&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation
EPA542-F-13-004 December 2013
Climate Change Adaptation Technical Fact Sheet:
In February 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the draft U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan.1 The plan examines how EPA programs may be vulnerable to a changing
climate and how the Agency can accordingly adapt in order to continue meeting its mission of protecting human health
and the environment. To answer a related question, "How is climate change likely to affect the ability of the Superfund
Program to achieve its mission and strategic goals?" EPA's Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation
(OSRTI) conducted a screening analysis to identify climate change impacts most likely to affect remedies that are
commonly used for contaminated groundwater, soil, or sediment; evaluate associated vulnerabilities of the remedies;
and establish climate change adaptation strategies for new and existing remediation systems. Based on the findings,
OSRTI developed a preliminary Superfund climate change adaptation action plan that is integral to a broader plan
proposed in 2013 by EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.2
Existing processes for Superfund cleanup planning and implementation provide a robust structure that allows
consideration of climate change impacts. Due to wide variation in the location and geophysical characteristics of
contaminated sites, the nature of remedial actions at those sites, and local or regional climate and weather regimes, the
process of considering climate change impacts and potential adaptation measures is most effective through use of a
place-based strategy. Climate change vulnerability analyses and adaptation planning may be integrated throughout the
Superfund process, including feasibility studies, remedial designs and remedy performance reviews.
A key component of the preliminary
Superfund climate change adaptation
action plan involves developing tools that
can help project managers and other
cleanup stakeholders to identify, prioritize
and implement site-specific measures for
increasing remedy resilience to climate
change impacts.
As the first in a series, this fact sheet
addresses remedies involving
groundwater remediation systems. It is
intended to serve as an adaptation
planning tool by (1) providing an overview
of potential climate change vulnerabilities
and (2) presenting possible adaptation
measures that may be considered to
increase a remedy's resilience to climate
change impacts. Concepts addressed in
this tool may also apply to site cleanups
conducted under other regulatory
programs or through voluntary efforts, [a]
Groundwater remediation systems are a common element of
contaminated site cleanup projects and may function ex situ and/or in
situ. Ex situ processes often involve extracting contaminated
groundwater from an aquifer and transferring it to an aboveground
system where the water is treated; this approach is commonly known as
"pump and treat" (P&T). In contrast, in situ processes typically involve
injecting reagents directly into the subsurface to promote desired
biological or chemical reactions in contaminated groundwater. In situ
methods also may require construction and use of a well network and
underground pumping systems. At some
sites, vertical barriers or other engineered
structures may be installed below ground
surface to control groundwater flow or
establish distinct reactive zones. Climate
change adaptation for a groundwater
treatment or containment system
generally focuses on (1) evaluating the
vulnerability and (2) implementing adaptation measures, when
warranted, to ensure that the remedy continues to prevent human or
environmental exposure to contaminants of concern (Figure 1).
Effective mitigation of
potential climate change
impacts on a groundwater
remediation system involves
a site-specific analytical
approach rather than a
broad prescriptive plan.
Figure 1. Climate Change Adaptation Management
Evaluate System Vulnerability
[ Assess Exposure ] [ Assess Sensitivity ]
Implement Adaptation Measures
[ Identify Options ] [ Select Measures
Monitor and
periodically re-evaluate
[a] In manners consistent with existing regulations, including those under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the National Oil and
Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act.
-------
Evaluation of Groundwater Remediation System Vulnerability
Evaluation of a groundwater treatment or containment system's vulnerability to
climate change may involve:
• Identifying climate change hazards of concern
• Characterizing the system's exposure to those hazards of concern
• Characterizing the system's sensitivity to the hazards of concern
• Considering factors that may exacerbate the system's exposure and
sensitivity, such as a long operating period.
Vulnerability - "The degree to
which a system is susceptible to, or
unable to cope with, adverse
effects of climate change, including
climate variability and extremes.
Vulnerability is a function of the
character, magnitude, and rate of
climate variation to which a system
is exposed, its sensitivity, and its
adaptive capacity."3
A climate-change exposure assessment identifies climate change hazards of concern for a treatment or containment
system in light of potential climate/weather scenarios. Dynamic information relevant to specific locations is readily
available from several federal agencies to help screen potential hazards and identify those of concern (Table 1). More
information may be available from
state agencies, regional or local
sources such as watershed and
forestry management authorities,
non-profit groups, and academia.
