EPA/530-SW-88-010
COMPENDIUM
OF
ORDANDOSWER
DOCUMENTS
RELEVANT TO RCRA CORRECTIVE ACTION
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE
WASTE MANAGEMENT DIVISION
MAY 1988
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r
PREFACE
This document was prepared by NUS Corporation, Gaithersburg, MD, for the Waste
Management Division, Office of Solid Waste, under Contract No. 68-01-7310. Most
of the information in the cited documents addresses technical aspects of corrective
or remedial actions. However, several CERCLA documents also focus on procedural
aspects of program implementation. Information intended for managing the
overall CERCLA process may not be applicable in the RCRA enforcement/permitting
context. Also, some technical documents were prepared a number of years ago, and
Agency policy contained in those documents may not reflect current policy.
Therefore, documents listed in this compendium should be used only for their
technical information.
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INTRODUCTION
Throughout the past decade several Offices within the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) have been involved in hazardous waste management
technologies research, remedial action at chemically contaminated sites, and
regulatory development for permitting hazardous waste management facilities.
The primary offices involved in these activities include the Office of Research and
Development (ORD) and the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(OSWER). During this period, substantial knowledge and experience has been
gained relevant to the applicability of remedial action technologies in various
environmental settings.
Currently, OSWER is developing regulations on corrective action for solid waste
management units §3004(u) of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
(HSWA) to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The Corrective
Action program consists of three primary phases: 1) the RCRA Facility Assessment
(RFA), which is aimed at identifying known and suspected releases of hazardous
wastes or hazardous constituents to the environment; 2) the RCRA Facility
Investigation (RFI), which consists of media-specific field investigations to
characterize the nature, extent and rate of contaminant migration through the
various environmental media; and 3) Corrective Measures Study/Implementation.
This latter phase, generally termed Corrective Measures, consists of actions
undertaken by both facility owners or operators and regulatory agencies aimed at
selecting and implementing appropriate remedies at facilities subject to RCRA
permitting requirements, which have contaminant releases of concern. Detailed
regulations and guidance for implementing this phase are currently being prepared
by OSWER.
The purpose of this summary of ORD and OSWER documents relevant to RCRA
corrective action is to provide Regional and State regulatory personnel and facility
owners or operators with a concise overview of the available guidances and
technical reports on remedial action technologies, site assessment, health
assessment, construction techniques and procedures, costing techniques, and
quality assurance/quality control procedures. The purpose, scope and technical
approach of 55 separate documents have been summarized. Also, the applicability
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of each document to RCRA corrective measures implementation has been
evaluated. Copies of the complete documents listed in this compendium may be
obtained at the addresses and telephones numbers given below:
• ORD published documents can be obtained through the ORD
Publications Department at:
U.S. EPA
ORD Publications
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513) 569-7562 (commercial)
or 684-7562 (FTS)
Requesters should have correct publication numbers (and titles, if
known) for 600 and 540 series documents. Three or fewer documents
may be requested by phone. Written requests may also be sent to the
above address, particularly when ordering more than three documents.
• Written requests for OSWER/OERR guidance documents and directives
(and OWPE documents related to CERCLA) can be made through the
Superfund Docket at:
U.S. EPA
Superfund Docket (WH-548D)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Fewer than 5 documents can be requested by phone at (202) 382-3046
(commercial) or 382-3046 (FTS).
• OSWER/OSW guidance documents and directives (and OWPE documents
related to RCRA) can be obtained through the RCRA Docket at:
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U.S. EPA
RCRA Docket (WH-562)
401M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460.
Inquiries for 5 or fewer items may also be made by phone at (202) 475-
9327 (commercial) or 475-9327 (FTS).
• Several documents also have designated National Technical Information
Service (NTIS) numbers. These documents may be obtained at:
NTIS
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, Virginia 22165
In addition to the 55 documents included in this Compendium, the various EPA
Offices have developed supplementary technical guidances. In October, 1987
OSWER issued a Hazardous Waste Bibliography which classifies the various
documents into four separate lists which distinguish the documents' utility and
currency. All documents in the "A Prime" and "A" lists (i.e., those documents which
are considered to be the most frequently consulted and the most critical to the
program) which have not been included in this Compendium have been listed in
Appendix A. For further information on these documents the reader should consult
the Hazardous Waste Bibliography.
Table 1-1 lists the documents included in this compendium, classified in the
following categories:
• Remedial Action Technical Guidance: Multi-media;
• Remedial Action Technical Guidance: Media-specific;
• Site Assessment and Health Assessment;
• Construction Techniques/Procedures;
• Costing Techniques;
• Quality Assurance/Quality Control; and
• Program Guidance Documents.
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Table 1-1 ORD and OSWER Documents Relevant to RCRA Corrective Action (Page 1 of 3)
Category
Remedial Action Technical
Guidance: Multi-Media
Remedial Action Technical
Guidance: Media-Specific
- Groundwater
- Surface Water
Document Title
Mobile Treatment Technologies for
Superfund Wastes
Guidance Document for Cleanup of Surface
Tank and Drum Sites
Guidance Document for Cleanup of Surface
Impoundment Sites
Modeling Remedial Actions at Uncontrolled
Hazardous Waste Sites
Slurry Trench Construction for Pollution
Migration Control
Compatability of Grouts with Hazardous
Wastes
Systems to Accelerate In-situ Stabilization of
Waste Deposits
Corrective Action Technology
Bibliographical Database
Remedial Response at Hazardous Waste
Sites
Drum Handling Practices at Hazardous
Waste Sites
Handbook for Evaluating Remedial Action
Technology Plans
RCRA Corrective Action Interim Measures
Leachate Plume Management
Management of Hazardous Waste Leachate
Corrective Measures for Releases to Ground
Water from Solid Waste Management Units
Guidance on Remedial Actions for
Contaminated Ground Water at Superfund
Sites
Corrective Action Technologies (CORRACT
TEC)
Discharge of Wastewater from CERCLA Sites
intoPOTWs
Issuing
Office
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR/
ORD
ORD/HWERL
ORD/HWERL
ORD/HWERL
OSWER/OSW
OSWER/OERR
ORD/HWERL
ORD/MERL
OSWER/OWPE
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OSW/
MERL
OSWER/OSW
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OSW
OSWER7OERR
Page
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
23
25
27
29
32
34
36
38
40
42
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Table 1-1 ORD and OSWER Documents Relevant to RCRA Corrective Action (Page 2 of 3)
Category
-Soils
-Air
-Subsurface Gas
Site Assessment and Health
Assessment
Construction
Techniques/Procedures
Costing Techniques
Document Title
Corrective Measures for Releases to Surface
Water
Treatment of Contaminated Soils with
Aqueous Surfactants
Handbook for Stabilization/Solidification of
Hazardous Waste
Corrective Measures for Releases to Soil
from Solid Waste Management Units
Review of In-place Treatment Techniques
for Contaminated Surface Soils. Volume 1-
Technical Evaluation
Review of In-place Treatment Techniques for
Contaminated Surface Soils. Volume 2--
Background Information for In-situ
Treatment
Evaluating Cover Systems for Solid and
Hazardous Waste
In-Situ Methods to Control Emissions from
Surface Impoundments and Landfills
Technical Guidance for Corrective Measures-
Determining Appropriate Technology and
Response for Air Releases
Technical Guidance for Corrective Measures:
Subsurface Gas
Guidance on Rl Under CERCLA
Superfund Public Health Evaluation Manual
Superfund Exposure Assessment Manual
Endangerment Assessment Handbook
Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Site Ranking
System (A Users Manual)
Field Standard Operating Procedures (FSOP)
Occupation Safety and Health Technical
Assistance and Enforcement Guidelines for
Superfund
Remedial Action Costing Procedures Manual
Removal Cost Management Manual
Issuing
Office
OSWER/OSW
ORD/HWERL
ORD/HWERL
OSWER/OSW
ORD/HWERL
ORD/HWERL
OWWM/ORD/
MERL
ORD/HWERL
OSWER/OSW
OSWER/OSW
OERR/ORD/
OWPE
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OWPE
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
Page
43
45
47
49
51
53
55
57
59
61
64
66
68
70
73
76
78
80
82
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Table 1-1 ORD and OSWER Documents Relevant to RCRA Corrective Action (Page 3 of 3)
Category
QA/QC Guidance Documents
Program Guidance
Documents
Document Title
Quality Assurance/Field Operations Methods
Manual
Data Quality Objectives for Remedial
Response Activities
User's Guide to the Contract Laboratory
Program
RCRA Corrective Action Plan
Guidance on Feasibility Studies Under
CERCLA
40 CFR Part 300 (National Contingency Plan)
Remedial Action at Waste Disposal Sites
Superfund Remedial Design and Remedial
Action Guidance
Community Relations in Superfund: A
Handbook
Superfund Federal-Lead Remedial Project
Management Handbook
Superfund State-Lead Remedial Project
Management Handbook
State Participation in the Superfund
Remedial Program
Current Remedial Action Program in
Support of Superfund
Policy on Floodplains and Wetlands
Assessments
Participation of Potentially Responsible
Parties in Development of RIs and FSs
Guidance Memorandum on Use and
Issuance of Administrative Orders Under
Section 1 06(a) of CERCLA
Preparation of Decision Documents for
Approving Fund-Financed and PRP Remedial
Actions Under CERCLA
Superfund Strategy
Issuing
Office
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR/
OWPE
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OWPE
OERR/OWPE
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OERR
ORD/HWERL
OSWER/OERR
OSWER/OWPE
OSWER/OWPE
OSWER/OWPE
OTA
Page
84
86
88
91
94
97
99
101
103
105
107
109
111
113
115
117
119
120
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Remedial Action Technical Guidance: Multi-Media
A total of 12 multi-media remedial action technical guidance documents have been
reviewed and summarized with respect to their applicability to the RCRA corrective
measures program. Generally, these documents would be especially useful during
the evaluation and selection of potential corrective measures. The documents
describe various corrective measure technologies which can be implemented during
corrective measures activities, including mobile treatment technologies, slurry
trench construction, and in-situ waste stabilization. These summaries follow.
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Guidance Document Name:
Mobile Treatment Technologies for Superfund Wastes
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, September 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Soil, air, ground water, surface water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides an overview of currently and potentially available mobile
treatment technologies for use on Superfund sites.
• Discusses the capabilities and limitations of five broad treatment,
categories, and specific technologies within each category.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Intended to provide project planners, on-scene coordinators, and
remedial project managers with information on the applicability and
capabilities of mobile treatment as an alternative to land disposal.
Would be most useful during the feasibility study phase of a Superfund
remedial action.
Technical Approach:
• Technologies for thermal treatment, immobilization, chemical
treatment, physical treatment, and biological treatment are discussed.
Each technology description includes
Process description
Waste type handled
Restrictive waste characteristics
Required onsite facilities/capabilities
Environmental impacts
Costs
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Commercial applications
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• Provides a more detailed discussion than does the Super-fund Strategy
(U.S. OTA, 1985) on the waste types (including particular chemicals) for
which each treatment process can be used. Also discusses required onsite
capabilities (such as electrical and water supplies or pumps) for each
mobile technology
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would provide information on mobile treatment technologies to be used
as an alternative to land disposal or permanent on-site treatment units.
• Most useful during the Corrective Measures Study (CMS) of a RCRA
Corrective Action.
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Guidance Document Name:
Guidance Document for Cleanup of Surface Tank and Drum Sites
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, May 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Does not specifically address any environmental media. Primary focus is
containerized waste treatment.
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide a concise description of the necessary steps to implement
surface remedial actions for the cleanup of surface tanks and drums
within the provisions of the National Contingency Plan.
• Designed to be used under the direction of any engineer or scientist
experienced in hazardous waste remedial projects.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides guidance for conducting a limited remedial investigation (Rl)
and a limited feasibility study (FS) (a limited Rl refers to an investigation
of one problem area or source of contamination at a facility, within a
relatively short time period and a limited FS corresponds to a limited Rl).
• Provides general guidance on the basic approach to development of
contracts for remedial actions at tank and drum sites.
• Presents a generic process for choosing treatment technologies for
uncontrolled tank and drum sites.
Technical Approach:
• Flow charts are used to present a logical sequence of decisions and
activities for the implementation of remedial actions.
• Section 2.0 reviews the steps to conduct an Rl to estimate the
characteristics and quantities of wastes stored in above ground tanks and
drums.
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• Section 3.0 presents steps for the evaluation and recommendation of a
cost-effective and environmentally sound remedial alternative for wastes
stored in drums and tanks.
• Section 4.0 reviews typical remedial design and remedial action issues
that may be unique to tank and drum sites.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• Document is designed to be used in conjunction with EPA's guidance
documents on conducting remedial investigations: Guidance on
Remedial Investigations under CERCLA (May 1985), and Guidance on
Feasibility Studies under CERCLA (May 1985).
