2023
Human Health Risk Assessment Screening Tool for Atypical Risk Exposure Scenarios (9/11/2023) - The Investigation and Remedy Selection Focus Group developed this assessment screening tool with the intention of helping regulators review risk assessments that do not fit typical residential or commercial/industrial scenarios. These atypical situations, selected with States feedback, include exposures from… ... Read More
2023 Site Assessment and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (9/11/2023) - 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… ... Read More
ASTSWMO Position Paper on Increased 128(a) Funding (5/11/2023) - The ASTSWMO Board of Directors, in April 2023, approved the Position Paper supporting a permanent increase in the standard 128(a) Congressional appropriation. The paper acknowledges that the permanent increase of funding will ensure that State brownfields programs are able to… ... Read More
Technical Assistance Resources to Support the Reuse of Brownfield Sites (1/3/2023) - The Brownfields Focus Group located in the CERCLA and Brownfields Subcommittee (CaBS) has produced a technical assistance resource document for the reuse of Brownfield sites. This document provides an overview of available technical assistance opportunities including a description of each… ... Read More
2022
2022 CERCLA & Brownfields Symposium Presentations (8/26/2022) - Presentations Opening Remarks Effective Risk Communication Strategies Removals, Emergency Response, and The Pandemic Community Outreach and Environmental Justice Asbestos and Lead Based Paint Cleanup Roundtable Contaminants of Emerging Concern Project Reports Generations at Work State Brownfields Roundtable Superfund State Contracts… ... Read More
Planning for Resiliency and Sustainability in a Changing Climate (4/25/2022) - The ASTSWMO Investigation and Remedy Selection Focus Group provides a snapshot analysis of climate change attempts to evaluate existing science from mainly governmental sources in their effects on possible changes of contaminant character and distribution. ... Read More
Best Practices to Ensure State Collaboration in Superfund (2/23/2022) - The ASTSWMO Remedial Action Focus Group has prepared this document as a resource for States as they coordinate with EPA on Superfund site characterization and cleanup. In an effort to draw upon the long history of coordination between States and… ... Read More
Testimony of Jason E. Seyler at Hearing “Back from the Brink: Restoring Brownfields Sites to Economic Engines” (2/15/2022) - On February 15, 2022 Jason E. Seyler gave testimony on behalf of ASTSWMO in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change at a hearing on restoring brownfields sites. ... Read More
Webinar- Getting Remedies Back on Track Webinar (1/7/2022) - View Presentation This webinar will provide information on possible resources and recommendations for how States can most efficiently keep remedies moving toward closure. ... Read More
2021
2021 ASTSWMO Annual Meeting Presentations (12/2/2021) - Presentations Opening Remarks Election Keynote Speakers & ASTSWMO Gives Back Lifetime Achievement Award Project Presentations from the ASTSWMO CERCLA Post Construction Focus Group Environmental Justice in CERCLA and Brownfields Joint Materials Management & Hazardous Waste Session: Emerging Wastes from Renewable… ... Read More
ASTSWMO Brownfields Focus Group: CERCLA Section 128(a) Technical Assistance Grants Story Map (11/17/2021) - The ASTSWMO Brownfields Focus Group presents a compilation of example Section 128(a) TAG projects from across the country. ... Read More
Analysis of the Use of the CERCLA Section 128(a) Technical Assistance Grant (11/17/2021) - This summary focuses on results from a research tool created by the ASTSWMO Brownfields Focus Group that polled States regarding barriers to applying for the CERCLA Section 128(a) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG). The summary highlights challenges, as well as proposed… ... Read More
2021 Site Assessment Focus Group GIS Paper (5/18/2021) - 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… ... Read More
2021 ASTSWMO Mid-Year Webinar Recordings (5/6/2021) - Presentations Welcome, Plenary, and Keynote What’s the Buzz in Materials Management? Materials Management Roundtable Containment Sumps Repairs Unintended Consequences of Petroleum Remediation State Revenues and Impacts to the Tanks Programs Planning for Resiliency and Sustainability of Remedies in a Changing… ... Read More
2020 State Brownfields Program Analysis (2/11/2021) - The ASTSWMO Brownfields Focus Group undertook a research project to gather and share data from all State brownfield programs. The project began with the development of a research tool that would capture the key components of State brownfield programs. In… ... Read More
2020
2020 ASTSWMO Annual Webinar Recordings (11/16/2020) - Presentations Welcome and Opening Remarks Keynote Federal Real Property Transfer & Disposal Protecting Your Tanks Program: From Cost Evaluation to Fraud Prevention CERCLA & Brownfields: Emergency Preparedness UST System Inspections During the COVID-19 Pandemic CERCLA, Brownfields and Federal Facilities: Public… ... Read More
Preparing Post-Construction Cleanup Sites for Natural Disasters (6/15/2020) - The ASTSWMO CERCLA Post Construction Focus Group has developed a checklist called, Preparing Post-Construction Cleanup Sites for Natural Disasters, which is solely intended to help States in identifying efficient and effective measures for preparation in advance of potential natural disasters… ... Read More
