Before a file is prioritized, the facility owner or other responsible party is given the option to enter the MDA AgVIC. The AgVIC is designed to provide rapid response and a high level of service for property transfers, business transactions and other voluntary actions. Each AgVIC project is tailored to the specific needs and deadlines of the voluntary party. AgVIC staff can provide binding written assurances from MERLA liability.

AgVIC staff are funded from MERLA which requires that MERLA expenditures be recovered. Therefore, voluntary parties must agree to reimburse AgVIC staff costs into the state MERLA account. Generally cleanup costs at AgVIC sites, except for MDA staff costs, are eligible for partial reimbursement from ACRRA.

Glossary of Terms

• ACRRA
  The Agricultural Chemical Response and Reimbursement Account. ACRRA was created by the 1989 Minnesota Ground Water Protection Act to reimburse persons for cleanups of agricultural chemical incidents.
• ASTM
  American Society For Testing and Materials. ASTM develops standard test methods, specifications, practices, guides, classifications, and terminology in 130 areas covering subjects such as metals, paints, textiles, petroleum, construction, energy, the environment, consumer products, medical services, computerized systems, electronics, and many others.
• Brownfields
  Abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by actual or suspected environmental contamination.
• CERCLA
  The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund, was enacted by Congress on December 11, 1980. This law created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries and provided broad Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.
• Due Diligence
  Investigation process that limits a buyer's liability for nondisclosure of information that is not uncovered during the investigation.
• HRS
  Hazard Ranking System. HRS is the principal mechanism EPA uses to evaluate uncontrolled waste sites for possible inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL). HRS assigns each site a score ranging from 0 to 100. Sites receiving HRS scores of 28.50 and above are eligible for the NPL.
• MERLA
  The Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act. The Minnesota version of Superfund created in 1983.
• NPL
  National Priorities List. The NPL is the list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States and its territories. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.
• PLP
  Permanent List of Priorities. The PLP is a list of superfund sites in the state of Minnesota that are proposed to be actively worked on and funded during a particular fiscal year. The PLP consists of both MDA and MPCA superfund sites.
• RCRA
  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. RCRA gave EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-grave."
• SARA
  Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. Amendment to CERCLA in October 1986 that incorporated several changes to CERLCA.