues.

NR 700 Reporting Due July 30, 2023

Posted on by Christine Sieger

Semi-annual reporting for the period of Jan. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023, is due by July 30, 2023. Semi-annual reporting is required of responsible parties for all open sites, including those sites the DNR formerly classified as “conditionally closed” in the Bureau for Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) online database. Consultants may submit these reports on behalf of responsible parties.

The DNR sent an email with a unique Report Identification (ID) number to contacts of sites listed in the database during early January 2023. If you do not receive an email by June 30, 2023, you can request a Report ID number by submitting the Report ID Request Form.

The Report ID number uniquely identifies the activity you can report, the reporting period and verifies the person using the Report ID is authorized to submit the report. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Zeichert at Timothy.Zeichert@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-2240.

State law requires semi-annual reports from people who meet the definition of a responsible party in Wisconsin Administrative Code ch. NR 700. Property owners, such as local governments, that have an exemption under Wisconsin Statutes §§ 292.11(9)(e) or 292.23 and lenders that have an exemption under Wisconsin Statute § 292.21 for specific properties are not required to submit a semi-annual report for those exempt properties under state law.

Sites formerly classified by the DNR as “conditionally closed” are open sites that have not been granted case closure and, by definition, have remaining action(s) needed (e.g., properly abandoning monitoring wells or investigative waste needing to be removed).

Semi-annual reporting for sites formerly classified as “conditionally closed” should indicate what actions are being taken to complete the remaining actions.
The next reporting period is from July 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023.

New Web Address For The Bureau Of Remediation And Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) On The Web (BOTW)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) on the Web (BOTW) is currently undergoing maintenance that will result in a new web address: https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/botw.

During the transition, both web addresses will be active. Please update your bookmarks as soon as possible.

Links to other RR Program webpages, publications and documents should be unaffected. Contact Sonya Rowe at Sonya.Rowe@wisconsin.gov if you experience any issues.

Public Input Opportunity – Publication: Local Government Environmental Liability Exemptions and Responsibilities in Wisconsin (RR-055)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is now seeking input on the publication Local Government Environmental Liability Exemptions and Responsibilities in Wisconsin (RR-055).

The purpose of this guidance is to provide basic information about Wisconsin’s local government unit environmental liability exemption (LGU exemption). The method of property acquisition used by an LGU determines if the exemption is acquired or applicable. DNR brownfields staff can help LGUs understand the exemption before taking title to a contaminated property and provide liability clarification letters.

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under the “Program Guidance” tab. Comments may be submitted through June 7, 2023, to Michael Prager at Michael.Prager@wisconsin.gov or DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.

Updates To The RR Sites Map And Polygon Layers

Posted on by Christine Sieger

RR Sites Map (RRSM) is undergoing updates that will include the removal of some of the polygon area layers. Polygon layers show site or property boundaries on RRSM and may include outdated or inconsistent spatial information.

Polygon layers will remain for Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE), Facility-wide and Green Space grant site boundaries. Users can generally find more detailed information related to the layout of the specific activities in reports available on the Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) on the Web (BOTW).

Please contact Sonya.Rowe@wisconsin.gov with technical issues during this transition process.

NEW EPA Resources For All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI)

Posted on by Christine Sieger

In Feb. 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) published a final rule to amend the EPA’s Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI). The new rule allows the use of ASTM International Designation E1527–21, Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process, to satisfy AAI requirements.

The EPA recently published several new resources that address the new ASTM standard for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (E1527-21):

AAI is a process of evaluating the environmental conditions and assessing potential liability for contamination at a property and is completed prior to a property transaction. Satisfying AAI is one of the requirements for the innocent landowner, contiguous property owner, or bona fide prospective purchaser limitations on Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) liability.

The amended AAI rule allows parties acquiring properties to use the most up-to-date industry standard practice for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments to comply with the AAI Rule requirements. It also allows the previous standard practice, ASTM Designation E1527-13, to be used for one year after publication of the rule.

ITRC Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Training Series On June 1 And June 6

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) will offer online vapor intrusion training over two sessions on June 1 and June 6, 2023.

Environmental professionals are encouraged to register at the CLU-IN Vapor Intrusion Mitigation webpage.

The Vapor Intrusion Mitigation training series provides an overview of vapor intrusion mitigation and presents information on how to utilize the ITRC’s Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Interactive Directory. The interactive directory includes up-to-date fact sheets, technology information sheets and checklists. DNR staff participated in the development of both the technical resources and training.

The training consists of a series of eight modules on the topics listed below and will be presented over two, two-hour sessions:

Session 1 – June 1, 2023 | Noon-2 p.m.
Topics Include:

  • Introduction and overview of vapor intrusion mitigation training team
  • Conceptual site models for vapor intrusion mitigation
  • Public outreach during vapor intrusion mitigation
  • Rapid response and ventilation for vapor intrusion mitigation
  • Remediation and institutional controls

Session 2 – June 6, 2023 | Noon-2 p.m.
Topics Include:

  • Active mitigation approaches
  • Passive mitigation approaches
  • System verification, OM&M and exit strategies

 

Brownfields 2023 Conference Travel Scholarships Available

Posted on by Christine Sieger

Are you part of a community group, non-profit organization, environmental justice group or other organization that is interested in attending the 2023 National Brownfields Training Conference, Aug. 8-11, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan?

Travel scholarships might be available to you! Travel scholarships include registration fees and housing for four nights. Limited scholarships are available – the deadline to apply is May 17 at 11:59 p.m. Access the application and additional information on the Brownfields 2023 Travel Scholarship webpage.

What is the benefit of attending the 2023 National Brownfields Training Conference?

The brownfields conference is a platform to connect and learn best practices of cleanup and reuse of contaminated properties from a variety of industry stakeholders. The theme of this year’s conference is “Sustainable Communities Start Here,” which will cover topics such as financing, liability, community engagement, and the latest brownfields technologies and strategies. The 180 sessions, workshops, and networking events are curated to help you gain inspiration and strategies for revitalizing communities, catalyzing economic growth, restoring the environment and protecting the public health.

When: Aug. 8-11, 2023
Where: Hunting Place, Detroit, Michigan
More information available on the Brownfields 2023 website.