Wisconsin Department of Environmental Protection

The DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program oversees the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination and the redevelopment of contaminated properties. Our staff provide a comprehensive, streamlined program that consolidates state and federal cleanups into one program (e.g., hazardous waste cleanup, underground storage tank investigation & cleanup, spill response, state-funded cleanups and brownfields).

Program awards

RR Program awards from 2010 and 2011.

In April 2011, EPA Region 5 presented the Remediation & Redevelopment (RR) Program with a Brownfields Recognition Award. The honor recognizes "participants who have made exceptional contributions to the Brownfields Program." In making the award, EPA recognized the over-all work done by the RR Program, including projects such as our report on institutional controls [PDF], the Wisconsin Plant Recovery Initiative (WPRI), our , and our program transparency.

In 2010, the RR Program was recognized with a State Program Innovation Award from the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) [exit DNR], a non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C. This honor recognized the Wisconsin Plant Recovery Initiative, a statewide effort to provide environmental and economic assistance to communities and companies struggling with closed manufacturing facilities.

DNR's EPA s.128(a) grant accomplishments

The DNR was awarded EPA Section 128(a) funds beginning on September 1, 2003, to enhance its state response program. This federal grant is used to support federal and state programs under the jurisdiction of DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program. Below are the reports over the last couple of years that summarize many of the RR Program's successes.

Grant administration report - a track record of success

The RR Program published a grant administration report that highlights how the program has partnered with various communities to turn idle properties with known or suspected contamination into new redevelopment utilizing various grant sources. The report focuses on the successes of the DNR's former Site Assessment Grant program (SAG) and showcases 29 site success stories.

Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE) program achievements

A report is prepared every year, required by section 292.25, Wis. Stats., with an update on the status of the Voluntary Party Liability Exemption. This required report is prepared on a biannual basis and highlights the performance of the VPLE program.

Summary of new contaminated sites and completed cleanups

The following table illustrates the number of contaminated sites reported to DNR since 1995, and the number of sites cleaned up and approved by DNR each year.

All new contamination incidents must be reported to DNR by law. However, DNR transfers responsibility for oversight of some incidents to other agencies. Cleanups where the contaminants are agri-chemicals (fertilizer, pesticides) are overseen and approved by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection [exit DNR].

Most investigations and cleanups of contaminated soil and groundwater take more than a year, and there is little correlation between the number of new incidents reported in a year and the number of completed cleanups in the same calendar year.

One Cleanup Program

The DNR and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Region 5 have a One Cleanup Program Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the two agencies.

The memorandum is nationally significant in that it is the first EPA-state MOA to address cleanup requirements across several environmental media, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and Leaking Underground Storage Tanks.

Wisconsin's program simplifies cleanups of contaminated sites under different regulatory programs by providing a single, consolidated approach rather than utilizing a range of separate programs with potentially conflicting approaches and cleanup standards. By clarifying the U.S. EPA's intentions and expectations with respect to Wisconsin's One Cleanup Program, it is believed that the MOA will expedite cleanups of all contaminated sites, including brownfields, as well as guide property owners, developers, consultants and others in understanding how meeting Wisconsin's standards can satisfy both agencies.

State-funded response

State-funded response is a process that occurs when the state – through the DNR – provides resources and tools to communities to address contamination issues that endanger public health and the environment.

Under Section 20.370(2)(dv) of the Wisconsin Statues, the DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program uses appropriations from the state's Environmental Fund to take action at sites in need of immediate or long-term response.

One of the main goals of state-funded response actions is to protect Wisconsin communities dealing with difficult environmental challenges. State-funded Response dollars are paying for remediation of a contaminated Minocqua city well.

Cases where the RR Program utilizes state funds generally fall into the following four categories.

• Orphan Sites – Properties or areas of concern where a responsible party (RP) - i.e. the individual/entity responsible for the contamination – is unknown, unwilling or unable to pay for necessary remediation.
• Spill Responses – Locations where recent spills pose a public health or environmental threat that must be addressed immediately.
• Abandoned Containers – Some properties have containers or barrels which hold hazardous materials, many of which are dumped by unknown parties.
• Bottled Water – The RR Program uses state funds to provide potable water to homes in areas where contamination makes local drinking water unsafe.

For state-funded response actions where the RPs are unknown, unwilling or unable to pay for the cost of the state response, the RR Program will attempt to recover the cost after the project is complete.

Examples of State-funded Response activities

State funds can be used to finance a variety of activities, including:

• site investigations;
• design and installation of multimillion dollar landfill caps;
• providing emergency water to residents with contaminated drinking water sources;
• installation of treatment systems to remove pollutants from groundwater;
• contracts for construction oversight; and
• operation and maintenance of treatment facilities and other remediation activities.

Frequently asked questions about State-Funded Response

The RR Program oversees state-funded response actions. The RR Program has authority to hire environmental consultants and contracting firms. These private companies conduct cleanups and other activities to the best technical standards that are economically feasible at the time.