GREENER CLEANUPS POLICY - EPA REGION 9
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Background
As part of our mission to protect human health and the environment, EPA is committed to using
effective and environmentally sustainable strategies to restore contaminated land for beneficial uses.
EPA's cleanup programs already promote sustainability by removing health threats from toxins left
in the environment by previous unsustainable industrial practices. However, with consideration and
planning, additional sustainability benefits often can be achieved when a cleanup action is
performed. The Region 9 Greener Cleanups Policy is intended to ensure that sustainability is
considered in cleanups by establishing a preference for using strategies, practices and technologies
that reduce the environmental footprint of Superfund and RCRA cleanups.
While first meeting all statutory and regulatory requirements of Superfund and RCRA, EPA
Region 9 will strive to integrate sustainability practices into its cleanup actions This policy
establishes a preference for use of a range of practices, strategies and technologies to support
the implementation of greener cleanups.
• Reduce air emissions, including greenhouse gas emissions, by using clean diesel technology
and alternative fuels.
• Conserve natural resources and energy through efficient energy use and by using renewable
energy technologies.
• Minimize overall virgin material use and waste generation as well as reuse and recycle
existing resources.
• Minimize toxics in materials and products.
• Minimize impacts to water quality and water resources by water conservation and efficiency
measures.
These sustainability practices will be evaluated in light of the site-specific situation at each cleanup
site. Sustainability will be incorporated where determined appropriate into Superfund and RCRA
cleanups performed by EPA or under EPA oversight. Not all strategies will be appropriate in every
case. Cleanups that do not satisfy threshold requirements for protectiveness, or do not meet other
site-specific cleanup objectives, are not considered to be "greener cleanups" under this policy.
Sustainability strategies and technologies should be evaluated at every stage of the cleanup process
to achieve the greatest level of benefit. In implementing this policy, project managers are
encouraged to consider the application of lifecycle analysis tools. These tools can help account for
the manufacture, use, and transport of materials, products, equipment and wastes associated with all
phases of a cleanup. Region 9 will continue to pursue emerging sustainability technologies and
strategies to expand the scope of opportunities at Superfund and RCRA cleanups.
Issued on: September 14, 2009
By:
Keith Takata, Director Jeff Scott, Director
Superfund Division Waste Management Division
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Region 9 Greener Cleanups Practices, Strategies, and Technologies
The Region 9 Greener Cleanups Policy establishes a preference for use of a range of practices,
strategies and technologies to support the implementation of greener cleanups including those listed
below. We anticipate that these specific practices, strategies and technologies will be updated as
emerging practices and technologies are identified.
Air Emission Reduction
• Using clean diesel technologies and alternative fuel strategies;
• Using idle- reduction strategies to reduce air particulate emissions from diesel equipment; and
• Reducing the amount of transportation required to and/or from the site and the total emissions
due to materials transport to and/or from the site.
Energy Conservation and Utilization
• Reducing energy use and employing energy efficiency approaches and equipment (e.g.
EnergyStar, combined heat and power);
• Using renewable energy to power the remedial action (e.g. solar, wind, anaerobic digestion,
hydroelectric, geothermal);
• Siting and applying renewable energy technologies as part of site reuse (e.g. for other local
purposes or to feed the electric grid); and
• Designing buildings for sustainability including: potential reuse, design for deconstruction,
green materials, and water and energy efficiency.
Material Use and Waste Production
• Using concrete in which coal ash, or granulated blast furnace/steel slag has been substituted for
carbon-intensive Portland cement;
• Using coal ash, foundry sand, tire rubber chips, recycled asphalt, reclaimed concrete, FGD
gypsum, or other industrial byproducts in place of virgin materials as aggregate in concrete or
asphalt, or as fill material in embankments, stabilized cover, etc.; and
• Minimizing waste by recycling or direct reuse of site materials including any construction or
demolition debris such as wood, shingles, asphalt, concrete, and drywall.
Toxics Reduction in Materials and Products
• Using materials and products that do not contain or are designed to minimize toxic substances.
Water Conservation
• Reducing water use and employing water efficiency approaches and equipment.
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