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Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Program (Superfund)

Environmental Remediation Databases - Search for information about remediation sites of interest in New York State.

The Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site (IHWDS) Program is the State's program for identifying, investigating and cleaning up sites where consequential amounts of hazardous waste may exist. These sites go through a process of investigation, evaluation, cleanup and monitoring that has several distinct stages. For an explanation of the different stages of the investigation and cleanup process, please refer to DER's fact sheets on stages of the investigation and cleanup process.

DER is made aware of potential hazardous waste sites in a variety of ways, including notification by the responsible party and citizen complaints.

An environmental investigation called a Preliminary Site Assessment (PSA) is performed when DER is made aware that hazardous waste has or may have been disposed of at a site. The goal of the PSA is to determine whether a site meets the state's definition of an inactive hazardous waste disposal site by confirming the presence of hazardous waste and determining the threat posed by the site to public health or the environment. DER or the potentially responsible party performs the PSA. For more information, you can read DER's fact sheet on PSAs.

Once the presence of a consequential amount of hazardous waste is confirmed at a site, the site is added to the State's official list of sites and is given a classification code.

Sites that receive a classification of 2 (representing a significant threat to public health and/or the environment and requiring action) usually undergo a detailed environmental investigation, called a remedial investigation. When the parties responsible for the contamination are known, the responsible parties often pay for and perform the investigation and evaluation of cleanup options. At sites where responsible parties cannot be found or are unable or unwilling to fund an investigation, the State pays for the investigation using money from the 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act, also known as the "State Superfund." The State may try to recover costs from a responsible party after the investigation and cleanup are complete.

Each class 2 site is assigned a project manager. Regional IHWDS Program staff serve as project managers for many inactive hazardous waste disposal sites in their respective regions. Staff in DEC's Albany office serve as project managers for the remaining sites. For sites where state money pays for an investigation, the project manager oversees the investigation and evaluation of cleanup options directly, or he may supervise a consultant hired to do the work. When a responsible party performs an investigation, the project manager reviews and approves investigation work plans and reports and ensures the responsible party performs a thorough and proper investigation. The project manager also works closely with New York State Department of Health staff who ensure that public health concerns are addressed.

Project managers use Technical and Administrative Guidance Memorandum (TAGMs) to guide them in the identification, investigation and remediation of contaminated waste sites. These guidance documents are used to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, including case law interpretations, and to provide consistent treatment of similar situations. TAGMs may also be used by the public to gain technical guidance and insight regarding how department staff may analyze an issue and factors in their consideration of particular facts and circumstances. The DER web site includes more information about and copies of several TAGMs for inactive hazardous waste disposal sites.

The project manager also writes the Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PRAP) that outlines the State's preferred method to address the site. The project manager presents the proposed plan at a public meeting and responds to public comments. After a final plan is selected and the Record of Decision (ROD) is approved, DER staff may remain involved with the design and implementation of the cleanup.

DER staff also perform inspections of sites that have been remediated but continue to have cleanup systems or other controls in place.

More about Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Program (Superfund):

  • Inactive Site Remedial Program Fact Sheets - Fact Sheets on phases of New York's inactive hazardous waste disposal site remediation program (Superfund).
  • Preliminary Site Assessment (PSA) - Fact Sheet on implementing Preliminary Site Assessments (PSAs) under New York's inactive hazardous waste disposal site remediation program (superfund).
  • Interim Remedial Measures (IRM) - Fact Sheet on implementing Interim Remedial Measures (IRMs) under New York's inactive hazardous waste disposal site remediation program (Superfund).
  • Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study - Fact Sheet on Remedial Investigations (RIs) under New York's inactive hazardous waste disposal site remediation program (superfund).
  • Record of Decision (ROD) - Fact Sheet on Records of Decision - Final Agency action for selecting cleanup actions at hazardous waste sites in New York.
  • Remedial Design and Construction - Fact Sheet on Design and Construction in New York's inactive hazardous waste disposal site remediation program (Superfund).
  • Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Program FAQ - FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions on New York's inactive hazardous waste disposal site remediation program (superfund).
  • Qualified Remedial Consultants (QRC) List - The consultants on this list have submitted their qualifications to NYS DEC and were considered to have demonstrated their ability to provide remedial engineering services at hazardous waste, chemical and petroleum contaminated sites. This is not an endorsement of any of these firms by the NYS DEC. No party is required to use a firm on this list.