Compromise Bill--S. 5702

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                                  STATE OF NEW YORK

        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         5702

                               2003-2004 Regular Sessions

                                       IN SENATE

                                      June 19, 2003

                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  MARCELLINO -- (at request of the Governor) -- read

          twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the

          Committee on Rules

        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  environmental  conservation law, in relation to

          enacting the "brownfield cleanup program" and in relation to  environ-

          mental  easements  (Part  A);  to amend the environmental conservation

          law, in relation to enacting the groundwater  protection  and  remedi-

          ation  program  (Part B); to amend the environmental conservation law,

          in relation to geographic information system (Part C);  to  amend  the

          environmental  conservation  law  and  the  real  property tax law, in

          relation to environmental restoration projects (Part D); to amend  the

          environmental  conservation  law,  in  relation  to inactive hazardous

          waste disposal sites; and repealing certain  provisions  of  such  law

          relating  thereto;  to  amend  the  public  health  law and the public

          authorities law, in relation to hazardous substances;  and  to  repeal

          section  1389-e of the public health law relating thereto (Part E); to

          amend the general municipal law, in relation to state  assistance  for

          brownfield opportunity areas (Part F); to amend the navigation law, in

          relation  to  defenses  which  may be raised for certain discharges of

          petroleum and to repeal subdivision 4  of  section  181  of  such  law

          relating thereto (Part G); to amend the tax law, in relation to brown-

          field redevelopment tax credits, remediated brownfield credit for real

          property  taxes  for qualified sites, environmental remediation insur-

          ance credits; and to amend the insurance law, in  relation  to  quali-

          fication  of  environmental remediation insurance for tax credit (Part

          H); and to amend the environmental conservation law, the state finance

          law, chapter 55 of the laws  of  2003,  enacting  the  transportation,

          economic development and environmental conservation budget, the public

          authorities law and a chapter of the laws of 2003, amending the gener-

          al  business  law  and  other  laws relating to implementing the state

          fiscal plan for the 2003-2004 state fiscal year, as enacted by  legis-

          lative  bill numbers S. 1406-B and A. 2106-B, in relation to financing

          of hazardous waste site remediation projects (Part I)

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                                   LBD15237-02-3

   
    S. 5702                             2

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-

        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1.  This  act enacts into law major components of legislation

     2  relating to issues deemed necessary for the state.   Each  component  is

     3  wholly  contained  within  a  Part  identified as Parts A through I. The

     4  effective date for each particular provision contained within such  Part

     5  is  set  forth  in  the  last section of such Part. Any provision in any

     6  section contained within a Part, including the  effective  date  of  the

     7  Part,  which  makes  reference  to a section "of this act", when used in

     8  connection with that particular component, shall be deemed to  mean  and

     9  refer  to  the  corresponding  section of the Part in which it is found.

    10  Section three of this act sets forth the general effective date of  this

    11  act.

    12                                    PART A

    13    Section 1. Article 27 of the environmental conservation law is amended

    14  by adding a new title 14 to read as follows:

    15                                  TITLE 14

    16                         BROWNFIELD CLEANUP PROGRAM

    17  Section 27-1401. Short title.

    18          27-1403. Declaration of policy and findings of fact.

    19          27-1405. Definitions.

    20          27-1407. Request for participation.

    21          27-1409. Brownfield site cleanup agreement.

    22          27-1411. Work plan requirements.

    23          27-1413. Alternatives analysis.

    24          27-1415. Remedial program requirements.

    25          27-1417. Citizen participation.

    26          27-1419. Certification of completion

    27          27-1421. Liability limitation.

    28          27-1423. Payment of state costs.

    29          27-1425. Change of use.

    30          27-1427. Reserved.

    31          27-1429. Permit waivers.

    32          27-1431. Access to sites.

    33  § 27-1401. Short title.

    34    This  act  shall  be known and may be cited as the "Brownfield Cleanup

    35  Program".

    36  § 27-1403. Declaration of policy and findings of fact.

    37    The legislature hereby finds that there are thousands of abandoned and

    38  likely contaminated properties that threaten the health and vitality  of

    39  the communities they burden, and that these sites, known as brownfields,

    40  are  also  contributing to sprawl development and loss of open space. It

    41  is therefore declared that, to advance the policy of the  state  of  New

    42  York  to  conserve, improve, and protect its natural resources and envi-

    43  ronment and control water, land, and air pollution in order  to  enhance

    44  the  health,  safety,  and  welfare of the people of the state and their

    45  overall economic and social well being, it is appropriate to adopt  this

    46  act  to  encourage persons to voluntarily remediate brownfield sites for

    47  reuse and redevelopment by establishing within the department a statuto-

    48  ry program to encourage cleanup and redevelopment of  brownfield  sites.

    49  All remedies shall be fully protective of public health and the environ-

    50  ment including, but not limited to, groundwater according to its classi-

    51  fication pursuant to section 17-0301 of this chapter. A remedial program

   
    S. 5702                             3

     1  that  achieves a permanent cleanup of a contaminated site, including the

     2  restoration of groundwater to its classified use,  is  to  be  preferred

     3  over  a  remedial  program that does not do so.  It is the intent of the

     4  legislature that the provisions of this brownfield cleanup program shall

     5  not  be  construed  as  limiting  or  otherwise  affecting any authority

     6  conferred upon the department by any other provision of law.

     7  § 27-1405. Definitions.

     8    1. "Applicant" shall mean a person whose request to participate in the

     9  brownfield cleanup program under this title has  been  accepted  by  the

    10  department:

    11    (a)  "Participant"  shall  mean  an  applicant who either: (i) was the

    12  owner of the site at the time of the  disposal  of  hazardous  waste  or

    13  discharge of petroleum or (ii) is otherwise a person responsible accord-

    14  ing  to  applicable  principles  of  statutory  or common law liability,

    15  unless such person's  liability  arises  solely  as  a  result  of  such

    16  person's  ownership  or operation of or involvement with the site subse-

    17  quent to the disposal of hazardous waste or discharge of petroleum.

    18    (b) "Volunteer" shall mean an  applicant  other  than  a  participant,

    19  including without limitation a person whose liability arises solely as a

    20  result  of  such  person's ownership or operation of or involvement with

    21  the site subsequent to the disposal of hazardous waste or  discharge  of

    22  petroleum, provided however, such person exercises appropriate care with

    23  respect  to  hazardous  waste found at the facility by taking reasonable

    24  steps to:

    25    (i) stop any continuing release;

    26    (ii) prevent any threatened future release; and

    27    (iii) prevent or limit human, environmental, or natural resource expo-

    28  sure to any previously released hazardous substance.

    29    2. "Brownfield" or "brownfield site" shall mean any real property, the

    30  redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by  the  presence  or

    31  potential  presence  of  a  hazardous  waste,  petroleum,  pollutant, or

    32  contaminant.  Such term shall not include real property:

    33    (a) listed in the registry of inactive hazardous waste disposal  sites

    34  under section 27-1305 of this article at the time of application to this

    35  program  and  given a classification as described in subparagraph one or

    36  two of paragraph b of subdivision  four  of  section  27-1305  provided,

    37  however except until July first, two thousand five, real property listed

    38  in  the  registry of inactive hazardous waste disposal sites under para-

    39  graph b of subdivision two of section 27-1305 of this article  prior  to

    40  the effective date of this article, where such real property is owned by

    41  a  volunteer;  such  property  shall not be deemed ineligible to partic-

    42  ipate;

    43    (b) listed on the national priorities list established under authority

    44  of 42 U.S.C. section 9605;

    45    (c) subject to an enforcement action under title seven or nine of this

    46  article, except a treatment, storage or disposal facility subject  to  a

    47  permit, other than an interim status permit;

    48    (d)  subject to an order for cleanup pursuant to article twelve of the

    49  navigation law or pursuant to title ten of  article  seventeen  of  this

    50  chapter; or

    51    (e)  subject  to  any  other  on-going  state  or  federal environment

    52  enforcement action related to the hazardous waste or petroleum which  is

    53  the site subject to this agreement.

    54    3.  "Brownfield  site  contact  list"  shall  mean  a list of persons,

    55  government agencies, groups, or organizations, including, but not limit-

    56  ed to the chief executive officer and zoning board of each county, city,

   
    S. 5702                             4

     1  town and village in which such site is located, the public water suppli-

     2  er which serves the area in which such site is located, any  site  resi-

     3  dents,  any  person  who  has requested to be placed on the site contact

     4  list,  and  the administrator of any school or day care facility located

     5  on the site for the purposes of  posting  and/or  dissemination  at  the

     6  facility.    For the purposes of this section "water supplier" means any

     7  public water system as such term is defined  for  the  purposes  of  the

     8  sanitary  code  of  the  state  of New York as authorized by section two

     9  hundred twenty-five of the public health law.  Provided,  however,  that

    10  where  the  site  or  adjacent  real property contains multiple dwelling

    11  units, the applicant shall work with the department to develop an alter-

    12  native method for providing such notice in lieu of mailing to each indi-

    13  vidual.

    14    4.  "Brownfield  site  cleanup  agreement"  shall  mean  an  agreement

    15  executed  in  accordance with section 27-1409 of this title by an appli-

    16  cant and the department for the purpose of completing a brownfield  site

    17  remedial program.

    18    5. "Brownfield site remedial program" or "remedial program" shall mean

    19  all  remedial  activities  or  actions  undertaken to eliminate, remove,

    20  treat, abate, control, manage, or monitor hazardous waste  or  petroleum

    21  at  or  emanating from a brownfield site, including, but not limited to,

    22  the following:

    23    (a) remedial investigation and remedy selection activities  needed  to

    24  develop such a program;

    25    (b) design activities;

    26    (c)  construction  activities  including  without  limitation grading,

    27  contouring,  trenching,  grouting,  capping,  excavating,  transporting,

    28  incinerating,  thermally  treating,  chemically  treating,  biologically

    29  treating, or constructing leachate collection and treatment systems;

    30    (d) interim remedial measures;

    31    (e) post-construction operation, maintenance, and monitoring;

    32    (f) restoration of the environment;

    33    (g) involvement by local governments of jurisdiction and by the gener-

    34  al public; or

    35    (h) oversight by the department.

    36    6. "Citizen participation plan" shall mean the description of  citizen

    37  participation  activities  prepared  and  carried out by municipalities,

    38  community based organizations  and/or  applicants  pursuant  to  section

    39  27-1417 of this title.

    40    7.  "Concentrated solid or semi-solid hazardous substances" shall mean

    41  solid or semi-solid hazardous substances present in surface  or  subsur-

    42  face  soil, surface water or groundwater in a concentrated form, such as

    43  precipitated metallic salts, metal oxides, or chemical sludges.

    44    8. "Contamination" or "contaminated" shall  mean  the  presence  of  a

    45  hazardous waste or petroleum in any environmental media, including soil,

    46  surface water, groundwater, air, or indoor air.

    47    9.  "Dense non-aqueous phase liquid" or "DNAPL" shall mean a hazardous

    48  substance that is a liquid that  is  denser  than  water  and  does  not

    49  dissolve or mix easily in water.

    50    10.  "Document  repository" shall mean a repository of brownfield site

    51  remedial program documents approved by the department  or  released  for

    52  public  notice  established  in  a publicly accessible building near the

    53  location of such site.

    54    11. "Engineering control" shall mean any physical  barrier  or  method

    55  employed to actively or passively contain, stabilize, or monitor hazard-

    56  ous  waste  or  petroleum,  restrict  the movement of hazardous waste or

   
    S. 5702                             5

     1  petroleum to ensure the long-term effectiveness of a  remedial  program,

     2  or  eliminate potential exposure pathways to hazardous waste or petrole-

     3  um.  Engineering controls include, but are  not  limited  to,  pavement,

     4  caps,  covers, subsurface barriers, vapor barriers, slurry walls, build-

     5  ing ventilation systems, fences, access controls, provision of  alterna-

     6  tive  water  supplies via connection to an existing public water supply,

     7  adding treatment technologies to such  water  supplies,  and  installing

     8  filtration devices on private water supplies.

     9    12.  "Feasible"  shall  mean  suitable  to site conditions, capable of

    10  being successfully carried out with available technology,  implementable

    11  and cost effective.

    12    13.  "Financial  assurance" shall include but not be limited to surety

    13  bonds, trust funds, letters of credit, insurance or a multiple of finan-

    14  cial mechanisms as determined to be adequate by the department.

    15    14. "Free product" shall mean an immiscible non-aqueous  phase  liquid

    16  other  than  a  dense  non-aqueous  phase liquid present as a liquid, in

    17  surface or sub-surface soil, surface water or groundwater  in  a  poten-

    18  tially mobile state.

    19    15.  "Grossly  contaminated  soil" shall mean soil which contains free

    20  product  or  residual  contamination  which  is  identifiable  visually,

    21  through the perception of odor, by elevated contaminant vapor levels, by

    22  field instrumentation, or is otherwise readily detectable.

    23    16.  "Groundwater"  shall mean water below the land surface in a satu-

    24  rated zone of soil or rock. This includes perched water  separated  from

    25  the main body of groundwater by an unsaturated zone.

    26    17. "Hazardous waste" or "contaminant" shall mean a hazardous waste as

    27  defined  in section 27-1301 of this article, and petroleum as defined in

    28  this section.

    29    18. "Institutional control"  shall  mean  any  non-physical  means  of

    30  enforcing a restriction on the use of real property that limits human or

    31  environmental  exposure,  restricts  the  use  of  groundwater, provides

    32  notice to potential owners, operators, or  members  of  the  public,  or

    33  prevents  actions that would interfere with the effectiveness of a reme-

    34  dial program or with the effectiveness and/or  integrity  of  operation,

    35  maintenance,  or  monitoring activities at or pertaining to a brownfield

    36  site.

    37    19. "Interim remedial measures" shall mean activities to address  both

    38  emergency  and  non-emergency  site  conditions, which can be undertaken

    39  without extensive investigation and evaluation, to prevent, mitigate, or

    40  remedy environmental damage or the consequences of environmental  damage

    41  attributable  to  a  site,  including  but not limited to, the following

    42  activities: construction of diversion ditches, collection systems,  free

    43  product  recovery  systems, or leachate collection systems; construction

    44  of fences or other barriers; installation of water filters; provision of

    45  alternative water  systems;  the  removal  of  free  product;  or  plume

    46  control.

    47    20. "Light Non Aqueous Phase Liquid" or "LNAPL" shall mean a hazardous

    48  substance  that  is  a  liquid  that  is lighter than water and does not

    49  dissolve or mix easily in water.

    50    21. "Municipality" shall mean a local public authority or public bene-

    51  fit corporation, a county, city, town, village, school district,  super-

    52  visory  district,  district  corporation,  improvement district within a

    53  county, city, town or village or Indian nation or  tribe  recognized  by

    54  the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the bounda-

    55  ries of the state, or any combination thereof.

