c/EPA
           United States
           Environmental Protection
           Agency
                      EPA/600, 8-87'050
                      Sept 1987
           Research and Development
Superfund

Research,
Development, and
Demonstration
Strategy and
Program Plan

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                            EPA/600/8-87/050
                             September 1987
            Superfund

     Research, Development, and
Demonstration Strategy and Program
                  Plan
      Office of Research and Development
     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                        U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                         -•--'.-< ",, Library (5PL-16)
                         ... •  :>-< ?-"bcra Street, Room 1670
                        l.aicago, 1L  60604

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                    NOTICE

This document has been reviewed in accordance with
   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and
 approved for publication. Mention of trade names or
      commercial products does not constitute
      endorsement or recommendation for use.

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                                   Table of Contents

PREFACE 	  ii
TABLE OF ACRONYMS   	  iii
1.  INTRODUCTION  	  1
      1.1 Background  	  1
      1.2 New Research Mandates 	  1
2.  RESEARCH FRAMEWORK  	.2
      2.1 Research Issues  	  2
         2.1.1  Risk Assessment Research  	  5
         2.1.2  Risk Reduction Research  	  5
         2.1.3  Technical Support  	  5
      2.2 Relationship to Other Research  	  6
         2.2.1  Grants Research  	  6
         2.2.2  Other Federal Research  	  6
      2.3 Roles and Responsibilities 	  7
         2.3.1  Research Committee  	  7
         2.3.2  Tracking  	  9
3.  RISK ASSESSMENT RESEARCH  	  9
      3.1 Objectives and Goals 	  9
      3.2 Risk Characterization 	  10
         3.2.1  Site Assessment Support  	  10
         3.2.2  Chemical Mixtures 	  10
      3.3 Exposure Assessment 	  10
         3.3.1  Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism  	  11
         3.3.2  Biomarkers  	  11
         3.3.3  Environmental Assessment  	  11
      3.4 Health Assessment  	  12
         3.4.1  Reproductive Risk Assessment  	  12
         3.4.2  Neurotoxicology 	  12
         3.4.3  Carcinogenicity 	  12
         3.4.4  Immunotoxicology 	  12
      3.5 Expected Accomplishments  	  13
4.  RISK REDUCTION RESEARCH  	  13
      4.1 Goals, Objectives, and Approach	  13
      4.2 New or Improved Technologies  	  14
         4.2.1  Technologies for Site Surface Cleanup  	  14
         4.2.2  Technologies for Ground-Water Cleanup  	  15
      4.3 SITE Program 	  16
         4.3.1  Demonstration Program  	  16
         4.3.2  Development Program  	  17
      4.4 Personnel Protection 	  17
      4.5 Related Work 	  17
      4.6 Expected Accomplishments  	  18
5.  TECHNICAL SUPPORT 	  18
      5.1 Technical Services 	  19
         5.1.1  Quality Assurance  	  19
         5.1.2  Reportable Quantities  	  19
         5.1.3  Site-Specific Risk Assessments  	  19
         5.1.4  Remote Sensing and Aerial Photography  	  19
      5.2 Scientific and Engineering Expertise   	  19
         5.2.1  Enforcement Support  	  19
         5.2.2  Remedial Action Support  	 20
      5.3 Training and Technology Transfer  	 20
      5.4 Expected Accomplishments  	 21
6.  RESOURCES  	 21

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                                 PREFACE

     The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) explicitly
authorized the Environmental Protection Agency, in concert with several other agencies,
to conduct hazardous waste research, development,  and demonstrations and  to
aggressively pursue a program of technology transfer and training.

     EPA's Office of Research and  Development, working with representatives of the
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Regions, States,  and other federal
agencies, has developed this research strategy as the most appropriate course to follow
over the next few years.

     EPA's research programs are governed by  a policy of risk management, which
combines qualitative and quantitative aspects of risk assessment with risk avoidance and
risk reduction.  In addition, the Agency maintains a strong program of technical support,
principally focused on Regional, state and local government audiences concerned with
regulations, permits, and enforcement.  Risk management is  therefore the endpoint
around which the Superfund Research Strategy is built.
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                               TABLE OF ACRONYMS

AEERL            Air and Engineering Research Laboratory
ATSDR           Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
CEPP             Chemical Emergency Preparedness [Staff; OSWER]
CERCLA          Comprehensive Environmental  Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
                 [ = Superfund]
CLP              Contract Laboratory Program
DOD             U.S. Department of Defense
DOE             U.S. Department of Energy
HERL             Health Effects Research Laboratory
HHS             U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HWERL          Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory
HSWA           Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1986
IRIS              Integrated Risk Information System
LOEL             Lowest Observed Effects Level
NIEHS            National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences
NOEL            No Observed Effects Level
OADEMQA       Office of Acid Deposition, Environmental Monitoring, and Quality Assurance [ORD]
OEETD           Office of Environmental Engineering and Technology Demonstration [ORD]
OEPER           Office of Environmental Processes and  Effects Research [ORD]
OERR            Office of Emergency and Remedial Response [OSWER]
OHEA            Office of Health and Environmental Assessment [ORD]
OHR             Office of Health Research [ORD]
OPA             Office of Policy Analysis [ORD]
OPMT            Office of Program  Management and Technology [OSWER]
OPP             Office of Pesticide Programs [OPTS]
OPPE            Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
OPTS            Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances
ORD             Office of Research and Development
ORPM            Office of Research Program  Management [ORD]
OSW             Office of Solid Waste [OSWER]
OSWER          Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
OUST            Office of Underground Storage Tanks [OSWER]
OWPE           Office of Waste Programs Enforcement [OSWER]
PCS              Program Coordination Staff [ORD]
PPA             Planned Program Activity
PRP              Potentially Responsible Party
QA/QC           Quality Assurance/Quality Control
RAC             Risk Assessment Council
RCRA            Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
RD&D            Research,  Development, and Demonstration
RFA             Request for Applications
R/D             Reference Dose
RI/FS             Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
SAR             Structure Activity Relationship
SARA            Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986
SITE             Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation
T&E             Test and Evaluation
USGS            United States Geological Survey
VOC             Volatile Organic Compound
                                           - v-

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                                  1.  INTRODUCTION

   This research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) strategy not only describes the Office of
Research and Development (ORD) Superfund research program but other ORD support relevant to the
Superfund program mission.  It is intended to guide the Superfund Office and the Agency in setting
research priorities and allocating resources; to aid in coordination among Federal agencies that conduct
Superfund-related research; and to assist ORD scientists and engineers  in understanding the program-
matic context of their work. Covering the five-year period FY87 through FY91, the strategy comprises all
Superfund research work undertaken by the ORD offices and laboratories, and refers to related research
conducted by ORD under other statutes.

   The Superfund RD&D program is generally structured to conform with the Agency's risk-assessment
and risk-management decision process.  This research  framework mirrors the procedures used in the
Superfund Program:  assessments are conducted at each site to determine specific health and ecological
risks; then, if needed, options are formulated and evaluated to determine what remedial actions can be
taken to reduce the risk to acceptable levels.   Risk managers rely on this  scientific  and technical
information to make cleanup decisions.

1.1 Background

   The original Superfund law—the Comprehensive Environmental  Response,  Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980(CERCLA)—was envisioned as a cleanup effort that would use existing knowledge to
assess and clean up the nation's abandoned hazardous waste sites. That attitude has changed markedly.
It is now widely recognized that better tools and information are needed to assess risks  at sites, to
understand potential effects on human health and the environment,  and to  provide reliable cleanup
solutions.

   CERCLA did not explicitly authorize research and development activities.  However, ORD  provided
extensive technical support to the Superfund program in several areas, including  development of
techniques and procedures needed to assess sites and  situations; evaluation of technologies to manage
uncontrolled waste sites;  information and procedures on personnel protection technologies; direct
technical assistance to enforcement and Superfund offices, and the EPA regional offices; and technical
oversight of data quality assurance.

   The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization  Act of 1986 (SARA) was signed by President
Reagan on October  17, 1986.  The amendments made major changes  to the original Superfund law,
including strict cleanup standards strongly favoring permanent remedies at waste sites, stronger EPA
control in settlement with parties responsible for waste sites,  a mandatory schedule for initiation of
cleanup work and studies, assessment of the potential  threats to human.health posed by each waste site,
and increased state and public involvement in the cleanup decisionmaking process.