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Since document addresses only containerized waste treatment, it would
be most useful in outlining the special considerations required for
implementing corrective measures for RCRA tank storage units.
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Guidance Document Name:
Guidance Document for Cleanup of Surface Impoundment Sites
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, June 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Soil, ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide a concise definition of the necessary steps to implement
surface remedial actions for the cleanup of surface impoundments under
CERCLA.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides a systematic approach for conducting a limited remedial
investigation (Rl) and a limited feasibility study (FS) at NPL sites having
one or more surface impoundments.
Technical Approach:
• Presents a classification scheme designed to evaluate the complexity of a
surface impoundment site, which will determine the required scope of
the limited Rl. This classification scheme is based on:
Depth to ground-water table
Integrity of surface impoundment
Permeability of soils
• Discusses the four main components of a limited Rl in terms of their
purpose, techniques, and limitations. Steps for a limited Rl are outlined
in a flow diagram.
• Provides guidance for evaluation and selection of an appropriate
remedy, either temporary or final.
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Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Designed to be used in conjunction with EPA's guidance documents on conducting
remedial investigations and feasibility studies, e.g., Guidance on Remedial
Investigations Under CERCLA (EPA, 1985).
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Useful in evaluating potential corrective measures for releases from
surface impoundments.
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Guidance Document Name:
Modeling Remedial Actions at Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response, and Office of Research and Development
Status:
Final, April 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Surface water, ground water and soil; air and fugitive dust emissons are discussed
peripherally, but the reader is referred to other documents for a detailed discussion
of these media.
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides guidance on the selection and use of models for the purpose of
evaluating the effectiveness of remedial actions at uncontrolled
hazardous waste sites.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Document most useful in the feasibility study portion of a Superfund
remedial action.
• Provides guidance to state and regional staff on the need for, and the
selection and use of analytical and numerical methods for modeling
remedial actions.
• Addresses modeling assumptions and limitations, required model
dimensionality, resource availability, and data needs.
Technical Approach:
Volume 1: Selection of Models for Remedial Assessment
• Provides model selection methodology based on flow charts and
matrices. Guide for state or regional staff in assessing the need for
predictive models at uncontrolledhazardous waste sites.
Volume 2: Simplified Methods for Subsurface and Waste Control Actions
• Compilation of analytical and semi-analytical methods for evaluating
subsurface and waste control remedial actions. Addresses model
assumptions and limitations.
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VolumeS: Numerical Modeling of Surface, Subsurface, and Waste Control Actions
• Guidance for use of numerical models for sites where more detailed
analyses are required and where sufficient resources are available.
Volume 4: Analytical and Numerical Models for the Evaluation of Remedial Actions
in Surface Water
• Guidance for modeling remedial actions at sites with surface water
contamination.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Broader in applicabilty and interpretation than other remedial action technical
quidances. Numerical and analytical modeling techniques could be applied to a
variety of remedial action techniques and environmental media.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would be useful in the preliminary stages of a CMS, in order to evaluate
which models are appropriate to predict contaminant transport, and to
predict the effectiveness of proposed corrective measures.
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Guidance Document Name:
Slurry Trench Construction for Pollution Migration Control
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research & Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, February, 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide reviewers of remedial action plans with the necessary
background material to evaluate portions of the plan dealing with
pollution migration control slurry walls.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Discusses early development and use of slurry trench construction
techniques.
• Describes:
What types slurry walls can be expected to help control pollution
migration.
Current theories regarding the functions of bentonite slurries and
various backfill materials.
Typical slurry wall configurations.
Other slurry wall configurations.
Other remedial measures appropriate for use in conjunction with
slurry walls.
Procedures for planning a slurry wall configuration.
Technical Approach:
Discusses properties and performance of 3 primary types of slurries:
Bentonite, Soil-Bentonite, Cement-Bentonite.
Describes vertical and horizontal slurry wall configurations.
Discusses associated remedial measures and practices, such as
ground-water pumping, collection and drainage systems, and
surface sealing.
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Describes types and extent of site investigation and
characterization necessary to determine feasibility of using a slurry
wall, including:
physical constraints
subsurface investigations
wastes and leachates
compatibility testing
• Describes slurry wall design and construction techniques.
• Discusses the need for and requirements of a slurry wall monitoring and
maintenance program.
• Itemizes cost elements of installing a slurry wall.
unit cost
construction activities
materials
equipment
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Focus of document is on traditional (i.e., construction industry) application and
designs for slurry walls, as compared with Compatibility of Grouts with Hazardous
Wastes (EPA, 1984), which discusses the known effects of chemical groups
commonly found in landfill leachate on set time and durability of common slurries
or grouts.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would be useful during study and selection of potential corrective
measures, and during development of corrective measures design.
• Describes appropriate situations for use of slurry walls, properties and
performance of slurry walls, and the need for monitoring and
maintenance of various types of slurry walls.
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Guidance Document Name:
Compatibility of Grouts with Hazardous Wastes
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research & Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, January 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
No direct discussion of any environmental medium.
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To compile data on the compatibility and durability of grouts in the
presence of hazardous wastes and leachates, and to summarize the test
procedures available to measure grout durability.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Presents the known effects of chemical groups commonly found in
landfills on the setting time and durability of each grout in a soil matrix.
• Describes the lab tests that should be performed to establish the
compatibility of chemicals with grouts.
• Would be most useful during the feasibility study and remedial
investigation stages of a Superfund action.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses 12 kinds of grouts in terms of:
Physical and chemical properties
Reaction theory
Known chemical compatibility
• Uses a series of matrices to present the known and predicted effects of
different chemical groups on set time and durability of the various grouts
currently in use.
• Describes the lab tests that should be performed to establish the
compatibility of chemicals with grouts, including a very general
discussion of advantages, disadvantages, and sources of error associated
with different testing methods.
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Comparison with Relevant Documents:
This document provides the guidance necessary to determine waste/slurry
compatibility through treataoility studies as compared with Slurry Trench
Construction for Pollution Migration Control, which contains guidance for
traditional slurry wall design and consturction.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would provide guidance for the design of a remedy selected during a
CMS, in particular, would provide a methodology for performing a
treatability study to determine waste/grout compatibility for a particular
corrective measure.
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Guidance Document Name:
Systems to Accelerate In-Situ Stabilization of Waste Deposits
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research & Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, September, 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground Water, Soil
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides the essential elements of in-situ waste stabilization methods
Selection of a chemical or biological agent which can react with and
stabilize the waste
Method for delivery of the reactant to the deposit
Method for recovery of the reaction products or mobilized wastes
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Report is a guidance document with respect to potential technologies for
in-situ waste stabilization as they currently exist, i.e., in their conceptual
or developmental stage.
• Presents methodology for selection of delivery and recovery systems.
• Would be useful during the remedial investigation and feasibility study
stages of a Superfund action.
Technical Approach:
• Briefly describes several delivery/recovery systems in terms of the
hydrogeologic/soil features, including depth of the waste deposit from
the surface and depth to the water table, that would give preference to
that method. Quantitative methods are described for determining the
hydrogeologic parameters.
• Gives information taken from the literature, reports on demonstration
studies, and personal communications on:
Biodegradation methods
Surfactant assisted flushing
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Hydrolysis
Chemical oxidation
• Provides guidance on the use of stabilization technologies at specific
sites.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Similar in scope to Handbook for Stabilization/Solidification of hazardous Waste
and Review of In-Place Treatment Techniques for Contaminated Surface Soils.
Volumes 1 and 2. Although similar in methodology to this guidance document, the
Handbook for StabilizationSolidification of Hazardous Waste, is not limited to in-
place stabilization techniques. Review of In Place Treatment Techniques for
Contaminated Surface Soils. Volumes 1 and 2, provides the most detailed discussion
of the soil and waste characteristics that affect contaminant transport and fate.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would be useful during the CMS.
• Would have limited applicability for corrective measures
implementation, although document is more geared toward the
planning stages of a RCRA Corrective Action.
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Guidance Document Name:
Corrective Action Technology Bibliographical Database
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste
Status:
Draft, July 30, 1987
Environmental Media Covered:
N/A
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
To provide EPA permit writers with a resource for locating and assessing technical
information on Corrective Action Technologies (CAT).
Scope of the Guidance Document:
Describes how to access the data base.
Technical Approach:
Describes search techniques
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Unique in Scope.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
t
• Provides information identifying current articles and reports which
provide technical data on various CATs.
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Guidance Document Name:
Remedial Response at Hazardous Waste Sites
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, March, 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
None
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
For use by government and industry personnel involved in selection, evaluation, and
design of remedial response actions
• To provide an understanding of the remedial process so that future
response actions can be developed and implemented in the most
efficient way possible.
• To provide a standard of comparison when evaluating or deciding on
response actions for sites with similar problems.
• To identify cleanup technologies which may warrant further research.
• To quantify and document the extent and type of remedial response
actions on a nationwide basis.
• To develop data to aid in cost recovery action promulgated by EPA.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
Identifies and assesses the various types of site response activities which have been
implemented, are in progress, or have been proposed to date at uncontrolled
hazardous waste sites across the United States.
Technical Approach:
• Describes the methodology used for the nationwide survey.
• Discusses how the sites were chosen for detailed case studies.
• Analyzes results of the survey.
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• Analyzes the costs of repsonses and the institutional frameworks for
decision making.
• Contains findings and recommendations based on the survey.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Provides guidance for, and documentation of, the methodology used in the CERCLA
remedial process that is broader than that contained in other guidance documents,
e.g., Handbook for Evaluating Remedial Action Technology Plans.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides an understanding of the CERCLA remedial process so that future
response RCRA actions can be developed and implemented in the most
efficient way possible.
• Provides a standard of comparison when evaluating or deciding on
response actions for RCRA sites with similar problems.
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Guidance Document Name:
Drum Handling Practices at Hazardous Waste Sites
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, August 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Surface water, ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide technical guidance on planning and implementing safe and
cost-effective response actions applicable to hazardous waste sites
containing drums.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Presents procedures and methods for implementing cost-effective
response actions applicable to drum problems requiring one or more of
the three response categories outlined in the National Contingency Plan
Removal
Surface Cleanup
Subsurface remedial action
• Useful to on-scene coordinators, Federal, State, and local officials and
private firms that plan and implement response actions at sites
containing drums.
Technical Approach:
• Information is presented on the applications and limitations of the
following remedial measures for controlling or containing migration of
wastes:
Surface capping
Surface water controls
Ground-water pumping
Subsurface drains
Slurry walls
In situ treatment technologies
25
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• Each drum removal operation is discussed in terms of
Technical feasibility
Health and safety procedures
Methods for protecting the environment and public welfare
Cost factors
• Describes steps and methodology for
Drum location and inventory
Drum excavation
Drum staging
Drum opening
Waste consolidation/recontainerization
Interim waste storage and transport
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Only guidance document specifically addressing drum handling techniques.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Useful in evaluating potential remedial technologies to address
contaminant releases from drum storage units.
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Guidance Document Name:
Handbook for Evaluating Remedial Action Technology Plans
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Municipal Environmental Research
Laboratory
Status:
Draft, August, 1983
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water, surface water, contaminated soil, air
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides an outline of technical information that potentially could be
used to evaluate long term remedial action plans for controlling or
treating wastes or leachates at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
Intended audience includes those involved in the review of preliminary
engineering reports on formal designs of remedial actions at the waste
sites.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Contains information on over 50 remedial action technologies. A brief
description, status, factors for determining feasibility and reliability,
principal data requirements, and basic information for cost review are
given for each technology. In addition, a general discussion of the
pathways and associated remedial approaches and monitoring
techniques has been included; organized by media.
Technical Approach:
• Section 2 describes general approaches to remedy problems in five media
that can become contaminated by hazardous substances released at an
uncontrolled site. The media are groundwater/leachate, surface water,
soil, waste, and air. Sections 3 and 4 describe individual technologies and
engineering methods. Section 3 describes technologies for the physical
control and containment of hazardous constituents in the five media
above. Section 4 describes treatment technologies for leachate, waste,
and contaminated soil. Information in Section 3 and 4 is presented in the
following format:
Description of the technology.
Availability of the technology.
27
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Feasibility and effectiveness - technical factors important in
understanding and reviewing the technology.
Major factors which determine the performance of the technology.
Site-specific data necessary for the design of the technology.
Information for analyzing technology cost estimates.
• Section 5 presents a general discussion of monitoring techniques for use
during remedial activities and during the post-closure custodial period.
