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An Introduction to wSTARS

An Introduction to wSTARS. Overview. wSTARS--What is it? How is it used and maintained? How does it benefit tribes? How to get your data into the system System walk through Questions. What is wSTARS?. w eb-based S anitation T racking and R eporting S ystem IHS database

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An Introduction to wSTARS

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  1. An Introduction to wSTARS

  2. Overview • wSTARS--What is it? How is it used and maintained? • How does it benefit tribes? • How to get your data into the system • System walk through • Questions

  3. What is wSTARS? • web-based Sanitation Tracking and Reporting System • IHS database • Internet database that stores and tracks information on sanitation facilities projects • Confidential and secure database

  4. What is wSTARS used for? • IHS uses the data to track and prioritize projects and needs related to sanitation of all media types--water, wastewater, solid waste • EPA uses wSTARS to store and track dump data

  5. EPA’s Role • EPA collects and inputs data into the wSTARS system • National Open Dump Inventory • Since 2007 • Current national total 3,000+ • Report to Congress

  6. Why care about wSTARS? • Means of getting your data into part of the national picture • Beginning of process to request funding for clean ups

  7. wSTARS and SDS • wSTARS has 6 sub-systems for tracking and reporting data • Only interested in 2 of the 6 today • Sanitation Deficiency System – sanitation deficiencies related to AI/AN individual homes and communities • Operations and Maintenance Data System – dump inventory

  8. How the SDS works • Contains variety of media projects • Once a project is in the system it is assigned a score or deficiency ranking • Scores are assigned by IHS via national guidelines • Projects are selected for funding based on deficiency ranking every FY

  9. How the SDS works… • Projects can be assigned a deficiency value 1-5 • Solid waste projects cap at 3 • Open dump cleanups can earn high rankings • Contain hazardous materials • Only option for disposal in the community • Can use discretionary points to up ranking • Projects are rescored every year, priority list not a waiting list

  10. Getting your data in the system… • OMDS – Dump Inventory • EPA has worked with nearly all the 271 tribes in the region to gather dump data • SDS contact your IHS area reservation engineer • This is a critical step

  11. Information for wSTARS • What is an open dump? • Any facility or site where solid waste is disposed of which is not a sanitary landfill which meets the criteria promulgated under section 6944 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act 42 U.S.C 6941 and which is not a facility for disposal of hazardous waste. --Open Dump Cleanup Act 1994 • Open Dump Inventory Form • One form per dump site! • Open Dump Inventory Form Field Guide

  12. Solid Waste Inventory Form Facility Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Community: _______________________________________ Tribe: _________________________________________________ State: ______________________County: __________________________________EPA ID (if any)_______________________ Lat/Long: N_____________________________________(Decimal) W_____________________________________ (Decimal) Land Status: ___AK Native Land ___Allotted ___Fee ___NM Pueblos ___Private ___Trust (Individual) ___Trust (Tribal)

  13. Solid Waste Inventory Form Solid Waste System Type (check one) Condition (check one) ___Solid Waste Disposal Site ___Open Dump-Buried ___Open Dump-Surface ___Closed ___Cleaned up ___Upgraded ___Properly Managed ___Collection System with Off-Reservation Disposal ___Open Dump-Surface ___Properly Managed ___Needs Improve ___Transfer Site ___Open Dump-Surface ___Cleaned up ___Properly Managed ___Transfer Site with Off-Reservation Disposal ___Open Dump-Surface ___Cleaned up ___Properly Managed ___Recycling facility ___Open Dump-Surface ___Cleaned up ___Properly Managed ___Construction and Demolition Debris Landfill ___Open Dump-Buried ___Open Dump- Surface ___Closed ___Cleaned up ___Properly Managed System Status: ___Active ___Inactive

  14. Site Characteristics 1.Surface Area (Acres) _______________Acres 2.Surface Volume (Cubic Yards) ______________yd3 Hazard Factors (check all that apply) 1.Contents ___Abandoned automobiles ___Abandoned trailers ___Animal carcasses ___Appliances/white goods ___Construction and demolition waste ___Drums/containers of unknowns/pesticide containers ___Electronics ___Florescent light bulbs ___Furniture ___Lead acid batteries ___Medical wastes ___Meth-lab wastes ___Municipal solid waste ___Scrap tires ___Sewage sludge/septic-tank pumpings ___Suspected asbestos or lead containing materials ___Suspected RCRA Subtitle C hazardous wastes (treated wood, paints, solvents) ___Waste oil/oily wastes ___Yard/green wastes 1.Rainfall (check one) ___Low (<10 in/yr) ___Medium (10-25 in/yr) ___High (>25 in/yr) 2.Site Drainage and Leachate Potential (check one) ___Site drainage protects ground or surface water ___Limited ponding, drainage effects largely neutral ___Site drainage increases ground or surface water contamination 3.Flooding Potential (check one) ___No potential for flooding ___Debris movement from flooding unlikely ___Debris movement from flooding likely 4.Frequency of Cover (check one) ___Daily ___Monthly ___Never ___Weekly ___Yearly

  15. Open Dump Inventory Form Hazard Factors (continued) 1.Frequency of Burning (check one) ___Burning does not occur ___Burning less frequently than weekly ___Burning more frequently than weekly 2.Fenced site ___Yes ___No 3.Controlled Access (check one) ___Effectively controlled access ___Ineffective controls or poorly restricted access ___Unrestricted access 4.Public Concern (check one) ___No concern voiced ___Little concern voiced by the public ___Concern frequently voiced by the public Proximity Factors 1.Vertical Distance to Drinking Water Aquifer (check one) ___Greater than 600 feet ___51-599 feet ___Less than 50 feet 2.Horizontal Distance to Surface Water Bodies (check one) ___Greater than 1,000 feet ___51-1,000 feet ___Less than 50 feet 3.Distance to Homes (check one) ___Greater than 5,000 feet ___1,000-5,000 feet ___Less than 1,000 feet

  16. Open Dump Inventory Form General Description (include description of how to get to the site from a known location) Comments Surveyor:__________________________________________________________InventoryDate:________________________ (First Name, Last Name, Organization)(mm/dd/yy)

  17. Tips For Inventory Forms • Lat/Longs • Should be in decimal form but Degrees, Minutes, Seconds can be converted easily. • Most GPS units will calculate an area for you when walking the perimeter of the site. • Calculating Area/Volume: • 1 acre is approximately the size of a football field without the end zones. • Dump Truck ~ 10 cy and Semi trailer ~ 100 cy

  18. Tips for Inventory Forms -Use free internet tools/maps to help determine proximity factors. -Answer every question. -Take time to include information on how to get to the site – under general description. -Great work for summer help!!!

  19. wSTARS online • https://wstars.ihs.gov/ • Minimum Requirements: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher Adobe Flash Player 9.0 or higher

  20. Questions? Kristin Hall, US EPA Region 10 206-553-6357 hall.kristin@epa.gov

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