   In particular, two SARA requirements directly affect research priorities: the need  for better assess-
ment of health risks posed by Superfund sites and treatment technologies that offer  permanent
protection of human health  and the environment.  The new requirements on cleanup standards
illustrate the statutory intent in these areas. SARA requires that remedial actions protect human health
and the environment, be cost-effective, and be  in accordance with the requirements of the National
Contingency Plan.  They must use, to the maximum extent practical, permanent solutions and alternative
treatment or resource  recovery technologies. Each technology must be evaluated to determine its
long-term effectiveness.  Finally, remedial actions must attain the  legally applicable Federal and State
standards, requirements, criteria, or limitations.  If a remedial action results in any hazardous substance
remaining on site, the remedy must be reviewed at least every five years and, if needed, additional
action must be taken to ensure the protection of human health and the environment.

1.2 New Research Mandates

   To help achieve these ambitious goals, SARA adds the following major new authorities for RD&D in
EPA and other Federal agencies:
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 • Section 209 of SARA amends CERCLA by adding a  §311(b), which authorizes an EPA program of
   research, evaluation, testing, development, and demonstration of alternative  or innovative
   treatment technologies that may be utilized in response actions to achieve more permanent
   protection of human health and welfare and the environment.

 • Section 209 [now §311(c)] authorizes EPA to conduct and support, through grants, cooperative
   agreements, and contracts, research on the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects and
   risks to human health from hazardous  substances and detection of hazardous substances in the
   environment.

 • Section 209 [now §311(d)] authorizes the establishment by EPA of up to 10 hazardous substance
   research centers to conduct research and provide training on the manufacture, use, transportation,
   disposal,  and  management of hazardous substances, and publication and  dissemination of the
   results.

 • Section 110 [now §104(i)] authorizes a  research program at the Agency  for Toxic Substances and
   Disease Registry to develop appropriate methods to determine the  health  effects of hazardous
   substances frequently found at Superfund sites.  In addition to programmatic responsibility, research
   at ATSDR shall seek  to develop methods to determine the health effects of such substances in
   combination with other substances (complex mixtures).

 • Section 209 [now §311(a)] authorizes a program at the National Institute  for Environmental Health
   Sciences (NIEHS) to develop advanced techniques for detection and evaluation of the effects on
   human health of hazardous substances; methods to assess the  risks to human health presented by
   hazardous substances; methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the  environ-
   ment; and basic biological, chemical, and  physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of
   hazardous substances.

 • Section 211 amends Title 10 of the United States Code (Chapter 160, Environmental Restoration) and
   authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program of research, development and
   demonstration with respect to hazardous waste.  The Department of Defense program is directed
   towards a reduction in the quantities of  hazardous wastes; methods for treatment, disposal, and
   management (including recycling and detoxification); identification of more cost-effective cleanup
   technologies; toxicological data collection and methodology on risk of exposure; and the testing,
   evaluation, and field demonstration of innovative technologies.


                             2. RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

   The overall objective of the Superfund RD&D program is to improve the technical and scientific basis
of the Agency's risk management decisions at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.

   The Superfund RD&D program in ORD will improve the risk assessment and risk reduction capabili-
ties of the program offices, Regions, States,  and potentially responsible parties (PRPs),  and  will help
ensure that effective cleanup solutions are implemented. A viable research program depends upon
strong in-house research expertise and state-of-the-art research facilities.  This expertise can then
support the cleanup and enforcement activities of Superfund through guidance and technical leader-
ship.  This chapter lays out the rationale and structure of ORD's research strategy, and shows how the
research issues fit within the overall  risk management framework of the Agency. Subsequent chapters
describe each research segment in detail.

2.1  Research Issues

   The Superfund research program addresses nine broad technical issues (Table 1) that represent the
needs of the Superfund Office and are used as a framework for planning, budgeting, and justifying the
RD&D program.
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                           Table 1. Super-fund Research Issues
               ISSUE
                     OBJECTIVE
 Site and Situation Assessment
  Health Effects and Risk
  Assessment
  Technology Evaluation
  Innovative and Alternative
  Technology RD&D

  Personnel Protective
  Equipment
  Reportable Quantities
 Technical Support

 Quality Assurance
 Technology Transfer
Provide techniques and procedures to allow on-scene coor-
dinators to quickly and effectively assess the degree of hazard
posed at specific sites.
Conduct research and development to detect and evaluate
risks and effects on human health from hazardous substances.

Assess the technologies, techniques, and construction
materials that may provide cost-effective control of hazardous
releases.

Conduct research, development, and demonstration that
promote commercialization of alternative treatment and
monitoring technologies.

Evaluate technologies needed to ensure personnel health and
safety during removal and cleanup operations.

Provide information on carcinogenicity or chronic health
effects needed by OERR to adjust reportable quantities for
specific chemicals.

Review remedial action design and implementation plans, and
provide technical expertise and review to OERR and OWPE.

Provide oversight to the national Contract Laboratory
Program, and develop analytical methods for chemical
measurements and characterization; review QA/QC plans.

Transmit Information to OERR, Regions, States, and local
authorities to assist in site cleanup.
   These nine technical issues may be grouped within two mission-oriented categories that together
support the risk assessment and risk reduction approach used by the Superfund Office.

 • RD&D includes the basic and  applied research and development program and the technology
   demonstration program.  It results in new or improved data  bases, risk assessment methods,
   detection methods for hazardous substances, and control technologies.  RD&D is subdivided into risk
   assessment research and risk reduction (control technology) research.

 • Technical support involves direct assistance by ORD scientists and engineers.  ORD  maintains
   hazardous substances and alternative technology data .bases, is responsible for the Integrated Risk
   Information System (IRIS), and  provides support to the  Risk Assessment Council and Risk Assessment
   Forum.  ORD also provides the quality assurance program for the Contract Laboratory Program and
   remote sensing in support of site assessment and enforcement actions.

   Figure 1 presents  the distribution of resources among the research issues for FY88.  In terms of
technical discipline, engineering comprises about  one-half of the total program;  monitoring about
one-quarter; and one-quarter is divided among environmental processes,  scientific assessment, health
effects, and exploratory research.  Table 2 shows how each of the nine issues relates to the research
                                           -3-

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                 Figure 1. Superfund Research by Issue
                                 (FY1988)
            Technology Transfer
   Innovative/Alternative
        Technology
          Quality Assurance
Site and Situation Assessment
           Technology Evaluation
               Personnel Protective
                    Equipment
                                                     Reportable Quantities
          Technical Support
    Health Effects/Risk
       Assessment
              Table 2. Superfund Research Issues by Program Need
         ISSUE
                                       RD&D
                               RISK
                           ASSESSMENT
         RISK
     REDUCTION
                       TECHNICAL
                        SUPPORT
Site and Situation Assessment
Health Effects/Risk Assessment
Technology Evaluation
Innovative and Alternative
Technology RD&D
Personnel Protective
Equipment
Reportable Quantities
Technical Support
Quality Assurance
Technology Transfer
                                     -4-

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categories.

    2.1.1 Risk Assessment Research

    Two separate classes of studies are conducted under this category:  human health risk assessment
and ecological risk assessment.  Assessments of risks to human health at Superfund sites are limited by
information on chemicals present at a site, insufficient toxicological information on many of the known
chemicals, and behavior of chemical mixtures. Currently, only four sets of guidelines for human health
effects risk assessment  exist:  carcinogenicity;  mutagenicity; chemical mixtures; and suspected
developmental toxicants.  These existing guidelines have served to define research needs that are now
being addressed by various ORD activities. Interim guidelines for male and female reproductive risk
assessment are scheduled for publication in the Federal Register in late fall of 1987.  Future research will
expand the methodologies to include reproductive and developmental effects, immunological effects,
neurotoxic effects, and the effects on sensitive populations.

    Additional procedures will be developed to ensure that the existing guidelines and any subsequent
assessment  methods  are used  appropriately.  This will allow the general  public  and  industry to
understand EPA's risk  assessment process, will  provide an understanding of the uncertainties associated
with risk assessment methods, and will result in clearer communication of risk to the public.

