Waste and Cleanup Risk Assessment

Risk Communication comprises the formal and informal processes of communication among various parties who are potentially at risk from or are otherwise interested in the site. Throughout the risk assessment process, EPA will keep the public informed on issues concerning the site and provide guidance on how it will receive and respond to input from the affected community. Advisory groups are one example of the tools EPA may employ to communicate risk information including Biological Technical Assistance Groups or "BTAGs." In addition, the Agency will notify and communicate with the Natural Resource Trustees who have jurisdiction at the site regarding known or potential adverse effects on ecological receptors.

Documents

Documents

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

1. A Community Guide to Superfund Risk Assessment (December, 1999)
   A basic overview of the risk assessment process in Superfund.
   
   
2. A Community Guide to Superfund Risk Assessment, Spanish Version (December, 1999)
   EVALUACIÓN DE LOS RIESGOS DEL SUPERFUND: De Qué Se Trata La Evaluación De Los Rriesgos Y Cómo Nos Puede Ayudar.
   
   
3. Briefing the BTAG: Initial Description of Setting, History and Ecology of a Sit (PDF) (11 pp, 289 kb, About PDF)
   This EcoUpdate bulletin focuses on the first meeting between a Remedial Project Manager and the Biological Technical Assistance Group, during which there is an initial exchange of information and guidance.
   
   
4. Ecological Assessment of Superfund Sites: An Overview
   Eco Update (December 1991) (PDF, 68KB, 8 pp)
   This EcoUpdate bulletin describes the components of the ecological risk assessment process and how they fit into the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study process.
   
   
5. Ecological Risk Assessment and Risk Management Principles for Superfund Sites, Issuance of Final Guidance (PDF) (9 pp, 1 mb, About PDF)
   Guidance intended to help Superfund project managers to make ecological assessment decisions that are consistent across the United States and are transparent to the public.
   
   
6. ECO Update Bulletin Series
   EcoUpdates are a series of bulletins which provide information on various aspects of Ecological Risk Assessments, including toxicity testing, the role of the Biological Technical Assistance Group (BTAG), field studies, and screening level risk assessments.
   
   
7. Radiation Risk Assessment at CERCLA Sites, Q&A (PDF) (23 pp, 2.2MB, About PDF)
   The guidance provides answers to several common questions about radiation risk assessments at CERCLA sites.
   Part 1 (PDF) (23 pp, 2.2MB, About PDF)
   Part 2 (PDF) (5 pp, 798 kb, About PDF)
   Part 3 (PDF) (6 pp, 1.02 mb, About PDF)
   Part 4 (PDF) (6 pp, 708 kb, About PDF)
   
   
8. Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Volume I
   Part A (1989)
   Part B (1991)
   Part C (1991)
   Part D (2001)
   Part E (2000)
   Supplement to Part A: Community Involvement in Superfund Risk Assessments (1999)
   The purpose of this guidance document is to provide the site team--risk assessor, remedial project manager (RPM), and community involvement coordinator--with information to improve community involvement in the Superfund risk assessment process.
   
   
9. Role of BTAGs in Ecological Assessment (PDF) (4 pp, 364 kb, About PDF) Eco Update (September, 1991)
   This EcoUpdate bulletin describes the responsibilities and activities of the Biological Technical Assistance Group: a group of scientists established to aid remedial project managers.
   
   
10. The Role of Screening-Level Risk Assessments and Refining Contaminants of Concern in Baseline Ecological Risk Assessments (PDF) (4 pp, 364KB, About PDF)
    This EcoUpdate bulletin describes the process and purpose of the screening level ecological risk assessment, which is the first steps in a ecological risk assessment at a site, and how the list of COCs can be refined to include only those contaminants that may pose a risk.
    
    
11. The Role of Natural Resource Trustees in the Superfund Process (PDF) (10 pp, 191 kb, About PDF) Eco Update (March, 1992)
    This EcoUpdate bulletin is intended to help project managers to work with Natural Resource Trustees, explaining the responsibilities and authorities of those trustees and those of the Remedial Project Managers and On-Scene Coordinators with respect to those trustees.

Top of page