1 EPA’s Ground Water Task Force: Presentation of Two Option Papers Available for Public Input : EPA’s Ground Water Task Force: Presentation of Two Option Papers Available for Public Input : - Cleanup Goals Appropriate for DNAPL Source Zones, and - Ground Water Use Value and Vulnerability as Factors in Setting Cleanup Goals Speakers: Ken Lovelace, P.E., EPA HQ Guy Tomassoni, EPA HQ Internet Seminar Sponsored by EPA’s Office of Site Remediation and Technology Innovation and Office of Solid Waste

2 Seminar Objectives Background on EPA Ground Water Task Force (GWTF) Summary of Two Option Papers u Background u Problem Statements u Potential Solutions Opportunity for Q&A, and Discussion

3 One Cleanup Program Initiative  GWTF is part of the OSWER “One Cleanup Program” Initiative (OCP).  Three task forces identified under OCP: u Ground water u Site assessment u Long-term stewardship  See OCP web site u Refer to “Links to Additional Resources”

4 Purpose of GWTF è Coordinate across EPA programs on technical and policy issues related to cleanup of ground water. è Identify and prioritize issues of concern that will benefit multiple cleanup programs. è For priority issues, make recommendations to EPA senior managers.

5 GWTF Participation è EPA cleanup programs, HQ offices: u Superfund, RCRA, UST, Federal Facilities, Brownfields. è Other EPA programs, HQ offices: u ORD, OW, OECA, OAR, OPPTS. è EPA Regions: u Lead Region for Superfund, Lead Region for RCRA, and EPA GW Forum. è State reps: u Georgia, New York, Nebraska.

6 GWTF Options Papers è “Options papers” are intended to: u Present a priority issue, u Capture multiple points of view, u List possible solutions, u Focus GWTF discussion, and u Request and focus stakeholder input.

7 GWTF Options Papers - 2 è Two papers completed: u “Cleanup Goals Appropriate for DNAPL Source Zones,” and u “Ground Water Use, Value and Vulnerability as Factors in Setting Cleanup Goals.”

8 GWTF Options Papers - 3 è Format for each paper: u Introduction u Background on issue (technical & policy) u Problem statements u Options with advantages and disadvantages u References

9 GWTF Outreach Strategy è Options papers available on GWTF web site u See “Links to Additional Resources.” è Notify “stakeholders” of options papers and outreach meetings, via . è Stakeholder meetings and conference calls: Summer of è Outreach at national meetings, where possible.

10 GWTF Outreach Strategy - 2 è Stakeholders include: u Federal regulatory officials, u State regulatory officials, u Regulated community, u Environmental groups, u Public interest groups, u Other groups (?).

11 GWTF - Next Steps è Stakeholder input: u Complete meetings and conference calls. u Compile comments received. è Recommendations to EPA senior managers: u Develop draft recommendations. u Review by EPA programs. u Finalize recommendations. u Brief senior EPA managers.

12 Summary: DNAPL Options Paper Title: “Cleanup Goals Appropriate for DNAPL Source Zones.”

13 DNAPL Paper è Introduction: u Background on GWTF. u Background and purpose of paper. u Where to sent comments:

14 DNAPL Paper è Issue background: u DNAPLs as a source of contamination: F Define “DNAPL source zone.” F Difficulties posed by DNAPLs. u EPA cleanup goals: F Restoration of plume to MCLs is typical goal. F When is this not the goal? u Cleanup technologies: F Containment, extraction, or in situ treatment methods could be applied to source zone.

15 EPA Panel Report on DNAPLs  Title: “The DNAPL Remediation Challenge: Is There A Case For Source Depletion?”  Panel of experts:  Selected in Summer 2001 by EPA’s research laboratory in Ada, OK.  Internationally recognized authorities on DNAPL remediation.  Includes experts from industry, university research, and consulting communities.  Report dated Dec  Available from “Links to Additional Resources.”

16 DNAPL Paper è Issue Background - 2: benefits u Potential benefits of DNAPL mass reduction (2003 EPA panel report): F Reduce DNAPL mobility, F Reduce mass flux from source zone, F Increase reliability of long-term containment, F Reduce time of remediation, F Reduce life-cycle costs, F Minimize costs of long-term site management, F Enhance efficiency of complimentary technologies used for groundwater remediation, F Reduce environmental risks.

