United States Office of Publication 9230.0-OSFSk
Environmental Protection Solid Waste and September 1992
Agency Emergency Response
4>ERA Superfund Fact Sheet:
Identifying
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response Quick Reference Fact Sheet
Hazardous Site Control Division (5203G)
The National Priorities List (NPL) and the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) are key
elements in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund program.
The NPL is EPA's list of uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites identified
for possible long-term remedial action under Superfund. The HRS. by ranking the
relative risks posed by different sites, helps EPA determine which sites should be
placed on the NPL.
How does Superfund The first step in the Superfund process is to identify abandoned or uncontrolled haz-
work? ardous waste sites and take any immediate, short-term actions necessary under its
Removal Program. EPA discovers these sites through a variety of methods, including
reviewing records, reports, receipts, and letters provided by States, handlers of hazard-
ous substances, and concerned citizens. EPA also learns about potential Superfund
sites from concerned citizens who call the National Response Center's 24-hour hotline
(1-800-424-8802).
Preliminary site information is incorporated into a national computerized database that
contains information on potential hazardous waste sites as well as ongoing Superfund
removal, remedial, and enforcement activities. This database, known as the Compre-
hensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System
(CERCLIS), contains information on more than 33,000 sites nationwide. Approxi-
mately 1,200 of these sites are on, or proposed for, the NPL.
Next, EPA or the State conducts a preliminary assessment to decide if the site poses a
potential hazard. A preliminary assessment is a low-cost, off-site review of existing
reports and documentation to determine whether a site threatens human health or the
environment It identifies hazardous substances at the site, and the populations and
sensitive environments likely to be affected by their release.
Citizens may petition EPA to conduct a preliminary assessment for a particular site.
The process of petitioning is described in the National Contingency Plan (NCP), the
regulation which outlines how Superfund works..
If a preliminary assessment shows that a site does not present a potential hazard, no
further action may be taken. But if the preliminary assessment reveals a contamination
problem, EPA will perform a more extensive study called the site inspection.
In a typical site inspection, an EPA staff person collects information about the soil
types, the streams or rivers flowing through or near the site, the area's population,
weather, and the site's owner(s). Air, soil, and water samples from nearby areas help
EPA determine if hazardous substances have migrated from the site.
Since Superfund began, preliminary assessments have been completed at approxi-
mately 33,000 sites nationwide. At over 13,000 of these sites EPA has determined that
-------
no further action is needed. Site inspections have been completed at nearly 16,000 of
the remaining sites.
After the preliminary assessment and site inspection, EPA can conduct an emergency
removal action without any further wait. For a long-term remedial action to be
conducted at a site, however, the site first must be placed on the National Priorities
List (NPL).
What Is the purpose Of The NPL is a ranked inventory of the nation's most dangerous uncontrolled and
the National abandoned hazardous waste sites. It was designed to support EPA's policy of cleaning
Priorities List (NPL)? "P the worst sites first.
A site must be on the NPL to undergo remedial action paid for with Superfund monies.
Remedial action may involve activities such as containment, treatment, and disposal of
wastes so that site conditions no longer threaten human health and the environment.
The NPL is one tool EPA uses to help set priorities for cleaning up Superfund remedial sites.
How do sites get on
the NPL?
To be placed on the NPL, a site must have a Hazard Ranking System (MRS) score of at
least 28.50, must be chosen as a State's top priority site, or must meet all three of these
criteria:
• The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has issued a
health advisory recommending that individuals be removed from the area where
the release of hazardous substances occurred;
• EPA has determined that the site represents a significant threat to human health
and the environment; and,
• EPA has determined that long-term remedial action is more cost-effective than
short-term removal action.
To add sites to the NPL, EPA must publish a list of proposed sites in the Federal
Register. The public then has 60 days to review the list and let EPA know if it agrees
or disagrees with the HRS score and any other information used to propose a site.
After considering relevant comments, all sites that still meet the criteria for listing are
added to the NPL and published in the Federal Register. Currently about 1,200 sites
are on or proposed for the NPL.
What does the HRS
do?
The HRS evaluates the potential risks to human health and the environment posed by
different sites. It is intended as a screening mechanism for determining which sites
may need additional comprehensive study. The HRS does not determine if cleanup is
possible or worthwhile, or the amount of cleanup needed. Rather, it allows EPA to
determine which sites should be placed on the NPL for remedial action.
How does the HRS
work?
Taking information from preliminary assessments and site inspections, EPA uses the
HRS to rank hazardous waste sites according to their potential risks to human health
and the environment. Individual sites are scored for a total of 0 to 100 points, based on
three factors:
-------
• Whether the site has released (or may release) contaminants into the environment;
• The concentrations, toxicity, and quantity of waste on site; and
• The people or sensitive environments affected by any release of hazardous waste.
