§130A-310.73. Attainment of the remediation standards

(a)        Compliance with the approved remediation standards is attained for a site or portion of a site when a remedial action plan approved by the Department has been implemented and applicable soil, groundwater, surface water, and air emission standards have been attained. The remediation standards may be attained through a combination of remediation activities that can include treatment, removal, engineering, or institutional controls, except that the person conducting the remediation may not demonstrate attainment of an unrestricted use standard or a background standard through the use of institutional controls alone. When the remedial action plan has been fully implemented, the person conducting the remediation shall submit a final report to the Department, with notice to all local governments with taxing and land-use jurisdiction over the site, that demonstrates that the remedial action plan has been fully implemented, that any land-use restrictions have been certified on an annual basis, and that the remediation standards have been attained. The final report shall be accompanied by a request that the Department issue a determination that no further remediation beyond that specified in the approved remedial action plan is required.

(b)        The person conducting the remediation has the burden of demonstrating that the remedial action plan has been fully implemented and that the remediation standards have been attained in compliance with the requirements of this Part. The Department may require a person who implements the remedial action plan to supply any additional information necessary for the Department to determine whether the remediation standards have been attained.

(c)        The Department shall review the final report, and, upon determining that the person conducting the remediation has completed remediation to the approved remediation standard and met all the requirements of the approved remedial action plan, the Department shall issue a determination that no further remediation beyond that specified in the approved remedial action plan is required at the site. Once the Department has issued a no further action determination, the Department may require additional remedial action by the responsible party only upon finding any of the following:

(1)        Monitoring, testing, or analysis of the site subsequent to the issuance of the no further action determination indicates that the remediation standards and objectives were not achieved or are not being maintained.

(2)        One or more of the conditions, restrictions, or limitations imposed on the site as part of the remediation have been violated.

(3)        Site monitoring or operation and maintenance activities that are required as part of the remedial action plan or no further action determination for the site are not adequately funded or are not adequately implemented.

(4)        A contaminant or hazardous substance release is discovered at the site that was not the subject of the remedial investigation report or the remedial action plan.

(5)        A material change in the facts known to the Department at the time the written no further action determination was issued, or new facts, cause the Department to find that further assessment or remediation is necessary to prevent a significant risk to human health and safety or to the environment.

(6)        The no further action determination was based on fraud, misrepresentation, or intentional nondisclosure of information by the person conducting the remediation.

(7)        Installation or use of wells would induce the flow of contaminated groundwater off the site.

(d)       The Department shall issue a final decision on a request for a determination that remediation has been completed to approved standards and that no further remediation beyond that specified in the approved remedial action plan is required within 180 days after receipt of a complete final report. Failure of the Department to issue a final decision on a no further remediation determination within 180 days after receipt of a complete final report and request for a determination of no further remediation may be treated as a denial of the request for a no further remediation determination. The responsible person may seek review of a denial of a request for a release from further remediation as provided in Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

(2011-186, s. 2.)