1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 THE SUPERFUND PROCESS Assessment and Listing
Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection
EPA evaluates the potential or actual risk posed by hazardous waste from a site to determine whether designating it as a Superfund site (in other words, placing it on the NPL) is warranted. EPA conducts sampling and reviews historical information.
Assessment and Listing 2
Placement on the National Priorities List (NPL)
The NPL is primarily an information resource that identifies sites that warrant cleanup by EPA. With agreement from the state, EPA proposes the site to be added to the NPL by publishing in the Federal Register. After an official public comment period and further review, EPA then makes the decision whether or not to add
the site to the NPL.
Community involvement and planning for a site’s future reuse are integral parts of the entire process. 3
Remedial Investigation
EPA determines the nature & extent of site contamination and evaluates the risks to human health and the environment.
Characteriza- tion 4
Feasibility Study
EPA explores, compares and evaluates potential
cleanup options for the site. 5
Proposed Plan
EPA prepares a public document detailing the potential cleanup alternatives for the site, including EPA’s preferred remedy. EPA holds an official public
comment period.
Decision 6
Record of Decision (ROD)
EPA publishes a document that explains the selected cleanup alternative and responds to public com-
ments from the Proposed Plan. 7
Remedial Design
EPA designs the technical cleanup plan and engi- neering drawings to be used at the site.
Cleanup 8
Remedial Action
EPA constructs the cleanup technologies at the site as necessary and implements the actual cleanup action. 9
Maintenance and Monitoring
EPA ensures the remedy provides long-term protection of human health and the environment through monitoring and maintenance. Every 5 years until the site is deleted from the NPL, EPA will prepare a Five Year Review report on these
topics to be shared with the public.
Post Cleanup