Petroleum and PECFA

RR Program Encourages Review Of U.S. EPA Policy Statement On LUST Releases And Advanced Site Characterization Tools

Posted on by Coreen Fallat

In September 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a policy statement encouraging states to move LUST cases toward closure. DNR encourages consultants to familiarize themselves with the EPA policy statement and the latest science related to petroleum-related site investigation tools, remediation and attenuation. The policy statement recommends action to move more sites to closure by:  

  • Reevaluating and assessing threats from open UST releases. 
  • Incorporating current best practices, tools, and scientific understanding of petroleum releases into their threat assessment – tools and science that might not have been available when the threats from the release sites were first evaluated and the original cleanup goals established. 
  • Making the threat assessment process open and transparent so owners and other stakeholders can be better informed about the threats posed by releases and collaborate with regulators on a course of action going forward. 

While the Wis. Admin. Code NR 700 series allows residual contamination to be left in place upon closure and exposure threats are already a significant part of closure-related decisions, several of the cases in Wisconsin have stalled due to incomplete site investigations. Defining the extent of contamination in all applicable media is required (Wis. Admin. Code § NR 716.11(3)(a)). Using advanced site characterization tools can be an efficient and cost-effective method of completing site investigations, particularly at LUST sites. Information and case studies about several of these technologies is available from ITRC and the U.S.EPA. In addition, a High-Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) toolkit is currently in development by the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) Tanks Subcommittee for release in 2026 or 2027.   

This policy statement was preceded by an ASTM Standard published in May 2025 providing related technical resources.  

Given the significant role of natural attenuation in the remediation of LUST cases, consultants are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with RR program’s updated Monitored Natural Attenuation Guidance (RR-0156). 

For questions related to the RR LUST Program, please contact Jason Lowery at 608-228-4737 or Jason.Lowery@wisconsin.gov or visit the RR Petroleum and LUST webpage.

Monthly PECFA Financial Summaries: October – December, 2020

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides updates on the status of the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program claims and the overall PECFA budget.

Please note that the PECFA program ended on June 30, 2020. The “sunset date” is found in Wis. Stat. § 292.63(3)(ac).

The DNR does not have statutory authority to unilaterally change or amend a deadline found in statute as that authority is exclusive to the state legislature.

The monthly financial summaries are as follows:

Month Claims Number  Value
Oct. Claims Paid 19 $337,084
Claims in Audit Line (as of 10/31/20) 1 $10,080
Total Paid FY21 $4,107,040
Nov. Claims Paid 0 $0
Claims in Audit Line (as of 11/30/20) 1 $10,080
Total Paid FY21 $4,107,040
Dec. Claims Paid 5 $4,903
Claims in Audit Line (as of 12/31/20) 1 $10,080
Total Paid FY21 $4,111,943

 

 

 

 

Monthly PECFA Financial Summaries: March – September, 2020

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides updates on the status of the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program claims and the overall PECFA budget.

Please note that the PECFA program ended on June 30, 2020. The “sunset date” is found in Wis. Stat. § 292.63(3)(ac).

The DNR does not have statutory authority to unilaterally change or amend a deadline found in statute as that authority is exclusive to the state legislature.

The monthly financial summaries are as follows:

Month Claims Number Value
March
Claims Received 53 $258,848
Claims Paid 14 $84,777
Claims in Audit Line (as of 3/31/20) 86 $458,357
Total Paid FY20 $4,366,043
April
Claims Received 137 $745,336
Claims Paid 39 $187,274
Claims in Audit Line (as of 4/30/20) 185 $1,014,502
Total Paid FY20 $4,553,317
May Claims Received 81 $316,980
Claims Paid 114 $502,096
Claims in Audit Line (as of 5/31/20) 150 $797,012
Total Paid FY20 $5,055,413
June Claims Received 278 $3,006,690
Claims Paid 22 $89,254
Claims in Audit Line (as of 6/30/20) 356 $2,750,738
Total Paid FY20 $5,114,667
July Claims Received 38 $516,072
Claims Paid 173 $917,495
Claims in Audit Line (as of 7/31/20) 289 $3,457,844
Total Paid FY21 $917,496
August  Claims Received 0 $0
Claims Paid 131 $1,349,346
Claims in Audit Line (as of 8/31/20) 148 $1,939,423
Total Paid FY21 $2,266,824
Sept. Claims Received 0 $0
Claims Paid 126 $1,503,132
Claims in Audit Line (as of 9/30/20) 18 $361,784
Total Paid FY21 $3,769,956

