Integration of risk assessments and removal actions to expedite the cercla remedial response process at a dod brac facility

In an era of reduced budgets and public demand for greater efficiency in government environmental response actions, reduction of overhead expenses is of prime importance. For large U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) facilities undergoing Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), such as the Southeastern (SE) Area at Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) National Priorities List (NPL) site, costs to comply or demonstrate compliance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) regulations can be enormous, because LEAD is an installation with a diverse array of mission activities, each associated with unique environmental issues. Because such costs can greatly impact resources available for current and future mission activities, LEAD is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and their contractors to develop a focused and strategic plan to effectively comply with CERCLA regulations, while maintaining current and projected operations. To illustrate how the CERCLA process was accelerated, a case study on SE Operable Unit 4, the LEAD SE Offpost Stormwater Sewers and Drainageway Sediments, is presented.