A discussion of monitoring wells in the format of Sections 3 and 4 is also
provided.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
More specific in applicability than the Guidance on Feasibility Studies Under
CERCLA. Unlike the FS Guidance, this document does not provide a methodology
for development for remedial altenatives. However, it does provide technical
evaluations of over 50 remedial action alternatives.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Useful in all phases of a CMS, from preliminary consideration of a variety
of treatment technologies, to evaluation of selected corrective measures.
Particularly useful for Agency review of the feasibility, expected
performance, design, and cost of alternatives proposed by the
owner/operator in the Corrective Measures Study.
• Limited use in the implementation of corrective measures; describes
monitoring techniques and post-closure custodial care.
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Guidance Document Name:
Guidance on RCRA Corrective Action Interim Measures
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Waste Programs
Enforcement
Status:
Final, 1987
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water, surface water, soils, air, gas migration
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• For use by Regional (and State) enforcement staff for developing
language in RCRA §3008(h) enforcement orders for guiding the
implementation of interim measures. Specific interim measures for the
following types of waste management units are specified:
Containers
Surface Impoundments
Landfills
Waste Piles
Tanks.
• In addition, interim measures have been identified for the following
media and/or pollution events:
Ground water
Surf ace water
Gas migration
Air Emissions.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Identifies and lists the various types of interim measures which have been
utilized at various Superf und sites for potential use at RCRA sites.
Technical Approach:
• An implementation strategy and a set of decision criteria for use in the
development of interim measures language in RCRA §3008(h) orders or
permits are identified. A set of eleven questions for assisting Regional
staff to review pertinent facts about the facility and to guide the
decision-maker in assessing the need for interim measures is given.
29
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• Enforcement order language is given for multiple interim measures
techniques for each of the waste management units, environmental
media, and pollution events listed above.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• The ORD and OERR Handbook on Remedial Action at Waste Disposal
Sites (Handbook) provides technical information on the advantages and
disadvantages of many of the techniques identified in the interim
measures guidance. The Handbook also provides details on
"permanent" solutions.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• This draft guidance is a useful listing of potential interim measures which
may be implemented at RCRA facilities undergoing corrective action.
• Measures specified in a 3008(h) order should be coordinated with the
Regional and/or State permit writter(s) to ensure compatibility with long-
term corrective measures implementation plans.
30
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Remedial Action Technical Guidance: Media-Specific
A total of 15 media-specific guidance documents issued by OERR, ORD, and OSWER
have been included in this section. These documents are especially useful for the
evaluation and selection stages of a CMS. In general, the documents by themselves
do not provide adequate technical detail for corrective measures implementation.
Among the remedial technologies discussed are those for contaminated ground
water, surface water, soil, air, and the migration of subsurface gas. The following
summaries include individual assessments of the applicability of the documents to
RCRA program corrective measures implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
Leachate Plume Management
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, November 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide government and industrial personnel with the means to
successfully control leachate plumes from uncontrolled hazardous waste
sites.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides an overview of the fundamental concepts, procedures, and
technologies used in leachate plume management.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses plume dynamics:
Ground water flow patterns
Effects of leachate characteristics
• Discusses plume delineation procedures and data.
• Discusses plume control technologies.
• Discusses theory and design of ground water pumping, subsurface
drains, and low-permeability barriers.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
This document provides a more thorough treatment of the hydrogeologic factors
affecting leachate flow than does Management of Hazardous Waste Leacnate (SW-
871), which mainly addresses leachate treatment alternatives.
32
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Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Background information on theory and design of potential corrective
measures to address ground-water contamination resulting from
leachate plumes.
33
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Guidance Document Name:
Management of Hazardous Waste Leachate (SW-871)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response, Office of Research &
Development, Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, August, 1980
Environmental Media Covered:
Leachate in ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide guidance for permit officials and disposal site operators on
available management options for controlling, treating, and disposing of
hazardous waste leachates.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides overviews of leachate generation and leachate characteristics
• Presents alternatives for leachate treatment and disposal
• Provides broad guidance for design of a monitoring program
• In general, the document provides narrative qualitative discussions of
treatment alternatives and refers the reader to other documents for the
technical detail necessary for selection or implementation of a treatment
alternative
Technical Approach:
• Presents a broad discussion of three hazardous waste leachate
management options
Treatment as hazardous waste
Onsite management
Leachate treatment/disposal
• Presents a treatment process applicability matrix which rates the
effectiveness of different treatment processes for different chemical
waste types as good, fair, poor, or variable.
34
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• Presents a matrix of treatment process versus residuals and gaseous
emissions generated.
• Presents a flow chart of leachate treatment process selection
methodology based on
Evaluation of leachate quality
Treatabi I ity studies
Pilot scale studies
Full scale studies
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Should be used in conjunction with Leachate Plume Management, which provides a
more rigorous treatment of the hydrogeologic factors affecting leachate plume
development.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Limited applicability. Might be useful as a bibliography of other
guidance documents; however, much material contained within may be
out-dated.
35
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Guidance Document Name:
Corrective Measures for Releases to Ground Water from Solid Waste Management
Units (NTIS No. PB 88-185251)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste
Status:
Draft final
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Uses technology assessments and case studies to evaluate the relative
success or failure of each technology for various hydrologic settings and
waste types.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Describes the steps involved in assessing the need for corrective measures
at solid waste management units (SWMUs).
• Provides an overview of corrective measures applicable to releases to
ground wate at SWMUs.
Technical Approach:
• Describes the steps involved in assessing the need for corrective
measures:
Source characterization
Hazardous constituent distribution
Fate and transport mechanisms
Receptor identification
Risk assessment
• Both source control technologies and ground-water control/treatment
technologies are described in terms of:
Status of technology (i.e., emerging, proven)
Hydrogeologic/hazardous constituent applicability
Additional remedial measures required
Effectiveness
36
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• Case study reports include:
• Site characteristics
Soils
Geology
Hydrology
• Releases
Types/causes of releases
Mechanisms for detection
Extent of contamination
• Remedial actions
Response
Success/failure
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Part of a group of documents that addresses releases to air, surface water, ground
water, and soil. By itself, this document does not provide adequate technical detail
to select or implement a corrective measure. Should be used in conjunction with
other technical guidances listed in this compendium.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Evaluates relative success or failure for various ground-water corrective
measures technologies for various hydrologic settings and waste types.
37
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Guidance Document Name:
Guidance on Remedial Actions for Contaminated Ground Water at Super-fund Sites
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Draft, October 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Describes how to develop, evaluate, and select remedial actions for
ground water remediation under the Superfund program.
• Provides guidance and key considerations to be addressed when
selecting a ground water remedy during the CERCLA feasibility study of
alternatives.
• Helps ensure that the most cost-effective alternative is chosen during
Superfund activities.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Document is intended for an audience of:
Contractors planning and executing CERCLA remedial
investigations and feasibility studies;
EPA Regional Project Managers responsible for quality and
completeness of remedial investigations and feasibility studies; and
EPA Regional Project Managers and other decisionmakers
responsible for selection and performance evaluation of ground-
water remedial actions.
• Relevant to CERCLA remedial investigations/feasibility studies.
Technical Approach:
• Identifies the type of ground-water problems at the site including type of
chemicals present and the horizontal and vertical extent of
contamination.
38
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• Remedial alternatives which remedy ground-water problems are
developed from individual technologies which address the site-specific
problems.
• Remediation targets for carcinogens range from 10-4 to 10-7 excess
lifetime cancer risk; remediation targets for non-carcinogens are set
according to applicable standards and criteria.
• Remediation targets are achieved within an acceptable period of time in
the area of attainment (i.e., the area between the waste source and the
boundary of the plume.) Ground water with characteristics of Class I
aquifers are expected to be restored most rapidly (e.g., within one to five
years).
• Ground water remediation levels must be determined before the
effectiveness of remedial actions can be evaluated. Remediation levels
are defined by applicable or relevant and appropriate Federal
requirements.
• Choice of a remediation alternative depends upon the following criteria
for evaluation:
Class of ground water affected: Type I, II or III;
Availability of alternative water supply;
Ability to control/monitor plume movement;
Future ground water uses;
Effectiveness of institutional controls;
Other health risks borne by the affected population;
Costs;
Technical effectiveness of ground-water restoration;
Potential for plume spreading;
Performance monitoring; and
Hydrogeologic setting.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• Development and evaluation of remedial actions for contaminated
ground water should be performed in accordance with the "Guidance on
Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA."
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
Would be useful in selecting, evaluati
corrective measures at RCRA facilities with contaminated ground water.
• Would be useful in selecting, evaluating and developing appropriate
fa
39
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Guidance Document Name:
Corrective Action Technologies Data Base (CORRACTTEC)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste
Status:
Operating data base available to Regions and States
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water, surface water, soil
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• This data base was compiled as a resource for the Regional and State
premit writers to use as a reference in evaluating the viability of
proposed corrective measures in Corrective Measures Studies (CMSs).
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Technologies which have been addressed in technical and engineering
journals since the mid-1960's are included in the data base. Technologies
for ground water, surface water and soils remediation were included.
Septic tank drainage fields and acid mine run-off were not included.
Technical Approach:
• Three components of each case study have been characterized for
correlation with the users data. These include:
The hydrogeologic setting
Contaminant type and quantity
Technology used.
Thtst summaries provide the user with detailed discussions of specific
hydrogeologic settings, migration routes and rate of transport,
effectiveness of the remedial action performed, technical specifications
of the remedial technologies, and information on the monitoring
network available for use in evaluating performance.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• The structure of the data base was partially derived from the Handbook
for Evaluating Remedial Action Technology Plans (ORD), Leachate Plume
Management (OSWER). and State-pf-the-Art Aquifer Restoration (ORD).
Case studies were identified from technical, professional and
40
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engineering journals, Records of Decisions (ROD's) from Superfund sites,
and other sources as identified.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Data base designed and developed to provide a basis for comparing the
viability of corrective action techniques proposed in Corrective Measures
Studies (CMSs) submitted by owner/operators where available, cost data
have been included to provide the user with a basis for comparing per
unit costs of technology implementation.
41
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Guidance Document Name:
Discharge of Wastewater from CERCLA Sites into POTWs
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, April! 5,1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Surface Water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To highlight technical and policy concerns expressed in meetings
between EPA and the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Authorities
(AMSA) regarding the use and selection of POTWs for CERCLA
wastewater.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Discuss proposed criteria on use and selection of POTWs for CERCLA
wastewater.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses the National Pretreatment Program requirements applicable to
the introduction of non-domestic wastewater into a POTW.
• Discusses points to evaluate in determining whether a POTW may accept
wastewater from a CERCLA site.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Unique in scope.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Presents considerations to evaluate prior to remedy selection where
discharge of wastewater from a contaminated site into a POTW is among
the alternatives.
42
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Guidance Document Name:
Corrective Measures for Releases to Surface Water
(NTIS No. PB88-185251)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste
Status:
Draft final
Environmental Media Covered:
Surface water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides guidance to identify the need for corrective measures and to
identify mechanisms to correct releases to surface water.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides description of the steps necessary in:
Assessing the need for corrective measures
Control of sources of contamination
Technologies for offsite containment, recovery, and treatment
• Uses case studies to demonstrate how to select and implement corrective
measures for releases to surface waters.
Technical Approach:
• Provides a narrative, tabular, and checklist approach to:
Assessing the need for corrective measures
Source control
Offsite corrective measures
• Case studies are summarized in terms of
Types of releases
Waste types
Response action
43
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Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Part of a group of documents that addresses releases to air, surface water, ground
water and soil. By itself, this document does not provide adequate technical detail
to select or implement a corrective action. Should be used in conjunction with other
technical guidances in thisCompendum.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides guidance for the selection and implementation of corrective
measures to address releases to surface water under RCRA, although this
document by itself would not provide adequate technical detail for
corrective measures selection or implementation.
44
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Guidance Document Name:
Treatment of Contaminated Soils with Aqueous Surfactants
Originating Office:
U.S. Office of Research and Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering Research
Laboratory
Status:
Interim, November 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Soil, ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Reports the results of bench-scale treatability studies conducted to
determine if the efficiency of water washing of contaminated soils could
be enhanced through the use of aqueous surfactants.
• Makes limited recommendations for the selection of such a surfactant for
the in situ treatment of contaminated soils.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Uses a traditional research approach to evaluate methods for the in situ
treatment of contaminated soils.
• Would be most useful as a tool for further research on in situ treatment
methods, or full-scale studies at Superfund sites.
Technical Approach:
The reports of the study include:
• Results of a literature search on methods for in situ treatment of soils
contaminated with different waste types.
• Results of the laboratory study.
• Recommendations for selecting a surfactant for in situ treatment of
contaminated soils.
• Recommendations for further studies.
