Basic Remedial Steps

• Memorandum of Agreement (MOA):
  A written agreement between NJDEP and one or more persons concerning remedial activities planned for a site. It is not an enforcement document and does not require financial assurances or stipulated penalties.

• Preliminary Assessment (PA):
  Identifies all potentially contaminated areas of concern (including historic) that will require a site investigation.

• Site Investigation (SI):
  Determines if any contaminants are present above applicable remediation standards/ criteria or if no further action is justified for the areas of concern identified in the preliminary assessment.

• Remedial Investigation (RI):
  Entails gathering data necessary to determine the nature and extent of problems at the site, establishing the remedial response criteria and identifying remedial action alternatives.

• Remedial Action (RA):
  The physical action consistent with the selected remedy to correct a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance into the environment. The term, often referred to as a cleanup action or construction project, includes but is not limited to: confinement, dredging, neutralization, recycling, removal, reuse and storage or treatment of hazardous substances. Other actions include providing alternate water supplies.

• Remedial Investigation/Action Workplan:
  A detailed schedule and explanation of all investigation or cleanup activities planned for a site.

• No Further Action (NFA)/Covenant Not to Sue:
  A determination by NJDEP that, based upon evaluation of the historical uses and/or investigation of a site or subsite, there are no contaminants present, or that any discharged contaminants that were present at the site or subsite have been remediated in accordance with applicable regulations.

• Classification Exception Area (CEA):
  This designation must be established as part of an approved remedy whenever standards applicable to ground water in a specific area, which vary throughout the state, are not or will not be met for the term of the remediation. The intent of a CEA is to ensure that the uses of a designated aquifer in a specific area are restricted until standards are achieved.

• Deed Notice:
  Properties must be restricted when contamination will remain above the residential soil cleanup criteria. A notice requires a property owner’s concurrence and documents the location and concentration of all contaminants and how they must be controlled or maintained and monitored, if applicable.

• Oversight Costs:
  Costs incurred and recovered by NJDEP for providing guidance and approval of privately conducted and funded remedial activities at contaminated sites.