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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