United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
Publication 9345.4-03FS
September 1993
SITE ASSESSMENT:
Evaluating Risks at Superfund Sites
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Hazardous Site Evaluation Division 5204G
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
The Challenge of the Superfund
Program
A series of headline-grabbing stories in the late
1970s, such as Love Canal, gave Americans a crash
course in the perils of ignoring hazardous waste. At
that time, there were no Federal regulations to
protect the country against the dangers posed by
ha/ardous substances (mainly industrial chemicals,
accumulated pesticides, cleaning solvents, and other
chemical products) abandoned at sites throughout
the nation. And so, in 1980 Congress passed the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compen-
sation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly
known as Superfund, to address these problems.
The major goal of the Superfund program is to
protect human health and the environment by clean-
ing up areas, known as "sites," where hazardous
waste contamination exists. The U.S. Environ ,
tal Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for
implementing the Superfund program.
At the time it passed the Superfund law, Con-
gress believed that the problems associated with
uncontrolled releases of hazardous waste could be
handled in five years with $1.6 billion dollars.
However, as more and more sites were identified, it
became apparent that the problems were larger than
anyone had originally believed. Thus, Congress
passed the Superfund Amendments and Reauthoriza-
tion Act (SARA) in 1986. SARA expanded and
strengthened the authorities given to EPA in the
original legislation and provided a budget of $8.5
billion over five years. Superfund was extended for
another three years in 1991.
What is EPA's Job at Superfund Sites?
For more than 10 years, EPA has been implementing the Superfund law by:
*" Evaluating potential hazardous waste sites to determine if a problem exists;
*" Finding the parties who caused the hazardous waste problems and directing them to address these
problems under EPA oversight or requiring them to repay EPA for addressing these problems; and
'*" Reducing immediate risks and tackling complex hazardous waste problems.
The Superfund site assessment process generally begins with the discovery of contamination at a site
and ends with the completion of remediation (i.e., cleaning up the waste at a site) activities. This fact
sheet explains the early part of the process, called the site assessment phase.
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The National Response Center
The National Response Center (NRC), staffed
by Coast Guard personnel, is the primary
agency to contact for reporting all oil, chemical,
and biological discharges into the environment
anywhere in the U.S. and its territories. It is
responsible for:
<*~ Maintaining a telephone hotline 365 days a year, 24 hours a day;
•* Providing emergency response support in specific incidents; and
«*• Notifying other Federal agencies of reports of pollution incidents.
To report a pollution incident, such as an oil spill, a pipeline system failure, or a transporta-
tion accident involving hazardous material, call the NRC hotline at 800-424-8802.
Site
Discovery
Hazardous waste sites are
discovered in various ways.
Sometimes concerned residents
find drums filled with unknown
substances surrounded by dead
vegetation and call the NRC,
EPA, or the State environmental
agency; or an anonymous caller to
the NRC or EPA reports suspi-
cious dumping activities. Many
sites come to EPA's attention
through routine inspections
conducted by other Federal, State,
or local government officials.
Other sites have resulted from a
hazardous waste spill or an
explosion. EPA enters these sites
into a computer system that tracks
any future Superfund activities.
Preliminary
Assessment
After learning about a site, the
next step in the site assessment
process is to gather existing
information about the site. EPA
calls this the preliminary assess-
ment. Anyone can request that a
preliminary assessment be per-
formed at a site by petitioning
EPA, the State environmental
agency, local representatives, or
health officials.
During the preliminary
assessment, EPA or the State
environmental agency:
* Reviews available background
records;
+ Determines the size of the site
and the area around it;
^ Tries to determine whether
hazardous substances are
involved;
^ Identifies actual or potential
pollution victims, such as the
nearby population and sensi-
tive environments;
^ Makes phone calls or inter-
views people who may be
familiar with the site; and
^ Evaluates the need for early
action using EPA's removal
authority.
By gathering information and
possibly visiting the site, EPA or
the State environmental agency
is able to determine if major
threats exist and if cleanup is
needed. Many times, the prelimi-
nary assessment indicates that no
major threats exist.
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The Site Assessment Process
1. Site Discovery
Does a major
threat exist?
2. Preliminary
Assessment
Does a major
threat exist?
SITE EVALUATION ACCOMPLISHED
Decision reached when no major threat
is found to exist at a site (can be referred
to State or deferred to another authority
such as RCRA)
13. Site Inspection
Does a major
threat exist?
4. Hazard Ranking
Does a major
threat exist?