    The long-term goal of the  ecological  risk assessment program is to develop procedures that will
predict the ecological  consequences from existing Superfund sites, including the long-term effectiveness
of remedial actions.  Currently, there are no uniform ecological risk assessment guidelines to ensure
consistency for different Superfund sites.  Ecological risk assessment research  will improve  current
methods to account for environmental effects related to incremental dosage, compensate for differ-
ences between laboratory tests and  actual field populations, include estimates of indirect effects of
toxicants, improve predictive reliability, and improve the characterization of uncertainties.  General
approaches and procedures will be developed to ensure that ecological  risk assessment methodologies
are available for analyzing Superfund sites before, during, and after cleanup.

    2.1.2 Risk Reduction Research

    While human health and ecological risk assessments define existing or expected  risks, implemen-
tation of control technologies actually mitigate or eliminate the risks associated with Superfund sites.

    Superfund sites contain various hazardous chemicals  and chemical  mixtures, in several different
forms: liquids, solids,  gases, and sludges.  The goal of risk reduction  RD&D is to identify, evaluate and
provide permanent treatment and containment technologies  needed  to clean up Superfund sites,
including polluted aquifers.

    The challenge is to provide effective control technologies that can treat complex mixtures in various
forms and achieve very high risk reduction efficiencies for pollutants that are toxic at low concentrations
without transferring those risks elsewhere.

    2.1.3 Technical Support

    The Superfund program is action-oriented.  SARA establishes ambitious schedules  for investigating
and cleaning up Superfund sites. To help meet these schedules, ORD will provide comprehensive
technical support to the Superfund and enforcement offices,  Regional Offices, states, and  private
industry.

    The major technical support  activities utilize ORD's technical expertise and facilities to provide timely
technical services, data and protocols, training and technology  transfer.  These activities are primarily
site-specific and assist in determining the cleanup requirements and  the resultant selection of cleanup
technologies This is high-priority work that offers scientists and engineers an opportunity to transfer
the latest research knowledge directly to clean  up actions.   In addition, Superfund research entails a
significant quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) effort,  designed to ensure that data are
                                             -5-

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documented and of acceptable quality.  ORD provides control samples and oversees QA/QC throughout
the Superfund Contract Laboratory Program.

    This research strategy will describe the major informational gaps (data, methods, and technologies)
that remain relative to Superfund site-specific risk assessments and risk reduction options.  However,
ORD develops similar or related methods and data in support of other Agency programs carried out
under different statutes.  The high-priority work identified in this plan will complement ongoing and
future related work being conducted in support of the other non-Superfund programs.  Where there is
any overlap or similar relationship,  it will  describe how the work will be coordinated and  result  in
'appropriate and useful tools for Superfund site-specific risk assessments and risk management actions

2.2 Relationship to Other Research

    2.2.1 Grants Research

    An additional aspect of the Superfund research  program is its support of research grants on risk
assessment and risk  reduction to independent universities and research institutes. Specific research
topics, chosen for their relevance to Superfund problems, are solicited through Requests for Applications
(RFAs), which are issued  as flyers and published in selected journals.  Formal grant applications
responding  to RFAs  are selected  for support on the basis of technical peer  reviews   In  FY87, the
Superfund  Grants Program will  issue two  RFAs with the following  titles:  (1) development  of
technologies for the  in situ treatment of hazardous materials and (2) development of measurement and
monitoring  methods. In both cases, projects will be supported for a maximum  of three years.  Projects
will include new approaches, but for the most  part will  be adaptations of existing technologies.
Emphasis will be on projects that have high potential for near-term applicability at Superfund sites.

    2.2.2 Other Federal Research

    SARA requires a  comprehensive and coordinated  Federal program of RD&D and training to support
the Superfund cleanup effort.  Research programs are authorized in two Federal agencies in addition to
 EPA: the Department of Health and Human Services  (HHS) in health-related areas and the Department
of Defense (DOD) in technology.  Substantial coordination has occurred between all three agencies to
ensure an integrated Federal research effort and to avoid duplication of effort

    Health-Related Research

    Table 3 highlights the research and operational activities of EPA and HHS offices.  The National
 Institute of Environmental Health Sciences  (NIEHS) supports multidisciplinary biomedical research
through grants to universities.  EPA conducts applied research to detect, evaluate, or assess effects and
 risks  to human health  from hazardous substances.   EPA's research program will focus on the
 development and evaluation of lexicological test methods, exposure assessment methodology, and risk
 assessment techniques.  The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)  is authorized to
 conduct research related  to  its population-based health assessment responsibilities,  which  involve
 human exposure test methods,  human health effects, epidemiological studies, site-specific health
 assessments, chemical-specific toxicological profiles, disease registries, and toxicological testing

    SARA does not  clearly differentiate among research areas and agencies.  Instead, each agency's
 program is centered on different areas related to its particular expertise:  NIEHS supports basic university
 biomedical  research; EPA conducts and supports applied research  that will provide the information
 needed to assess risks at sites; and ATSDR conducts human population research and toxicological testing.

    ORD, ATSDR, and NIEHS have taken steps toward coordinating research activities. Each agency's
 research plans have  been  circulated among scientists from the other agencies for review.  Opportunities
 for collaborative research have been identified, as well as areas where close coordination of projects will
 be needed. The EPA Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, the Associate Administra-
 tor of ATSDR, and the Director of NIEHS plan to meet at least quarterly to discuss research  plans and
 resolve issues.
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             Table 3. Superfund Health Research in EPA, NIEHS. and ATSDR
Basic Research
HHS/NIEHS
Biomedical
Interdisciplinary
Toxicological
Studies



EPA/ORD
Monitoring
Ecological
Engineering
Health


Applied Research
HHS/ATSDR
Epidemiological
Studies
Health
Surveillance
Systems
Toxicological
Testing
Human
Exposure
Assessment
Occupational
Safety and
Worker Health
Clinical
Toxicology
EPA/ORD
Animal
Toxicology
Extrapolation
Methods and
Models
Risk Assessment
and Characteri-
zation
Exposure
Prediction and
Modeling
Fate and
Transport
Monitoring and
Engineering
Operational Activities
HHS/ATSDR
Health
Assessments
Toxicological
Profiles
Disease
Registries
Surveillance
Systems
Worker
Protection
Risk Com-
munication
EPA
Risk
Assessment/Risk
Management
Technology
Demonstration
RI/FS
Response
Actions
Enforcement

   Technology-Related RD&D

   SARA also authorizes Superfund RD&D in DOD to support its Environmental Restoration Program.  A
DOD and EPA working group was established in 1985 to explore cooperative research efforts that could
be undertaken on hazardous waste technology. In 1986, the Department of Energy (DOE) joined the
working group.  While not directly authorized to conduct Superfund research, DOE is interested  in
cooperating  on the development and demonstration of cost-effective and long-term solutions to
hazardous waste problems that may be applicable to DOE facilities. Over 30 cooperative RD&D projects
are currently underway as a result of this EPA, DOD, and DOE working group.

2.3 Roles and Responsibilities

   While the Superfund research program is the responsibility of the Assistant Administrator for
Research and Development, all Superfund resources remain the responsibility of the Superfund National
Program  Manager—the Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER)
through the  Director  of the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR).  This division of
authorities is unique within the EPA research program, and requires extremely close cooperation and
working relationships  between ORD and OSWER managers and technical staffs.

   2.3.1  Research Committee

   ORD's research programs are guided by a combination of formal and informal input from program
offices and Regions.  The  Hazardous Waste/Superfund Research Committee, one of six ORD/program
office/Regional advisory committees to the Assistant Administrator for ORD, is jointly chaired by Office
Directors representing ORD and OSWER.  Three standing subcommittees—Superfund Research, Tech-
nology Transfer, and Hazardous Waste Research—are also jointly chaired by ORD and  Program Office
personnel. The Superfund research program is primarily coordinated by the co-chairs of the Superfund
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Research Subcommittee, although the Technology Transfer and the Hazardous Waste Subcommittees
are responsible for the integrated technology transfer programs and the Hazardous Releases research
issues, respectively. The majority of hazardous waste research supports RCRA and HSWA, and will not be
considered further in this document.

