The May deadline for the New JerseyLicensed Site Remediation Professional(LSRP) Program has come andgone. The LSRP program is administered by the NewJersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and takes aimat streamlining the cleanup process of contaminated sites.

The Site Remediation Reform Act of2009 established the Licensed SiteRemediation Professional (LSRP) program to expedite therecovery of contaminated sites to decrease the threat ofcontamination to public health and safety and of the environment,and to quickly return underutilized properties to productiveuse. Under the New Jersey LSRP program consultants, or LSRPs,will complete environmental remediation work in accordance withstandards established by the New JerseyDEP. These professionals have to be registered andlicensed by the DEP; currently professionals can only hold atemporary LSRP license, which was granted to professionals withappropriate experience. However, later this year the DEPwill begin to administer tests and the temporary LSRPs will begranted full LSRP licenses.

The Site Remediation Reform Actestablishes a stringent cleanup process with new requirementsincluding mandatory time frames for the completion of variousphases of the cleanup work, enabling the DEP to order cleanupremedies when those responsible for contaminated properties fail totake action, allowing the DEP to reject cleanup remedies that wouldleave a property unsuitable for redevelopment or recreational uses,and establishes presumptive cleanup remedies whenever a site is proposed to beredeveloped for residential, school or daycare facilities.