Frequently Asked Questions
General
If I see an oil or chemical spill, what should I do?
Report it to the Emergency Response and Spill Prevention Division at (860) 424-3338 or toll free at 866-DEP-SPIL (866-337-7745). This line operates 24 hours a day.
Who do I call for hazardous waste disposal locations?
Call the Hazardous Waste Disposal Hotline toll free at (888) 424-4193.
How do I view Remediation Division files?
Remediation Division documents are available online.
Residential Tank Clean-up
If my residential underground heating oil tank is leaking or has leaked, what should I do?
First, report the release to the Emergency Response and Spill Prevention Division at (860) 424-3338 or toll free 866-DEP-SPIL (866-337-7745) (24 hours a day). Guidance for Underground Home Heating Oil Tank Releases explains the actions that should be undertaken to address residential tank releases.
Brownfields / Urban Sites
I am interested in buying an old industrial site for redevelopment. Is there someone who can help with this process?
There are many resources for helping with redevelopment at brownfields sites. The Department’s Brownfields webpage has useful information and links. If the municipality has a development office, that may be a good starting point. The Department's Brownfields Coordinator and the Connecticut Department of Economic Development (DECD) Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development may be able to discuss your situation with you or refer you to other resources.
Does DEEP have funding for Brownfield clean-up?
DEEP periodically has federal grant funds to award to municipalities and non-profits, which are posted on Brownfields in Connecticut when available. There are a number of programs offering liability relief. The Connecticut DECD Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development provides financing and technical resources for cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields.
Potable Water
I would like to have my well water tested. Will DEEP provide this service?
No, unless you have reason to believe that your water supply has become polluted by a substance that is not naturally occurring. Evidence of pollution may include a distinct gasoline, heating oil or chemical odor, or a significant change in the color or quality of your water, particularly if you are located near potential sources of pollution like a gas station, dry cleaner, or landfill.
DPH’s Private Well Program has information about naturally occurring contaminants, well water testing, and/or water treatment options. A list of State Approved Commercial Environmental Laboratories, including those that can perform routine well water testing, can be found on the Department of Public Health website.
If I have my well water tested and the test results indicate that my water supply well is polluted with a non-naturally occurring substance, what should I do next?
Upon receipt of the analytical results indicating your water supply is polluted, you should contact your local Health Department or Health District to review the results, or you may contact the Department’s Remediation Division at (860) 424-3705 and ask to speak to the supervisor for the district in which your town is located. If your well water contains Road Salt, follow instructions on that page.
Property Transfer
What happens once a site has been delegated to a Licensed Environmental Professional?
The Property Transfer Law provides for immediate delegation to a licensed environmental professional (LEP) to oversee the investigation of the parcel and to verify that the establishment has been remediated in accordance with the State Remediation Standard Regulations, Section 22a-133k-1 through 3 (RSRs). This delegation is automatic unless the Department notifies you in writing that the Commissioner's review and approval of the investigation and remediation is required.
Submit a schedule for the investigation of the parcel and remediation of the establishment to the Commissioner within 75 days of the date of the acknowledgement letter. The schedule shall provide that the certifying party will do the following:
- The parcel will be investigated in accordance with prevailing standards and guidelines, and the investigation will be completed within 2 years of the date of the acknowledgement letter.
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The final investigation report, approved in writing by a LEP, will be submitted to the Commissioner within 2 years of the date of the acknowledgement letter. The Completion of Investigation Transmittal Form shall be used to submit the required documentation to the Commissioner.
- Public notice of remediation will be posted prior to the initiation of remediation.
- Remediation of the establishment will be initiated within 3 years of the date of the acknowledgement letter.
- A Remedial Action Plan, approved in writing by a LEP, will be submitted to the Commissioner within 3 years of the date of the acknowledgement letter. The Remedial Action Plan Transmittal Form shall be used to submit the required RAP to the Commissioner.
- LEP signed and sealed Verification or Interim Verification submitted to the Commissioner within 8 years of the acknowledgement letter date (filed after October, 1, 2009).
