ABSTRACT
Assessment monitoring programs typically are employed once the owner/operator of the facility has detected a statistically valid increase in indicator parameters in his detection monitoring program. Assessment monitoring activities may also be initiated due to previous hazardous waste disposal activities that may nominate the site through a state or federal regulatory program as a significant risk to human health and the environment. Federal and state regulations have codified assessment monitoring programs throughout the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Subtitles C and D and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Superfund regulations. Although it may seem like a daunting task to review assessment monitoring programs for such complex regulations, the actual scope of the site evaluation technical work components is essentially similar to the scope presented in the previous discussion, only with more rigorous documentation requirements. These federal programs are compared in Figure 10-1 for major goals of assessment investigations. These goals can be summarized into the following points:
• Identify releases needing further investigations. • Characterize nature, extent and rate of release. • Evaluate alternatives and identify remedies. • Propose selected remedy. • Include public participation. • Authorize selected remedy. • Design and implement chosen remedy.
