United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
5204G
ERA 54O-F-OO-O23
OSWER9200.2-42FS
March 2001
xvEPA
EPA Achieves 757th Construction Completion
Superfund is getting the job done. As of September 30,
2000, 757 Superfund sites had reached construction
completion. This is double the total of construction
completions only five years ago. Over half of the 1450
sites on the National Priorities List have now reached
this stage of the cleanup process.
EPA is committed to continued progress in cleaning up
hazardous waste sites. More than ever, the Superfund
program is working with communities to do this in ways
that will enhance future beneficial uses of the site. The
result is communities that are not only safer, but which
have better residential, recreational and commercial
opportunities.
r- "Working together with communities.. . we have made
i_ Superfund work fairer, faster and more cost-effectively
jp- to protect the public health of the one in every four
^ Americans who lives within three miles of a toxic waste
!f site, including ten million children."
f Carol Browner
;[ Administrator, U.S. EPA
jg=- Speaking at the Pepe Field Superfund site
^ in Boonton, NJ
' November 28, 2000
MOVING MORE SITES TO
Construction Completion
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Superjund Today
Focus ON CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION
Celebration of the Cleanup at
Pepe Field, NJ
Pepe Field in Morris County, New Jersey
was the 750th Superfund site to reach the
construction completion milestone.
The Threat. Pepe Field is a three-
acre recreational area in the
middle of a residential
neighborhood of Boonton. From
the 1920s to 1950 the site had
been used as an industrial landfill.
In the early 1970s the town built a
playground, tennis court and its
only Little League field on the
property. The site was closed in
1984 because of health threats
posed by decay of waste material
beneath the site.
The Cleanup. EPA coordinated
closely with the State of New
Jersey and town officials in
planning and conducting the
cleanup. The specifications for the
work incorporated the nearby
neighbors' conceptual plan for the
restoration of the recreational
facilities. The cleanup effort
stabilized or excavated 85,000 tons
of material and relocated two
families whose houses were built
on top of contaminated waste.
Special precautions had to be
taken to minimize odors, dust,
noise and traffic problems which
arose during the two years of
active work at the site. The total
cost pf the cleanup was $16
million.
The Result. For the first time in a
generation, Little League will be
played in Boonton. As a result of
the collaboration between EPA
and the community during the
cleanup, residents now have a
clean and safe recreational space
of their own design that they will
put to good use.
CELEBRATING 757 CONSTRUCTION COMPLETIONS
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Superfund Today
Focus ON CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION
What Is
Construction Completion ?
A: sites where construction is completed, there is no
onger a threat to the health and well-being of the
surrounding community. EPA has designed and built a
remedy which prevents contaminants from spreading
through the soil, surface water, or ground water. The site
may very well be ready for some new beneficial use.
fe- " *
I A construction completion occurs when three
|~ conditions have been met:
f
| 1. No further on-site construction is necessary. :
|" 2. All immediate threats have been eliminated.
jr 3. All long-term threats are under control.
There are several ways a site may reach construction
completion. The three most common approaches are:
Containment. EPA covers the site or somehow
confines the hazardous material. Drains and gas
collection systems may be installed to capture anything
that leaks from the site.
Removal. EPA digs up and removes all toxic materials
and soils and disposes of them at a licensed hazardous
waste landfill.
Treatment. EPA uses an on-site technology, such as
soil washing, air stripping or incineration, to destroy
any hazardous materials or render them harmless.
A site may reach construction completion without all
cleanup work being finished. There still may be some
ongoing operation, such as pumping and treating
Construction Completion
Information
^---- — - - :-.---.- . •
Contact the Superfund Docket to obtain these
publications:
^ • Common Cleanup Methods at Superfund Sites.
r 1994. U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and
IP- > Emergency Response. EPA-540-R-94-043.
p * Superfund Post Remediation Accomplishments:
p^- Uses of the Land and Environmental
£ Achievements, Volume 1. 1996. U.S. EPA,
p" Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
£_ EPA-540-R-94-007.
£°" • Close Out Procedures for NPL Sites. 2000.
JE— •. U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
|_ Response. EPA-540-R-98-016.
| ^ Superfund Docket^ (703) 603-9232 or
"_ superfund.docket@epa.gov
ground water. However, EPA will not count a site as a
construction completion if there is still a risk posed to
public health or the environment. Once a site has
reached construction completion, it may be ready for
some recreational, economic or environmental use. Turn
to Page 7 to learn more about how a former Superfund
site may become a business area, a park, or some other
community asset.
- Removals can occur at any time-
Site
Discovery
Site Placed on
National
Priorities List
(NPL)
Remedial
Investigation/
Feasibility Study
Remedial
Design
Remedial
Action
Construction Site Deletion
Completion from NPL
CELEBRATING 757 CONSTRUCTION COMPLETIONS
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Superfttnd Today
Focus ON CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION
Construction Completion Statistics
Number and Tppes of NPL Sites
Construction
Completion
Progress
As of September 30, 2000,
over 50% of the 1,450 final
or deleted NPL sites were in
construction completion.
