Principles of Hazardous WastePrinciples of Hazardous WasteSite RankingSite Ranking

September 27, 2001

Stephen M. Caldwell

Deputy Director, State and Tribal Programs and Site Identification Center

Office of Emergency and Remedial Response

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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Agenda Agenda Agenda Agenda

• Hazardous Waste Site Ranking

• Public Participation in the Decision-Making

Process

• Questions and Answers

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Why Do We Rank Sites?Why Do We Rank Sites?Setting PrioritiesSetting Priorities

• The problems exceed our resources• The US inventory is > 43,000 sites• Strategic goal: worst sites first

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Why Do We Rank Sites?Why Do We Rank Sites?Setting PrioritiesSetting Priorities

Why Do We Rank Sites?Why Do We Rank Sites?Setting PrioritiesSetting Priorities

Discovery and

Inventory

Preliminary Assessment

No Action/Low Priority

Sampling/Analysis

Site Ranking

Priorities List

Investigation/Risk

Assessment

Engineering Options

Clean-Up

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Site Ranking: Science Site Ranking: Science and and PolicyPolicy

• Worst is a value judgment• Values represented in the US Hazard Ranking System

- Human Health (cancer and non-cancer effects- Resources (drinking water, fisheries, etc)- Sensitive Environments (national parks, habitats for the endangered species, etc.

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Site Ranking: Science Site Ranking: Science and and Policy Policy (continued)(continued)

• Science and policy: “worst” is a policy decision• 1,000 people, 10-4 cancer risk ( 0.1cancer case)• 100,000 people, 10-5 cancer risk ( 1 cancer case)• 1,000,000 people, 10-6 cancer risk ( 1 cancer case)

• Simplifying assumptions/policy decisions

- All cancers are equal

- 10-6 cancer risk = reference close

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Identifying Hazardous Waste Identifying Hazardous Waste Problems Problems

Identifying Hazardous Waste Identifying Hazardous Waste Problems Problems

• Question #1: Is a hazardous waste present?

• Question #2: Is it mobile?

• Question #3: Is there a receptor?

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How to Rank How to Rank Hazardous Waste SitesHazardous Waste Sites

How to Rank How to Rank Hazardous Waste SitesHazardous Waste Sites

• Identify risk and assign value

• Identify required information

– Toxicity, quantity, bioaccumulation

– mobility

– Receptors ( people, environments, resources)

• Identify solution(s)

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Identifying the RisksIdentifying the RisksIdentifying the RisksIdentifying the Risks

• Is there a human health risk?

• Is the environment threatened?

• Is the socio-economic stability of the area

threatened?

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Perform TRIAGE/Assign ValuePerform TRIAGE/Assign ValuePerform TRIAGE/Assign ValuePerform TRIAGE/Assign Value

• Is there an immediate health risk?

• Is there long-term risk?

• Are the risks acceptable?

• What is the uncertainty?

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Assigning a ValueAssigning a ValueAssigning a ValueAssigning a Value

• Determine what constitutes a risk value

• Consider interrelationships among values

• Minimize influence of political conditions or

public opinion

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Site AssessmentSite Assessment

• Step #1: Characterize the hazardous

• wastes • Step #2: Consider routes of migration • Step #3: Evaluate the receptors

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Characterize the WasteCharacterize the Waste

• Identify the waste present • Confirm the source • Estimate quantities • Evaluate chemical properties

– mobility– persistence– toxicity– biocentration

•• continued...

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Routes of MigrationRoutes of MigrationRoutes of MigrationRoutes of Migration

• Groundwater

• Surface water

• Air

• Direct contact/Soil ingestion

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Example: Criteria MatrixExample: Criteria Matrix

Groundwater

Surface water

Air

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Other Factors That May Influence Site Other Factors That May Influence Site RankingRanking

Other Factors That May Influence Site Other Factors That May Influence Site RankingRanking

• Costs of cleanup

• Political factors

• Public opinion

• Potential for reuse

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Basic Program Elements for Program Basic Program Elements for Program Site RankingSite Ranking

Basic Program Elements for Program Basic Program Elements for Program Site RankingSite Ranking

• Inventory

• Review available information

• Sampling and analysis

• Document the findings

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InventoryInventoryInventoryInventory

