How to Fill Out the New Jersey ISRA Remediation Certification + FAQs

The New Jersey ISRA Remediation Certification is the form an owner or operator of an industrial establishment files with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection so a sale, transfer, or closure can move forward before the full Industrial Site Recovery Act cleanup process is finished. It tells the state who owns the site, who is buying or leasing it, and who promises to pay for and complete the cleanup.

You file it under the Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA), N.J.S.A. 13:1K-6 and following. Getting one box wrong, such as the funding amount or the list of past owners, can freeze your closing date and delay a deal worth millions. The current version of this form is Version 2.0, dated 11/21/2022, so check that revision line before you start.

The NJDEP does not issue an approval for this form, which surprises many first-time filers. Your ISRA transaction may proceed the moment you submit a complete package to the Department. That single rule is why this form is so popular for time-sensitive real estate and business deals.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📋 What the ISRA Remediation Certification form does and exactly who must sign it
• 🗂️ Every document, ID number, and dollar figure to gather before you open the form
• ✍️ A plain-English, line-by-line walkthrough of Sections A through H
• 💵 How the Remediation Funding Source and the 1% surcharge check are calculated
• ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that delay closings, and how to dodge each one

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

The ISRA Remediation Certification is a notice form. It identifies the transaction that triggers ISRA, names the current owners and operators, and names the party who agrees to be responsible for the cleanup. In plain terms, it lets a business sale or shutdown go ahead now while the actual soil and groundwater work happens later under a Licensed Site Remediation Professional.

ISRA applies to “industrial establishments,” which are sites with certain manufacturing or hazardous-material business codes that are about to be sold, closed, or transferred. The law forcing this filing is the Industrial Site Recovery Act, N.J.S.A. 13:1K-6 et seq. The plain-English idea is simple: New Jersey does not want contaminated factories changing hands with no plan to clean them up. The consequence of ignoring ISRA is severe, because the state can void your sale and hold both seller and buyer liable. Many owners wrongly believe ISRA only applies to “big polluters,” but it is the business code and the transaction, not the size of the spill, that pulls you in.

The form must be completed by the owner or operator of the industrial establishment. No filing fee is required. A separate form is filed for each site where a triggering event happens, though a multi-tenant site needs only one form. The party agreeing to conduct the remediation, often the buyer, must also sign and must establish a Remediation Funding Source. Skipping the funding source means the package is incomplete and the transaction protection does not apply.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather everything below before you open the PDF. A missing item is the top reason a package gets bounced back, and a bounced package means your closing date slips.

• Site Program Interest (PI) Number — Pull this from the NJDEP DataMiner reports tool; without it the Department cannot match your filing to the existing case file.
• Case Tracking Numbers — Old Hotline incident numbers, UST closure numbers, or prior ISRA numbers; missing these can create a duplicate case and confuse oversight.
• Municipal block and lot numbers — Found on your property tax bill or deed; a wrong lot number ties the cleanup to the wrong parcel.
• Full ownership and operator history since December 31, 1983 — Deeds, leases, and corporate records; gaps here trigger Department follow-up letters that stall review.
• Proof your ISRA General Information Notice (GIN) was filed — The GIN must be on file first, or this form has no transaction to certify.
• Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) details — Name, license ID number, phone, and email; the form is not valid without the LSRP statement signed.
• Remediation cost estimate or surrogate amount — Either an LSRP-certified figure or the $100,000 / $250,000 surrogate; this drives the funding amount.
• Remediation Funding Source instrument — The original trust fund agreement, line of credit, or other N.J.A.C. 7:26C-5 instrument; without the original document the package is incomplete.
• 1% surcharge check — One percent of the required RFS amount, excluding accrued interest; a missing or wrong check stops processing.
• Buyer or new lessee legal names and entity type — State of incorporation or partnership type; a vague entity name weakens the certification.

