PECFA

Important PECFA Claim Processing Update: Revised Process for IRS W-9 and STAR Vendor Forms

The State of Wisconsin’s financial system requires accurate and up-to-date tax information to ensure timely payment of invoices and reimbursement of claims related to the PECFA program. The Department of Administration (DOA) updated the STAR Vendor form to better address needed changes to claimant information (i.e. address, change of tax identification number, change of name, etc.) and to make the form more user friendly.

As of September 26, 2018, existing claimants are only required to submit the IRS W-9 form with their claims, provided there are no updates to the name, address or tax identification number previously submitted. If updates are needed to the claimant information, or if you have any questions about this new procedure, please contact Adrian Herrera for the appropriate forms to fill out and submit. Accuracy of information will be checked during the claim audit process and claimants will be contacted if W-9 information does not match the claimant information on file.

The new supplier information update forms are available on the DNR’s PECFA web page under the “Documents” tab.

CLARIFICATION: Claimants are still required to submit a new W-9 at the beginning of every year, whether or not the information changes. A copy of the most current W-9 must be included with every claim (i.e. the W-9 should have a signature and date in the year of the claim submittal). If changes to the claimant’s information are needed throughout the year, please see article above.

Snapshot: August PECFA Financials

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides monthly updates on the status of Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) claims and the overall PECFA budget. Below are the updated PECFA numbers for August 2018.

Number Value
Claims Received 67 $407,230
Claims Paid 131 $565,099
Claims in audit line (as of August 31, 2018) 5 $33,380
Total Paid Biennium to Date $7,231,590

 

Snapshot: July PECFA Financials and FY18 Total

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides monthly updates on the status of Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) claims and the overall PECFA budget. Below are the updated PECFA numbers for July 2018 and the total for Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018).

Number Value
Claims Received 133 $947,426
Claims Paid 80 $813050
Claims in audit line (as of June 2018) 70 $318,846
Total Paid FY18 $5,859,948

 

Window Closing on PECFA Reimbursement Program; PECFA on Track to End June 30, 2020

Time is running out on a 30-year old reimbursement program that has helped clean up more than 10,000 petroleum-contaminated properties in Wisconsin.

Funded through a portion of a $0.02/gallon gasoline tax, the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program is scheduled to end in just under two years, on June 30, 2020, as authorized under Wis. Act 55 (2015).

As the end of PECFA approaches, the Remediation and Redevelopment Program offers these important reminders:

  • No new applicants. The program was closed to new applicants as of July 20, 2015. Only applicants that received eligibility on or before that date can submit claims for reimbursement.
  • Timely claim submittal. Claimants and consultants planning to seek reimbursement for costs incurred on PECFA-eligible projects are reminded that they have 180 days from the day the expense was incurred, but no later than June 30, 2020, whichever occurs first, to submit the claim to the DNR. If a claim for costs incurred is not submitted within this deadline, the costs will not be eligible for PECFA reimbursement.
  • Liability for cleanup doesn’t end when the program expires. The responsible party’s obligation to address environmental contamination associated their site continues whether PECFA reimbursement funding is available or not. Therefore, the DNR highly encourages responsible parties to complete PECFA-eligible cleanup work as soon as possible.
  • Reaching the finish line. By now, all PECFA-eligible sites should have an approved remedial action plan in place and be actively implementing remedial action (if not already complete.) Eight rounds of quarterly groundwater monitoring is required unless otherwise directed for case closure. Currently there are only eight quarters left remaining in the PECFA program.

If you have site-specific questions, please contact the project manager assigned to the site. Other PECFA-related questions may be directed to Jenna.Soyer@wisconsin.gov.

PECFA U&C Schedule #24 Now Available

The Usual & Customary Cost Standardized Invoice and Task Reference Guide #24 are now posted for July 2018 through December 2018 on the DNR’s PECFA web page, under the “Reimbursement” tab.

