![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
FEDERAL FACILITIES FORUM TELECONFERENCE
August 14, 2008
- New Members Introduction
- Report Out From The May FFLC Meeting
- Follow-up From The NARPM Fed Forum Business Session
- Post-ROD Subcommitee
- Post Construction Completion Meeting
- Green Remediation Subcommittee Collaboration with Engineering Forum
- Multi-increment Sampling For Non-Explosives
- Document Retention
- Open Mic
- Attendees
NEW MEMBERS INTRODUCTION
Clint Sperry (Region 7), Sarah Kloss (Region 9), John Hamill (Region 9), and Jim Barksdale (Region 4) are new forum members. Jim Kiefer (Region 8) has completed his term as co-chair, and Steve Tzhone (Region 6) was elected as his replacement at the NARPM conference Federal Facilities Forum (Fed Forum) business meeting.
REPORT OUT FROM THE MAY FFLC MEETING
Jim Kiefer called attention to the 3-page summary of the May 2008 Federal Facilities Leadership Council (FFLC) meeting. At the meeting, Kiefer urged greater Fed Forum involvement with the FFLC. Scott Marquess (Region 7) noted the enforcement issue of "substantial non-compliance" in the meeting summary and asked if any of those present had heard about a draft memo on the topic that was emailed to the FFLC on August 12 by Allison Abernathy (FFRRO, on detail to FFEO). Brian Nishitani (Region 3) said the memo, "Compliance tracking: Substantial Noncompliance Guidance Examples for your review," (comments due August 27th) transmits a broader Office of Site Remediation Enforcement workgroup's working definition of substantial non-compliance (SNC) as well as a Federal Facilities Workgroup paper discussing federal facilities-specific examples of SNC to help translate the SNC definition into federal facility oversight terms. Forum members wanted more information, and Ginny Lombardo will ask Abernathy and/or her FFEO associate, Stuart Hunt, to attend the September 11 conference call. Steve Tzhone (Region 6) will try to set up the Post-ROD Subcommittee call with Abernathy and Hunt and possibly Sally Dalzell (FFEO) to discuss the proposed tracking system.
FOLLOW-UP FROM THE NARPM FED FORUM BUSINESS SESSION
Ginny Lombardo reported that about 25 people attended the all-day business meeting. A contractor-provided summary will appear in the meeting highlights. Lombardo would appreciate comments or additional information to supplement the discussion-points summary emailed to forum members with today's meeting agenda. Members at the business session reviewed the mission statement in the Participation Agreement, as well as the 2007 mission presentation to the FFLC, and agreed that the mission statements in these documents are still valid. Lombardo will prepare an updated mission statement incorporating language from both sources and provide the draft to members for discussion. Fed Forum projects to move forward include the munitions issue paper, the post-ROD subcommittee paper on enforcement, solicitation of increased state participation, and possibly working on a joint DoD/EPA RPM training. Monica McEaddy (FFRRO) will ask Mary Cooke (FFRRO) to discuss the proposed DoD/EPA training at the September 11 conference call. At the business meeting, John Reeder (Director, FFRRO) asked the forum to follow up on acquiring feedback on state interest in listing sites on the National Priorities List (NPL). It was suggested to Reeder during the meeting that the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) might be a better source for the information. John Fairbanks (Maryland DE) pointed out that listing or not listing is usually a political decision made high up in the state administration, so canvassing RPMs is unlikely to net useful information; the question might better be posed to people at branch chief level or above. Lombardo will contact the state Fed Forum members not present to get their input on NPL listing and forward that with notes from today's call to Reeder. Reeder also wants to know which state capacity areas the forum would recommend for additional funding, and that issue will be addressed in the September conference call.
POST-ROD SUBCOMMITTEE
Steve Tzhone reported on the development of a Technical Support Project Issue Paper that ties in stipulated penalties for non-compliance. Scott Marquess will head that effort.