- Progress reports will be submitted to the Commissioner on an annual basis.
Who is responsible for filing the property transfer form with the Department?
Although the seller is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the appropriate form is filed with the Department, the buyer or seller can file transfer forms, with the exception of Form I, which must be filed by the seller. The Commissioner can take an enforcement action against any party who fails to comply with the Property Transfer Law.
Where should my form and fee be sent?
Send the Property Transfer Fee Payment Form with the fee to DEEP, CPPU, 79 Elm St., Hartford, CT 06106-5127.
Within 10 days of the transfer, upload to the Secure File Transfer (SFT) website the property transfer form and attachments in the following order:
- The Electronic Document Transmittal Form
- The Property Transfer Form with a copy of the PTP Fee Form and Assessor’s map
- The ECAF, if required
- The Verification Form, appendices, and Verification Report (Verification), if required
- Additional reports not previously submitted to DEEP and referenced in the ECAF, if applicable
Does the generation of fluorescent lights, lead paint, or asbestos greater than 100 kg/month apply to the threshold for being an establishment under the Property Transfer Law?
No. Lead paint abatement wastes are exempt from the Property Transfer Law, as noted in Section 22a-134(4) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Mercury bulbs are regulated as Universal Waste in Connecticut, and the generation of Universal Waste, including fluorescent lamps, is not counted toward the 100 kg/month threshold for being an establishment, as noted in Section 22a-134(1)(V) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Asbestos is not regulated as a hazardous waste, and therefore, the Property Transfer Law would not apply.
If there was not a filing when an establishment was last transferred, does the next transfer of the site/business require a filing?
A property transfer filing should be submitted for each transfer of an establishment. If previous filings were not submitted as required, the Department will follow up on documented complaints.
Environmental Use Restrictions
Is there a listing of sites with EURs?
Yes, it can be obtained electronically from the EUR Coordinator at DEEP.EUR@ct.gov. There is also a map of all ELURs on the EUR webpage.
Does DEEP require the use of an EUR for remediation at sites?
The use of an ELUR is always at the discretion of the property owner. An EUR can be a very helpful remedial tool in that it allows for the management of some levels of pollution on a property. An EUR is recorded on the land records. Generally, when an EUR is used, the amount of active remediation (e.g., excavation) is limited, and the remaining pollution is managed through control of activities on or uses of the site. Therefore, using an EUR may save money and time spent actively remediating the site. The EUR "runs with the land," meaning all present and future owners must comply with its terms, including any operation and maintenance obligations. In all cases, except for remediation under CGS Section 22a-133y, Commissioner approval is required.
If I choose to record an EUR, can I still use the site for residential activities?
There are many types of EURs, and some limit the use of the site for residential activities, which include schools, daycares, playgrounds, and nursing homes, etc. If you wish to use the site for residential activities, you will have to ensure that your clean-up plan will address pollution in excess of residential clean-up standards found in the Remediation Standard Regulations.
Federal Superfund
Where can I find out information about Superfund sites in Connecticut?
Detailed information on these sites has been compiled by DEEP and USEPA and is available for review on DEEP's website under the Federal Superfund Program and on EPA's Environmental Information for Connecticut webpage.
Is there money available from the Superfund to clean up my site?
No, however, state agencies such as the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the Connecticut Development Authority (CDA), and local entities, such as the Naugatuck Valley Development Corporation (NVDC), might be able to provide financial assistance.
Storage Tank Clean-up
To what standard should leaks from non-residential underground storage tank systems that store heating oil or gasoline be remediated?
Oil or gasoline contamination originating from non-residential underground storage tank systems should be remediated to the standards set forth in the Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs). The authority for this requirement is found in the Underground Storage Tank Regulations, Section 22a-449 (d)-106 (b)(2), Corrective Action, which states that the owner or operator of a UST system that discharges regulated substances without a permit must restore the environment to a condition and quality acceptable to the Commissioner. Unless otherwise specified by the Commissioner, the RSRs indicate the environmental condition and quality acceptable to the Commissioner.
Content Last Updated January 2, 2025