GA: Voluntary Remediation Program (SB 78/HB 248)

ISSUE
SB 78/HB 248 would establish a Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) in which property owners could utilize – with approval and supervision of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) – professional engineers or qualified geologists to formulate and implement clean-up of contaminated sites on the HSRA (state superfund) list. The bill expands HSRA to become more efficient and effective in completing site remediation.

Specially, SB 78/HB 248 would create a voluntary remediation program that would allow a property owner of a contaminated site to initiate remediation by making an application to GA EPD with a proposed voluntary remediation plan. GA EPD would review the plan and approve the application. When approved, the property owner would implement the remediation plan, and after completion, the participant would submit a final Compliance Status Report (CSR) for the division to review and approve.

Further, SB 78/HB 248 would provide some progressive modifications to the corrective action remediation criteria. These criteria changes are designed to make clean-up of properties more efficient, practical and certain while still being protective.

ACTION NEEDED
Please email your State Senator and State House member encouraging them to support SB 78 and HB 248.

STATUS
Both SB 78/HB 248 are scheduled for a hearing in the respective chambers’ Natural Resources Committee the week of February 16, 2009.

AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL VIEWPOINT
Though this bill is an initiative of Georgia Chemistry Council, it comports with the American Chemistry Council’s overarching goal of having policies that are risk-based and supported by scientific documentation.

Additional supporters of this VRP legislation include:
• Georgia Chemistry Council
• Georgia Association of Realtors
• Georgia Chamber of Commerce
• Georgia Industry Association
• Georgia Industry Environmental Coalition
• Georgia Mining Association
• Georgia Pulp and Paper Association
• Georgia Railroad Association
• Georgia Traditional Manufacturing Association

BACKGROUND
The Hazardous Site Response Act (HSRA) was passed in 1992 and was based on similar programs in other states and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Superfund program. Over the 15 years since HSRA was enacted, many practical and costly lessons have been learned in Georgia and nationwide about site remediation requirements.

Accordingly, other states and USEPA have updated and modified their programs to make remediation requirements more pragmatic and more cost effective while still protecting human health and the environment. Many states have already adopted a VRP similar to that which is being proposed in Georgia.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
• Georgia Chemistry Council Fact Sheet
• Text of GA HB 248, as introduced

Targeted Recipients

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Sincerely,