(a) The Secretary may develop, implement and administer a program for the identification, investigation, assessment, mitigation and remediation of debris disposal areas created as part of the construction of residential or subdivision developments. Any person who caused or contributed to the creation or use of a debris disposal area on or after December 8, 1988, shall be subject to enforcement for illegal disposal and may be required by order from the Department to remove and properly dispose of such material. The Department is authorized to develop policies, procedures and guidelines and may establish, amend, modify and repeal, after notice and public hearing, such regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. The Department may establish an application fee not to exceed $250 for homeowners to participate in the remediation program. The money generated by this application fee shall be placed in the "Debris Disposal Area Remediation Account." This account shall only be used to offset costs of this program. Homeowners who wish to excavate and remove buried debris from their own residential property or homeowners who have already excavated and removed buried debris from their own residential property are eligible for reimbursement of the cost of remediation up to a maximum reimbursement of $10,000, provided that: (1) The cost was incurred on or after December 8, 1988; (2) The disposal areas were created as part of the construction of residential or subdivision developments in accordance with this section; and (3) Satisfactory documentation of the work and expenses incurred are provided. (b) The Department shall report the findings from the study and the evaluation and make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than March 15, 1999. (c) There shall be established within the Department an account to be known as the "Debris Disposal Area Remediation Account." All funds made available to the Department in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall be placed in the Debris Disposal Area Remediation Account to be used by the Department or its agents to carry out the purposes of this section. The Department may establish presumptive remedies to address the remediation of debris disposal areas. These funds shall be used for the purpose of identifying, investigating, assessing, mitigating or remediating debris disposal areas and associated effects as determined by the Department. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, up to $7,500 per site may also be used to cover any secondary damage that may occur to existing structures or property as the result of the remediation, which, if applicable, shall be in addition to the maximum reimbursement amount established in subsection (a) of this section. (d) The Department may use funds from the Debris Disposal Area Remediation Account to identify, investigate, assess, mitigate or remediate any debris disposal area constructed, used or filled subsequent to December 8, 1988, if the party responsible for the area does not respond as required to any order issued by the Secretary, and if such site presents an imminent threat to human health, safety or the environment as determined by the Department. In addition to the assessment of any penalty as provided in § 6005(a) and (b) of this title, any person who fails to comply with any order issued by the Secretary to identify, investigate, assess, mitigate or remediate any debris disposal area may be liable for all costs incurred by the Department to do so as provided in § 6005 (c) of this title. (e) Except to the extent provided herein, no provision contained in this section shall relieve any party from compliance with or liability under any other environmental statute, including, but not limited to, Chapters 60, 62, 63, 66, 74 and 77 of Title 7.
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