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Remedial Investigations/Feasibility Studies & Treatability Studies & Costing
The Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) represents the methodology that the Superfund program has established for characterizing the nature and extent of risks posed by uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and for evaluating potential remedial options. The RI serves as the mechanism for collecting data to: characterize site conditions; determine the nature of the waste; assess risk to human health and the environment; and conduct treatability testing. The FS is the mechanism for the development, screening, and detailed evaluation of alternative remedial actions.
Treatability studies evaluate the performance, design, and cost of a remedy. They are performed concurrently with the RI/FS process.
Natural Resource Damages: EPA and Natural Resource Trustee Roles and Responsibilities
EPA is responsible for notifying and coordinating with the Natural Resource
Trustees at a Superfund Site. Notification normally begins during the
Remedial Investigation phase. This web site is intended to assist EPA
staff in meeting their statutory obligation to the respective Natural
Resource Trustees.
Developing
and Documenting OSWER Cost Estimates
Contains guidance to address cost estimate alternatives
developed during the RI/FS, provide cost guidelines which can be used
to estimate funding needs in advance of issuing work assignments and evaluating
contractor proposals, and discuss the revision to EPA policy regarding
the discount rate used to estimate the present worth. Documents include:
- "A Guide to Developing and Documenting Cost Estimates During the Feasibility Study" (July 2000)
- "Revisions to OMB Circular A-94 on Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis" (June 1993)
- "Scoper's Notes - An RI/FS Costing Guide. Bringing in a Quality RI/FS on Time and Within Budget" (Feb 1990)
RI/FS
and Treatability Studies Overview
List of guidance documents that provide standard
guidelines for conducting an RI/FS or for performing Treatability Studies.
A wide variety of topics are covered including scoping, screening, cost
estimating, alternative remedy analysis, and treatability applications.
Dynamic
Field Activities
Addresses Dynamic Field Activities which include hazardous
waste site assessment, characterization, and remediation activities
that combine on-site data generation with on-site decision making. It
is an iterative field work process that is designed to reduce the number
of mobilizations necessary to reach a site decision. Because of its
flexible approach to data collection, it is applicable throughout the
Superfund response process.
Guidance
On Specific Types of Treatability Studies
Provides a list of specialized guidance documents pertaining
to Treatability Studies. Types of studies examined include: Biodegradation,
Chemical Dehalogenation, Soil Vapor Extraction, Soil Washing, Solvent
Extraction, and Thermal Desorption.
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