Bio
Ms. Jill Williams-Hall is a seasoned environmental program leader with more than 30 years of experience at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), where she led high-impact initiatives across the underground storage tank (UST), aboveground storage tank (AST), brownfields development, voluntary cleanup, and hazardous substance cleanup programs. As a key regulatory strategist, she was appointed to DNREC’s advisory committee to guide the development of legislation, regulations, and guidance for Delaware’s environmental cleanup and redevelopment framework.
Ms. Williams-Hall served as a senior planner and administrator of the Brownfields Development Program, Voluntary Cleanup Program, and Prospective Purchaser Program, where she authored critical regulatory and financial documents and launched two loan programs supporting UST owners, brownfield developers, and municipalities. Her leadership helped expand the reach and effectiveness of DNREC’s Brownfields Program through collaboration with EPA, local governments, nonprofits, and developers.
Recognized nationally as an expert in financial assurance for USTs and ASTs, Ms. Williams-Hall offers clients unmatched insight into compliance pathways and funding mechanisms. By combining policy acumen, regulatory experience, and strategic foresight, she empowers businesses and government agencies to overcome environmental liabilities, secure financial aid, and revitalize contaminated properties for future use.
Relevant Experience
Policy Analysis
Aboveground Storage Tank Act and Regulations, Delaware DNREC, Delaware — Drafted the legislative bill, Jeffrey Davis Aboveground Storage Tank Act, creating Delaware’s first AST program. Authored the first administrative code for ASTs in Delaware. Convened an advisory committee of national and international AST experts to draft comprehensive regulations governing construction, operation, maintenance, and release prevention for ASTs. Integrated industry standards, federal and state overlapping requirements, and social and fiscal factors into a comprehensive regulatory framework.
Temporary Assignment to EPA/Office of Underground Storage Tanks, Washington, DC — Selected from a national solicitation to serve a 2-year Intergovernmental Personnel Act assignment with EPA as a Senior Analyst in the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST). Analyzed state UST regulations to ensure compliance with 2015 federal revisions, created policy and guidance documents for 2015 regulations, led OUST financial assurance workgroup in collaboration with states, and served as EPA Region 6 liaison.
Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO), United States — ASTSWMO represents all U.S. states and territories to further its mission to enhance state and territorial waste programs and affect national policies for waste management. As a member and in leadership roles for 29 years, collaborated with other states to provide EPA analysis of proposed revisions to federal UST regulations, new federal leaking UST trust grant guidelines for states, UST State Fund soundness review requirements, pollution liability insurance, and brownfields redevelopment.
Brownfields Redevelopment
Delaware Brownfields Redevelopment, Voluntary Cleanup, Prospective Purchaser Programs, Delaware DNREC, Delaware — Served as administrator of the State of Delaware’s Brownfields Redevelopment and Voluntary Cleanup Programs. More than 450 contaminated properties in Delaware have been certified as meeting the criteria for eligibility for funding and liability protection per the state code in the Brownfields Development Program. Management of the programs included funding oversight, site certifications, public engagement, program marketing, and formulation of public policies and strategies to promote redevelopment of environmentally contaminated properties in the state. Redevelopment projects range from nonprofit affordable housing developments to redevelopment of the Wilmington riverfront with hotels, businesses, conference center, and ballpark.
Brownfield EPA Grant Steering Committee, Wilmington, Delaware — Provided expert regulatory advice to the City of Wilmington, Delaware, in the development and administration for EPA Brownfield Area Wide Planning Grant (2017) and a subsequent Brownfield Assessment Grant (2019). The project involves the investigation, remediation, and redevelopment design for an economically depressed neighbor in northeast Wilmington. The project includes reuse strategies that merge transportation improvements and a new roadway alignment to enhance the connection between people and community resources while retaining open space along the riverfront, and providing for potential economic investment.
Regulatory Compliance
Tank Management Program, Delaware DNREC, Delaware — Performed onsite inspections of underground and aboveground tanks, developed technical guidance documents, pursued legal enforcement cases, and revised regulations to remain current with technological advances and social factors.
Planning and Permitting
Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS), State Planning Office, Delaware — Served as the UST, AST, and Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act (HSCA) programs representative on the Delaware PLUS reviewing major development proposals, municipal rezoning, and local land use plans and ordinances with regard to state regulatory requirements. PLUS provides a free, nonregulatory advisory review of land development projects to streamline coordination across all state agencies.
Environment, Social and Governance
Waste Management Regulatory Programs, Delaware DNREC, Delaware — Created guidance and policy documents, drafted legislation and regulatory revisions, and administered grant and loan programs for the Delaware UST, AST, HSCA, and Brownfield programs.
State and Department Advisory Committees, State of Delaware — Appointed to various advisory committees utilizing technical expertise and skills to assist in various program areas:
- Early Compliance and Detection Incentive Program—Presented recommendations to external advisory committee for UST remediation cost reimbursement program, $25 million reimbursed.
- Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Advisory Committee, Delaware, Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance Workgroup—Conducted evaluation and made recommendation for financial assurance requirements for coastal zone permits.
- Environmental Justice, Delaware DNREC—Member of DNREC’s inaugural Environmental Justice Workgroup evaluating DNREC’s environmental justice policies and made recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary for internal training and external participation.
- Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act Advisory Committee, Delaware DNREC—Worked with internal and external stakeholders to enhance program development for all waste management programs in Delaware DNREC.
- Aboveground Storage Tank Technical Advisory Committee, DNREC, Delaware—Recruited experts in the field of ASTs to develop Delaware’s first AST regulations. Chaired three subject expert subcommittees and authored full draft of AST regulations. Responsible staff member for compliance with all requirements of Administrative Procedures Act, through full promulgation of regulations.
- Public Outreach—Made presentations to municipalities, community groups, governing bodies, and technical organizations on all aspects of UST, AST, and brownfields regulatory requirements. Provided outreach to community groups including participation in engagement events for brownfields. Served as an instructor for JumpStart Wilmington, a community-focused development program, and as a Delaware Technical and Community College certified UST inspector trainer.
Technical Writing
L.U.S.T.Line Publication, United States — Contributed regularly to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission publication L.U.S.T.Line, focusing on private insurance for storage tanks.
Education & Credentials
M.P.A., Environmental Management, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 1993
B.S., Agriculture University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 1981
Professional Affiliations
Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials:
Brownfields Focus Group
Chair, Tanks Subcommittee
Chair, State Fund/Financial
Responsibility Task Force
EPAR3 State Representative (2019–2021)
National Association of State Aboveground Storage Tank Programs, Co-Chair (2014–2017)
Achievements & Awards
EPA, Office of Underground Storage Tanks, Washington, DC 2-year rotational assignment (2016–2018)
EPA Team Excellence Award
DNREC
Award of Merit
Outstanding Technical Professional
Employee of the Year