   
    S. 5702                             6

     1    22.  "Newspaper  notice"  shall  mean  the  placement of a prominently

     2  located, paid newspaper advertisement in the community bulletin  section

     3  or  similar  local  section of a newspaper of general circulation in the

     4  vicinity of the brownfield site which is the subject of the notice. Such

     5  notice  shall  be in English and in any other language spoken by signif-

     6  icant numbers of people within the community.

     7    23. "Non-aqueous phase liquid" shall  mean  a  liquid  that  does  not

     8  dissolve or mix easily in water.

     9    24.  "Not-for-profit  corporation"  shall mean a not-for-profit corpo-

    10  ration exempt from taxation under section 501(c)  (3)  of  the  internal

    11  revenue  code  whose  stated  mission is not inconsistent with promoting

    12  reuse of brownfield sites within a specified geographic  area,  and  who

    13  has  exercised due care with respect to any hazardous waste or petroleum

    14  at the brownfield site, taking into consideration the characteristics of

    15  such hazardous waste, in light of all relevant facts and  circumstances,

    16  including but not limited to a not-for-profit corporation whose board of

    17  directors  shall  include  residents  of the community or communities in

    18  such specified geographic area and who  has  a  demonstrated  record  of

    19  community  involvement  and/or  revitalization. A "not-for-profit corpo-

    20  ration" shall not include any not-for-profit corporation whose  acts  or

    21  omissions  have  caused  or  contributed  to  the  release or threatened

    22  release of a hazardous waste from or onto the brownfield  site,  or  any

    23  not-for-profit  corporation that generated, transported, or disposed of,

    24  or that arranged for,  or  caused  the  generation,  transportation,  or

    25  disposal of hazardous waste from or onto the brownfield site. This defi-

    26  nition  shall  not  apply if any member, officer or director of the not-

    27  for-profit corporation is or was employed or receiving compensation from

    28  any person responsible for a site under title thirteen of this  article,

    29  any responsible party under this title or under applicable principles of

    30  statutory or common law liability.

    31    26.  "Off-site contamination" shall mean any hazardous waste or petro-

    32  leum which has emanated from a brownfield site beyond the real  property

    33  boundaries  of  such  site,  via movement through air, indoor air, soil,

    34  surface water or groundwater.

    35    27. "On-site contamination" shall mean any hazardous waste or  contam-

    36  ination  located  within  the  real  property boundaries of a brownfield

    37  site.

    38    28.  "Permanent cleanup" or "permanent remedy" shall mean a cleanup or

    39  remedy that would allow a site  to  be  used  for  any  purpose  without

    40  restriction and without reliance on the long-term employment of institu-

    41  tional or engineering controls.

    42    29.  "Petroleum"  shall  have  the  meaning  set  forth in section one

    43  hundred seventy-two of the navigation law.

    44    30. "Residual contamination" shall mean a hazardous waste remaining as

    45  a solid, semi-solid or immiscible liquid in surface or subsurface  soil,

    46  geologic  matrix pore spaces or fractures and held in place by capillary

    47  forces or other physical or chemical forces that will not drain from the

    48  formation.

    49  § 27-1407. Request for participation.

    50    1. A person who seeks to participate in this program  shall  submit  a

    51  request  to  the  department  on a form provided by the department. Such

    52  form shall include information to be determined by the department suffi-

    53  cient to allow the department to determine eligibility and  the  reason-

    54  ably  anticipated  land  use  of the site pursuant to section 27-1415 of

    55  this title.

   
    S. 5702                             7

     1    2. If the applicant chooses, a work plan for a site investigation or a

     2  final report describing the results of an investigation that  meets  the

     3  requirements of this article.

     4    3.  The department shall notify the applicant requesting participation

     5  in this program within ten days after receiving such request  that  such

     6  request  is  either complete or incomplete. In the event the application

     7  is determined to be incomplete the department shall specify  in  writing

     8  the  missing  necessary information required pursuant to this article to

     9  complete the application.

    10    4. Upon the receipt of an application, the department shall notify the

    11  administrator of the New York environmental protection and spill compen-

    12  sation fund to determine whether such  person  has  been  identified  as

    13  responsible for cleanup and removal costs for the discharge of petroleum

    14  at or emanating from the brownfield site for which the person is seeking

    15  participation and that there is an outstanding claim against such person

    16  pursuant  to  article  twelve  of  the navigation law. The administrator

    17  shall notify the department and the applicant within thirty days of such

    18  notice of any outstanding claim by the fund against such person  at  the

    19  brownfield site for which the person is seeking participation.

    20    5.  Upon  the  determination  that  the  application  is complete, the

    21  department shall commence a  thirty  day  comment  period  and  place  a

    22  notification of receipt of request to participate in this program in the

    23  environmental notice bulletin and provide newspaper notice.  The depart-

    24  ment shall also provide notice thereof in writing to the chief executive

    25  officer and zoning board of each county, city, town and village in which

    26  such brownfield site is located, residents of the site, the public water

    27  supplier  which  services  the  area  in  which  such brownfield site is

    28  located, any person who has requested to be placed on the  site  contact

    29  list and the administrator of any school or day care facility located on

    30  the site for the purposes of posting and/or dissemination at the facili-

    31  ty.    For  purposes  of  this section "water supplier" means any public

    32  water system as such term is defined for the purposes  of  the  sanitary

    33  code of the state of New York as authorized by section two hundred twen-

    34  ty-five  of  the  public health law.   Provided, however, that where the

    35  site or adjacent real property contains  multiple  dwelling  units,  the

    36  applicant shall work with the department to develop an alternative meth-

    37  od for providing such notice in lieu of mailing to each individual.

    38    6.   The department shall use all best efforts to expeditiously notify

    39  the applicant within forty-five days after receiving their  request  for

    40  participation that such request is either accepted or rejected.

    41    7.    In the event a final investigation report describing the results

    42  of an investigation that meets the  requirements  of  this  article  was

    43  submitted with the application, the applicant shall establish a document

    44  repository, notify individuals on the site contact list, and provide for

    45  a  thirty  day  comment period. Within sixty days after receiving appli-

    46  cant's application the commissioner shall inform the applicant in  writ-

    47  ing  that  the  investigation  is  complete or that the investigation is

    48  incomplete and specify the missing necessary information required pursu-

    49  ant to this article to  complete  the  investigation  and/or  the  final

    50  investigation report.

    51    8. The department shall reject such request if:

    52    (a)  the department, based on the preliminary environmental assessment

    53  and/or other information the department possesses, determines  that  the

    54  request  is  for real property which does not meet the requirements of a

    55  brownfield site as defined in this title; or

   
    S. 5702                             8

     1    (b) there is an action or proceeding relating to the  brownfield  site

     2  against  the  person  who is requesting participation that is pending in

     3  any civil or criminal court in any jurisdiction, or before any state  or

     4  federal  administrative  agency  or  body,  wherein the state or federal

     5  government seeks the investigation, removal, or remediation of hazardous

     6  wastes or petroleum or penalties.

     7    (c)  The  person requesting participation is subject to an outstanding

     8  claim as provided in subdivision four of this section.

     9    9. The department may reject such request  for  participation  if  the

    10  department  determines  that  the public interest would not be served by

    11  granting such request. The department shall consider factors,  including

    12  but not limited to, the following:

    13    (a)  The  applicant has been determined in an administrative, civil or

    14  criminal proceeding to have violated any provision of this article,  any

    15  related  order  or  determination  of  the  commissioner, any regulation

    16  promulgated pursuant to this article,  or  any  similar  statute,  regu-

    17  lation, order of the federal or other state government.

    18    (b)  The  applicant has been denied entry into this program based upon

    19  one or more  of  the  provisions  of  this  subdivision,  or  a  similar

    20  provision of federal or other state law.

    21    (c) The applicant has been found in a civil proceeding to have commit-

    22  ted  a negligent or intentionally tortuous act, or has been convicted in

    23  a criminal proceeding of a criminal act involving the handling, storing,

    24  treating, disposing or transporting hazardous waste or petroleum.

    25    (d) The applicant has been convicted of a criminal offense  under  the

    26  laws of any state or of the United States which involves a violent felo-

    27  ny offense, fraud, bribery, perjury, theft, or an offense against public

    28  administration  as  that term is used in article one hundred ninety-five

    29  of the penal law.

    30    (e) The applicant has in any matter within  the  jurisdiction  of  the

    31  department knowingly falsified or concealed a material fact or knowingly

    32  submitted  a false statement or made use of or made a false statement on

    33  or in connection with any  document  or  application  submitted  to  the

    34  department.

    35    (f) The applicant is either:

    36    (1) an individual who had a substantial interest in or acted as a high

    37  managerial  agent  or director for any corporation, partnership, associ-

    38  ation or organization which committed an act or failed to act, and  such

    39  act  or  failure  to  act  could be the basis for the denial of a permit

    40  pursuant to this section or regulations promulgated thereunder  if  such

    41  corporation,  partnership,  association  or  organization  applied for a

    42  permit under this title;

    43    (2) a corporation,  partnership,  association,  organization,  or  any

    44  principal thereof, or any person holding a substantial interest therein,

    45  which  committed an act or failed to act, and such act or failure to act

    46  could be the basis for the denial of a permit pursuant to  this  section

    47  or  regulations promulgated thereunder if such corporation, partnership,

    48  association or organization applied for a permit under this title; or

    49    (3) a corporation, partnership, association  or  organization  or  any

    50  high  managerial  agent  or  director  thereof,  or any person holding a

    51  substantial interest therein, acting as high managerial agent or  direc-

    52  tor  for or holding a substantial interest in another corporation, part-

    53  nership, association or organization which committed an act or failed to

    54  act, and such act or failure to act could be the basis for the denial of

    55  a permit pursuant to this section or regulations promulgated  thereunder

   
    S. 5702                             9

     1  had  such  other  corporation,  partnership, association or organization

     2  applied for a permit under this title.

     3    For  the purposes of this subdivision, "high managerial agent" has the

     4  same meaning as is given that term in section 20.20 of  the  penal  law,

     5  and  "substantial  interest" shall be defined in regulations promulgated

     6  by the commissioner.

     7  § 27-1409. Brownfield site cleanup agreement.

     8    The agreement shall include, but not  be  limited  to,  the  following

     9  provisions:

    10    1.  One  requiring  the  applicant  to  pay for state costs; provided,

    11  however, that with respect to a brownfield site after which the  depart-

    12  ment  has  determined  constitutes  a significant   threat to the public

    13  health or environment the department may include a  provision  requiring

    14  the  applicant  to provide a technical assistance grant, as described in

    15  subdivision three of section 27-1417  of  this  article  and  under  the

    16  conditions  described  therein,  to an eligible party in accordance with

    17  procedures established under such program, with the cost of such a grant

    18  serving as an offset against such state costs;

    19    2. One setting forth a process for resolving disputes arising from the

    20  evaluation, analysis, and oversight of the implementation  of  the  work

    21  plan as described;

    22    3.  One  requiring  an indemnification provision which holds the state

    23  harmless from any claim, suit,  action,  and  cost  of  every  name  and

    24  description  arising  out  of  or  resulting  from  the  fulfillment  or

    25  attempted fulfillment of the agreement, except for those claims,  suits,

    26  actions,  and costs arising from the state's gross negligence or willful

    27  or intentional misconduct;

    28    4. One authorizing the  department  to  terminate  a  brownfield  site

    29  cleanup  agreement  at any time during the implementation of such agree-

    30  ment if the applicant implementing such agreement fails to substantially

    31  comply with such agreement's terms and conditions;

    32    5. One exempting the applicant from  the  requirement  to  obtain  any

    33  state or local permit or other authorization for any activity satisfying

    34  the following criteria:

    35    (a)  the  activity is conducted on the brownfield site or on different

    36  premises that are under common control or are  contiguous  to  or  phys-

    37  ically  connected  with  the  brownfield  site  and the activity manages

    38  exclusively hazardous waste and/or petroleum from such brownfield site,

    39    (b) the activity  satisfies  all  substantive  technical  requirements

    40  applicable to like activity conducted pursuant to a permit as determined

    41  by the department, and

    42    (c)  the  activity  is  conducted  under  such brownfield site cleanup

    43  agreement;

    44    6. One stating that the department shall not consider the applicant an

    45  operator of such brownfield site based solely upon execution  or  imple-

    46  mentation  of  such  brownfield  site  cleanup agreement for purposes of

    47  remediation liability;

    48    7. A requirement that the applicant conduct investigation and/or reme-

    49  diation activities pursuant to one or more work plans which are approved

    50  by the department;

    51    8. One requiring the  preparation  and  implementation  of  a  citizen

    52  participation  plan  consistent  with  the requirements of this title as

    53  soon as possible following execution of the agreement but no later  than

    54  prior  to  the preparation of a draft remedial investigation plan by the

    55  applicant which shall include a  description  of  citizen  participation

    56  activities already performed by the department;

   
    S. 5702                            10

     1    9.  One  requiring a waiver by the applicant, effective upon the issu-

     2  ance of a certificate of completion pursuant to section 27-1419 of  this

     3  title,  of  any  right of such volunteer has or may have to make a claim

     4  pursuant to article twelve of the navigation law  with  respect  to  the

     5  brownfield  site, and a release of the New York environmental protection

     6  and spill compensation fund from any and all legal or  equitable  claims

     7  or causes of action that such volunteer may have as a result of entering

     8  into a brownfield site agreement or fulfilling a brownfield site remedi-

     9  al program at such site; and

    10    10.  The  inclusion  of  other  conditions considered necessary by the

    11  department concerning the effective and efficient implementation of this

    12  title, and, where the applicant is a participant, the  department  shall

    13  include  provisions  relating to recovery of state costs incurred before

    14  the effective date of such agreement.

    15  § 27-1411. Work plan requirements.

    16    1. A remedial investigation work plan shall provide for  the  investi-

    17  gation  and  characterization  of  the  nature and extent of the contam-

    18  ination within the boundaries of the brownfield site; provided, however,

    19  a participant shall also be required to fully investigate and character-

    20  ize the nature and extent of contamination emanating from such site.  An

    21  applicant  must  perform  a  qualitative exposure assessment pursuant to

    22  subdivision two of section  27-1415  regarding  contamination  emanating

    23  from such site.  Such work plan shall require that the applicant cause a

    24  final report to be prepared and submitted to the department that identi-

    25  fies  the investigation activities completed pursuant to such work plan.

    26  Such final report, at a minimum, shall:

    27    (a) Fully characterize the nature and extent of contamination  at  the

    28  brownfield  site; a participant shall also fully characterize the nature

    29  and extent of contamination that has migrated from the brownfield  site;

    30  and  an  applicant  shall describe the findings of the off-site exposure

    31  assessments;

    32    (b) State whether the completed investigation  has  demonstrated  that

    33  conditions  at  the  brownfield site (1) require remediation in order to

    34  meet the remedial requirements of this title or (2)  meet  the  require-

    35  ments of this title without necessity for remediation;

    36    (c)  For  it to be determined that the requirements of this title have

    37  been met without the necessity for remediation, an alternatives analysis

    38  pursuant to section 27-1413 of this title  must  support  such  determi-

    39  nation  for  all sites which do not meet the requirements in track 1 for

    40  unrestricted use; and

    41    (d) Within twenty days of the  completion  of  the  final  report  the

    42  department  shall determine if the site poses a significant threat based

    43  on criteria developed pursuant to title thirteen of this article.