Have these in one folder before drafting. The form moves fast once filed, but only if the package is whole on day one.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official form lives on the NJDEP Contaminated Site Remediation and Redevelopment Program site. Download the current ISRA Remediation Certification form and its matching instructions, both marked Version 2.0, 11/21/2022. Always pull a fresh copy, because the NJDEP updates these forms periodically and an outdated version can be rejected.

You will find the Remediation Certification listed alongside related items such as the Remediation Cost Review and RFS/FA form, the De Minimis Quantity Exemption Application, and the ISRA Alternate Compliance Option. Download the Remediation Cost Review and RFS/FA form at the same time, since the two are filed together. The plain-English point is that the certification names the deal, and the cost form sets the dollar amount of the funding source.

The form is a fillable PDF. You can type directly into it, which is far better than handwriting, because the Department cross-reads names and numbers against existing records and clear text reduces errors. A common misconception is that you submit through an online portal like some newer SRP filings; this package is mailed in original paper form because the funding instrument and surcharge check must arrive as originals. Save a complete PDF and paper copy of everything you send.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the ISRA Remediation Certification Line by Line

Work through the form in order, Section A to Section H. Use the exact field names printed on the form, and type in ALL CAPS where the form does so. Below, each section is broken down with what it asks, how to answer, an example, an edge case, a common mistake, and a misconception to drop.

Section A — Site Name and AKAs

This field asks for the name of the ISRA-subject site and any other names it has gone by. The Site Name is the name of the ISRA-subject operator, and for a multi-tenant building you use one name and list the others later in Section B. Type the legal operating name, then list every “also known as,” such as a former company name or a common local nickname.

For example, Garden State Plating Co. writes its name as the Site Name and lists GSP Finishing and the old Kessler plant under List All AKAs. If the site has been sold several times, include the names buyers and the town actually use, because the Department searches by those names.

A common mistake is entering the property owner’s name when the site name should be the operator’s name, which can split your filing from the existing case file. Many filers wrongly think AKAs are optional; leaving them blank can cause the NJDEP to open a second case for the same dirt.

Section A — Street Address, Municipality, County, Zip

This asks for the true physical location of the industrial establishment. Enter the street address of the site itself, never a mailing address or a P.O. Box, then the municipality, county, and zip code. For the municipality, write the formal name and mark whether it is a township, borough, or city.

For example, Garden State Plating Co. enters 148 Industrial Way, municipality Township of Edison, county Middlesex, zip 08817. If the company’s billing office sits in another town, that office address still does not go here.

The most common mistake is using a corporate mailing address instead of the physical site, which can route your cleanup oversight to the wrong location. A frequent misconception is that the “local” name of an area is fine; the form wants the official municipality name, not the neighborhood name.

Section A — Program Interest (PI) Number, Case Tracking Numbers, Block and Lot

This field collects the NJDEP identifiers that link your filing to existing records. Enter the Program Interest (PI) Number from the DEP DataMiner reports; if this is a brand-new site with no prior SRP involvement, leave it blank. Then list all Case Tracking Numbers, such as Hotline incident numbers or UST Notice of Intent to Close numbers, and every municipal block and lot number.

For example, Garden State Plating Co. enters PI Number G000123456, case tracking number Hotline 22-05-1234, and block 45, lots 1 and 2.

The common mistake here is inventing or guessing a PI Number when one already exists, which can create a duplicate case that takes weeks to merge. People often think block and lot are minor details, but a wrong lot number can attach the remediation obligation to a neighbor’s parcel.

Section B — Current Operators and Current Owner

This section asks who operates the site now and who owns the real property now. Item 1 lists the current ISRA-subject operators; attach extra sheets for a multi-tenant facility. Item 2 names the current owner of the real property and identifies the entity type, such as the state of incorporation for a corporation or whether a partnership is limited or general.

For example, current operator Garden State Plating Co. is listed, and the current owner is 148 Industrial Way LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company.

The common mistake is naming a “d/b/a” trade name instead of the legal entity, which weakens who is actually bound to the cleanup. Many filers wrongly believe the owner and operator are always the same; on leased industrial sites they are usually different parties, and both must be named.

