Date and Time:

Thursday, May 27, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Environmental Justice Resources and Tools for RPMs Information Session:  Representatives from EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice will participate in a panel with RPMs to discuss the available tools and resources available to community stakeholders and how to more actively engage disadvantaged and at risk populations effectively in all aspects of decision-making process.

Date and Time:

Tuesday, May 25, 10:45 am to 12:30 pm

Working Together:  Getting the Best Results through Partnerships (Everybody Wins!):  Where do you go for cutting-edge science to inform your decisions?  Many valuable resources are available, and it is important to take advantage of the expertise both within EPA and from federally-funded research programs such as the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP).  This session is designed to explore some of the available resources.

The session is an interactive forum that provides examples of the development, evolution, and outcomes of successful partnerships between SRP-funded researchers and EPA and state agencies.  After three presentations, a facilitated dialogue takes place to identify ways to improve interactions among RPMs, the SRP, and EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD). 

• Beth Anderson, SRP Program Analyst, NIEHS, describes the SRP – its history, structure, and goals – to provide context for the discussion of the opportunities to create partnerships that could benefit both RPMs and SRP-funded researchers.
• Steve Chillrud discusses a collaboration between Columbia University’s SRP and an EPA Region 2 RPM at the Vineland Chemical Superfund Site, an arsenic mega-site in southern New Jersey.  Dr. Chillrud's laboratory and field pilot work suggest that the timeframe required for the current aquifer pump- and-treat clean-up strategy could be decreased substantially by introducing oxalic acid to the aquifer.  As Dr. Chillrud and his colleagues plan to scale up the project, they look forward to working closely with EPA colleagues to determine the most effective strategy.
• Kathleen Gray, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SRP, discusses work conducting a space/time analysis of water contamination in private drinking wells in North Carolina and Lessons Learned in working with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).  The UNC SRP is assisting the agency in identifying and tracking well water contamination trends and communicating the results to local governments in potentially impacted communities.

Ron Landy, EPA ORD, and Meredith Golden, Columbia University, then join the presenters to participate in a facilitated dialogue with attendees to consider strategies to create collaborations that benefit both RPMs and the research community.  RPMs are provided the opportunity to react to the example partnerships, provide feedback on the types of tools and resources presented in the examples, and to identify the types of support that they need at their sites.

Date and Time:

Thursday, May 27, 10:45 am to 12:30 pm

Containment Remedies and Life Cycle Costs Panel Session presents and discusses the life cycle cost analysis as a tool in comparing remedial action alternatives, with an emphasis on decisions involving containment strategies.  Although the basic concepts and mechanics of calculating life cycle costs are straightforward, misuse of this technique in cleanup projects can lead to inappropriate or inadequate cleanup approaches, especially when comparing containment remedies to treatment or other options.  For example, a cleanup using alternative A may appear less costly in the short term, than alternative B; however, when all costs over a period of a number of years are considered, another alternative may provide the same protectiveness at less cost or improved protectiveness at the same cost.

To ensure appropriate use of this technique, this panel presents:

• An overview of the principles and application of present value analysis as applied to remediation projects
• Several potential pitfalls that can lead to inappropriate decisions
• The latest federal government guidance on life cycle cost analysis
• Remediation case studies involving containment and other remediation approaches.

Thorough application of appropriate cost analysis techniques can ensure that whenever a site is left in a condition that does not allow for unlimited use or unrestricted exposure, all potential future costs, both direct and indirect, should be considered.  Generally, such sites tend to require operation and maintenance (O&M), monitoring, reporting, potential additional construction, and/or related activities for as long as the site is kept from unlimited uses or unrestricted exposure.

Date and Time:

Tuesday, May 25, 10:45 am to 12:30 pm

Discussion of New Institutional Control Measures, Policies, Enforcement Tools, Guidance and Best Practices:  During this 1 hour and 45 minute session, the panelists provide information on the new policies, measures, guidance, enforcement tools and best practices involving institutional controls (IC) at Superfund sites.  Time is set aside to answer attendees’ questions about ICs including “parking lot” questions from the IC panel on Real World Applications of Institutional Controls at Superfund Sites.

