Land Restoration Program

The Land Restoration Program (LRP) is one of two hazardous waste programs within the Land Management Administration.  LRP focuses on cleaning up uncontrolled hazardous waste sites throughout Maryland.  LRP staff includes engineers, geologists, toxicologists and technical support personnel who oversee and conduct investigation, assessment and cleanup of these sites.  The second program, the Hazardous Waste Program, regulates active hazardous wastes sites and conducts enforcement.

Generally, LRP efforts protect public health and the environment at sites historically contaminated by hazardous waste.  Cleanups abate immediate uncontrolled discharges, ensure that contaminated soil does not pose a risk to public health and the environment, address groundwater contamination that may affect drinking water supplies or otherwise pose a risk to public health and the environment and address surface water discharges.

The VCP encourages voluntary cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties through a streamlined cleanup process that provides certainty regarding environmental requirements, allowing parties to more accurately predict costs and time lines associated with a cleanup.  The program also enables eligible purchasers of property to substantially limit liability for past contamination before purchasing property.  

The VCP works hand in hand with the Brownfields Revitalization Incentive Program administered by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.  It provides incentives including tax credits, loans and grants for the redevelopment of eligible brownfield properties in participating jurisdictions.

The CHS Enforcement Division also is known as the State Superfund Program.  It oversees the assessment and cleanup of historically contaminated hazardous waste sites that have not been placed on the National Priority List (NPL).  It also oversees environmental remediation at sites throughout Maryland with primary emphasis on the State Master List, a list of sites known or reported to be contaminated by hazardous waste.

The Division also participates in the oversight of Federal National Priority List (NPL) sites, assesses property on Brownfields, and performs preliminary assessments and site investigations under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.