Priority Actions: Fiscal Year 2022

Deploy the EPA Region III Climate National Priorities List (NPL) Flooding and Vulnerability
Tool.

Climate Threat(s):

Overarching Goal(s):

En] Sri *

Performance Goal(s):

LTPG 1

LTPG 2

LTPG 3

Activity Timeframe:

FY24

FY25

FY26

Climate Vulnerability

| Storm surge, flooding, storm event impacts.

Action



Description:

Finalize, and deploy (including staff training) the newly developed joint
ORD and EPA climate change mapping tool. This tool can be used to
model and predict flood-related impacts on Superfund Sites for future
events and in real time to measure effects of a current storm.

Metric(s):

•	Deployment of training- track number of employees trained FY22

•	Development of a SOP for use FY22

•	Implementation of tool for standard use/ track number of times
utilized FY23/24

Project Challenges:

Completion of tool development; developing a training.

Co-benefits:

Allow for more resilient and adaptable remedies to be identified and
implemented; potential for more positive impacts to surrounding
communities in addressing climate vulnerabilities.

Owner Email:

Mohollen. Laura
(fpepa.aov;
Kennedv. Cathie
en(3>epa.aov

New Work? No

Resources Available? Yes

Science Needs

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Additional Narrative:

This tool has been developed as a joint project between EPA Region III and the Office of
Research and Development. The tool takes a systems-based, two-pronged approach to climate
and flood vulnerability assessment of Superfund National Priority List (NPL) sites and associated
communities. Inundation of hazardous waste sites has the potential to release toxics into
floodwater and transport contaminated soil and sediments into surrounding communities. A
majority of contaminated sites are near low-income housing with already overburdened
populations. However, flood vulnerability assessments typically focus on physical and
infrastructure impacts. This tool comprises 1) screening level metrics to characterize NPL sites
and community vulnerabilities, and 2) community scale information on distribution of
contaminants during flood events under multiple climate scenarios for the most vulnerable sites.
This flexible framework can be readily adopted to assess contaminated sites and community
vulnerabilities to climate, flood, and other natural hazards. The screening level assessment uses
GIS analysis to quantify metrics in three categories: flood, sediment, and environmental justice.
Metrics are then integrated into a community resilience planning tool with the option to weight
the metrics based on user priority needs. This tool provides managers and communities a means
to prepare for future extreme events and informs sites and communities most vulnerable for
further community scale assessment. A clear SOP for use, communications and training plan will
ensure the tool is implemented and utilized fully in the region.

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