Iowa Code § 455H.206 - Institutional and technological controls

1. In achieving compliance with the cleanup standards under this chapter, a participant may use an institutional or technological control. The director may require reasonable proof of financial assurance where necessary to assure a technological control remains effective. 2. An institutional or technological control includes any of the following: a. A state or federal law or regulation. b. An ordinance of any political subdivision of the state. c. A contractual obligation recorded and executed in a manner satisfying chapter 558. d. A control which the participant can demonstrate reduces or manages the risk from a release through the period necessary to comply with the applicable standards. e. An environmental protection easement filed prior to July 1, 2005. f. An environmental covenant created in accordance with chapter 455I. 3. If the department’s determination of compliance with applicable standards pursuant to subchapter III is conditioned on a restriction in the use of any real estate in the affected area, the participant must utilize an institutional control. If the restriction in use is to limit the use to nonresidential use, the participant must use an environmental covenant as the institutional control. Environmental covenants may also be used to implement other institutional or technological controls. An environmental covenant must comply with the requirements of chapter 455I. 4. If the use of an institutional or technological control is confirmed in a no further action letter issued pursuant to section 455H.301, the institutional or technological control may be enforced in district court by the department, a political subdivision of this state, the participant, or any successor in interest to the participant. 5. An institutional or technological control, except for an environmental covenant, may be removed, discontinued, modified, or terminated by the participant or a successor in interest to the participant upon a demonstration that the control no longer is required to assure compliance with the applicable standard. Upon review and approval by the department, the department shall issue an amendment to its no further action letter approving the removal, discontinuance, modification, or termination of an institutional or technological control which is no longer needed. 6. An environmental covenant created pursuant to subsection 3 may be terminated or amended only in accordance with chapter 455I. The department may determine that any person who intentionally violates an environmental covenant or other technological or institutional control contained in a no further action letter loses any of the benefits provided by this chapter as to the affected area. In the event the technological or institutional controls fail to achieve compliance with the applicable standards, the participant shall undertake an additional response action sufficient to demonstrate to the department compliance with applicable standards. Failure to proceed in a timely manner in performing the additional response action may result in termination of the participant’s enrollment in the land recycling program. 97 Acts, ch 127, §13; 2005 Acts, ch 102, §4; ; 2021 Acts, ch 76, §150