Exposure assessment may also
include evaluating potential
anthropogenic stressors; for
example, future land development
could remove natural protective
barriers or cause infill subsidence in
low-lying areas.
Climate Change Impacts
Temperature: Wind:
• Increased extreme temperatures
• Sustained changes in average temperatures
• Decreased permafrost
• Increased intensity of hurricanes
• Increased intensity of tornados
• Increased storm surge intensity
Precipitation:
• Increased heavy precipitation events
• Increased flood risk
• Decreased precipitation & increasing drought
• Increased landslides
Wildfires:
• Increased frequency & intensity
Sea level rise
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Climate Change Adaptation Plan (draft),2
Appendix A (adaptation)
Table 1. Examples of Information Resources
Climate Change
Impacts
Tempe
Precipi
Information Resources and
Type of Information Available [>) for Applicable Impact (•)
(Accessible via hyperlinks provided below
and at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/climatechange)
EPA Climate Change Indicators in the United States website
>• Information on "weather and climate" indicators relating to temperatures, precipitation and drought as
well as extreme oceanic, snowfall and ice scenarios
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Map Service Center website
»• Floodplain maps
National Interagency Coordination Center National Interagency Fire Center website
^ Regional outlooks on wildlife activity and maps of current fire locations
National Integrated Drought Information System U.S. Drought Portal website
^ Updates to the U.S. Drought Monitor map, drought impact summaries and forecasts
National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center website
^ Data on soil moisture, evaporation, precipitation, runoff and temperature affecting drought conditions
National Weather Service National Hurricane Center website
»• Wind speed maps
National Weather Service Probabilistic Hurricane Storm Surge website
»• Projections on storm surges
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services Digital Coast website
^ Data and tools for coastal hazards, including the Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Climatic Data Center website
^ Historic climate information, data access capabilities and information on special topics such as U.S.
Tornado Climatology
-------
Climate Change
Impacts
c
o
'^
&
a.
Information Resources and
Type of Information Available (>) for Applicable Impact (•)
(Accessible via hyperlinks provided below
and at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/climatechange)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Tides and Currents website
^ Information on local sea level trends
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Hazards Program website
»• Information on landslide risks and a national landslide susceptibility map
U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Watch website
»-A searchable database containing groundwater records from about 850,000 wells in the United States
A climate-change sensitivity assessment evaluates the likelihood for the climate change hazards of concern to reduce
effectiveness of a groundwater remediation system. Potential direct impacts of the hazards include power inter-
ruption, physical damage, water damage and reduced accessibility. Potential indirect impacts may include petroleum
oil or chemical spills, accidental fire, explosions and ecosystem damage. Overall system failures might result in:
• Inadequate capture of targeted groundwater due to altered groundwater flow or aquifer storage capacity, which
could in turn alter the project's conceptual site model
• Insufficient treatment of contaminated groundwater due to treatment system compromises (such as pressure
loss) or catastrophic loss of the treatment system
• Operational downtime during or after extreme weather events
• Unexpected and additional project costs for repairing or replacing the remediation system and/or site
infrastructure components such as power lines, maintenance corridors and buildings.
Points of potential vulnerability correspond to the system components, site operations and infrastructure (Table 2).
Site operation vulnerability may include disruption of critical activities such as periodic injection of reactive reagents
into the subsurface, delivery of fuels and other supplies, and scheduled sampling of groundwater. For new systems to
be constructed, evaluation of the vulnerability and adaptation measures may be integrated into project designs.
Table 2. Considerations for Sensitivity Assessment of a Groundwater Remediation System
Potential Vulnerabilities
Examples of System Components
Power
Interruption
Groundwater
Extraction or
Containment
System
Wells
Extraction or aeration pumps and aboveground
controls
Vertical barriers
Pipe systems
Monitoring equipment
Physical
Damage
Water
Damage
Reduced
Access
Electrical controls
Transfer pumps
Pipe systems
Aboveground
Components
of the
Treatment
System
Equipment powered by electricity (such as air
blowers), natural gas (such as heaters) and fossil
fuel (such asdiesel generators)
Flow-through treatment units (such as granular
activated carbon vessels, clarifiers, ion exchange
units and tray strippers)
Chemical storage containers
Treatment residuals disposal system
Treated water discharge system
-------
Results of exposure and sensitivity assessments may be integrated to evaluate the groundwater remediation system's
overall vulnerability to climate change hazards. Detailed information about related concepts and tools is readily
available in resources such as the:
> Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (Working Group II), which includes a chapter (19) on assessing key vulnerabilities
>• Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional and State Governments guidance (as published in
2007 through a Local Governments for Sustainability partnership and funded by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]) to provide local, regional or state governments with a detailed easy-to-
understand process for climate change preparedness
>• Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for State Coastal Managers report issued by NOAA in 2010, which
includes a chapter (4) on vulnerability assessment.
