NR 722.05 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1995, No. 472, eff. 5-1-95; CR 12-023: am. (2) (b), (c), (4) Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13. NR 722.07NR 722.07 Identification and evaluation of remedial action options. NR 722.07(1)(1) General. Unless otherwise directed by the department, responsible parties shall identify and evaluate an appropriate range of remedial action options in accordance with the requirements of this section. NR 722.07(2)(2) Identification of likely remedial action options. An initial screening of remedial technologies shall be conducted to identify remedial action options for further evaluation which are reasonably likely to be feasible for a site or facility, based on the hazardous substances present, media contaminated and site characteristics, and to comply with the requirements of s. NR 722.09. NR 722.07(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), responsible parties shall use all of the criteria in sub. (4) to further evaluate appropriate remedial action options that have been identified for further evaluation under sub. (2), for each contaminated medium or migration or exposure pathway. This evaluation process shall be used to determine which remedial action option constitutes the most appropriate technology or combination of technologies to restore the environment, to the extent practicable, within a reasonable period of time and to minimize the harmful effects of the contamination to the air, land, or waters of the state, to address the exposure pathways of concern, and effectively and efficiently address the source of the contamination. NR 722.07 NoteNote: The purpose of the technical and economic feasibility evaluation is to evaluate a range of remedial action options suitable for a particular site or facility to determine the practicability of implementing those options. If a particular option is not suitable for a particular site or facility, such as in situ air sparging in dense clay soils, it should not be evaluated. Emphasis should be placed on remedial action options suitable for a particular site or facility. Any remedy selected should attempt to limit secondary impacts including air and water discharges, destruction of ecosystems, and excessive use of energy.
NR 722.07 NoteNote: For cases involving a discharge and migration of organic contaminants that do not readily degrade in soil or groundwater, an active remedial action that will reduce the contaminant mass and concentration will typically be necessary. Natural attenuation, covers, and barriers do not actively reduce contaminant mass and concentrations. Chlorinated compounds are the most common contaminants that fall under this provision. Some organic contaminants, such as PCBs and PAHs may not readily migrate, depending on site characteristics.
NR 722.07(3)(am)(am) Responsible parties shall document their evaluation of a remedial option or combination of options which would use recycling or treatment technologies that destroy or detoxify contaminants, rather than transfer the contaminants to other media. NR 722.07(3)(b)(b) A detailed evaluation based on the criteria in sub. (4) is not required in those cases where a remedial action option identified during the initial screening results in the reuse, recycling, destruction, detoxification, treatment, or any combination thereof of the hazardous substances present at the site and this proposed option meets all of the following requirements: NR 722.07(3)(b)1m.1m. Is proven to be effective in remediating the types of hazardous substances present at the site, based on experience gained at other sites with similar site characteristics and conditions; NR 722.07(3)(b)2m.2m. Can be implemented in a manner that will not pose a significant risk of harm to human health, safety, or welfare or the environment; and NR 722.07(3)(b)3.3. Is likely to result in the reduction or control, or both, of the hazardous substances present at the site to a degree and in a manner that is in compliance with the requirements of s. NR 722.09 (2) to (4). NR 722.07 NoteNote: Section NR 722.07 (3) (b) is intended to provide a streamlined evaluation process for certain remedial actions that are presumed to meet the evaluation and selection criteria in ss. NR 722.07 and 722.09. NR 722.07(4)(4) Evaluation criteria. Except as provided in s. NR 722.07 (3) (b), the remedial action options identified by the initial screening shall be evaluated based on the following requirements and in compliance with the requirements of s. NR 722.09. NR 722.07(4)(a)(a) Technical feasibility. The technical feasibility of each appropriate remedial action option that effectively and efficiently addresses the sources of contamination shall be evaluated using the following criteria: NR 722.07(4)(a)1.1. ‘Long-term effectiveness.’ The long-term effectiveness of appropriate remedial action options, taking into account all of the following: NR 722.07(4)(a)1.a.a. The degree to which the toxicity, mobility and volume of the contamination is expected to be reduced. NR 722.07(4)(a)1.b.b. The degree to which a remedial action option, if implemented, will protect public health, safety, and welfare and the environment over time. NR 722.07(4)(a)2.2. ‘Short-term effectiveness.’ The short-term effectiveness of appropriate remedial action options, taking into account any adverse impacts on public health, safety, or welfare or the environment that may be posed during the construction and implementation period until case closure under ch. NR 726. NR 722.07(4)(a)3.3. ‘Implementability.’ The implementability of appropriate remedial action options, taking into account all of the following: NR 722.07(4)(a)3.a.a. The technical feasibility of constructing and implementing the remedial action option at the site or facility given the type of contaminants and hydrogeologic conditions present. NR 722.07(4)(a)3.b.b. The availability of materials, equipment, technologies, and services needed to conduct the remedial action option taking into account the location and environmental impact of the selected materials and equipment. NR 722.07(4)(a)3.c.c. The potential difficulties and constraints associated with on-site construction or off-site disposal and treatment. NR 722.07 NoteNote: For example, evaluate the use of heavy equipment and cost of fuel to transport wastewater and leachate from a site compared to on-site treatment.