REMOVAL/EARLY ACTION
Action taken when a major
threat is found to exist
•
However, if hazardous substances do pose an immediate threat, EPA
quickly acts to address the threat. When a site presents an immediate
danger to human health or the environment—for example, there is the
potential for a fire or an explosion or the drinking water is contami-
nated as a result of hazardous substances leaking out of drums—EPA
can move quickly to address site contamination. This action is called a
removal or an early action. Additional information on early actions
can be found on page 4.
EPA or the State environmental agency then decides if further
Federal actions are required. Of the more than 35,000 sites discovered
since 1980, only a small percentage have needed further remedial
action under the Federal program.
A report is prepared at the completion of the preliminary assess-
ment. The report includes a description of any hazardous substance
release, the possible source of the release, whether the contamination
could endanger people or the environment, and the pathways of the
release. The information outlined in this report is formed into hypoth-
eses that are tested if further investigation takes place. You can request
a copy of this report once it becomes final—just send your name and
address to your EPA regional Superfund office. See page 8 for further
information on these contacts.
Sometimes it is difficult to tell if there is contamination at the site
based on the initial information gathering. When this happens, EPA
moves on to the next step of the site assessment, called the site
inspection.
Making Polluters Pay
One of the major goals
of the Superfund program is
to have the responsible
parties pay for or conduct
remedial activities at hazard-
ous waste sites. To accom-
plish this goal, EPA:
+ Researches and deter-
mines who is responsible
for contaminating the
site;
* Issues an order requiring
the private parties to
perform cleanup actions
with EPA oversight; and
4 Recovers costs that EPA
spends on site activities
from the private parties.
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Removals/Early Actions
EPA can take action quickly if hazardous substances pose an immediate threat to human health
or the environment. These actions are called removals or early actions because EPA rapidly
eliminates or reduces the risks at the site. EPA can take a
number of actions to reduce risks, including:
Fencing the site and posting warning signs to secure the site
against trespassers;
Removing, containing, or treating the source of the
contamination;
Providing homes and businesses with safe drinking water;
and, as a last resort,
Temporarily relocating residents away from site
contamination.
"EPA can take action quickly
if hazardous substances pose
an immediate threat to human
health or the environment."
Inspection
If the preliminary assessment
shows that hazardous substances
at the site may threaten residents
or the environment, EPA performs
a site inspection. During the site
inspection, EPA or the State
collects samples of the suspected
hazardous substances in nearby
soil and water. EPA may initiate
a concurrent Si/remedial investi-
gation at those sites that are most
serious and determined early as
requiring long-term action. Some-
times, wells have to be drilled to
sample the ground water. Site
inspectors may wear protective
gear, including coveralls and
respirators, to protect themselves
against any hazardous substances
present at the site. Samples
collected during the site inspec-
tion are sent to a laboratory for
analysis to help EPA answer
many questions, such as:
* Are hazardous substances
present at the site? If so, what
are they, and approximately
how much of each substance
is at the site?
* Have these hazardous
substances been released into
the environment? If so, when
did the releases occur, and
where did they originate?
* Have people been exposed to
the hazardous substances?
If so, how many people?
4 Do these hazardous substances
occur naturally in the immedi-
ate area of the site? At what
concentrations?
* Have conditions at the site
gotten worse since the pre-
liminary assessment? If so, is
an early action or removal
needed? (See box above.)
Often, the site inspection
indicates that there is no release of
major contamination at the site, or
that the hazardous substances are
safely contained and have no
possibility of being released into
the environment. In these
situations, EPA decides that no
further Federal inspections or
remedial actions are needed. This
decision is referred to as site
evaluation accomplished, (See
page 5 for more details on the
site evaluation accomplished
decision.)
At the completion of the site
inspection, a report is prepared.
This report is available to the
public-call your EPA regional
Superfund office for a copy. See
page 8 for the phone numbers of
these offices.
"During the site
inspection, EPA or the
State collects samples
of the suspected
hazardous substances
in nearby soil and
water."
At sites with particularly
complex conditions, EPA may
need to perform a second SI to
obtain legally defensible docu-
mentation of the releases.
Because EPA has limited
resources, a method has been
developed to rank the sites and set
priorities throughout the nation.
That method, known as the
Hazard Ranking System, is the
next step in the site assessment
process.
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Hazard
Ranking
System
EPA uses the information
collected during the preliminary
assessment and site inspection to
evaluate the conditions at the site
and determine the need for long-
term remedial actions. When
evaluating the seriousness of
contamination at a site, EPA asks
the following questions:
^ Are people or sensitive environ-
ments, such as wetlands or
endangered species, on or near
the site?