Techniques for compiling information on exposure and sensitivity and for assessing overall vulnerability of a
groundwater treatment or containment system may include:
• Collecting qualitative information, including photographs of system components and existing field conditions
• Extrapolating from quantitative data available in existing resources (including resources detailed in Table 1)
• Conducting quantitative modeling through use of conventional software or commercially available risk
assessment software for engineered systems
• Developing summary maps, tables and matrices.
Implementation of Adaptation Measures
Results of a vulnerability evaluation may be used to develop a strategy
for increasing a groundwater remediation system's resilience to climate
change. Strategy development involves:
• Identifying measures that potentially apply to the scenarios
• Selecting and implementing priority adaptation measures for the
given groundwater treatment or containment system.
Adaptation - "Adjustment or preparation of
human systems to a new or changing
environment which moderates harm or
exploits beneficial opportunities."3
Resilience - "A capability to anticipate,
prepare for, respond to, and recover from
significant multi-hazard threats with
minimum damage to social well-being, the
economy, and the environment."3
Identification of potential measures involves the screening of steps that
may be taken to physically secure the system, provide additional barriers
to protect the system, safeguard access to the system, and alert project
personnel of system compromises (Table 3). Depending on the scenario,
modifications can enable many measures to address more than one
aspect of the overall groundwater remediation system. Some measures
also may be scaled up to encompass multiple remediation systems and critical field activities. Yet others may provide
a degree of desired redundancy; for example, access to an onsite or mobile renewable energy system could provide a
redundant power source that enables continued treatment of groundwater despite disruptions to the local power
grid.
-------
For a new remediation system, selecting optimal measures during the design phase may maximize the system's
resilience to climate change impacts throughout the project life and help avoid costly retrofits. Designs for
aboveground remedial components that are vulnerable could include, for example, structural reinforcement to
protect buildings from high winds, secondary containment systems to capture hazardous liquids escaping from flood-
damaged containers, and housing to protect monitoring equipment from high winds or flooding. Designs for
vulnerable subsurface remedial components such as groundwater wells or containment barriers could include extra
precautions for potential conditions such as surface mounding, desiccation or groundwater flow changes. Climate
change considerations are particularly important in designs and associated modeling for groundwater treatment or
containment systems anticipated to operate for 30 years or longer.
Table 3. Examples of Adaptation Measures
Groundwater
Extraction or
Containment
System
Dewatering well system
Installing additional boreholes at critical locations and depths to maintain target
groundwater levels in the extraction/containment zone and reduce groundwater upwelling
while not compromising the remediation system
Remote access
Integrating electronic devices that enable workers to suspend pumping during extreme
weather events, periods of impeded access, or unexpected hydrologic conditions
Well-head housing
Building insulated cover systems made of high density polyethylene or concrete for control
devices and sensitive equipment situated aboveground for long periods
Alarm networks
Integrating a series of sensors linked to electronic control devices that trigger shutdown of
the system, or linked to audible/visual alarms that alert workers of the need to manually
shut down the system, when specified operating or ambient parameters are exceeded
Coastal hardening
Building "soft" seawalls (through techniques such as replenishing sand and/or vegetation),
jetties or groins to stabilize and shield a shoreline from erosion; in some cases, "hard"
seawalls (such as those made of reinforced concrete) may be warranted
Concrete pad fortification
Repairing concrete cracks, replacing pads of insufficient size or with insufficient
anchorage, or integrating retaining walls along the pad perimeter
Aboveground
Components of
the Treatment
System
Fire barriers
Creating buffer areas (land free of dried vegetation and other flammable materials)
around the treatment system and installing manufactured systems (such as radiant energy
shields and raceway fire barriers) around heat-sensitive components
Flood controls
Building one or more structures to retain or divert floodwater, such as vegetated berms,
drainage swales, levees, dams or retention ponds
Power from off-grid sources
Constructing a permanent system or using portable equipment that provides power
generated from onsite renewable resources, as a primary or redundant power supply that
can operate independent of the utility grid when needed
Relocation
Moving the system or its critical components to positions more distant or protected from