    44    2. A remedial work plan shall provide for the development  and  imple-

    45  mentation of a remedial program for such contamination within the bound-

    46  aries  of  such  brownfield  site; provided, however, that a participant

    47  shall also be required to provide in such work plan for the  development

    48  and  implementation  of  a  remedial  program for contamination that has

    49  migrated from such site.

    50    3. Interim remedial measures. (a) Interim remedial measure work  plan.

    51  For interim remedial measures that are not emergency response actions an

    52  interim  remedial  measure  work plan shall be prepared by the applicant

    53  containing such provisions as the department deems appropriate.

    54    (b) Interim remedial measure report.  For  interim  remedial  measures

    55  that  are  not  emergency  response actions, an interim remedial measure

    56  report must be prepared and submitted  to  the  department  which  shall

   
    S. 5702                            11

     1  include a description of all interim remedial measures complete pursuant

     2  to the interim remedial measure work plan.

     3    4.  The  commissioner  shall  use  all  best  efforts to expeditiously

     4  approve, modify, or reject a proposed work plan within  forty-five  days

     5  from  its  receipt  or  within  fifteen days of the close of the comment

     6  period, whichever is later.

     7    (a) If the commissioner rejects a proposed work plan, the commissioner

     8  shall notify the applicant and specify the reasons for rejecting same.

     9    (b) If the commissioner approves or modifies such proposed work  plan,

    10  the  commissioner  shall  notify  the  applicant,  in  writing, that the

    11  proposed work plan has been approved or modified.  If  the  commissioner

    12  requires a modification, the applicant may agree to modify such proposed

    13  work plan or withdraw it from consideration.

    14    5. Nothing in this section shall prohibit or limit the department from

    15  terminating  a  brownfield site cleanup agreement at any time during its

    16  implementation if the applicant subject to such brownfield site  cleanup

    17  agreement  fails to comply substantially with such agreement's terms and

    18  conditions.

    19    6. Within six months of the determination that a site poses a  signif-

    20  icant  threat,  in  the  event  that  the  applicant is a volunteer, the

    21  department shall bring an enforcement action against any  parties  known

    22  or suspected to be responsible for contamination (other than such volun-

    23  teer)  at  or emanating from the site according to applicable principles

    24  of statutory or common law liability.  If such action cannot be brought,

    25  or does not result in the initiation of a remedial program by such party

    26  or parties at such site, the department shall use best efforts to  begin

    27  a  remedial program to perform the remediation of off-site contamination

    28  at such site within one year  of  the  completion  of  such  enforcement

    29  action  or the completion of the volunteer's remedial program, whichever

    30  is later.  The state shall use moneys from the hazardous waste  remedial

    31  fund established pursuant to section ninety-seven-b of the state finance

    32  law  to  undertake  the investigation and/or remediation of such contam-

    33  ination.  The state's costs incurred relative to such  off-site  contam-

    34  ination shall be recoverable from the person or persons responsible.

    35  § 27-1413. Alternatives analysis.

    36    1.  For  sites  proposed  to  be  remediated under track I pursuant to

    37  section 27-1415, the applicant shall develop and evaluate at  least  one

    38  remedial alternative.

    39    2.  For  all  other sites, the applicant shall develop and evaluate at

    40  least two remedial alternatives, one of which would achieve  a  track  I

    41  cleanup.  The department shall have the discretion to require the evalu-

    42  ation  of  additional alternatives at a site that has been determined to

    43  pose a significant threat. The applicant shall submit  the  alternatives

    44  analysis  to  the  department  for  review,  approval,  modification  or

    45  rejection.

    46    3. For sites that the department has determined constitute  a  signif-

    47  icant  threat, the department shall select the remedy from a department-

    48  approved alternatives analysis.

    49    4. For sites that the department has determined do  not  constitute  a

    50  significant  threat,  the applicant may select the remedy from a depart-

    51  ment-approved alternatives analysis, which  analysis  shall  contain  at

    52  least  two remedial alternatives as set forth in subdivision two of this

    53  section. Provided, however, that the department may require  the  appli-

    54  cant,  as  a  condition of continuing under this program, to develop and

    55  evaluate a Track II cleanup pursuant to section 27-1415  for  such  non-

    56  significant threat site upon due consideration of the following factors:

   
    S. 5702                            12

     1  (a)  the  degree  to which the remedy selection criteria would be better

     2  satisfied by a Track II cleanup; (b) the degree of  impact  a  Track  II

     3  cleanup  would  have  on the applicant's ability to successfully cleanup

     4  and/or  redevelop the property; (c) the benefit to the environment to be

     5  realized by the expeditious remediation of the  property;  and  (d)  the

     6  economic  benefit to the state to be realized by the expeditious remedi-

     7  ation of the property.   In those instances  where  the  department  has

     8  required  the  applicant to develop and evaluate a Track II cleanup, the

     9  department shall have the discretion to, as a  condition  of  continuing

    10  under this program, require the applicant to implement such remedy.

    11  § 27-1415.  Remedial program requirements.

    12    1.  Remedies.    All remedies shall be protective of public health and

    13  the environment including but not limited to  groundwater  according  to

    14  its classification pursuant to section 17-0301 of this chapter; drinking

    15  water,  surface  water  and  air (including indoor air); sensitive popu-

    16  lations, including children; and ecological  resources,  including  fish

    17  and wildlife. In all cases, the target risk of residual contamination at

    18  a  site shall not exceed an excess cancer risk of one in one million for

    19  carcinogenic end points and a hazard index of  one  for  non-cancer  end

    20  points.

    21    2. Investigation. (a) Remedial investigation. A remedial investigation

    22  shall  fully  characterize  the  nature  and  extent of contamination at

    23  and/or emanating from a brownfield site, including contamination emanat-

    24  ing from such site. Such investigation shall emphasize  data  collection

    25  and  sampling  and  monitoring,  as  necessary,  and includes but is not

    26  limited to:  characterization of site geologic and hydrogeologic  condi-

    27  tions,   including  groundwater  flow,  contaminant  movement,  and  the

    28  response of the groundwater system to extraction; and assessment of  the

    29  existing and potential impact of groundwater contamination on private or

    30  community  water  supply  wells, surface water quality, air quality, and

    31  indoor air quality.

    32    (b) Qualitative exposure assessment. A qualitative exposure assessment

    33  shall qualitatively determine the route, intensity, frequency, and dura-

    34  tion of actual or potential exposures of humans, fish  and  wildlife  to

    35  contaminants.  Such  assessment  must analyze the nature and size of the

    36  population currently exposed or which may reasonably be expected  to  be

    37  exposed  to  the  contaminants  that  are present at or migrating from a

    38  site, and shall include a determination of  the  reasonably  anticipated

    39  future  land use of the site and affected off-site areas and the reason-

    40  ably anticipated future groundwater use. A qualitative exposure  assess-

    41  ment  consists  of  characterizing  the  exposure  setting,  identifying

    42  current and reasonably foreseeable  exposure  pathways,  and  evaluating

    43  contaminant  fate  and  transport.  Some off-site field investigation to

    44  identify and sample any potential areas of contamination may be required

    45  to support the exposure assessment.

    46    3. Selection. The remedial program for a site shall be  selected  upon

    47  due consideration of the following factors:

    48    (a)  Conformance to standards and criteria that are generally applica-

    49  ble, consistently applied, and officially promulgated, that  are  either

    50  directly  applicable,  or that are not directly applicable but are rele-

    51  vant and appropriate, unless good cause exists why conformity should  be

    52  dispensed  with,  and  with consideration being given to guidance deter-

    53  mined, after the exercise of engineering  judgment,  to  be  applicable.

    54  Such good cause exists if any of the following is present:

    55    (i)  the  proposed action is only part of a complete program that will

    56  conform to such standard or criterion upon completion; or

   
    S. 5702                            13

     1    (ii) conformity to such standard or criterion will result  in  greater

     2  risk to the public health or to the environment than alternatives; or

     3    (iii)  conformity to such standard or criterion is technically imprac-

     4  ticable from an engineering perspective; or

     5    (iv) the program will attain a level of performance that is equivalent

     6  to that required by the standard or criterion through the use of another

     7  method or approach.

     8    (b) Overall protectiveness of the public health and the environment.

     9    (c) Short-term effectiveness.

    10    (d) Long-term effectiveness and permanence. A  remedial  program  that

    11  achieves a complete and permanent cleanup of the site is to be preferred

    12  over a remedial program that does not do so.

    13    (e)  Reduction  in  toxicity,  mobility and/or volume of contamination

    14  with treatment. A remedial program that  permanently  and  significantly

    15  reduces  the  toxicity, mobility and/or volume of contamination is to be

    16  preferred over a remedial program that does not do so. The following  is

    17  the hierarchy of the remedial technologies ranked from the most prefera-

    18  ble   to   the  least  preferable:  destruction,  on-site  or  off-site;

    19  separation/treatment, on-site or off-site; solidification/chemical fixa-

    20  tion, on-site or off-site; control and isolation, on-site or off-site.

    21    (f) Implementability.

    22    (g) Cost effectiveness.

    23    (h) Community acceptance.

    24    (i) Land use. The current, intended, and reasonably anticipated future

    25  land uses of the site and its surroundings shall be  considered  in  the

    26  selection  of  the  remedy for soil remediation, provided the department

    27  determines that there is reasonable certainty associated with such  use.

    28  The  reasonably  anticipated future use of the site and its surroundings

    29  shall be documented by the applicant and determined by  the  department,

    30  taking  into  consideration  factors including, but not limited to those

    31  listed below. If the use proposed for the site  does  not  conform  with

    32  applicable  zoning laws or maps or the reasonably anticipated future use

    33  of the site determined by the department pursuant to this  section,  the

    34  department shall disapprove such use.

    35    (j) Current use and historical and/or recent development patterns.

    36    (k) Applicable zoning laws and maps.

    37    (l)  Brownfield  opportunity   areas as designated pursuant to section

    38  nine hundred seventy-r of the general municipal law.

    39    (m) Applicable comprehensive community master plans, local  waterfront

    40  revitalization  plans as provided for in article forty-two of the execu-

    41  tive law, or any other applicable land use plan formally  adopted  by  a

    42  municipality.

    43    (n) Proximity to real property currently used for residential use, and

    44  to urban, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and recreational areas.

    45    (o)  Any  written and oral comments submitted by members of the public

    46  on the applicants proposed use as part of citizen  participation  activ-

    47  ities performed by the applicant pursuant to this title.

    48    (p)  Environmental justice concerns, which for purposes of this title,

    49  include the extent to which the proposed use may reasonably be  expected

    50  to cause or increase a disproportionate burden on the community in which

    51  the  site  is  located, including low-income minority communities, or to

    52  result in a disproportionate concentration of commercial  or  industrial

    53  uses in what has historically been a mixed use or residential community.

    54    (q) Federal or state land use designations.

    55    (r) Population growth patterns and projections.

    56    (s) Accessibility to existing infrastructure.

   
    S. 5702                            14

     1    (t)  Proximity  of the site to important cultural resources, including

     2  federal or state historic or heritage sites or Native American religious

     3  sites.

     4    (u)  Natural  resources,  including proximity of the site to important

     5  federal, state or local natural resources, including waterways, wildlife

     6  refuges, wetlands, or critical  habitats  of  endangered  or  threatened

     7  species.

     8    (v) Potential vulnerability of groundwater to contamination that might

     9  migrate  from  the  site, including proximity to wellhead protection and

    10  groundwater recharge areas and other areas identified by the  department

    11  and  the  state's  comprehensive  groundwater remediation and protection

    12  program established pursuant to title thirty-one of article  fifteen  of

    13  this chapter.

    14    (w) Proximity to floodplains.

    15    (x) Geography and geology.

    16    (y) Current institutional controls applicable to the site.

    17    4.  Tracks. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of

    18  health, shall propose within twelve months and thereafter timely promul-

    19  gate regulations which create a multi-track approach for the remediation

    20  of contamination.  Such regulations shall provide that  groundwater  use

    21  in  Tracks  1,  3  or  4  can be either restricted or unrestricted.  The

    22  tracks shall be as follows:

    23    Track 1: The remedial program shall achieve a cleanup level that  will

    24  allow  the site to be used for any purpose without restriction and with-

    25  out reliance on the long-term employment of institutional or engineering

    26  controls, and shall achieve contaminant-specific remedial action  objec-

    27  tives  for soil which conforms with those contained in the generic table

    28  of contaminant-specific remedial action objectives for unrestricted  use

    29  developed  pursuant to subdivision six of this section. Provided, howev-

    30  er, that volunteers whose proposed remedial program for the  remediation

    31  of  groundwater may require the long-term employment of institutional or

    32  engineering controls after the bulk  reduction  of  groundwater  contam-

    33  ination  to  asymptotic levels has been achieved but whose program would

    34  otherwise conform with the requirements necessary to qualify  for  Track

    35  1, shall qualify for Track 1.

    36    Track  2:  The remedial program may include restrictions on the use of

    37  the site or reliance on the long-term employment of  engineering  and/or

    38  institutional  controls, but shall achieve contaminant-specific remedial

    39  action objectives for soil which conform with those contained in one  of

    40  the generic tables developed pursuant to subdivision six of this section

    41  without  the  use of institutional or engineering controls to reach such

    42  objectives.

    43    Track 3: The remedial program shall achieve contaminant-specific reme-

    44  dial action objectives for soil which conform with the criteria used  to

    45  develop  the  generic  tables  for such objectives developed pursuant to

    46  subdivision six of this section but may use site specific data to deter-

    47  mine such objectives.

    48    Track 4: The remedial program shall achieve a cleanup level that  will

    49  be protective for the site's current, intended or reasonably anticipated

    50  residential,  commercial,  or  industrial use with restrictions and with

    51  reliance on the long-term employment  of  institutional  or  engineering

    52  controls  to  achieve  such  level.  The  regulations  shall  include  a

    53  provision requiring that a cleanup level which poses a  risk  in  excee-

    54  dance  of  an  excess cancer risk of one in one million for carcinogenic

    55  end points and a hazard index of one for non-cancer  end  points  for  a

    56  specific  contaminant  at a specific site may be approved by the depart-

   
    S. 5702                            15

     1  ment without requiring the use of institutional or engineering  controls

     2  to  eliminate  exposure only upon a site specific finding by the commis-

     3  sioner, in consultation with the commissioner of health, that such level

     4  shall be protective of public health and environment. Such finding shall

     5  be  included  in  the  draft  remedial  work plan for the site and fully

     6  described in the notice and fact sheet provided in such work plan.

