For Release: Thursday, January 22, 2004

DEC Issues Annual Report on Environmental Cleanups

New York Shows Continued Progress in Cleaning Up Contaminated Sites

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced the availability of DEC's Remedial Programs Annual Report for State Fiscal Year 2002-03. The annual report highlights achievements in cleaning up contaminated sites in New York from April 1, 2002, to March 31, 2003, under the Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Remedial Program, Environmental Restoration Program (ERP), Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP), and the Oil Spill Program.

"Governor George Pataki continues to provide the leadership and vision New York needs to maintain its success in cleaning up contaminated sites," Commissioner Crotty said. "This year's report underscores these significant cleanup achievements and will assist the State in our efforts to more effectively and efficiently protect public health and the environment."

Highlights of the Annual Report include:

985 sites had been identified as requiring remediation under the Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Remedial Program, commonly referred to as the Superfund Program. Of those, 455 sites have been cleaned up and the remaining 530 are in the remedial process;
During State Fiscal Year 2002-03, DEC issued 45 orders on consent and amendments to orders on consent with responsible parties, committing them to pay for or conduct remedial activities in relation to Superfund sites;
DEC received $16.8 million from responsible parties during the fiscal year either for reimbursement of past State costs or future costs to be incurred under the Superfund Program;
Through March 31, 2003, applicants had signed State Assistance Contracts with DEC to address 75 sites under the ERP. A total of $26.9 million was obligated for the investigation and/or remediation projects at these sites from the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act;
DEC executed agreements with volunteers to address 443 sites that have either been cleaned up or are currently being addressed through the VCP; and,
During State Fiscal Year 2002-03, there were 16,970 responsible party cleanups and 480 State-funded cleanups under the Oil Spill Program.

"I am also pleased to report that, with Governor Pataki's leadership and the assistance of the Legislature, the comprehensive Superfund/Brownfields Law to address New York's remedial programs was enacted," Commissioner Crotty said.

The Superfund/Brownfields Law provides secure funding for the State Superfund and provides enhancements to the ERP funded by the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act. It creates a statutory Brownfield Cleanup Program modeled after DEC's existing administrative VCP and builds upon DEC's more than 20 years of experience in cleaning up contaminated properties by making the programs more effective.

The Superfund/Brownfields Law maintains stringent and protective cleanup standards, retains the "polluter pays" philosophy, expands the types of sites eligible for cleanup, provides appropriate liability relief which has already been adopted by many other states, ensures consistency with federal law, and provides enhanced financial incentives to parties to investigate and remediate brownfields. In addition, the law creates the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program, which provides technical and financial assistance to municipalities and community-based organizations to conduct redevelopment planning and site assessments for designated areas containing brownfield sites.

The Remedial Programs Annual Report for State Fiscal Year 2002-03 can be accessed on DEC's website.

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