^ What is the toxic nature and
volume of waste at the site?
^ What is the possibility that a
hazardous substance is in or
will escape into ground water,
surface water, air, or soil?
Based on answers to these
questions, each site is given a score
between zero and 100. Sites that
score 28.5 or above move to the next
step in the process: listing on the
National Priorities List. Sites that
score below 28.5 are referred to the
State for further action.
National
Priorities
List
Sites that are listed on the
National Priorities List present a
potential threat to human health
and the environment, and require
further study to determine what, if
any, remediation is necessary.
EPA can pay for and conduct
Site Evaluation Accomplished
In many instances, site investigators find that potential sites do not warrant Federal
action under the Superfund program. This conclusion can be attributed to one of two
reasons:
4 The contaminants present at the site do not pose a major threat to the local
population or environment; or
+ The site should be addressed by another Federal authority, such as
EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous
waste management program.
When investigators reach this conclusion, the site evaluation is considered accomplished.
A site can reach this point at several places during the site assessment process, namely at
the conclusion of the preliminary assessment or the site inspection, or once the site is
scored under the Hazard Ranking System.
remedial actions at NPL sites if
the responsible parties are unable
or unwilling to take action them-
selves. There are three ways a
site can be listed on the National
Priorities List:
* It scores 28.5 or above on the
Hazard Ranking System;
* If the State where the site is
located gives it top priority, the
site is listed on the National
Priorities List regardless of the
HRS score; or
* EPA lists the site, regardless of
its score, because all of the
following are true about the
site:
T The Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR), a group
within the U.S. Public
Health Service, issues a
health advisory recom-
mending that the local
population be dissociated
from the site (i.e., that the
people be temporarily
relocated or the immediate
public health threat be
removed);
T EPA determines that the
site poses a significant
threat to human health; and
T Conducting long-term
remediation activities will
be more effective than
addressing site contamina-
tion through early actions.
The list of proposed sites is
published in the Federal Register,
a publication of legal notices
issued by Federal agencies. The
community typically has 60 days
to comment on the list. After
considering all comments, EPA
publishes a list of those sites that
are officially on the National
Priorities List. When a site is
added to the National Priorities
List, the site assessment is com-
pleted. Long-term actions take
place during the next phase. See
page 6 for more details on long-
term actions.
As a Concerned Citizen,
How Can I Help ?
«• Read this fact sheet.
w Call EPA with any potential
sites in your area.
*• Provide EPA with site
information.
** Comment on proposed listing
of sites on the National
Priorities List.
•" If the site is listed on the NPL,
work with your citizens' group to
apply for a technical assistance
grant.
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Addressing
Sites in the
Long Term
Once a site is placed on the
National Priorities List, it enters the
long-term or remedial phase. The
stages of this phase include:
/ Investigating to fully determine
the nature and extent of
contamination at the site, which
can include a public health
assessment done by the ATSDR;
/ Exploring possible technologies
to address site contamination;
/ Selecting the appropriate
technologies—also called
remedies;
/ Documenting the selected
remedies in a record of
decision (ROD);
/ Designing and constructing the
technologies associated with
the selected remedies;
/ If necessary, operating and
maintaining the technologies for
several years (e.g., long-term
treatment of ground water) to
ensure safety levels are
reached; and
•/ Deleting the site from the
National Priorities List,
completing Superfund's process
and mission.
Some Commonly Asked Questions
Q: What exactly is a site?
/\; EPA designates the area in which contamination exists as
the "site." Samples are taken to define the area of
contamination. At any time during the cleanup process the
site may be expanded if contamination is discovered to have
spread further.
Q: How long will it take to find out if a threat exists?
A; Within one year of discovering the site, EPA must perform a
preliminary assessment. The preliminary assessment allows
EPA to determine if there is an immediate danger at the site;
if so, EPA takes the proper precautions. You will be notified
if you are in danger. EPA may also contact you to determine
what you know about the site.
Q! What is the State's role in all these investigations?
A; The State can take the lead in investigating and addressing
contamination. It also provides EPA with background
information on (1) immediate threats to the population or
environment, and (2) any parties that might be responsible
for site contamination. The State shares in the cost of any
long-term actions conducted by the Superfund program,
comments on the proposal of sites to the National Priorities
List, and concurs on the selected remedies and final deletion
of sites from the National Priorities List.
Q! Why are private contractors used to assess sites?
A; EPA has a limited workforce. By using private contractors,
EPA is able to investigate more sites. Also, EPA is able to
draw on the expertise of private contracting companies.
