News Release (C-23-98)

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For Immediate Release (C-23-98) Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670 November 10, 1998

DTSC Files Emergency Corrective Action Regulations

SACRAMENTO -- Citing the need for continuity in government oversight, particularly of hazardous waste sites under current California Superfund legislation, Secretary for Environmental Protection, Peter M. Rooney, today announced the filing of emergency regulations continuing the jurisdiction of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) of known remediation sites. The regulations clarify the Department’s continuing authority and role cleaning sites and overseeing corrective action at facilities in California.

The emergency regulations inform the public and the regulated community that DTSC intends to act swiftly to ensure it will continue to protect public health and the environment, in the wake of the State Legislature adjourning without re-authorizing key provisions of the California Supefund program.

"These regulations will prevent lapses created by the sunsetting of Chapter 6.8 of the Health and Safety Code three days before the Davis Administration takes office," said Secretary Rooney.

"The Department has legislative authority to continue working on approximately 490 hazardous waste sites throughout California under existing law which will not sunset on January 1, 1999," said DTSC Director, Jesse Huff. "We want to communicate clearly and effectively that necessary work will continue."

"To prevent lapses of environmental remedies, these regulations will give the new Governor approximately 2 ½ months to address this issue," added Secretary Rooney.

In addition, the emergency regulations ensure those local governments acting as a Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) will have authority to conduct cleanups.

"The ideas contained in these regulations have been talked about in the public arena for the past two years," Huff said. "They parallel discussions which have taken place in our efforts to update the site cleanup process, and losely parallel the direction the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other states are utilizing in their approach to corrective action. These are not new ideas."

Upon receipt of the regulations, the Office of Administrative Law has ten days to complete its review. Once approved, the regulations are filed with the Secretary of State and are in effect for 120 days. Workshops to discuss details of the emergency regulations will be announced.

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1998 Releases | Archived Press Releases