(A) The department shall promulgate regulations relating to the evaluation and approval of site rehabilitation contractors to perform work pursuant to this chapter. In doing so, the department, where appropriate, may utilize or incorporate national or state licensing or certification programs that may assist in this endeavor. The department in these regulations may distinguish between different types of site rehabilitation contractors. The regulations promulgated pursuant to this section shall include the following requirements for site rehabilitation contractors:

(1) requirements for minimum knowledge and experience relating to the performance of site rehabilitation activities;

(2) requirements for types and minimum amounts of liability insurance to be maintained by approved contractors;

(3) requirements for public notice of requests for approval applications, evaluation of applications, and subsequent publication of a list of approved contractors;

(4) requirements for actions to be taken in the event that an approved contractor fails to maintain the approval;

(5) requirements for use of an owner or operator's personnel or equipment in performing site rehabilitation activities.

(B) The approval of a site rehabilitation contractor pursuant to this section in no way shall establish liability or responsibility on the part of the department or the State of South Carolina in regards to the services provided by the contractor or circumstances which may occur as a result of such services.

(C) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit an owner or operator of an underground storage tank from conducting site rehabilitation or cleanup through contractors, subcontractors, or qualified personnel employed by them. However, the department may prohibit from participating in site rehabilitation under this chapter any contractor or subcontractor or person who:

(1) is not a South Carolina registered professional geologist or engineer, or is not bonded or insured for the full costs of site rehabilitation;

(2) has had administrative or civil enforcement action under the provisions of this chapter taken against him within the last three years;

(3) has demonstrated repeated noncompliance with requirements for compensation established by the department under Section 44-2-50(B);

(4) has demonstrated repeated inability to perform site rehabilitation in accordance with accepted industry standards;

(5) has failed to maintain the requirements necessary for approval as a site rehabilitation contractor under this section.

HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 486, Section 2; 1992 Act No. 501, Part II, Section 43G; 1995 Act No. 145, Part II, Section 2L.