On May 3, 2010, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) released the long awaited revised DER-10: Technical Guidance for Site Investigation & Remediation. The document becomes effective June 18. DER-10 is DEC’s authoritative guidance on how to characterize the nature and extent of contamination at a site and how to design an appropriate work plan to investigate and remediate a contaminated site.
There have been significant changes to the laws governing contaminated site cleanup since DER-10 was first published in draft form in December 2002. The New York Brownfields Cleanup Program (“BCP”) has come into being, and significant changes have been made to the State Superfund statute and its implementing regulations, 6 NYCRR Part 375. DEC has revised DER-10 to reflect these changes, conform its guidance to the newer regulatory regime, and address concerns from the regulated community that elements of the 2002 draft version of DER-10 were unmanageable or confusing.
The revised DER-10 makes significant changes to chapters addressing remedy selection, site management, periodic review and closeout. The first chapter, containing general provisions including definitions, was also significantly revised. In Section 1.3, DEC added definitions and modified others to conform them to the BCP and the modified State Superfund and Part 375 language. For example, “engineering control” and “environmental easement” were added and cite to their regulatory definitions. See 6 N.Y.C.R.R. §§ 375-1.2(q), (p). Other definitions were deleted because they were never used in practice or were poorly defined. The revised DER-10 also better defines certain elements that are not included in the regulations. For example, day care facilities, which are not classified in the regulations, are classified as a restricted residential use in the guidance.
One of the major changes to DER-10 is in Section 1.5, which relaxes certain work plan and report certification requirements. Under the 2002 draft version, DER-10 provided that only a professional engineer licensed or authorized to practice in New York could certify work plans and reports. The revised 2010 version disposes with this restrictive language, and now creates a spectrum of persons who may prepare and certify work plans and reports, which includes: New York State licensed professional engineers; qualified environmental professionals; remedial parties; and site owners at the time of certification. While most plans and reports must still be certified by either a qualified environmental professional or NY licensed engineer, remedial parties and site owners may certify periodic review reports if they relate to land or groundwater use restrictions. The revised DER-10 also includes specific certification language, consistent with the BCP and Superfund Program that must be included on the title page of all submissions and must be fully executed when a document is submitted to DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation for approval.
Chapter 4 provides the framework for remedy selection and the means and methods to identify, evaluate and select a remedy or alternative remedies to address the contamination at a site. The section provides detailed reporting and documentation requirements based on whether the site is in the Superfund program (state or federal), BCP, Environmental Restoration Program, Voluntary Cleanup Program, or petroleum spills program. It also provides DEC’s Remedial Action Objectives (“RAOs”) and preference hierarchy for removing and containing identifiable sources of contamination – removal and/or treatment at the top; treatment of source at point of exposure at the bottom. See 4.1(d).
Chapter 6 has been significantly revised; sections 6.1 (Site Management), 6.2 (Site Management Plan), and 6.3 (Periodic Review) were added. Site management, the last phase of the remedial program, commences once a Certificate of Completion (“COC”) or closure letter is issued. DER-10 describes necessary activities for proper and effective site management, including inspections by the person responsible for site management and reporting of all results in a periodic review report. The guidance requires that design, implementation, periodic review, and closeout of site management are described in a Site Management Plan (“SMP”); DEC’s website will provide a template for the SMP.
DEC also decided to rescind some TAGMs (Technical and Administrative Guidance Memoranda) developed in the 1980s and 1990s and incorporate the substance of those TAGMs into DER-10. For example, fugitive dust will no longer be monitored pursuant to a TAGM; instead, a fugitive dust and particulate monitoring program has been included as Appendix 1B in the revised DER-10. Consolidating these TAGMs into DER-10 will facilitate access to these materials for the regulated community.
DEC is planning to host a training session in Fall 2010 to answer questions and help the public understand the changes in DER-10. Notice of the meeting will be posted on DEC’s website, and DEC will solicit questions and comments prior to the meeting.
