The commissioner or the commissioner's designee may waive or modify any of the provisions of this chapter if that waiver or modification promotes or assists any oil spill response activity conducted in accordance with the national contingency plan, a federal contingency plan, the state marine oil spill contingency plan, or as otherwise directed by the federal on-scene coordinator, the commissioner or commissioner's designee. A waiver issued by the commissioner under this section must be in writing.
This section does not apply to state or federal water quality standards applicable to any waters of the State, including, but not limited to, designated uses, criteria to protect existing and designated uses and antidegradation policies.