Section B — All Owners and Operators Since December 31, 1983

This is the field filers get wrong most. It asks you to list every owner and operator of the site since December 31, 1983, with the dates each held the property or ran the business. Build a clean timeline from deeds, leases, and corporate filings, and enter each party with start and end dates.

For example, 148 Industrial Way LLC lists Kessler Metals Inc. (1979–2001), Tri-State Finishing (2001–2015), and Garden State Plating Co. (2015–present).

The most damaging mistake is leaving gaps in the timeline, which can prompt NJDEP follow-up letters that pause review and push back your closing. A common misconception is that you only list current parties; the 1983 lookback is mandatory because that is when ISRA’s predecessor law took effect, and the Department uses it to trace responsibility.

Section B — Prior NJDEP Filing Information

This field asks for any earlier NJDEP filings tied to the site. Enter prior ISRA case numbers, past remediation filings, or earlier GINs so the Department can connect your package to the existing history. If there is genuinely no prior filing, state that the GIN now on file is the first.

For example, Garden State Plating Co. notes Prior ISRA Case #E20150456, GIN filed 03/2026.

A common mistake is leaving this blank when prior work exists, which can make the new filing look like a fresh, unstudied site and slow oversight assignment. Filers often assume old filings “expire,” but ISRA history follows the property, not the owner.

Section C — ISRA Trigger and Transaction Description

This section asks you to describe the ISRA-triggering event in detail. Explain the transaction, what happens to operations after it closes, and who will own and operate the site going forward. Be specific about whether this is a sale of real property, a sale of a business, a lease change, or a permanent shutdown.

For example, Garden State Plating Co. writes: Sale of real property and ongoing plating operations from 148 Industrial Way LLC to NewCo Coatings LLC; operations continue under new ownership after closing on 07/15/2026.

The common mistake is a vague one-line answer like “sale of property,” which forces the Department to send questions and delays the case. Many filers think the type of trigger does not matter; it does, because a closure path and a continued-operations path carry different obligations.

Section C — Purchaser Information

This field asks for the details of the buyer or new lessee. Provide the purchaser’s full legal name, entity type, and contact information. If ownership or operations will not change, this can be limited, but for a true sale you must fully identify the incoming party.

For example, the purchaser is listed as NewCo Coatings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, 22 Commerce Drive, Newark, NJ 07102.

The common mistake is naming a parent company instead of the entity actually taking title, which can leave the wrong party on the hook. A frequent misconception is that the buyer’s information is optional in a friendly deal; the Department needs the exact transferee to enforce the cleanup promise.

Section D — Cost Estimate, Remediation Funding Source, and 1% Surcharge

This section sets the money. Submit the Remediation Cost Review and RFS/FA form with a detailed estimate certified by your LSRP, covering cleanup work, NJDEP oversight fees, and the cost to operate and maintain any engineering controls. If the Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI) is not done, you may use a surrogate cost estimate: a minimum of $100,000 when no contaminant information is known, or $250,000 when groundwater contamination is known.

For example, Garden State Plating Co. has no completed PA/SI and no known groundwater issue, so it enters a surrogate of $100,000 and attaches a Remediation Trust Fund Agreement for that amount.

You then attach the original Remediation Funding Source instrument and a 1% surcharge check, both under N.J.A.C. 7:26C-5. The surcharge is 1% of the required RFS amount, excluding accrued interest, and does not apply if the RFS is a Self-Guarantee. So a $100,000 funding source needs a $1,000 surcharge check.

The biggest mistake here is forgetting the 30-day rule: the surrogate must be replaced with a site-specific cost estimate within 30 calendar days of completing the PA/SI, and missing that window puts you out of compliance. A common misconception is that the 1% surcharge is the funding source itself; it is a separate fee on top of the full RFS instrument.

