NEWMOA's Waste Site Cleanup Program initiated a new project in FY 2011 - working jointly with NEWMOA's Solid Waste Program to focus on improving the management of mildly contaminated soil in the region. Construction, utility, brownfields, and waste site cleanup projects can generate quantities of excess soil that cannot be reused at the project site and can contain contaminants at levels that are detectable, but much below those that would qualify them as hazardous waste. The management of these mildly contaminated soils can significantly impact the cost of a construction or remediation project and therefore hinder economic development. The goal of NEWMOA's Contaminated Soils Management Project is to share information that helps each state develop a single framework that:

• protects human health and the environment
• provides clarity for utility; construction; other private developers; and municipal, county, and state government agencies
• develops requirements that are not onerous for states or stakeholders to implement
• preserves landfill capacity by allowing non-landfill uses, as appropriate
• promotes cost effective alternatives
• advances consistency within the state
• advances consistency among states in the region, where feasible

NEWMOA's Contaminated Soils Management Workgroup facilitates information sharing and identifying programmatic and policy options for the regional framework.