POST CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION MEETING
Steve Tzhone said that EPA is focusing more on post-construction completion as site cleanup is maturing. The Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) will be guiding both the programmatic and technical strategies. Tzhone directed members' attention to materials emailed to all forum members that identify the Post Construction Completion Meeting presentations, which are available on the EPA Intranet. Tzhone will forward presentations to state forum members upon request.
GREEN REMEDIATION SUBCOMMITTEE COLLABORATION WITH ENGINEERING FORUM
Steve Tzhone said that the Engineering Forum subcommittee headed by Mike Gill (Region 9) and Raji Josiam (Region 6) has proposed a cross-forum collaboration on green remediation topics. Clint Sperry (Region 7) volunteered to participate in the collaborative effort and report back on the subcommittee's progress.
MULTI-INCREMENT SAMPLING FOR NON-EXPLOSIVES
Scott Marquess asked what methods people are using to analyze metals and non-volatile organics in their Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) site investigations, noting that use of EPA method 8330B for explosives and propellants appears to be gaining acceptance. Rich Mayer (Region 6) added that the Army Corps of Engineers and other DoD divisions seem to be moving toward multi-increment (MI) sampling. Harry Craig (Region 10) referred members to the case study on metals presented at the NARPM conference as a good example. Although MI sampling has not been considered acceptable for risk assessment data, the Risk Assessment Forum meeting later this year will have a session on MI sampling. Ginny Lombardo, who recently took the week-long visual sampling plan training, said that the MI sampling in the course was nothing like the MI sampling described in Appendix A of method 8330B; in the course, it's called MIS/composite sampling.
DOCUMENT RETENTION
Clint Sperry asked whether forum members keep draft documents on file once the final versions are established. Christine Williams (Region 1) replied that she has found it necessary in some cases to keep drafts because she has seen sensitive data change between draft and final, but most members said they keep only the final document. Comments and responses are retained as correspondence in the administrative record.
OPEN MIC
Jim Barksdale suggested that the forum pay more attention to Department of Energy facilities. Steve Tzhone assured him that the importance of expanding the scope of Fed Forum interests beyond Defense facilities was discussed as a new initiative by John Reeder and the forum co-chairs at the NARPM conference Fed Forum business meeting. This effort may involve forming a sub-group and/or developing focus papers on cleanup issues at sites affected by radioactive contaminants.
Felicia Barnett (ORD, Region 4 STL) asked for an update on the issue paper on sampling design and analysis for explosives sites. John Quander (TIFSD) replied that he is unable to fund the entire $154K required to finalize the paper. He can fund about $56K, but other resources will be needed. Harry Craig suggested that Quander ask Doug Maddox (FFRRO) about funding assistance.
Ginny Lombardo, Region 1
Christine Williams, Region 1
Paul Ingrisano, Region 2
Steve Hirsh, Region 3
Josh Barber, Region 3
Brian Nishitani, Region 3
Frank Vavra, Region 3
Jim Barksdale, Region 4
Felicia Barnett, ORD/Region 4 STL
Rich Mayer, Region 6
Stephen Tzhone, Region 6
Scott Marquess, Region 7
Clint Sperry, Region 7
Jim Kiefer, Region 8
Rich Muza, Region 9
John Hamill, Region 9
Harry Craig, Region 10
Monica McEaddy, FFRRO
Kevin Oates, FFRRO
John Quander, TIFSD
Randall Ross, ORD/Ada
Joanne Dearden, MA DEP
John Fairbanks, MD DE
Leca Buchan, EMS, Inc.
In an effort to foster scientific and technical advances in characterization, monitoring and remediation of contaminated sites, the EPA Technical Support Project encourages full and frank discussion of all technical matters and related issues that come before it.Information presented in these minutes represents the views of the participants and has not received formal EPA peer review. Therefore, this information does not necessarily reflect the views of EPA or other participating organizations, and no official endorsement should be inferred. The information is not intended, nor can it be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States or any other party. Use or mention of trade names does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use. Errors and omissions in the information will be corrected as they are found and time permits.