    The Director of the Office of Environmental Engineering and Technology Development (OEETD) and
the Director of the Office of Program Management and Technology (OPMT) are, respectively, the co-
chairs for ORD and OSWER. Members and Subcommittee Co-chairs are shown in Table 4.

               Table 4. Hazardous Waste/Superfund Research Committee
    Office of Research and
        Development
     Regions and Other
         Members
 Office of Solid Waste and
   Emergency Response
 John Skinner, OEETD, Co-Chair
 Fred Lindsey, OEETD
 Darwin Wright,* OEETD
 Jay Benforado,* ORD
 Tom Miller, ORPM/PCS
 MikeCallahan.OHEA
 Tom Hauser, OEETD/HWERL
 Richard Phillips, OHR/HERL
 Clint Hall, OEPER/RSKERL-Ada
 Cal Lawrence,* ORPM/CERI
 Bob Snelling, OADEMQA
  EMSL-LV

 'Co-Chair, Hazardous Waste
 Subcommittee

 *Co-Chair, Superfund
 Subcommittee

 ^Co-Chair, Technology Transfer
 Subcommittee
Dan Beardsley, OPPE/OPA

Lee DeHihns,* Region IV, CERCLA
Oscar Ramirez, Region VI, RCRA
*Contact: Ralph Jennings
Thomas Devine, OPMT, Co-Chair
Jeff Denit,* OSW
Tom Pheiffer.T OPMT
Ron Brand, OUST
Elaine Davies, CEPP
Frank Biros, OWPE
                              * Co-Chair, Hazardous Waste
                              Subcommittee

                              TCo-Chair, Superfund and
                              Technology Transfer
                              Subcommittees
    Superfund Research Subcommittee

    The Superfund  Research Subcommittee is composed of joint  ORD/program office work groups,
which have the day-to-day responsibility to ensure that: program office priorities are factored  into
research plans; extramural resource allocations reflect priorities; research results are conveyed to the
Program and Regional Offices in a timely manner; technical issues between ORD offices, laboratories,
and Program offices, are resolved expeditiously; and ongoing research projects reflect expectations and
priorities.  Generally, technical issues and priorities are resolved at the work group level; any potential
deviations from Committee agreements, if approved by the Subcommittee co-chairs, are submitted in
writing to the Committee co-chairs for approval. The applicable ORD office director(s), and the Office of
Research Program Management (ORPM) may also be involved.

    Historically, the work group organization parallels the budgetary issues (Table 1). However, this is by
no means required, and the Subcommittee is considering possible alternatives and recommendations for
a structure that enhances cross-office communications and more closely conforms to this plan

    Technology Transfer Subcommittee

    The Technology Transfer Subcommittee is responsible for recommending priorities  for technology
transfer activities funded through the Committee,  which include  integrated technology transfer
programs for hazardous waste, enforcement, and underground storage tanks, as well as Superfund.
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Within the constraints placed on the use of trust fund monies, the Technology Transfer Subcommittee
will seek to encourage activities that leverage among several program needs.

    In addition, the Technology Transfer Subcommittee serves as an advisory body to OSWER, setting
priorities for the Program Offices' resources. Since the Technology Transfer Subcommittee has represen-
tatives from six of the ten EPA Regions, it provides an excellent vehicle for directly addressing Regional
needs.

    2.3.2 Tracking

    OSWER needs to know progress and interim results of ongoing research in order to plan its own
regulatory and enforcement agenda and to ensure that field  office staffs have the most current
information available. ORD will provide OSWER with project-tracking information commensurate with
the level of the research activity defined by the Research Committee.  In general, this means below the
level of the planned program activity (PPA), but may aggregate laboratory projects or tasks.

    The ORD Subcommittee co-chair ensures that program office  counterparts receive adequate
information on research  progress.  As a routine matter, the Program Coordination Staff (ORPM/PCS)
generates and transmits quarterly'progress reports for each PPA to the OSWER co-chair. However, the
ORD and OSWER Work Groups will ensure that significant events are immediately communicated, and
any changes in schedules, products, or resources are coordinated as they occur.


                           3.  RISK ASSESSMENT RESEARCH

    This section of the research program strategy discusses the environmental and health risk assessment
research program.  To begin the new RD&D program, two priorities will be emphasized: development
of health effects data and methodologies and their application to human health  risk assessment
methods; and total exposure methods. The program will focus on:

 •  New or improved sampling protocols and analytical methods to characterize sites as well as wastes at
    sites;

 •  Methods to determine the "populations at risk" at Superfund sites;

 •  Methods to determine the routes of, and extent of, exposure to wastes at sites;

 •  Methods to determine the adverse health effects in populations exposed to hazardous substances;
    and

 •  Risk characterization  methodologies, including calculation of the incidence of adverse effects in
    exposed populations.

3.1 Objectives and Goals

    The goal of health effects research is to provide laboratory and field observations of adverse health
effects and exposures to  chemicals.  Risk  assessment research provides qualitative and quantitative
predictions of human health  effects from these exposures and provides a credible basis for  regulatory
actions. EPA's risk assessment methodologies include four broad components:  hazard identification;
dose-response  assessment; exposure assessment; and risk  characterization.  The quality and scientific
certainty of site assessments are contingent on these components.  The research program provides data,
lexicological assistance, and methods in all  four areas.

    Research on human health risks is planned around several major lexicological data needs:  risk
characterization methods (hazard identification, dose-response assessment, and exposure assessment)
for noncancer endpoints and  quantitative links of monitored concentrations to delivered dose to target
bioreceptors; techniques to extrapolate from high to low dose, route to route, and animals to human;
structure activity relationship (SAR) methods; statistical methods to describe uncertainties and in vivo

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and in vitro methods to enhance health effects data on site-specific priority chemicals.  Additional
research on exposure will  include techniques for monitoring human populations, biological markers,
pharmacokinetics and total body burden, advanced biological methods, exposure monitoring systems,
and episodic exposures.

   To plan the health-related and risk assessment research program ORD and OERR independently
identified  research needs.  OERR prepared a list of research and technical information needs based on a
survey of regional staff and their contractors, while ORD identified the scientific gaps that hinder the
assessment of Superfund sites. These parallel efforts were merged and resulted in the final program
framework for FY87 and FY88 as described in detail below

3.2 Risk Characterization

   To augment the Agency's existing risk characterization ability, this effort will focus on estimating the
incidence of adverse  health effects in populations exposed to hazardous substances.  Basic and applied
research will include direct site assessment support activities, rapid-response toxicity testing, and
toxicological evaluation associated with control technologies. Additionally, research will be conducted
on the nature and magnitude of toxicological  interactions associated with  multimedia exposure to
chemical mixtures.

   3.2.1  Site Assessment Support

   The accuracy  of site assessments in  the Superfund program predominately controls the  quality of
risk-based decisions.   This research effort is directed at reducing the uncertainties in extrapolation
techniques (high to low dose, animals to human, route and duration exposure, and species sensitivity), as
well as patterns of toxicologic interaction for multimedia and multichemical exposures.  To enhance the
scientific rationale supporting the reliance on  these tools, an  integrated approach of data survey,
testing, and analysis will be used.

   Site assessment research represents a microcosm of health and risk  assessment research issues.
Exposure  assessment, including  transport and fate;  chemical-specific  hazard identification for
less-than-lifetime and route-specific exposure; sensitive subpopulations;  and post-remedial residual risk
assessment are  all fundamental components of technically defensible site  assessments.  The ability to
characterize the identity and level of contaminants present is  integral to the assessment of a site.
Chemical  and newly developed screening techniques will provide detailed data from which risk
assessments can be based.

   3.2.2 Chemical Mixtures

   EPA begins its health  risk assessment process by  evaluating risks from specific  chemicals and
extrapolating that information, to the extent possible, to the mixtures found at Superfund sites.  These
sites typically contain complex mixtures of many different compounds and their degradation products,
all of which exist in more than one physical phase. The current approach—using indicator chemicals to
assess risk at sites—does not quantitatively assess possible toxicant interactions that may occur in such
complex mixtures.

