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Remediation Management of Complex Sites

About this Website
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
1 Introduction Overview
1.1 What is a Complex Site?
1.2 Significance of Complex Sites
1.3 Site Objectives and Interim Objectives
1.4 Remediation and a Reasonable Remediation Time Frame
1.5 What is Adaptive Site Management?
1.6 Notable Previous Guidance for Complex Sites
2 Site Challenges
2 Site Challenges Overview
2.1 Technical Challenges
2.2 Nontechnical Challenges
2.3 Developing a CSM Based on Site Characteristics
3 Remediation Potential Assessment
3 Remediation Potential Assessment Overview
3.1 Whole Site versus Site Segment Analysis
3.2 Preremedy Implementation
3.3 Answering Preremedy Questions
3.4 Weighing the Evidence
3.5 Postremedy Implementation
4 Adaptive Site Management
4 Adaptive Site Management Overview
4.1 Steps in the Adaptive Site Management Process
4.2 Refine the Conceptual Site Model
4.3 Set or Revisit Site Objectives
4.4 Develop Interim Objectives and an Adaptive Remedial Strategy
4.5 Document Interim Objectives and the Remedial Approach
5 Long-Term Management
5 Long-Term Management Overview
5.1 Remedy Components
5.2 Basis for Predicting Performance and Decision Criteria
5.3 Periodic Evaluations
5.4 Decision Logic for Adaptive Site Management
5.5 Completion Strategy
5.6 Project Risks and Uncertainty
6 Case Studies (Part One)
6 Case Studies Overview
6.1 Koppers Oroville Wood Treatment Facility, California
6.2 Moffett-MEW Regional Plume, California
6.3 Rocky Flats Solar Ponds Plume, Colorado
6.4 Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Colorado
6.5 Naval Air Station Jacksonville OU 03, Florida
6.6 DOE Test Area North, INEEL, Idaho
6.7 Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, Illinois
6.8 Tri-State Mining District (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri)
6 Case Studies (Part Two)
6.9 Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) Groundwater, Kentucky
6.10 Velsicol Chemical, Michigan
6.11 Onondaga Lake, New York
6.12 Former UGI Columbia Manufactured Gas Plant, Columbia, Pennsylvania
6.13 Savannah River Site (SRS) F-Area Seepage Basins Groundwater, South Carolina
6.14 Former Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, McGregor, Texas
6.15 Hanford 200 Area ZP-1 OU, Washington
6.16 Industrial Site, Australia
7. Stakeholder Perspectives
Additional Information
Appendix A. Survey Results
Appendix B. Summary of Tools For Site Characterization
References
Acronyms
Glossary
Acknowledgments
Team Members and Contact Information
Document Feedback

 

Remediation Management of Complex Sites
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At some complex sites, site-specific conditions make it difficult to fully remediate environmental contamination. Both technical and nontechnical challenges can impede remediation and may prevent a site from achieving federal- and state-mandated regulatory cleanup goals within a reasonable time frame. For example, technical challenges may include geologic, hydrogeologic, geochemical, and contaminant-related conditions as well as large-scale or surface conditions. In addition, nontechnical challenges may also play a role such as managing changes that occur over long time frames, overlapping regulatory and financial responsibilities between agencies, setting achievable site objectives, maintaining effective institutional controls, redevelopment and changes in land use, and funding considerations.

This ITRC guidance, Remediation Management of Complex Sites, provides a recommended, holistic process for managing complex sites, termed “adaptive site management”. This process is comprehensive, flexible, and iterative; it is well suited for sites where there is significant uncertainty in remedy performance predictions. Adaptive site management includes setting short-term interim objectives and long-term site objectives that reflect both technical and nontechnical challenges. The remedial approach may involve multiple technologies at any one time and changes in technologies over time. Comprehensive planning and scheduled evaluations of remedy performance help decision makers track remedy progress and adjust the remedy, if needed, to stay on track to achieving short-term interim objectives. Long-term planning can also improve the timeliness of remedy optimization, reevaluations, or transitions to other technologies or contingency actions.

This ITRC guidance document describes the following practical steps to manage the remediation process at complex sites:

  • Identify and integrate technical and nontechnical challenges into a holistic approach to remediation.
  • Use the Remediation Potential Assessment to identify whether adaptive site management is warranted due to site complexity.
  • Understand and apply adaptive site management principles.
  • Develop a performance-based long-term management plan.
  • Apply well-demonstrated techniques for effective stakeholder engagement.
  • Access additional resources, tools, and case studies most relevant for complex sites.
  • Communicate the value of the guidance to regulators, practitioners, community members, and others.

Ultimately, using this guidance can lead to better decision making and remediation management at complex sites. The guidance is intended to benefit a variety of site decision makers, including regulators, responsible parties and their consultants, and public and tribal stakeholders. Case studies describe real-world applications of remediation and remediation management at complex sites.

 

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Published by the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, October 2017

Permission is granted to refer to or quote from this publication with the customary acknowledgment of the source. The suggested citation for this document is as follows:

ITRC (Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council). 2017. Remediation Management of Complex Sites. RMCS-1. Washington, D.C.: Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, Remediation Management of Complex Sites Team. https://rmcs-1.itrcweb.org.

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