(a) The Department shall review and approve a proposed remedial action plan consistent with the remediation standards set out in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-310.68 and the procedures set out in this section. In its review of a proposed remedial action plan, the Department shall do all of the following:

(1) Determine whether site-specific remediation standards are appropriate for a particular contaminated site. In making this determination, the Department shall consider proximity of the contamination to water supply wells or other receptors; current and probable future reliance on the groundwater as a water supply; current and anticipated future land use; environmental impacts; and the feasibility of remediation to unrestricted use standards.

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(2) Determine whether the party conducting the remediation has adequately demonstrated through modeling or other scientific means acceptable to the Department that no contamination will migrate to off-site property at levels above unrestricted use standards, except as may remain pursuant to a cleanup conducted pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-310.73A(a)(2).

(3) Determine whether the proposed remedial action plan meets the requirements of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-310.69

(4) Determine whether the proposed remedial action plan meets the requirements of any other applicable remediation program except those pertaining to remediation standards.

(5) Establish the acceptable level or range of levels of risk to public health, safety, and welfare and to the environment.

(6) Establish, for each contaminant, the maximum allowable quantity, concentration, range, or other measures of contamination that will remain at the contaminated site at the conclusion of the contaminant-reduction phase of the remediation.

(7) Consider the technical performance, effectiveness, and reliability of the proposed remedial action plan in attaining and maintaining compliance with applicable remediation standards.

(8) Consider the ability of the person who proposes to remediate the site to implement the proposed remedial action plan within a reasonable time and without jeopardizing public health, safety, or welfare or the environment.

(9) Determine whether the proposed remedial action plan adequately provides for the imposition and maintenance of engineering and institutional controls and for sampling, monitoring, and reporting requirements necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare and the environment. In making this determination, the Department may consider, in lieu of land-use restrictions authorized under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-310.69, reliance on other State or local land-use controls. Any land-use controls implemented shall adequately protect public health, safety, and welfare and the environment and provide adequate notice to current and future property owners of any residual contamination and the land-use controls in place.

(10) Approve the circumstances under which no further remediation is required.

(b) The person who proposes a remedial action plan has the burden of demonstrating with reasonable assurance that contamination from the site will not migrate to off-site property above unrestricted use levels, except as may remain pursuant to a cleanup conducted pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-310.73A(a)(2), and that the remedial action plan is protective of public health, safety, and welfare and the environment by virtue of its compliance with this Part. The demonstration shall (i) take into account actions proposed in the remedial action plan that will prevent contamination from migrating off the site; and (ii) use scientifically valid site-specific data.

(c) The Department may require a person who proposes a remedial action plan to supply any additional information necessary for the Department to approve or disapprove the plan.

(d) In making a determination on a proposed remedial action plan, the Department shall consider the information provided by the person who proposes the remedial action plan as well as information provided by local governments and adjoining landowners pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-310.70 The Department shall disapprove a proposed remedial action plan unless the Department finds that the plan is protective of public health, safety, and welfare and the environment and complies with the requirements of this Part. If the Department disapproves a proposed remedial action plan, the person who submitted the plan may seek review as provided in Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the N.C. Gen. Stat.. If the Department fails to approve or disapprove a proposed remedial action plan within 120 days after a complete plan has been submitted, the person who submitted the plan may treat the plan as having been disapproved at the end of that time period.

(e) If, pursuant to subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of this section, reliance on other State or local land-use controls is approved by the Department in lieu of land-use restrictions, a “Notice of Residual Contamination” shall be prepared and filed in the chain of title of each contaminated site or contaminated off-site property where any contamination has or will in the future exceed unrestricted use standards. The Notice shall identify the type of contamination on the site or property and the land-use controls that address the contamination and may be filed by the person who proposes to remediate the site. Provided, however, the Department may only approve imposition of land-use controls on contaminated off-site property with the written consent of the owner of the property in conformance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-310.73A(a)(2). (2011-186, s. 2; 2015-286, s. 4.7(a).)