xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
- Office of •
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
Publication 9203.1-14FS
March 1994
PB94-963237
SACM UPDATE
Office of Emeigency and Remedial Response
Outreach and Special Projects Staff 5201G
Note From The Director
On February 3, Administrator
Browner announced the Agency's
proposal for a reformed Superfund
that is "faster, fairer, and more
efficient". The heart of the new
package is to speed Superfund
cleanups while cutting costs. The
Superfund Accelerated Cleanup
Model (SACM) is consistent with
the Administration's new proposal
for a reformed Superfund and with
the mission of the Superfund
program-to protect human health
and the environment
As a program, we are seeing the
real results of SACM through the
pilots and through day-to-day
management efficiencies.
Headquarters has recently received
a number of updates from the
Regions on SACM progress and
procedures. Several Regions are
truly embracing and implementing
a Vision of SACM that is, "one
program, with all employees
working together to accelerate
cleanup". This bulletin is designed
to keep you apprised of significant
progress in SACM implementation
nationwide.
I commend all of you for your
excellent work towards achieving
our goal of full implementation of
SACM this fiscal yea/.
Keep up the good work!!
Cross-Program Integration
Several Regions have taken innovative
approaches to achieving the cultural change
associated with SACM and promoting cross-
program integration. Region V has moved
their Site Assessment Section into the
Removal Branch. This has proven effective in
creating one-program and has resulted in
"one-door" for sites entering the Region.
Region V has also rotated their removal and
remedial branch chiefs to foster cross-
program integration and understanding. By
maximizing the combined expertise of their
staff, Region V has effectively balanced their
resources to assure a smooth flow of projects
through the pipeline. In order to facilitate
integrated site assessment, Region VIII has
hired technical AARPs in their removal section
to screen sites as they are discovered, make
initial site visits, and make recommendations
to an EPA technical body. Regions V and X
have involved all staff in SACM through open
meetings, workgroups, newsletters and cross-
training. Many Regions have been or are
currently conducting cross-program training
for Site Assessment Managers, On-Scene
Coordinators, and Remedial Project
Managers. Regions are encouraged to
continue these ty;ies of efforts.
Eliminating the Backlog
Regions are making significant progress in
reducing the Site Inspection Prioritization (SIP)
backlog. Region V has developed a process
for addressing the SIP backlog intended to
identify the remaining worst sites, flag
environmental justice concerns, and prioritize
Henry Longest
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future site work. They have established a
workgroup to provide objective criteria
based on risk to establish priority among
all the sites in their States. The Region
expects that the States will also use this
criteria, and provide the first cut at
prioritizing backlogged sites so that the
Region can then start with a list of the
worst sites.
Operating Procedures
Many Regions have developed Region-
specific SACM procedures that are in-
synch with Headquarters guidance.
Region V has developed the Regional
Integrated Site Evaluation (RISE)
To obtain more information on
Region-specific initiatives,
contact the Regional SACM
coordinators:
Region II
Ron Borsellino (212) 264-8667
Region V
Doug Ballotti (312) 886-4752
Region VIII
Diane Thiel (303) 293-1282
Region X
John Myer (206) 553-1271
process for screening newly discovered
sites. RISE ensures that all sites enter
through "one-door", and that site
assessment, removal and remedial
activities are integrated through a one-
step screening process to address worst
sites first. It establishes a chain of
command and paper flow to assure
appropriate coordination and
management attention as a site moves
through the Regional assessment
process (site identification, planning and
mobilization, site sampling, and reports).
Region II has established a similar
process to ensure cross-program
coordination throughout the assessment
process. Region VIII has drafted a
comprehensive manual that outlines their
vision for SACM and procedures for
integrated assessment, priority setting,
decision-making, early action and long-
term action response, community
involvement and enforcement. Region X
has put in place a process for prioritizing
potential National Priorities List sites for
both Federal Facilities and non-Federal
Facilities. The guidance includes:
pertinent questions to ask; procedures
for Regional Decision Team involvement;
voting and documentation of decisions;
and factors that should be considered.
Communicating Successes/Lessons
Learned
All Regions see the value of
documenting successes and lessons
learned. As a pilot project, Region X
created an outreach specialist position in
their Superfund office to communicate
the progress of Superfund, particularly
SACM, to legislators, the media,
publications and communities. Region V
has published Superfund
Accomplishments in 1993 and Region X
has published Superfund Update, both
intended to keep interested parties
current on Regional Superfund activities
and successes, including SACM. By
communicating SACM successes we can
show that we are making the Superfund
process faster and more efficient.
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