&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.

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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

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     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

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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.

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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)

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  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

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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.

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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

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n Disruptio

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O
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n Adaptation Measures for 1
B High-Priority 1
Vulnerabilities 1
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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



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