Memorandum Of Agreement.pdf

Memorandum of Agreement between the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and Region 6 of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support the Louisiana Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) and define roles and responsibilities.

Purpose:
- Define roles and responsibilities of Region 6 and LDEQ regarding sites under the VRP.
- Recognize the VRP for grant funding eligibility under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Applicability:
- Applies to sites issued Certificates of Completion by LDEQ after the effective date or in compliance with the Louisiana Voluntary Investigation and Remedial Action Act.
- Excludes sites regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) unless specified, and certain sites like permitted hazardous waste management units, National Priorities List sites, and those with pending federal environmental enforcement actions.

Implementation:
- LDEQ and Region 6 will work together to avoid duplication of effort and ensure timely site remediation.
- LDEQ will notify Region 6 of sites under the VRP, and Region 6 will update the site's status in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS).
- Quarterly discussions will be held to review site status.

Key Provisions:
- Region 6 has reviewed the VRP and found it includes all elements of a state response program listed in CERCLA § 128(a).
- LDEQ agrees to maintain these elements and a public record of sites addressed by the VRP.
- The MOA facilitates the cleanup of brownfields in Louisiana and is designed to complement the RCRA corrective action program without modifying RCRA's statutory requirements.