Originally published 2nd Quarter 2004
On January 22, 2004, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted regulations establishing standards and procedures for administering Illinois’ Brownfield Site Restoration Program (BSRP). The BSRP allows a person to be reimbursed for the cost to voluntarily remediate contamination at "abandoned" or "under-utilized" properties if the remediation will lead to a "net economic benefit" to Illinois. Under the statute, priority is given to sites located in areas with high levels of poverty, where the unemployment rate exceeds Illinois’ average, where an enterprise zone exists, or where the area is otherwise economically depressed.
The rules are part of Illinois’ voluntary Site Remediation Program (SRP). To be eligible for reimbursement under the BSRP, the person seeking reimbursement (Remedial Applicant, or RA) must not have materially caused or contributed to the contamination. Also, the Illinois EPA must have issued a "No Further Remediation" letter
