By Brent Henebry, LEP
As a Connecticut Licensed Environmental Professional (LEP), it’s my job to oversee investigation and remediation at contaminated sites. While this sounds a little unpleasant, I like to think of it as doing my part to bring environmentally-challenged properties back to productive use. When this work occurs at commercial or industrial sites, it is typically done so under the state’s Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs), which are administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP).
After many years of public outreach and discussion, the CTDEEP has released proposed revisions to the RSRs. These proposed Wave 2 regulations build on previously completed Wave 1 revisions that occurred in 2013 and are intended to provide alternatives to bring sites to closure efficiently and effectively, while protecting human health and the environment.
My colleagues and I have reviewed the proposed regulations. While these amendments are not official and have to go through a process that will ultimately require approval by the state legislature, several have the potential to help LEPs and the regulatory community bring sites to closure faster and more cost effectively. Examples include calculation of site-specific alternative cleanup criteria for groundwater and a new type of deed-recorded land use restriction that is simpler to put in place than the current environmental land use restriction.
A 90-day public comment period (ending on October 7th) has been established and a public hearing is scheduled at the CTDEEP on September 25th. In the meantime, we will work with the Environmental Professional’s Organization of Connecticut and other groups to provide meaningful comments for the CTDEEP to consider. This week, via our social media, we will outline what we consider to be the five biggest changes to the regulations. To check out our first post, click here.
If you have any questions or concerns about the proposed regulations, please contact me at:
860.646.2469 x5369, bhenebry@fando.com
About the Author
Brent Henebry, LEP is an Associate and leader of the firm’s Site Evaluation and Restoration Department. A CT LEP for more than 15 years, Brent specializes in the investigation and remediation of releases of pollutants to the environment. He has rendered LEP verifications at sites throughout the state, bringing the investigation and remediation of these sites to a close.