45
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Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Unlike other guidance documents (e.g., Mobile Treatment Technologies for
Super-fund Wastes (EPA, 1986)), this report is not a guide for selecting the best
treatment technology for contaminated soils. Rather, it is a tool for conducting full-
scale studies for in situ treatment at Superfund sites.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Does not have proven applicability for full-scale corrective actions to
address soil contamination at RCRA sites. Would be most useful as a tool
for further research.
46
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Guidance Document Name:
Handbook for Stabilization/Solidification of Hazardous Waste
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, June, 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Soil/sediment
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Designed to provide designers and reviewers of remedial action plans
with information necessary to judge the feasibility of stabilization/
solidification technology for the control of pollutant migration from
land-based hazardous waste disposal units.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Disucsses the general chemical systems involved in stabilization/
solidification technologies in order to provide the background
information necessary for selection of the optimum treatment option for
a specific waste.
• Addresses design requirements, and preliminary cost estimating for
selected stabilization/solidification alternatives.
• Would be most useful during the feasibility study portion of a Superfund
action.
Technical Approach:
• Based on field surveys, four stabilization/solidification scenarios are
developed and compared in terms of
Project sequencing
Equipment requirements
Costs
Special safety and environmental concerns
Possible modifications of treatment alternatives to reduce cost
47
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• Discusses several waste stabilization/solidification techniques in terms of:
Chemical basis for technology and commercial formulations in
common use
Waste and site characterizations appropriate for treatment process
evaluation
Protocols for bench-scale testing
Sampling and testing protocols for assessing containment efficiency
Final site cleanup and monitoring
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Focus is on methodology for corrective measures selection, as in Systems to
Accelerate In-Situ Stabilization of Waste Deposits; however, this document
addresses both in-situ and offsite waste stabilization.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Monitoring and testing protocols would be useful in evaluating
stabilization and solidification as an appropriate remedial alternative.
48
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APPENDIX A • "A PRIME" AND "A" LIST DOCUMENTS ON THE OSWER HAZARDOUS WASTE BIBLIOGRAPHY
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS COMPENDIUM *
CATEGORY
DOCUMENT TITLE
ISSUING OFFICE
ORDERING
INFORMATION
Remedial
Action Technical
Guidance: Multi-
Media
Directory of ComnMrical Hazardous Waste Treatment and Recycling
Facilities
Guidance Manual for Research. Development and Demonstration Permits
under 40 CFR sect 270 65
Practical Guide-Trial Burns for Hazardous Waste Incinerators: Project
Summary
Prohibition on the Placement of Bulk Liquid Hazardous Waste in Landfills--
Statutory Interpretive Guidance
Treatment Technology Briefs: Alternatives to Hazardous Waste Landfills
EPA/OSW. Washington.D.C.
EPA/OSW. Washington. DC
EPA/OSWER/HWERL
Cincinnati. OH
EPA/OSW. Washington. D.C.
EPA/ORD/HWERL, Cincinnati. OH
EPA Report 4530/SW8S-019
NTISREF *PB 86-178-431
EPA Report *530 SW-86/008
NTISREF *PB 86-229-192
OSWER DIRECTIVE 952700 1A
EPA Report #600/2-86-050
NTISREF fPB-86 190-246/AS
NTISREF *PB 86-212 271
EPA Report *600/9-86-017
NTISREF. JPB-87-110-680
Site Assessment
and Health
Assessment
Design and Development of Hazardous Waste Reactivity Testing Protocol
Handbook. Remedial Action at Waste Disposal Sites, Revised
Test Methods for Evaluation of Solid Waste: Physical/Chemical Methods
3rd Edition
Geophysical Methods for Location Abandoned Wells
Geophysical Techniques for Sensing Buried Wastes and Waste Migration
EPA/ORD/HWERL. Cincinnati, OH
EPA/OSWER/OERR/HWERL
Cincinnati, OH
EPA/OSWER, Washington. D.C.
EPA/ORD/EMSL. Las Vegas, NV
EPA/ORD/EMSL. Las Vegas, NV
EPA Report *600/2-84-057
NTIS REF. «PB-84-158-807
EPA Report 4*625/6-85-006
NTISREF #PB 87-201 034
OSWER DIRECTIVE 9380-0-4
EPA Report *SW-846
GPO Reference *955-001 -00000 1
EPA Report 1600/4-84-065
NTISREF JPB-84-212-711
EPA Report #600/7-84-064
NTISREF. IPB-84-198-449
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APPENDIX A - "A PRIME" AND "A" LIST DOCUMENTS ON THE OSWER HAZARDOUS WASTE BIBLIOGRAPHY
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS COMPENDIUM * (Continued)
CATEGORY
DOCUMENT TITLE
ISSUING OFFICE
ORDERING
INFORMATION
Site Assessment
and Health
Assessment
Practical Guide for Ground-Water Sampling
RCRA Ground-Water Monitoring Technical Enforcement Guidance
Document
Sediment Sampling Quality Assurance User's Guide
Soil Sampling Quality Assurance User's Guide
Survey of Mobile Laboratory Capabilities and Configurations
Health Effects Assessment Documents (SB Chemical Profiles)
EPA/OSWER/ERL, Ada. OK
EPA/OSW, Washington. D.C.
EPA/ORD/EMSL. Las Vegas. NV
EPA/ORD/EMSL, Las Vegas. NV
EPA/ORD/EMSL. Las Vegas. NV
EPA/OERR/OHEA
Cincinnati, OH
EPA Report 4>600/2-8S-104
NTISREF. fPB-86-137-304
EPA Report #S30/SW-86-OS5
NTISREF. #PB 87 107-751
EPA Report 1600/4-85-048
NTIS REF tPB 85 233-542
EPA Report #600/4-84-043
NTISREF. JPB-84-198 621
EPA Report »600/X-84-170
EPA Report « 540/1 -86-001 through
058
NTISREF JPB-86-134 111 AS
Construction
Techniques A
Procedures
Dust Control at Hazardous Waste Sites
Occupational Safety and Health: Guidance Manual for Hazardous Waste
Site Activities
Protecting Health and Safety at Hazardous Waste Sites: An Overview
Standard Operating Safety Guides
Decontamination Techniques for Mobile Response Equipment Used at
Waste Sites (State-of-the-Art Survey) Final Report
EPA/ORD/HWERL
Cincinnati, OH
NIOSH. Cncinnati. OH
CERI. Cincinnati. OH
EPA/OERR/HRSD
Washington, D.C.
EPA/ORD/HWERL. Cincinnati. OH
EPA Report * 540/2-85/003
NTISREF «PB 86-190-105
GPO Reference *(NIOSH PUB) 85-
115
EPA Report #625/9-85 006
OSWER DIRECTIVE 9285.1-0IB
EPA Report #600/2-85-105
NTISREF IPB-85-247-021/XA
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APPENDIX A - "A PRIME" AND "A" LIST DOCUMENTS ON THE OSWER HAZARDOUS WASTE BIBLIOGRAPHY
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS COMPENDIUM * (Continued)
CATEGORY
Construction
Techniques &
Procedures
Costing
Techniques
Program
Guidance
Documents
Case Studies
DOCUMENT TITLE
Emergency Response Procedures for Control of Hazardous Substance
Release
Guidance Manual for Minimizing Pollution From Waste Disposal Sites
Guide for Decontaminating Buildings. Structures and Equipment at
Superfund Sites
Superfund Removal Procedure-Revision 12
Technical Guidance Document: Construction Quality Assurance for
Hazardous Waste Land Disposal Facilities (Final Report)
Costs of Remedial Response Actions at Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites
CERCLA Compliance with Other Environmental Statutes
Petitions to Delist Hazardous Wastes: A Guidance Manual
Case Studies 1-23: Remedial Responses at Hazardous Waste Sites
Summary Report: Remedial Response at Hazardous Waste Sites
ISSUING OFFICE
EPA/ORD/HWERL, Edison. N.J.
EPA/ORD/WERL, Cincinnati, OH
EPA/ORD/HWERL. Cincinnati. OH
EPA/ERD. Edison. N.J.
EPA/ORD/HWERL. Cincinnati, OH
EPA/OSWER/WERL, Cincinnati. OH
EPA/OERR. Washington. D.C.
EPA/OSWER. Washington. DC.
EPA/OSWER/WERL, Cincinnati. OH
EPA/OSWER/WERL, Cincinnati. OH
ORDERING
INFORMATION
EPA Report #600/0 84-023
NTISREF. #PB 84-128-719
EPA Report #600/2-78-142
NTISREF #PB 268-905
EPA Report #600/2-85-028
NTISREF #PB 85 201 -234 AS
OSWER DIRECTIVE 9360 0-03A
EPA Report # 530/SW 86 031
NTISREF #PB-87- 132 825
OSWER DIRECTIVE 9427 00 3
EPA Report #600/2-82/035
NTISREF. #PB-83 164-830
OSWER DIRECTIVE 9234 0 02
EPA Report #540/G-87 001
NTISREF. #PB 85 194-488
EPA Report #540/2-84-0028
NTISREF #PB 85 121-739
EPA Report #540/2-84-002 A
NTISREF. tPB-86- 12 1-721
For further information see the OSWER Hazardous Waste Bibliography. October, 1987. EPA/540/1-87-001 (OSWER Directive 9380 1 02)
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Guidance Document Name:
Corrective Measures for Releases to Soil from Solid Waste Management Units (NTIS
No. PB88-185277)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste
Status:
Draft final, August, 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Soil
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
To provide guidance and selecting corrective measures in response to a hazardous
constituent release to soil.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides parameters and criteria which should be considered in selecting
a particular remedial response for specific site conditions and identified
compounds.
• Discusses the need for corrective measures through review of the
potential for hazardous constituents released to soil to be transported to
other media.
• Provides an overview of corrective measures.
• Discusses case studies where releases to soil has occurred and identifies
corrective mesures undertaken to clean up the soil.
• Provides recommendations for the application corrective measures to soil
releases.
Technical Approach:
Describes a stepwise process for assessing the need for corrective measures
Source characterization
Extent of contamination
Fate and transport
Exposure assessment
Hazard (toxicity) assessment and characterization
49
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Discusses the various types of removal/containment and treatment technologies
which are applicable to remediation of releases to soils
• Proven technologies: successfully used at sites to clean up hazardous
wastes from soils.
• Imminent technologies: proven in the laboratory and successfully used
in the field o*n pilot-scale studies.
• Emerging technologies: currently in the laboratory testing stage.
Reviews case studies which demonstrate how to select and implement corrective
measures for releases to soils from SWMUs.
Presents recommendations on how to select and implement corrective measures.
• Includes factors to consider in selecting corrective measures for releases
to soils, such as:
soil conditions
site location
hydrogeology
implementaDility
cost
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Part of a group of documents that addresses releases to air, surface water, ground
water, and soil. By itself, this document does not provide the technical detail to
choose or implement a corrective action.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides guidance for the selection and implementation of potential
corrective measures in response to a contaminant release to soils,
although this document by itself would not provide adequate technical
detail for corrective measures selection or implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
Review of In-Place Treatment Techniques for Contaminated Surface Soils. Volume 1
-Technical Evaluation
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research & Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, July, 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
Soils. Addresses ground water, surface-water, and air (indirectly)
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Discusses the selection of the appropriate in-place treatment technology
for a particular site and provides specific information on each
technology.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides a narrative discussion of different in-place treatment
technologies.
• Provides data for estimating costs.
• Discusses engineering practices for modifying soil properties to make in-
place treatment more effective.
• Would be most useful during the Feasibility Study of a Superfund action.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses each technology in terms of:
Process description
Information requirements for technology application
Wastes amenable to treatment
Current status of technology
Ease of application
Potentially achievable levels of treatment
Long term reliability of the technology
Secondary impacts
Required equipment and materials
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• Discusses engineering methods for increasing the effectiveness of in-
place treatment by modifying the following properties of soil:
Oxygen content
Moisture content
Nutrient content
- pH
Soil temperature
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Volumes 1 and 2 are similar in scope to Review of In-Place Treatment Techniques for
Contaminated Surface Soils; however, these volumes provide a more detailed
discussion of the soil and waste characteristics that affect contaminant transport
and fate.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Useful in determining potential of in-situ treatment technologies to
address contaminated soils at a RCRA corrective action site.
• Discussion of engineering methods for modifying soil characteristics to
improve effectiveness of treatment technologies would be useful during
the initial or planning stages of corrective measures implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
Review of In-Place Treatment Techniques for Contaminated Surface Soils.
Volume 2-Background Information for In-Situ Treatment
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research & Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, July, 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
Soils. Addresses ground water, surface water, and air indirectly.
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides background information and related chemical data to support
the treatment methodology described in Volume 1.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Presents information on
Monitoring to determine treatment effectiveness.
