[CPEO-BIF] Proposed rule adding subsurface intrusion to the U.S. EPA's Hazard Ranking System

U.S. EPA is seeking comments on a proposed rule add a vapor intrusion component to the ranking system used to add sites to the “Superfund” National Priorities list. Though I haven’t heard of any opposition yet, it wouldn’t hurt to submit comments supporting the proposal.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add a subsurface intrusion (SsI) component to the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) which is the principal mechanism that EPA uses to evaluate sites for placement on the National Priorities List (NPL). The subsurface intrusion component (this addition) would expand the number of available options for EPA and state and tribal organizations performing work on behalf of EPA to evaluate potential threats to public health from releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. This addition will allow an HRS evaluation to directly consider human exposure to hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants that enter regularly occupied structures through subsurface intrusion in assessing a site’s relative risk, and thus, enable subsurface intrusion contamination to be evaluated for placement of sites on the NPL. The agency is not considering changes to the remainder of the HRS except for minor updates reflecting changes in terminology.

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For the entire notice, see
https://semspub.epa.gov/work/11/189617.pdf