Background
Established by the Maryland legislature in 1997, the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Land and Materials Administration Land Restoration Program (LMA-LRP). The program provides state oversight for voluntary cleanup of properties contaminated with hazardous substances, aiming to accelerate site remediation by streamlining process efficiency while maintaining full compliance with existing environmental regulations.
MDE and EPA Region III signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to streamline the voluntary cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites. Under this agreement, the EPA considers eligible properties in Maryland’s VCP to be of "no federal interest" once MDE issues a No Further Requirements Determination (NFRD) or Certificate of Completion (COC). This protection provides greater certainty for program participants regarding federal liability, subject to a few limited exceptions outlined in the agreement.
Submitting a Voluntary Cleanup Program Application
The initial VCP application fee is $10,000, while subdequent applications for contiguous properties, Expedited Inculpable Person (EX-IP) status, COCs, and NFRDs require a $2,000 fee each. Cost recovery for project oversight expenses exceeding the application fee applies to initial and subsequent application fees only.
Upon submission of an application to the VCP, the applicant shall post notice at the property that is the subject of the application.
Before You Apply
Prospective applicants are encouraged to meet with program staff before applying. While optional, these pre-application meetings help ensure a complete submission, clarify program scope, and potentially reduce investigation costs through early coordination. Additionally, program staff can help applicants determine their need for Expedited Inculpable Person (EX-IP) status; guidance on IP and Responsible Person (RP) status in the VCP program is available here.
**Important Note** - If you purchase a Brownfield property without first applying for EX-IP or VCP, you may be considered a Responsible Party (RP) and be ineligible for EPA grants (such as Cleanup grants).
EX-IP - To obtain expedited inculpable person (IP) approval, the EX-IP Form including a completed Inculpable Person Affidavit and the $2,000 fee made payable to the Voluntary Cleanup Fund must be forwarded or hand delivered to the Department at the 1800 Washington Blvd, Suite 625, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 address. Please do NOT send this to the PO Box due to the expedited nature of this process. A copy of the completed request form should also be provided via e-mail to [email protected].
Reviewing the program’s guidance documents can help prospective applicants determine if a specific project is suitable for the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP), while also guiding participants through required steps after a project has been accepted into the program
- Overview of VCP Process
- Facts About the VCP: General overview of program goals, legal frameworks, and overall process steps.
- VCP Eligible and Ineligible Properties and Applicants: Criteria for evaluating property qualifications, environmental conditions, and participant eligibility.
- VCP
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments: Standards for preliminary site history and environmental hazard identification required at intake.
- VCP
Phase II Environmental Site Assessments: Protocols for active site testing, sampling, and characterizing on-site contamination.
- VCP
Response Action Plans: Technical requirements for developing, submitting, and executing approved cleanup plans for accepted sites.
- VCP
Cleanup Criteria: Applicable environmental standards, acceptable contaminant risk thresholds, and remediation targets.
- VCP
Determinations: Standards for obtaining final legal assurances and closure, such as Certificates of Completion (COCs) or No Further Requirements Determinations (NFRDs).
- Withdrawing from the VCP: Official rules and legal procedures for exiting the program before site cleanup is completed.
Additional Guidance Material:
VCP participants can access additional MDE-LRP guidance and reference documents for detailed instructions on specific project requirements, including:
Additonal VCP Forms
Coordinating Programs
Brownfields Revitalization Incentive Program
Contact Information
Please
email or call the Voluntary Cleanup Program at 410-537-3493.