Sections E, F, and G — Authorizations and Certifications

These three signature blocks lock in who is responsible. Section E is the ISRA Owner or Operator Certification, signed by the current owner or operator. Section F is the Transferee or New Lessee Certification, signed by the buyer or new lessee, and it is skipped only if ownership and operations will not change. Section G is the Party(ies) Agreeing to Conduct Remediation, signed by whoever accepts responsibility for ISRA compliance and the cleanup.

For example, Garden State Plating Co.’s president signs Section E, NewCo Coatings LLC’s managing member signs Section F, and because the buyer agreed to handle cleanup, NewCo Coatings LLC also signs Section G.

The common mistake is leaving Section G unsigned because the parties never settled who pays; an unsigned Section G means no one is legally bound, and the package fails. A widespread misconception is that the seller always handles remediation; in many deals the buyer takes it on, and Section G must match the contract.

Section H — Licensed Site Remediation Professional Information and Statement

This final section captures your LSRP. Enter the LSRP ID Number, then the professional’s name, phone, email, and mailing address with city, state, and zip. The LSRP must sign and date the certification statement in this block.

For example, Garden State Plating Co. lists LSRP Dr. Priya Anand, License #LSRP000789, 555-200-3000, panand@enviroco.com, Edison, NJ 08817, signed and dated.

The common mistake is filing without an LSRP signature, which makes the package incomplete because ISRA cleanups must be led by a Licensed Site Remediation Professional. People often assume any environmental consultant qualifies; only a state-licensed LSRP can sign Section H.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

These three walkthroughs show how different deals run through the same form. Each follows one named filer.

Scenario 1: Carlos sells a manufacturing plant with operations continuing. Carlos owns Garden State Plating Co. and is selling the plant and the business to NewCo Coatings LLC.

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Section A — Site Name	Garden State Plating Co., AKA GSP Finishing
Section A — Address	148 Industrial Way, Township of Edison, Middlesex, 08817
Section A — PI Number	G000123456
Section B — Current Owner	148 Industrial Way LLC, NJ LLC
Section B — Since 1983	Kessler Metals (1979–2001), Tri-State (2001–2015), GSP (2015–present)
Section C — Trigger	Sale of property and business; operations continue under buyer
Section D — Funding	Surrogate $100,000, RFS trust fund, $1,000 surcharge
Sections E–G	E signed by Carlos; F and G signed by NewCo Coatings LLC

Scenario 2: Aisha manages a multi-tenant industrial park where one tenant leaves. Aisha owns the property; one ISRA-subject operator is vacating.

Form Section	What Aisha Enters
Section A — Site Name	Edison Commerce Center (one name for multi-tenant site)
Section A — Address	200 Raritan Center Pkwy, Township of Edison, Middlesex, 08837
Section B — Current Operators	Departing tenant PrecisionParts Inc. plus attached sheet of other tenants
Section B — Current Owner	Aisha Khan Holdings LP, NJ limited partnership
Section B — Since 1983	Full owner timeline plus operator changes by unit
Section C — Trigger	Lease termination and cessation of ISRA-subject operations by one tenant
Section D — Funding	LSRP estimate $250,000 (known groundwater), $2,500 surcharge
Sections E–G	E and G signed by Aisha as responsible owner; F skipped, no new lessee yet

Scenario 3: Marcus permanently closes a business with no sale. Marcus owns and operates Marcus Metal Coatings and is shutting it down.

Form Section	What Marcus Enters
Section A — Site Name	Marcus Metal Coatings
Section A — Address	9 Factory Lane, City of Trenton, Mercer, 08611
Section B — Current Operator/Owner	Marcus Metal Coatings LLC as both
Section B — Since 1983	Trenton Tool & Die (1980–2005), Marcus Metal Coatings (2005–present)
Section C — Trigger	Permanent cessation of operations; no transfer of ownership
Section C — Purchaser	Not applicable; no purchaser
Section D — Funding	Surrogate $100,000, line of credit RFS, $1,000 surcharge
Sections E–G	E and G signed by Marcus; F skipped, no transferee

How to File the Completed Form

This form is filed by mail as an original paper package, because the funding instrument and surcharge check must be originals. Send the complete package to the Bureau of Case Assignment and Initial Notice, Site Remediation Program, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Mail Code 401-05H, PO Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420. There is no filing fee for the form itself.