NR 722.07(4)(a)3.d.d. The difficulties associated with monitoring the effectiveness of the remedial action option. NR 722.07(4)(a)3.e.e. The administrative feasibility of the remedial action option, including activities and time needed to obtain any necessary licenses, permits or approvals. NR 722.07(4)(a)3.g.g. The technical feasibility of recycling, treatment, engineering controls or disposal. NR 722.07(4)(a)3.h.h. The technical feasibility of naturally occurring biodegradation at the site or facility, if responsible parties evaluate this option. NR 722.07(4)(a)3.i.i. The redevelopment potential of the site once the remedy has been implemented. NR 722.07(4)(a)3.j.j. Reduction of greenhouse gases consistent with federal or state climate action policies. NR 722.07(4)(a)4.4. ‘Restoration time frame.’ The expected time frame needed to achieve the necessary restoration, taking into account all of the following qualitative criteria: NR 722.07(4)(a)4.c.c. Presence of threatened or endangered species or habitats, as defined by state and federal law. NR 722.07(4)(a)4.d.d. Current and potential use of the aquifer, including proximity to private and public water supplies and surface water bodies. NR 722.07(4)(a)4.g.g. Effectiveness, reliability, and enforceability of continuing obligations. NR 722.07(4)(a)4.h.h. Naturally occurring biodegradation processes at the site or facility which are expected to reduce the total mass of contamination in an effective and timely manner and which have been demonstrated to be occurring at the site or facility, to the satisfaction of the department in the site investigation report. NR 722.07 NoteNote: The biogeochemical environment and the contaminant of concern are critical factors in determining degradation potential. Not all compounds readily degrade in soil or groundwater, while others, such as certain petroleum compounds have a greater degradation potential.
NR 722.07 NoteNote: The purpose of s. NR 722.07 (4) (a) 4. is to provide criteria to determine how quickly environmental laws and standards must be achieved, due to the site-specific hazards that the contamination poses. It is not intended to authorize risk assessments, nor is it the intent of this provision to establish a generic time period that would be applied at all sites or facilities. NR 722.07(4)(b)(b) Economic feasibility. The economic feasibility of each appropriate remedial action option that effectively and efficiently addresses the source of the contamination shall be evaluated, using the following criteria: NR 722.07(4)(b)4.4. Total present worth of the costs for all national priority list sites or facilities; sites or facilities where the department has entered into a contract pursuant to s. 292.31 (1) (b), Stats.; and sites or facilities where state environmental fund monies are being expended; and NR 722.07(5)(a)(a) Engineering controls. If engineering controls are considered, responsible parties shall, at a minimum, evaluate an on-site engineering control to address all hazardous substances, contaminated media and migration or exposure pathways. NR 722.07 NoteNote: Engineering controls include on–site or off–site containment methods, such as covers, soil covers, engineered structures, liners, gas collection systems, armoring of sediments, erosion controls, vapor mitigation systems, and groundwater slurry walls. Restricting access to a site or facility, such as constructing a fence, is not an engineering control.
