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Risk Based Decision Making • June 2013 • Page 1 of 7 The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has adopted a risk based decision making process to provide a framework for determining cleanup requirements at contaminated sites. This process ensures that DEQ’s cleanup decisions are protective of human health and the environment. Risk based decision making is a tool that ensures contaminated properties are adequately addressed. DEQ uses risk based decision making to oversee remediation of contaminated properties and ensure that cleanups are protective, all Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs) are evaluated, and cleanup is accomplished in a practical and effective manner. Risk based decision making allows properties to be returned to productive reuse. DEQ uses risk based decision making for cleanups conducted under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Oklahoma Voluntary Clean-Up Program (VCP), and the Oklahoma Brownfields Voluntary Redevelopment Act. DEQ is committed to the application of consistent decision making to determine the level of cleanup that needs to occur at a site. What is Risk Based Decision Making? Risk based decision making involves evaluating actual and potential risks posed by a contaminated site in order to make responsible and practical decisions to mitigate those risks. The process includes identifying hazards, assessing exposure, assessing toxicity, characterizing the risk, and making an informed decision. Risk based decision making cannot be fully utilized without adequate site characterization. Adequate site characterization includes sampling an adequate list of analytes to effectively determine the nature and extent of contamination. The DEQ typically requires minimum analysis for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) to adequately characterize a contaminated site and determine the chemicals of concern. Additional analyses may be required if the history of the site suggests other chemicals may be present. Risk based decision making is not appropriate when immediate risks are recognized (i.e spills) or waste is present. Immediate risks and observable waste should be addressed by prompt actions that protect human health and the environment. General Requirements for Risk Decisions Information about the property is needed to make informed decisions about the environmental risks to the community and future occupants. In general, the following must be evaluated: 1. Data Quality Objectives (DQOs): a. DQOs are quantitative or qualitative statements developed in the planning stage to define the goals of data collection. DQOs guide the project and ensure the data collected is usable, sufficient, and exhibits the quality necessary to make cleanup decisions. DQOs are established in the Quality Assurance Project Plan or Work Plan for the site. b. The DEQ requires that data be suitable to perform an evaluation of risk. DEQ will consider, but will not always accept, data that is collected outside its oversight. If data is more than two years old, further sampling and analysis may be required. July 2013 Risk-Based Decision Making for Site Cleanup
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Title | RiskBasedDecisionMakingSiteCleanup 1 |
Full text | Risk Based Decision Making • June 2013 • Page 1 of 7 The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has adopted a risk based decision making process to provide a framework for determining cleanup requirements at contaminated sites. This process ensures that DEQ’s cleanup decisions are protective of human health and the environment. Risk based decision making is a tool that ensures contaminated properties are adequately addressed. DEQ uses risk based decision making to oversee remediation of contaminated properties and ensure that cleanups are protective, all Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs) are evaluated, and cleanup is accomplished in a practical and effective manner. Risk based decision making allows properties to be returned to productive reuse. DEQ uses risk based decision making for cleanups conducted under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Oklahoma Voluntary Clean-Up Program (VCP), and the Oklahoma Brownfields Voluntary Redevelopment Act. DEQ is committed to the application of consistent decision making to determine the level of cleanup that needs to occur at a site. What is Risk Based Decision Making? Risk based decision making involves evaluating actual and potential risks posed by a contaminated site in order to make responsible and practical decisions to mitigate those risks. The process includes identifying hazards, assessing exposure, assessing toxicity, characterizing the risk, and making an informed decision. Risk based decision making cannot be fully utilized without adequate site characterization. Adequate site characterization includes sampling an adequate list of analytes to effectively determine the nature and extent of contamination. The DEQ typically requires minimum analysis for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) to adequately characterize a contaminated site and determine the chemicals of concern. Additional analyses may be required if the history of the site suggests other chemicals may be present. Risk based decision making is not appropriate when immediate risks are recognized (i.e spills) or waste is present. Immediate risks and observable waste should be addressed by prompt actions that protect human health and the environment. General Requirements for Risk Decisions Information about the property is needed to make informed decisions about the environmental risks to the community and future occupants. In general, the following must be evaluated: 1. Data Quality Objectives (DQOs): a. DQOs are quantitative or qualitative statements developed in the planning stage to define the goals of data collection. DQOs guide the project and ensure the data collected is usable, sufficient, and exhibits the quality necessary to make cleanup decisions. DQOs are established in the Quality Assurance Project Plan or Work Plan for the site. b. The DEQ requires that data be suitable to perform an evaluation of risk. DEQ will consider, but will not always accept, data that is collected outside its oversight. If data is more than two years old, further sampling and analysis may be required. July 2013 Risk-Based Decision Making for Site Cleanup |
Date created | 2013-07-11 |
Date modified | 2013-07-11 |