Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

NJDEP Updates Soil Remediation Standards

Author: Daniel T. McKillop

Date: March 29, 2018

Key Contacts

Back

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Recently Updated the Soil Remediation Standards

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) recently updated the soil remediation standards for 19 contaminants to reflect U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revisions to the toxicity criteria for these compounds. The updated soil remediation standards took effect on September 18, 2017.

NJDEP Updates Soil Remediation Standards
Photo courtesy of Aya Okawa (Unsplash.com)

The New Jersey Remediation Standards define the acceptable default levels of certain contaminants that can be present in soil. They are based on the EPA’s carcinogenic (or cancer) slope factor or non-carcinogenic (or non-cancer) reference dose data for these compounds, contained in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. The Remediation Standards establish minimum soil remediation standards, including both residential direct contact soil remediation standards; and non-residential direct contact soil remediation standards.

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26D-4.2, the residential direct contact soil remediation standard for each contaminant is the more stringent of either the ingestion-dermal human health-based criterion or the inhalation human health-based criterion, or the “practical quantitation level” (PQL) if the PQL is less stringent than the corresponding human health-based criterion. Similarly, N.J.A.C. 7:26D-4.3 establishes that, for each contaminant, the non-residential direct contact soil remediation standard is the more stringent of either the ingestion-dermal human health-based criterion or the inhalation human health-based criterion, or the PQL, if the PQL is less stringent than the corresponding human health-based criterion.

New Soil Remediation Standard 

In total, 19 contaminants are impacted by New Jersey’s new soil remediation standards. Below is a brief summary of the changes:

  • The soil remediation standards for the following 11 contaminants are now less stringent: Benzo(a)Anthracene, Benzo(a) Pyrene, Benzo(b)Fluoranthene, Benzo(k)Fluoranthene, Chrysene, Dibenz(ah)Anthracene, Indeno(123-cd)Pyrene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Methylene Chloride, Tetrachloroethene, and 1,1,1-Trichloroethane.
  • The soil remediation standards for 6 contaminants are now more stringent: Hexachloroethane, Nitrobenzene, Pentachlorophenol, Trichloroethene, 1,1-Biphenyl, and Cyanide.
  • The soil remediation standard for 1,1,2,2- Tetrachloroethane is unchanged.
  • Thallium will no longer be regulated.

Given its frequent presence in urban and industrialized sites, the most notable change is the revised parameters for benzo[a]pyrene. The less stringent standard should make it easier for land developers and other parties to remediate sites containing the contaminant.

Phase-In of Updated Standards

The NJDEP has advised that entities responsible for conducting the remediation may continue to remediate a site using soil remediation standards in effect prior to September 18, 2017, provided the updated remediation standard is not an order of magnitude or more lower than the pre-September 18, 2017 remediation standard, and if the following conditions exist:

  1. The site being remediated has either: an existing Remedial Action Workplan or Remedial Action Report approved by the NJDEP, or an existing Remedial Action Workplan or Remedial Action Report certified by a licensed site remediation professional (LSRP) and that has been submitted to the agency. OR
  2. The site being remediated will have by March 18, 2018 either: a Remedial Action Workplan or Remedial Action Report approved by the NJDEP, or a Remedial Action Workplan or Remedial Action Report certified by an LSRP and submitted to the agency.

If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss the matter further, please contact me, Dan McKillop, at 201-806-3364.

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
Corporate Transactions: Best Practices for Successful Deals post image

Corporate Transactions: Best Practices for Successful Deals

Corporate transactions can have significant implications for a corporation and its stakeholders. For deals to be successful, companies must act strategically to maximize value and minimize risk. It is also important to fully understand the legal and financial ramifications of corporate transactions, both in the near and long term. Understanding Corporate Transactions The term “corporate […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Corporate Transactions: Best Practices for Successful Deals"
How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025 post image

How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025

Ongoing economic uncertainty is forcing many companies to make tough decisions, which includes lowering staff levels. The legal landscape on both the state and federal level also continues to evolve, especially with significant changes to the priorities of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) under the Trump Administration. Terminating an employee is one of the […]

Author: Angela A. Turiano

Link to post with title - "How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025"
Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know post image

Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know

While filing annual reports may seem like a nuisance, failing to do so can have significant ramifications. These include fines, reputational harm, and interruption of your business operations. In basic terms, “admin dissolution for annual report” means that a company is dissolved by the government. This happens because it failed to submit its annual report […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know"
What Is Antitrust Litigation Law? post image

What Is Antitrust Litigation Law?

Antitrust laws are designed to ensure that businesses compete fairly. There are three federal antitrust laws that businesses must navigate. These include the Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act. States also have their own antitrust regimes. These may vary from federal regulations. Understanding antitrust litigation helps businesses navigate these complex […]

Author: Robert E. Levy

Link to post with title - "What Is Antitrust Litigation Law?"
Dissolving Your Business: Essential Legal Steps to Protect Your Interests post image

Dissolving Your Business: Essential Legal Steps to Protect Your Interests

If you’re considering closing your business, it’s crucial to understand that simply shutting your doors does not end your legal obligations. Unless you formally dissolve your business, it continues to exist in the eyes of the law—leaving you exposed to ongoing liabilities such as taxes, compliance violations, and potential lawsuits. Dissolving a business can seem […]

Author: Christopher D. Warren

Link to post with title - "Dissolving Your Business: Essential Legal Steps to Protect Your Interests"
The Role of Corporate Restructuring in Mergers & Acquisitions post image

The Role of Corporate Restructuring in Mergers & Acquisitions

Contrary to what many people think, corporate restructuring isn’t all doom and gloom. Revamping a company’s organizational structure, corporate hierarchy, or operations procedures can help keep your business competitive. This is particularly true during challenging times. Corporate restructuring plays a critical role in modern business strategy. It helps companies adapt quickly to market changes. Following […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "The Role of Corporate Restructuring in Mergers & Acquisitions"

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!