(a) The Secretary may exercise the following powers in addition to any other powers granted by law:

(1) The Secretary shall take any actions necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to adoption of emergency or interim regulations, when immediate promulgation of regulations is necessary to implement this chapter prior to the adoption of final regulations.

(2) The Secretary shall, after notice and public hearing, promulgate and revise such regulations as deemed necessary for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this chapter. Such regulations may include provisions waiving or limiting the applicability of this chapter which the Secretary determines to be adequately regulated by state or federal statute or regulation.

(3) The Secretary may, after notice and public hearing, exempt certain facilities or properties or classes of facilities or properties from the provisions of this chapter upon finding that these facilities or properties do not pose an imminent threat to public health or welfare or the environment.

(4) The Secretary shall plan, study or conduct, or order a potentially responsible party to plan, study or conduct, appropriate actions to remedy a release or imminent threat of release.

(b) The Secretary shall implement all provisions of this chapter to the maximum extent practicable, including conducting investigations and remedies when appropriate. The Secretary shall, after notice and public hearing, promulgate and revise as appropriate, regulations to:

(1) Establish criteria for determining a priority list among facilities. These criteria shall assure that facilities are ranked by a system that objectively assesses the relative degree of risk to public health or welfare or the environment caused by releases from such facilities.

(2) Establish procedures:

a. For identifying facilities with a release or imminent threat of release;

b. For conducting site assessments, preliminary site evaluations and comprehensive site investigations;

c. For identifying potentially responsible parties;

d. For notifying a person of liability as a potentially responsible party;

e. For determining the appropriate type of settlement agreement that may be entered into by potentially responsible parties or any person who agrees to perform a remedy;

f. For providing potentially responsible parties or any other person with a reasonable opportunity to enter into a settlement agreement for a remedy by which potentially responsible parties or any other person may propose 1 or more remedial alternatives;

g. For identifying cleanup levels based on site specific risks;

h. For public notice and an opportunity for public comment on the proposed plan of remedial action and proposed consent decrees;

i. For conducting a remedy;

j. For public participation in the decision for a remedy at a facility;

k. For granting or denying a certificate of completion of remedy;

l. For placing a notice in the records of the real property pursuant to § 9115 of this title;

m. For managing the Fund established pursuant to § 9113 of this title;

n. For assessing natural resource damages;

o. For providing criteria governing public funding of remedial costs when the Secretary enters into a settlement agreement that requires the Secretary to provide a specified amount of money from the Fund;

p. For certifying part or all of a parcel of real property as a brownfield;

q. For listing of Brownfield, or potential Brownfield, sites on a Brownfield redevelopment database;

r. To certify and decertify contractors to conduct remedial action. As a prerequisite for certification, the Department shall conduct written examinations, or other qualification criteria as deemed appropriate by the Department, within the State for the purpose of determining ability to conduct a remedial action. The Department may waive the examination for persons who possess a valid certificate from another state, provided such certification is for similar work to be performed in Delaware. A remedial action shall be conducted under the direction and supervision of an individual possessing a valid certificate issued by the Department. Certification requirements for contractors shall commence 6 months after adoption of regulations. Certification shall be valid for 2 years. The fees for certification required pursuant to this chapter shall be established by the Department in its rules and regulations. The fees may be adjusted periodically but shall approximate and reasonably reflect all costs necessary to defray the expenses incurred by the Department in operating the certification program.

(3) Establish deadlines for negotiation processes with potentially responsible parties for an agreement providing for a voluntary remedy pursuant to § 9107 of this title, and for initiating an investigation and remedying releases at or from a facility by potentially responsible parties.

(c) (1) The Secretary shall, as part of the budget submittal, submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly of the State, setting forth in detail progress on remedies and may submit such additional reports from time to time to the Governor and General Assembly as deemed desirable by the Secretary.

(2) The Secretary shall prepare an annual budget for the proposed use of the Fund and cause an audit of the fiscal affairs to be made annually and shall, as part of the budget submittal, furnish a copy of such audit report together with such additional information or data with respect to the affairs as he or she may deem desirable to the Governor and General Assembly of the State.

(3) The Secretary shall, as part of the budget submittal, provide 5-year projections of costs and revenues associated with the Fund, and the amount of the obligated and unobligated balance in the Fund.

67 Del. Laws, c. 326, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 218, §§ 11-13; 73 Del. Laws, c. 183, § 3; 74 Del. Laws, c. 185, § 7; 76 Del. Laws, c. 220, § 2.