17 DNAPL Paper è Issue Background - 3: mpacts u Potential impacts of DNAPL mass reduction (2003 EPA panel report): F Expansion of the DNAPL source zone due to mobilization of residual DNAPL, F Undesirable changes in the DNAPL distribution, F Undesirable changes in the physical, geochemical and microbial conditions, F Adverse impacts on subsequent remediation technologies, F Increase life-cycle costs of site cleanup F Increase life-cycle costs of site cleanup.

18 DNAPL Paper è Issue Background - 4 : u Need for Alternative Cleanup Goals. Two expert panel reports cited: F 1994 NRC Report: “Alternatives for Ground Water Cleanup.” F 2003 EPA Panel Report. F See “Links to Additional Resources.”

19 DNAPL Paper è Problem statements - examples: u Site owners say: u Site owners say: Cleanup to MCLs not a realistic goal for DNAPL zones, yet alternative goals are rarely used. (# 1) u Site managers say: u Site managers say: Alternative goals often can’t be applied because DNAPL zone has not been distinguished from overall plume. (#3) u Site managers say: u Site managers say: Alternative goals have uncertain reliability and long-term costs. (# 4) u Site owners say: u Site owners say: Potential benefits of DNAPL mass removal outweighed by disadvantages. (# 6)

20 DNAPL Paper  Current or planned projects - examples: u Review existing data from sites to assess the performance of DNAPL source depletion efforts. u Develop and validate technologies for measurement of mass flux. u Continue research and demonstration projects to develop, test, and validate the most promising technologies.

21 DNAPL Paper è Potential options - examples: u EPA fact sheet describing program flexibilities and alternative cleanup goals that may be applied to the DNAPL source zone. (# 2) u Supplemental EPA guidance on technical impracticability (TI) which clarifies questions related to use of a TI waiver. (# 3) u EPA guidance providing a qualitative approach for determining when source depletion technologies should or should not be implemented. (# 6)

22 For additional information or questions concerning the DNAPL Paper, please call or Ken Lovelace

23 Summary: Ground Water Use Paper Title: “Ground Water Use, Value and Vulnerability as Factors in Setting Cleanup Goals”

24 Paper Outline è Introduction u Background on GWTF u Including overview of ground water UVV è Background u Overview of key policies u Examples of Federal and State approaches è Problem Statements è Options u With advantages and disadvantages

25 Introduction: Ground Water Use  Current and reasonably expected uses/functions  Examples  Drinking water  Ecological  Agricultural,  Industrial/commercial, and  Recreational

26 Introduction: Ground Water Value  Value for current use  Depends on current need  Also considers costs associated with impacts to other media  Value for future use  Corresponds to anticipated future needs  Intrinsic value  Distinct from economic value  Corresponds to knowledge that clean ground water exists and is available for future generations

27 Introduction: Ground Water Vulnerability  Relative ease in which contamination can impact ground water quality/quantity  Depends on variety of factors  Hydrogeology  Contaminant properties  Size/Volume of release  Location of contaminant sources  Shallow more vulnerable than deep  Private wells more vulnerable than public

28 Background è EPA’s “Strategy for the 1990s” (7/91): u Overall Goal: Prevent adverse effects to humans and environment, and protect the environmental integrity of nation’s ground water resources u Prioritize remediation activities: F Limit risks to humans first and then F Restore currently used and reasonably expected sources of drinking water and ground water closely hydraulically connected to surface waters, whenever such restorations are practicable and attainable.

29 Background è Examples of Ground Water UVV considerations u EPA Comprehensive State Ground Water Protection Programs (CSGWPPs) u Source Water Assessment Programs u Formal State classification systems u Non-degradation policies u Classification variations u Urban use designations u Ground water management zones

30 Problem Statements è Lack of awareness of ground water UVV, impacts to public health, environmental quality u Including ground water interconnectivity è Increasing reliance on exposure controls rather than cleanup è Lack of agreement on determining ground water use u And influence on cleanup decisions è Lack of clear prioritization to maximize benefits

31 Potential Options è Education è Assess Impacts on other developed nations è Summaries/links to EPA and State approaches è Policy on how EPA cleanup programs acknowledge State approaches è Develop prioritization framework to influence cleanup decisions/timing è Source Water Assessments to promote greater consistency in ground water protection/cleanup è Regular meetings within States or Watersheds to improve consistency and coordination

32 For additional information or questions concerning the Ground Water Use paper, please call or Guy Tomassoni

33 Links to additional resources