Jumpstart Redevelopment with Wisconsin Assessment Monies

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

The Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) program helps address brownfields sites throughout the state where closed or closing industrial plants are acting as impediments to economic redevelopment. The DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides assistance by offering contractor services for completion of Phase I and II environmental assessments and limited site investigation. This program helps jump-start the process of turning properties around and getting them ready for new uses. Minimal project administration is required by the recipient and there are no matching funds required.

Clip Art of a Building

WAM is made available by a grant from the U.S. EPA at the request of the DNR and Wisconsin’s Regional Planning Commissions (jointly, the Wisconsin Brownfields Coalition).

Sites assisted by WAM are generally less than 10 acres and have petroleum or hazardous substance contamination that can be assessed for less than $35,000.  Applications for WAM services are accepted on an ongoing basis.

For more information about WAM, including eligibility requirements:

Email Tom at Thomas.Coogan@Wisconsin.gov

New Tools Available for Vapor Intrusion Professionals

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

The RR Program recently added four, new online tools to our vapor intrusion (VI) prevention web page to assist environmental professionals as they prepare VI assessments or plan for outreach on a site impacted by vapor intrusion.

Three of these tools are located on the Vapor Intrusion for Environmental Professionals website, under the “community outreach” tab, and include:

  1. Vapor Intrusion 101 video uses a hand drawn animation technique to introduce the concept of vapor intrusion. It is intended for use in conjunction with factsheets and personal communication when talking with a property owner who is unfamiliar with vapor intrusion.
  2. The Responsible Neighbor – A Vapor Intrusion Story video shares an important message for consultants, attorneys, and RPs on how good communication with neighbors benefits everyone involved with an environmental cleanup.
  3. RR-067: Vapor Intrusion Investigation – Information Sheet for Neighbors can be given to an off-site property owner when access is needed to investigate vapor intrusion on their property. This factsheet provides an introduction to environmental investigations, identifies the parties involved, and clarifies who the property owner can contact with questions.

The fourth new tool is on the same web page, under the “screening levels” tab:

  1. Quick Look-Up Table for VALs and VRSL Wisconsin’s Vapor Action Levels (VALs) and Vapor Risk Screening Levels (VRSLs) have changed over time due to updates to EPA’s risk calculations and changes in default attenuation factors. History of Changes to VALs, VRSLs and Attenuation Factors for Common VOCs is a quick reference to the historical screening levels and the dates when changes occurred, and is intended to clarify the basis for past decisions at a site.

Questions about these new tools or other issues related to vapor intrusion can be directed to Alyssa Sellwood, the RR Program’s VI specialist.

 

 

Wisconsin’s Remediation and Redevelopment Database

Posted on by Zachary Teicher
RR Sites Map Mobile Device

RR Sites Map is accessible via desktop computers, tablets and smart phones.

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program in the DNR oversees the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination and the redevelopment of affected properties in Wisconsin. The RR Program also maintains a public database that contains information about known hazardous substance discharges to the environment, investigations, cleanup activities, closure requests, remaining actions needed, spills requiring emergency attention and more. This public database is called the Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) on the Web (BOTW).

BOTW is augmented by an associated GIS mapping application, called RR Sites Map, which provides a visual representation of data available in BOTW. This interactive map allows users to geographically search for open and closed sites, obtain basic information about a site, click on a link that goes directly to full site information, and more. RR Sites Map is accessible via desktop computers, tablets and smart phones.

Together, BOTW and RR Sites Map are collectively referred to as the Wisconsin Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Database (WRRD). These two public tools provide easy online access to detailed information about conditions and environmental activities at tens-of-thousands of cleanup sites around the state. This database was formerly referred to as CLEAN, the Contaminated Lands Environmental Action Network.

Green Team Assistance for Local Governments

Posted on by Zachary Teicher
Green Team Meeting

The DNR’s “Green Team” meetings bring important parties together to discuss issues, answer key questions and give everyone a better understanding of the project.

Contaminated land often raises liability concerns, technical issues and funding questions. The DNR’s “Green Team” meetings bring important parties in the cleanup and redevelopment process together to discuss issues, answer key questions and give everyone a better understanding of the project at hand. DNR staff are available to discuss liability protections, regulatory processes and financial assistance available for the investigation, remediation and redevelopment of a contaminated property.

Green Team meetings are an effective and efficient way for local governments and others to evaluate options, plan for and work through a brownfield project. Many successful brownfield redevelopment projects in Wisconsin start with a local Green Team meeting. Funding from the EPA helps make this possible.

DNR staff participate in more than 100 Green Team meetings annually. Additional information, including a list of meetings held so far this year, can be found in the Section 128(a) Grant Mid-Year Report.

To learn more about Green Team meetings in general, visit the RR Program’s Green Team assistance web page.

New RR Program Staff

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

The RR Program recently hired four new staff. Two are from outside the program; two are from within, accepting new assignments. They are:

South Central Region Team Supervisor: Steve L. Martin.

Steve is a trained hydrogeologist and has spent most of his 25-plus years working in the private sector. Steve has worked on a wide variety of contaminants across many regulatory programs such as CERCLA, RCRA and NR 700 and has extensive experience as a project manager and supervising teams of hydrogeologists. He’s been with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for the last four years, working on remediating sites affected by agricultural chemicals. Steve started with the agency on May 15 and is located in the South Central Region headquarters in Fitchburg.