   This research will focus on improving risk assessment techniques for situations involving complex
mixtures through:  investigation  of dose-additivity methods for assessment of mixtures of systemic
toxicants; validation  of risk-additivity methods for assessment of mixtures of mutagens and carcinogens
and nonmutagens and noncarcinogens;  use of methods such as structure-activity relationships (SARs) to
account for mixtures of highly variable composition (variations in space or  time, or wastes that contain
poorly studied components); and assessment of partial-lifetime exposure to  complex mixtures.

3.3  Exposure Assessment

    Exposure assessment—estimating  the concentration of a pollutant at the point  of receptor
contact—typically entails the use of mathematical modeling of transport and fate. Environmental moni-


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toring data can provide a more direct measure of exposure, and are used when available to complement
modeling.

    Exposure  assessment methodologies have developed  rapidly in recent years; however, additional
research is needed to refine models especially in terms of transport mechanisms that vary by site.  Over
the next five years, there will be increasing need for better data  and refined methods to reduce the
inherent scientific uncertainties.

    Direct measurement of human exposure has been done  using personal air monitors, on tap water,
food and beverages, and even skin absorption. Body burdens have been  measured using exhaled
breath, blood, and adipose tissues.  These methods are presently available for certain groups of
chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metals, and  pesticides, but they need to be
developed for other important groups, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, and furans.  Field
studies of exposure of residents near  hazardous waste sites  are possible for VOCs; an  initial  screening
using breath sampling could select sites that require follow-up environmental monitoring.

    Exposure  assessment in the context of adverse human health effects  is the  determination or
estimation of that dose or concentration of a chemical pollutant delivered to the target organ. Health
effects assessment methods will address this subject.

    3.3.1  Pharmacokineticsand Metabolism

    A major pharmacological and toxicological need is to base risk estimates on concentration or dose of
a chemical  actually eliciting an effect at the target organ, rather than on concentrations found in the
environment  or applied dose.  The goal of this research will be to extend exposure assessment capabi-
lities to internal target sites which will contribute significantly to more accurate and reliable estimates of
risk.

    Pharmacokinetics (PK) describes the rate of the disposition of a chemical and its  metabolites in the
body. Physiologically based PK models are mathematical descriptions of such  disposition, and will help
Superfund  exposure assessments in several ways: to predict  tissue deposition from one  exposure
regimen to another; to predict tissue concentrations from species in which experimental  data exist to
those species where data are unavailable; and to compare the effect that alterations in metabolic
pathways and rates have on internal disposition.

    3.3.2  Biomarkers

    A "biological marker" is any biological measurement made that can be used to estimate the extent
of exposure of an organism or to provide an indication of an adverse health effect caused by exposure to
hazardous substances. The goal of biological marker research is to develop and utilize these techniques
to determine the  rate of uptake of chemicals in the  body and to determine the relationship between
chemical dose and observed health effects.

    Biological marker research will substantially improve quantitative risk estimates made at Superfund
sites and will enable more  precise exposure estimates, currently a major component of uncertainty.
Biological effect markers will improve the ability to predict onset of adverse health effects.

    3.3.3  Environmental Assessment

    Environmental assessment research addresses the physical determinants of human  exposure, and is
closely related to complementary work under the site assessment category.  The five-year research
program  will collect empirical data for physical-chemical properties, measurement  of partitioning
characteristics in the environment, field testing and calibration of transport and fate models, analysis of
dispersive vectors for transfer of  pollutants to  humans, development of methods to estimate human
intake rates of chemicals by multimedia exposure pathways,  and development of a data base handbook
on exposure assessment parameters
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3.4 Health Assessment

   Health assessment research is designed to improve the accuracy of health risk estimates associated
with chemical-specific exposures at Superfund sites. Research will provide new data and  rapid,  cost-
effective methods for screening chemicals for toxicity. The research  program  will also provide
comparative potency data for risk estimates of priority chemicals and complex mixtures.  Initial emphasis
will be on neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, target-organ toxicity,
including hepatotoxicity and pulmonary toxicity. Much of the work will involve acquisition of data in
test mammalian and nonmammalian species and humans with common  exposures, which will also
permit improvement in interspecies extrapolations.

   3.4.1 Reproductive Risk Assessment

   Adverse effects on human reproduction is a principal concern at many Superfund sites and methods
are needed to enable a thorough examination and quantification of reproductive  risks.  Coordinated
laboratory and field investigations will be performed  to facilitate assessment of  reproductive and
development risks at hazardous waste sites. This research will enhance OERR's ability to rapidly evaluate
reproductive risks, based on available data, for specific chemicals found at sites. The research activity will
focus on specific chemicals found at sites.

   3.4.2 Neurotoxicology

   Scientific understanding of, as well as public concern about, neurotoxic effects of chemicals has
grown in recent years. By capitalizing on recent scientific  advances, applied research for the Superfund
program will produce more sensitive, specific, and efficient methods for assessing risks of human
exposure to neurotoxic  chemicals and extrapolating toxicant-induced neurological  disorders  from
animals to humans.

   3.4.3 Carcinogenicity

   One of the key health effects of concern from exposure to hazardous substances is cancer induction.
Even though scientists do not understand the mechanisms of cancer, the massive amount of  basic cancer
research has  identified important parameters that EPA can use in  assessing cancer  risks at Superfund
sites.  Currently, however, risk assessment methods and approaches do not maximize the use of available
scientific information. There have been rapid changes in the understanding of carcinogenesis, requiring
continual revisions to risk assessment methods. At the same time, new approaches are needed that will
increase the  understanding of molecular, cellular, and pathological aspects of carcinogenesis and
pharmacokinetics to better estimate the risks of exposure to environmental  carcinogens.

    The ORD research program is currently focusing on the development of biologically based models for
carcinogen risk assessment,  use of pharmacokinetics for dose extrapolation, methods to express
uncertainties,  animal-to-human extrapolation methods, and the generation  of specific data for
particular chemicals to reduce uncertainties in carcinogen risk assessment.

    3.4.4 tmmunotoxicology

    Recent research involving testing of components of immune system functions indicates that a variety
of chemicals found in the work place and environment depress immune responses. The immune system
plays a vital  part in maintaining human health by protecting the  body from foreign  substances;
therefore, the relationship between environmental chemical exposure and the integrity of  the immune
system is of great importance, especially in alterations of host-defense mechanisms.

    Research in immunotoxicology will focus on identifying an array of available tests and  models that
would effectively identify and predict risks to humans.
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3.5  Expected Accomplishments

    Over the next five years, the Superfund research program in  risk characterization will directly
support site assessment activities in a number of areas, with anticipated results providing: (1) health
data and  methods for toxicological  effects of priority chemicals; (2) risk assessment techniques for
partial-lifetime exposures needed for temporary contamination episodes, coupling exposure assessment
and epidemiology, and reviews and updates of approaches used in interspecies conversion of dose and
duration;  (3) methods to extrapolate toxic-effect levels between routes of exposure,  estimate total
hazard following multiple exposures, and  protect  sensitive subgroups (age, genetic predisposition to
disease) currently not identified in Superfund risk assessments, (4) review and  improvement of
acceptable daily intake calculation methods; (5) coupled source and personal monitoring to discriminate
among possible sources of pollutants and between background and anthropomorphic  levels; (6) new
multi-analytic chemistries for site characterization; (7) real-time monitors and field screening techniques
for priority chemicals; and (8) methods to account for highly variable  mixtures and the assessment of
partial-lifetime exposures to complex mixtures.

    During this time, exposure assessment  research will result in better and more methods to assess
absorption across pulmonary, dermal, and placental membranes, integration of existing  global,  organ-
specific, and cell-specific pharmacokinetic models developed using data from other exposure pathways
to predict targets for use on dose-response functions; long- and short-term metabolic effects and human
metabolic rate constants for humans from in vivo studies; and an assessment of the expected variation in
metabolic rates and patterns resulting  from genetic differences.  Biomarkers  may  be  developed to
substantially  improve  population-selection  criteria  for epidemiological  studies  that  usually form the
basis for quantitative risk estimates.

