ŁEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
Publication 9203.1-021
May 1992
Superfund Accelerated
Cleanup Bulletin
Presumptive Remedies for Wood Treatment
Facilities
Superfund Revitalization Activity
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Emergency Response Division OS-210
Intermittent Bulletin
Volume 1 Number 2
The Presumptive Remedy Selection Initiative
Since Superfund's inception in 1980, the removal and remedial programs have found that certain categories of sites have
similar characteristics, such as the types of contaminants present, past industrial use, or the environmental media that are
affected. Based on a wealth of information acquired from evaluating and cleaning up these sites, Superfund is undertaking
an initiative to develop presumptive remedies that are appropriate for specific types of sites, contaminants, or both. This
initiative is part of a larger program, known as the Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model (SACM), which is designed to
speed all aspects of the Superfund clean-up process.
The objective of the presumptive remedies initiative is to use clean-up techniques shown to be effective in the past at similar
sites in the future. The use of presumptive remedies will streamline site studies and removal and remedial clean-up actions,
thereby improving consistency, reducing costs, and increasing the speed with which hazardous waste sites are remediated.
Why Wood Treatment Sites?
Our removal and remedial programs
have worked at almost90 wood-treat-
ment sites, many of them on the
National Priorities List (NPL),
gaining a great deal of data and
experience in the process. Three
primary types of contaminants, in-
cluding dioxin, usually predomi-
nate at these sites. The facilities
tend to be similar. And EPA knows
a great deal about assessing such
sites, handling the contaminants,
and, ultimately, disposing of wood-treatment waste. The
Agency's Office of Research and Development (ORD) has
also extensively studied these sites. With all this accumu-
lated experience and information, Superfund is ready to
establish presumptive remedies that will standardize rem-
edv selection for contaminated wood-treatment sites.
What Are the Components of the Presumptive
Remedy Initiative?
The wood-treatment presumptive remedy initiative has
five components:
• Technology Selection Matrix. This will be a guide to
the clean-up technologies known to be appropriate
for wood-treatment sites cross-tabulated with the
Faster... C/eaner...Safer
factors to be considered in selecting remedies.
The matrix is being developed by the Of f ice
of Emergency and Remedial Response's
Environmental Response Team.
• ORD Guidance. Currently in
draft form, this document will
evaluate the effectiveness of vari-
ous technologies on the types of
wastes commonly found at wood-
treatment sites. The Technology
Selection Matrix will complement
this guidance.
Expert Teams. The Office of Emergency and Reme-
dial Response (OERR) will establish a team of wood-
treatment site experts who can help evaluate sites
and aid in making decisions on appropriate clean-up
methodologies.
Computer-Assisted Remedy Selection. Currently
under development is a computer program that will
provide appropriate remedy information based on
site characteristics. Although not a substitute for
expert decision-making, the program will lead users
through the remedy-selection process by narrowing
the scope of options, using site characteristics and
technology considerations.
Pilot Sites. OERR is looking for wood-treatment
sites where it can test its presumptive remedy initia-
tive.
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What Will This Initiative Accomplish?
EPA expects the presumptive remedy initiative to reduce
the time spent on RI/FSs and to help better integrate the
removal and remedial programs.
By being better prepared when the assessment starts—i.e.,
knowing what contaminants to expect and the best ways to
deal with them—and by using a team of experts, we can
reduce the time spent on RI/Ks considerably. Currently,
individual sites may undergo similar, sequential assess-
ments from the removal program, the site assessment
program, the remedial program, and even the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program. In
addition, the U.S. Public Health Service's Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), State and local
agencies, and even private parties may conduct their own
studies. A standardized sampling and assessment process
may reduce the consecutive studies required at these sites.
We expect to do comprehensive cleanup of hazardous
waste sites through Superfund's removal or remedial au-
thority. The team of experts contemplated by the pre-
sumptive remedy initiative will cross program lines, as
will their participation at individual sites. The presump-
tive remedies will be applicable regardless of which aspect
of Superfund is responsible for the site cleanup.
How Will This Initiative Affect Innovative
Technologies?
Innovative technologies will always be important to Su-
perfund, since they can reduce disposal quantities, and
save time and money. The team of experts will consider the
use of innovative technologies at specific sites. As experi-
ence is gained, we will incorporate appropriate innovative
technologies into the technology matrix. They may also be
incorporated in the computer-assisted remedy selection
program.
What Is to Follow?
Similar presumptive remedy initiatives for other types of
sites, such as landfills and metal-plating facilities are cur-
rently before the presumptive remedy workgroup. The
types of contaminates to be addressed include PCBs, asbes-
tos, solvents, pesticides, metals, and dioxin.
Further information on the wood-treatment site initiative
is available from Harry Allen of the Environmental Re-
sponse Team at FTS 340-6740, or (201) 321-6740.
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