The HRS score gives EPA a measure of the likelihood that people or the environment
will be harmed by hazardous substances either on site or leaving the site via air, soil,
ground water, or surface water.
Why are sites on the
NPL presented In
groups of 50?
Why did EPA select
28.50 as the cutoff
score for listing sites
on the NPL?
EPA considers sites within each group of SO to have approximately the same priority
for cleanup.
EPA originally selected 28.50 as the cutoff HRS score because it produced an NPL of
at least 400 sites, the minimum set by the law that established Superfund. The law set
no upper limit on the size of the NPL. To be consistent, EPA has continued to add
sites with scores of 28.50 or above. The cutoff was selected to meet legal require-
ments; sites scoring below the cutoff may present some risk. Sites scoring below
28.50 should be regarded as potentially dangerous and should be considered candi-
dates for State- or local-funded cleanups.
How often are sites
added to the NPL?
The NPL must be updated at least once a year. EPA usually updates the NPL more
frequently.
If a site Is on the NPL,
will EPA pay for the
cleanup?
Not necessarily. EPA, States, or potentially responsible parties (PRPs) will study the
nature and extent of the problems at an NPL site before determining if it requires
remedial action. Whenever possible, EPA attempts to have those responsible (i.e.,
PRPs) take remedial action. Superfund will pay only when those responsible cannot or
will not fund the cleanup.
Can EPA take action at
sites proposed for, but
not yet on, the NPL?
Yes. Removals can be undertaken before a site is placed on the NPL. EPA also may
stan the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS), which examines the type
and extent of contamination at the site, identifies alternatives for remedial action, and
performs technical and cost analyses for these alternatives. However, the remedy
selected cannot be constructed or implemented until the site is finally on the NPL.
How does EPA For the most part, EPA funds cleanups at the most hazardous NPL sites first Occa-
determlne funding sionally, other factors (such as whether a particular technology is available to clean up
priorities among NPL a site)wiu influence funding decisions.
sites?
Will sites on the NPL N°t necessarily. EPA's policy is to clean up the worst problems and the worst sites
keep their priority for re- first- regardless of when a site is listed. Funds may be shifted from sites already
sponse actions after new undergoing cleanup to new sites if the new sites have more acute problems than do the
sites are added? active sites.
-------
How long do
remedial actions take?
The time required for a remedial action varies widely depending on the site. Reme-
dial actions usually require many steps, including an RI/FS, and the design and
construction or implementation of the selected remedy. Remedial actions usually
involve long-term, expensive measures—for example, cleaning polluted ground
water or dredging contaminated river bottoms. In these cases, it can take several
years of complex engineering analysis and design work before the actual construc-
tion can begin.
EPA is developing the Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model (SACM) to make hazardous waste cleanups more timely and
efficient. This will be accomplished through more focus on the front end of the process and better integration of all Super-
fund program components.
SACM will operate within the existing statutory and regulatory structure. As SACM develops, there may be modification of
certain policies noted in this fact sheet. However, overall priorities will remain the same: deal with the worst problems first;
aggressively pursue enforcement opportunities; and involve the public in every phase of the process.
Regional Superfund Community Relations Offices
Region 1
Superfund Community Relations
Office of Public Affairs
EPA Region 1 (RPA-74)
#1 Congress Street
Boston. MA 02203
(617) 565-3425
Region 2
Community Relations Branch
External Programs Division
EPA Region 2 (2-EPD)
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212)264-7054
Region 3
Superfund Community Relations
Office of External Affairs
EPA Region 3 (3EA21)
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-9905
Region 4
Superfund Community Relations
Waste Management Division
EPA Region 4
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 347-2643
Region 5
Superfund Community Relations
Office of Public Affairs
EPA Region 5
Metcalfe Federal Bldg.
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312)353-2073
Region 6
Superfund Community Relations
Hazardous Waste Mgmt. Division
EPA Region 6 (6H-SS)
1445 Ross Avenue
12th Fioor, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75270
(214) 655-2240
Region 7
Community Relations
Office of Public Affairs
EPA Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913)551-7003
Region 8
Community Relations Branch
Office of External Affairs
EPA Region 8 (80EA)
1 Denver Place
999 18th Street, Suite 1300
Denver. CO 80202
(303)294-1144
Region 9
Superfund Community Relations
Hazardous Waste Mgmt. Division
EPA Region 9 (T-l-3)
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415)744-2178
Region 10
Community Relations Section
Hazardous Waste Division
EPA Region 10 (HW117)
1200 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-6901
xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency (5203G)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
First-Class Mail
Postage and Fees Paid
EPA
Permit No. G-35
------- |