283 NPL sites are not yet
in the construction phase
(20%) \
410 NPL sites have
construction underway
(28%)
757 NPL sites are in
construction completion
(52%)
Landfill (0
Industrial Waste (I)
Ground Water (G)
Manufacturing Plant (M)
Inorganic Waste (J)
Chemical Plant (B)
Well (W)
Lagoon (P)
Housing Area/Farm (H)
Waterway/Creek/River (V)
Military Related (N)
Mine/Tailings (T)
Radioactive Site (R)
Other (O)
Types of
Construction
Completion Sites
Each of the 757 construction
completion sites is
characterized and placed into
site-type categories. Some
sites fall into multiple
categories due to site-specific
complexities.
CELEBRATING 757 CONSTRUCTION COMPLETIONS
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Snperfund Today
Focus ON CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION
Construction Completion Statistics
Site Leads and Technologies Used
Other Lead
28 sites (4%)
Responsible Party Lead
474 sites (62%)
State Lead /
52 sites (7%)
EPA Lead
174 sites (23%)
Federal Facility Lead
29 sites (4%)
Who Managed
the Construction
Completion?
Various parties direct
activities at Superfund sites.
This pie chart portrays the
party in charge of the site
when construction completion
occurred.
Cleanup
Technologies Used
at Superfund's 757
Construction
Completion Sites
The cleanup technologies
listed here are those used at
the current total of 757
construction completion sites.
Many sites need more than
one type of technology.
Containment:
Excavation and Removal 352
Surface Capping/Soil Cover 343
Surface Drainage Control 197
Backfilling 116
Solidification/Stabilization & Immobilization 68
Treatment:
Ground Water Pump & Treat 284
Air Stripping 106
Incineration
-On Site 36
-Off Site 42
Innovative Technologies
— Soil Vapor Extraction g6
- Bioremediation 36
- Thermal Desorption \\
— Dechlorination 6
- In-Situ Flushing 15
— Soil Washing 9
Other Actions:
Ground Water Morutoring/Wells 590
Institutional Controls 368
Alternate Water Supplies 99
CELEBRATING 757 CONSTRUCTION COMPLETIONS
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Superfitnd Today
Focus ON CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION
Technology Advances in Cleanup
Figure 1:
Types of Cleanup at NPL Sites (FY 1982-FY 1999)
Treatment 58%
The maturity of the Superfund program is reflected in the suite of
technologies now being used to remediate sites on the NPL. Many of these
technologies were not available in the early 1980s. Remedies at Superfund sites
vary depending on the severity of the contamination, the nature of the
contaminant, and the risk presented to human health and the environment.
Treatment of contaminated media is the most aggressive remedial option, and is
part of the remedy at 58% of NPL sites through 1999 (Figure 1). Fifteen percent
of the sites use containment and/or off-site disposal as the most aggressive source
control remedy, while seven percent of the sites were found to require no further
action. (The balance of sites
receive a variety of protective
measures such as alternative
drinking water supplies,
decontamination of build-
ings, or fish advisories.)
Since Superfund's inception
many technological advances
have been made in treatment
technologies permitting EPA
and regulated parties to tackle problems that previously would have been
prohibitively costly or technically infeasible. Many of these advances have
come by means of "in situ" treatment technologies, those in which the
contaminated medium is treated in place, without the need for excavating soils
or pumping of ground water. A good example is soil vapor extraction (SVE).
There are currently 190 planned, operational, or completed SVE projects at
Superfund sites. In situ technology applications currently account for 42% of
all source control remediation decisions made for Superfund sites (Figure 2).
The remediation of contaminated ground water is also experiencing advances,
offering Project Managers more options in dealing with complex problems. One
of the notable advances in ground water remediation comes from Permeable
Reactive Barriers, a cost effective technology using the natural flow of ground
water to pass it through a "filter" trenched across its path.
No Action Or No
Further Action 7%
Non-Treatment
Ground Water
Remedy Only 2%
No Record Of
Decision 17%
Other Source Control 1 %
Source: U.S. EPA Technology Innovation Office
Containment or Off-Site
Disposal 15%
Figure 2:
Applications of Source Control Treatment Technologies (FY 1982-FY 1999)
Ex Situ Technologies 58%
Other (ex situ)' 4%
Chemical Treatment 2%'
Incineration (on-site) 6%
Btoremedfation 7%'
Thermal Desorption 8%'
Incineration (off-site) 13%
Sdkiflcatkm/Stabization 18%
In Situ Technologies 42%
Soil \&por Extraction 26%
In Situ Solidification/Stabilization 6%
In Situ Bioremediation 5%
Soil flushing 2%
Other (in situ)' 3%
Source: U.S. EPA Technology Innovation Office
Spotlight
on Technology
• The Big Three Treatment
Technologies (# of Projects)
• Soil Vapor
Extraction 201
• Solidification/
Stabilization 183
• Incineration 136
• The Rising Stars
(# of Projects)
« Bioremediation 84
/ • Air Sparging 48
t • Phytoremediation 9
See Treatment Technologies
for Site Cleanup; Annual
Status Report (10th Edition)
(EPA 542-R-01-004). I
Superfund has also embraced recent
field-based measurement and
monitoring technology advances.
