NR 700 Series Rules

Rule Advisory Committee Meetings April 12, 2024

The NR 700 Rule Advisory Committee will meet with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Friday, April 12, 2024. 

The DNR formed the Rule Advisory Committee to advise DNR staff during development of proposed rules. The Rule Advisory Committee is comprised of representatives from environmental consulting and law firms, local government groups, industry stakeholders, affected state agencies and environmental advocacy groups. All Rule Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.

Where:

State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2)
Rm G09
101 S. Webster St.
Madison, WI

Please check-in at the security desk before taking the elevator.
In-person attendees should RSVP to MollyE.Schmidt@wisconsin.gov by noon on Thursday, April 11, 2024.
When:

Friday, April 12, 2024 
9 – 11 a.m. – Continuing Obligations (RR-14-23)
Register to attend via Zoom.

Noon – 2 p.m. Soil Standards (RR-15-23) 
Register to attend via Zoom.

Visit the DNR’s NR 700 Rule Changes webpage to register and view meeting agendas, materials and the full Rule Advisory Committee meeting schedule. Subscribe for updates on future Rule Advisory Committee meetings.

NR 700 Reporting Due Jan. 30, 2024

Semi-annual reporting for the period of July 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023, is due by Jan. 30, 2024. 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 Dec. 2023. If you do not receive an email by Dec. 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 Jan. 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024.

Preliminary Public Hearing On Statements Of Scope

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will hold a preliminary public hearing on two statements of scope.

The statements of scope are subject to the approval of the Natural Resources Board. If approved, the statements of scope would allow the DNR to begin drafting administrative rule revisions affecting Wisconsin Administrative Code chapters NR 700-799.

  • Scope Statement for Board Order RR-14-23 (Continuing Obligations) – Proposes developing administrative rules that affect chapters NR 700, 708, 714, 722, 724, 725, 726, 727 and 749 related to definitions, notifications, fees, agreements, reports, and procedures for interim action and remedial action continuing obligations for environmental contamination.
  • Scope Statement for Board Order RR-15-23 (Soil Standards) – Proposes developing administrative rules that affect chapters NR 700, 720 and 722 related to definitions, land use classifications, procedures for identifying environmental standards for soil, and soil cleanup standards used to investigate and remediate environmental contamination.

The statements of scope may be viewed on the DNR’s Administrative Rules webpage under the “RR – Remediation and Redevelopment” row.

HEARING DETAILS
What: RR Program Preliminary Public Hearing on two Statements of Scope
When: Dec. 21, 2023, at 1 p.m.
Where: Online; To register and attend via Zoom, please view the Notice of Preliminary Hearing on Statement of Scope on the DNR’s Administrative Rules webpage for instructions.

The public has the opportunity to testify at the hearing. Comments on the proposed scope statements must be received on or before Dec. 21, 2023. Email written comments to DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov.

Now Available: Guidance on Addressing Contaminated Sediment Sites in Wisconsin (RR-0124)

Following a public comment period, the publication Guidance on Addressing Contaminated Sediment Sites in Wisconsin (RR-0124) 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 this guidance is to outline approaches for investigating and remediating hazardous substances discharges that impact sediment to comply with the requirements in Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292 and the applicable provisions of Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code chs. NR 700-799. This guidance explains the steps recommended for assessment of contaminated sediment, evaluation of remedial options and the selection, design, implementation and monitoring of remedial actions. This guidance will clarify closure requirements at sites with contaminated sediments, including continuing obligations, long term stewardship and financial assurance.

Questions regarding this document may be submitted to Carrie Webb at CarrieA.Webb@wisconsin.gov.

NR 700 Reporting Due Jan. 30

Semi-annual reporting for the period of July 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2022, is due by Jan. 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 will send an email with a unique Report Identification (ID) number to contacts of sites listed in the database during the first week of January 2023. If you do not receive an email by Jan. 9, 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 Wis. Stat. §§ 292.11(9)(e) or 292.23, and lenders that have an exemption under Wis. Stat. § 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 Jan. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023.

Public Input Opportunities – Publication RR-0126, Guidance for Sediment-Related Continuing Obligations for Environmental Protection, Wis. Stat. § 292.12(5m), and Publication RR-0117, Guidance: When should a site investigation enter surface water?

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is now seeking input on two publications: RR-0126, Guidance for Sediment-Related Continuing Obligations for Environmental Protection, Wis. Stat. § 292.12(5m), and RR-0117, Guidance: When should a site investigation enter surface water?

Continue reading “Public Input Opportunities – Publication RR-0126, Guidance for Sediment-Related Continuing Obligations for Environmental Protection, Wis. Stat. § 292.12(5m), and Publication RR-0117, Guidance: When should a site investigation enter surface water?”

New NR 700 Chapters Govern Financial Assurance Requirements that Apply at Certain Types of Sites with Contaminated Sediment

As of Oct. 1, 2021, two new chapters of the Wisconsin Administrative (Wis. Admin.) Code come into effect. The new chapters, NR 756 and NR 758, both relate to financial assurance requirements for certain types of contaminated sediment sites.

Continue reading “New NR 700 Chapters Govern Financial Assurance Requirements that Apply at Certain Types of Sites with Contaminated Sediment”

Reminder: Issues & Trends Webinar on September 21, 2021: Contaminated Sediments

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program reminds you that the next webinar in the Issues & Trends series will take place on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The scheduled presentation is: Contaminated Sediments.

Continue reading “Reminder: Issues & Trends Webinar on September 21, 2021: Contaminated Sediments”

NR 700 Reporting Due July 30, 2021

Semi-annual reporting for the period of January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 is due by July 30, 2021. 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 RPs.

An email from the DNR with a unique Report Identification (ID) number was sent during the first week of July 2021 to contacts of sites listed in the database. 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 uniquely identifies the activity for which you wish to 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.

Continue reading “NR 700 Reporting Due July 30, 2021”

Public Input Opportunity – Publication RR-0115, Guidance: Contaminated Sediment Fact Sheet

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program is now seeking input on the publication RR-0115, Guidance: Contaminated Sediment Fact Sheet

The fact sheet is a brief outline of the typical approaches that are used to navigate through Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stat.) ch. 292 and Wisconsin Administrative Code (Wis. Admin. Code) chs. NR 700 to 799 with respect to the investigation and remediation of contaminated sediment.

The document can be found at the RR Program’s Public Notices & Guidance web page under the “Program Guidance” tab.

Comments may be submitted through July 1, 2021 to Carrie Webb at CarrieA.Webb@wisconsin.gov or to DNRRRGuidance@wisconsin.gov.