Using Technology to Tell a Story – Webinar (5/22/2020) - View Presentation In today’s age it is important to show our project successes and use technology and visual displays to help demonstrate the great work. This joint webinar from the CERCLA and Brownfields Subcommittee and the Federal Facilities Subcommittee will… ... Read More
Using Technology in the Field – Webinar (5/7/2020) - View Presentation Documenting environmental data in the field is very important, and using technology in the field allows field personnel to be more efficient. This webinar will discuss various field technologies currently being used by States and EPA. Presenters will… ... Read More
TI Waivers Webinar (2/25/2020) - The ASTSWMO Remedial Action Focus Group will present the data that came from the research tool on Technical Impracticability (TI) waivers at National Priorities List sites. The intent of this exercise is to evaluate the criteria used to justify TI… ... Read More
2019
Removals Request Form (12/19/2019) - The ASTSWMO Removals Focus Group (Focus Group) has developed a form for putting together consistent referral packages across the States and Territories (States). This form identifies critical information needed to appropriately evaluate the commitment of limited resources by the U.S.… ... Read More
Uniformity of Time Critical Removal Actions (12/19/2019) - The ASTSWMO Removals Focus Group has developed a form for putting together consistent referral packages across States. This form identifies critical information needed to appropriately evaluate the commitment of limited resources by the U.S. EPA when reviewing referral requests. It… ... Read More
CERCLA Modernization Position Paper (11/19/2019) - The ASTSWMO CERCLA and Brownfields Subcommittee has published a position paper on CERCLA Modernization in which there are specific areas of the Superfund Program where States could contribute in a larger, more significant role which would make the process more… ... Read More
Site Assessment Focus Group Toolbox (11/19/2019) - 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… ... Read More
Optimizing for the Post Construction Phase of Superfund Sites (10/10/2019) - This document is solely intended to help States in identifying efficient and effective adaptive Operational and Maintenance management practices that can be utilized to respond to changing conditions while ensuring protectiveness of human health and the environment. ... Read More
Great Lakes Partnership Principles for Enhancing Habitat at Sediment Remediation Sites (2/7/2019) - The Great Lakes Legacy Act exemplifies a unique approach for accelerating sediment cleanup and restoring habitat in the largest system of fresh surface water in the world. Funded under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, The Great Lakes Legacy Act provides… ... Read More
Time-Critical Removal Capabilities (1/25/2019) - The ASTSWMO Removals Focus Group has produced research that builds off of previous work from their 2013 Transition Issues Analysis. This research focuses on the capacities and needs of the EPA Regions and States in the performance of Time Critical… ... Read More
2018
Remedial Action Focus Group Bankruptcy Paper 2018 (10/2/2018) - This paper is intended to help States identify and understand potential issues associated with settlement negotiations, especially financial assurance, and to consider the implications of PRP bankruptcy during the CERCLA remedial process. ... Read More
2017
Brownfields Focus Group Facts Sheet (9/29/2017) - ASTSWMO’s Brownfields Focus Group developed six fact sheets that relate to certain Brownfields topics. These topics are Phase I Assessments and All Appropriate Inquiry, Phase II Assessments, Abandoned Structures, Risk-Based Decision Making for Property Cleanup, Vapor Intrusion, and Community Involvement.… ... Read More
Interim Records of Decision Paper (8/28/2017) - The ASTSWMO Remedial Action Focus Group developed this report to provide information to States and EPA regarding the use of Interim Records of Decision (Interim RODs) at sites subject to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) also… ... Read More
Sediment Site Recontamination Paper (8/28/2017) - ASTSWMO’s Sediments Focus Group developed this report to evaluate efforts coordinated across CERCLA and Clean Water Act authorities that were aimed at preventing sediment recontamination. The Focus Group presents several case studies of CERCLA sites that involve a component of… ... Read More
National Priorities List (NPL) Designation report (8/27/2017) - 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. ... Read More
Site Assessment Program Analysis (8/26/2017) - 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… ... Read More
Transitioning Sites to Post Construction Report (8/6/2017) - ASTSWMO’s CERCLA Post Construction Focus Group developed this report to provide examples of challenges experienced by various States during the transition of sites from the EPA to a State and present National Priorities List site examples that illustrate opportunities for… ... Read More
Archives
These publications have been archived due to our Sunset Policy
2017
Katherine N. Probst’s ACEC White Paper “Superfund 2017, Cleanup Accomplishments and the Challenges Ahead.” (6/8/2017) - This paper was written by Katherine N. Probst and funded by ACEC. It provides an overall evaluation of the progress of EPA’s Superfund program and provides recommendations for the future. ... Read More
