News
March 2010 Enewsletter - Go for the Goal: Preparing Site Exit Strategies
Without a doubt, site owners, regulators, insurers and other stakeholders are eager to achieve closure status for remediation projects. Environmental remediation response completion plans, often referred to as decision documents (DDs) are a useful tool in developing an exit strategy. DDs often include:
- A definition of scope and type of environmental condition requiring remediation
- Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs) that must be met to control and mitigate risk
- Details of the type of remediation tactics implemented to achieve objectives
- A description of metrics used to determine if RAOs have been met
Here are a few key points to keep in mind when developing a DD:
- All stakeholders should be involved in the drafting of a DD in order to ensure that RAOs are appropriate, cost-effective and necessary to protect human health and the environment.
- DDs should incorporate a Conceptual Site Model (CSM), which is a summary of all site-specific information related to the contaminate sources and release mechanisms among other data. This is critical information used in assessing performance of remediation activities and monitoring ongoing efforts.
- Exit strategies are dynamic, accounting for ongoing regulatory changes and site condition changes that can evolve over the life of the project.
Access a comprehensive report in PDF format on site exit strategies from the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council.
Looking for a checklist to get you started? Download one here.
Questions about the site closure process? Contact us.
