Given that there exists over 20,000 environmental remediation sites in New Jersey, many companies have had to deal with the significant costs incurred in cleaning up contaminated sites despite the economic slump.  In an effort to help, in May 2009, New Jersey implemented sweeping reforms to the process of environmental site remediation when it enacted the Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA).   A recently published article provides an overview of how these changes may impact environmental professionals.

In order to assist in the implementation of SRRA, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has established a process to allow Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRPs) and remediating parties to meet with DEP staff to ask site specific technical questions.  This free service is being offered for new cases (initiated after November 4, 2009) or existing cases (initiated before November 4, 2009) that have opted in to the LSRP program. As stated on the DEP site, these technical consultation sessions will discuss issues related to the remediation of a particular site.  

It is suggested that environmental professionals and firms faced with remediation projects take up the DEP’s offer and seek counsel regarding existing site work.  The key will be to adequately document all conversations to ensure that suggestions and feedback are not taken out of context or misinterpreted.  Also, it might help to bring along your lawyer.