     7    5. Source removal and control measures. (a) The following is the hier-

     8  archy of source removal and control measures ranked from most preferable

     9  to least preferable. For all applicants, the remedial  program  selected

    10  pursuant to this title shall address sources in the following manner:

    11    (i)  Removal and/or treatment. All free product, concentrated solid or

    12  semi-solid hazardous substances, dense non-aqueous phase  liquid,  light

    13  non-aqueous  phase  liquid  and/or  grossly  contaminated  soil shall be

    14  removed and/or treated; provided however if the removal and/or treatment

    15  of all such contamination is not feasible, such contamination  shall  be

    16  removed or treated to the greatest extent feasible.

    17    (ii) Containment. Any source remaining following removal and/or treat-

    18  ment  pursuant to this paragraph shall be contained; provided however if

    19  full containment is not feasible, such source shall be contained to  the

    20  greatest extent feasible.

    21    (iii)  Elimination  of  exposure.  Exposure  to  any  source remaining

    22  following removal, treatment and/or containment pursuant to  this  para-

    23  graph shall be eliminated through additional measures, including but not

    24  limited  to, as applicable, the timely and sustained provision of alter-

    25  native water supplies and the elimination of volatilization into  build-

    26  ings; provided however if such elimination is not feasible such exposure

    27  shall be eliminated to the greatest extent feasible.

    28    (iv) Treatment of source at the point of exposure. Treatment of source

    29  at  the  point of exposure, including but not limited to, as applicable,

    30  wellhead treatment or the management of  volatile  contamination  within

    31  buildings, shall be considered as a measure of last resort.

    32    (b)  Plume  stabilization  shall be evaluated for all remedies and the

    33  further migration of contamination from the site shall be  prevented  to

    34  the  extent  feasible,  including any actions that would be necessary to

    35  maintain and monitor such stabilization. Provided  however,  that  at  a

    36  site  being remediated by a participant, the further migration of plumes

    37  shall be prevented to the extent feasible.

    38    6. Soil cleanup objectives. (a) The regulations  shall  include  three

    39  generic  tables  of  contaminant-specific remedial action objectives for

    40  soil based on a  site's  current,  intended  or  reasonably  anticipated

    41  future  use,  including:  (i)  unrestricted,  (ii)  commercial and (iii)

    42  industrial.

    43    (b) Such objectives shall be protective of public health and the envi-

    44  ronment pursuant to subdivision one of this section, and  the  level  of

    45  risk  associated  with remedial action objectives for individual contam-

    46  inants listed in the table or developed by  the  applicant  pursuant  to

    47  Track three shall not exceed an excess cancer risk of one in one million

    48  for carcinogenic end points and a hazard index of one for non-cancer end

    49  points; provided, however, that if the background soil concentration for

    50  a  contaminant  in rural soils in New York state exceeds such risk level

    51  the contaminant specific action objective for such  contaminant  may  be

    52  established  equal  to such background concentration. In developing such

    53  tables, the department shall consider:

    54    (i) standards, criteria and guidance which are found by the department

    55  to be applicable or relevant and appropriate pursuant to  paragraph  (a)

    56  of subdivision three of this section;

   
    S. 5702                            16

     1    (ii) the behaviors of children;

     2    (iii) the protection of adjacent residential uses;

     3    (iv)  contaminants  which act through similar toxicological mechanisms

     4  or have the potential for additive and/or synergistic effects, and expo-

     5  sure to the same contaminant or group of contaminants from other routes;

     6  and

     7    (v) the feasibility of achieving more stringent remedial action objec-

     8  tives, based on experience under the existing state  remedial  programs,

     9  particularly  where toxicological, exposure, or other pertinent data are

    10  inadequate or nonexistent for a specific contaminant.

    11    (c) The department shall update such  tables  of  contaminant-specific

    12  remedial action objectives every five years. The initial tables shall be

    13  published  in draft form for public comment with a public comment period

    14  of one hundred twenty days, and be the subject of at least three  public

    15  hearings throughout the state. Subsequent tables shall be the subject of

    16  at  least  one  public  hearing  and a public comment period of at least

    17  ninety days.

    18    (d) For Track IV, exposed surface soils shall  be  remediated  to  the

    19  generic  contaminant-specific remedial action objectives for soil devel-

    20  oped for unrestricted, commercial, or industrial use  pursuant  to  this

    21  subdivision  which conforms with the site's current intended, or reason-

    22  ably anticipated future use. The depth of such remediation shall be  two

    23  feet  for sites used for residential use and one foot for sites used for

    24  commercial or industrial use.

    25    7. Institutional and engineering controls.

    26    (a) The department may approve a  proposed  remedial  work  plan  that

    27  includes  institutional  controls  and/or engineering controls as compo-

    28  nents of a proposed remedial program provided  the  remedial  work  plan

    29  includes:

    30    (i)  a  complete  description  of any proposed use restrictions and/or

    31  institutional controls and the mechanisms that will be  used  to  imple-

    32  ment,  maintain,  monitor,  and  enforce such restrictions and controls,

    33  both by the applicant and by any state and local government;

    34    (ii) a complete description of any proposed engineering  controls  and

    35  any  operation,  maintenance, and monitoring requirements, including the

    36  mechanisms that will be used to continually implement,  maintain,  moni-

    37  tor,  and  enforce such controls and requirements, both by the applicant

    38  and by any state and local government;

    39    (iii) an evaluation of the reliability and viability of the  long-term

    40  implementation, maintenance, monitoring, and enforcement of any proposed

    41  institutional  or  engineering controls and an analysis of the long-term

    42  costs  of  implementing,  maintaining,  monitoring  and  enforcing  such

    43  controls,  including  costs  that may be borne by state or local govern-

    44  ments;

    45    (iv) sufficient analysis to support a conclusion that effective imple-

    46  mentation, maintenance,  monitoring  and  enforcement  of  institutional

    47  and/or engineering controls can be reasonably expected;

    48    (v)  where  required  by the department, financial assurance to ensure

    49  the long term implementation, maintenance, monitoring,  and  enforcement

    50  of any such controls; and

    51    (vi) any engineering control must be used in conjunction with institu-

    52  tional  controls  to  ensure the continued integrity of such engineering

    53  control.

    54    (b) The owner of a brownfield site at which institutional or engineer-

    55  ing controls are employed pursuant to this title shall, unless otherwise

    56  provided in writing by the department, annually submit to the department

   
    S. 5702                            17

     1  a written statement by an individual licensed or otherwise authorized in

     2  accordance with article one hundred forty-five of the education  law  to

     3  practice  the  profession of engineering, or by such other expert as the

     4  department  may find acceptable certifying under penalty of perjury that

     5  the institutional controls and/or engineering controls employed at  such

     6  site  are unchanged from the previous certification and that nothing has

     7  occurred that would impair the ability of such control  to  protect  the

     8  public  health  and environment, or constitute a violation or failure to

     9  comply with any operation and maintenance plan  for  such  controls  and

    10  giving access to such real property to evaluate continued maintenance of

    11  such controls.

    12    (c)  At non-significant threat sites where contaminants in groundwater

    13  at the site boundary contravene drinking water standards,  such  certif-

    14  ication  shall  also  certify  that  no  new information has come to the

    15  owner's attention, including  groundwater  monitoring  data  from  wells

    16  located  at  the site boundary, if any, to indicate that the assumptions

    17  made in the qualitative exposure assessment of offsite contamination are

    18  no longer valid. Every five years the owner at such sites shall  certify

    19  that  the assumptions made in the qualitative exposure assessment remain

    20  valid. The requirement to provide such certifications may be  terminated

    21  by  a written determination by the commissioner in consultation with the

    22  commissioner of health, after notice to the  site  contact  list  and  a

    23  public comment period of thirty days.

    24    (d)  The  commissioner  shall  create, update, and maintain a database

    25  system for public information purposes and  to  monitor  and  track  all

    26  brownfield  sites  subject  to  this  title. Data incorporated into such

    27  system for each site for which information has been  collected  pursuant

    28  to  this title shall include, but shall not be limited to, a site summa-

    29  ry, name of site owner, location, status of site remedial activity, and,

    30  if one has been created pursuant to title thirty-six of  article  seven-

    31  ty-one  of  this  chapter,  a  copy of the environmental easement, and a

    32  contact number to obtain additional information. Sites shall be added to

    33  such system upon the execution of a brownfield  site  cleanup  agreement

    34  pursuant  to section 27-1409 of this title. If and when an environmental

    35  easement is modified or extinguished,  the  copy  of  the  environmental

    36  easement  contained  in  the database shall be updated accordingly. Such

    37  database shall be in such a format that it can be  readily  searched  by

    38  affected local governments and the public for purposes including but not

    39  limited  to  determining  whether  an  environmental  easement  has been

    40  recorded for a site pursuant to title thirty-six of article  seventy-one

    41  of  this chapter. The database shall be available electronically. Infor-

    42  mation from this database shall  be  incorporated  into  the  geographic

    43  information  system created and maintained by the department pursuant to

    44  section 3-0315 of this chapter.

    45    8. Presumptive remedial strategies.  Nothing herein contained shall be

    46  deemed to require site-specific remedy selection, and  the  commissioner

    47  shall  have  the power to develop a list of presumptive remedial strate-

    48  gies that applicants may use to meet the  requirements  associated  with

    49  Tracks  1 through 4 of this section.  Such remedies may be developed for

    50  specific site types and/or contaminants based upon  historical  patterns

    51  of  remedy  selection  and  the  department's scientific and engineering

    52  evaluation of performance data on technology implementation.

    53    9. Use of technologies. The commissioner,  in  consultation  with  the

    54  commissioner  of health, shall consider and encourage the use of innova-

    55  tive technologies which will meet the remedial objectives of this title.

    56  Consistent with the provisions of section twelve  hundred  eighty-five-f

   
    S. 5702                            18

     1  of  the  public  authorities law, the commissioner, in consultation with

     2  the president of the environmental facilities corporation, shall encour-

     3  age the development of such technologies.

     4  § 27-1417. Citizen participation.

     5    1.  Citizen  participation  handbook. The commissioner shall prepare a

     6  citizen participation handbook for the purpose of providing guidance  to

     7  applicants  in  the  design  and  implementation  of  meaningful citizen

     8  participation plans consistent with the requirements of this section for

     9  the remediation of brownfield sites as  provided  in  this  title.  Such

    10  handbook  shall encourage citizen involvement by outlining opportunities

    11  and recommended methods for effective citizen participation. The commis-

    12  sioner shall make such handbook available to all  applicants  and  other

    13  interested  members  of the public upon request and shall make it avail-

    14  able on the department's website.

    15    2. Citizen participation plans. (a) The design of any citizen  partic-

    16  ipation  plan,  including the level of citizen involvement and the tools

    17  utilized, shall take into account the scope and scale  of  the  proposed

    18  remedial  program,  local  interest  and  history,  and  other  relevant

    19  factors. While retaining flexibility, citizen participation plans  shall

    20  embody the following principles of meaningful citizen participation:

    21    (1)  opportunities for citizen involvement should be provided as early

    22  as possible in the decision making process prior to the selection  of  a

    23  preferred course of action by the department and/or the applicant.

    24    (2)  activities  proposed  in such plan should be as reflective of the

    25  diversity of interests and perspective found  within  the  community  as

    26  possible,  allowing the public the opportunity to have their views heard

    27  and considered, which may include opportunities for two-way dialogue.

    28    (3) full, timely, and accessible disclosure and sharing of information

    29  by the department shall be provided, including the provision of  techni-

    30  cal data and the assumptions upon which the analyses are based.

    31    (b)  All citizen participation plans shall include the following mini-

    32  mum elements:

    33    (1) identification of the  interested  public  and  preparation  of  a

    34  brownfield site contact list;

    35    (2)  identification  of  major issues of public concern related to the

    36  brownfield site;

    37    (3) a description and  schedule  of  public  participation  activities

    38  required pursuant to this section; and

    39    (4)  a description and schedule of any additional public participation

    40  activities needed to address public concerns.

    41    3. Citizen participation requirements.  (a) In addition to the  formal

    42  milestones  listed  below,  the  public may provide comments at any time

    43  during the remedial program.

    44    (b) The applicant, in cooperation with the department, shall provide a

    45  newspaper notice of their request to participate  in  the  program.  The

    46  applicant, in cooperation with the department, shall also provide notice

    47  thereof  to  the brownfield site contact list. Such notice shall provide

    48  for a thirty day public comment  period  following  publication  of  the

    49  notice required under this section.

    50    (c)  Before  the department finalizes the remedial investigation work-

    51  plan, the applicant, in cooperation with  the  department,  must  notify

    52  individuals  on  the  brownfield  site  contact  list. Such notice shall

    53  include a fact sheet describing such plan and provide for a  thirty  day

    54  public comment period.

    55    (d)  Before  the department approves a proposed remedial investigation

    56  report, the applicant, in cooperation with the department, shall  notify

   
    S. 5702                            19

     1  individuals  on  the  brownfield  site  contact  list. Such notice shall

     2  include a fact sheet describing such report.

     3    (e)  Before  the department finalizes a proposed remedial work plan or

     4  makes a determination that site conditions meet the requirements of this

     5  title without the necessity for remediation pursuant to section  27-1411

     6  of  this title, the department must notify individuals on the brownfield

     7  site contact list. Such notice shall include  a  fact  sheet  describing

     8  such  plan  and  provide for a forty-five day public comment period. The

     9  commissioner shall hold a public meeting if requested  by  the  affected

    10  community  and  the  commissioner  has found that the site constitutes a

    11  significant threat to the public health or the environment. Further, the

    12  affected community may request a public meeting at  sites  that  do  not

    13  constitute  a  significant threat. (1) To the extent that the department

    14  has determined that site conditions do not pose a significant threat and

    15  the site is being addressed by a volunteer, the notice shall state  that

    16  the  department  has  determined that no remediation is required for the

    17  off-site areas and that the department's determination of a  significant

    18  threat is subject to this thirty day comment period.  (2) If the remedi-

    19  al  work  plan  includes  a  Track II, Track III or Track IV remedy at a

    20  non-significant threat site, such comment period shall apply both to the

    21  approval of the alternatives analysis by the department and the proposed

    22  remedy selected by the applicant.

    23    (f) Before the applicant  commences  construction  at  the  brownfield

    24  site,  the  department  shall  provide  notice to the individuals on the

    25  brownfield site contact list.

    26    (g) Before  the  department  approves  a  proposed  final  engineering

    27  report,  the  department  must  notify individuals on such contact list.

    28  Such notice shall include a fact sheet describing such report, including

    29  any proposed institutional or engineering controls.

    30    (h) Within ten days of the issuance of a certificate of completion  at

    31  a  site  which  will  utilize institutional or engineering controls, the

    32  applicant shall provide notice to the brownfield site contact list. Such

    33  notice shall include a fact sheet describing such controls.