Characterization of behavior and fate of hazardous constituents in
soil/waste systems
Properties for various compounds that affect their interactions with
soil
Adsorption
Degradation
Volatilization
• Most useful during the feasibility study and the post-closure monitoring
phases of a Super-fund action.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses the specific site and soil characteristics that need to be
evaluated when assessing a site for in-situ treatment
Soil type and extent
Soil profile properties
Hydraulic properties and conditions
Geological and hydrocjeological factors
Meteorological and climatological data
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• Discusses one-dimensional transport models to describe the behavior of
waste constituents in soil systems. These models represent a first-cut
approach*to ranking waste types with respect to potential mobility, and
therefore treatment priority.
• Includes specific monitoring information for each medium (soil, water,
and air), and cost estimates for various monitoring techniques.
• Appendix contains a data base for assessing the soil/waste interactions of
individual chemicals, describing the following parameters:
Chemical properties
Adsorption parameters
Degradation parameters
Volatilization parameters
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
(See Review of In-Place Treatment Techniques for Contaminated Surface Soils.
Volume 1.)
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides the technical guidance necessary to select a remedy during a
CMS.
• Provides monitoring information that would be useful in evaluating
effectiveness of a in-situ soil treatment technology.
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Guidance Document Name:
Evaluating Cover Systems for Solid and Hazardous Waste (SW-867)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Water and Waste Management, Office of Research and
Development, Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, September 1980
Environmental Media Covered:
Discusses soils, but only in terms of their appropriateness as cover material
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Describes a 36-step procedure to be used by RCRA permit evaluators, for
the evaluation of permit engineering plans.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• The 36 steps in the permit evaluation procedure fall into the following
three categories:
Examination of data
Steps in cover system evaluation
Evaluation of post-closure plan
• Designed to provide the RCRA permit writer with a methodology for
evaluating cover design, and post-closure maintenance and
contingencies.
Technical Approach:
• Each data evaluation step includes
Step process
Data that should be examined and sources of such data
Applicant and permit evaluation responsibilities
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Only guidance document in this Compendium specifically addressing cover systems.
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Applicability toRCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would have applicability to the implementation of a RCRA Corrective
Action with respect to evaluation of cover designs, post-closure
maintenance, or contingency plans.
• Limited applicability as a tool to evaluate cover systems as part of a
proposed corrective measure.
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Guidance Document Name:
In-Situ Methods to Control Emissions from Surf ace Impoundments and Landfills
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, October 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Air
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides results of a study which included laboratory investigations and
literature reviews on methods of reducing emissions of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) from surface impoundments and landfills.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Discusses several in situ methods for controlling VOC emissions from
landfills and surface impoundments, and draws conclusions with respect
to the suitability of each method under various circumstances.
Technical Approach:
• Control methods discussed are:
Complete enclosure of a surface impoundment.
Use of floating solid objects.
Shape modification for surface impoundments.
Aerodynamic modification (i.e., wind barriers).
Floating oil layers and surfactants.
Synthetic covers for landfills.
• Control methods are discussed in terms of:
Relevant test results (cited from the literature).
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Parameters affecting effectiveness of control method, such as its
construction materials, or climate.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• Intermediate in applicability to Superfund actions between a scientific
research report (e.g., Treatment of Contaminated Soils with Aqueous
Surfactants (EPA, 1985)), and a Superfund guidance document (e.g.,
Mobile Treatment Technologies for Superfund Wastes (EPA, 1986)).
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Meaures:
• Will be useful as background data to evaluate potential corrective
measures that address VOC emissions at surface impoundments and
landfills.
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Guidance Document Name:
Technical Guidance for Corrective Measures -- Determining Appropriate Technology
and Response for Air Releases (NTIS No. PB88-185269)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste
Status:
Draft final, March, 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Air
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To assist EPA/State personnel in implementing RCRA corrective action
provisions by providing a central source of information on air emission
control technologies and techniques for hazardous waste TSDFs.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Describes waste management unit decision and operation practices
which prevent or control vapor and particulate releases from
containerized waste storage, storage tanks, surface impoundments,
landfills, land treatment and waste piles.
• Discusses control technologies used in the industrial/commercial sector.
Technical Approach:
• Uses flowcharts, tables, and narrative descriptions to characterize
corrective measures technologies by
Facility specific applicability
Cost effectiveness
Effectiveness in reducing air emissions
• Discusses corrective measures for specific facility types in terms of
Major causes for releases
Control options available
Advantages/disadvantages of the various control options.
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Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Part of a group of documents that addresses releases to air surface water, ground
water, and soil. By itself, this document does not provide the technical detail to
choose or implement a corrective action.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides guidance for the selection of potentiaj corrective measures to
address air releases, although this document by itself would not provide
adequate technical detail for corrective measures selection or
implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
Technical Guidance for Corrective Measures -- Subsurface Gas (NTIS No. PB88-
185285)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Draft final, March 28, 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Subsurface Gas
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To assist in the assessment of the potential for subsurface gas generation
and migration from these facilities and to describe potential corrective
measures.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides an overview of factors that impact subsurface gas generation
and migration.
• Provides methods to identify a subsurface gas release by the presence of
specific hazardous waste constituents.
• Describes criteria for emergency situations, investigation methods and
potential remedies.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses regulatory/statutory requirements
- Concentration limits
- Definition of a release
Indicator constituents
• Discusses forms of gas generation
Biological, chemical, physical decomposition
• Discusses barriers affecting gas migration
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• Provides checklists for identifying subsurface gas releases during a
preliminary assessment
• Describes subsurface sampling techniques
• Discusses data requirements for development of models to predict the
migration of subsurface gas
•
• Discusses procedures for subsurface gas field monitoring
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Document is unique in scope in this Compendium.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Primary applicability to investigation and corrective measure phases;
provides a format for subsurface gas field monitoring and for sampling
of volatile organics present in subsurface gas
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Site Assessment and Health Assessment
A total of 5 site assessment guidance documents have been reviewed and
summarized. These documents would be most useful for the site investigation and
assessment steps that would be conducted prior to a CMS. Several of the documents
describe data collection and analysis techniques for assessing the potential for,
types of, and degree of hazard which may result from a contaminant release. As
these documents are generally more closely related to the RFA/RFI phases of
corrective action than to corrective measures implementation their utility in the
Corrective Measures Study will be limited. The summaries follow.
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Guidance Document Name:
Guidance on Remedial Investigations under CERCLA
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA/Office of Research and Development, Office of Emergency and Remedial
Response, Office of Waste Programs Enforcement
Status:
Final June, 1985 (Workgroup Currently Revising)
Environmental Media Covered:
Groundwater, surface water, air, soil
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides technical guidance to Superfund staff, contractor and
potentially responsible parties on how to conduct a Remedial
Investigation (Rl) under CERCLA requirements.
• Describes how to characterize the extent of existing contamination and
the potential for a release to soils, ground water, surface water, and air
from uncontrolled hazardous waste sites on the NPL
• Describes the interplay of the Rl and FS activities during development of
a response.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides guidance on NCP requirements that must be met by Regions,
their contractors, and potentially responsible parties in conducting
CERCLA site investigations.
Technical Approach:
• Must be used in conjunction with the Guidance on Feasibility Studies
under CERCLA; Rl guidance focuses on data collection and site
characterization to provide the information required for a detailed
analysis of alternatives conducted during the FS.
• Initial activities consist of collecting and evaluating existing information
on site and waste characteristics, migration pathways, receptors and
potential impacts on public health, welfare and the environment.
• A sampling plan is developed to determine the extent of hazardous
contamination at the site and to specify field activities required for the
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remedial investigation. A QA program is required to ensure that proper
collection, transport, and validation procedures were used.
• Health and safety activities are utilized when any type of field work is
involved. These activities are designed to protect the investigative team
and the general public against chemical hazards, physical injuries, and
fire.
• Site characterizations provide data to support decisions to be made in
the Feasibility Study. As such, they encompass a wide variety of waste
and site conditions such as physical and chemical properties of wastes,
site engineering, geology, hydrogeology, surface water conditions, and
atmospneric processes. Site characterization activities may include:
review of existing data, geologic and hydrogeologic investigations,
sampling and analysis of all media, and quantitative numerical modeling
to determine fate and transport of contaminants.
• The Rl guidance does not require that all three levels be completed; the
process may terminate at any level provided that sufficient data have
Been obtained to support, at a minimum, the screening of remedial
technologies and alternatives.
• The focus, data needs, and data evaluations conducted at each level of
the investigation are described.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• The Guidance on Remedial Investigation under CERCLA was designed to
be used concurrently with the Guidance on Feasibility Studies under
CERCLA. The RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) guidance describes how to
conduct a site investigation which will trigger a Corrective Measures
Study, where necessary.
• CERCLA Rl three-level data collection process is similar to RFI two-step
data collection process: Level I under Rl guidance essentially the same as
the collection and review of existing information in the RFI; Levels II and
III problem quantification and detailed investigation in CERCLA Rl similar
to RFI formulation and implementation of field investigation step.
• CERCLA Rl activities focus on all hazardous substances named in CERCLA
Section 102 (which include the constituents regulated under RCRA, the
Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and others), while the RFI specifically
addresses constituents listed in 40 CFR Part 261, Appendix VIII.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides guidance for data collection and site characterization necessary
prior to study and selection of appropriate corrective measures.
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Guidance Document Name:
Superfund Public Health Evaluation Manual
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, October 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
All potential exposure pathways
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• The Superfund Public Health Evaluation Manual (SPHEM) is designed to
establish an institutional framework for public health evaluation at
Superfund sites.
• To issue guidance on the development of health-based performance
goals for remedial alternatives.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• The SPHEM is to be used during the CERCLA RI/FS activities in order to
meet the requirements of the NCP for conducting public health
evaluations.
• The procedures in the SPHEM are to be used during the Feasibility Study
and at sites where Endangerment Assessments are conducted pursuant
to CERCLA Section 106.
Technical Approach:
• Covers agency rules, policies and guidelines as well as overview of use of
indicator chemicals to assess risk.
• Procedures conform to EPA risk assessment guidelines.
• Details the use of public health assessment information in the Feasibility
Study.
• Describes statutory and regulatory authorities for implementing risk
assessments.
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• Outlines the appropriate methods for the selection of indicator
chemicals.
• Describes methods for estimating exposure point concentrations of
indicator chemicals.
• Describes methods for estimating chemical intakes or exposures through
the various environmental media.
• Describes the implementation of a toxicity assessment.
• Details the steps involved in risk characterization.
• Describes the development of performance goals and the analysis of risks
for remedial alternatives.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• Designed to supplement Chapter 5 of the Guidance on Feasibility Studies
underCERCLA.
• Should be used in tandem with the Superfund Exposure Assessment
Manual.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Has useful information on contaminant toxicity and other properties,
and health assessment techniques.
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Guidance Document Name:
Superfund Exposure Assessment Manual
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Draft, January 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Air, soils, surface water, ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• The Superfund Exposure Assessment Manual (SEAM) is designed to
complement the Superfund Public HeaJth Evaluation Manual (SPHEM) by
describing how to develop both quantitative and qualitative exposure
information at uncontrolled waste sites to support a public health
evaluation during the Feasibility Study.
• This document presents procedures for making an analysis of
contaminant release, transport, and fate, and human population
exposure.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• The SEAM is to be used during the CERCLA RI/FS activities in order to
meet the requirements of the NCP for conducting public health
evaluations. It should be used in conjunction with the SPHEM and the
Superfund Endangerment Assessment Handbook.
• The procedures in the SEAM are meant to be applied during the
Feasibility Study in order to analyze the baseline, "no action" alternative.
Technical Approach:
• Presents a framework for conducting an exposure assessment based
upon the following steps:
Contaminant release analysis: Medium-specific analysis of mass
loadings of each target chemical to specific environmental media.
Environmental fate analysis: Description of the extent and
magnitude of environmental contamination. Allows user to predict
human population contact with chemicals from the site.
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Exposed populations analysis: Identification, enumeration, and
characterization of those population segments likely to be exposed.
Integrated exposure analysis: Individual exposure estimates for
each exposure route (i.e., inhalation, ingestion of drinking water
and/or food, dermal contact) are developed for released chemicals.
• Provides mathematical equations for predicting emissions rates from
wastes to air, soils, surface water, and ground water. Also describes
appropriate computer models for estimating emissions rates.
• Describes mathematical and computer modeling approaches to
determining environmental fate of contaminants in air, surface water,
ground water, and bioticfate pathways.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• The SEAM is designed to provide quantitative information on exposures
at hazardous waste sites needed to conduct a Superfund public health
evaluation as required in the NCR. Accordingly, the SEAM is a more
detailed and comprehensive document on exposure assessments than
the RCRA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) guidance document.
