A. Any person seeking credit against potential liability at a site may submit to the Department, within the time period established in the notice given under R18-16-408(D), evidence of costs it has incurred or will incur for remedial actions undertaken at the site. The evidence of costs submitted shall include:
- 1. Two copies of an itemized statement of costs, including a certification by the person submitting the statement that the statement is true, accurate and complete;
- 2. Sufficient supporting documentation to establish that the costs are consistent with A.R.S. § 49-282.06 and this Article; and
- 3. An agreement in which the person submitting the evidence of costs agrees to reimburse the Department for the Department’s costs under subsection (F).
- B. Any itemized statements of costs submitted shall be available for review at both the repository for the site and the Department on or after the expiration of the time period established in subsection (A).
- C. Within a reasonable period of time set by the Department but not less than 30 calendar days, any person may object in writing to costs submitted by the Department or any other person under this Section. Written objections shall identify the specific costs to which the party objects and shall state specific reasons for the objection. Two copies of the objections shall be submitted to the Department and one copy of the objections shall be submitted to the person whose costs are the subject of objection.
- D. The Department and each person who submits an itemized statement of costs shall have an opportunity to respond to any objections within the time period specified in the notice given under R18-16-408 subsection (C) or (D). Two copies of the response shall be submitted to the Department and one copy of the response shall be submitted to the person objecting to the costs.
- E. The Department shall evaluate the statements of costs submitted, any objections to such statements, or other information available to the Department and shall approve those costs determined by the Department to be recoverable and in substantial compliance with A.R.S. § 49-282.06. The Department shall prepare a list of these approved costs for inclusion as part of the total estimated costs of the remedy in the record of decision under R18-16-410.
- F. Any person who requests the Department’s approval of costs under this Section shall reimburse the Department for the total reasonable cost to the Department for the review unless the Department waives all or a part of the reimbursement. The total reasonable costs include direct and indirect costs to the Department in conducting these activities. Costs that are reimbursed to the Department by a person that obtains the Department’s approval of costs under this Section constitute remedial action costs that may be recovered from responsible parties.
- G. The Department shall give credit not exceeding the amount of a person’s liability for the costs approved under this Section. Nothing in this Article shall create a right of reimbursement from the fund for any costs incurred or to be incurred at a site.
- H. If the remedial action for which approval of costs is sought under this Section has not been previously approved by the Department, the submittal under subsection (A) shall be accompanied by a request for approval of the remedial action under R18-16-413.
- I. This Section is the exclusive process for the Department to approve the costs of a remedial action, and no other Department approval of a remedial action shall be considered as an approval of the costs of that remedial action.
Historical Note
New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 1491, effective March 4, 2002 (Supp. 02-1).
R18‑16‑410. Record of Decision
A. After the conclusion of all required public comment periods prescribed by A.R.S. § 49‑287.04, the Department shall prepare a record of decision regarding the proposed remedial action plan. However, any person may prepare a proposed record of decision for consideration by the Department under R18-16-413 by submitting copies of the final remedial investigation report, the final feasibility study report, the proposed remedial action plan, all public comments and a proposed record of decision.
B. The record of decision shall contain the following:
1. A description of the remedy, including a description of any differences from the proposed remedial action plan.
2. A comprehensive responsiveness summary regarding all comments received on the proposed remedial action plan.
3. A description of how the process for selecting the remedy complied with A.R.S. Title 49, Chapter 2, Article 5 and this Article, including all public comment and community involvement requirements.
4. A demonstration that the remedy selected will achieve the remedial objectives selected in R18-16-406 and will remain in place as long as necessary to ensure continued achievement of those objectives.
5. A demonstration that the remedy selected meets the requirements of A.R.S. § 49-282.06 and this Article.
6. A time for commencing implementation of the remedy and a specific time period for completing the remedy.
7. The total estimated cost of the remedy.
8. A time-frame for review of the remedy to determine the effectiveness of the remedy in achieving the remedial objectives.
C. The total estimated cost of the remedy shall include:
1. Remedial action costs other than nonrecoverable costs incurred by the Department, including credit given in a settlement.
2. Remedial action costs other than nonrecoverable costs incurred by the state.
3. Remedial action costs other than nonrecoverable costs that have been approved by the Department under R18-16-409.
4. Projected future remedial action costs other than nonrecoverable costs.
D. The record of decision shall be issued only by the Department. Notice of the record of decision shall be provided under A.R.S. § 49‑287.04(G) and R18‑16‑404.
E. A record of decision may be amended in accordance with A.R.S. § 49‑289(B), (C), and (D).
New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 1491, effective March 4, 2002 (Supp. 02-1).