The Massachusetts Contingency Plan was significantly revised effective October 1, 1993 when a new, privatized approach was adopted. Since then, DEP has worked with private-sector Licensed Site Professionals (LSPs) to assess and cleanup sites. This page asks and answers questions about the progress of cleanups since 1993.

Notifications

• How many releases have been reported to DEP?
  Since 1984, over 35,000 releases have been reported to the Department. Eighty-three percent of the notifications have been received since the privatized program took effect in 1993, averaging around 2,000 per year. (as of 6/30/07)

• What accounts for the most notifications: sudden releases (spills) or historic contamination?
  Two-hour notifications, generally resulting from spills, account for approximately half of all the notifications received. The remaining amount is almost evenly split between 72-Hour and 120-Day notifications, generally associated with leaking oil tanks and historic contamination, respectively.

• Are the numbers of spills increasing each year?
  No. With the exception of 1999, when new federal rules governing underground storage tanks went into effect, there has been a steady decline in release notifications. This trend is consistent with upgrades in underground storage tanks, better environmental management practices and a diminishing universe of undiscovered "historic" contamination.  Since FY2002, the number of sites closed out each year has surpassed the number of new notificaions.

• Is the year-by-year data available to the public?
  Yes - by following this link.

Response Action Outcomes (RAOs)

• How many sites have been cleaned up (received an RAO) since 1993?
  23,949 sites, averaging more than 1,700 per year. (10/1/93-6/30/07)

• How many sites have been cleaned up to background levels?
  7,707 sites (32%) have received a Class A-1 RAO, indicating that the site was cleaned up to background conditions. (10/1/93-6/30/07)

• How many sites have achieved temporary solutions?
  Less than 3% (695) of the sites cleaned up to-date (6/30/07) have achieved temporary solutions, or Class C RAOs.

• How many of the cleaned-up sites require deed notices or use restrictions as part of the remedy?
  7% (1,687) included an Activity and Use Limitation (AUL) as part of the final remedy. The vast majority of sites (21,567, or 90%) are clean enough for unrestricted use. (The remaining 3% are Temporary Solutions.)

• Is the year-by-year data available to the public?
  Yes - by following this link.