EPA policy for ground-water remediation and accelerated cleanup of Superfund sites

Conference · · Ground Water; (United States)

OSTI ID:6064748

Lovelace, Jr, K A ^[1]

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1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States). Hazardous Site Control Div.

EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) updated its ground-water remediation policy in 1992 to address special problems posed by nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) contaminants. In addition, the Agency has begun efforts to streamline cleanup of Superfund sites using a comprehensive site response strategy known as the Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model. The updated ground-water policy recommends that the likelihood of NAPL contamination, especially dense NAPLs (DNAPLs), be evaluated as early as possible during site investigations. Where NAPLs are likely, further characterization of the potential location, nature, and extent of such contamination is recommended in order to determine appropriate remedial actions. Early response actions are recommended to contain the dissolved contaminant plume and to remove free-product NAPLs. Early actions should be coordinated with later actions in a phased remedial approach. The policy also recommends that ground-water cleanup actions be designed to include careful monitoring and provisions for modifying the actions over time to improve their effectiveness. For Superfund sites where it can be demonstrated that achieving cleanup standards is technically impracticable, EPA has the option of determining alternative remedial objectives that protect human health and the environment and are appropriate for site conditions.

• OSTI ID: 6064748
• Report Number(s): CONF-9310166--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Ground Water; (United States) Journal Volume: 31:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
CLEANING
DECONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LAWS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION LAWS
REMEDIAL ACTION
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
US SUPERFUND
WATER