COVID-19 update on Submittals and PECFA

Posted on by Mick

As we continue operations under Gov. Evers’s COVID-19 Safer at Home order, please understand that most DNR staff are teleworking and may have limited access to files and delayed online connectivity. Additionally, all non-essential travel is prohibited. We strongly encourage customers to communicate with their DNR project manager via email.

Submit Electronically

Customers are strongly encouraged to submit reports electronically through the Submittal Portal. DNR is temporarily suspending the requirement to submit one paper copy of each plan or report under § NR 700.11 (3g), including hard copies of case closure packets.

Continue reading “COVID-19 update on Submittals and PECFA” →

Snapshot: February PECFA Financials

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides monthly updates on the status of the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program claims and the overall PECFA budget.

Below are the updated PECFA figures for February 2020.

Number Value
Claims Received 93 $600,927
Claims Paid 80 $443,843
Claims in Audit Line (as of Feb. 29, 2020) 52 $280,789
Total Paid FY20 $4,281,266

 

 

Snapshot: January PECFA Financials

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides monthly updates on the status of the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program claims and the overall PECFA budget.

Below are the updated PECFA figures for January 2020.

Number Value
Claims Received 83 $658,296
Claims Paid 70 $523,310
Claims in Audit Line (as of Dec. 31, 2019) 16 $126,158
Total Paid FY20 $3,352,397

Important PECFA U&C #27 Update

Posted on by Mick

The PECFA Usual and Customary (U&C) standardized invoice #27 for the time period January 2020 through June 2020 has been updated to correct a calculation error for Task 37, subtask VIS10.

This subtask has been increased from $569.95 to $643.95 effective retroactively to January 1.

All cost requests for VIS10 approved on U&C #27 will be reimbursed at the $643.95 rate. The updated U&C Standardized Invoice #27 can now be found on the PECFA website.

 

PECFA Usual & Customary Schedule #27 Now Available Online

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program has released the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) Usual and Customary (U&C) U&C standardized invoice #27 for the time period January 2020 through June 2020.

The following was updated for the U&C #27:

  • Task 37 – Limit of 5 vapor points has been removed
  • Task 37, Subtask VIS05 – This subtask should be used for reimbursement of initial installation and sampling of vapor points only.
  • Task 37, Subtask VIS06 – This new subtask has been added to separate out costs associated for equipment needed to install vapor points. Subtask is reimbursed per day.
  • Task 37, Subtask VIS10 – This subtask for mobilization can be used for the initial installation and sampling of vapor points, as well as subsequent sampling events. This subtask is reimbursed once per event.
  • Task 37, Subtask VIS15 – This new subtask has been added for subsequent vapor sampling events (after initial installation and sampling).

This invoice is effective January 1, 2020.

Important PECFA Claim Submittal Update

Posted on by Mick

The PECFA Program’s longtime claim reviewer, Tim Prosa, is set to retire in early 2020. Tim will begin training Mae Friederich, the RR Program’s new PECFA Specialist LTE, on claim reviews starting January 13.

All electronic claims should now be sent to DNRRRPECFAClaims@wisconsin.gov. This will ensure that both Mae and Tim see all incoming claims and can process them as quickly as possible, and that claims will continue to be processed after Tim’s retirement.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Snapshot: December PECFA Financials

Posted on by Mick

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program provides monthly updates on the status of the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program claims and the overall PECFA budget.

Below are the updated PECFA figures for December 2019.

Number Value
Claims Received 83 $658,296
Claims Paid 70 $523,310
Claims in Audit Line (as of December 31, 2019) 16 $126,158
Total Paid FY20 $3,352,397