NR 722.07(5)(b)(b) Continuing Obligations. Responsible parties shall consider the appropriateness of using continuing obligations to ensure that adequate protection of public health, safety, and welfare and the environment is maintained over time. NR 722.07(5)(c)(c) Additional requirements. Responsible parties shall comply with additional site–specific remedial action evaluation or documentation requirements that may be specified by the department due to the complexity of the site or facility, the persistence of certain compounds, or the severity of the potential or actual public health or environmental impacts. NR 722.07 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1995, No. 472, eff. 5-1-95; CR 12-023: am. (3) (a), cr. (3) (am), am. (b) (intro.), r. (3) (b) 1., 2., renum. (3) (b) 2. a. to c. to (3) (b) 1m, 2., 3. and am. (3) (b) 3., am. (4) (a) (intro.), 3. a., b., cr. (4) (a) 3. i., j., am. (4) (a) 4. d., g., cr. (4) (a) 4. i., am. (4) (b) (intro.), r. (4) (b) 1., renum. (4) (b) 1. a. to e. to (4) (b) 1m., 2m., 3., 4., 5. and am. (4) (b) 4., r. (4) (b) 2., am. (5) (b), (c) Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13. NR 722.09NR 722.09 Selection of a remedial action. NR 722.09(1)(1) General. An option from the range of technically feasible options shall be selected based on the results of the evaluation conducted pursuant to s. NR 722.07, in compliance with this section. If an option’s cost, including all the costs listed in s. NR 722.07 (4) (b), is excessive with respect to what is being technically achieved by the option relative to other available options, responsible parties may choose not to select it. NR 722.09(2)(2) Environmental laws and standards. Responsible parties shall select a remedial action or combination of remedial actions that achieve restoration of the environment to the extent practicable, minimize the harmful effects from the contamination on the air, lands and waters of the state and comply with all applicable state and federal public health and environmental laws and environmental standards. Environmental laws and standards include: NR 722.09(2)(a)(a) Soils. Contaminated soil shall be restored in compliance with the requirements of ch. NR 720. NR 722.09 NoteNote: Chapter NR 720 provides for residual contaminant levels or performance standards. If residual contaminant levels are used instead of performance standards they must be determined in accordance with the requirements set forth in ch. NR 720. A performance standard maintains a condition that is protective of human health, safety and welfare and the environment. Use of a performance standard will involve land use restrictions, maintenance agreements, long–term monitoring or a combination of these. NR 722.09(2)(b)(b) Groundwater. Contaminated groundwater shall be restored in accordance with all of the following requirements: NR 722.09(2)(b)1.1. For substances that are listed in ch. NR 140, the groundwater restoration goal is the preventive action limit. The preventive action limits shall be achieved to the extent technically and economically feasible, pursuant to ss. NR 140.24 and 140.26, unless a PAL exemption is granted pursuant to s. NR 140.28. NR 722.09(2)(b)2.2. For substances which do not have an established standard in ch. NR 140, the department may take or require the responsible parties to conduct any necessary actions, such as developing site–specific environmental standards in cooperation with the department of health services, to protect public health, safety, or welfare or to prevent a significant damaging effect on groundwater or surface water quality for present or future consumptive or non–consumptive uses. NR 722.09(2)(c)1.1. Discharges to surface waters or wetlands may not result in a surface water quality standard contained in chs. NR 102 to 106 being exceeded and may not exceed effluent limitations established by the department based on “best available control technology currently available” or, where appropriate, “best available control technology economically achievable,” in accordance with ch. NR 220. NR 722.09 NoteNote: The water quality standards contained in chs. NR 102 to 106 are comprised of water quality criteria for the prevention of adverse tastes and odors in fish and drinking water (s. NR 102.14), acute and chronic toxicity to aquatic life (ss. NR 105.05 and 105.06, respectively), adverse effects to wild and domestic animals (s. NR 105.07), human threshold and cancer effects (ss. NR 105.08 and 105.09, respectively) and designated uses of the surface waters based on their classification and water quality standards and criteria for wetlands. Chapter NR 220 provides that for those point sources identified in s. NR 220.21 (1), the department shall establish effluent limitations that are achievable by the application of the “best practicable control technology currently available” or, where appropriate, the “best available control technology economically achievable”, as required in s. NR 220.21 (2). NR 722.09(2)(c)3.3. At sites or facilities in, or in close proximity to, surface water bodies or wetlands, active remedial actions shall be taken to prevent or minimize, to the extent practicable, potential and actual hazardous substance discharges and environmental pollution that may attain or exceed surface water or wetland criteria established in accordance with chs. NR 102 to 106. NR 722.09(2)(d)(d) Discharges to the air. All emissions to the air shall comply