6. a. The owner or operator of an industrial establishment planning to transfer ownership or operations may apply to the department for a deferral of the preparation, approval, and implementation of a remedial action workplan for the industrial establishment. The applicant shall submit to the department:

(1) a certification signed by the purchaser, transferee, mortgagee or other party to the transfer, approved by the department, that the industrial establishment would be subject to substantially the same use by the purchaser, transferee, mortgagee or other party to the transfer;

(2) a certification, approved by the department, that the owner or operator has satisfactorily completed a preliminary assessment, site investigation, and remedial investigation of the industrial establishment;

(3) a cost estimate for the remedial action necessary at the industrial establishment, approved by the department based upon the information collected in the preliminary assessment, site investigation, and remedial investigation and developed in accordance with department regulations; and

(4) a certification, approved by the department, that the purchaser, transferee, mortgagee or other party to the transfer has the financial ability to pay for the implementation of the necessary remedial action.

The preparation, approval, and implementation of a remedial action workplan for the industrial establishment may be deferred for that transfer until the use changes or until the purchaser, transferee, mortgagee or other party to the transfer closes operations.

b. Upon submission of a complete and accurate application, the department shall approve the deferral. Upon approval of the deferral, the preparation, approval, and implementation of a remedial action workplan at the industrial establishment shall be deferred.

c. The authority to defer the preparation, approval, and implementation of a remedial action workplan set forth in this section shall not be construed to limit, restrict, or prohibit the department from directing site remediation under any other statute, rule, or regulation, but shall be solely applicable to the obligations of the owner or operator of an industrial establishment, pursuant to the provisions of this act, nor shall any other provisions of this act be construed to limit, restrict, or prohibit the department from directing site remediation under any other statute, rule, or regulation.

For the purposes of this section, substantially the same use means that the industrial establishment shall retain the same three digit Industry Group Number, as designated in the Standard Industrial Classifications Manual prepared by the federal Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President of the United States. In a manner and form, and in accordance with the specific criteria prescribed by the department, an applicant may petition for a finding by the department that the affected industrial establishment be deemed subject to substantially the same use based upon its retention of the same two digit Major Group Number, as designated in the Standard Industrial Classifications Manual.

L.1983,c.330,s.6; amended 1993,c.139,s.11.