905R89110
SUPERFUND
RECORDS OF DECISION
UFDAxRECEIVED
From: Hazardous Site Control Division
To: EPA Regional Offices
DEC 6 - 1989
November 1989
Vol. 5 No. 2
F
ocusing the
Development of
Remedial Alternatives
The FY 1988 ROD Analysis and the
Superf und Management Review (90-Day
Study) both revealed that in many cases
an unnecessarily large number of reme-
dial alternatives are being developed and
analyzed in detail. Of the 50 source control
RODs that were reviewed in the FY 1988
ROD analysis, an average of four treat-
ment alternatives and three containment
alternatives were evaluated in the de-
tailed analysis section for each ROD,
with one ROD containing a detailed
analysis of 17 alternatives.
The number of remedial alternatives
developed and evaluated in detail should
be narrowed to only those which are the
most viable options for site remediation.
Remedial alternatives should be devel-
oped consistent with the program goal
and expectations (see box). Site manag-
ers should also compare their sites to
types of response actions selected for
other sites with similar problems or con-
taminants. This will streamline the identi-
fication of remedial alternatives to only
those that carry high potential of being an
effective solution for site problems.
If a large number of viable alternatives
remain after initial technology screening,
an additional screening of the assembled
alternatives should be conducted to limit
the number of options that will undergo
detailed analysis. Generally, no more
than five source control alternatives are
needed in the detailed analysis. To sim-
plify the detailed analysis, alternatives
dealing with offsite migration problems,
such as ground water remediation, should
be evaluated separately from source
control alternatives.
The Hazardous Site Control Division is
developing prototype RI/FSs for munici-
pal waste landfills and a remedy selec-
Program Goal
The goal of the remedy selection process is
to select remedial actions that are protec-
tive of human health and the environment,
that maintain protection over time, and that
minimize untreated waste.
Program Expectations
Treatment of principal threats will be
used, wherever practicable; princi-
pal threats may include liquids and
highly mobile or highly toxic materi-
als.
Engineering controls may be used
for waste that poses a low long-term
threat or where treatment is imprac-
ticable.
* Institutional controls will be used to
mitigate short-term impacts or to
supplement engineering controls;
they will not serve as a sole remedy
unless active response measures
are impracticable.
Remedies will often combine treat-
ment of principal threats with engi-
neering and institutional controls for
treatment residuals and untreated
waste.
Innovative technologies should be
considered if they offer the potential
for comparable or superior treat-
ment performance, fewer/lesser
adverse impacts, or lower costs for
a similar level of performance than
demonstrated technologies.
Ground water will be returned to its
beneficial uses within a timeframe
that is reasonable, where practi-
cable.
tion framework for PCB sites. In addition,
another prototype RI/FS is planned for
wood-treating sites. The prototypes will
aid site managers in streamlining the Rl/
FSs for such sites by suggesting remedial
alternatives that are appropriate to con-
sider.
Further information on scoping and the
development and screening of alterna-
tives can be found in the Guidance lor
Conducting Remedial Investigations and
Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA
(OSWER Directive 9355.3-01, Oct. 1988)
and the following short sheets: Getting
Ready: Scoping the RI/FS (OSWER Di-
rective No. 8355.3-01 F81. Oct. 1989)
and The Feasibility Study: Development
and Screening of Remedial Action Alter-
natives (OSWER Directive No. 9355.3-
01F53, Oct. 1988). Contact: David Coo-
per FTS 475-6703, Hazardous Site
Control Division.