    Health research will develop and evaluate the  techniques required  for R!/FSs on  reproductive risk,
neurotoxicity, and carcinogenicity of chemicals of concern. Within five years, health research will have
evaluated various approaches for estimating teratogenic risk;  reproductive toxicity endpoints for risk
analysis and approaches for evaluating severity of response; fetal toxicity relative to maternal toxicity;
multigeneration data;  and currently available infertility tests for risk assessment


                           4. RISK REDUCTION  RESEARCH

    Risk due to pollutants at Superfund sites can be reduced in three ways: the pollutant source  can be
removed, treated, and disposed elsewhere; exposure can be minimized;  and control technologies can be
applied at the site to detoxify, destroy, or immobilize hazardous constituents

    The research and development program is targeted primarily on the efficacy of control technologies
in reducing contamination and  risk.  The other  risk reduction options (source  removal and exposure
control), while used in the past, are now generally  considered less desirable than methods that reduce
toxicity and mobility.   Under SARA, EPA must select remedial measures that emphasize permanent
solutions, and utilize alternate treatment technologies where practical and cost-effective.

4.1 Goals, Objectives, and Approach

   The overall goal of the Superfund risk reduction research is to ensure the availability of effective
technology for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites that pose an unacceptable risk.  To meet this goal,
the program  has  10 research objectives, the last five of which concern the development of new or
improved treatments:

 1. To permanently and significantly reduce the volume, toxicity, or mobility of hazardous wastes;

 2. To provide in situ treatment of contaminated surface soils and unsaturated soils;

 3. To clean up contaminated ground water;

 4. To contain hazardous wastes on site or provide for ultimate disposal of treatment residuals;


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 5. To protect the personnel involved in site assessment and cleanup;

 6. To demonstrate innovative technologies for the cleanup of Superf und sites;

 7. To expedite availability of innovative and alternative technologies;

 8. To provide information on new treatment technologies for the benefit of EPA, State, and private-
   sector decisionmakers;

 9. To develop improved analytical, chemical, or biochemical detection  technologies to assess the
   effectiveness of remediation on treatment;

10. To encourage private-sector development of appropriate technologies.

   The Superfund program is largely an operational program.  Superfund is a technology user, and this
places emphasis on research, development, and demonstration  programs  designed to fill technology
needs.  Agency decisionmakers need information on the performance and  cost of technologies so that
trust funds can be directed effectively.  With the exception of certain forms of incineration and chemical
fixation, cost-effective  permanent technologies have  not been  fully tested  on all important
combinations of wastes at Superfund sites and materials containing these wastes.

   The  risk reduction program is divided into two complementary areas.  One area encompasses an
EPA-funded effort to develop new or improved control and treatment technologies both in house and
through extramural projects.  A number of technologies have  been developed  in this way, such as the
EPA  mobile incinerator and  mobile soil  washer.   EPA has found it necessary to actively develop
technologies because of the lack of adequate development by the private sector

   The  other major area related to Superfund technology is the SITE program (Superfund Innovative
Technology  Evaluation), an effort to expedite the development and commercial availability of
alternative technologies  developed by the private sector.  The goal of the program  is to remove the
informational, regulatory, and institutional impediments to new technology development and commer-
cialization efforts. There are two major RD&D components to this program:

 • A demonstration  program for developed treatment and site  assessment technologies that provides
   credible performance and cost-effectiveness  information  developed at  full-scale using actual
   Superfund wastes;

 • An evaluation program for emerging treatment and  site assessment technologies  designed to
   provide technical advice to the private developer and, where necessary and appropriate, support
   continued development.

   Both of these subprograms include extensive technology transfer and technical assistance efforts.

4.2  New or Improved Technologies

   Agency efforts to develop and adopt technologies are divided between site surface cleanups and
ground water cleanups.

   4.2.1 Technologies for Site Surface Cleanup

   Surface wastes, such  as waste lagoons, barrels, or sludge piles, can be excavated and moved to the
treatment equipment for detoxification  These technologies will be referred to as  "surface equipment
technologies " If the wastes have penetrated below the surface, it may be more desirable to treat the
waste in place (in situ treatment)  A surface lagoon could also be treated in place, as opposed to moving
the waste to a treatment unit.
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    For both the surface equipment and in situ treatment technologies, five major processes are being
addressed:

 •  Extraction processes, which separate contaminants from the media in which they are found.  The
    development of field-usable systems for separating contaminated soils into its fractions could
    minimize on site treatment and disposal costs.

 •  Immobilization processes, which permanently bind a contaminant to the existing medium or to a
    modified medium.

 •  Detoxification processes, which detoxify, degrade, or destroy the contaminants in the hazardous
    waste.  The most common detoxification processes include biological, chemical,  and thermal
    techniques.  Studies of alternative technologies being conducted under the Resource Conservation
    and Recovery Act (RCRA) will be extended to the wide diversity of Superfund hazardous substances
    and contaminated residuals. Tests will establish process applicability, feed, and waste preparation
    requirements, ability to meet the RCRA best demonstrated available technology requirements, and
    determine residue quality.

 •  Delivery and recovery processes, essential elements of most in situ treatment technologies, are
    required to deliver  the "treatment medium" to the source of contaminants, and,  if necessary,
    recover the contaminants for further treatment. They remain the biggest engineering obstacle to
    actual implementation, because actual systems have not been  applied frequently to hazardous
    waste problems.  Waste-site feeds are highly variable, thus feedstock  handling, preparation, and
    introduction into the incinerator are a major concern.

    Table 3  provides more  information on the specific technologies that  are being developed or
evaluated. One additional category is field monitoring equipment, including:

 •  Screening  technologies for environmental monitoring, which  provide rapid cost-effective
    measurements in the field.  The most promising screening technologies include X-ray fluorescence,
    field-gas chromatography, immunochemical methods, and fiber-optic sensors.
    4.2.2 Technologies for Ground-Water Cleanup

    The cleanup of ground waters contaminated by Superfund hazardous wastes is a difficult technical
problem. Two alternative approaches for cleanup of polluted ground water are available—pump-treat-
recharge and in situ treatment.

    Pump-Treat-Recharqe

    In this approach, the ground water is pumped to the surface, treated to remove the pollutants, and
then injected either back to the ground water or to surface waters. Conventional water supply
treatment technologies are available to treat contaminated ground water that has been pumped to the
surface.  Appropriate sludge handling and disposal will be required to treat any sludges.  Superfund
research in this area is limited but may be reexamined as new technologies or approaches are identified.

    In Situ Treatment

    In situ restoration of polluted ground water is a complex operation.  Current research is examining
ways of making in situ restoration techniques less expensive and more easily applicable. Biodegradation
of contaminants is one of the most promising techniques.  An in situ process utilizing microorganisms to
degrade specific contaminants could be a more economical and effective treatment.

    Initial success in the laboratory has been achieved for the biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE),
PCBs and several other compounds  Research is continuing on biodegradation, with substantial emphasis
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                      Table 3. Technologies for Site Surface Cleanup
                               In Situ
                                                    On Site
 Extraction
Evaluation of artificial freezing of
contaminated soils; vapor phase soil
decontamination (soil flushing,
biodegradation, vacuum removal),
colloidal gas aphron technology,
and electrokenetic extraction
Field demonstration of the EPA Soils Washing
System; removal of lead, other inorganics,
trichloroethylene, and other volatile organics
from soils and sediments. Laboratory studies to
improve technology of extracting organics with
surfactant and chelation agents. Investigation
of mining separation techniques.
 Immobilization
Evaluation of solidification and
stabilization, grouting,
precipitation, and thermal fusion
(vitrification).
Temporary containment of contaminated
materials prior to extraction, immobilization,
degradation, or detoxification. Fixation and
stabilization will be evaluated with emphasis
on equipment that can be used on site.
Improved techniques and options for waste
containerization and storage will also be
initiated. Immobilization  processes are used
primarily for the treatment of surface lagoons.
 Degradation
 and
 Detoxification
Applications of permeable
treatment wall systems, full-scale
building decontamination
techniques; increased emphasis on
promising in situ biological
processes.
Test burns and related compliance and
operational activities at CRF m support of
Superfund site cleanup activities.  Pilot-scale
incinerators will be used to incinerate samples
of residues to determine waste-handling and
feeding requirements, operating conditions for
maximum efficiency; air pollution control
requirements; and to assess incineration
residues. Demonstrate Mobile Carbon
Regenerator will be demonstrated under
full-scale field conditions to reactivate spent
carbon from a physical/chemical treatment
system; Continue to develop potassium
polyethylene glycol (KPEG) detoxification
process and white rot fungus biological process.
 Delivery and
 Recovery
Evaluate the effectiveness of systems
to deliver extraction,
immobilization, or detoxification
agent to site and recover it with the
pollutant.
Evaluate techniques to improve incinerator
feedstock handling procedures so that
commercial on-site incineration systems can be
used at minimum cost.
on the adaptation of processes for in situ cleanup (biosystems).  Future laboratory and field studies will
be initiated to assess the effectiveness of in situ cleanup, leading to in situ cleanup protocols.

