Feedback Loop

NOTICE: The Feedback Loop will be available until May 10, 2013 for those Responsible Entities receiving an RPS letter dated March 1, 2013.

The Feedback Loop is the mechanism a Responsible Entity must use to provide the most current data to the Department for use in the Remedial Priority System (RPS) model.

If you received a letter dated March 1, 2013 regarding the RPS Model, the following general information is intended to assist you in understanding what the RPS System is, how your site will be ranked in the future and what the category will mean to you. If site specific information is not available electronically then the RPS Score is based on default values assigned by the Department. This feedback loop allows Responsible Entities the opportunity to correct and update the information used as input to the RPS Model.

General Feedback Process

Please review the items listed in Steps 2 and 3 before proceeding to the RPS Feedback Loop in Step 4. The RPS Feedback Form can be submitted, if needed, between March 1, 2013 and May 10, 2013 via NJDEP Online.

1. The Department has sent out its second phase of RPS letters, on March 1, 2013, outlining the data that will be used to score these sites.
2. Read RPS Feedback Overview to provide information on the feedback process and the RPS Feedback Loop Help to understand what input variables can be changed by the Feedback Loop.
3. Review the general web information, below, to understand how the RPS model scores a site.
   
   
   General Web Information
   • General RPS Overview RPS Basics
   • Understanding the RPS letter and Attachment
   • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Questions 16-22 pertain to Feedback Loop
   • GIS - SRP Profile Directions - How to evaluate potential receptor layers
   • NJ GeoWeb - SRP Profile- Use NJ GeoWeb and the SRP Profile Directions to evaluate potential receptors near a site
4. RPS Feedback Loop: If you have identified errors in the input data or want to provide additional information for the RPS model, then submit these changes on a “RPS Feedback Form” via “NJDEP Online” between March 1, 2013 and May 10, 2013. The form will have to be submitted by the LSRP for the site. The RPS Feedback form will allow the Responsible Entity to update the 1) site location coordinates, 2) electronic data deliverables (EDD), 3) pathway scores (Receptor information), and 4) extent areas (ground water, soil and vapor).
   
   
   • RPS Feedback Loop General Instructions
   • RPS Feedback Submittal Instructions for NJDEP Online
   • RPS Feedback Form (Instructions)
   • RPS Feedback - GIS Instructions
   RPS Extent Area Shape File Template (zip) contains the following files:
   • RPS_Extent.dbf
   • RPS_Extent.shp
   • RPS_Extent.shx
5. The Department will run the RPS model using the new and / or revised information once the feedback process is completed. The final RPS Category will be posted once all of the changes are incorporated into the model.

Submitting Correspondence to the Department

To best facilitate the processing of your questions, please refer correspondence on the following issues accordingly.

Change of Address and or Name that does not change the organization responsible for the remediation:

Please fill out a Name and Address Change Reporting Form and submit the completed form to:

Bureau of Case Assignment & Initial Notice
Site Remediation Program
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
401-05H
PO Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420

Please submit to the Department a letter detailing the reasons why you think you are not a Responsible Entity under the Spill Compensation and Control Act (Spill Act), the Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances Act or the Industrial Site Recovery Act and accompanying rules for any discharges at the site. Please include a detailed explanation of your position, the SRP Preferred ID and Activity numbers, Case number, and site address for the site. Please send the correspondence to:

State of New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Enforcement & Investigations
Mail Code 401-05G
Trenton, NJ 08625

Attn: Bill Hose

Please submit all correspondence regarding the RPS System design and implementation to:

State of New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection
Site Remediation Program
Mail Code 401-06N
Trenton, NJ 08625

Attn: George Klein

Frequently Asked Questions on Feedback Loop

• The feedback Loop is NOT MANDATORY (FAQ #16). The Responsible Entity can choice not to update the input data for the Remedial Priority System (RPS) Model.
• The Attachment to the RPS Letter does not provide the Scores or Category for the site (FAQ #18).
• An RPS letter was incorrectly sent to several cases that previously were issued NFAs or RAOs (FAQ #17). These errors will be corrected prior to issuance of the RPS list.
• Only the following Information can be modified during the feedback loop (FAQ #22):
• Site coordinates
• Ground Water Flow
• Pathway Scores
• Electronic Data Deliverables (EDD)
• Extent Areas (submitted in GIS format)