Site Remediation Program
Kelly Owens, Supervisor
Ashley Blauvelt, P.E., Environmental Engineer IV
235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908-5767
(401) 222-2797
For General Inquiries, Please email us at DEM.SiteRemInfo@dem.ri.gov.
Please submit completed Notification of Release Forms to DEM.OWMSiteRemNOR@dem.ri.gov.
Annual ELUR Inspection Reports may be sent to DEM.ELURAnnualMon@dem.ri.gov.
Program Goals
The goal of the program is to provide fair, comprehensive, and consistent regulation of the investigation and remediation of hazardous waste, hazardous material, and petroleum releases, implemented in a timely and cost-effective manner. The State program is designed to determine if a site poses a threat to human health and the environment and efficiently determine a remedy that is effective but not overly burdensome to the parties involved.
This program supports the redevelopment and reuse of contaminated sites through the Brownfields program. Sites are identified, evaluated, remediated, and brought back to beneficial reuse in Rhode Island communities.
Program Purpose
To regulate and provide technical oversight for the investigation and remediation of releases of hazardous waste or hazardous material to the environment; to ensure that those investigations and remedial activities are conducted in a consistent manner that adequately protects human health and the environment; and to enforce regulations regarding the proper disposal of abandoned hazardous waste.
Program Objectives
- To support the reuse and redevelopment of contaminated sites through the Brownfields program;
- To provide a protective, efficient and cost-effective program as an alternative to the federal process and the stigma associated with it;
- To encourage voluntary responses to contamination discovered on properties within the State;
- To characterize and evaluate the impacts from releases of hazardous material to the environment;
- To determine whether remedial action is warranted under the program;
- To require and oversee the implementation of remedial actions designed to minimize, or eliminate, the impacts from releases of hazardous materials; and
- To effectively track the progress and report the level of effort expended completing tasks under this program.
Program Process
Cleaning a contaminated site requires investigation, planning, and action. The Remediation Regulations note specific documents that may be necessary as part of that process. The most common are listed under Supporting Documents.
Supporting Documents
- Site Remediation Process Flow Chart
- Notification of Release, Submit Electronically to DEM.OWMSiteRemNor@dem.ri.gov
- Site Investigation Report (SIR)
- Site Investigation Report (SIR) Checklist
- Remedial Action Approval Fee Form
- Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP)
- Remedial Action Closure Report (RACR)
- Environmental Land Usage Restriction (ELUR)
- Soil Management Plan Template
- Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Statement
- Remedial Agreement
- ELUR Annual Inspection Form - PDF / Word, Submit Electronically to DEM.ELURAnnualMon@dem.ri.gov
- Community Involvement English or Español
Public Notice Reference Documents
- Pre-Site Investigation Public Notice (Example) - English / Spanish
- Post-Site Investigation Public Notice (Example) - English / Spanish
- Environmental Justice - Site Remediation
Site Assessment Opportunities
- RIDEM Brownfields Technical Assistance
- RIDEM Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBA) - combined TBA/BIL Funding Application - NEW!
- For more information, contact Rachel Simpson
Site Cleanup Funding Opportunities
- Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund - Competitive reimbursement grants used for site assessment and/or remediation costs in support of the revitalization and reuse of former brownfields for the benefit of the local economy, surrounding community, and environment. For more information, please email DEM.BrownfieldsBG@dem.ri.gov.
- Announcement of Request for Proposals & 2025 Guidelines - NEW!
- 2025 Brownfields Bond Fund Grant Application - NEW!
- Assessment & Cleanup Funding Available via BIL - Open to Municipalities & Non-Profits
- Apply using new combined TBA/BIL Funding Application - NEW!
- Contact Kelly Owens for more information
- Commerce RI
Regulations & Policies
- Brownfields Bond Fund Regulations
- Remediation Regulations
- EXPRESS Policy: Expedited Policy for Remediation of Environmental Simple Sites
- Guidelines for Expedited Excavation and Disposal Response Actions (Dig & Haul)
- Guidelines for the Management of Historically Agricultural Properties for Future Use as Open Space and/or Recreational Land (Ag Policy)
- Guidelines for Sites with Naturally Occurring Arsenic NEW!
- Guidelines for the Management of Investigation Derived Wastes
Additional Information
- Site Remediation, Brownfields, & Environmental Justice
- Brownfields in Rhode Island
- Brownfields Economic Information Form
- R.I. Gen. Laws. §23-19.14 Industrial Property Remediation and Reuse Act
- Third-Party Professional Site Remediation Report
- Brownfield Liability Seminar
Information on Specific Remediation and Brownfields Sites:
- 6-10 Connector Project
- Bay Spring Realty Company
- Bay Street/Tiverton
- Blackstone River Bikeway
- Blackstone Valley Preparatory School
- Charbert
- Former Coffey's Texaco
- Former Federal Products Corp. (1144 Eddy)
- Francis J. Varieur Elementary School
- Gorham/Textron
- Grenier Properties, LLC
- Lincoln Lace & Braid
- McCoy Stadium - Proposed Unified H.S.
- Martin Middle School - North Field
- Newport - Rogers Technical H.S.
- Providence Gas Co.
- Queen Anne Square
- RI Recycled Metals (Former Boliden)
- Robin Rug Manufacturing Facility
- Springfield Street Schools
- Strawberry Fields
- Former Tidewater Coal Manufactured Gas Site
- Trestle Trail Bike Path
- Waites Wharf