Comfort Letters

This category covers the limited circumstances, usually connected to the redevelopment of property that may have had environmental contamination, under which EPA may provide a measure of "comfort" by providing a letter to an interested party explaining the potential or actual EPA involvement at a property or site.

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The Revitalization Handbook: Addressing Liability Concerns at Contaminated Properties (2022 Edition) - (8/11/22) The 2022 edition of The Revitalization Handbook summarizes the federal statutory provisions and EPA policy and guidance documents that address the potential liability concerns of parties involved in the cleanup and revitalization of contaminated sites. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/revitalization-handbook (PDF 3,400K)

Transmittal of New and Updated Model Comfort/Status Letters - (9/30/21) Memorandum transmits three new and two updated model comfort status letters to assist Regions when responding to interested parties who may want to acquire impacted properties. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/comfortstatus-letters-guidance (PDF 1530K)

Superfund Liability Protection for Local Government Acquisitions after the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development Act of 2018 - (6/15/20) Guidance provides an overview of CERCLA's liability framework and protections and the EPA's enforcement discretion policies that may apply to local governments. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-superfund-liability-protections-local-government-acquisitions (PDF 448K)

Transmittal of the 2019 Policy on the Issuance of Superfund Comfort/Status Letters - (8/21/19) Memorandum transmitting Superfund comfort/status letter policy for parties interested in reusing and/or redeveloping contaminated, potentially contaminated, and formerly contaminated property (“impacted properties”). https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/comfortstatus-letters-guidance (PDF 647K)

Clean Water Act § 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Requirements for - (12/12/12) Memorandum describes two clarifications, one under CERCLA and one under the CWA to provide clarification regarding permit obligations for Good Samaritans. https://www.epa.gov/npdes/2012-good-samaritan-memorandum (PDF 1.71 K)

Questions and Answers: Clean Water Act § 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Requirements for “Good Samaritans” at Orphan Mine Sites: December 12, 2012 - (12/12/12) Questions and Answers for the Clean Water Act § 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Requirements for “Good Samaritans” at Orphan Mine Sites issued December 2012 https://www.epa.gov/npdes/2012-good-samaritan-memorandum (PDF 24K)

Interim Guiding Principles for Good Samaritan Projects at Orphan Mine Sites and Transmittal of CERCLA Administrative Tools for Good Samaritans - (6/6/07) Memorandum intended to assist the Regions in the implementation of the Good Samaritan Initiative and focuses on administrative tools developed under CERCLA. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/interim-guidance-cercla-administrative-tools-good-samaritans-orphan-mine-sites (PDF 160 K)

Model Good Samaritan Comfort/Status Letter - (6/6/07) Model language for good samaritan initiative comfort/status letter is available from the Cleanup Enforcement Model Language and Sample Documents Database. https://cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/models/view.cfm?model_ID=736 (PDF 16 K)

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