ASTSWMO 128(a) Position Paper (5/17/2017) - On January 11, 2002, President Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Pub.L.No. 107-118, 115 stat. 2356, "the Brownfields Law"). The Brownfields Law amended the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) by… ... Read More
Toolbox for Community Redevelopment (1/10/2017) - The ASTSWMO Brownfields Focus Group has updated the toolbox that was produced by the Focus Group in 2007. This toolbox reflects on new procedures, information and resources in community redevelopment, and it will help communities redevelop brownfield properties, and provide… ... Read More
2016
Superfund State Contracts- A Reference for States and Territories: How to Get the Most Out of Your Superfund State Contract (4/13/2016) - The ASTSWMO Remedial Action Focus Group developed this report to assist States with the preparation, negotiation, and implementation of their Superfund State Contracts. This document is intended to help States recognize and understand these decision points and provide some implementation… ... Read More
The Clean Water Act and Sediment Remediation: Using the Data Quality Objectives Process to Help Assure that Remediated Sediment Sites are not Re-Contaminated (4/8/2016) - The ASTSWMO Sediments Focus Group developed this report for environmental authorities over both the CWA and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) in a jurisdiction including State, federal, Territorial and/or tribal decision makers. This paper suggests a planning… ... Read More
2015
Post Removals Site Controls: Ensuring the Long-Term Integrity of Removal Actions (11/8/2015) - The Removals Focus Group developed this report as an update to their 2010 report “Transition Issues Analysis”. One area that needed additional review was Post Removals Site Controls (PRSCs). Timely input from the State is needed throughout the removal decision… ... Read More
Analysis of Superfund Site Assessment Program Cooperative Agreements with States: Benefits of Flexibility During Pre CERCLA Screening (8/8/2015) - 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… ... Read More
2014
ASTSWMO Position Paper on 128(a) Funding (5/9/2014) - This paper has been replaced by the document located here. On January 11, 2002, President Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Pub.L.No. 107-118, 115 stat. 2356, "the Brownfields Law"). The Brownfields Law amended the Comprehensive… ... Read More
Analysis of Superfund Site Assessment Program Cooperative Agreements with States: Benefits of Effective State and Federal Partnerships (5/9/2014) - 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… ... Read More
128(a) Successes Checklist (5/8/2014) - The Checklist and Defintions below are meant to summarize the work accomplished during the reporting period that is not captured by ACRES and PALS. It is not meant to be a comprehensive compilation unless defined as such but rather a… ... Read More
2013
Sediment Remedy Effectiveness and Recontamination (4/9/2013) - The ASTSWMO Sediments Focus Group has produced this document that discusses causes and issues related to recontamination. Discussion topics include new contamination of sediment sites from both known sources and newly identified sources, including contamination from new chemicals or those… ... Read More
Transition Issues Analysis (2/9/2013) - The purpose of the research was to gather information on issues relating to the transition of removal sites to and from the State and federal programs. The purpose was also to identify approaches, concerns, strengths and weaknesses related to these… ... Read More
2012
Community Gardening Toolbox (10/8/2012) - The Toolbox is designed to assist States by providing a reference guide for State environmental staff on community gardening on brownfield sites. States are encouraged to personalize the toolbox by adding their own State-specific and other regulatory information to increase… ... Read More
State Conceptual Framework to Estimate Associated Cost (8/9/2012) - Building upon previously funded EPA research conducted by the Environmental Law Institute, the ASTSWMO Long-Term Stewardship Focus Group chose to develop an institutional controls costing tool that represents a State perspective, especially for those States currently in the development or… ... Read More
State Management and Potential Reuse of Marginally Contaminated Soils (5/14/2012) - The Association's State Superfund Focus Group developed a Marginally Contaminated Soils Paper to highlight how States manage soils that do not meet a State’s unrestricted use criteria or standards for organic or inorganic contaminants. ... Read More
Phase II Report (3/14/2012) - 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… ... Read More
2011
ASTSWMO Comments on U.S. EPA’s upcoming proposal for regulations promulgated under §108(b) of CERCLA (5/20/2011) - On behalf of the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO), I would like to thank you for the time you and your staff have invested in considering our concerns on EPA’s upcoming proposal for regulations promulgated… ... Read More
Superfund Site Assessment Program: Benefits Beyond NPL Listing (3/14/2011) - 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… ... Read More
2009
Compendium of State Land Revitalization Indicators (5/8/2009) - This Compendium illustrates the types of socioeconomic data being collected by States to measure the effectiveness of their state programs in facilitating the investigation, remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites, including brownfields. ... Read More