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Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org
Building Resilience at Superfund Sites
Anne Dailey Office of Superfund Remediation and
Technology Innovation
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 2
Topics u Background u Integration throughout
the Superfund Process
u Project Manager’s Role u Key Points
Image credit: U.S. Global Change Research Program (www.globalchange.gov).
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 3
Climate Impacts Potential climate impacts considered in OLEM (formerly OSWER) Plan, agreed upon by climate experts and included in EPA’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan, are:
Increased extreme temperatures
Sustained changes in average
temperature
Sea level rise
Decreased permafrost in Arctic
regions
Decreased precipitation days, increasing drought
intensity
Increased heavy precipitation events
Increased flood risk Increased frequency and
intensity of wildfires
Increased intensity of hurricanes
Image credit: U.S. Global Change Research Program (www.globalchange.gov)
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 4
The Good News!
The existing Superfund process for planning and implementing contaminated site cleanups provides structure to: • Consider potential climate impacts and • take action, as warranted, to increase remedy
resilience.
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 5
Climate Adaptation Management
From EPA, 2014. Climate Change Adaptation Technical Fact Sheet.
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 6
Evaluate System Vulnerabilities
u Identify climate change hazards of concern
u Characterize the remedy’s exposure
u Characterize the remedy’s sensitivity
u Consider factors that may exacerbate exposure and sensitivity of remedy
Hazard: Remedy is located in a
low-lying area
Vulnerabilities: - Physical damage - Water damage - Power interruption - Reduced access
Exposure: Within100 year
floodplain
Other factors: Storm surge Subsidence RISK
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 7
Implement prioritized adaptation measures
u Identify current and projected impacts
u Assess risks
u Identify and prioritize adaptation measures
u Identify feasible first steps
u Build team, leadership, partner and community support
u Implement priority adaptation measures
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 8
Monitor and Periodically Re-evaluate
u Track progress and status of response actions u Continue monitoring changes in climate and
impacts
u Review assumptions and new information
u Update and revise as needed
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 9
Superfund Project Manager’s Role
u Understand potential climate impact issues near the site
u Check to see if there are new requirements/resources
§ EO 13690 – Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (2015)
u Understand potential vulnerabilities
§ Existing or planned remediation systems
u Implement adaptation/mitigation measures
§ More options during earlier stages of cleanup
u Monitor and update as needed
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 10
Climate Impact Considerations: Superfund Remedial Process
u Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study § Nature and extent of contamination § Human and ecological risks § Develop and screen remedial
alternatives u Remedy selection u Remedy design u Remedial action u Post Construction
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 11
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study u Consider climate impacts when:
§ Assessing the nature and extent of the contamination and associated risk
§ Developing and updating conceptual site model § Evaluating remedial alternatives, developing remedial design
and considering long-term stewardship
u Use best available data and models
u Confer with local/regional experts § For example, nearby port authority
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 12
RI/FS Remedy Decisions
u Nine criteria evaluation § Protective of human health and environment § Long-term effectiveness and permanence § Reduction of toxicity, mobility or volume through
treatment § Short-term effectiveness § Implementability
u Incorporate consideration of: § Exposure to climate change impacts § Remedy vulnerabilities § Adaptation measures
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 13
Remedy Selection
u Use best available guidance, data and other resources
u Consider climate impacts as part of remedy
alternative evaluation and selection u Incorporate consideration of:
§ Exposure to potential climate change impacts § Remedy vulnerabilities § Adaptation and mitigation measures
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 14
Remedial Design/Remedial Action
u Consider site vulnerabilities and adaptation measures u Consider:
§ Below ground components § At and above ground components § Site operations and infrastructure
u Incorporate in design and implementation
§ For example, elevate electrical panels, armor containment, etc.
u Consider long-term stewardship
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 15
Post Construction u Operation and maintenance (may be oversight role)
§ Monitor remedy for climate change related vulnerabilities § Emergency operations and response plans § Record management
u Five-Year Reviews § Evaluate remedy implementation/performance to determine
protectiveness • Is the remedy functioning as intended? • Are the assumptions, data and cleanup levels still valid? • Is there new information that could call into question
protectiveness of the remedy? § If issues, may need updated O&M Plan or remedy decision § **NEW -- See 2016 Recommended FYR Template
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 16
Resources
u EPA Main Climate Change Webpage: https://www.epa.gov/CLIMATECHANGE
u EPA Superfund Climate Change Webpage:
https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-climate-change-adaptation
u EPA HQ Superfund Climate Change Contacts: § Anne Dailey, [email protected]; 703-347-0373 § Carlos Pachon, [email protected]; 703-603- 9904 § Marc Thomas, [email protected]; 202-566-0791
u Regional Climate Change Contact
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 17
To access Google “Superfund climate”
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 18
Building Resilience into Superfund Remedies – 4/4/17 – Clu-in.org 19
Key Points
u Priority to ensure Superfund remedies are resilient and continue to be protective of human health and the environment in the long-term
u Existing Superfund process provides structure to consider climate change vulnerability and adaptation
u Earlier the better
u Luck favors the prepared
u Check available resources
