Remedial Priority System - What is the Remedial Priority System?
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (Department)
Site Remediation Program (SRP) has developed an automated, data
driven, relative ranking modeling system known as the Remedial
Priority System (RPS). RPS was mandated pursuant to The Spill
Compensation and Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.16) as amended
in section 39 of P.L. 2009, c.60 of the Site Remediation Reform
Act (SRRA) which states “…the department shall establish
a ranking system that establishes categories in which to rank
sites based upon the level of risk to the public health, safety,
or the environment, the length of time the site has been undergoing
remediation, the economic impact of the contaminated site on the
municipality and on surrounding property, and any other factors
deemed relevant by the department.”
RPS is a computerized model that is designed to help the Department
categorize contaminated sites based on potential risk to public
health, safety or the environment as well as other considerations.
The RPS model utilizes multiple geographic data bases and layers,
receptor information, and site specific ground water, and soil sampling data in determining a site score. Simply
put, the RPS Score = Site Condition Score x Pathway Score x Receptor Score. The
Site Condition Score is represented by the type and extent of
contaminants present at a site and the Receptor Score is determined
by the proximity of receptors to a site based upon the existence
of a pathway between the contamination and the receptors. The Pathway Score is a "1" or "0" value based on a pathway that allows contaminants to be transmitted to the receptor (1) or not (0). Once
the RPS Score is determined it is catalogued for relative ranking
with sites with similar scores and placed into Categories 1 through
5. Category 1 represents the lowest score and thus the least potential
risk through Category 5 which represents the highest score and
thus the greatest potential risk.
It is important to note that the score does NOT reflect
compliance. Therefore, the Category 5 sites represent
a potentially greater risk to public health and safety and the
environment based on information available to the Department and
due to factors attributed to the site and/or its surroundings,
but are NOT automatically placed into Department oversight. The
Department can then use the RPS information to help determine
whether appropriate remedial measures are being implemented at
a given site or direct Department oversight and resources are
needed.
|
Bureau of Information System (BIS) 609-292-9418
|