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The Voluntary Remediation Program

The Voluntary Remediation Program. Progress In An Evolving Program September 2012. Keith Bentley Chief, Land Protection Branch Georgia EPD. Legislation effective June 1, 2009 Objective is to privatize and expedite cleanup End points the same as HSRA

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The Voluntary Remediation Program

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  1. The Voluntary Remediation Program Progress In An Evolving Program September 2012 Keith Bentley Chief, Land Protection Branch Georgia EPD

  2. Legislation effective June 1, 2009 • Objective is to privatize and expedite cleanup • End points the same as HSRA • Investigation and remediation supervised by PE/PG and paid by VRP applicant • No funding to establish program initially • VIRP Application and checklist developed in April 2010 • Applications started to flow in 2010 • No rules were promulgated Brief History of VRP

  3. VRP vs HSRA Approach Prescriptive Approach Flexible Approach

  4. VRP works when: • Groundwater contamination contained on “controlled” property • Receptor farther away from source • Participant is in compliance with rules, orders, etc. • VRP does not work when: • Site is on NPL list • Site is subject to EPA remediation order • Site has RCRA permit • Groundwater contamination is technically difficult to contain/remediate • Surface water or off site wells are impacted VRP Is Not For Every Site

  5. A Look At The Numbers

  6. Current Status of Unapproved Applications

  7. Too long to get in program • Too many “conditions” • Too much management by EPD of details • “ It feels like HSRA.” Criticisms of the VRP Program

  8. Developing guidelines and examples for acceptable applications • Updates to FAQ on web site • Developing more consistent response to applications • Developing model consent order for converting HWMA orders to VRP • Improving response time- need complete application to approve quickly Improvements to VRP Program

  9. Site vs. property questions • What happens if site leaves VRP before remediation complete? • What happens if remediation plan not successful? • Expanded use of environmental covenants • Financial Assurance issues • Evolving technical issues • Vapor intrusion assessment • Area averaging • Groundwater modeling • Surface water issues • What is the proper level of EPD review up front? Challenges and Evolving Issues

  10. VRP could be used as excuse to delay • Responsible party could “engineer shop” for the answer they want • VRP may not be a permanent solution if controls become inadequate • Less involvement of EPD upfront, may result in more uncertainty around acceptable end points- do not want surprises at the end Potential VRP Pitfalls

  11. Sites Cleaned up and Returned to Productive Use Benefits of VRP

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