    34    4. Technical assistance grants. (a) Within  the  limits  of  appropri-

    35  ations  made  available  pursuant  to section 27-1419 of this title, the

    36  commissioner is authorized  to  provide  grants  to  any  not-for-profit

    37  corporation exempt from taxation under 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue

    38  code  at any site determined to pose a significant threat by the depart-

    39  ment and which may be affected by a brownfield  site  remedial  program.

    40  To  qualify  to  receive  such assistance, a community group must demon-

    41  strate that its membership represents the  interests  of  the  community

    42  affected  by  such site.  Furthermore, the commissioner is authorized to

    43  direct any applicant who is a responsible party, as defined  in  section

    44  27-1313  of  this  article, to provide such grants. Such grants shall be

    45  known as technical assistance grants and may be used to obtain technical

    46  assistance in interpreting information with regard to the nature of  the

    47  hazard  posed  by  hazardous  substances  located at or emanating from a

    48  brownfield site or sites and the development  and  implementation  of  a

    49  brownfield  site  remedial program or programs.  Such grants may also be

    50  used to hire health and safety experts to advise affected  residents  on

    51  any  health  assessments  and  for  the education of interested affected

    52  community members to enable them to more effectively participate in  the

    53  remedy  selection process.  Grants awarded under this section may not be

    54  used for the purposes  of  collecting  field  sampling  data,  political

    55  activity or lobbying legislative bodies.

   
    S. 5702                            20

     1    (b)  The amount of any grant awarded under this section may not exceed

     2  fifty thousand dollars at any one site.

     3    (c)  No  matching  contribution  from  the  grant  recipient  shall be

     4  required for a technical assistance grant. Following a  grant  award,  a

     5  portion  of the grant shall be made available to the grant recipient, in

     6  advance of the expenditures to be covered by the grant, in five thousand

     7  dollar installments.

     8  § 27-1419. Certification of completion.

     9    1. Upon certification by the applicant that the  remediation  require-

    10  ments  of  this  title  have been achieved for the brownfield site, such

    11  applicant shall submit to the  department  a  final  engineering  report

    12  prepared by an individual licensed or otherwise authorized in accordance

    13  with article one hundred forty-five of the education law to practice the

    14  profession of engineering.

    15    2. A final engineering report shall include, at a minimum:

    16    (a)  a description of the remediation activities completed pursuant to

    17  the remedial work plan for the brownfield site;

    18    (b) a certification that the data submitted to the  department  demon-

    19  strates that the remediation requirements set forth in the remedial work

    20  plan  and  any other relevant provisions of this title have been or will

    21  be achieved in accordance with the timeframes, if  any,  established  in

    22  such work plan;

    23    (c)  the  boundaries  of the real property that is subject to a brown-

    24  field site cleanup agreement;

    25    (d) a complete description of any institutional controls  employed  at

    26  the  site,  including  the  mechanisms  that will be used to continually

    27  implement, maintain, monitor, and enforce  such  controls  both  by  the

    28  applicant,  their  successors and assigns, and by state or local govern-

    29  ment;

    30    (e) a certification that any use restrictions, institutional controls,

    31  engineering controls and/or any operation and  maintenance  requirements

    32  applicable  to  the  site  are  contained  in  an environmental easement

    33  created and recorded pursuant to title thirty-six of article seventy-one

    34  of this chapter and that any affected local governments, as  defined  in

    35  title  thirty-six of article seventy-one of this chapter have been noti-

    36  fied that such easement has been recorded;

    37    (f) a certification that an operation and maintenance  plan  has  been

    38  submitted by the applicant for the continual and proper operation, main-

    39  tenance, and monitoring of any engineering controls employed at the site

    40  including  the proper maintenance of any remaining monitoring wells, and

    41  that such plan has been approved by the department; and

    42    (g) a certification that any financial assurance  mechanisms  required

    43  by the department pursuant to this title have been executed.

    44    3.  Upon receipt of the final engineering report, the department shall

    45  review such report and the data submitted  pursuant  to  the  brownfield

    46  site cleanup agreement as well as any other relevant information regard-

    47  ing  the brownfield site. Upon satisfaction of the commissioner that the

    48  remediation requirements set forth in this title have been  or  will  be

    49  achieved  in  accordance with the timeframes, if any, established in the

    50  plan, the commissioner shall issue a written certificate of  completion,

    51  such  certificate  shall  include  such information as determined by the

    52  department of taxation and finance, including but  not  limited  to  the

    53  brownfield site boundaries included in the final engineering report, and

    54  the date of the brownfield site agreement pursuant to section 27-1409 of

    55  this title.

   
    S. 5702                            21

     1    4. The commissioner shall not issue a certificate of completion to any

     2  applicant  who  has been identified by the administrator of the New York

     3  environmental protection and spill compensation fund pursuant to  subdi-

     4  vision four of section 27-1407 of this title as a person responsible for

     5  the  cleanup  and  removal  costs  for  the discharge of petroleum at or

     6  emanating from the brownfield site for which the applicant is seeking  a

     7  certificate  of  completion  and  the  applicant  has  not  resolved any

     8  outstanding claim at such site pursuant to article twelve of the naviga-

     9  tion law.

    10    5. A certificate of completion issued pursuant to this section may  be

    11  modified or revoked by the commissioner upon a finding that:

    12    (a)  The  applicant has failed to comply with the terms and conditions

    13  of the brownfield site cleanup agreement;

    14    (b) The applicant made a misrepresentation of a material fact  tending

    15  to  demonstrate that it was qualified as a volunteer or that the cleanup

    16  levels identified in the brownfield site cleanup agreement were reached;

    17  or

    18    (c) There is good cause for such modification or revocation.

    19    6. Upon the commissioner's determination pursuant to subdivision three

    20  or five of this section, the commissioner shall  provide  the  applicant

    21  with notice of such determination and notice of the right to appeal such

    22  determination.  The commissioner's determination shall be final unless a

    23  hearing is requested by certified mail sent to the  commissioner  within

    24  thirty  days  after  receiving  notice of such determination. After such

    25  hearing, the commissioner shall give notice of  final  determination  to

    26  such  applicant. The commissioner may promulgate regulations to effectu-

    27  ate the purposes of this section.

    28    7. However, nothing herein shall be construed as abrogating any powers

    29  or duties of the administrator of the New York environmental  protection

    30  and spill compensation fund as provided in article twelve of the naviga-

    31  tion law.

    32  § 27-1421. Liability limitation.

    33    1.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of law and except as provided

    34  in subdivision two of this section, after the department  has  issued  a

    35  certificate of completion for a brownfield site, the applicant shall not

    36  be liable to the state upon any statutory or common law cause of action,

    37  arising  out  of the presence of any hazardous waste in, on or emanating

    38  from the brownfield site that was the subject of such certificate at any

    39  time before the effective date of a brownfield  site  cleanup  agreement

    40  entered into pursuant to this title, except that a participant shall not

    41  receive  a  release  for  natural resource damages that may be available

    42  under federal law.

    43    2. (a) The state nonetheless shall reserve all of its rights  concern-

    44  ing,  and  such  liability  limitation  shall not extend to, any further

    45  investigation and/or remediation the department deems necessary due to:

    46    (i) environmental contamination at, on, under, or migrating  from  the

    47  brownfield  site  if, in light of such conditions, the site is no longer

    48  protective of public health or the environment; or

    49    (ii) non-compliance with the terms of the agreement, the remedial work

    50  plan and the certificate of completion required by this title; or

    51    (iii) fraud committed by the  applicant  in  its  application  for  or

    52  participation in this program; or

    53    (iv)  a  finding  by  the department that a change in an environmental

    54  standard, factor, or criteria upon which the remedial work  plan  or  no

    55  further  action  determination  was  based, which renders the brownfield

   
    S. 5702                            22

     1  site remedial program implemented at the site no  longer  protective  of

     2  public health or the environment; or

     3    (v)  a  change  in the brownfield site's use subsequent to the depart-

     4  ment's issuance of the certificate of completion or no  action  determi-

     5  nation, unless additional remediation is undertaken which shall meet the

     6  standard  for  protection  of  the  public  health  and environment that

     7  applies under this title; or

     8    (vi) following the certificate of completion the failure of an  appli-

     9  cant  to  make  substantial  progress  toward completion of its proposed

    10  development of the site within three years, or the applicant engages  in

    11  unreasonable delay and fails to complete its proposed development of the

    12  site within a reasonable time, considering the size, scope and nature of

    13  the development.

    14    (b)  In  the case of a volunteer, subparagraph (v) of paragraph (a) of

    15  this subdivision shall not apply if track 1-unrestricted use as provided

    16  in section 27-1415 of this title is achieved.

    17    3. The covenant not to sue  issued  pursuant  to  this  section  shall

    18  extend  to  the applicant's successors or assigns through acquisition of

    19  title to the brownfield site to which the  covenant  applies  and  to  a

    20  person who develops or otherwise occupies  the brownfield site; provided

    21  that  such  persons act with due care and in good faith to adhere to the

    22  requirements of the brownfield site cleanup agreement and certificate of

    23  completion. However, such covenant does not extend, and cannot be trans-

    24  ferred, to a person who is responsible for the disposal on such site  of

    25  hazardous  waste  or  the discharge of petroleum according to applicable

    26  principles of statutory or common law liability as of the effective date

    27  of the certification of completion issued pursuant to this title, unless

    28  that person was party to the brownfield site cleanup agreement  pursuant

    29  to  this  article  for  the  brownfield  site on which such covenant was

    30  based. A notice of such covenant shall be  recorded  and  indexed  as  a

    31  declaration  of  covenant in the office of the recording officer for the

    32  county or counties where such brownfield site is located in  the  manner

    33  prescribed  by  article nine of the real property law within thirty days

    34  of signing the certificate of completion if the applicant is an owner or

    35  within thirty days of acquiring title to  the  brownfield  site  if  the

    36  person is a prospective purchaser.

    37    4. The provisions of this title shall not affect an action or a claim,

    38  including a statutory or common law claim for contribution or indemnifi-

    39  cation, that an applicant has or may have against a third party.

    40    5.  Nothing  in  this  section shall be construed to affect either the

    41  liability of any person with respect to any costs, damages, or  investi-

    42  gative  or  remedial  activities  that are not included in the voluntary

    43  agreement or remedial investigation work plan and/or remedial work  plan

    44  for  the  brownfield  site  or the department's authority to maintain an

    45  action or proceeding against any person who is not subject to the volun-

    46  tary agreement or remedial work plan.

    47    6. A person who has settled such person's liability to the  department

    48  under  this  subdivision shall not be liable for claims for contribution

    49  regarding matters addressed in the order except that the person  respon-

    50  sible  will not be released from liability for such person's own acts or

    51  omissions causing wrongful death or  personal  injury.  Such  settlement

    52  does  not discharge any of the persons responsible under law to investi-

    53  gate and remediate the hazardous waste unless its terms so provide,  but

    54  it  reduces  the  potential liability of the others by the amount of the

    55  settlement.

   
    S. 5702                            23

     1    7. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the  authority

     2  of the department to reach settlement with other persons consistent with

     3  its authority under applicable law.

     4    8.  Nothing  in  this section shall affect the liability of any person

     5  with respect to any civil action brought  by  a  party  other  than  the

     6  state.

     7    9.  In  addition  to  any  other  powers  the department may have, the

     8  department shall have the authority to periodically inspect each  brown-

     9  field  site  to  ensure  that  the use of the property complies with the

    10  terms and conditions of the brownfield site cleanup agreement.

    11  § 27-1423. Payment of state costs.

    12    1. Pursuant to timetables contained in  the  brownfield  cleanup  site

    13  agreement, the volunteer shall pay all state costs incurred in negotiat-

    14  ing  and  overseeing  implementation  of  such agreement. In addition, a

    15  participant shall pay all costs incurred by the state up to  the  effec-

    16  tive  date  of such agreement, provided, however, that such costs may be

    17  based upon a negotiated flat-fee oversight amount  as  set  forth  in  a

    18  brownfield site cleanup agreement pursuant to this title.

    19    2.  Payment  of such state costs identified in subdivision one of this

    20  section shall be made to the hazardous waste remedial  fund  established

    21  pursuant to section ninety-seven-b of the state finance law.

    22  § 27-1425. Change of use.

    23    1.  At  least  sixty  days  before the start of physical alteration or

    24  construction constituting a change of use at a  brownfield  site  or  at

    25  least  sixty  days before a change of use at such site not involving any

    26  physical alteration or construction, as the case may be, the  person  or

    27  entity proposing to make a change of use shall provide written notifica-

    28  tion to the department.

    29    2. No person shall engage in any activity at a brownfield site that is

    30  not consistent with restrictions placed upon the use of the property, or

    31  that  will,  or  that reasonably is anticipated to: prevent or interfere

    32  significantly with a proposed, ongoing, or completed  remedial  program;

    33  or  expose  the  public  health  or  the  environment to a significantly

    34  increased threat of harm or damage from such site. If  the  commissioner

    35  determines  that a proposed change of use is prohibited pursuant to this

    36  section, he or she shall, within forty-five days after  receipt  of  the

    37  complete notice required by this section, provide the person giving such

    38  notice  with a written determination that such change of use will not be

    39  authorized, together with the reasons for such determination.

    40    3. For the purposes of this section:

    41    (a) "change of use" means the transfer of title to all or part of such

    42  brownfield site, the erection of any structure on  such  site,  and  the

    43  creation  of  a park or other public or private recreational facility on

    44  such site, or any activity that is likely to disrupt or expose hazardous

    45  waste or petroleum or to increase direct human exposure;  or  any  other

    46  conduct that will or may tend to significantly interfere with an ongoing

    47  or completed remedial program at such site.

    48    (b)  "complete  notice"  means  a  notice that adequately apprises the

    49  department of the contemplated physical alteration of such site and  how

    50  such  alteration  may  affect the site's proposed, ongoing, or completed

    51  remedial program, or of the proposed new owner's  ability  to  implement

    52  the engineering and institutional controls associated with such site.

    53  § 27-1429. Permit waivers.

    54    The  department,  by and through the commissioner, shall be authorized

    55  to exempt a person from the requirement to obtain  any  state  or  local

    56  permit  or  other  authorization  for any activity needed to implement a

   
    S. 5702                            24

     1  program for the investigation  and/or  remediation  of  hazardous  waste

     2  and/or  petroleum;  provided  that the activity is conducted in a manner

     3  which satisfies all substantive  technical  requirements  applicable  to

     4  like activity conducted pursuant to a permit.

     5  § 27-1431. Access to sites.

