Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup

Under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the department's BVCP staff conduct brownfields site-specific assessments on properties for not-for-profit organizations and public entities, such as cities, counties and quasi-governmental entities. Local governments acquire contaminated properties through foreclosure for back taxes, land donations or may own property they would like to sell for redevelopment purposes. These entities sometimes have difficulty finding enough funding to pay for environmental assessments before redevelopment. The brownfields assessment program provides technical assistance to help communities assess properties.  

Publications

• Brownfields Site-Specific Assessment - PUB2949
• Brownfields Assessment Application MO 780-1955

Quality Assurance Project Plans

The department developed two QAPP templates for use by contractors conducting Brownfields Assessments:

• Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Brownfields Assessment Sites
• Site-Specific Quality Assurance (SSQA) Project Plan Addendum for Brownfields Assessment Sites

The contractor or consultant signs the applicable generic QAPP and submits it with the site-specific work plan. The work plan specifies all details regarding site activities and references the generic QAPP. Activities that may be conducted under the generic QAPP, with department oversight, include Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. If the contractor or consultant wants or needs to deviate from the generic QAPP, the SSQA form may be submitted. The department will review, and if acceptable, approve and sign the SSQA.

First established by the state legislature in 1994, the department’s Voluntary Cleanup Program provides state oversight for voluntary cleanups of properties contaminated with hazardous substances. Many of the sites entering the program are not heavily contaminated, and are contaminated by sources not addressed by any of the department’s regulatory groups, such as Emergency Response, Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or Petroleum Storage Tanks.

Nevertheless, the property owners, business operators or prospective buyers want the property cleaned up to standards acceptable to the state, and to receive some type of cleanup certification from the department. This certification can greatly reduce the environmental liability associated with these properties. In situations where residual contamination is safely left on the property after a certificate of completion is issued, an environmental covenant is placed in the property chain-of-title and the site enters long-term stewardship. To apply to the Voluntary Cleanup Program, complete the application form below and submit the application and fee to the department. Information about the application fee and other costs is available on the department's Hazardous Waste Fees webpage. 

Publications

• Opportunities for Tomorrow - PUB0932
• Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program Frequently Asked Questions - PUB2036
• What is the Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program? - PUB2035
• Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Abatement Requirements at Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program Sites - PUB2099
• Financial Tools for Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Sites - PUB2114
• Guidelines for Soil and Groundwater Sampling: Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program - PUB2432
• Monitored Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contamination at Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program Sites - PUB2110
• Voluntary Cleanup for Ag-Chem Facilities - PUB2033

Forms

• Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program (BVCP) Application MO 780-1712
• Consent for Access to Property Form MO 780-1713
• Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program Quarterly Report MO 780-2101

Quality Assurance Project Plans

The department developed two quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) templates for use by consultants and the regulated community at sites participating in the Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program.

• Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan for Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program Sites
• Site-Specific Quality Assurance Project Plan Addendum (SSQA) for Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program Sites

The contractor or consultant signs the generic QAPP and submits it with the site-specific work plan. The work plan specifies all details regarding site activities and references the generic QAPP. Activities that may be conducted under the generic QAPP, with department oversight, include site characterization, remedial action and risk management. If the contractor or consultant wants or needs to deviate from the generic QAPP, the SSQA form may be submitted. The department will review, and if acceptable, approve and sign the SSQA.

Long-term stewardship includes all activities necessary to reliably prevent residual contamination or other environmental conditions from posing a risk to human health or the environment following completion of cleanup, disposal or stabilization at a site. Long-term stewardship activities include inspection, maintenance, information management and distribution and public awareness. For more information, see Long-Term Stewardship (LTS).

Publications

• The Missouri Environmental Covenants Act - PUB2414
• Missouri Environmental Covenant Act (MoECA) Standard Template 
• Sample Operation and Maintenance Plan (O&M Plan) for Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM) and Lead-Based Paint (LBP)

Additional Information

• Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup (BVCP) Success Stories
• Data Quality Management
• Environmental Site Tracking and Research Tool (E-START) 
• Hidden Treasures Rural Roots
• Missouri Brownfields Conference
• Missouri Risk-Based Corrective Action (MRBCA)
• Public Guidance and Assistance
• Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program

Laws and Regulations

Printed copies of the state and federal regulations can be viewed at any of the departments' regional offices, the Missouri State Library, the U.S. Depository Libraries and most public libraries.

• Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 260 Environmental Control, sections 260.565, 260.567, 260.569, 260.571 and 260.573, RSMo
• Code of State Regulations, Hazardous Substance Environmental Remediation, 10 CSR 25-15.010
• Memorandum of Agreement between MoDNR Voluntary Cleanup Program and EPA Region 7