Waste Management Engineer: Angela Carey

Angela is the engineering technical advisor for all RR program projects. She is responsible for providing assistance with planning, coordinating and evaluating engineering aspects of projects within the RR Program including evaluating alternatives for site remediation, particularly the design and construction/implementation of remedial actions, including untried, new and innovative remedial action technologies. She will also evaluate response action performance at state lead projects and conduct periodic optimization evaluations. Angela will serve as an expert for PCB/TSCA cleanups, hazardous waste requirements at cleanup sites, and RCRA Corrective Actions.  She will also assist with sites in the Superfund and Superfund Alternative program. Angela’s first day with the Program was April 17.

Northeast Region Spills Coordinator: Rick Joslin

Rick started in the RR Program’s Green Bay Office in 2015 as a hydrogeologist and back-up regional spills coordinator. For the last year he’s been acting as the Regional Spills Coordinator while maintaining his responsibilities as a project manager. Rick has worked in the environmental consulting industry for the past 14 years and has been involved with projects in the agriculture, commercial, industrial, government, and solid waste practice areas. Rick’s new position was effective as of May 15.

West Central Region Spill Coordinator: Pat Collins

Pat has 38 years of experience, the last 26 of which has been as a project manager in the RR Program, with three of those years as the backup spills coordinator for the region. Pat has a BS in Soil Science, as well as post-graduate coursework in hydrogeology. In addition, Pat is a Professional Soil Scientist and a Certified Soil Tester, registered in Wisconsin. Pat’s new position was effective as of May 15.

Snapshot: PECFA Financials

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

The RR Program will provide monthly updates in the RR Report on the status of PECFA claims and the overall PECFA budget. The table below provides information on the number and value of claims submitted, the number and value of claims audited and ready for payment, and the remaining available funding.

 

Number of claims in house 32
Value of claims in house $152,393
Number of claims audited and ready for payment 8
Value of claims audited and ready for payment $22,103
Current available PECFA funding $1,212,342
Total spent FY17 appropriation $4,462,071

180 Days and June 30, 2020: Two “Dates” to Remember

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

If you’re a PECFA claimant or a consultant planning to seek reimbursement for costs incurred on PECFA-eligible sites, you’re reminded of two very important deadlines:

  • PECFA claims must be submitted to the DNR within 180 days of incurring costs (i.e., completing a task).  If a claim for costs incurred is not submitted within this deadline, the costs will not be eligible for PECFA reimbursement; and
  • All claims must be submitted by June 30, 2020, which is the day that the PECFA program will end in Wisconsin.

The DNR considers the date of submittal to the DNR to be the date a claim is emailed, postmarked, faxed or hand-delivered. If you plan to hand-deliver a claim, the DNR suggests getting a date stamp from the DNR staff person who receives the claim as a best management practice.

It would be most advantageous for sites in the PECFA program to have a Site Investigation and Remedial Action Options Report complete and submitted to DNR by now in order to be on track for closure by the June 30, 2020 if reimbursement is being sought.

Your DNR Project Manager can assist you with meeting that deadline.

Submit W-9s and STAR Vendor Forms as Separate PDFs

Posted on by Zachary Teicher

Claims to the PECFA program are subject to open record requests. In order to keep personally identifiable information protected, the RR Program requests that you submit your W-9 and STAR Vendor forms as two individual PDFs separate from your claim documents. This will allow program staff to easily delete these files and the sensitive information after verification.

Both the W-9 (IRS Form W-9) and the STAR Vendor form (DOA-6457) can be found on the RR Program’s PECFA web page (http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/brownfields/pecfa.html) under the “Documents” tab near the top of the page.

Certificate of Completion Issued for Large Madison Brownfield

Posted on by elisabethkuisis
Sign at Royster Clark Property with contact information and list of financial supporters.

The Royster Clark project benefited from several financial incentives including the DNR’s Ready for Reuse program.

After more than 200 environmental reports and approvals over the course of ten years, the Wisconsin DNR issued a final Certificate of Completion for the former Royster-Clark facility in Madison. The Certificate of Completion was issued in March 2017 when the Wisconsin DNR approved the final investigation and remedial action and provided a liability exemption through the Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE) program.

The 27 acre Royster-Clark facility was once a fertilizer factory operating from 1952 until it closed in 2006. In 2011, Ruedebusch Development and Construction (RDC), a Madison-based real estate developer, purchased the property and took on the task of cleanup and redevelopment of the unique project.

The cleanup included contamination from leaking underground storage tanks and the excavation of more than 50,000 tons of nitrogen-contaminated soil removed from the site. The property went through extensive meetings, planning and approvals from the neighborhood association and the city of Madison. The redevelopment, some of which is already complete, includes affordable housing, market rate apartments, and commercial development, including a new public library branch and potential grocery store. The project also includes 50+ lots ready for single family homes.

The cleanup project benefited from several financial incentives including the Wisconsin DNR’s Ready for Reuse program, which is funded through a RLF brownfields grant from the EPA, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation grants, and funding from the city of Madison.

DNR Hosts Nearly 300 at Consultants’ Day Events

Posted on by elisabethkuisis
Attendees listening to presentations.

The DNR welcomed nearly 300 guests and staff to Consultants’ Day 2017.

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program at DNR would like to thank the nearly 300 guests and staff who recently attended Consultants’ Day events in Stevens Point and Pewaukee. Guests heard from a number of program staff on subjects such as submittals required by NR 700.11, site investigation completeness, PAH reassessment, case closure reconsideration, modifications to continuing obligations and vapor intrusion outreach. A video recording of the presentations given at the Pewaukee location will soon be available for on-demand viewing on the program’s Conference and Training webpage at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Brownfields/Training.html.