New York State Department of Health: Remedial Site Programs

Within each of the programs, listed below, the Department of Health investigates the potential for human exposure from environmental contamination at each site and offers recommendations to protect public health. The Department of Health functions include the sampling and analysis of water, soil and air; review of work plans, investigation reports and remediation decision documents. A Department of Health specialist is assigned to each site to coordinate and communicate health-related activities.

Remedial Programs Applicable to Brownfield Redevelopment

The Department of Health works with the Department of Environmental Conservation in the following remedial program areas:

• Brownfield Cleanup Program

  The Brownfield Cleanup Program supports private sector activities to remediate brownfields. Re-using brownfield properties can reduce development pressure on undeveloped lands (greenfields). Remedial activities are carried out with the Department of Environmental Conservation's oversight at eligible brownfield sites. The Department of Environmental Conservation issues a Certificate of Completion after remediation requirements for the site have been achieved. The Certificate of Completion provides liability protections and triggers the availability of tax credits for eligible parties.

• Environmental Restoration Program

  As part of the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, $200 million is available through the Environmental Restoration Program to provide municipalities with financial assistance for remedial activities at eligible brownfield sites. Municipalities are reimbursed up to 90 percent of eligible costs on the property and 100 percent of eligible costs for activities off of the property. New York State releases the municipality and all successors in title, lessees, and lenders from remedial liability for contaminants that were on the property prior to the grant.

• Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Program (State Superfund Program)

  The Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Program's purpose is to identify and characterize suspected inactive hazardous waste disposal sites and to investigate and remediate inactive hazardous waste disposal sites that have consequential amounts of hazardous waste which pose a significant threat to public health or the environment. Remediation decreases or eliminates threats to public health.