Updates on regulatory changes and industry events for VI practitioners
Updated Regulatory Guidance
The U.S. EPA added subsurface intrusion (SsI), including vapor intrusion, to the Hazard Ranking System. The Hazard Ranking System is used to assess sites for placement on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). U.S. EPA targets sites on the NPL for further investigation and possible remediation through the Superfund program. This change only applies to sites being evaluated in the future and does not affect the status of sites currently on or proposed to be added to the NPL.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has proposed modifications to the approach for assessing the potential for vapor intrusion at sites. The new methodology will use a tiered process, allowing the incorporation of site-specific data to evaluate vapor intrusion risks and generate volatilization to indoor air criteria (VIAC). The proposed changes also include establishing soil classification and temperature standards for input into the VIAC calculator tool. These proposed changes are still under revision, with official promulgation expected summer 2017.
A presentation by MDEQ summarizing the proposed changes is available here:
The Remediation Technology (RemTEC) Summit will be held on March 7-9, 2017 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. The summit focuses on cost-effective site management and closure within the environmental science and remediation industry. The conference includes a half-day session track dedicated to assessment and mitigation of vapor intrusion.
The Association for Environmental Health and Sciences Foundation (AEHS Foundation) will be holding the 27th Annual International Conference on Soil, Water, Energy, and Air at the Marriot Mission Valley in San Diego, CA on March 20-23, 2017. The conference will feature a half-day workshop entitled "USEPA VI Workshop: Finding Practical Solutions for the Chlorinated Vapor Intrusion Pathway - Helping RCRA Facilities Meet Signicant Challenges". Attendees of the conference include representatives from state and federal agencies, military, industry, environmental consulting, and academia.
Battelle will host the Fourth International Symposium on Bioremediation and Sustainable Environmental Technologies on May 22-25, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Miami Hotel in Miami, FL. The entire conference will include more than 560 platform talks and poster presentations in 55 themed sessions. Several sessions will cover the evaluation and mitigation of vapor intrusion.
Geosyntec is a specialized consulting and engineering firm that works with private and public sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Visit the
vapor intrusion practice area page on
Geosyntec.com to learn more.