• The SEAM covers fundamentally the same media and types of release
considered in the RCRA EIA guidance.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would be most useful in the facility assessment and investigation steps
that would be conducted prior to a CMS.
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Guidance Document Name:
The Endangerment Assessment Handbook
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Waste Programs
Enforcement
Status:
Final, August 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides technical and procedural guidelines for developing and
conducting endangerment assessments to support administrative and
judicial enforcement actions under Section 106 (a) CERCLA and Section
7003 of RCRA. The endangerment assessment process should be initiated
as soon as a site is identified as an enforcement site and administrative or
judicial actions are considered.
• Describes how to initiate the endangerment assessment process once a
site has been identified as a CERCLA 106 or RCRA 7003 enforcement site,
which may take place at any point in the overall corrective action process
after site identification.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Developed to assist EPA Regional, State and contractor personnel in
conducting and evaluating endangerment assessment, and in preparing
necessary documentation that will justify the enforcement needs of each
case.
• Provides the basis for the findings of fact in administrative orders,
consent degrees, and complaints.
Technical Approach:
• Presents and discusses the content and recommended format for the
endangerment assessment document.
Contaminant Identification: screens the information available on
types and concentrations of hazardous substances or wastes present
at the site and identifies those contaminants of concern based on
their intrinsic toxicological properties, concentration and
distribution, or their potential release to critical exposure routes
and subsequent migration into the surrounding environment. If
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sufficient information on contaminants at the site is unavailable,
sampling and analysis for suspected contaminants and locations
should be initiated.
Exposure Assessment: Identify type and concentration of each
contaminant of concern and determine the amount of each
contaminant released to each environmental medium. Identify the
potential exposure (transport) routes associated with each
contaminant. Identify and analyze populations including human
populations, fish, and wildlife populations which may be at risk.
Determine the exposure levels based on frequency, mode, and
magnitude of exposure to a given contaminant.
Toxicity Assessment: An evaluation of adverse effects of each
contaminant, doses employed, routes of administration (oral,
dermal, inhalation) and Quality of test data is performed to
determine the toxicity profile or the contaminant. Next, a dose-
response relationship is determined which estimates a quantitative
risk from exposure to the contaminant of concern.
Risk Characterization: A risk assessment is attained by integrating
the information developed during the exposure and toxicity
assessments to yield a qualitative value of risk. The final risk
assessment should include a summary of the uncertainties of each
component per risk, risk associated with various sub-populations,
assumptions used in calculating the risks the relation between risk
and an acceptable contaminant concentration level.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• The Endangerment Assessment Handbook (EAH) was prepared before
either the Superfund Public Health Evaluation Manual (SPHEM) or the
Superfund Endangerment Assessment Manual (SEAM), although the EAH
references the SPHEM. The EAH was prepared to complement the
information that was to be provided in these documents. Accordingly,
both the SPHEM and the SEAM reference their applicability to the
conduct of endangerment assessments, and should be considered
consistent with each other though not identical.
• Because the EAH is designed to provide information sufficient to support
an administrative order under CERCLA 106 or RCRA 7003, the
information collection described is more detailed than that required
under the RCRA Exposure Information Assessment (EIA) guidance.
Information collected using the EIA guidance must only demonstrate
that a potential problem exists that should be investigated further, but
cannot support an enforcement action, which may require more
quantitative data.
• The procedures described in the EAH are similar to those described in the
CERCLA and FS documents; in those cases where an enforcement action
is initiated after completion of an RI/FS, the requirements of the EAH may
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be met by the "Site Characterization" and "Analysis of No-Action
Alternative" sections of the Rl and FS document.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would be most useful in the site assessment and investigation and
assessment steps that would be conducted prior to a CMS.
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Guidance Document Name:
Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Site Ranking System: A User's Manual
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water, surface water, air, fire or explosion potential
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Presents the CERCLA requirements mandating a system for prioritizing
Superfund sites to be used in the CERCLA PA/SI.
• Describes the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) and how to use it to identify
releases of hazardous substances that pose the greatest hazard to
humans or the environment.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Describes procedures to be followed by the Agency for uniform
application of the HRS in each State.
• Illustrates the data required to rank a facility, and provides weighting
values and appropriate inputs for each parameter.
Technical Approach:
• Provides detailed instructions and guidance for using the HRS and
assigning facility scores based on three hazard potential modes --
migration of hazardous substances away from the facility by routes
involving ground water, surface water, or air; fire and/or explosion; and
direct contact.
• A score is computed for each migration pathway (ground water, surface
water, air). Each pathway is scored based on observed release, route
characteristics, containment, waste characteristics, and targets. These
three scores are aggregated to produce a single migration score. The
ranking of facilities for remedial action is based primarily on this
migration score.
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• Demonstrates when and how to compute a score for fire and explosion
hazard mode. This score is based on waste characteristics (ignitability
reactivity, incompatability and quantity) and target information.
• Allows a site to be scored based either on a documented, observed
release to the affected environmental medium or on the potential for a
release based on the characteristics of the routes through which
contaminants migrate.
• Demonstrates how to determine a direct contact score. This score is
based on observed incidents, accessibility, containment, waste
characteristics and targets.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
does not currently have a document which numerically ranks
facilities based upon the magnitude of their potential environmental
problems.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Not directly applicable to RCRA corrective action program.
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Construction Techniques/Procedures
A total of 2 documents which specify construction techniques and field operating
procedures have been included in the section. The following summaries include
brief assessments of the applicability of the documents to RCRA program corrective
measures implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
Field Standard Operating Procedures (FSOP)
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status: >
Final, 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Soil and air
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Outlines procedures which should be followed to minimize the risk of
exposure to hazardous substances
• Each of the five FSOPs reviewed outlines the operating procedures for
specific components of the remedial action program. These include:
Site Entry (#4)
Work Zones (#6)
Decontamination of Response Personnel (#7)
Air Surveillance (#8)
Site Safety Plans (#9)
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Applicable to emergency response team members, remedial action team
members, and personnel who plan for emergency responses or remedial
actions.
Technical Approach:
• Each FSOP deals with a different aspect of personnel protection at
contaminated sites. Each FSOP is divided into different sections. The
sections generally give the following:
A general description of the given protective measures and why
and when they are necessary
A description of the different levels of protection available within
the given protective measure (e.g., the types of incidents
encountered when performing air surveillance, or the degree of
stringency when choosing personal protective equipment)
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Factors and criteria to consider when choosing a plan of action (e.g.,
how to select the locations of and stringency of procedures to
follow in different work zones)
Procedures to follow:
descriptions of techniques which can or should be employed
step-by-step instructions (e.g, 13 steps in putting on level A
protective equipment)
check lists (e.g., minimum data required for safety both before
and after a response)
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• Most of these FSOPs were developed from November, 1984 "Standard
Operating Safety Guides".
• These FSOPs are to be used by field technicians as opposed to
administrative, managerial and quality assurance officers, the Quality
Assurance/Field Operations Methods Manual fulfills the information
needs of the managerial personnel.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• The documents will be useful in guiding field related activities and for
ensuring that OSHA standards are met during corrective measures
implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
Occupational Safety and Health Technical Assistance and Enforcement Guidelines
forSuperfund
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, March 15,1984
Environmental Media Covered:
No environmental media are discussed.
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide direction for OSHA staff who may be called upon to provide
technical assistance or to conduct enforcement activities at Super-fund or
other hazardous waste sites.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides overview of OSHA involvement in protecting workers involved
in hazardous waste site clean-ups.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses technical assistance activities, enforcement activities, training
requirements, cost reimbursement procedures.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
This document is unique in scope.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Would provide guidance on applicable OSHA worker safety regulations
for implementation of a RCRA corrective measure.
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Costing Techniques
A total of 2 documents on costing techniques have been included in this section.
These documents provide guidance on how to manage, develop, and evaluate costs
associated with remediation of contaminated sites. The following summaries
include brief assessments of the applicability of the documents to RCRA program
corrective measures implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
Remedial Action Costing Procedures Manual
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, September 1,1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Only general costing procedures are discussed. No specific environmental media are
identified.
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide specific procedures for the cost estimating and economic
analysis steps required for preparing engineering cost estimates for
selecting remedial action alternatives in response to CERCLA and the
NCP.
• To be used in conjunction with EPA's guidance on feasibility studies
underCERCLA.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Presents procedures and provides worksheets to accomplish cost analysis
required for various remedial action planning phases.
Technical Approach:
Divides remedial action costing into 3 phases:
• Initial site response assessment plan phase.
• Alternate development and cost screening phase.
• Cost estimation phase for feasibility studies.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
More comprehensive approach to cost management than the Removal Cost
Management Method, which addresses only costing procedures at CERCLA
emergency response actions (removals).
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Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides project managers and decision makers in government and
industry with procedures for developing and evaluating cost estimates
for alternative remedial responses to releases of hazardous substances.
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Guidance Document Name:
Removal Cost Management Manual
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, January, 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
None
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To provide comprehensive cost management procedures for use by EPA
at emergency response actions (removals) authorized under CERCLA.
• To be used by the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC).
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Outlines a comprehensive cost management system for CERCLA
emergency response actions.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses cost projection, cost control, cost recovery and cost
documentation.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Unlike the Remedial Action Costing Procedures Manual, this document addresses
only costing procedures at CERCLA emergency response actions (removals).
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides guidance on how to manage costs associated with remediation
of contaminated sites.
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Quality Assurance/Quality Control Guidance Documents
A total of 3 quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) guidance documents have
been included in this section. These documents provide guidance on QA/QC of field
operations, data collection, and laboratories contracted to provide analytical
services. The following summaries include brief assessments of the applicability of
the documents to RCRA program corrective measures implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
Quality Assurance/Field Operations Methods Manual
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Remedial
Response
Status:
Final, March, 1987
Environmental Media Covered:
Soils, groundwater, surface water, air
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides remedial project managers (RPMs), quality assurance officers,
and States with a consolidated reference of all REM field procedures,
with the exception of site safety issues and personal protection
requirements.
• Promotes consistent field procedures among all ten EPA Regions.
• Compiled from procedures that were used successfully in executing EPA
work assignments nationwide.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides a systematic comprehensive approach for conducting field
activities under Superf und.
• Covers all aspects of field activities including development of field
operation plans, site activities, sampling and analysis and
documentation.
Technical Approach:
• Provides detail on the purpose, scope, procedures, applicability and
responsibilities associated with all aspects of field operations with the
exception of site safety issues, personal protection and sampling
program design. Includes the following topics:
Documentation of field activities, sampling and analysis, quality
control, and corrective action.
Field activity procedures.
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Sampling and analysis.
handling and control
laboratory procedures and interface
interpreting results of analyses
obtaining proper samples
• Assessing environmental impacts.
• Quality Assurance and document control auditing.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• Applicable to current EPA Regional standards and quality assurance
requirements. Other documents appropriate to any aspect of field
activities (e.g., most recent directives, memoranda, guidance documents
and approved quality assurance plans) should be consulted
simultaneously.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Although this document identified procedural requirements of the
Quality Assurance program for Superfund related field operations work,
it will still have applicability to the RCRA program in that major program
components are identified and key interfaces are detailed. This
document should be useful in developing measures field operations QA
programs.
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Guidance Document Name:
Data Quality Objectives for Remedial Response Activities
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response, Office of Waste Programs Enforcement
Status:
Final, March 1987
Environmental Media Covered:
Soil, ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides assistance in developing site-specific data quality objectives
(DQOs) for Superfund Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS)
activities.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• DQOs are written plans for ensuring that environmental data collected
during RI/FS activities are of known and documented quality. DQOs are
developed prior to data collection and are linked to sampling and
analysis plans.
• Provides guidance and examples on the process by which DQOs are
developed, individuals responsible for preparing DQOs, relationship of
DQO guidance to other guidance, and timing for DQO development.
Technical Approach:
• DQOs are developed in three stages:
Identify decision types;
Identify data uses/needs; and
Design data collection program.
• Provides specific guidelines and procedures for evaluating available
information, developing conceptual models, specifying objectives,
identifying data needs, and developing data collection plans.
• Specifies statistical procedures, including sampling patterns, sample size,
and uncertainty of estimates.
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Comparison With Relevant Documents:
The guidance is similar to Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste (SW-846) in its
review of statistical sampling considerations. However, it is less detailed in
describing the analytical techniques and tools used in sampling waste sites.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides guidance for designing a data collection program for the
assessment and investigation activities which would preceed a CMS.