     6    The  department,  by and through the commissioner, shall be authorized

     7  to:

     8    1. Require that any person permit a duly designated officer or employ-

     9  ee of the department or  of  a  municipal  corporation,  or  any  agent,

    10  consultant,  or  contractor  of  the department or of a municipal corpo-

    11  ration, or any other person, including an employee,  agent,  consultant,

    12  or  contractor  of  a  responsible person acting at the direction of the

    13  department, so authorized in writing by the commissioner, to enter  upon

    14  any  property  which  has  or  may have been the site of hazardous waste

    15  and/or petroleum disposal, and/or areas near such site, for the  follow-

    16  ing purposes:

    17    a. to inspect and take samples of such hazardous waste and/or petrole-

    18  um and/or environmental media, utilizing such sampling methods as may be

    19  necessary  or appropriate, including without limitation soil borings and

    20  monitoring wells; provided,  that  no  sampling  methods  involving  the

    21  substantial  disturbance  of  the ground surface of such property may be

    22  utilized until after a minimum of ten days' written notice thereof shall

    23  have been provided to the owner and operator and occupant of such  prop-

    24  erty,  if  identifiable  by  reasonable efforts, unless the commissioner

    25  makes a written determination  that  such  notice  will  not  allow  the

    26  protection  of  the  public health or the environment, in which case two

    27  days' written notice shall be sufficient;

    28    b. to implement the  investigation  and/or  remediation  of  hazardous

    29  waste and/or petroleum and/or environmental media; provided that no such

    30  work may be undertaken until after a minimum of ten days' written notice

    31  thereof  shall have been provided to the owner and operator and occupant

    32  of such property, if identifiable  by  reasonable  efforts,  unless  the

    33  commissioner  makes  a  written  determination that such notice will not

    34  allow the protection of the public health or the environment,  in  which

    35  case two days' written notice shall be sufficient.

    36    2. a. Require that any person furnish to the department, in a form and

    37  manner  as  prescribed  by  the  department, information relating to the

    38  current and past hazardous waste and/or petroleum generation, treatment,

    39  storage, disposal, and/or transportation activities of  such  person  or

    40  any  other  person  now or formerly under the control of such person; in

    41  the event such person cannot comply therewith, in whole or in part, such

    42  person shall  furnish  to  the  department  information  describing  all

    43  efforts  made  by  such  person  to comply therewith; any information so

    44  furnished to the department shall be considered a  "written  instrument"

    45  as defined in subdivision three of section 175.00 of the penal law;

    46    b. Require that any person permit a duly designated officer or employ-

    47  ee  of  the  department at all reasonable times to have access to and to

    48  copy all books, papers, documents, and records relating to  the  current

    49  and  past  hazardous waste and/or petroleum generation, treatment, stor-

    50  age, disposal, and/or transportation activities of such  person  or  any

    51  person now or formerly under the control of such person;

    52    c.  Require,  by  subpoena  issued  in the name of the department, the

    53  production of books, papers,  documents,  and  other  records,  and  the

    54  rendition  of  testimony by deposition under oath of any person relating

    55  to the current and past hazardous  waste  and/or  petroleum  generation,

    56  treatment,  storage,  disposal, and/or transportation activities of such

   
    S. 5702                            25

     1  person or any person now or formerly under the control of  such  person;

     2  such  subpoenas and depositions shall be regulated by the civil practice

     3  law and rules; the commissioner may invoke the  powers  of  the  supreme

     4  court of the state of New York or any other court of competent jurisdic-

     5  tion to compel compliance therewith.

     6    §  2.  Article  71 of the environmental conservation law is amended by

     7  adding a new title 36 to read as follows:

     8                                   TITLE 36

     9                           ENVIRONMENTAL EASEMENTS

    10  Section 71-3601. Declaration of policy and statement of purpose.

    11          71-3603. Definitions.

    12          71-3605. Environmental easements; certain common law  rules  not

    13                     applicable.

    14          71-3607. Coordination with local governments.

    15          71-3609. Scope of this title.

    16          71-3611. Severability.

    17  § 71-3601. Declaration of policy and statement of purpose.

    18    The legislature hereby finds and declares that contaminated site reme-

    19  dial  programs  are  an important and necessary component of the state's

    20  policy of restoring and revitalizing real  property  located  throughout

    21  New York state. The legislature further finds that when an environmental

    22  remediation  project  leaves  residual contamination at levels that have

    23  been determined to be safe for a specific use,  but  not  all  uses,  or

    24  includes  engineered  structures  that  must  be maintained or protected

    25  against damage to be effective, it is necessary to provide an  effective

    26  and  enforceable means of ensuring the performance of maintenance, moni-

    27  toring  or  operation  requirements,  and  of  ensuring  the   potential

    28  restriction of future uses of the land, including restrictions on drill-

    29  ing for or pumping groundwater for as long as any residual contamination

    30  remains  hazardous.  The  legislature declares, therefore, that it is in

    31  the public interest to create environmental easements because such ease-

    32  ments are necessary for the protection of human health and the  environ-

    33  ment  and  to  achieve  the  requirements for remediation established at

    34  contaminated sites.

    35  § 71-3603. Definitions.

    36    When used in this title:

    37    1. "Affected local government" shall mean every municipality in  which

    38  land subject to an environmental easement is located.

    39    2.  "Environmental  easement" shall mean an interest in real property,

    40  created under and subject to the provisions of this title which contains

    41  a use restriction and/or a prohibition on the use of land  in  a  manner

    42  inconsistent  with  engineering controls; provided that no such easement

    43  shall be acquired  or  held  by  the  state  which  is  subject  to  the

    44  provisions of article fourteen of the constitution.

    45  § 71-3605. Environmental  easements; certain common law rules not appli-

    46               cable.

    47    1. An environmental easement shall be granted by the title  owners  of

    48  the  relevant  real estate only by an instrument, that complies with the

    49  requirements of section 5-703 of the general obligations law.

    50    2. The title owners shall furnish to the department abstracts of title

    51  and other documents sufficient to enable  the  department  to  determine

    52  that the easements shall be enforceable. An environmental easement shall

    53  be  in a form provided by regulation of the department. An environmental

    54  easement shall:

    55    (a) name the state, acting through the department, as grantee;

   
    S. 5702                            26

     1    (b) contain a complete description  of  any  use  restrictions  and/or

     2  engineering control to which the real property is subject;

     3    (c)  run  with the land, binding the owner of the land and the owner's

     4  successors and assigns;

     5    (d) include an acknowledgment by the commissioner of acceptance of the

     6  easement by the department; and

     7    (e) include an agreement to incorporate, either in full or  by  refer-

     8  ence,  the  environmental  easement  in  any  leases, licenses, or other

     9  instruments granting a right to use the property that may be affected by

    10  such easement.

    11    3. Until such time as the environmental easement is extinguished,  the

    12  property  deed  and all subsequent instruments of conveyance relating to

    13  the subject property shall state in at  least  fifteen-point  bold-faced

    14  type: "This property is subject to an environmental easement held by the

    15  New  York  state  department  of  environmental conservation pursuant to

    16  title 36 of article 71 of the environmental conservation law."

    17    4. An environmental easement granted pursuant to this title  shall  be

    18  enforceable  in  perpetuity.  After  the recording of the easement, each

    19  instrument transferring an interest in the area affected by the easement

    20  shall include a specific reference to the recorded easement.

    21    5. An environmental easement granted pursuant to this section  may  be

    22  extinguished  or  amended only by a release or amendment of the easement

    23  executed by the commissioner and filed with the office of the  recording

    24  officer  for  the  county  or counties where the land is situated in the

    25  manner prescribed by article nine of the real property law.

    26    6. For any person who intentionally violates an environmental easement

    27  the department may revoke the  certificate  of  completion  provided  by

    28  section 27-1419 of this chapter as to the relevant real estate.

    29    7.  An  environmental easement shall be held only by the state, except

    30  that the state shall not be authorized or empowered to acquire  or  hold

    31  any environmental easement which is subject to the provisions of article

    32  fourteen of the constitution.

    33    8.  An  environmental  easement  shall be duly recorded and indexed as

    34  such in the office of the recording officer for the county  or  counties

    35  where  the  land  is situate in the manner prescribed by article nine of

    36  the real property law. The easement shall describe the  property  encum-

    37  bered by the easement by adequate legal description or by reference to a

    38  recorded  map  showing its boundaries and bearing the seal and signature

    39  of a licensed land surveyor or, if the  easement  encumbers  the  entire

    40  property  described in a deed of record, the easement may incorporate by

    41  reference the description in such deed, otherwise it shall refer to  the

    42  liber and page of the deed or deeds of the record owner or owners of the

    43  real  property burdened by the environmental easement. The property deed

    44  and all subsequent instruments of conveyance relating  to  the  property

    45  encumbered by the easement shall reference, by book and page number, the

    46  environmental easement. Such deed and instrument shall also specify that

    47  the  eligible  property is subject to the restrictions contained in such

    48  easement. An instrument for the purpose of creating, conveying,  modify-

    49  ing,  or  terminating  an  environmental easement shall not be effective

    50  unless recorded.

    51    9. The department shall include a copy of each environmental  easement

    52  in  the database created pursuant to section 27-1415 of this chapter and

    53  make such database readily searchable.

    54    10. An environmental easement may be enforced in law or equity by  its

    55  grantor,  by  the  state, or any affected local government as defined in

    56  section 71-3603 of this title. Such easement is enforceable against  the

   
    S. 5702                            27

     1  owner  of  the  burdened property, any lessees, and any person using the

     2  land. Enforcement shall  not  be  defeated  because  of  any  subsequent

     3  adverse  possession,  laches, estoppel, or waiver. No general law of the

     4  state  which  operates to defeat the enforcement of any interest in real

     5  property shall operate to defeat the enforcement  of  any  environmental

     6  easement  unless  such general law expressly states the intent to defeat

     7  the enforcement of such easement or provides for  the  exercise  of  the

     8  power of eminent domain. It is not a defense in any action to enforce an

     9  environmental easement that:

    10    (a) it is not appurtenant to an interest in real property;

    11    (b) it is not of a character that has been recognized traditionally at

    12  common law;

    13    (c) it imposes a negative burden;

    14    (d)  it imposes affirmative obligations upon the owner of any interest

    15  in the burdened property;

    16    (e) the benefit does not touch or concern real property;

    17    (f) there is no privity of estate or of contract; or

    18    (g) it imposes an unreasonable restraint on alienation.

    19    11. Agents, employees, or other representatives of the state may enter

    20  and inspect the property burdened by  an  environmental  easement  in  a

    21  reasonable  manner and at reasonable times to assure compliance with the

    22  restriction.

    23    12. The department may promulgate regulations  establishing  standards

    24  and procedures for environmental easements.

    25  § 71-3607. Coordination with local governments.

    26    1.  Whenever  the  department is granted an environmental easement, it

    27  shall provide each affected local government with a copy of  such  ease-

    28  ment  and shall also provide a copy of any documents modifying or termi-

    29  nating such environmental easement.

    30    2. Whenever an affected local government receives an application for a

    31  building permit or any other application affecting land use or  develop-

    32  ment  of  land that is subject to an environmental easement and that may

    33  relate to or impact such easement, the affected local  government  shall

    34  notify  the department and refer such application to the department. The

    35  department shall evaluate whether the application is consistent with the

    36  environmental easement and shall notify the affected local government of

    37  its determination in a timely fashion, considering the  time  frame  for

    38  the  local  government's  review  of the application. The affected local

    39  government shall not approve the application until it receives  approval

    40  from the department.

    41  § 71-3609. Scope of this title.

    42    This  title  shall not affect any interests or rights in real property

    43  which are not environmental easements, and shall not affect  the  rights

    44  of  owners to convey any interests in real property which they could now

    45  create under existing law without reference to the terms of this  title.

    46  Nothing in this title shall diminish the powers granted by any other law

    47  to  acquire  interests  or  rights  in  real property by purchase, gift,

    48  eminent domain, or otherwise and to use the same for public purposes.

    49  § 71-3611. Severability.

    50    The provisions of this title shall be severable, and  if  any  clause,

    51  sentence,  paragraph,  subdivision,  or  part  of  this  title  shall be

    52  adjudged by any court of competent  jurisdiction  to  be  invalid,  such

    53  judgment  shall  not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof,

    54  but shall be confined in its operation to the  clause,  sentence,  para-

    55  graph, subdivision, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy

    56  in  which  such  judgment  shall have been rendered; provided that if an

   
    S. 5702                            28

     1  environmental easement created pursuant to this title is  determined  by

     2  any  court  of competent jurisdiction to be land or water or an interest

     3  in land or water subject to the provisions of article  fourteen  of  the

     4  constitution,  then  the  authority of the state to hold or acquire such

     5  easement and the conveyance to the state of such easement shall be  void

     6  ab initio.

     7    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

     8                                   PART B

     9    Section 1. Article 15 of the environmental conservation law is amended

    10  by adding a new title 31 to read as follows:

    11                                  TITLE 31

    12               GROUNDWATER PROTECTION AND REMEDIATION PROGRAM

    13  Section 15-3101. Short title.

    14          15-3103. Legislative findings and intent.

    15          15-3105. Purpose.

    16          15-3107. Groundwater information management.

    17          15-3109. Groundwater remediation strategy.

    18          15-3111. Rules and regulations.

    19  § 15-3101. Short title.

    20    This  title  shall  be  known  and  may  be  cited as the "groundwater

    21  protection act".

    22  § 15-3103. Legislative findings and intent.

    23    The legislature hereby finds and declares that:

    24    1. The waters of the state are  one  of  its  most  essential  natural

    25  resources.

    26    2.  Adequate  supplies of good quality groundwater are critical to the

    27  health and welfare of the residents of the state and to  their  economic

    28  well-being.  Groundwater  contamination  exists  at  levels which exceed

    29  applicable standards, criteria and guidance values at many sites  around

    30  the state, including inactive hazardous waste disposal sites, brownfield

    31  sites,  and sites contaminated by the discharge of petroleum. The levels

    32  and types of contaminants, the extent of contamination, and the  present

    33  and  potential  impacts on public health and the environment vary widely

    34  from site to site, but cumulatively could endanger the integrity of  the

    35  water resources of New York state.

    36    3.  Due  to  the complexity of groundwater contamination problems, the

    37  restoration of groundwater to its classified use may  not  currently  be

    38  feasible at some sites.

    39    4.  It  is the intent of the legislature that groundwater be protected

    40  for its classified use, the highest of which is drinking water.

    41  § 15-3105. Purpose.

    42    It is the intent of the legislature  that  the  department  develop  a

    43  strategy  to address contaminated groundwater and implement a program to

    44  remediate and manage groundwater resources in a manner that will  ensure

    45  long-term sustainability.

    46  § 15-3107. Groundwater information management.

    47    Information  collected  pursuant to this section shall be incorporated

    48  into the geographic information system maintained by the  department  to

    49  track remedial programs, pursuant to section 3-0315 of this chapter.

    50  § 15-3109. Groundwater remediation strategy.

    51    No  later than three years after the effective date of this title, the

    52  department, in consultation with the department of health, shall develop

    53  and publish a strategy to address the long-term remediation of groundwa-

   
    S. 5702                            29

     1  ter contamination, including  strategies  to  protect  groundwater  from

     2  future degradation from contaminated sites.

