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 Friday, April 14, 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 Thursday, April 13, 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 Friday, April 14, 2023
Where: DNR Green Bay Office
Lake Michigan Room
2984 Shawano Ave
Green Bay, WI 54313

Meeting room is located to the left in the lobby.

Register here to join the meeting via Zoom.

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

Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) Community Managed Awards Updates

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for the Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) Community Managed Awards program. WAM Community Managed Awards are subgrants of up to $75,000 each and are available to communities to assess a brownfield property. The award recipient selects a qualified environmental professional and manages all aspects of the project.

To be considered for the first round of awards, contact Gena Larson by March 31, 2023.

Eligible assessment activities through WAM include:

  • Phase I environmental site assessments (All Appropriate Inquiries/AAI)
  • Phase II environmental site assessments
  • NR 716 site investigations
  • Remedial action planning

Eligible applicants for WAM Community Managed Awards include local governments and tribal entities.

Eligible properties must meet the federal definition of a brownfield, “A brownfield is a real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”

For more information about the application, process, materials needed, and model documents visit the RR Program’s WAM webpage or email Gena Larson at Gena.Larson@wisconsin.gov.

Interested in learning what financial resources exist for cleaning up brownfields in your community? Watch this short overview on RR Program financial resources [00:04:58].

Public Input Opportunity – Five-Year Review of the Onalaska Municipal Landfill Superfund Site

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now seeking input on the Five-Year Review of the Onalaska Municipal Landfill Superfund Site.

The public notice can be found at the Remediation and Redevelopment Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under the “Public Notices” tab. Comments may be submitted through March 25, 2023, to BJ LeRoy at Bruce.LeRoy@wisconsin.gov.

Public Input Opportunity – Five-Year Review of the Stoughton City Landfill Superfund Site

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now seeking input on the Five-Year Review of the Stoughton City Landfill Superfund Site.

The public notice can be found at the Remediation and Redevelopment Program’s Public Notices & Guidance webpage under the “Public Notices” tab. Comments may be submitted through March 24, 2023, to BJ LeRoy at Bruce.LeRoy@wisconsin.gov.

DNR To Hold Remediation And Redevelopment External Advisory Group Subgroup Meetings

Posted on by Christine Sieger

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a series of Remediation and Redevelopment External Advisory Group (RR EAG) subgroup meetings on Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3.

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 in Wisconsin.

The RR EAG identifies issues and topics of interest that may be addressed by ad hoc subgroups. Subgroup members are expected to research and develop recommendations on the selected topics for presentation to the full group. RR EAG subgroup meetings are open to the public.

Where:
State Natural Resources Building
Room G09
101 S. Webster Street, Madison, WI 53703

Enter from Webster Street and take the hallway to the right to the reception desk.

In-person attendees should RSVP to Jody.Irland@wisconsin.gov by noon on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

When:
Thursday, March 2, 2023

  • 12:15-2:15 p.m. – RR EAG Contaminated Sediments Subgroup

Register here to join the meeting via Zoom.

Agenda

  • 2:30-4:30 p.m. – RR EAG Environmental Justice Subgroup

Register here to join the meeting via Zoom.

Agenda

Friday, March 3, 2023

  • 8-10 a.m. – RR EAG NR 700 Subgroup

Register here to join the meeting via Zoom.

Agenda

  • 10:15-12:15 p.m. – RR EAG Funding Sustainability Subgroup

Register here to join the meeting via Zoom.

Agenda

Visit the DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment External Advisory Group webpage for meeting agendas, materials and additional information. Subscribe here for updates on future meetings.

Now Available: Publication Guidance: Environmental Contamination & Your Real Estate (RR-973)

Posted on by Jodie Thistle

Following a public comment period, the publication Guidance: Environmental Contamination & Your Real Estate (RR-973) is now posted and available online.

The document can be found here. Additional documents and guidance from the Remediation and Redevelopment Program may be found using the search tools available on the publications and forms webpage.

The purpose of the guidance is to provide information to help property owners understand the impact contamination may have on the market value of their property and the legal obligations they have should the property be sold in the future.

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Barry Ashenfelter at Barry.Ashenfelter@wisconsin.gov.

ITRC Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Training Series On Feb. 14 And Feb. 21

Posted on by Jodie Thistle

The Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) will offer online vapor intrusion training over two sessions on Feb. 14 and Feb. 21, 2023.

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 – Feb. 14, 2023, noon-2:00 p.m. CST
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 – Feb. 21, 2023, noon-2 p.m. CST
Topics Include:

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

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

The online sessions will repeat in June 2023. This training is also available on-demand at the CLU-IN Vapor Intrusion Mitigation archive.

RR Sites Map Updates

Posted on by Jodie Thistle

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently made updates to the Remediation and Redevelopment Sites Map (RRSM).

Winter 2023 updates include:

  • 2022 leaf-on aerial photos added.
  • Improved leaf-off aerial photo imagery by updating to 2018-2021 imagery (state-wide, 3″-12″ resolution).
  • Modified slider bar to only include the aerial photos.
  • All aerial photos now viewable at scales from 1:50,000 to 1:248.
  • County tax parcels now identifiable starting at a scale of 1:15,840 through 1:248.
  • Ability to toggle the dynamic parcel labels on and off; this option is available starting at a scale of 1:3,960.

The RRSM is the DNR web-based mapping system that provides information on contaminated properties and other activities related to the investigation and cleanup of contamination in Wisconsin. Access the RRSM, additional information about map layers and user tips on the RRSM webpage.

Now Available– Guidance: Wisconsin Vapor Quick Look-up Table (RR-0136) and Guidance: History of Changes to Vapor Action Levels, Vapor Risk Screening Levels and Attenuation Factors for Common Volatile Organic Compounds in Wisconsin (RR-0137)

Posted on by Jodie Thistle

Updated publications Guidance: Wisconsin Vapor Quick Look-Up Table Indoor Air Vapor Action Levels and Vapor Risk Screening Levels (RR-0136) and Guidance: History of Changes to Vapor Action Levels (VAL), Vapor Risk Screening Levels (VRSL) and Attenuation Factors (AF) for Common Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in Wisconsin (RR-0137) are now posted and available online.

Guidance: Wisconsin Vapor Quick Look-Up Table Indoor Air Vapor Action Levels and Vapor Risk Screening Levels (RR-0136)
RR-0136 lists volatile organic compounds frequently encountered at cleanup sites. The update includes vapor action and screening levels for cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-1,2-DCE) based on updates to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Screening Levels.

Action and screening levels for cis-1,2-DCE should now be added to summary vapor data tables and exceedances noted. Consultants should compare vapor data for open sites to the updated table for potential additional actions. Vapor data for chemicals not available on RR-0136 should accessed via the U.S. EPA’s Vapor Intrusion Screening Level (VISL) Calculator; instructions on using VISL are included in RR-0136.

Guidance: History of Changes to Vapor Action Levels (VAL), Vapor Risk Screening Levels (VRSL) and Attenuation Factors (AF) for Common Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in Wisconsin (RR-0137)
RR-0137 is a quick reference to historical VAL, VRSL and AF values for VOCs, with dates when changes occurred. This document is intended to help users understand the basis for past decisions at sites.

Site-specific questions regarding vapor intrusion in Wisconsin should be directed to the assigned DNR project manager. General questions can be directed to the contacts are listed on the DNR Vapor Intrusion Resources for Environmental Professionals webpage.

Additional documents and guidance from the Remediation and Redevelopment Program may be found using the search tools available on the DNR publications and forms webpage.