For this research project, the ASTSWMO Site Assessment Focus Group (FG) explored how States approached the challenges they face with Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). The FG collected data from State staff to report what strategies were successful, and what barriers hindered assessment and progress in addressing CECs.
Site Assessment Focus Group
2021 Site Assessment Focus Group GIS Paper
The ASTSWMO Site Assessment Focus Group created and distributed a GIS Research Toolbox questionnaire to all States with the goal to determine their use of GIS in their Site Assessment Program processes, and, for ASTSWMO to share the questionnaire’s key findings and provide improvement recommendations.
Site Assessment Focus Group Toolbox
The ASTSWMO Site Assessment Focus Group have published a report that provides additional follow-up to the August 2017 publication, On Time and Under Budget, Superfund Site Assessment Program Analysis, States’ Perspective, and includes a discussion of the variations identified for these tasks; including Pre-CERCLA Screening with sampling, Preliminary Assessment with sampling, combined Preliminary Assessment and Site Inspection, and Abbreviated Preliminary Assessment.
National Priorities List (NPL) Designation report
ASTSWMO’s Site Assessment Focus Group developed a National Priorities List (NPL) Designation report, which presents results from a research project analyzing States’ views regarding whether additional NPL top-priority designations would be beneficial, and information about unsuccessful site listings.
Site Assessment Program Analysis
ASTSWMO’s Site Assessment Focus Group facilitated the collection of nationally representative data about States’ use of, and recommendations for, the Site Assessment Program tools. Based on information obtained from States regarding the Site Assessment process, the Focus Group developed this report to present key findings.
Analysis of Superfund Site Assessment Program Cooperative Agreements with States: Benefits of Flexibility During Pre CERCLA Screening
In Benefits of Flexibility During Pre CERCLA Screening, this project relies upon feedback from States, EPA OSRTI data and case studies to examine the States’ use of Pre-CERCLA Screening Assessments and how they can be applied most effectively. This report focuses on the PCS process and the beneficial outcomes obtained by States through use of the PCS tool. This report furthers the work of the May 2014 research findings by focusing on States’ use of the PCS process. The goals of this report are to:
- Obtain additional information about States’ use of PCSs and whether additional flexibility in use of federal funds during the PCS process would be beneficial;
- Report on number of PCSs performed and their outcomes; and
- Provide recommendations about the PCS process with supportive, illustrative case studies.
Analysis of Superfund Site Assessment Program Cooperative Agreements with States: Benefits of Effective State and Federal Partnerships
In this Analysis of Site Assessment Program Cooperative Agreements with States report, the Focus Group is following up on the findings of the Superfund Site Assessment Program: Benefits Beyond NLP Listing reports. The previous reports collected and reported the numbers of non-NPL outcomes on a national scale, however, their scope did not include investigating how these beneficial outcomes occur. The goals of this report include showing how States leverage CERCLA Site Assessment work products to achieve cleanup outcomes, both NPL and non-NPL. Additional goals included gathering and analyzing information on how States:
- Use their Site Assessment Cooperative Agreement funding;
- Employ efficiencies and best practices to improve the Site Assessment program; and
- Track non-NPL beneficial outcomes of sites evaluated with their Site Assessment Cooperative Agreement funding.
This Analysis paper reports on the Focus Group’s research methods and shows how States use Site Assessment work products to achieve both NPL and non-NPL cleanup outcomes, multiplying the benefits of the Site Assessment Program. The report also describes: trends in the Site Assessment Program; State’s recommendations for improving the Site Assessment Program; availability of State programs to address NPL-caliber sites; and tracking non-NPL outcomes.
Phase II Report
The Association’s Site Evaluation Focus Group developed this Phase 2 report to highlight the beneficial outcomes not traditionally captured (e.g., State site cleanups that result from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Site Assessment Program, commonly known as the Superfund Site Assessment (SA) Program). This report shows that funds spent on Superfund site assessments result in benefits that go beyond National Priorities List (NPL) listing and that the overall success of the Superfund program should not be measured solely by the number of NPL listings or cleanups.
Superfund Site Assessment Program: Benefits Beyond NPL Listing
The Association’s Site Evaluation Focus Group developed this report to highlight the beneficial outcomes not traditionally captured, e.g., State site cleanups that result from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Site Assessment Program, commonly known as the Superfund Site Assessment (SA) Program. This report shows that funds spent on Superfund site assessments result in benefits that go beyond National Priorities List (NPL) listing and that the overall success of the Superfund program should not be measured solely by the number of NPL listings or cleanups.