     3    1.  Such  strategy  shall  govern  all  programs within the department

     4  responsible for groundwater protection and  remediation.  Such  strategy

     5  shall include, but not be limited to:

     6    (a)  Recognition that both short- and long-term remediation strategies

     7  may be necessary to address groundwater contamination.

     8    (b) Identification of the long-term  groundwater  remedial  activities

     9  that are required to be taken by the state pursuant to title fourteen of

    10  article  twenty-seven of this chapter for sites which the department has

    11  determined pose a significant threat, or which can be initiated  by  the

    12  state  pursuant to other provisions of this chapter to address groundwa-

    13  ter contamination.

    14    (c) Establishment of criteria  for  the  prioritization  of  long-term

    15  groundwater  remediation  activities  to be performed by the department.

    16  Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to:

    17    (i) the current or reasonably anticipated future use  of  contaminated

    18  groundwater as drinking water;

    19    (ii) the current or reasonably anticipated future use of a groundwater

    20  aquifer  into  which  contaminated  groundwater  is  flowing as drinking

    21  water;

    22    (iii) the current or reasonably anticipated future use of contaminated

    23  groundwater for non-potable purposes including but not limited to recre-

    24  ational uses, institutional uses and  agricultural  or  non-agricultural

    25  irrigation;

    26    (iv) community needs;

    27    (v) feasibility of remediation; and

    28    (vi)  protection of natural resources and minimizing the impairment of

    29  the resource.

    30    Notwithstanding subparagraphs (i)  through  (vi)  of  this  paragraph,

    31  while  the  current  use of groundwater as drinking water may be consid-

    32  ered, the absence of such use shall not exclude  the  need  for  remedi-

    33  ation.

    34    2.  A  public comment period of at least one hundred twenty days shall

    35  be held on the initial draft strategy. Such strategy  shall  be  updated

    36  regularly  based  on  progress made and the availability of new remedial

    37  technologies, scientific information, and field data. Each updated draft

    38  strategy shall be released to the public,  and  will  require  a  public

    39  comment period of at least sixty days.

    40    3. The department is responsible pursuant to title fourteen of article

    41  twenty-seven of this chapter for the remediation of off-site groundwater

    42  contamination  emanating  from  sites  being  remediated by a volunteer,

    43  which sites have been determined to be a significant threat. Within  six

    44  months  of the determination of significant threat at a site being reme-

    45  diated by the volunteer the department shall bring an enforcement action

    46  against any parties known or suspected to  be  responsible  for  contam-

    47  ination  at  or  emanating  from  the  site which is the subject of such

    48  agreement. If such action cannot be brought, or does not result  in  the

    49  initiation  of a remedial program by such party or parties at such site,

    50  the department shall use best efforts to begin  a  remedial  program  to

    51  perform  the  remediation  of off-site contamination at such site within

    52  one year of the completion of such enforcement action or the  completion

    53  of the volunteer's remedial program, whichever is later.

    54  § 15-3111. Rules and regulations.

    55    The  commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary and

    56  appropriate to carry out the purposes of this title.

   
    S. 5702                            30

     1    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

     2                                   PART C

     3    Section  1.  The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a

     4  new section 3-0315 to read as follows:

     5  § 3-0315. Geographic information system.

     6    1. The department shall create or modify an existing geographic infor-

     7  mation system, and maintain such system for purposes including, but  not

     8  limited  to,  incorporating information from remedial programs under its

     9  jurisdiction, and shall also incorporate  information  from  the  source

    10  water  assessment  program  collected  by the department of health, data

    11  from annual water supply statements prepared pursuant to section  eleven

    12  hundred  fifty-one  of the public health law, information from the data-

    13  base pursuant to title fourteen of article twenty-seven of this chapter,

    14  and any other existing data regarding soil and groundwater contamination

    15  currently gathered by the department, as well as data  on  contamination

    16  that  is  readily available from the United States geological survey and

    17  other sources determined appropriate by the department.

    18    2. The department shall make reasonable efforts to include  additional

    19  data,  including data from well logs currently required to be filed with

    20  the department pursuant to section 15-1527 of this chapter.

    21    3. Parties required to submit data pursuant to any reporting  require-

    22  ments  set  forth in this section shall, upon request of the department,

    23  submit such data in an electronic format acceptable to the department.

    24    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

    25                                   PART D

    26    Section 1. Subdivision 7  of  section  56-0101  of  the  environmental

    27  conservation  law,  as  added  by  chapter  413  of the laws of 1996, is

    28  amended to read as follows:

    29    7. "Environmental restoration project" means a project to  investigate

    30  or  to  remediate hazardous substances [located on real property held in

    31  title by a municipality,] pursuant to title five of this article.

    32    § 2. Section 56-0105 of the environmental conservation law is  amended

    33  by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:

    34    5. Shall give a priority and preference to a project in any brownfield

    35  opportunity  area  designated pursuant to section nine hundred seventy-r

    36  of the general municipal law.

    37    § 3. Section 56-0502 of the environmental conservation law,  as  added

    38  by chapter 413 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:

    39  § 56-0502. Definitions.

    40    1.  "Community  based organization" shall mean a not-for-profit corpo-

    41  ration, exempt from taxation under section  501(c)(3)  of  the  internal

    42  revenue code whose stated mission is promoting reuse of brownfield sites

    43  within  a  specified geographic area in which the community based organ-

    44  ization is located, which has twenty-five percent or more of  its  board

    45  of  directors  residing  in the community in such area; and represents a

    46  community with a demonstrated financial need. "Community based organiza-

    47  tion" shall not include any not-for-profit corporation that  has  caused

    48  or  contributed  to the release or threatened release of hazardous waste

    49  or petroleum from or onto the brownfield  site,  or  any  not-for-profit

    50  corporation  that  generated,  transported,  or  disposed  of,  or  that

    51  arranged for, or caused, the generation, transportation, or disposal  of

    52  hazardous  waste  or  petroleum  from  or onto the brownfield site. This

   
    S. 5702                            31

     1  definition shall not apply if  more  than  twenty-five  percent  of  the

     2  members,  officers or directors of the not-for-profit corporation are or

     3  were employed by or receiving compensation from any  person  responsible

     4  for  a site under title thirteen of article twenty-seven of this chapter

     5  or article twelve of the navigation law or under  applicable  principles

     6  of statutory or common law liability.

     7    2.  "Cost", for purposes of this title, shall have the same meaning as

     8  provided in subdivision four of section 56-0101 of this article,  except

     9  that  such  term shall not include the requirement to reduce the cost of

    10  an approved project in accordance with any federal or  state  funds  for

    11  the project received or to be received by the municipality.

    12    3.  "Environmental  restoration  investigation  project"  shall mean a

    13  project, undertaken in accordance with the requirements of  this  title,

    14  to  investigate  hazardous  substances located in, on, or emanating from

    15  real property held in title by a municipality.

    16    4.  "Environmental  restoration  remediation  project"  shall  mean  a

    17  project,  undertaken  in accordance with the requirements of this title,

    18  to remediate hazardous substances located in, on, or emanating from real

    19  property held in title by a municipality.

    20    [For] 5. "Municipality", for purposes of this title  ["municipality"],

    21  shall  have the same meaning as provided in subdivision [twelve] fifteen

    22  of section 56-0101 of this article, except  that  such  term  shall  not

    23  refer  to  a  municipality  that generated, transported, or disposed of,

    24  arranged for, or that caused the generation, transportation, or disposal

    25  of hazardous substance located at real property proposed to be  investi-

    26  gated  or  to  be remediated under an environmental restoration project.

    27  For purposes of this title, the term  municipality  includes  a  munici-

    28  pality acting in partnership with a community based organization.

    29    6.  "State  assistance", for purposes of this title, shall mean in the

    30  case of a contract authorized by subdivision one of section  56-0503  of

    31  this  title,  payments  made  to a municipality to reimburse the munici-

    32  pality for the state share of the costs incurred by the municipality  to

    33  undertake an environmental restoration project;

    34    §  4.  Section 56-0503 of the environmental conservation law, as added

    35  by chapter 413 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:

    36  § 56-0503. Environmental restoration projects; state assistance.

    37    1. The commissioner may enter into a contract with a  municipality  to

    38  provide  state  assistance to such municipality to undertake an environ-

    39  mental restoration project.  The amount of state assistance payment  for

    40  such project shall be up to an amount of [seventy-five]:

    41    (a)  ninety  percent of the eligible costs of such project, subject to

    42  the provisions set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision;

    43    (b) one hundred percent of  the  eligible  costs  of  any  remediation

    44  directed  by  the  department to be undertaken outside the boundaries of

    45  the real property  that  is  subject  to  an  environmental  restoration

    46  project approved by the department.

    47    2. In addition to such other terms and conditions that the commission-

    48  er  may deem to be appropriate, [such] a contract authorized by subdivi-

    49  sion one of this section shall provide as follows:

    50    (a) An estimate of the cost of  such  project  as  determined  by  the

    51  commissioner at the time of such contract's execution;

    52    (b)  An  agreement  by  the commissioner to periodically reimburse the

    53  municipality for eligible costs incurred during  the  progress  of  such

    54  project.  Such payments shall be subject to final computation and deter-

    55  mination  of  the  total state assistance share of the eligible costs of

    56  the entire environmental restoration project;

   
    S. 5702                            32

     1    (c) A provision [providing] that if [any federal payments], in accord-

     2  ance with the required departmental approval of any  settlement  with  a

     3  responsible  party,  any  responsible  party  payments[, and/or payments

     4  received from the disposition of the real property subject to  an  envi-

     5  ronmental  restoration  project]  become  available to the municipality,

     6  before, during or after the completion of an  environmental  restoration

     7  project,  which  were  not  included when the state share was calculated

     8  pursuant to this section, the state assistance share shall  be  recalcu-

     9  lated, and the municipality shall pay to the state, for deposit into the

    10  environmental restoration project account of the hazardous waste remedi-

    11  al  fund  established  under section ninety-seven-b of the state finance

    12  law, the difference between the original state  assistance  payment  and

    13  the recalculated state share.  Recalculation of the state share shall be

    14  done  each time a [federal payment,]  payment from a responsible party[,

    15  or payment received from the disposition of such property]  is  received

    16  by the municipality;

    17    (d)    A  provision  that  if  any  monies  received from [any federal

    18  payments, payments from a responsible party,  and/or  payments  received

    19  from] the disposition of [such property] the real property subject to an

    20  environmental restoration project exceed the municipality's cost of such

    21  property, including taxes owed to the municipality upon acquisition, and

    22  the  municipality's  cost  of the environmental restoration project, the

    23  amount of such excess necessary to reimburse the state of New  York  for

    24  the state assistance provided to the municipality under this title shall

    25  be  [divided equally between the municipality and the state of New York,

    26  the state share of which shall be deposited] paid to the  state  of  New

    27  York  for  deposit into the environmental restoration project account of

    28  the hazardous waste remedial fund established under section  ninety-sev-

    29  en-b of the state finance law;

    30    (e)    An  agreement by the municipality to proceed expeditiously with

    31  and complete such project in accordance with plans approved for  payment

    32  of the municipality's share of such project's cost;

    33    (f)  An agreement by the municipality that it shall prepare and imple-

    34  ment a public participation plan [prior to remedial activities undertak-

    35  en pursuant to this section. The] for environmental restoration projects

    36  undertaken pursuant to this title. The requirements of the plan shall be

    37  governed by decision of the municipality to proceed with remediation  of

    38  the  property under this title. However, in all cases, implementation of

    39  the plan shall be completed as part of the project. In those cases where

    40  the municipality does not intend to  proceed  with  remediation  of  the

    41  property, the plan shall provide timely and accessible disclosure of the

    42  results  of  the  investigation to the interested public. The plan shall

    43  provide for adequate public notice of the availability of  the  investi-

    44  gation results; an opportunity for submission of written comments; and a

    45  filing  of a notice of the results of the investigation as authorized by

    46  subdivision three of section three hundred sixteen-b of the real proper-

    47  ty law. Where the municipality intends to proceed  with  remediation  of

    48  the  property under this title, the plan shall provide opportunities for

    49  early, inclusive participation prior to the  selection  of  a  preferred

    50  course of action, facilitate communication, including dialogue among the

    51  municipality,  the  department,  and  the interested public, and provide

    52  timely and accessible disclosure  of  information.  At  a  minimum,  the

    53  design  of  the  plan shall take into account the scope and scale of the

    54  proposed environmental restoration remediation project, local  interest,

    55  and  other  relevant  factors. The plan shall also provide for: adequate

    56  public notice of the availability of a draft remedial plan; a forty-five

   
    S. 5702                            33

     1  day period for submission of written comments; a public hearing on  such

     2  plan  if substantive issues are raised by members of the affected commu-

     3  nity; and technical  assistance  if  so  requested  by  members  of  the

     4  affected  community.  Provided,  however,  that the requirements of this

     5  subdivision shall not apply to interim remedial measures  undertaken  as

     6  part  of  an environmental restoration project to address emergency site

     7  conditions. In such instance, the department or such persons  implement-

     8  ing  the  interim  remedial  measure or making the request shall conduct

     9  public participation activities as the department  deems  necessary  and

    10  appropriate under such circumstances.

    11    (g)  An agreement by the municipality that it shall put into place any

    12  engineering and/or institutional controls (including [deed restrictions]

    13  environmental easements pursuant to title thirty-six of  article  seven-

    14  ty-one  of this chapter) that the department may deem necessary to allow

    15  the contemplated use to proceed, that such engineering  and/or  institu-

    16  tional  controls shall be binding on such municipality, any successor in

    17  title, and any lessees and that any successors in title and any  lessees

    18  cannot challenge state enforcement of such controls;

    19    (h)  In  the event that such engineering controls and/or institutional

    20  controls are necessary, the municipality [and its successors  in  title]

    21  shall  [agree  to]  develop  a plan [which ensures that such engineering

    22  and/or institutional controls be continually maintained  in  the  manner

    23  required  by  the department] consistent with the requirements set forth

    24  in section 27-1415 of the  environmental  conservation  law.  Such  plan

    25  shall  be  approved by the department.  Failure to implement the plan or

    26  maintain such controls shall constitute a violation of such contract and

    27  shall terminate for the duration of such failure the protection afforded

    28  under subdivision one of section 56-0509 of this title;

    29    (i) In the event that [deed restrictions are] an easement is required,

    30  such municipality shall [agree to cause such  deed  restrictions  to  be

    31  recorded  and  indexed  as declarations of restrictions in the office of

    32  the recording officer of the county or counties where the real  property

    33  subject  to  such  environmental  restoration  project is located in the

    34  manner prescribed by article nine of the real property law. Such  decla-

    35  ration  of  restriction shall contain the name of the owner of record of

    36  such property, along with the tax map  parcel  number  or  the  section,

    37  block, and lot number of such property] comply with the requirements set

    38  forth  in  title  thirty-six of article seventy-one of the environmental

    39  conservation law; and

    40    (j)  A provision that exempts a  municipality  and  any  successor  in

    41  title  from the requirement to obtain any state or local permit or other

    42  authorization for any activity needed  to  implement  [such]  a  project

    43  [that  is conducted on the real property subject to such project so long

    44  as] to investigate or remediate hazardous substances  pursuant  to  this

    45  title;  provided that the activity is conducted in a manner which satis-

    46  fies all substantive technical requirements applicable to like  activity

    47  conducted pursuant to a permit.