Your package must include five things: the completed ISRA Remediation Certification form, the completed Remediation Cost Review and RFS/FA form, the original Remediation Funding Source instrument, the 1% surcharge check (unless the RFS is a Self-Guarantee), and the signed certification on the last page of the financial instrument. The surcharge check is payable to the NJDEP for 1% of the required RFS amount. Mailing anything short of this set means the package is incomplete.

You must also notify the municipal clerk of the town where the site sits, because N.J.S.A. 13:1K-9, as amended by P.L. 2007, c.1, requires it. Keep proof of everything: send by certified mail with return receipt, keep the green card, and save a full copy of the package and the canceled surcharge check. That receipt is your proof of the filing date, which is the date your transaction protection begins.

What Happens After You File

The NJDEP does not issue an approval for this form, so do not wait for a letter saying “yes.” Your ISRA transaction may proceed upon submittal of a complete package to the Department. In practice this means you can close your sale or finish your shutdown right after a complete filing is mailed.

After filing, your LSRP leads the actual cleanup under ISRA and the Site Remediation Reform Act. If you used a surrogate cost estimate, the clock is running: you must replace it with a detailed, site-specific estimate within 30 calendar days of finishing the PA/SI. The Department keeps oversight of the case, and the party who signed Section G stays on the hook until the LSRP issues the final Response Action Outcome.

The funding source stays in place to guarantee the work gets done. If the responsible party walks away, the state can draw on that RFS to fund the cleanup, which is the whole point of requiring it up front. Keep your case numbers handy, because every future filing references them.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

• Filing before the ISRA General Information Notice (GIN) is on file, which leaves no triggering event for this form to certify and gets the package rejected.
• Using a mailing address instead of the physical site address in Section A, which routes oversight to the wrong location.
• Leaving gaps in the December 31, 1983 ownership timeline, which triggers NJDEP follow-up letters that delay review.
• Entering a trade name instead of the legal entity, which blurs who is bound to the cleanup.
• Guessing or inventing a PI Number, which can create a duplicate case that takes weeks to merge.
• Forgetting the 1% surcharge check, which makes the package incomplete and stops processing.
• Miscalculating the surcharge on interest, when it must be 1% of the RFS amount excluding accrued interest.
• Skipping Section G because the parties never agreed who pays, which means no one is legally responsible.
• Filing without the LSRP signature in Section H, which voids the package because cleanups must be LSRP-led.
• Missing the 30-day deadline to replace a surrogate cost estimate, which puts you out of ISRA compliance.
• Sending copies instead of the original funding instrument, which the Department will not accept.
• Forgetting to notify the municipal clerk, which violates N.J.S.A. 13:1K-9.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do: – Do confirm your GIN is filed first, because this form certifies a triggering event that the GIN must already record. – Do build the full 1983 ownership timeline from deeds and leases, because gaps stall the case. – Do type into the fillable PDF, because clean text reduces name and number mismatches. – Do attach the original RFS instrument and the correct surcharge check, because the package fails without them. – Do send by certified mail with return receipt, because that date is your proof of filing. – Do match Section G to your purchase contract, because the signer becomes legally responsible.

Don’t: – Don’t wait for an approval letter, because the NJDEP does not issue one for this form. – Don’t use a P.O. Box for the site address, because the form requires the physical location. – Don’t guess a PI Number, because a wrong number creates a duplicate case. – Don’t calculate the surcharge on interest, because it is based on the RFS principal only. – Don’t skip notifying the municipal clerk, because state law requires it. – Don’t file without an LSRP, because only a licensed professional can sign Section H.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With an LSRP and Attorney

You cannot fully file this form alone, since an LSRP must sign Section H, but you can manage much of the paperwork yourself or lean on professionals.