The purpose of the presentations is to highlight new IC developments and to continue a dialogue about current challenges in implementing, monitoring, enforcing, and tracking ICs.  The target audience includes RPMs, CICs, and attorneys working on sites where ICs are required to ensure long-term protectiveness.

Date and Time:

Thursday, May 27, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Five-Year Review Best Management Practices is a 1 hour and 30 minute panel discussion that focuses on EPA headquarters five-year review document review findings, guidance activities underway, and examples of best management practices in the regions.  By attending the panel discussion, participants learn:

• Results of headquarter document review in 2009 including common inconsistencies and fiscal year 2010 areas of focus.
• Five-year review guidance supplements and directives under development.
• Regional best management practices for the review and tracking of five-year review issues and recommendations.
• Regional perspective on the level of effort required to effectively perform a title search to evaluate effectiveness of existing institutional controls.

Panel members share EPA Headquarters’ findings from document reviews and regional experiences and best practices for improving the five-year review process.  Once the presentations are completed, time is provided for a question and answer session.  The target audience for this panel discussion is all RPMs. 

Date and Time:

Tuesday, May 25, 9:00 am to 10:30 am

Real World Applications of Institutional Controls at Superfund Sites:  During this 1 hour and 30 minute session, five 15 minute case studies showcase application of institutional controls (IC) at Superfund sites.  The case studies are presented by both EPA and local government project managers followed by a 15 minute question and answer session.  The purpose of the presentations is to present information on the types of ICs that have been implemented at Superfund sites, including federal facilities, and the challenges Project Managers face when implementing ICs.  The implementation of ICs is crucial to ensuring the protection of a remedy once a cleanup is complete but there are many challenges to getting ICs in place and ensuring they are implemented following a cleanup.  

The target audience for this case study session is RPMs working on cleanup sites that require the need for ICs.

Date and Time:

Thursday, May 27, 9:00 am to 10:30 am

Chemical Oxidation, a panel session, focuses on specific In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) issues.  Presentations include:

• A case study is presented that addresses the challenges faced at a remediation site where sodium-persulfate was used as the chemical oxidant.  In addition, other presentations focus on surfactant-enhanced ISCO (S-ISCO) project at a manufactured gas plant (MGP) site along with the results from a pilot project using “Wavefront Pressure Pulse Technology” and S-ISCO.
• A critical analysis is presented about ground water samples collected at ISCO sites which also may contain oxidant.  Information is provided that describes how this set of conditions occur, the potential impact on quality of the ground water sample, methods and procedures to eliminate or neutralize the oxidant from the ground water sample, and possible effects on analytical instrumentation. Recommendations and guidelines are presented.

The instructional methodology for this course includes case studies, lecture, audience participation/discussion. The target audience for this course is all RPMs.

Date and Time:

Tuesday, May 25, 9:00 am to 10:30 am

Mining Panel is a 1 hour and 30 minute panel discussion that focuses on various aspects of management of contaminated waters from Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) and recovery of metals for reuse at mining sites.  The session includes an update on recent regulatory and policy changes related to mining sites.  By attending the panel discussion, participants learn:

• The various technical approaches for active and passive treatment of ARD waters drawing from examples in the Coeur d'Alene Basin, Idaho, one of the largest Superfund sites in the U.S.
• About current technology for recovery of metals for reuse from ARD waters and an upcoming project in EPA Region 8
• How energy recovery is being applied at mining sites
• The most recent regulatory and policy changes related to mining sites

The instructional methodology for this course includes lecture and case studies.  The target audience for this panel discussion is all RPMs that are responsible for water treatment and particularly those with mining sites. 

Date and Time:

Tuesday, May 25, 10:45 am to 12:30 pm

Superfund Radiation Policy and Case Studies Panel Session:  Within the Superfund remediation framework, radioactive contamination is addressed the same way as chemical contamination, except to account for technical differences.  EPA's Superfund approach for addressing radionuclides differs from the approach used by other federal agencies under the Atomic Energy Act (such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or the U.S. Department of Energy).  This 1 hour and 45 minute panel session begins with a current overview of Superfund policy with respect to radionuclides, including cleanup standards, identification of ARARs, and risk assessment.  This overview is followed by case studies that represent a variety of sites types where radionuclides are contaminants of concern.