    48    §  5.  Section 56-0505 of the environmental conservation law, as added

    49  by chapter 413 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:

    50  § 56-0505. Environmental restoration projects; criteria.

    51    1. The department shall determine the eligibility of an  environmental

    52  restoration project for state assistance under this title based upon the

    53  following criteria:

    54    (a) the benefit to the environment realized by the expeditious remedi-

    55  ation of the property proposed to be subject to such project;

   
    S. 5702                            34

     1    (b)  the  economic benefit to the state by the expeditious remediation

     2  of the property proposed to be subject to such project;

     3    (c)  the  potential opportunity of the property proposed to be subject

     4  to such project to be used for public recreational purposes;

     5    (d) real property in a designated brownfield opportunity area pursuant

     6  to section nine hundred seventy-r of the general municipal law; and

     7    [(d)] (e) the opportunity for other funding sources  to  be  available

     8  for  the  remediation  of  such property, including, but not limited to,

     9  enforcement actions against responsible parties (other than the  munici-

    10  pality  to  which  state  assistance was provided under this title; or a

    11  successor in title, lender, or lessee who was not otherwise a  responsi-

    12  ble  party  prior  to  such  municipality taking title to the property),

    13  state assistance payments pursuant to title thirteen of article  twenty-

    14  seven  of  this chapter, and the existence of private parties willing to

    15  remediate such property using private funding sources. Highest  priority

    16  shall  be  granted  to projects for which other such funding sources are

    17  not available.

    18    2. The department shall not enter into a contract with a  municipality

    19  pursuant  to section 56-0503 of this title for an environmental restora-

    20  tion project for any site listed in the registry of  inactive  hazardous

    21  waste  sites  under  section 27-1305 of this chapter and given a classi-

    22  fication as described in subparagraph one  or  two  of  paragraph  b  of

    23  subdivision [four] two of such section 27-1305.

    24    3.  The  remediation objective of an environmental restoration remedi-

    25  ation project shall meet the same  standard  for  protection  of  public

    26  health  and  the environment that applies to remedial actions undertaken

    27  pursuant to section 27-1313 of this chapter.

    28    4. After completion of such project,  the  municipality  may  use  the

    29  property  for  public purposes or may dispose of it. If the municipality

    30  shall dispose of such property by sale  to  a  responsible  party,  such

    31  party  shall pay to such municipality, in addition to such other consid-

    32  eration, an amount of money constituting the amount of state  assistance

    33  provided  to the municipality under this title plus accrued interest and

    34  transaction costs and the municipality shall deposit that money into the

    35  environmental restoration project account of the hazardous waste remedi-

    36  al fund established under section ninety-seven-b of  the  state  finance

    37  law.

    38    5.  In  the  event  that [such] an environmental restoration project's

    39  remediation objective shall not have been attained to  the  department's

    40  satisfaction at the time of the municipality's disposition of such prop-

    41  erty, such municipality shall be liable to ensure that such objective is

    42  attained within the time called for in the state assistance contract.

    43    §  6.  Section 56-0507 of the environmental conservation law, as added

    44  by chapter 413 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:

    45  § 56-0507. Recovery of state assistance.

    46    1. A municipality receiving state assistance under this  title  under-

    47  takes  an  environmental  restoration project as agent of the state with

    48  respect to the incurrence of eligible costs.

    49    2. The state shall make all reasonable efforts  to  recover  the  full

    50  amount  of  any state assistance provided under this title through liti-

    51  gation brought under this section or other statute or under  the  common

    52  law,  or through cooperative agreements, with responsible parties (other

    53  than the municipality to which state assistance was provided under  this

    54  title;  or a successor in title, lender, or lessee who was not otherwise

    55  a responsible party prior to the  [municipality]  municipality's  taking

    56  title to such property).

   
    S. 5702                            35

     1    3. Any and all monies recovered or reimbursed pursuant to this section

     2  shall be deposited into the environmental restoration project account of

     3  the  hazardous  waste  [remediation]  remedial  fund  established  under

     4  section ninety-seven-b of the state finance law.

     5    §  7.  The  environmental  conservation law is amended by adding a new

     6  section 56-0508 to read as follows:

     7  § 56-0508. Foreclosure of a tax lien.

     8    Notwithstanding any general, special or local law or ordinance to  the

     9  contrary:

    10    1.  upon the commencement of a proceeding to foreclose a tax lien, the

    11  taxing district bringing the proceeding or  any  taxing  district  other

    12  than  the  one  foreclosing  the  tax  lien, having any right, title, or

    13  interest in, or lien upon, any parcel described in the petition of fore-

    14  closure may upon twenty days notice to all  parties  having  any  right,

    15  title, or interest in, or lien upon such parcel, move, at a special term

    16  in  the  court  in  which the foreclosure proceeding was brought, for an

    17  order granting such taxing district the temporary incidents of ownership

    18  of such parcel for the sole purpose of entering the parcel and  conduct-

    19  ing an environmental restoration investigation project upon such parcel.

    20    2.  unless  prior to the return date of the motion brought pursuant to

    21  this section the parcel has been redeemed by a party having the right of

    22  redemption, the court shall enter an order granting such relief to  such

    23  taxing  district,  or, if more than one taxing district applies for such

    24  right, to the taxing district which the court determines has the  great-

    25  est  public  interest,  but,  where possible and proper, preferences for

    26  such relief should be accorded first to cities and villages,  second  to

    27  towns,  and  third  to  counties.  Such order shall be granted upon such

    28  terms and conditions as the court shall deem just and proper  to  permit

    29  the  environmental  investigation  to  go  on  unhindered  as well as to

    30  protect the interests of all other parties having  a  right,  title,  or

    31  interest  in such parcel. Such order shall act as a stay to the foreclo-

    32  sure action on such parcel until the environmental restoration  investi-

    33  gation  project  has  been  completed and the final investigation report

    34  filed with the court pursuant to subdivision four  of  this  section  or

    35  such  other  time  as the court may deem proper, and particularly upon a

    36  finding by the court that the investigation has not been carried out  in

    37  an expeditious manner.

    38    3. such temporary incidents of ownership by such taxing district shall

    39  also  qualify it as being the owner of such property for the purposes of

    40  obtaining funding from the state of  New  York  for  such  environmental

    41  restoration investigation project under this article or for such funding

    42  from  any source pursuant to any other state, federal, or local law, but

    43  such incidents of ownership shall not be sufficient to qualify it as the

    44  owner of such property for the purposes of holding it wholly or partial-

    45  ly liable for any damages, past, present, or future from any release  of

    46  any  hazardous material, substance, or contaminant into the air, ground,

    47  or water, unless such release was caused by such taxing district.

    48    4. within thirty days of the completion of the environmental  restora-

    49  tion investigation project and the receipt by the taxing jurisdiction of

    50  the  final  report of such investigation, such taxing jurisdiction shall

    51  file such report with the court on notice to the  court  and  all  other

    52  parties  of  record,  and  the  stay  of the foreclosure shall be lifted

    53  (unless lifted earlier by a prior court order),  and  all  incidents  of

    54  temporary  ownership  of  the  taxing jurisdiction that was awarded such

    55  taxing district, except any right to receive funding  for  the  environ-

    56  mental  restoration  investigation  project,  shall  cease to exist, and

   
    S. 5702                            36

     1  nothing in this subdivision shall preclude the taxing jurisdiction  that

     2  conducted  the  environmental  restoration  investigation project or the

     3  taxing jurisdiction that commenced the foreclosure action, if  it  is  a

     4  different   taxing  jurisdiction  than  the  taxing  jurisdiction  which

     5  conducted the investigation, from withdrawing the parcel  from  foreclo-

     6  sure pursuant to section eleven hundred thirty-eight of the real proper-

     7  ty tax law.

     8    5.  all  costs  associated with any environmental restoration investi-

     9  gation project conducted pursuant to the authority of this section shall

    10  be added to the taxes owed to, and the tax lien of, the taxing  district

    11  that  undertook  the  environmental  restoration  investigation  project

    12  pursuant to this section.

    13    § 8. Subdivisions 1, 2, 3 and 5 of section  56-0509  of  the  environ-

    14  mental  conservation  law,  as added by chapter 413 of the laws of 1996,

    15  are amended to read as follows:

    16    1. (a) Notwithstanding any  other  provision  of  law  and  except  as

    17  provided  in  subdivision  two  of  this section and in paragraph (h) of

    18  subdivision two of section 56-0503 of this title,  the  following  shall

    19  not  be  liable  to  the state upon any statutory or common law cause of

    20  action, or to any person upon any statutory cause of action arising  out

    21  of the presence of any hazardous substance in or on property at any time

    22  before  the  effective  date of a contract entered into pursuant to this

    23  title:

    24    (i) a municipality receiving state  assistance  under  this  title  to

    25  undertake  an  environmental  restoration project and complying with the

    26  terms and conditions of the contract providing such assistance; and

    27    (ii) a successor in title to the real property subject  to  [such]  an

    28  environmental  restoration project; any lessee of such property; and any

    29  person that provides financing to such party  relative  to  the  remedi-

    30  ation,  restoration, or redevelopment of such property[,]; provided that

    31  such successor in title, lessee, or lender  did  not  generate,  arrange

    32  for,  transport,  or dispose, and did not cause the generation, arrange-

    33  ment for, transportation, or disposal of any hazardous substance located

    34  at such property, and did not own such property.

    35    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision  of  this  title,  any  person

    36  seeking the benefit of this subdivision shall bear the burden of proving

    37  that  a  cause of action, or any part thereof, is attributable solely to

    38  hazardous substances present in or on such parcel before  the  effective

    39  date of such contract.

    40    2.  [Subdivision] Subdivisions one and three of this section shall not

    41  apply to relieve any municipality, successor in title, lessee, or lender

    42  from liability arising from:

    43    (a) failing to implement such project to the department's satisfaction

    44  or failing to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract;

    45    (b) fraudulently demonstrating that the cleanup levels  identified  in

    46  or to be identified in accordance with such project were reached;

    47    (c)  causing  the release or threat of release at the property subject

    48  to such project of any hazardous substance after the effective  date  of

    49  such contract; or

    50    (d)  changing  such property's use from the intended use as identified

    51  in the contract pursuant to section 56-0503  of  this  title  to  a  use

    52  requiring  a lower level of residual contamination unless the additional

    53  remedial activities are undertaken which shall meet  the  same  standard

    54  for  protection  of  public  health  and the environment that applies to

    55  remedial actions undertaken pursuant to 27-1313 of this chapter so  that

   
    S. 5702                            37

     1  such  use can be implemented with sufficient protection of public health

     2  and the environment.

     3    3.  The  state  shall  indemnify  and  save harmless any municipality,

     4  successor in title, lessee, or lender [indentified] identified in  para-

     5  graph  (a) of subdivision one of this section in the amount of any judg-

     6  ment[,] or settlement, obtained against such municipality, successor  in

     7  title, lessee, or lender in any court for any common law cause of action

     8  arising out of the presence of any hazardous substance in or on property

     9  at anytime before the effective date of a contract entered into pursuant

    10  to this title.  Such municipality, successor in title, lessee, or lender

    11  shall  be entitled to representation by the attorney general, unless the

    12  attorney general determines, or a court of competent jurisdiction deter-

    13  mines, that such representation would constitute a conflict of interest,

    14  in which case the attorney general shall certify to the comptroller that

    15  such party is entitled to private counsel of its choice, and  reasonable

    16  attorneys'  fees  and  expenses  shall  be  reimbursed by the state. Any

    17  settlement of such an action shall be subject to  the  approval  of  the

    18  attorney  general  as to form and amount, and this subdivision shall not

    19  apply to any settlement of any such action which has not  received  such

    20  approval.

    21    5. In addition to any other powers the department may have, including,

    22  but  not  limited  to,  the  powers set forth in section 56-0515 of this

    23  title, the department shall have the authority to  periodically  inspect

    24  [each  project  site]  property  to  ensure that the use of the property

    25  complies with the terms and conditions of the contract and any engineer-

    26  ing and/or institutional controls placed on the property.

    27    § 9. Section 56-0511 of the environmental conservation law,  as  added

    28  by chapter 413 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:

    29  § 56-0511. Change of use.

    30    1.  At  least  sixty  days  before the start of physical alteration or

    31  construction constituting a change of use at a property investigated  or

    32  remediated under an environmental restoration project, or at least sixty

    33  days  before  a change of use at such a property not involving any phys-

    34  ical alteration or construction, as the case may be, the person or enti-

    35  ty proposing to make a change of use shall provide written  notification

    36  to  the department and the clerks of the county and other municipalities

    37  in which such property is located.

    38    2. No person shall engage in any activity at a  property  investigated

    39  or  remediated  under  an  environmental restoration project that is not

    40  consistent with restrictions placed upon the use  of  the  property,  or

    41  that  will,  or  that reasonably is anticipated to: prevent or interfere

    42  significantly with a proposed, ongoing, or completed project; or  expose

    43  the public health or the environment to a significantly increased threat

    44  of  harm  or  damage [at] from such property. If the commissioner deter-

    45  mines that a proposed change of  use  is  prohibited  pursuant  to  this

    46  section,  he  or  she shall, within forty-five days after receipt of the

    47  complete notice required by this section, provide the person giving such

    48  notice with a written determination that such change of use will not  be

    49  authorized, together with the reasons for such determination.

    50    3. For the purposes of this section:

    51    (i)  "change  of  use"  means  the transfer of title to all or part of

    52  property subject to an environmental  restoration  [agreement]  project,

    53  the  erection  of  any  structure  on such property, [the paving of such

    54  property for use as a roadway or parking lot,] and  the  creation  of  a

    55  park  or other public or private recreational facility on such property,

    56  or any activity that is likely to disrupt or expose hazardous substances

   
    S. 5702                            38

     1  or to increase direct human exposure; or any other conduct that will  or

     2  may  tend  to significantly interfere with an ongoing or completed envi-

     3  ronmental restoration project.

     4    (ii)  "complete  notice"  means  a notice that adequately apprises the

     5  department of the contemplated physical alteration of the  property  and

     6  how  such  alteration  may  affect  the property's proposed, ongoing, or

     7  completed [remediation] project, or of the proposed new owner's  ability

     8  to  implement the engineering and institutional controls associated with

     9  the [property's remediation] property.

    10    § 10. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding two  new

    11  sections 56-0513 and 56-0515 to read as follows:

    12  § 56-0513. Permit waivers.