Voluntary Evaluation Program

An uncontrolled site is a site, facility, plant, or location where hazardous or toxic wastes have been released into the environment and there is no federal environmental program available. MDEQ has records of more than 2,000 sites that need additional evaluation, and the Assessment/Remediation Branches are working with about 250 sites currently.

The Uncontrolled Site Evaluation Trust Fund was created by the Mississippi Legislature (Section 17-17-54 of Mississippi Code), which in turn established the Uncontrolled Site Voluntary Evaluation Program which allows accepted parties the opportunity to expedite the evaluation of site information. The Program allows the staff to more effectively prioritize sites according to:

• actual or potential threat to the public health
• actual or potential threat to the environment
• whether the site is currently being considered for economic development
• whether the site is currently participating in the Uncontrolled Site Voluntary Evaluation Program

The company must submit an application to be accepted into the Program by MDEQ and pay all costs associated with MDEQ’s administration and evaluation of the site. An agreement (Agreed Administrative Order) is entered into by the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality, MDEQ, and the company.