• Regulatory program records

• Citizen complaints

• Industry sectors

• Remote sensing (e.g., aerial photography)

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Preliminary Assessment Review Preliminary Assessment Review Available InformationAvailable Information

Preliminary Assessment Review Preliminary Assessment Review Available InformationAvailable Information

• Contact local authorities

• Obtain historical information

• Evaluate current conditions

• Consider outside influences

• Evaluate reliability and quality of existing data

• Identify missing information

• Visually inspect the site

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SamplingSampling

• Develop a cost-effective strategy– minimum sampling needed to obtain results– location of samples– type of samples– sampling procedures and on-site equipment

• Consider alternative strategies– sample existing wells– collect wipe samples– air monitoring

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Field-Portable Technology Options Field-Portable Technology Options for Sampling for Sampling

Field-Portable Technology Options Field-Portable Technology Options for Sampling for Sampling

Description

Emits pulses of electromagnetic energy into the ground

Measures reflection and refraction by subsurface layers and other features

Identifies buried objects; for example, unexploded ordnance

Chemical-based indicator Detects and quantifies individual, or classes of

compounds Identifies explosives, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide,

volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Provides real-time measurements of concentrations of mercury in the air

Detects and quantifies individual metals or groups of metals, and lead paint

Identifies and quantifies VOCs, SVOCs, dioxins, furans, and pesticides

Technology

Ground-Penetrating Radar

Colorimetric Detector Tube

Mercury Vapor Analyzer

X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer

Portable Gas Chromatography

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Document the FindingsDocument the Findings

• Create a well-documented report– Identify data collection procedures– Report significant findings that resulted

in ranking decision• Establish credibility of decision-makers

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Establish a Consistent Reporting Establish a Consistent Reporting SystemSystem

• Benefits – Defines the criteria by which sites will be

evaluated– Facilitates the collection of information – Promotes a consistent approach for all types

of sites to answer the 3 basic questions:• Is there a hazardous waste? • Is it mobile?• Is there a receptor?

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Your Program Must Fit Your Your Program Must Fit Your Country’s SituationCountry’s Situation

• Cultural values• Societal relationships • Resources and Economy

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Hazardous Site RankingHazardous Site Ranking(Summary)(Summary)

• Establishes a consistent, defensible program for protecting human health and economic security:– Identifies immediate and potential threats to

human health and the environment– Identifies threats to economic security– Helps to set priorities and allocate resources

to those problems which need attention first

continued...

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Hazardous Site RankingHazardous Site Ranking(Summary)(Summary)

• Promotes the effective use of limited resources and expertise

• Ensures accountability and consistency nationally and internationally

• Encourages public involvement and support in identifying and responding to environmental problems

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Public Participation in the U.S.Public Participation in the U.S.

• U.S. law requires that the public:– be informed of planned and on-going activities– provided opportunity to comment on and

contribute to technical decisions made by EPA and other government agencies

• Public participation occurs throughout the process, from site discovery through cleanup

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Public Participation Public Participation Public Participation Public Participation

• Involve public in the decision-making process -- give them a sense of ownership

• Educate public about hazardous waste sites and the ranking program

• Address public concerns to alleviate fears about hazardous waste

• Demonstrate government responsiveness and accountability

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Why Involve the Public?Why Involve the Public?Why Involve the Public?Why Involve the Public?

• The public will gain understanding of issues and goals of the site ranking program

• Public funds are used to clean up sites• Encourages political support• Decisions made are defensible• Promotes economic security

– confidence in the environment– confidence in the manufactured products of

that environment

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How to Involve the PublicHow to Involve the PublicHow to Involve the PublicHow to Involve the Public

• Meet informally with residents, special interest groups, and industry

• Distribute information about the program• Make information available for review and

comment at publicly-accessible locations• Inform public of government’s responses to

comments

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Benefits of Public ParticipationBenefits of Public ParticipationBenefits of Public ParticipationBenefits of Public Participation

• Promotes public support of the program– Public is informed of the facts, rather than

developing uninformed opinions– Reduces conflict among government and

public• Encourages a rational, not emotional, reaction to

environmental concerns

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ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

• A defined, defensible program, accepted by government and the public, is necessary– to ensure environmental integrity– to retain control of environmental programs

• A good environment program makes economic good sense

• Defensible site ranking program has international benefits