Q! Why are there so many steps in the evaluation process?
Why can't you just take away all the contaminated
materials right now, just to be safe?
A! When EPA assesses a site, it first determines if
contamination poses any threats to the health of the local
population and the integrity of the environment. Dealing with
worst sites first is one of Superfund's national goals. By
evaluating contamination in a phased approach, EPA can
quickly identify sites that pose the greatest threats and move
them through the site assessment process. Once EPA
understands the conditions present at a site, it searches for
the remedy that will best protect public health and the
environment. Cost is only one factor in weighing equally
protective remedies. Many sites do not warrant actions
because no major threat exists. However, if a significant
threat does exist, EPA will take action.
6
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about Superfund Sites
: If a site is added to the National Priorities List, how will we know when
EPA has completed the cleanup efforts?
A! EPA notifies the public and requests their comments on the actions
proposed to treat site contaminants. In addition, the community is notified
when a site will be deleted from the National Priorities List. The entire
process can take as long as 7 years; at sites where ground water is
contaminated, it can take even longer.
Q: I live next door to a site and I see EPA and contractor personnel
wearing "moon suits." Am I safe?
A! EPA and contractor personnel wear protective gear because they might
actually be handling hazardous materials. Also, these people are regularly
exposed to contaminants at different sites and do not always know what
contaminants they are handling. EPA takes steps to protect the public from
coming in contact with the site contamination. If a dangerous situation
arises, you will be notified immediately.
Q! If a site is added to the National Priorities List, who pays for the
activities?
A! EPA issues legal orders requiring the responsible parties to conduct site
cleanup activities under EPA oversight. If the parties do not cooperate,
Superfund pays and files suit for reimbursement from responsible parties.
The sources of this fund are taxes on the chemical and oil industries; only a
small fraction of the fund is generated by income tax dollars.
Q! How can I get more information on any health-related concerns?
/\; Contact your EPA regional Superfund office for more information. The
ATSDR also provides information to the public on the health effects of
hazardous substances. Ask your EPA regional Superfund office for the
phone number of the ATSDR office in your region.
Q! How can I verify your findings? What if I disagree with your
conclusions?
A! You can request copies of the results of the site assessment by writing to
your EPA regional Superfund office. The public is given the opportunity to
comment on the proposal of a site to the National Priorities List and the
actions EPA recommends be taken at the site. If a site in your community is
listed on the National Priorities List, a local community group may receive
grant funds from EPA to hire a technical advisor. Call your EPA regional
Superfund office (see page 8) for the location of an information repository
and for information on applying for a technical assistance grant.
Q! How can I get further information? How can I get a list of the sites
EPA has investigated?
A! Contact your EPA regional Superfund office (see page 8) for more
information and a list of sites in your area.
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Important
Phone
Numbers
For information on the Superfund
program or to report a hazardous
waste emergency, call the
national numbers below.
U.S. EPA Headquarters
Hazardous Site Evaluation
Division
w Site Assessment Branch
703-603-8860
Federal Superfund Program
Information
» EPA Superfund Hotline
800-424-9346
Emergency Numbers:
Hazardous Waste Emergencies
w National Response Center
800-424-8802
ATSDR Emergency Response
Assistance
*• Emergency Response Line
404-639-0615
For answers to site-specific
questions and information on
opportunities for public
involvement, contact your
region's Superfund community
relations office.
EPA Region 1: Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
w Superfund Community
Relations Section
617-565-2713
EPA Region 2: New Jersey, New
York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
w Superfund Community
Relations Branch
212-264-1407
EPA Region 3: Delaware, District
of Columbia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
Virginia
w Superfund Community
Relations Branch
800-438-2474
EPA Region 4: Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee
w Superfund Site Assessment
Section
404-347-5065
EPA Region 5: Illinois. Indiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,
Wisconsin
•» Office of Superfund
312-353-9773
EPA Region 6: Arkansas,
Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Texas
9 Superfund Management
Branch, Information
Management Section
214-655-6718
EPA Region 7: Iowa, Kansas,
Missouri, Nebraska
w Public Affairs Office
913-551-7003
EPA Region 8: Colorado,
Montana, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
« Superfund Community
Involvement Branch
303-294-1124
EPA Region 9: Arizona,
California, Hawaii, Nevada,
American Samoa, Guam
» Superfund Office of
Community Relations
800-231-3075
EPA Region 10: Alaska, Idaho,
Oregon, Washington
» Superfund Community
Relations
206-553-2711
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