vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Remedy Report (16th Edition) Fact Sheet
Figure 1: Number of Sites and Decision Documents by Type
(FY 1981-2017)
¦ Decision Documents
1,603
11,262
mm I
ROD Amendments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an important role in documenting and disseminating information
on treatment technologies that advance its mission to protect human health and the: environment at contaminated sites.
One means by which EPA fulfills this role is through its publication, since 1991, of a series of reports providing
information and analyses on Superfund remedies. The
Superfund Remedy Report (SRR) 16'" Edition (EPA 542'R'20-001) is
the most recent version of this report in which EPA provides
information and analyses, on remedies) including treatment,
selected to address contamination at Superfund sites. The
SRR's remedy and site information informs stakeholders in
communities affected by Superfund sites about the Superfund
program's remedy decisions at sites located throughout the
country. The report also helps federal, state, and tribal
remediation professionals select future remedies. Analyzing
remedy decision trends helps identify future demand for
remedial technologies; Understanding such trends helps
technology developers and consulting and engineering firms
evaluate markets for site characterization and treatment
technologies.
Report Scope: Through fiscal year (FY) 2017, EPA has signed 5,601 decision documents, including 3,867 records of
decision (RODs), 472 ROD amendments, and 1,262 explanations of significant differences (ESDs) for 1,603 National
Priorities List and Superfund Alternative, approach sites (Figure l)1. The SRR 16* Edition updates historical remedy
selection trends and includes detailed analysis of remedies selected in FYs 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Overview of Remedies and Contaminants; For most
Superfund sites, treatment has been selected, often in
combination with other remedies (Figure 2). Overall, these;
remedies include a mix of approaches, primarily treatment,
on-site containment, off-site disposal, monitored natural
attenuation (MNA), and institutional controls (IGs). At
complex; sites, different remedies often target different site
areas or media.
Figure 3: Media Addressed at Superfund Sites with Remedies
(FY 1981-2017)
Sites with a Remedv = 1,498
Source - 1.340(89%)
L
Figure 2: Treatment at Superfund Sites (FY 1981-2017)
Number of Sites = 1,595
Containment NVWA0^.
and Other S7.t%

Treatment
1,243 (78%)
352 (22%)


Remedy
Only,
Source
Treatment. 293,
18%

Groundwater
Treatment, 280,
18%
Treatment ol Both
Source and
Groundwater, 670,
•12%

Most of these sites have more than one contaminated
medium, most frequently groundwater and soil (Figure
3). Site contaminants of concern (COCs) are organized
in three major groups: volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and
metals. Most sites have different types of COCs, with
1 Decision documents for FYs 18 and 19 currently being analyzed.
Office of Land arid Emergency Management	1	EPA 542-F-20-Q27
www.epa.gov/superfund j https://www.epa.gov/remedvtech/superfund-remedv-report	July 2020

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Superfund Remedy Report (16th Edition): Fact Sheet
over 50% of site cleanups addressing all three5 major groups and 25% addressing two (Figure 4).
The report focuses on remedies selected in 272 recent
decision documents signed at 189 sites in FYs 2015 to
2017. Of these 272 documents, 64% include a remedy for
source materials (such as, soil and sediment) and 40% for
groundwater. Remedies were also selected for soil gas and
air related to vapor intrusion.
Source Remedies: For FYs 2015 to 2017, more than 40%
of decision documents with source, remedies include
treatment. One-fifth of all source decision documents
include in situ treatment with solidification/stabilization,
soil vapor extraction, and in situ thermal treatment most
frequently selected. The most common ex situ treatment
method is physical separation, primarily to reduce waste
volume (e.g., dewatering sediments). Metals, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the COCs most commonly addressed.
Of the 175 recent source documents, over 20% include a remedy for sediments. Most sediment decision documents
(88%) include dredging, excavation, off-site disposal, or on-site containment. Some treatment was also selected; for
example, dewatering, amendments, and in situ amended caps. Other sediment remedy examples include wetlands
restoration, EMNR, MNR, and IGs. Metals, PCBs, and PAHs are the COCs most frequently addressed.
Groundwater Remedies: For the 110
groundwater decision documents signed in FYs
2015 to 2017, remedies are primarily a mix of
in situ treatment, pump and treat, and MNA;
most also include: iCs. In situ groundwater
treatment is selected in over half of these
documents (Figure 5). Of these,
bioremediation and chemical treatment remain
the most frequently selected. Selection of P&T
remains low, at an average of 20%. Addressed
in 74% of recent groundwater decision
documents, halogenated VOCs (primarily
chlorinated VOCs) are the most common type
of groundwater COC.
This SRR edition includes a new section
summarizing groundwater technical
impracticability (TI) waivers. From FYs 1988 to
2017, 105 decision documents have included TI waivers tor groundwater at 96 sites. EPA also discusses optimization
reviews and gives examples of optimization efforts that have informed remedy selection in recent decision documents.
Vapor Intrusion Remedies: Forty FY 2015 to 2017 decision documents selected remedies that target air or soil gas
associated with vapor intrusion. Vapor intrusion mitigation was selected for existing structures in eight recent decision
documents, and 40 documents entail selection of ICs for either existing structures or future construction. For sites with
vapor intrusion remedies, source or groundwater remedies may have been selected to address subsurface contamination,
or such remedies may be planned.
Conclusions: Superfund site cleanup remedies continue to show a robust use: of multiple treatment, containment, and
disposal remedies to address complex contamination. Remedy selection trends also indicate program needs for expanded
technical information and support related to specific technologies or site cleanup challenges. For example, continued
growth in the use of in situ groundwater technologies suggests an ongoing need for additional knowledge and support
associated with their selection, design, and implementation.
Figure 4: COCs at Superfund Sites (FY 1981-2017)
Sites with a Remedy and COCs = 1,494
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
Number of Sites
Metals: 1,172(78%)
VOCs: 1,159 (78%)
SVOCs: 1,058(71%)
Other: 422 (28%)
24%
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1
121
112
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116
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*>°C

^0C
s^°C
J*
52%
778

Figure 5: Selection Trends for Decision Documents with
Groundwater Remedies (FY 1982-2017)
Groundwater Dedsion Documents = 2,541
g 60%
| 50%
Pump & Treat
Institutional Controls
Vertical Engineered Barrier
—¦— In Situ Treatment
••a-- Monitored Natural Attenuation
—Alternative Water Supply
Office of Land and Emergency Management	2	EPA 542-F-20-027
www.epa.gov/superfund j https://www.epa.gov/remedvtech/superfund-remedv-report	July 2020

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