2014 IMPROVEMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS SITE CLEANUP PROCESS

The revised 2014 MCP regulations include many changes which will improve the waste site cleanup process in Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights:

• Eliminated trigger for “Substantial Release Migration” (SRM) for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in groundwater within 30 feet of a structure.
• Added VOC’s in soil or soil gas within 6 feet of a structure as an SRM condition.
• Eliminated closure prohibition for Site’s with ½ inch of petroleum in a monitoring well.
• Added Permanent Site Closures with greater than ½ inch of petroleum where petroleum can be shown to be stable, ie, non-migratory.
• Increased the time available for Phase II Investigation Reports from 2 years to 3 years from the date of site classification, so that better studies can be done.
• Eliminated RAO terminology for closures in favor of simple language such as “Permanent Closure With No Conditions” or “Permanent Closure with Conditions”.
• Lowered the soil lead standard for accessible soils from 300 ppm to 200 ppm.
• Defines “Historic Fill” as being placed prior to 1983.