The target audience for this panel session is RPMs working on or interested in sites with radioactive contamination.

Date and Time:

Thursday, May 27, 10:45 am to 12:30 pm

Cutting Edge Technologies: This one-hour and 45 minute panel session will feature three presentations that focus on technical transfer of innovative technologies being demonstrated and validated in the Air Force Center for Engineering & the Environment (AFCEE) broad area announcement (BAA) program. By participating in this panel, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Discuss the AFCEE BAA program for identifying more technically advanced, efficient, effective, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective technology solutions for environmental cleanup.  The session will orient and guide participants through procedural requirements along with recently funded innovative projects that should aid the Air Force goal in reaching Remedy-In-Place (RIP) by 2012 and/or optimizing current remediation or monitoring system already in place.
• Discuss the design, installation, and demonstration of biowalls and in situ bioreactor to remediate chlorinated solvents. These remedies use solid substrates such as gravel, iron sand, gypsum, tree mulch/other plant waste material, and vegetable oil to create an in situ anaerobic environment that can stimulate both abiotic and biotic degradation of chlorinated solvents. This session will explain the complexity of this innovative and greener technology with real-life examples.
• Discuss current Air Force remedies for efficient and effective remediation to meet cleanup goals.  The Air Force has installed many systems and continues to evaluate the effectiveness of the current systems and uses techniques including BAA projects to select vetted remedies. One particular BAA will be used as a case study about pump and treatment and how we can optimize our treatment strategies.

The instructional methodology for this course includes lecture, discussion, and case studies.  The target audience for this session is RPMs with all experience levels.

Date and Time:

Tuesday, May 25, 9:00 am to 10:30 am

Federal Facilities, a 1 hour and 30 minute panel session, provides an update on current initiatives and national issues that affect federal facility sites.  The session focuses on updates related to program and enforcement issues.  The session is divided into three parts:

• Part one features John Reeder, Director of the Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO).  Mr. Reeder provides headquarter perspective on national issues such as munitions, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Environmental Restoration Program manual, ground water, institutional controls, and other issues.
• Part two features Dave Kling, Director of the Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO).  Mr. Kling provides an update on enforcement issues and guidance on stipulated penalties.
• Part three is reserved for a question and answer period from attendees about issues related to their site cleanup.  This allows the attendees an opportunity to raise their concerns about the federal facility program and identify issues that are occurring nationally.

The target audience for this panel session is RPMs working at federal facility sites.

Date and Time:

Tuesday, May 25, 10:45 am to 12:30 pm

RPMs and the Future of Superfund Information Technology:  The Superfund Enterprise Management Systems (SEMS) is the future information management system currently under development by EPA’s Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Information (OSRTI).  The Superfund Information Management Work Group (SIMWG) facilitates requirements gathering and stakeholder involvement and plays a valuable role in communication, problem-solving, and assists with course management.  SEMS brings together some of the various Superfund information and data collection systems, particularly CERCLIS and Superfund Documents Management System (SDMS), into a more integrated, efficient, and accessible web-based format.

The goal is to streamline the Superfund data entry and information gathering process by reducing time spent in SEMS; making SEMS more accessible, understandable, and functional to RPMs and other users; and ensuring that the data and information entered into SEMS is accurate, pertinent, and not duplicative.

This panel session is a follow up to the 2009 NARPM presentation and presents a series of new discussions on key topics, related to the further development of this ongoing Superfund information management process and how this process relates to complex Superfund issues nationwide.  The panelists provide the following:

• An overview on the progress made by SIMWG on facilitating SEMS development with an overview of next steps, focusing on how to make existing data and information gathering more relevant to the RPM
• This session, as part of SEMS development, provides an overview of one full business process development cycle and includes draft screens
• The design of SEMS and the identification of SEMS requirements provide an opportunity to explore and recommend additional planning and project management tools that would be useful to regional managers and RPMs.  Discussion time is provided to determine if a project planning and project management tool can be applied to the SEMS process

This panel is ongoing to continue its mission to make the management of Superfund information more viable for RPMs in order to monitor efficiently regional Superfund site data and documents, in conjunction with EPA headquarter reporting requirements.