INTERIM  EPA REGION 7 GREEN CLEANUP POLICY
       As a Region, we value land and water as natural, cultural, and economic resources.
Cleaning up contamination protects human health and the environment and enables the future
use or reuse of properties for community benefit. Region 7 defines "green cleanup" as the
practice of considering the broad range of environmental effects of site evaluation, cleanup
planning and implementation, and incorporating options to maximize the environmental
benefit and support the future beneficial use or reuse of the property.

       Fundamentally, all cleanups must protect human health and the environment, comply
with all appropriate federal and state laws and program requirements, and consider community
input. The goal of the Region 7 Green Cleanup Policy is to enhance the  environmental
benefits of waste cleanups by promoting sustainable technologies and practices.

OBJECTIVES:
       •   Protect human health and the environment  by achieving cleanup goals
       •   Support human and ecological use and reuse  of renewed land
       •   Minimize impacts to water quality and water resources
       •   Reduce greenhouse gas production and other air emissions
       •   Minimize material use and waste production
       •   Conserve natural resources and energy

PROGRAM APPLICATION:
       The Green Cleanup Policy  applies to Fund-Lead  Superfund cleanups, cleanup work
implemented through EPA's Brownfields grant program, and Indian Country cleanups in the
Underground Storage Tanks program. Region 7 also intends to promote and encourage green
cleanups at Federal Facilities and at PRP-lead sites,  RCRA corrective action conducted under
oversight by EPA or authorized states, and other state-lead cleanup projects.

PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES:
       We will promote the following:
       •   Integration of anticipated site use or reuse plans into the cleanup strategy
       •   Use of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, and minimize energy
             consumption
       •   Use of biofuels including methane from animal waste and landfills
       •   Use of clean diesel technologies
       •   Water conservation, the reuse of treated water and stormwater management
       •   Sustainable site design
       •   Recycling and reuse of construction, deconstruction, demolition, and industrial
             materials
       •   Site-specific contracting language to require and incentivize the use of green
             practices and technologies
       •   Beneficial reuse of excavated yard soils as capping material and Chat Reuse Rule
             at mining sites

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                 INTERIM EPA REGION 7 GREEN CLEANUP POLICY (CONTINUED)
MEASUREMENT:
       Cleanup programs should evaluate and document how investigation and cleanup
activities can be implemented to minimize their environmental footprint. Green cleanup
technologies and sustainable practices should be considered in decision making and may
be documented in Superfund Records of Decision (ROD), Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup
Alternatives (ABCA), and RCRA Statements of Basis which evaluate and present cleanup
alternatives for public review and comment. Administrative Orders should include
preferences for green cleanup practices and sustainable reuse and redevelopment, where
appropriate.

       Region 7 intends to measure the cost differentials and environmental benefits
associated with implementing this policy. Measures include tracking quantities of:
materials reduced, reused or recycled; carbon or greenhouse gas reductions quantities of
water conserved or replenished; etc. The Region plans to use existing progress reporting
mechanisms in contracts, grants, and enforcement instruments to collect this data. The
Region plans to periodically compile and evaluate this data to determine the effectiveness
of this policy and make revisions in scope, best practices, implementation, applicability, etc.
                                                                       I
       This policy is intended to address the implementation of EPA's Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response (OSWER) "Principles for Greener Cleanups," dated August 27,
2009, and may be amended if the OSWER guidance is revised, or upon further implementa-
tion and evaluation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
       •   RCRA Program—Stephanie Doolan
             (913) 551-7719 or doolan.stephanie@epa.gov
       •   Underground Storage Tanks Program—Wilfredo Rosado-Chaparro
             (913) 551-7944 or rosado-chaparro.wilfredo@epa.gov
       •   Superfund Program—Craig Smith
             (913) 551-7683 or smith.craig@epa.gov
Issued on September 8, 2009, by:
Martha Cuppy     < •   /
Acting Deputy Regional Administrator
                    V .A
Rebecca Weber, Director
Air and Waste Management Division
deciTiaTapia, Director
Superfund Division
Ronald Hammerschmidt, Director
Environmental Services Division

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