UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
| WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
HIM 1 3 ?01fl OFFICEOF
JUN SOLID WASTE AND
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
OSWER 9200.1-126
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Distribution of the "Superfund Radiation Risk Assessment: A Community Toolkit"
Document for the General Public
FROM: Jjf\ Robin H. Richardson, Acting Director
y Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation
TO: Superfund National Policy Managers, Regions 1-10
Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to transmit to you a final document entitled: "Superfund Radiation
Risk Assessment: A Community Toolkit".
Role of the Guidance
The Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) developed this toolkit to
present a collection of 22 fact sheets to help the general public understand more about EPA's risk
assessment process used at radioactively contaminated Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)' sites. It also provides brief overviews on EPA's risk
assessment calculators and provides information regarding radionuclides that are commonly found at
Superfund sites. This toolkit will be of interest to site decision makers and Community Involvement
Coordinators (CICs) at radioactively contaminated sites being addressed by CERCLA.
The toolkit transmitted by this memorandum provides information on risk assessment under CERCLA and is consistent with the
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). It does not alter the NCP's general expectations for
remedial actions, such as those regarding treatment of principal threat waste and the use of containment and institutional controls for
low-level threat waste. Consistent with CERCLA and the NCP, remedial actions need to attain or waive Applicable or Relevant and
Appropriate Requirements (ARARs); potential ARARs for contaminated ground water at radiation sites typically include Maximum
Contaminant Levels (MCLs) or non-zero Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) established under the Safe Drinking Water
Act. This document provides information to the general public on how staff for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
conduct risk assessments for radioactively contaminated CERCLA sites. The information is designed to be consistent with EPA's
national guidance on these issues. This toolkit does not, however, substitute for EPA's statutes or regulations, nor is it a regulation
itself. Thus, it cannot impose legally binding requirements on EPA, states, or the regulated community, and may not apply to a
particular situation based upon the circumstances. EPA may change this toolkit in the future, as appropriate,
Internal Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov
Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer, Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper
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Background
The toolkit is part of a continuing effort by OSRTI to provide updated information for addressing
radioactively contaminated remedial Superfund sites consistent with our guidance for addressing
chemically contaminated sites (while accounting for the technical differences between radionuclides and
chemicals). OSRTI intends for this effort to facilitate remedial cleanups that are consistent with the NCP
at radioactively contaminated sites and to incorporate new information based on improvements to the
Superfund program.
The EPA previously issued the booklet "Common Radionuclides Found at Superfund Sites" (OSWER
No. 9200.1-34, July 2002). The booklet provided information to help the general public understand more
about the various common radionuclides that are found at Superfund sites across the nation. It also
answered common questions regarding exposure to radionuclides and human health. The fact sheets in
Attachment B replace this 2002 booklet.
The EPA issued the video "Superfund Radiation Risk Assessment and How You Can Help, an
Overview" (March 2005) as an additional resource for the public. The video describes the Superfund
risk assessment process for radioactive contamination: what it is, how it works, and how members of the
public can be involved. This video was intended to be of interest to the general public, site decision-
makers, and community involvement coordinators at radioactively contaminated sites being addressed
by CERCLA.
Implementation
For questions related to this community toolkit, you can contact Stuart Walker by email at
walker.stuart@epa.gov or by telephone at (703) 603-8748.
Attachment
cc:
Mathy Stanislaus, OSWER
NitinNatarajan, OSWER
Barry Breen, OSWER
Lawrence Stanton, OSWER/OEM
Barnes Johnson, OSWER/ORCR
David Lloyd, OSWER/OBLR
Reggie Cheatham, OSWER/FFRRO
Carolyn Hoskinson, OSWER/OUST
Rafael DeLeon, OECA/OSRE
David Kling, OECA/FFEO
John Michaud, OGC/SWERLO
Mike Flynn, OAR/ORIA
OSRTI Managers
Regional Superfund Branch Chiefs, Regions 1-10
Lisa Price, Superfund Lead Region Coordinator, Region 6
NARPM Co-Chairs
OSRTI Document Coordinator
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