4.3 SITE Program

   The purpose of the SITE program  is to  remove obstacles to the development and routine use of
alternative or innovative  technologies developed by the private sector. This involves a demonstration
program, a development program, and an impediments removal program.
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    4.3.1 Demonstration Program

    Probably the most serious barrier to routine use of alternative or innovative treatment and site-
assessment technologies in Superfund cleanup is a  lack of credible, full-scale information on the
performance and cost-effectiveness of these technologies.  EPA decisionmakers are reluctant to use
these technologies when they have not been  "proven in the real world."  To develop this kind of
information, the technology must be demonstrated at full scale on Superfund wastes.  Under the SITE
'program, private developers can operate their commercial-scale equipment on  Superfund wastes and
most will be demonstrated at  Superfund sites.  EPA will monitor and evaluate the tests and report the
results.  The cost-effectiveness of the technologies will be extended to other wastes and other Superfund
situations as guidance for EPA and other decisionmakers. SARA §311(b) requires that EPA conduct at
least ten such demonstrations a year.

    EPA began implementation of the program in early 1986 with a Commerce Business Daily advertise-
ment asking interested private developers to participate. As a result, EPA is currently working with the
owners of ten innovative technologies to arrange demonstrations during 1987.  To identify additional
technologies for 1988 demonstrations, another advertisement was issued in January, 1987.

    4.3.2 Development Program

    As part of the SITE program,  EPA  will  sponsor an evaluation and support program to encourage
private-sector technology development  A  pilot-  and bench-scale evaluation effort will be the
cornerstone of this program and will be conducted similarly to the demonstration program. Developers
will operate their equip-ment; EPA will provide wastes and conduct the evaluation.  EPA expects to
evaluate between 15 and 25 such technologies annually starting in FY88. To expedite these evaluations,
EPA intends to develop a test and evaluation (T&E) facility in Edison, New Jersey.

    Some technologies are developed by small  firms lacking the  resources to commercialize their
developments expeditiously. For a particularly promising technology, EPA may directly support further
development. Typically, this will  not be considered  until after an evaluation.  Thus, no development
support projects are envisioned until late in  FY88.

4.4 Personnel Protection

    One way of reducing the risk to personnel  directly involved in the Superfund cleanups is to provide
the personnel with protective clothing and equipment. ORD has worked with EPA personnel and private
industry to evaluate technologies applicable for personnel to use during removal  and remedial activities.
Evaluations of protective clothing, breathing  apparatus, and personal hazard detectors will result in
data and information to support what should be provided and how it should be used.  Procedures are
also being developed for the decontamination or disposal of protective clothing and associated
equipment.

    Future activities will include the evaluation of personal cooling devices and vital-signs monitoring
devices under actual field conditions. These activities are focused upon increasing the safety, efficiency,
range, and cost-effectiveness of cleanup operations at hazardous waste spills and at Superfund sites.

4.5 Related Work

    The development of risk reduction technology for Superfund sites is similar to the development of
control technologies for other environmental problems. The closest related area  is the technology
needed under RCRA for treatment of hazardous wastes and for correcting environmental problems
associated with existing hazardous waste land disposal facilities. The Superfund research program will
utilize the RCRA-related alternative technology research program  to gather  information on their
performance in  treating Superfund wastes. As the various technologies are being evaluated on RCRA
wastes, additional tests will be scheduled with selected Superfund wastes.

    A second area in which complementary work is underway  is the development of personnel
protection technology, although the activities are being phased down.  Because EPA's pesticides and


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toxic substances programs also need such technology, a combined research plan has been developed.
The objectives of this program are to:

 •  Develop and evaluate chemical protective clothing and equipment;

 •  Develop and evaluate procedures to provide safe working environments;

 •  Develop and verify methods to predict the effectiveness of chemical protective clothing;

 •  Develop and evaluate hazard detection methods and equipment;

 •  Ensure that all data are of known quality and acceptable for their intended use.

4.6 Expected Accomplishments

    The major products in the area of technologies for on-site and in situ cleanup over the next few years
include reports or handbooks on survey and assessment of  completed and ongoing remedial actions;
leachate treatment techniques;  assessment of international hazardous waste  technologies; on  site
cleaning of equipment; in situ treatment of hazardous  waste contaminated  soils; and selected
assessment of on site stabilization/fixation  methods.  Additional  user-friendly applications, such as
expert systems,  will  be made available to allow  on-scene and field office personnel rapid access to
complicated databases.

    A major focus will be on the development and demonstration of biological  treatment systems
(biosystems).  The research  program will also  enable newly developed  monitoring processes to be
demonstrated as feasible to Superfund issues.  Applicable technologies will then be  developed,
evaluated,  and  validated.   Considered in  the program will  be biological methods (immunoassays),
physical methods, such as fiber-optic sensors and x-ray fluorescence, and expert systems to provide real-
time data analysis in the field.

    Research bearing on ground-water cleanup will  produce reports and  technical  articles  on
bench-scale demonstration of feasibility for  ;'n situ biodegradation of TCE,  and will develop procedures
for biological cleanup of TCE-contaminated areas and enhanced biorestoration of contaminated ground
water.

    The SITE demonstration program will follow the SITE strategy and program  plan with series of
reports on each technology, and will develop and maintain the Superfund Technology Clearinghouse.

    Personnel protection research will produce reports and handbooks evaluating  personnel hazard
detection for highly toxic chemicals, on the  performance of personal cooling devices, and on personnel
health and safety procedures in specific situations.


                               5.  TECHNICAL  SUPPORT

    ORD also provides nonresearch support  to the Superfund program that is critical to the day-to-day
success of Superfund cleanup activities.  The  technical support program involves  the scientists  and
engineers working on the risk assessment and risk reduction RD&D, and ORD's Center for Environmental
Research Information.

    The overall  goal of the Superfund technical  support program  is to provide the Program Offices,
Regional Offices, states, and private industry with the technical  expertise and current information
necessary to implement the Superfund risk  assessment and risk reduction process, and to  operate the
day-to-day program of providing enforcement support to the Regions. The objectives of the program
are to:

  • Provide direct technical services to support the site-specific assessments;
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 • Provide scientific and engineering  expertise to support the site-specific risk assessment and
   reduction;

 • Provide data and protocols for risk assessments and risk reduction activities;

 • Conduct a comprehensive training and technology transfer program;

 • Conduct other Superfund-related programmatic activities to support the RD&D program;

 • Ensure that all data are of known and acceptable quality.

5.1 Technical Services

   5.1.1 Quality Assurance

   Sound risk assessment and risk reduction decisions depend on data of known and documented
quality. The  primary responsibility of the Superfund quality assurance (QA) program is to ensure that
the analytical data produced  by EPA and its Contract Laboratory Program (CLP)  are  of known and
documented  quality.  A second responsibility  is to provide QA support to  the  Regional and  ORD
laboratories.

   QA support is provided for 15 analytical methods, over 75 individual laboratories, the analysis of
60,000 to 80,000 samples per year, QA audits of potential contractors prior to their  selection, QA audits
to evaluate the performance of contract  laboratories, provision of standard materials for calibration of
analytical methods, and evaluation and  improvement of analytical methods  for additional types of
waste or waste matrices.  QA support activities will  be expanded to provide for an additional 15 to 30
analytical methods and additional contract laboratories as required.

   Research will be initiated to determine the  effects that sampling protocols, handling, and shipping
have on final data integrity. The goal of this research is to identify those areas, outside the laboratory,
where data integrity may become compromised, and to provide a protocol to eliminate the uncertainty.
Research emphasis will be on the standardization of procedures, field  audits, and laboratory materials
used in the field-sampling process.