Pros of using an LSRP and attorney: – Accurate cost estimates, because the LSRP knows what the NJDEP expects and reduces rejection risk. – Correct funding instrument, because the attorney drafts the RFS to meet N.J.A.C. 7:26C-5. – Clean 1983 timeline, because counsel can pull title history fast. – Proper Section G allocation, because the attorney ties responsibility to the deal terms. – Faster closings, because a complete package avoids back-and-forth delays.

Cons of using an LSRP and attorney: – Higher cost, because LSRP and legal fees add to the deal budget. – Less direct control, because you rely on a professional’s schedule. – Coordination time, because aligning LSRP, attorney, and buyer takes effort. – Possible over-scoping, because a cautious LSRP may estimate a larger funding source. – Dependence on availability, because a busy LSRP can slow a tight closing.

ISRA Remediation Certification vs. Related Compliance Options

Option	When You Use It
ISRA Remediation Certification	When you want the transaction to proceed now and commit to remediation with a funding source
Remediation Cost Review and RFS/FA form	Filed with the certification to set the dollar amount of the funding source
De Minimis Quantity Exemption	When hazardous material amounts are small enough to seek an exemption from full ISRA
ISRA Alternate Compliance Option	When the site qualifies for a streamlined or alternate path under ISRA rules

FAQs

Do I need to file an ISRA General Information Notice before this form?

Yes. The GIN must already be on file with the NJDEP, because the Remediation Certification certifies a triggering event that the GIN records first. Without it, the package is rejected.

Does the NJDEP approve the ISRA Remediation Certification?

No. The Department does not issue approvals for this form. Your ISRA transaction may proceed upon submitting a complete package, so you do not wait for a letter.

Is there a filing fee for this form?

No. The form itself has no filing fee. You do owe a separate 1% surcharge check based on the Remediation Funding Source amount, unless the RFS is a Self-Guarantee.

Whose name goes in the Site Name box, the owner or the operator?

No, not the owner by default. The Site Name is the name of the ISRA-subject operator. For a multi-tenant facility, use one name and list the other parties in Section B.

Do I list past owners in Section B if they sold years ago?

Yes. You must list all owners and operators since December 31, 1983, with dates. The Department uses this lookback to trace cleanup responsibility for the property.

Can I use a P.O. Box for the site address in Section A?

No. The address must be the physical location of the site. A mailing address or P.O. Box can route oversight to the wrong place and delay your case.

What do I enter in Section D if the PA/SI is not done?

Yes, you may use a surrogate estimate. Enter a minimum of $100,000 if no contamination is known, or $250,000 if groundwater contamination is known at the site.

How is the 1% surcharge calculated?

Yes, it is straightforward. The surcharge is 1% of the required Remediation Funding Source amount, excluding accrued interest. A $250,000 funding source needs a $2,500 check.

Do I have to replace the surrogate cost estimate later?

Yes. You must replace it with a detailed, site-specific estimate within 30 calendar days of completing the PA/SI, or you fall out of ISRA compliance.

Does the buyer have to sign Section F?

Yes, if ownership or operations change. Section F is the Transferee or New Lessee Certification. It is skipped only when direct ownership and operations stay the same after the transaction.

Who signs Section G, the seller or the buyer?

No single rule applies. Section G is signed by whichever party agrees to conduct the remediation, which can be the seller, the buyer, or both, matching your purchase contract.

Can any environmental consultant sign Section H?

No. Only a Licensed Site Remediation Professional with a valid LSRP ID number can sign the Section H statement, because ISRA cleanups must be LSRP-led.

Do I have to tell the town I filed?

Yes. You must notify the municipal clerk of the town where the site sits, because N.J.S.A. 13:1K-9, as amended by P.L. 2007, c.1, requires it.

Can I file this form online through a portal?

No. This package is mailed as originals to the Bureau of Case Assignment and Initial Notice in Trenton, because the funding instrument and surcharge check must be submitted in original form.