Utilities Urge EPA, OMB To Expand Use Of Vapor Guide At Petroleum Sites

摘要

Utility industry representatives are urging EPA and White House officials to expand the use of EPA's draft risk-based criteria for assessing vapor intrusion risk at sites contaminated by leaking petroleum underground storage tanks (USTs) to more broadly cover all sites contaminated only by petroleum regardless of the source. "There is no science- or risk-based reason to treat [petroleum hydrocarbons] differently in the context of vapor intrusion evaluation/mitigation based on their source," according to a memo that representatives from the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group (USWAG) circulated at a March 30 meeting with administration officials. "This approach will drive unnecessary costs, wasting time and money and prompting regulatory uncertainty" at petroleum-contaminated sites nationwide. The memo is available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details. (Doc. ID: 180401) The White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) is currently reviewing EPA's draft vapor intrusion guide for petroleum-contaminated UST sites, and a related draft guide for assessing and mitigating risks from vapor intrusion from chlorinated solvents, such as trichloroethylene - both crafted by the agency's waste office.