(1)

(a) Except as otherwise provided under this subsection, the words and phrases used in this section shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 49-35-5, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(b) “Remediation costs” means reasonable costs paid for the assessment, investigation, remediation, monitoring and related activities at a brownfield agreement site which are consistent with the remedy selected for the site, and costs paid to the Department of Environmental Quality for the processing of the brownfield agreement application and administration of a brownfield agreement. Remediation costs shall not include (i) costs incurred before June 24, 1999; (ii) costs incurred after the issuance of a No Further Action letter under Section 49-35-15, Mississippi Code of 1972; (iii) costs incurred before the acceptance of a brownfield agreement site into the Mississippi Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment program; (iv) costs incurred for any legal services or litigation costs; and (v) any funds provided by any federal, state or local governmental agency or political subdivision.

(2) Subject to the limitations provided in subsection (4) of this section, upon submission to the State Tax Commission of information provided for in subsection (5) of this section and any other documentation as the State Tax Commission may require, any brownfield party who (a) has conducted remediation at a brownfield agreement site in accordance with Sections 49-35-1 through 49-35-25 and (b) has incurred remediation costs for activities under Sections 49-35-1 through 49-35-25, as approved by the Commission on Environmental Quality, shall be allowed a credit in an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the remediation costs at the brownfield agreement site as approved by the commission, against the taxes imposed under this chapter for the tax year in which the costs are incurred.

(3)

(a) Before applying for the tax credit authorized in this section, a brownfield party shall submit an application to the Department of Environmental Quality for certification that the brownfield party has conducted remediation at a brownfield agreement site in accordance with Sections 49-35-1 through 49-35-25 during the tax year(s) for which the credit is sought. The application shall be on forms prescribed by the Commission on Environmental Quality and provided by the Department. The application shall include the following:

(i) A section identifying the brownfield party, the brownfield agreement site, the date the brownfield agreement was executed and the tax year for which the credit is sought;

(ii) A certification that the costs to be submitted to the State Tax Commission are remediation costs incurred by the brownfield party during the tax year(s) for which the credit is sought. The certification shall include a listing of all remediation conducted and the associated costs; and

(iii) Any other information which the Commission on Environmental Quality or the State Tax Commission deems appropriate.

(b) Within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Department of a completed application, the department shall approve or disapprove the application. The Department shall notify the brownfield party in writing of its decision. If the department approves the application, the department shall provide the brownfield party with certification that the brownfield party has conducted remediation at a brownfield agreement site in accordance with Sections 49-35-1 through 49-35-25 during the tax year(s) for which the credit is sought. If the Department disapproves the application, the Department shall notify the brownfield party in writing and state the reasons for the disapproval.

(c) Within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Department’s decision, the brownfield party may request a hearing before the Commission regarding the Department’s decision to disapprove the application. An appeal of the Commission’s decision may be taken as provided under Section 49-17-41.

(d) The Department’s review of the application under this section shall be considered a part of the administration of the brownfield agreement.

(e) The department’s review of the application for review of remediation costs under this section shall be considered a part of the administration of the brownfield agreement.

(4)

(a) The annual credit provided for in this section shall not exceed the lesser of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) or the amount of the income tax imposed upon the brownfield party at the brownfield agreement site for the taxable year as reduced by the sum of all other credits allowable to the brownfield party under this chapter, except for credit for tax payments made by or on behalf of the brownfield party. Any unused portion of the credit may be carried forward for succeeding tax years.

(b) The maximum total credit under this section for a brownfield agreement site is One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00).

(5) To be eligible for the tax credit, the brownfield party must submit a copy of the letter from the commission stating the amount of remediation costs approved by the commission for the given tax year.