potential hazards; for flooding threats, this may involve elevations higher than specified in
the community's flood insurance study)
-------
Aboveground
Components of
the Treatment
System
Climate Change
Impacts
I
a
X
Potential Adaptation Measures for System Components
Riverbank armor
Stabilizing banks ofonsite segments of a river (or susceptible stream) through installation
of "soft" armor (such as synthetic fabrics and/or deep-rooted vegetation) or "hard" armor
(such as riprap, gabions and segmental retaining walls)
Slope fortification
Anchoring a slope through placement of concrete or rock elements against a slope and
installing anchors and cables to secure the elements, or containing a slope through
placement of netting to hold back rock and debris
Tie down systems
Installing permanent mounts that allow rapid deployment of a cable system extending
from the top of a unit to ground surface
Building envelope upgrades
Replacing highly flammable materials with (or adding) fire- and mold/mildew-resistant
insulating materials in a building, shed or housing envelope
Hurricane straps
Integrating or adding heavy metal brackets that reinforce physical connection between the
roof and walls of a building, shed or housing unit
Site Operations
and
Infrastructure
Pervious pavement
Replacing impervious pavement that has deteriorated or impeded stormwater
management with permeable pavement (in the form of porous asphalt, rubberized
asphalt, pervious concrete or brick/block pavers) to filter pollutants, recharge aquifers and
reduce stormwater volume entering the storm drain system
Plantings
Installing drought-resistant grasses, shrubs, trees and other deep-rooted plants to provide
shading, prevent erosion, provide wind breaks and reduce fire risk
Hazard alerts
Using electronic systems that actively inform subscribers of extreme weather events or
provide Internet postings on local/regional weather and related conditions
The process of selecting potential measures and determining optimal measures for a groundwater remediation
system in a given scenario may consider:
S Complexity of the groundwater extraction/containment system
S Local or regional groundwater and surface water regimes and management plans
S Size and age of the system components and auxiliary equipment
S Anticipated duration of remedial system operations
S Status of infrastructure components such as roads, power and water supplies
S Existing and critical means of access
S Relevant aspects of future land use or development
S Anticipated effectiveness and longevity of the potential measures
S Capital cost and operations and maintenance (O&M) cost.
Selected measures may be integrated into primary or secondary documentation supporting existing groundwater
remediation systems, such as monitoring plans, optimization evaluations, five-year reviews and close-out planning
materials. The measures also may be integrated into the site's feasibility study and remedy design process.
The implementation of adaptation measures during early rather than late stages of the cleanup process may expand
the universe of feasible options, maximize integrity of certain measures, and reduce implementation costs in some
cases. Adaptation also needs to be an iterative and flexible process that involves periodically re-evaluating the
groundwater remediation system's vulnerability, monitoring the measures already taken, and incorporating newly
-------
identified options or information into the adaptation strategy. Periodic re-evaluations typically include verifying key
data; for example, ongoing updates
to FEMAfloodplain maps may prompt
implementation of flood-related
Evaluate System Vulnerability
Implement Adaptation Measures
Monitor and
measures that were previously ^^_^ periodically re-evaluate
considered unnecessary.
As an illustration, Figure 2 highlights results of a preliminary vulnerability evaluation for a groundwater remediation
system currently deployed at a Superfund site. The illustration identifies potential disruptions to the system and
provides a sample structure for documenting high-priority adaptation measures that could be implemented in the
near term. Structures such as this also may be expanded for subsequent use in implementing additional adaptation
measures and monitoring measures as well as tracking modifications over time.
Numerous resources to help understand climate change adaptation planning and implementation are available
through online compendiums such as:
>• EPA's Adaptation Tools for Public Officials website, which provides access to clearinghouses and sector- or region-
specific tools and resources
> EPA's Climate Impacts on Water Resources website, which provides information pertaining to climate change
impacts on water cycles, demands, supplies and quality
> The NOAA Coastal Services Center Climate Change Adaptation website, which provides access to numerous
adaptation and action plans completed in jurisdictions throughout the United States, case studies, guidance and
completed risk/vulnerability assessments
>• The Local Governments for Sustainability-USA Introduction to Climate and Energy Action website, which provides
access to case studies, fact sheets, studies, guidance and toolkits.