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Guidance Document Name:
User's Guide to the Contract Laboratory Program
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, July 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
Soil/sediment, water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides a description of the Superfund Contract Laboratory Program
structure
• Establishes protocol for standardizing procedural approaches to
contracting analytic services
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• The User's Guide to the Contract Laboratory Program is to be used by
RPMs, Remdial Investigation/Feasibility Study Contractors and potentially
responsible parties throughout the data collection and analysis process
of the CERCLA Remedial Investigation.
• Guide should be used by all handlers of samples and data to ensure the
reliability and integrity of the data
Technical Approach:
• Covers five separate analytic programs
~ Organic Routine Analytical Services (RAS)
- Inorganic RAS
Dioxm RAS
High Hazard Sample Preparation RAS
Special Analytical Services
• Describes methods for sample analysis scheduling and coordination with
other program components
• Provides guidance on program quality assurance and quality control
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• CLP provides a menu of RAS services which are correlated to various
program components including:
sample matrices
compounds identified and quantified
deliverables
analytic procedures
-- QA/QC
• CLP requires workers initiation on standard operating procedures
including:
chain of custody controls between various program offices
health and safety measures
analytical protocol
sample documentation
problem resolution
• Auxiliary Support Services are described including:
sample bottle repository services
ordering procedures
shipment information
• Enforcement interaction with the CLP includes
document controls
evidence audits
• Cost Recovery Substantiation procedures are described
• Quality Assurance includes
laboratory selection screening
laboratory performance
evaluations
sample data evaluations
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• Provides a systematic, overall program management response to analytic
services contracting in contrast to SW-846. The later document covers
laboratory protocol and QA/QC, however does not provide a systematic
program structure for implementing RCRA analytic services.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
Provides guidance to contractors doing remedial investigations and assessments on
procedural approaches to contracting analytical services in order to ensure the
reliability and integrity of the data.
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Program Guidance Documents
A key RCRA program guidance document has been summarized here. This
document, the RCRA Corrective Action Plan, provides the basic framework for the
overall program which can be supplemented by additional RCRA and CERCLA
program guidance documents.
A total of 14 CERCLA program guidance documents have been reviewed and
summarized. In general, this group of documents provides comprehensive program
and project management guidance on implementation of the RI/FS process within
the statutory and regulatory context of CERCLA. The majority of these documents
will be of marginal use in the development of a RCRA Corrective Measures Study
and its implementation. There are, however, some useful approaches to format and
style in selected documents which may be of use to RCRA corrective measures
implementation.
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Guidance Document Name:
RCRA Corrective Action Plan
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Waste Programs
Enforcement
Status:
Final, November 14, 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water, soils, surface water, air
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Assists Regions and States in development of Corrective Action Orders
(3008(h)) and corrective action requirements in permit applications and
permits.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides a technical framework for Regional and State personnel in
development of a site-specific schedule of compliance to be included in a
permit or a compliance schedule in a Corrective Action Order; includes
requirements for RCRA Facility Investigations (RFIs), Corrective Measures
Studies (CMSs), and work plans for Corrective Measures Implementation
(CMI).
Technical Approach:
• Provides detailed discussion of the information to be provided for each
of the following tasks:
RCRA Facility Investigation
Taskl: Description of Current Conditions
Task II: Pre-lnvestigation Evaluation of Corrective Measure
Technologies
Task III: RFI Workplan Requirements
Task IV: Facility Investigation
Task V: Investigation Analysis
Task VI: Laboratory and Bench-Scale Studies
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Task VII: Reports
Corrective Measure Study
TaskVIII: Identification and Development of the Corrective
Measure Alternative or Alternatives
Task IX: Evaluation of the Corrective Measure Alternative or
Alternatives
TaskX: Justification and Recommendation of the Corrective
Measure or Measures
Task XI: Reports
Corrective Measure Implementation
Task XII: Corrective Measure Implementation Program Plan
Task XIII: Corrective Measure Design
Task XIV: Corrective Measure Construction
Task XV: Reports
• Three-step approach outlined above is intended to standardize the data
collection process and provide for key decision milestones throughout
the Corrective Action process. Each step provides for the collection of
increasingly detailed data for the characterization of site contamination.
• Major considerations, in planning data quality control and verification
programs can be developed using the CAP framework.
• Process is to be employed whether site-specific Corrective Action is
required as a permit condition or whether it is required as a result of
enforcement action.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• Technical guidance on media-specific technologies identified in this
summary may be used to supplement the outline given in the Corrective
Action Plan.
• Specific costing considerations of RCRA corrective measures
implementation should be taken from the Corrective Action Plan rather
than OERR's Remedial Action Costing Procedures Manual. The OERR
document includes fund-balancing criteria which are not relevant to the
RCRA corrective action program.
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Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• This document is a key resource document for Regional and State permit
writters guiding corrective action at permitted facilities. It should be
used to guide completeness checks of submittals made by
owner/operators and for developing 3008(h) order and permit schedule
of compliance language.
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Guidance Document Name:
Guidance on Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Office of Waste Programs
Enforcement
Status:
Final, June 1985 (Workgroup Currently Revising)
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water, surface water, air, soil
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides a structure for identifying, evaluating, and selecting remedial action
alternatives at sites undergoing CERCLA actions.
• Should be used concurrently with the Guidance on Remedial Investigations
under CERCLA when undertaking remedial response actions at Superfund
sites.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Provides Federal and State Remedial Project Managers, their contractors, and
decisionmakers in government and industry with guidelines for developing
and evaluating alternative remedial responses to the uncontrolled releases of
hazardous substances.
• Provides decisionmakers with information necessary for selecting cost-
effective alternatives.
Technical Approach:
• Remedial action alternatives are developed and evaluated in terms of cost,
technical performance, reliability, constructability, safety, and the extent to
which each alternative protects public health and impacts the environment.
Evaluations are conducted to estimate these factors both during and after
implementation of the remedial alternative and full satisfaction of the
institutional requirements.
• The feasibility study process consists of the following activities:
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-- Identifying existing problems at the site, including delineating sparse
areas and identifying potential offsite problems due to contaminant
migration through various media.
-- Defining the objectives of the action and broadly developing general
response actions to remedy known problems at the site;
-- Identify and screen technologies applicable to each general response
action.
-- Develop remedial action alternatives which meet the stated objectives by
combining the appropriate technologies.
- Developing specific alternatives within the general response categories;
and
-- Conducting a detailed evaluation of each alternative:
- Technical evaluation including effectiveness, useful life, operation and
maintenance requirements, demonstrated performance,
constructability, time of implementation and safety of workers and
residents;
- Assessment of the impact of the proposed alternative on the
surrounding environment including terrestial, aquatic, biotic and
atmospheric sub-environments;
- Institutional analysis of the alternatives in terms of the Federal, State,
or local standards, advisories, or guidance that must be attained or
considered to protect public health, welfare, or the environment;
- Public health exposure evaluation of the alternatives to ensure that
remedial actions limit the concentrations of toxic substances in the
environment to avoid unacceptable risk to human health;
- Evaluation of the costs of the alternatives, including both baseline and
sensitivity analyses, operation and maintenance costs and a present
worth analysis.
As part of the FS, at least one alternative that meets each of the following
categories must be evaluated:
- Off-site treatment or disposal;
- Alternatives that achieve applicable and relevant Federal public health or
environmental standards;
- Alternatives that exceed applicable and relevant Federal public health or
environmental standards;
-- Alternatives that reduce the long-term likelihood of threats from the
hazardous substance and meet CERLCA's objective of adequately
protecting public health, welfare, and the environment;
-- No action.
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Comparison With Relevant Documents:
Provides a broader methodology for remedial alternative development than does
the Handbook for Evaluating Remedial Action Technology Plans, however, unlike
the Handbook, it does not provide any technology-specific evaluations.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• May provide interim guidance for RCRA program on contents of a CMS until
RCRA-specific guidance isdeveloped.
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Guidance Document Name:
National Contingency Plan (NCR) 40 CFR Part 300
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, February 12,1985 (50 FR 5862)
Environmental Media Covered:
Ground water, surface water, air, soils and sediments
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides the regulatory framework for implementing CERCLA. In
particular, Subpart F - Hazardous Substances Response-establishes
methods and criteria for determining the extent and nature of a CERCLA
authorized response.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
Subpart F of the NCP:
• Provides the general requirements for all phases of a CERCLA hazardous
substance response.
• Outlines the responsibilities of Federal and State officials in a CERCLA
hazardous substance response.
• Outlines the minimum requirements for conducting a Remedial
Investigation (Rl) and Feasibility Study (FS) under CERCLA.
Technical Approach:
• 40 CFR 300.68 -Remedial action:
Mandates an RI/FS to determine the nature and extent of the threat
presented by a release and to evaluate proposed remedies.
Requires the development of remedial alternatives as part of the
feasibility study.
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Requires analysis of these alternatives on the basis of
• Cost
• Acceptability of engineering practices
• Effectiveness
Selectipn of remedy that attains or exceeds federal public health
and environmental requirements.
• 40 CFR 300.70 - Methods of remedying releases:
Lists engineering methods for onsite actions, including:
• Air emissions controls
• Surf ace water controls
• Ground-water controls
• Remedies for contaminated water and sewer lines
Lists technologies for
• Gaseous emissions treatment
• Direct waste treatment
• Treatment of contaminated soils and sediments
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• Provides the regulatory basis for many EPA guidance documents,
including the Guidance Document for Cleanup of Surface Tank and Drum
Sites (EPA, 1985), and Mobile Treatment Technologies for Superfund
Wastes (EPA, 1986).
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Provides background guidance on data requirements for conducting
remedial actions.
• Describes technical and cost consideraions of technologies used in
assessment studies.
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Guidance Document Name:
Remedial Action at Waste Disposal Sites
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, October 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Surface water, ground water, sub-surface gas, soil
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides broad descriptive summaries of a wide range of remedial
technologies including:
- description of process involved with each technology
- applications of the various technologies
- limitations of the various technologies
- major design and construction considerations
- approximate costs
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Remedial Action at Waste Disposal Sites inventories and describes technical
and cost considerations of technologies used in the CERCLA Feasibility Study
Process
• The Handbook details data requirements for conducting CERCLA remedial
actions including:
- general site conditions data
- waste characteristics data
- site geology
- ground water characteristics
- surface water
- climatology
Technical Approach:
• Describes remedial actions used to control contamination within various
environmental media with respect to their applications, limitations and costs.
This includes controls such as:
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- capping, gas recovery, air pollution controls and dust control measures for
air quality control
- capping, grading, diversion, collection and revegetation for surface water
remediation.
- pumping systems, subsurface drains, slurry walls, grouting, and sheet
piling techniques used for ground water remediation.
- capping, collection, and recovery systems for sub-surface gas controls.
• Describes on-site and off-site disposal techniques for containment of wastes
and soil. These controls deal with excavation, removal, and containment of
contaminated materials usually with landfills.
• Describes in-situ treatment including various types of biological, chemical,
and physical treatment systems. In-situ treatment involves remediation of
contaminated materials in their existing location.
• Describes direct waste treatment including aqueous waste treatment, sludge
handling, solidification, soil washing, and incineration.
• Describes remediation of contaminated water supplies and sewer lines
including investigating alternative water supplies.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• Supplements the procedural Guidance on Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA
with specific technical discussions of remedial technologies
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
May be useful for the evaluation of corrective measures remedies in that it describes
the applications, limitations, and costs of remedial actions used to control
contamination of various media.
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Guidance Document Name:
Superfund Remedial Design and Remedial Action Guidance
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
Status:
Final, February 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Does not specifically address any media; focuses on administrative requirements.
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To assist agencies and parties who plan, administer, and manage
remedial design (RD) and remedial action (RA) at Superfund sites.
Pertains to both fund financed RD/RA (i.e., Federal- and State-lead) and
responsible party RO/RA, and provides personnel guidance to be
followed in order to ensure that RD/RA is performed properly,
consistently and expeditiously.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Outlines administrative requirements based on the general sequence of
events that occurs prior to, during, and after remedial design and
remedial action at a Superfund site. Pertains to both fund-financed and
responsible party projects.
Technical Approach:
• The manual defines the administrative requirements, contents, and
elements in the remedial design and remedial action processes. For
remedial design, that process includes:
Activities involved in selecting an architect/engineering (A/E) firm.
Development of the remedial design and distribution of planning
information to the lead design party.
Development of a statement of work for the A/E firm retained to
accomplish the remedial design.
Review and approval of the A/E firm's final plans and specifications.
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Identification of applicable permits, permit approvals, and site
access agreements.
Revision of the community-relating plan based in needs of the
community during the design and construction activities.
Development of cost estimates for construction.
• The process for initiation of remedial action includes the following:
Selection of contractor for the remedial action.
Monitoring and oversight of construction activities and needed
records and reports to be used in the final certification of the
remedial action.
