Coordination of NJDEP and USEPA PCB Remediation Policies
Updated March 1, 2013
Posted 22 March 2013
The Site Remediation Program has established residential and non-residential direct contact Soil Remediation
Standards (SRS) for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) based upon a legislatively mandated 1 X 10-6 cancer end-point.
The residential SRS (RSRS) is 0.2 ppm and the non-residential SRS (NRSRS) is 1 ppm.
For the Impact to Ground Water pathway, the default Soil Screening Level of 0.2 ppm may be used as a site specific
Impact to Ground Water standard. Alternatively, other procedures, most notably the Synthetic Precipitation Leaching
Procedure, may be implemented to determine a site specific standard which in most cases will be greater than the
default Soil Screening Level. It should be noted that even when PCBs are present at the screening or site specific
IGW standards, or at concentrations exceeding the site specific IGW standard, there may be enough of a buffer between
the deepest concentrations and the water table to preclude the PCB contamination reaching the water table. This can
be demonstrated by using the SESOIL transport model or the Immobile Chemicals option. In such an instance remediation
may not be necessary, providing the direct contact pathways have been addressed satisfactorily. These and other
options are detailed in the IGW guidance at
http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/guidance/rs/.
It is recommended that the Impact to Ground Water Introduction document at
http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/guidance/rs/igw_intro.htm
be reviewed prior to conducting any sampling for this pathway.
Under current Site Remediation Program policy, PCBs detected below 0.2 ppm would not require remediation. In a
residential use scenario, PCBs above 0.2 ppm and less than 1 ppm requires institutional (deed notice) and
engineering (cap) controls. In a non-residential or restricted use scenario, PCBs found above 0.2 ppm requires a
deed notice and when above 1 ppm, requires a deed notice and cap. Site Remediation Program policy since 1993
allows for contaminants with appropriate institutional and engineering controls to be non-permanently remediated
as long as the remedy is found to be protective of human health and the environment. The Administrative
Requirements for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites [N.J.A.C. 7:26C-7] requires the establishment of a soil
remedial action permit along with a deed notice.
The Department does not routinely allow capping for the remediation of the IGW pathway, except where technically
impractical. However as discussed above, even when PCBs are present at the site exceeding the site specific IGW
standard, there may be enough of a buffer between the deepest concentrations and the water table to preclude the
contamination from reaching the water table. If this is demonstrated using the options detailed in the IGW
guidance at http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/guidance/rs/,
no remediation will be necessary, providing the direct contact pathways have been addressed.
The USEPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) provides federal PCB remediation policy that must be coordinated
with Site Remediation Program policy during PCB remediation projects. This coordination often will allow for
and in fact require permanent remediation of PCBs dependent on future use and concentrations detected. The TSCA
regulations also known as the "Final PCB Rule" or the "Mega Rule" dealing with the remediation of soil as "bulk
remediation waste" are principally found in 40 CFR 761.61(a - c). TSCA does not regulate PCBs at concentrations
less than 1 ppm. Above 1 ppm PCBs, TSCA stipulates a range of self-implementing cleanup levels based upon future
high and low occupancy scenarios that are identified in 40 CFR 761.61(a)4. These self-implementing remediation
scenarios fall within PCB soil contamination ranges from 1 to 100 ppm. Where concentrations above 100 ppm are
present or where the occupational use requirements will not be met, risk-based disposal approval proposals must
be submitted to the USEPA and a written response must be received before proceeding.
It is important to note the low and high occupancy self-implementing cleanup criteria are differentiated by the
anticipated future use exposure time frame, by an individual not wearing dermal and respiratory protection,
for more or less than an average of 6.7 hours/week. Self-implementing PCB remediation requires a minimum 30-day
advance written notification by the party conducting the remediation to the USEPA Regional Administrator and
other involved regulatory agencies. The licensed site remediation professional (LSRP) submitting the notification
may assume that the proposed remediation is acceptable if the Regional Administrator does not respond within 30
calendar days of receiving the notice. It is recommended that the LSRP document the USEPA notification and any
related correspondence in the remedial action work plan and remedial action report submitted to the Department.
TSCA Self-Implementing Criteria In Defined High Occupancy Areas - PCBs may remain between 1 and less than or equal
to 10 ppm with a cap. This would be applicable to residential, unrestricted use or other uses where occupancy
will exceed an average of 6.7 hours/week.
TSCA Self-Implementing Criteria In Defined Low Occupancy Areas - Where occupancy will not exceed an
average of 6.7 hours/week, PCBs up to 25 ppm may remain without engineering or institutional controls. PCBs may
remain at between 25 and 50 ppm when access is restricted by fencing and warning signs are provided. PCBs may
remain at levels between 25 and 100 ppm when appropriately capped (note no fencing required). 40 CFR 761.61(a)7
defines a cap as being a minimum of 6" of asphalt or concrete (or similar material), or 10" of compacted soil.
