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 ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- |