These technologies reduce the time
needed to determine the nature and
extent of contamination, track
progress of an active remedy, and
offer reliable cost-effective options
for monitoring longer term remedies
such as pump and treat systems.
For more information on
innovative technologies for the
remediation or characterization
of hazardous waste visit the
Technology Innovations Office
Website at www.epa.gov/tio.
CELEBRATING 757 CONSTRUCTION COMPLETIONS
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Super/und Today
Focus ON CONSTRUCTION COMPI/ETION
Ready for
Contrary to the image of Superfund sites as toxic and barren eyesores, after construction completion sites
may be used for office parks, recreation, industrial centers, shopping malls, residences and wetlands. Sites that
were once abandoned or underused have now become valuable community resources. Locations that once pulled the
local economy down are now generating new tax revenue and serving as catalysts for broader revitalization. There
have already been more than 170 reuse success stories at Superfund sites all over the country.
Reuse can create many benefits for
communities, including new jobs,
higher property values,
recreational opportunities and
environmental amenities.
Planning for productive reuse must
be a partnership effort. The best
outcome is the result of active
participation by representatives
from all parts of the community
(homeowners, local officials,
businesses, civic groups,
grassroots organizations,
educators, etc). Community
representatives should be engaged
early in the site planning process
to think creatively about reuse
opportunities and to help make the
decisions about what will be done.
Chisman Creel
For 17 years a local contractor used me^l&nclone'a' sancland gravel pits to
dump more than 500,000 tons of fly ash. EPA, York County and Virginia
Power formed a partnership to coordinate the site cleanup and redevelopment.
This partnership not only created two successful recreational facilities, but
earned an Environmental Achievement Award from the National
Environmental Awards Council.
Bangor Gas Wor^f/nr^^i^
Vast quantities of coal tar were storedm large underground tanks and
subsurface pools on this sites. After cleanup, a company bought the property
and built a nicely landscaped, full-service supermarket that serves a
predominantly low income neighborhood. The redevelopment of this site has
spurred other projects nearby, including two restaurants, housing units for the
elderly, and plans for three department stores.
Silver Mountain
When this mine closed, it left behind 7,DO'0 tons'__._, ,^
tailings and a basin filled with 20,000 gallons of contaminated water. Thanks
to a collaborative effort between EPA, the State, the community and a local
rancher, the toxic materials have been contained so that portions of the site
can once again be used for grazing cattle.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION ...
f Superfund Home Page: www.epa.gov/superfund
.Ij— . . .•'.-' ........... ....-•.. -: :
F EPA Home Page: www.epa.gov
j- EPA Superfund Hotline: (800) 424-9346 or TDD: (800)553-7672 • www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hotline/htm
\-Superfund Docket: (703) 603-9232 • superfund.dockef@epa.gov
EPA Technology Innovation Office CLU-IN Database (Cleanup Information): -www.clit-m.com
EPA Headquarters Library: 401 M. Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20460 • (202) 260-5921
CELEBRATING 757 CONSTRUCTION COMP:
'LETIONS
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Superfimd Today
~., Focus ON CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION
NUMBER OF
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION SITES Br STATE
Alabama
4 SITES
Alaska
3 SITES
American Samoa
1 SITE
Arizona
5 SITES
Arkansas
10 SITES
California
39 SITES
Colorado
6 SITES
Connecticut
7 SITES
Delaware
13 SITES
District of Columbia
0 SITES
Florida
39 SITES
Georgia
9 SITES
Guam
1 SITES
£T/»p/w
1 SITE
Idaho
5 SITES
Illinois
16 SITES
Indiana
24 SITES
16 SITES
6 SITES
.Ktfwfwcfcy
17 SITES
Louisiana-
10 SITES
6 SITES
Maryland
4 SITES
Massachusetts
12 SITES
56 SITES
35 SITES
Mississippi
3 SITES
Afmowrj
14 SITES
3 SITES
3 SITES
^fev«u£0
0 SITES
New Hampshire
11 SITES
New Jersey
45 SITES .
New Mexico
9 SITES
JVew fork
44 SITES
North Carolina
13 SITES
North Dakota
2 SITES
Northern Marianas
1 SITE
O/ra'o
25 SITES
6 SITES
Oregon
-5 SITES
PmfwyMjwwfc
63 SITES
Puerto Rico
8 SITES
Rhode Island
4 SITES
South Carolina
19 SITES
South Dakota
3 SITES
12 SITES
Texas
18 SITES
Trust Territories
1 SITE
8 SITES
Vermont
6 SITES
Virgin Islands
0 SITES
11 SITES
Washington
38 SITES
West Virginia
~L SITE
•5 C nTfm-°n
35 SITES
Wvomina
1 SITE ~
xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency (MC 5202G)
Superfund Document
Center
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
CELEBRATING 757 CONSTRUCTION COMPLETIONS
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