Please note the following updates:

  • NEW Task 1 – Subtask GS06 – Provides for cost of bailer when sampling a well with LNAPL
  • Task 2 clarification – Update from annual to semi-annual reporting
  • Task 3 – Combined LAR05 into LAR06
  • Task 6 – Clarification that a site investigation report must be received before a letter report/addendum can be claimed.
  • NEW Task 8 – Subtasks WAB31 – Provides for mobilization and labor for vapor point abandonment.
  • Task 15 – MDT41 – Changed private utility locate to actual costs.
  • Task 14 – Added guidance on submitting variance requests for excavations over $10,000
  • Task 27 – Additional guidance on what documentation is required at claim time.
  • NEW Task 37 – New task providing for standard costs for vapor point installation and sampling for 5 or less vapor points (assumed to be one day of work).

Please review RR-100 UCCS Task Reference Guide #24 for additional information.

NR 700 Semi-Annual Reporting Due Soon

Semi-annual reporting for the period of January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 is due July 31, 2018. 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 the RPs.

An email from the DNR with your unique report identification number will go out on July 2, 2018. If you do not receive an email, you can request a number by submitting the Report ID Request Form. The Report ID number you will receive uniquely identifies the activity for which you wish to report, the reporting period, and verifies the person using the ID is authorized to submit the report. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Zeichert at (608) 266-5788.

Semi-annual reports are required by state law of persons who meet the definition of responsible party in NR 700. Therefore, property owners, such as local governments that have an exemption under Wis. Stats. §§292.11(9)(e) or 292.23 and lenders that have an exemption under Wis. Stats. §292.21 for specific properties are not required to submit a semi-annual report under state law for those exempt properties.

Sites formerly classified by the DNR as “conditionally closed” sites (e.g., investigative waste needs to be removed) are those that have not been granted case closure and, by definition, have remaining action(s) needed (e.g, properly abandoning monitoring wells). Semi-annual reporting for these otherwise open sites should indicate what actions are being taken to complete the remaining actions and when they’ll be taken.

This semi-annual reporting requirement replaces PECFA annual web reporting. Consultants and responsible parties were previously required to inform the agency of the progress and the estimated cost of work remaining in the investigation for PECFA-eligible sites. Now, submission of the semi-annual online form satisfies PECFA’s requirement to report progress. A separate PECFA web report is not required.

The next reporting period is from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Reports for that period will be due approximately January 31, 2019. A future RR Report will have specific details.

This information is also available on the RR Program website under “Audience-specific resources.”

Public Input Opportunity: PECFA Usual & Customary Schedule #24

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program seeks your input on the Usual & Customary (U&C) Task Reference Guide #24 (RR-100) and U&C Schedule #24 (RR-10a). Both documents are available on the Wisconsin DNR’s proposed program guidance web page.

Comments on these documents are due by June 25, 2018, and may be directed to Jenna.Soyer@wisconsin.gov.

Document updates include new tasks for vapor point installation, guidance on excavations over $10,000, and an update to private utility locate reimbursable costs. Please see the public comment cover sheet for details.

Snapshot: May PECFA Financials

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides a monthly update on the status of Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) claims and the overall budget of the PECFA award program. Below are the updated PECFA numbers for May 2018.

 

  Number Value
Claims Received 48 $440,432
Claims Paid 83 $425,032
Claims in audit line (as of May 31) 4 $20,866
Total Paid FY18   $5,485,821

 

Reminder: Please Use New PECFA Mailing Address

On June 30, 2018, the Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will stop using P.O. Box 8044 for all submittals related to the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program. At that time, all RR Program mail will consolidate all incoming mail into the current program-wide mailbox below:

Wisconsin DNR – RR/5
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921

Please begin using the above mailing address for all PECFA claim submittals. Reminders will be sent throughout the fiscal year. The new address is stated on all PECFA forms.

Public Input Opportunity: Variances to the Usual and Customary Standardized Invoice for PECFA Projects

The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program seeks your input on guidance regarding variances to the Usual & Customary (U&C) Standardized Invoice for Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) Program projects.

The guidance addresses a limited number of PECFA-eligible activities, based on their common occurrence, in order to ensure consistency in approving cost reimbursement where no standard rate exists.

Comments are due by May 23, 2018, and may be directed to Jenna.Soyer@wisconsin.gov.