DRAFT SOIL CLEANUP STANDARDS RELEASED FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT
DEP Asking for Public Input Before Making a
Formal Proposal
(04/86) TRENTON -- Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell announced
the start of a public comment period on soil cleanup standards
for use at contaminated site remediation projects across
the state.
"We are seeking public input early in the process
to help us develop a formal proposal of soil cleanup standards
that will ensure the protection of public health,"
said Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "Our goal is
to have clear standards, incorporating the latest health
risk data, for developers reviving brownfield sites, companies
cleaning contamination from past industrial operations and
even homeowners working to replace leaking fuel tanks."
DEP's proposal includes soil cleanup standards for 140
contaminants. The draft soil standards take into account
the risk of exposure to contamination from ingestion, skin
contact and inhalation based on residential and nonresidential
settings. DEP also is proposing to apply residential standards
to children's day-care and school properties.
The draft soil standards also measure how soil contamination
impacts ground water quality based on the protection of
aquifers suitable for use as a drinking water source. Impact
to ground water soil standards for aquifers of special ecological
significance and aquifers not suitable as a drinking water
source (low yield and saline aquifers) will continue to
be developed on a site-by-site basis.
When adopted, the soil standards will replace DEP's soil
cleanup criteria guidance. The soil standards will be used
in concert with DEP's Technical Requirements for Site Remediation
that outline specific actions necessary to investigate and
clean up a contaminated site.
Also, DEP can develop interim soil cleanup standards for
contaminants not included in this proposal on a case specific
basis. A recently formed DEP workgroup will develop chromium
soil cleanup standards as part of a separate process to
incorporate at a later date.
The draft soil standards and how to provide comments to
DEP on or before September 17, 2004 are available on DEP's
Web site at http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/regs/srs/.
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