Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty this week issued a statement to “clarify” DEP procedures under the state’s Land Recycling Program saying DEP will not accept remediation reports submitted for properties formerly used as agricultural or orchard land and slated for development.

Secretary McGinty noted in a statement that in Act 2, Section 102 (1), the legislature stressed the importance of these measures so the Commonwealth could better protect against the “needless development of prime farmland, open-space areas and natural areas and reduce public costs for installing new water, sewer and highway infrastructure.”

DEP also noted the law further states: “The elimination of public health and environmental hazards on existing commercial and industrial land across this Commonwealth is vital to their use and reuse as sources of employment, housing, recreation and open-space areas.”

The department also clarified that the remediation standards and testing protocols articulated in Act 2 will be used in determining if formerly contaminated farmland properties have been made safe for development.

Since the department will not review any Act 2 documents associated with these proposed developments, DEP said the liability relief afforded by Act 2 will not be provided.

Visit the Land Recycling webpage for more general information on the program.

NewsClip: Land Recycling Changes to Preserve Farmland, Open Space

3/4/2005