   5.1.2 Reportable Quantities

   The overall objective of this area is  to  provide the necessary health effects  documentation for
determining reportable quantities (RQs)  for  substances proposed for listing as hazardous wastes or on
the Acute Hazards List under  RCRA.  SARA  requires that an RQ be prepared for every chemical listed
under RCRA, and EPA anticipates that this effort will  be substantially completed in FY89.

   5.1.3 Site-Specific Risk Assessments

   Program and Regional offices often request ORD to prepare  site-specific, chemical-specific, or
situation-specific exposure and risk assessments to evaluate the hazard and remediation or regulatory
options available for Superfund sites. These include carcinOgenicity  profiles for  compounds on/the
original CERCLA substances list, rapid-response health assessments, and  assistance to ATSDR in preparing
toxicological profiles.

   5.1.4 Remote Sensing and Aerial Photography

   Remote sensing and aerial photography  provide valuable information in pre- and post-remedial site
assessments.  Some newer techniques will  be  added that offer greater cost-effectiveness, including
multispectral scanners and other passive  systems, laser fluorosensors, differential absorption, and other
technologies.  ORD provides this service  to the Regional Offices, OERR, OWPE, and EPA contractors as
needed.
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5.2 Scientific and Engineering Expertise

   5.2.1  Enforcement Support

   SARA strengthens  EPA's enforcement responsibilities and formalizes procedures for negotiating
settlements with PRPs. ORD provides scientific and engineering expertise, as requested, to revievy risk
assessments and remedial action plans.  ORD  experts provide assistance for enforcement-case
preparation and may serve as expert witnesses. Major enforcement support activities include:

 • Monitoring support for case preparation, compliance monitoring, and development of settlement
   agreements;

 • Geographical mapping to locate subsurface anomalies and trace leachate plumes;

 • Engineering technical advice and consultation on emergency and remedial response options;

 • Technical support for the application of site-specific ground-water models;

 • Peer-reviewed endangerment assessments and brief hazard  summaries for use in negotiation and
   litigation.

   5.2.2  Remedial Action Support

   The cleanup of Superfund sites requires a remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS)  and a
Remedial Action Plan.  ORD provides direct scientific and  engineering support to the program and
Regional Offices, upon request, to assist in reaching an acceptable permanent solution for each site. This
direct technical support is provided by the same  scientists and engineers who conduct the Superfund
research.  Consequently, ORD will  provide  state-of-the-art data, methods, and technologies for
consideration in cleanup plans.

   The major remedial action support activities include:

 • Site-specific monitoring;

 • Site-specific quality assurance;

 • Site-specific engineering and scientific advice on cleanup options;

 • Site-specific evaluations of cleanup technologies;

 • A multidisciplinary team of ground-water specialists;

 • Technical support on marine contamination from coastal sites;

 • Technical support on application of multimedia risk assessment methods

5.3 Training and Technology Transfer

   The Superfund RD&D  program  produces an enormous amount of scientific and engineering
information, which must be synthesized, interpreted, organized, packaged, and  disseminated to EPA
Program and Regional Offices, states and local governments, contractors, PRPs, and the public.  ORD has
a very active technology transfer program that will be expanded from FY87 to FY91. While ORD does
not sponsor training, perse, it supports the program offices through the development and integration
of automated systems into computer-assisted instruction, expert systems, and databases.

   ORD and OSWER developed a joint Technology Transfer Strategy (April, 1987) that describes the
systematic process for identifying needs, disseminating information, and evaluating their results.  A key
organizational element of the Technology Transfer Strategy is the Technology Transfer Subcommittee,


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which serves a dual role as a standing  subcommittee of the Hazardous Waste/Superfund Research
Committee and the advisory body to OSWER in setting program office priorities for technology transfer
activities.

    The training and technology transfer activities within the Superfund RD&D program will conform to
the OSWER Technical Training Policy as well as the Technology Transfer Strategy.

    The selection of appropriate, cost-effective innovative or alternative treatment technologies to clean
a specific hazardous waste spill or Superfund site involves a complex decisionmaking process.  Using
microcom-puters, expert systems offer an opportunity for a real-time problem-solving capability.  Unlike
manuals or seminars, expert systems provide direct help  to decisionmakers  in the development of
cleanup options for  Superfund  sites. They provide clear, concise, and structured approaches based on
the latest data. Continuous maintenance of expert systems is mandatory, however, to ensure that the
latest information is available from the  research community, other users, and  industry to complement
information provided on site.

    Work on expert systems must accompany the technology RD&D  program to ensure that the
necessary data are collected for the decisionmaking process.  The data  requirements for the expert
systems must be identified before testing begins in the RD&D phase. Working with Program  Office
representatives and the Office of Information Resources Management, the Superfund research program
will ensure that expert systems are designed with appropriate safeguards to prevent their misuse.

5.4  Expected Accomplishments

    Technical services will continue to grow in relative importance and effort over the next several years.
The  QA program will develop  procedures to identify and investigate deliberate fraud in the CLP.
Investigatory procedures will be evaluated for reliability in identifying fraud and mismanagement, and
an investigative  QA protocol will be developed.  Through its completion by FY90, the reportable
quantities program  will produce  RQ chapters in chemical-specific health and environmental effects
documents  (HEEDs), RQ documentation  for carcinogenicity or chronic toxicity for  chemicals from the
Extremely Hazardous Substances  List, and additions or revisions as needed  in the future to meet
statutory requirements.

    Scientific and engineering  expertise will continue to  be available  on a person-to-person  basis,
although the trend  is towards  expert systems and  other computer-based methods for training  and
technology transfer.  ORD will develop  and  maintain a clearinghouse for  information on remedial
actions, technologies, analytical methods, and case histories.


                                     6. RESOURCES

    The historical funding of the Superfund RD&D  program is presented in Table  5. The Agency has
developed detailed  budgets for FY87-FY88, which include increased resources  for the new  SARA
research authorities, and  is currently preparing a  budget request for  FY89   Table 6 presents the
distribution of resources by ORD office, program  category, and budget issue. The major areas of
expansion are the new health effects and risk assessment research program, exploratory grants, and the
SITE program

    For FY88, the President's Budget includes additional resources for health effects and risk assessment
research and  the SITE program.  Funds are also included in the FY88 request for renovation of  a T&E
facility where Superfund wastes and treatment technologies would be evaluated.
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Table 5. ORD Superfund Resources
   Intramural and Extramurnal Dollars
Fiscal Year
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88*
FTEs
7.6
26.6
27.1
42.5
58.0
57.6
85.6
85.6
Total ($ Millions)
5.0
13.8
6.8
8.9
12.6
10.6
38.7
58.8
*President's Budget.
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        Table 6. Superf und Research Resources by Program Area
                           (Total Resources in Thousands)
Issue
Site and Situation Assessment
FY87:
FY88:
Health Effects/Risk Assessment
FY87:
FY88:
Technology Evaluation
FY87:
FY88:
Innovative and Alternative
Technology RD&D (SITE)
FY87:
FY88:
Personnel Protective Equipment
FY87:
FY88:
Test and Evaluation Facility
FY88:
Reportable Quantities
FY87:
FY88:
Technical Support
FY87:
FY88.
Quality Assurance
FY87:
FY88:
Technology Transfer
FY87:
FY88:
Subtotals (FY87):
Subtotals (FY88):
Total (FY87):
Total (FY88):
Risk Assessment
FTEs $000
17.9 $4,948.5
17.9 $4,865.0
5.0 $6,770.8
5.0 $9,991.4








22.9 $11,719.3
22.9 $14,856.4
85.6 $38,681.9
85.6 $58,812.0
RiskReduction
FTEs $000


19.3 $6,583.3
193 $5,704.5
8.0 $9,070.9
8.0 18,629.4
2.0 $714.3
20 $725.3
$5,600.0




29.3 $16,3685
29.3 $30,659.2

Technical Support
FTEs $000






27 $698.1
27 $829.6
207 $5,678.3
20.7 $7,044.2
9.0 $3,784.9
9.0 $4,796.8
1.0 $432.8
1.0 $625.8
33.4 $10,594.1
33.4 $13,296.4

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1987 548-158/67067
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