The TSCA cap requirements may be somewhat different than that required by the Site Remediation Program in terms of
other geotechnical properties. A LSRP or responsible party proposing to cap a PCB contaminated site should state
that their proposal is in compliance with 40 CFR 761.61(a)7 to cover any potential additional EPA geotechnical requirements.
Site Remediation Program policy does not recognize these occupancy and concentration based scenarios and requires
a deed notice above 0.2 ppm and a cap when PCBs exceed 0.2 ppm or 1 ppm residential/non-residential scenarios,
respectively. Where post-excavation sampling is being conducted to assure attainment of NJDEP SRS/TSCA soil
cleanup criteria, the guidance provided in Technical Guidance for Site Investigation of Soil, Remedial Investigation
of Soil, and Remedial Action Verification Sampling for Soil
(http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/guidance/srra/soil_inv_si_ri_ra.pdf)
should be followed. Note that when EPA is directly involved in a PCB cleanup they may have additional investigatory
and post-excavation PCB sampling requirements.
TSCA Performance-Based Disposal
The performance-based disposal codified in 40 CFR 761.61(b) allows for remediation under certain conditions without
USEPA notification or approval. In such situations, PCB remediation must be completed to below 1 ppm and regardless
of the initial concentrations found, all remediation waste must be disposed at a TSCA approved disposal facility.
The benefit of this option is that it allows for the more rapid remediation of PCB contaminated soils without the
notification requirements as long as the soil quantity is small enough that the timeliness of the response outweighs
potential additional TSCA disposal costs. It is recommended that this option be discussed with the EPA regional
contact (see James Haklar contact information below) prior to implementation.
TSCA Risk-Based Disposal Approval
Taking into account a future low occupancy use scenario with appropriate deed notice and engineering controls,
PCB concentrations up to 100 ppm may remain on site under both Site Remediation Program and TSCA guidelines. A LSRP
or responsible party may elect to request a risk-based disposal approval under 40 CFR 761.61(c) from the USEPA
Regional Administrator for any situation not covered by the self-implementing cleanup guidance. This requires
submission of a request and a written response from the EPA Regional Administrator before any remedial actions may
be taken. Such risk-based disposal proposals may include requests to waive the more restrictive high occupancy
limitations or to leave PCB concentrations in excess of 100 ppm. However, please note that the federal regulations
pertaining to risk-based disposal approvals are silent on the issue of occupancy level, and there is no need by the
LSRP or responsible party to request a specific occupancy level. All risk-based approvals as well as other questions
on TSCA PCB issues should be coordinated with the EPA. The EPA regional contact is James Haklar and he can be reached
at haklar.james@epa.gov or (732) 906-6817.
Other PCB Coordination Issues - Concrete
Another Site Remediation Program/TSCA PCB coordination issue that frequently arises is how to sample and remediate
contaminated porous materials such as concrete. The Mega Rule acknowledges that surficial wipe sampling and decontamination
of concrete is only applicable where a spill has occurred within a 72-hour time frame. Beyond that time frame, PCBs
will have soaked into the concrete making decontamination unsuccessful and wipe sampling unreliable. The Mega Rule
establishes cleanup levels for concrete in the same manner as for soil as a bulk remediation waste. As such, concrete
sample results can be compared to both the NJDEP SRS and TSCA bulk remediation waste regulations in 40 CFR 761.61(a)4.
In normal site remediation situations where contaminated concrete is suspected, sampling must include core
(depth to be site specifically determined) or chip samples to evaluate the horizontal and vertical extent of contamination
in concrete. Remediation that achieves the RSRS of 0.2 ppm would warrant issuance of an unrestricted Response Action
Outcome (RAO). A limited restricted or restricted RAO may be applicable based upon the levels of PCBs present and the
need for institutional and engineering controls.
Where someone wishes to continue using concrete contaminated by spills of liquid PCBs, the concrete may be cleaned,
covered and labeled in accordance with 40 CFR 761.60(p). Such cover may include a solid barrier or a double layer
of solvent resistant coatings (ex. epoxy paint) applied in contrasting colors to provide a visual indication of wear.
When the contaminated concrete is eventually taken out of service as in demolition, disposal must be in accordance
with the bulk remediation waste criteria. Subsequent to the Mega Rule, guidance has been provided by EPA that has
eased the restrictions that were in place for the sale of structures with contaminated concrete.
Note that disposal and/or reuse of PCB contaminated concrete must be done in conjunction with the current Guidance
for Characterization of Concrete and Clean Material Certification for Recycling (updated 1/2010) available at
http://www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/resource/techman.htm#concrete.
The EPA PCB Q&A Manual (revised 2009) is a good source for answers related to PCB site remediation and disposal
questions. This document can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/qacombined.pdf
See figures that follow
(Click on a figure for a larger version of the image.)
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