The general concepts, tools and examples provided in these resources may be used to tailor adaptation measures for
a specific groundwater remediation system. Additionally, resources such as these may serve as a guide in assuring
that the measures align with climate change actions taken by relevant state, regional or local agencies. Broader
federal actions to enhance climate preparedness and resilience in the United States are outlined in the November
2013, Executive Order 13653, Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change.
References
[Web access date: December 2013]
U.S. EPA; Climate Change Adaptation Plan (draft); June 2012; http://epa.gov/climatechange/pdfs/EPA-climate-change-adaptation-plan-final-for-public-
comment-2-7-13.pdf
U.S. EPA; Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan (draft); June 2013;
http://epa.gov/climatechange/Downloads/impacts-adaptation/office-of-solid-waste-and-emergency-response-plan.pdf
U.S. EPA; Glossary of Climate Change Terms; http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/glossary.html
To learn more about climate change adaptation at Superfund sites and access new
information and decision-making tools as they become available, visit:
www.epa.gov/superfund/climatechange
Contacts
Questions about climate change adaptation in EPA's Superfund Program may be forwarded to:
Carlos Pachon (pachon.carlosfftepa.gov), Anne Dailey (dailey.annefftepa.gov) or Ellen Treimel (treimel.ellenfftepa.gov)
EPA is publishing this document as a means of disseminating useful information regarding approaches for adapting to climate change. This document does not impose legally
binding requirements on EPA, states, tribes or the regulated community and does not alter or supersede existing policy or guidance for contaminated site cleanup. EPA, federal,
state, tribal and local decision-makers retain discretion to implement approaches on a case-by-case basis.
-------
Figure 2. Illustrative Superfund Site Scenario:
Vulnerability Evaluation Results and Prioritized Adaptation Measures
This sample cleanup scenario involves a large Superfund site located on the outskirts of a metropol tan area along the Atlantic
coast, within a 1-meter sea-level rise zone. Contaminants remain from the site's past use for light manufacturing and processing of
liquid industrial wastes received from other manufacturing and chemical firms. Remedial components include a subsurface
containment wall (containing soil/bentonite slurry to a depth of 10 feet), a sheet-pile retaining wall along an onsite creek, and a
groundwater P&T system with offsite discharge. The P&T system is situated in a downgradient portion of a 500-year floodplain that
surrounds a 100-year floodplain, where some remedial and infrastructure components such as equipment/material storage sheds
or containers and power lines exist.
Public information sources (including resources highlighted in Table 1) indicate potential hazards for this scenario include flooding,
high wind, storm surge and sea level change. In combination with site-specific data existing in materials such as site investigation
reports and the Superfund record of decision, professional judgment may be used to identify and prioritize adaptation measures for
this remedy.
1 Potential Points of ^fHH^M
1 System Vulnerability HlfflSfflVII
Groundwater
Extraction or
Containment
System
Aboveground
Components
of the
Treatment
System
Site
Operations
and
Infrastructure
Wells
Extraction pumps and
aboveground controls
Vertical barriers
Pipe system
Monitoring equipment
Electrical controls
Transfer pumps
Pipe system
Electric equipment
Natural gas-driven
equipment
Ancillary equipment
driven by fossil fuel
Flow-through units
Chemical storage
containers
Treatment residuals
disposal system
Treated water discharge
system
Buildings, sheds, or
housing
Electricity and natural gas
lines
Liquid fuel storage and
transfer
Water supplies
Exposed machinery and
vehicles
Surface water drainage
systems
•
*
•
c
•
€
I
C
I
•
•
f
c
ntial Syster
O
•
O
O
•
•
O
€
O
O
0
O
•
O
O
•
€
€
€
€
€
n Disruptio
•
O
•
•
€
•
€
€
€
€
€
€
•
•
•
•
•
€
n Adaptation Measures for 1
B High-Priority 1
Vulnerabilities 1
O
•
O
O
•
•
•
€
O
•
•
•
•
€
Power from off-grid sources;
Well-head housing
Power from off-grid sources;
Remote access
Power from off-grid sources;
Remote access
Power from off-grid sources
Relocation;
Tie down systems
Power from off-grid sources;
Hurricane straps
Relocation
Concrete pad fortification;
Tie down systems
Coastal hardening
Relocation
9 high priority O medium priority O lo w priority
------- |