with applicable requirements in ch. 285, Stats., chs. NR 400 to 499, and any other applicable federal or state environmental laws. In addition, for those sites or facilities where a discharge of volatile hazardous substances has occurred, the vapor intrusion pathway shall be evaluated to determine the likelihood of those substances entering the breathing space of a structure. Air contaminated from vapor intrusion shall be restored in accordance with the following requirements: NR 722.09(2)(d)1.1. At sites or facilities where vapors have migrated from the source of contamination, active remedial actions shall be taken to limit or prevent, to the extent practicable, potential and actual hazardous substance discharges and environmental pollution that may attain or exceed vapor action levels. NR 722.09(2)(d)2.2. The department may take or require the responsible parties to conduct any necessary actions, such as developing site–specific environmental standards in cooperation with the department of health services, to protect public health, safety, or welfare or to prevent a significant damaging effect on indoor air quality for present or future use. NR 722.09(2)(e)1.1. Any waste, debris or waste stream generated by the remedial action shall be managed in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Contaminated debris, at a minimum, shall be addressed to minimize the harmful effects to protect health, safety, and welfare and the environment. NR 722.09(2)(e)2.2. Management of materials contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) shall comply with the requirements of ch. NR 157 and TSCA, if applicable. NR 722.09(2m)(2m) Sustainable remedial action. Once the remedial action has been selected, the responsible party shall evaluate all of the following criteria, as appropriate for the selected remedial action: NR 722.09(2m)(b)(b) The generation of air pollutants, including particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions. NR 722.09(2m)(d)(d) The future land use and enhancement of ecosystems, including minimizing unnecessary soil and habitat disturbance and destruction. NR 722.09(2m)(e)(e) Reducing, reusing, and recycling materials and wastes, including investigative or sampling wastes. NR 722.09(2m)(f)(f) Optimizing sustainable management practices during long-term care and stewardship. NR 722.09 NoteNote: Tradeoffs will exist when evaluating these criteria and responsible parties need to balance both the benefits and risks to human health and the environment when selecting and implementing the best overall approach. Additional information can be obtained from U.S. EPA at: http://www.clu-in.org/greenremediation/. NR 722.09(3)(3) Additional standards of performance. Each remedial action or combinations of actions shall protect public health, safety and welfare and the environment from all contaminated media, routes of exposure and contamination at the site or facility. Responsible parties shall presume that a remedial action option or combination of options is protective if it meets the criteria in sub. (2), unless the responsible party or the department determines that compliance with applicable public health and environmental laws, including environmental standards, is not protective of public health, safety, or welfare or the environment due to multiple pathways of exposure or synergistic effects of contamination. At sites or facilities where there may be synergistic effects of contamination, multiple pathways of exposure or both that pose an unacceptable threat to public health, safety or welfare or the environment, responsible parties shall attain more stringent, facility or site-specific numeric standards to ensure that public health, safety and welfare and the environment are protected. In such a situation, the department may require that the responsible parties develop a site-specific numeric or performance standard, or both, that is protective of public health, safety and welfare and the environment for the specific media, migration or exposure pathways and contamination. NR 722.09(4)(4) Landfill disposal of untreated contaminated unconsolidated material. Responsible parties may only select landfill disposal for untreated contaminated unconsolidated material if such disposal is in compliance with chs. NR 500 to 538, the landfill’s approved plan of operation and both of the following requirements: NR 722.09(4)(a)1.1. Except as provided in subd. 2., untreated contaminated unconsolidated material may only be accepted by the landfill operator for use as daily cover in accordance with s. NR 514.04 (6), if the volume of untreated contaminated unconsolidated material that is proposed to be used as daily cover does not exceed the landfill’s net daily cover needs nor 12.5% of the annual volume of waste received by the landfill, or for use in the construction of soil structures within the fill area when approved for that specific use by the department, unless otherwise specifically provided in the landfill’s individual license and approved plan of operation. NR 722.09(4)(a)2.2. Untreated contaminated unconsolidated material that is not usable as daily cover or for soil structures and for which there is no technically and economically feasible treatment alternative may be disposed of in a landfill only with prior written approval from the department, unless otherwise specifically provided in the landfill’s individual license and approved plan of operation.
