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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