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| EPA/SWER | RIN: 2050-AG67 | Publication ID: Spring 2011 |
| Title: ●Addition of Vapor Intrusion Component to the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) | |
| Abstract: The Hazard Ranking System (HRS), required by the Superfund statute, is the primary mechanism used by EPA to assess the relative threat associated with actual or potential releases of hazardous substances. As a matter of Agency policy, those sites that score 28.50 or greater under the HRS are eligible for inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation. A score of 28.50 does not represent a specified level of risk but is a cutoff point that serves as a screening-level indicator of the highest priority releases or threatened releases. The HRS includes four scoring pathways - ground water, surface water, air and soil exposure. Additional pathways have been identified as posing significant threats to human health and the environment that should be considered when evaluating sites for the NPL. One such pathway is vapor intrusion. Vapor intrusion occurs when contaminants enter into indoor spaces, generally residences, from environmental sources such as contaminated ground water or contaminated soil. Over the past decade EPA and state environmental programs have learned significantly more information regarding the risk that this pathway poses to human health. Historically, EPA's Superfund program has responded to vapor intrusion contamination by two mechanisms: (1) through its emergency response program at sites not on the NPL, or (2) through sites placed on the NPL because of other pathway-related risks. In a May 2010 report, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that if vapor intrusion sites are not assessed and, if needed, listed on the NPL, some seriously contaminated hazardous waste sites with unacceptable human exposure may not otherwise be cleaned up. Thus, EPA is considering adding a new HRS pathway so that sites with vapor intrusion contamination can be evaluated for inclusion on the NPL. | |
| Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) | Priority: Other Significant |
| RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda | Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage |
| Major: No | Unfunded Mandates: No |
| CFR Citation: 40 CFR 300 | |
| Legal Authority: 42 USC 9601 et seq | |
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Legal Deadline:
None |
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Timetable:
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| Additional Information: EPA Docket information: EPA-HQ-SFUND-2010-1086 | |
| Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No | Government Levels Affected: Federal, Local, State, Tribal |
| Small Entities Affected: No | Federalism: No |
| Included in the Regulatory Plan: No | |
| RIN Information URL: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsaddition.htm | |
| RIN Data Printed in the FR: No | |
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Agency Contact: Terry Jeng Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response 5204P, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460 Phone:703 603-8852 Email: jeng.terry@epa.gov Dennis Munhall Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response ERRD-SPB-PRS, New York, NY 10007 Phone:212 637-4343 Email: Munhall.Dennis@epa.gov |
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