Site Remediation Program

For General Inquiries, Please email us at DEM.SiteRemInfo@dem.ri.gov.

Kelly Owens, Supervisor

Ashley Blauvelt, P.E., Environmental Engineer IV

235 Promenade Street

Providence, RI 02908-5767

(401) 222-2797

Program Goals

The goal of the program is to provide fair, comprehensive and consistent regulation of the investigation and remediation of hazardous waste, hazardous material and petroleum releases, implemented in a timely and cost-effective manner. The State program is designed to determine if a site poses a threat to human health and the environment and efficiently determine a remedy that is effective but not overly burdensome to the parties involved.

This program also supports the redevelopment and reuse of contaminated sites through the Brownfields program. Sites are identified, evaluated, cleaned up and brought back to beneficial reuse in Rhode Island communities.

Program Purpose

To regulate and provide technical oversight for the investigation and remediation of releases of hazardous waste or hazardous material to the environment; to ensure that those investigations and remedial activities are conducted in a consistent manner that adequately protects human health and the environment; and to enforce regulations regarding the proper disposal of abandoned hazardous waste.

Program Objectives

To support the reuse and redevelopment of contaminated sites through the Brownfields program;
To provide a protective, efficient and cost-effective program as an alternative to the federal process and the stigma associated with it;
To encourage voluntary responses to contamination discovered on properties within the State;
To characterize and evaluate the impacts from releases of hazardous material to the environment;
To determine whether remedial action is warranted under the program;
To require and oversee the implementation of remedial actions designed to minimize, or eliminate, the impacts from releases of hazardous materials; and
To effectively track the progress and report the level of effort expended completing tasks under this program.

Program Process

Cleaning a contaminated site requires investigation, planning and action. The Remediation Regulations define these specific documents that are needed, or may be needed, as part of that process:

Supporting Documents

Site Remediation Process Flow Chart
Notification of Release Submit Electronically at DEM.OWMSiteRemNor@dem.ri.gov
Site Investigation Report (SIR) Checklist;
Remedial Action Approval Fee Form;
Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP);
Remedial Action;
Closure Report; and, if applicable,
Environmental Land Usage Restriction (ELUR);
Soil Management Plan Template; and
Remedial Agreement.
ELUR Annual Inspection Form
Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Statement

Public Notice Reference Documents

Pre-Site Investigation Public Notice (Example) - English / Spanish
Post-Site Investigation Public Notice (Example) - English / Spanish
Environmental Justice - Site Remediation

Site Assessment Opportunities

RIDEM Brownfields Competitive Site Assessments
EPA-lead competitive Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) Program
Free Targeted Brownfields Assessments
Brownfields Bond Fund 2024 grant round anticipated late summer/early fall

Site Cleanup Funding Opportunities

Brownfields Bond Fund 2024 grant round anticipated late summer/early fall
Commerce RI

General Information

Primary Resources

Brownfields Bond Fund Regulations
Remediation Regulations
EXPRESS Policy: Expedited Policy for Remediation of Environmental Simple Sites
Guidelines for Expedited Excavation and Disposal Response Actions (Dig & Haul)
Guidelines for the Management of Historically Agricultural Properties for Future Use as Open Space and/or Recreational Land (Ag Policy)
Hazardous Materials Release Notification Form
Environmental Land Usage Restriction
Soil Management Plan Template
ELUR Annual Self-Inspection Form word /pdf
Community Involvement English or Español

Response Actions Planned & Completed

Sites Where Response Actions are Planned Between 10/01/23 and 9/30/24 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/22 to 9/30/23 Response Actions Completed 2022-2023 PDF file, less than 1

Sites Where Response Actions Are Planned Between 10/1/22 and 9/30/23 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/21 and 9/30/22 PDF file, less than 1

Sites Where Response Actions Are Planned Between 10/1/21 and 9/30/22 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/20 to 9/30/21 PDF file, less than 1

Sites Where Response Actions Are Planned Between 10/1/20 and 9/30/21 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/19 to 9/30/20 PDF file, less than 1

Sites Where Response Actions Are Planned Between 10/1/19 and 9/30/20 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/18 to 9/30/19 PDF file, less than 1

Sites Where Response Actions Are Planned Between 10/1/18 and 9/30/19 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/17 to 9/30/18 PDF file, less than 1

Sites Where Response Actions Are Planned Between 10/1/17 and 9/30/18 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/16 to 9/30/17 PDF file, less than 1

Sites Where Response Actions Are Planned Between 10/1/16 and 9/30/17 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/15 and 9/30/16 PDF file, less than 1

Sites Where Response Actions Are Planned Between 10/1/15 and 9/30/16 PDF file, less than 1

Response Actions Completed Over Previous Year 10/1/14 and 9/30/15 PDF file, less than 1