Measuring Progress in Superfund Cleanups

Superfund cleanups can take decades to complete. Superfund and Federal Facilities programs’ performance measures track progress on reducing risks to human health and the environment through actions taken at contaminated sites. Each measure provides information on different aspects of the Superfund remedial cleanup process. Progress measures are available here.

These measures include:

• Remedial Site Assessment Completions
  This measure tracks the number of remedial site assessments completed under the federal Superfund program by EPA and its federal and state partners. The assessments are used to determine if sites warrant short- or long-term cleanup attention under a Superfund-managed or monitored program.
• Construction Completions
  This milestone indicates all physical construction required for the cleanup of an entire site has been completed (even though final cleanup levels may not have been achieved). For example, a groundwater treatment system has been constructed though it may need to operate for a number of years in order for all contaminants to be removed from the groundwater.
• Remedial Action Project Completions
  This measure augments the site-wide Construction Completion measure and applies it to the construction or implementation of a discrete scope of activities supporting a Superfund site cleanup. Each remedial action project is generally designed to achieve progress toward specific remedial action objectives identified in a remedy decision document (e.g., Record of Decision, Record of Decision amendment, or Explanation of Significant Difference).
• Environmental Indicators
  Superfund environmental indicators measure tangible progress made in protecting human health and the environment through site cleanup activities.
  
  Superfund environmental indicators are used to report:
  • The number of sites at which current human exposure to contamination is under control or falls within the levels specified as safe by EPA; and
  • The number of sites where contaminated groundwater migration has been controlled to prevent further spread of contaminants and prevent unacceptable discharge levels to surface water, sediments, or ecosystems.

  Information about the basis of sites where human exposure is either not controlled, or there is insufficient information, can be obtained on the human exposure dashboard. The information in this dashboard details planned actions to reduce exposures and risk. It also summarizes what actions are being taken to communicate risk and reduce exposures in the interim.

• Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use
  The Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use is a measure that applies to sites where cleanup is complete and the site is ready for re-use.

Information about the status of each site is available on the National Priorities List.

Superfund Five-Year Reviews and Protectiveness Statements

Another source of information about site protectiveness is the Five-Year Review Report. EPA is responsible for reviewing Superfund remedial actions at least every five years where hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants will remain on site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. Five-year reviews provide an opportunity to evaluate the implementation and performance of a remedy to determine whether it remains protective of human health and the environment. On Federal Facilities sites, the Other Federal Agency is responsible for preparing the Five-Year Review Report, which EPA then reviews, as EPA retains the responsibility for determining the protectiveness of the remedy.

Remedy protectiveness determinations are based on an evaluation of human health risks, ecological risks, and the general performance of the remedy. The possible conclusions include:

• Protective
• Protective in the short term
• Not protective
• Protectiveness deferred

When a remedy is determined to be not protective, EPA requires that actions be taken to reduce exposure and risk, and to provide a timeline to completion. 

When the protectiveness is deferred, EPA requires that the information needed to determine protectiveness be collected. The timeline is agreed upon and a report (Five-Year Review addendum) is typically completed prior to the next Five-Year Review.