Final inspection and closeout activities after completion of the
remedial action.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
As outlined above, the RD/RA guidance provides the administrative and procedural
requirements for remedial design and remedial action, as opposed to other
documents which highlights the technical aspects of these activities.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• May be helpful to the extent that administrative requirements for
remedial design and action at Superfund sites coincide with
adminstrative requirements for remedial design and action at RCRA sites.
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Guidance Document Name:
Community Relations in Superfund: A Handbook
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Draft, October 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
No specific environmental media addressed
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides policy requirements for coordinating community relations
activities at Superfund sites.
• Provides additional techniques and guidance that can be used to
enhance the basic requirements for community relations.
• Describes the overall objectives of the Superfund community relations
program.
• Gives citizens the opportunity to comment on and provide input to
technical decisions
• Informs the public of planned or ongoing actions.
• Focuses and resolves conflict.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Describes the various requirements for conducting community relations
activities during removal actions, enforcement actions, remedial
response actions, and for the addition and deletion of sites from the NPL
• Describes the two critical steps in planning a community relations
program for a Superfund remedial action:
Conducting community interviews; and
Developing a site-specific community relations plan.
• Provides a list of all key EPA Headquarters and Regional contacts for the
Superfund community relations program.
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Technical Approach:
• The Superfund Community Relations Handbook specifically addresses
activities to be conducted during CERCLA corrective actions, while the
Guidance on Public Involvement in the RCRA Permitting Program does
not currently address specific activities related to RCRA corrective actions.
•
• The Superfund guidance responds to a specific mandate in the NCR for
conducting community relations not present in RCRA 3004 (u), and
addresses many specific requirements for public involvement.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• Provides detailed guidelines on CERCLA community relations programs
analagous to the public participation guidelines given in OSWER
9500.00-1A Guidance on Public Involvement in the RCRA Permitting
Program.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• May be helpful in formulating a community relations program at a RCRA
site.
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Guidance Document Name:
Superfund Federal-Lead Remedial Project Management Handbook
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, December 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Process affecting all environmental media
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Document serves three general purposes:
presents various actions and deliverable* that comprise the Federal-
Lead remedial project and defines roles and responsibilities of the
Remedial Project Manager (RPM).
identifies resources available to the RPM for support of the
remedial project management function.
provides fundamental concepts of project management to aid the
RPM in planning monitoring, controlling and directing projects.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• The Superfund Federal-Lead Remedial Project Management Handbook
provides basic project management concepts regarding project planning,
monitoring and control, and the directing, coordinating and
communicating of project objectives which are to be applied during the
CERCLA Feasibility Study Process
• The Handbook discusses initial project planning and start-up activities,
and describes the RPM's role in ensuring the RI/FS work is conducted in
accordance with project plans.
Technical Approach:
• Illustrates process for implementing Federal-Lead Remedial Action by use
of a process flow chart with supporting narrative.
• Describes management and control techniques for ensuring project
implementation in accordance with the project plan (e.g., use of Gantt
Milestone Chart).
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• Illustrates functional roles of EPA and contractors in implementing RI/FSs.
• Describes in detail the various steps involved in start-up, implementation
and close-out.
• Describes the role of the Record of Decision (ROD) in documenting the
decision-making process. Provides a model ROD.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• Similar in format and design to "Superfund State-Lead Remedial Project
Management Handbook".
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• No direct applicability to RCRA corrective measures process.
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Guidance Document Name:
Superfund State-Lead Remedial Project Management Handbook
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, December 1986
Environmental Media Covered:
Process affecting all environmental media
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Document serves three general purposes:
presents various actions and deliverables that comprise a State-Lead
remedial project and defines the roles and responsibilities of the
Remedial Project Manager (RPM).
identifies resources available to RPM for support of the remedial
project management function.
provides fundamental concepts of project management to aid the
RPM in planning, monitoring, controlling, and directing projects.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• The Superfund State-Lead Remedial Project Management Handbook
provides basic project management concepts regarding project planning,
monitoring and control and directing, coordinating and communicating
project objectives which are to be applied during the CERCLA Feasibility
Study process.
• The Handbook discusses initial project planning and start-up activities
and describes the RPM's role in ensuring the RI/FS work is conducted in
accordance with project plans.
Technical Approach:
• Illustrates process for implementing Federal-Lead Remedial Action by use
of a process flow chart. Describes the interrelationships of the RPM with
the various institutional entities, contractors and potentially responsible
parties.
• Descriptive approach to management and control techniques for
ensuring project implementation in accordance with project plan (e.g.,
use of Gantt Milestone Chart).
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• Illustrates functional roles in EPA, State and contractors in
implementation of RI/FS.
• Inventories types of cooperative agreements available between the
States & EPA.
• Describes the role of the Record of Decision (RQD) in documenting the
decision making process. Provides a model ROD.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• Similar in format and design to "Superfund Federal-Lead Remedial
Project Management Handbook".
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• No direct applicability to RCRA corrective measures process.
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Guidance Document Name:
State Participation in the Superfund Remedial Program
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, April 1985 (Includes Addenda 1-6)
Environmental Media Covered:
Procedural guidance applicable to program management
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Provides information on how to implement approved remedial response
activities at National Priorities List (NPL) sites in accordance with the
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan (NCP).
• Incorporates Superfund initiatives to make it easier for states to join EPA
in addressing problems at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
• Describes the process for entering into a Cooperative Agreement (CA)
and for executing the remedial response under the purview of the CA.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• State participation in the Superfund Remedial Program is to be used
during the CERCLA RI/FS activities. CAs may be initiated prior to RI/FS
work, however, they should be fully enforced during the RI/FS process.
Technical Approach:
• Includes description of cooperative agreements, Superfund State
Contracts and credit claims.
• Describes remedial response process for State-Lead and EPA-Lead sites.
• Discusses management issues such as cost-sharing, off-site treatment,
storage or disposal.
• Describes intergovernmental review procedures.
• Inventories types of state assurances available under Remedial Response
Agreements.
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• Describes concurrent administrative events such as:
initiation of enforcement activities
initiation of Forward Planning
development of site specific schedules
development of the Remedial Accomplishments Plan
Development of the Action Memorandum
Identification of State Credit Submissions
Intergovernmental Review
• Describes development of Cooperative Agreement Application Forms
and Provisions.
• Describes interface with federal procurement system.
• For EPA-Lead remedial planning agreements the document describes
EPA and State Responsibilities.
• Describes cost-sharing arrangements under Superfund State Contracts.
• Describes the execution and administration of the Remedial Agreement
and agreement modifications.
Comparison With Relevant Documents:
• Should be used with Federal-Lead Remedial Project Management
Handbook and the State-Lead Remedial Project Management Handbook.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• No direct applicability to RCRA corrective measures process.
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Guidance Document Name:
Current Remedial Action Program in Support of Superfund
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Status:
Final, December, 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
None
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Discusses ongoing and completed activities of the Land Pollution Control
Division (LPCD) of the Hazardous Waste Engineering Research
Laboratory (HWERL). Focus of report is on activities of the Containment
Branch of the LPCD research and development (R&D) program.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Documents activities of the four major areas of the Containment Branch
of the LPCD R&D program:
Survey and assessment of current technologies.
Laboratory and site design analysis.
Field evaluation and verification of techniques.
Technical handbooks.
Technical Approach:
Methods employed in the activities of the four areas of the LPCD Containment
Branch R&O program include:
• Survey and assessment of current technologies
Definition of site specific problems.
Identification of problems associated with implementing the
technologies.
Determination of technology effectiveness.
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Identification of technology costs.
Development and use of models.
• Laboratory and site design analysis
Performance of bench-scale analyses.
Evaluation of potential for application to actual field conditions.
• Field evaluation and verification of techniques.
Field testing of promising technologies.
• Technical-handbooks.
Preparation of technical handbooks incorporating remedial action
control technologies.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• Unlike other documents (e.g., Mobile Treatment Technologies for
Superfund Wastes), this report is not a guidance document for planners
of Superfund actions. It simply documents current R&D efforts of the
HWERL LPCD.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• May provide insight on the utility of using an emerging technology for
remedial activities.
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Guidance Document Name:
Policy on Floodplains and Wetlands Assessment
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response
Status:
Final, Augusts, 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
Surface water, ground water
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To set forth Agency policy and guidance for carrying out the provisions
of Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and Executive Order
11990 (Protection of Wetlands), as described in Appendix A of 40 CFR
Part6.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Discusses situations that require preparation of a floodplains or wetlands
assessment, and the factors which should be considered in preparing an
assessment, for response actions undertaken pursuant to Section 104 or
106ofCERCLA.
Technical Approach:
Discusses the following:
• Removal Actions
Floodplain/wetland assessment
Opportunity for citizen comment
• Remedial Actions
Consideration of environmental issues
• Documentation of Decision
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Document is unique in scope.
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Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Enunciates EPA's policy to encourage pursuit of remedies that attain or
exceed applicable and relevant standards of other Federal environmental
laws that deal with f loodplains and wetlands.
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Guidance Document Name:
Participation of Potentially Responsible Parties in Development of RIs and FSs
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Waste Program
Enforcement
Status:
Final, March 20, 1984
Environmental Media Covered:
None
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
To set forth the policy and procedures governing participation of potentially
responsible parties (PRPs) in development of remedial investigations (Rl) and
feasibility studies (FS) under CERCLA.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
Discusses:
• Circumstances in which RI/FS may be conducted by PRPs.
• Procedures for notifying PRPs when the agency has identified target sites
for the development of RI/FS.
• Principles governing PRP participation in agency-financed RI/FS.
Technical Approach:
• Discusses drawbacks to previous approaches to PRP participation in RI/FS.
• Discusses situations where private parties may conduct RI/FS
• PRPs will be subject to criteria enunciated in final version of Rl and FS
technical manuals.
• Until Rl and FS guidances are final, PRPs may develop RI/FS if they commit
to follow workplans for RI/FS prepared by agency supervised contractors.
• Discusses the way in which PRPs will be notified of the opportunity to
perform the RI/FS.
• Discusses regional role in RI/FS development by PRPs.
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Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Document is unique in scope.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
This document deals with the administrative procedures governing PRP
participation, and is not directly relevant to the RCRA corrective measures program.
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Guidance Document Name:
Guidance Memorandum on Use and Issuance of Administrative Orders Under
§106(a)ofCERCLA
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Waste Programs
Enforcement
Status:
Final, February, 1985
Environmental Media Covered:
No specific medium; administrative procedures only
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• Recommends administrative procedures to be followed in preparing
issuing, modifying or revoking an administrative order under CERCLA
§106(a)
• Also applicable to Administrative Orders issued under the authority of
RCRA Section 7003
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• For use by EPA CERCLA enforcement programs
• Applicable to persons involved in CERCLA enforcement
Technical Approach:
• Identified 5 legal prerequisites needed to substantiate an Order.
• Specifies persons/parties to whom an Order may be issued
• Lists and describes specific factors which should be considered when
deciding whether to issue an Order rather than take other possible
enforcement actions
• Lists specific elements which should be addressed in an Order. A sample
Administrative Order is included in the appendix
• Describes what measures be compelled, how to compel them, and the
administrative chair of command to follow when issuing orders for either
immediate removals or planned removals/remedial actions.
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• Suggest time frames and procedures to follow after issuing the order so
that the recipient has reasonable opportunity to confer with EPA
• Outlines the procedures to follow if an Order is not obeyed.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
• This guidance memorandum updates and supercedes September 1984
guidance on the use and issuance of RCRA Section 7003 Administrative
Orders.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• Administrative procedures of CERCLA 106 Orders are similar in purpose
to RCRA Section 7003 Orders. However, RCRA procedures should be
followed for RCRA corrective action.
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Guidance Document Name:
Preparation of Decision Documents for Approving Fund-Financed & PRP Remedial
Actions under CERCLA
Originating Office:
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response, Office of Waste Program
Enforcement
Status:
Final, February 27,1985
Environmental Media Covered:
None
Purpose of the Guidance Document:
• To assist Regional Offices in the preparation of decision documents
required for approval of fund-financed and potentially responsible party
(PRP) remedial actions.
Scope of the Guidance Document:
• Describes administrative process for completing Records of Decision
(ROD), Negotiation Decision Documents (NDD), and Enforcement
Decision Documents (EDO).
Technical Approach:
• Discusses Record of Decision (ROD) approval process.
• Discusses Negotiation Decision Document (NDD)/Enforcement Decision
Document (EDD) approval process.
Comparison with Relevant Documents:
Document is unique in scope.
Applicability to RCRA Corrective Measures:
• This memorandum documents an administrative decision making process
which does not appear relevant to the RCRA Corrective Action Program.
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