Superfund Technology
Support Project
The Office of Solid Waste and Emer-
gency Response (OSWER), Regional
Superfund Offices, and the Office of
Research and Development (ORD) es-
tablished the Superfund Technology
Support Project (TSP) in 1987 to provide
technical assistance to Regional Reme-
dial Project Managers and On-Scene
Coordinators. The project consists of a
network of Regional Forums, four spe-
cialized Technology Support Centers
(TSCs) located in ORD laboratories, and
one TSC at OSWER's Environmental
Response Team. The objectives of the
TSP are to:
Provide technical support and as-
sistance to Regional staff
Improve communications among
Regions and ORD laboratories
(continued on p.2)
^ ~ , ~_^
Regional Reminder
Please submit clean, hard copies of
signed FY 1989 RODs, including the
diskettes, to:
ROD Clearinghouse
Remedial Operations and
Guidance Branch (OS-220)
Hazardous Site Control Division
(HSCD), OERR
U.S. EPA
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
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Superfund Technology Support Program
Regional Technical Forum Representatives
Ground-Water Fate and Transport Forum
Region I
Region II
Region III
Region IV
Region V
Region VI
Region VII
Region VIII
Region IX
Region X
Member:
Phone:
Alternate:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
Member:
Alternate:
John Zannos, Chair
FTS-883-9629 or
617/573-9629
DickWilley
Kevin Willis
Howard Orlean
Kathy Davies
Mike Towle
Bernie Hayes
Joe Hug hart
Doug Yeskis
Ruth Izraeli
Kathleen O'Reilly
Steve Kinser
John Haggard
Paula Schmittdehl
Jeff Rosenbloom
Rene Funentes
Bernard Zavala
Engineering and Treatment Forum
Region I
Region II
Region III
Region IV
Region V
Region VI
Region VII
Region VIII
Region IX
Region X
Member:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
Phone:
Member:
Member
Member:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
Alternate:
Member:
John Gallagher
Richard Kaplan
Agram "Mike" Fayon
Jeff Winegar
Harry Harbold
Jim Orban, Chair
FTS-257-2643or
214/347-2643
Ken Chiu
Deborah Griswold
Steve Kovac
Henry Schroeder
Marie Zanowick
John Blevins
John Kemmerer
John Barich
Ensure coordination and consistency
in the application of remedial tech-
nologies
Provide high-technologytraining and
state-of-the-science information for
RPMs and OSCs
Regional technical personnel have es-
tablished Forums in Engineering and
Treatment and Ground-Water Fate and
Transport. The Forum members work to
improve communications and assist in
technical transfer between the Regions
and the Centers. The Forums also serve
as technical resources and disseminate
information resulting from the project to
their Regional colleagues.
The Technology Support Centers have
provided technical assistance for over
300 projects in response to Regional
requests in addition to hundreds of tele-
phone inquires.
Questions regarding technical informa-
tion sources or other brief requests can
be directed to any of the four Technology
Support Centers listed on page 3 of this
Update.
TSC projects requiring substantial sup-
port from a TSC may be initiated through
a telephone conversation but must be
followed up with a written request to the
TSC director. Copies must also be for-
warded to the TSP Project Manager and
to the Regional Branch Chief. Once au-
thorization has been received, the TSC
team member can work directly with the
OSC or RPM requesting assistance.
A list of Regional forum representatives
is provided on page 2; a brief description
of each of theTSCs is provided on page 3.
For additional information please con-
tact:
Rich Steimle, Project Manager
Technology Support Project
OSWER/OPMT(OS-110)
FTS 382-7914 or 202/382-7914
The Records of Decision
System Database
The Records of Decision System (RODS)
database contains the full text of the
signed Records of Decision (RODs). The
function of the database is to promote
consistency among RODs nationwide by
providing ready access to remedy selec-
tion decisions at Superfund sites.
The database is menu-driven and per-
mits rapid information searches through
existing RODs. A search can be con-
ducted on such fields as Date, Site Name,
Remedy, Key Contaminants, or the full
text of a ROD. The database contains all
RODs signed through fiscal year 1988
and is being updated with fiscal year
1989 RODs. Direct PC access to the
database is available to EPA staff, EPA
contractors, and State and Federal
agencies. Indirect access is available
through the RODS database Hotline
(202-245-3770).
For ideas, submissions, or questions concerning the ROD Update, please contact Sharon Frey, Hazardous Site Control
Division at FTS 475-9754. Members of the public may obtain copies by phoning or writing EPA's Public Information Cen-
ter (PM-211B), 401 M St., S.W., Washington, DC 20460. Phone (202) 382-2080.
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The database is stored on EPA's IBM
mainframe in Research Triangle Park
(RTP), North Carolina. Individuals inter-
ested in using the RODS database must
first registerwith RTP using a designated
account established by theOffice of Emer-
gency and Remedial Response (OERR).
Potential users can call the RODS Hot-
line for help in registering to the desig-
nated account. Users also must have a
modem or IRMA board with a communi-
cation package such as Kermit or
Crosstalk to connect to the mainframe.
The RODS User's Manual (EPA 540/G-
89/005) is helpful in getting started on the
system but is not critical. The manuals
are available through the Center for En-
vironmental Research Information 513-
569-7562. '
RODS database updates are quicker and
more accurate when loaded from disk-
ettes. As each ROD is signed in FY1990,
the EPA Regions should submit both
hard copy and a diskette to ROD
Clearinghouse; Remedial Operations and
Guidance Branch (OS-220); Hazardous
Site Control Division (HSCD), OERR;
U.S. EPA; 401 M Street, S.W.; Washing-
ton, D.C. 20460. This will facilitate keep-
ing the database current.
For additional information about the
RODS database, contact the RODS
Hotline (202-245-3770).
Correction: In the August 1989 issue of
the ROD Update, the Threat/Problem
for the Sheridan Disposal, TX site in Re-
gion VI should read: "Predominantly
VOCs and PCBs" instead of "VOCs
and PCBs in ground water."
ORD Technology Support Centers
Engineering and Treatment Center
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, Ohio
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory (RREL), one of EPA's largest
research centers, plans and conducts engineering research and develop-
ment related to solid and hazardous wastes. RREL personnel provide tech-
nical services involving specific treatment technologies and Superfund
response processes including:
Analysis of treatment alternatives
Treatability studies
Remedial design review
Construction QA/QC methods
Contaminant source control and geotechnical test methods
Contact: Ben Blaney
FTS 684-7406 or 513/569-7406
Superfund Technical Assistance Response Team (START)
The START program provides continuous engineering assistance for
selected sites from RI/FS scoping through the early remedial design
phases. The program will also aid in improving the understanding of
engineering problems common to Superfund sites. Each region will
nominate sites that have complex contamination problems which require
complex treatment solutions or use of innovative treatment technologies.
Short-term support is also available through the Technical Support Project
(TSP) and the Engineering Forum. Types of assistance include:
Identification of treatment alternatives
Determination of treatability study needs
Technical guidance on treatability studies
Evaluation of treatability study results
Review of RI/FS and ROD remedy recommendations
Review and consultations on remedial design
Contact: Ben Blaney
FTS 684-7406 or 513/569-7406
TSP contact: Regional Forum Member or Rich Steimle
FTS 382-7914
Monitoring and Site Characterization Center
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Las Vegas, Nevada
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory Technology Support Cen-
ter provides scientific and technical assistance in contaminant detection,
hydrologic monitoring, site characterization, data interpretation, and geo-
physics. Services include:
Saturated and unsaturated zone monitoring
Remote sensing, geostatistics, and mapping
Analytical methods and quality assurance
Borehole and surface geophysics
X-ray fluorescence field survey methods
Contact: Shelly Evans
FTS 545-2270 or 702/734-3207
Ecological Risk Assessment Center
Environmental Research Laboratory
Athens, Georgia
The Environmental Research Laboratory-Athens TSC emphasizes multi-
media exposure and risk assessment modeling of remedial action alterna-
tives. An electronic bulletin board (BBS) has been established to dissemi-
nate models and databases and to exchange modeling information.
Technical support services indude:
Modeling, databases, and analytical techniques
Multimedia modeling of organic chemical and heavy metal pollutant
fate
SoilAwater and surface water/sediment systems
Ecological impact and ecorisk assessment
Contact: Bob Ambrose
FTS 250-3130 or 404/546-3130
BBS: FTS 250-3402 or 404/546-3402
Ground-Water Fate and Transport Center
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
Ada, Oklahoma
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory (RSKERL) is EPA's
Center for fate and transport research, focusing its efforts on transport and
fate of contaminants in the subsurface, methodologies for protection and
restoration of ground-water quality, and evaluation of subsurface proc-
esses for the treatment of hazardous waste. Staff at the Technology
Support Center at RSKERL provide technical assistance and support in:
Pump-and-treat aquifer reclamation
In-situ biorestoration of soils and ground water
Subsurface geochemistry
Contaminant transport modeling
Subsurface contaminant transformation
Contact: Dick Scalf
FTS 743-2308 or 405/332-8800
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Superfund Regional Coordinators and Contacts
Recent staff changes have resulted in a reorganization of Headquarters regional coordinators. Questions
regarding RI/FS, ROD, RD/RA, Settlement, or other enforcement issues should be referred to the
appropriate individuals listed below.
Fund Coordinators and Contacts
RI/FS and ROD Regional Coordinators
Design and Construction Consultants
Region
1
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
Name
Jennifer Haley
Alison Barry
Sharon Frey
Tish Zimmerman
Trudi Fancher
Sandra Panetta
Robin Anderson
Tish Zimmerman
Steve Golian
David Cooper
Steve Golian
FTS No.
475-6705
475-9839
475-9754
382-2461
475-9757
475-9758
382-2446
382-2461
475-9750
475-6703
475-9750
Re£
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
Name
Joann Griffith
Jack Taylor
(New York)
Robert Heffernan
(New Jersey)
Bill Zobel
Mike Peterson
Tracy Loy
Ed Hanlon
Mike Peterson
Ben Hamm
Ed Hanlon
Ed Hanlon
FTS No.
475-6704
475-8246
475-9751
382-2347
382-2457
382-7997
475-9753
475-2457
382-7998
475-9753
475-9753
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