Federal Facilities Library

The library is a repository of information about federal-facility restoration and reuse. It is divided into the categories below (click on a link to go to that category).

Base Realignment & Closure (BRAC)

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Program: Frequently Asked Questions • Year: N/A
Summary: Questions and answers regarding BRAC.

Base Reuse Process Overview • Year: N/A
Summary: The purpose of this chapter is to describe the framework for the base-reuse process and the general context for the rest of the information in this Manual.

BRAC 2005 Recommendations Map • Year: 2005
Summary: This PowerPoint slide contains a map of facilities related to the BRAC 2005 recommendations.

Comparing BRAC Rounds • Year:2005
Summary: This PowerPoint slide compares data from various BRAC rounds.

Fast Track Cleanup Process Initiative and Guidance • Year: N/A
Summary: This page describes the Fast Track Cleanup Program, which is part of the plan to mitigate economic dislocation and speed economic recovery of communities near realigning/closing military bases.

Federal Facilities - Military Base Closures; Application of CERCLA Section 120(h)(3) • Year: N/A
Summary: A memorandum regarding the application of CERCLA Section 120(h)(3).

Interim Guidance for EPA's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Program • Year: 2006
Summary: This document provides guidance for EPA support at installations identified in the five rounds of BRAC.

Management of Lead-Based Paint in Residential and Non-Residential Areas at Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Properties • Year: 1999
Summary: This memorandum transmits the agreements EPA and DoD reached on August 14, 1998, and provides a schedule for completing the actions the agencies agreed to undertake jointly.

Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Defense • Year: N/A
Summary: This page contains a memorandum of understanding regarding support for implementation of fast track cleanup at closing Department of Defense (DoD) installations.

Military Base Closures: Guidance on EPA Concurrence in the Identification of Uncontaminated Parcels under CERCLA Section 120(h)(4) • Year: N/A
Summary: This memo addresses the approach EPA should use in determining whether to concur that a parcel has been properly identified by the military as "uncontaminated" and therefore transferrable.

Overview of Primary Environmental Regulations Pertinent to BRAC Cleanup Plan Development: Appendix A • Year: N/A
Summary: This appendix is an introduction to the primary environmental laws and regulations applicable to all Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) installations.

Summary of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission's Actions Impacting Installations on the NPL • Year: 2005
Summary: A list of recommended base closures, realignments, and gains.

Support for Department of Defense (DoD) Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Cleanup Implementation • Year: 2002
Summary: This memorandum establishes responsibilities and funding for accelerating environmental restoration and cleanup decisions at selected Base Realignment and Closure installations.

Support for Department of Defense (DoD) Cleanup Implementation for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Installations Rounds I-IV • Year: 2005
Summary: This memorandum establishes responsibilities and funding for accelerating environmental restoration and cleanup decisions at selected Base Realignment and Closure installations.

Support for Department of Defense (DoD) Cleanup Implementation for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Installations Rounds I-IV • Year: 2008
Summary: This memorandum establishes responsibilities and funding for accelerating environmental restoration and cleanup decisions at selected Base Realignment and Closure installations.

Community Engagement

Federal Facilities Environmental Restoration Dialogue Committee • Year: 1999
Summary: The committee provides a blueprint for all stakeholders—the public, regulators, and regulated agencies—to develop creative solutions to environmental pollution at federal facilities.

Federal Facilities Stakeholder Involvement - Blueprint for Action • Year: 1999
Summary: This is a brochure about stakeholder involvement at federal facilities. Federal-facility cleanups improve when stakeholders share information and participate in decision making.

Institutional Controls: A Citizen's Guide to Understanding Institutional Controls at Superfund, Brownfields, Federal Facilities, Underground Storage Tanks, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Cleanups (OSWER 9255.0-98) • Year: 2005
Summary: This guide informs communities about the role of institutional controls (ICs) in cleanups, and it discusses the community's role in providing assistance in IC selection and monitoring.

Site-Specific Advisory Board Final Guidance • Year: 1996
Summary: This final guidance provides recommended procedures for establishing and maintaining the Site-Specific Advisory Board.

Emerging Contaminants & Contaminants of Concern

Asbestos and 120(h) Transfers • Year: N/A
Summary: How the presence of asbestos on closing bases affects the United States' ability to transfer under §120(h)(4) and §120(h)(3).

Clarification of Interim Status Qualification Requirements for the Hazardous Components of Radioactive Mixed Waste • Year: 1988
Summary: EPA published a notice clarifying requirements for facilities that treat, store, or dispose of radioactive mixed waste to obtain interim status (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act).

Clarification to the 1994 Revised Interim Soil Lead Guidance for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Corrective Action Facilities • Year: 1998
Summary: This directive clarifies the existing 1994 Revised Interim Soil Lead Guidance for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Corrective Action Facilities, OSWER Directive 9355.4-12.

Naturally Occurring Radon and 120(h) transfers • Year: N/A
Summary: This memorandum discusses how the presence of naturally occurring radon on closing military bases affects the United States' ability to transfer parcels under §120(h) (3) and §120(h) (4).

Revised Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate • Year: 2009
Summary: This memorandum recommends that where no federal or state applicable or relevant and appropriate (ARAR) requirements exist under federal or state laws, 15 µg/L (or 15 ppb) is recommended as the preliminary remediation goal for perchlorate when making CERCLA site-specific cleanup decisions where there is an actual or potential drinking water exposure pathway.

Enforcement & Compliance

Department of Energy Compliance Agreements • Year: 1988
Summary: The purpose of this memorandum is to reaffirm DOE's commitment to working with EPA and the States to establish enforceable agreements at its major facilities.

Draft Guidance on EPA's New Penalty Order Authority Against Federal Facilities Under the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments (SDWA) of 1996 • Year: 1997
Summary: Explains new provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 and provides guidance on the use of the Agency's authority to issue penalty orders against Federal facilities.

Enforceability of Hanford Agreement Under CERCLA Section 310 • Year: 1989
Summary: This page contains a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Washington State Department of Ecology, regarding the enforceability of the Hanford Agreement Under CERCLA Section 310.

Enforceability of IAGs Using CERCLA Section 310 • Year: 1989
Summary: This page contains the text of a letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the State of Maine, regarding the enforceability of IAGs using CERCLA Section 310.

Enforceability of Section 120 Federal Facility Agreements • Year: 1989
Summary: Letter presenting the Justice Department's views on the enforceability of agreements developed under Section 120 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.

Enforcement Actions at Government-Owned Contractor-Operated Facilities • Year: 1998
Summary: This page contains the text of two memos regarding government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) facilities.

Environmental Compliance Issue Coordination • Year: 1987
Summary: Establishing DOE requirements for coordination of significant environmental compliance issues to ensure timely development and consistent application of departmental policy and guidance.

Executive Order 12146: Management of Federal Legal Resources • Year: 1979
Summary: An Executive Order regarding how the federal government should manage its legal resources.

Favorable Decision Upholding Radioactive/Hazardous "Mixed Waste" Storage Civil Enforcement Policy • Year: 1993
Summary: Copy of the US Court of Appeals (DC Circuit) decision in Edison Electric Institute, et al. v. EPA, which upheld EPA's radioactive/hazardous 'mixed waste' storage civil enforcement policy.

Federal Facilities • Year: 1985
Summary: The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the responsibilities and direction of effort within the Office of Waste Programs Enforcement (OWPE) for federal-facility activities.

Federal Facilities Negotiations Policy • Year: 1989
Summary: Much progress has been made in establishing new principles governing EPA's relationship with other federal agencies. We now need to ensure that RCRA/CERCLA issues are resolved efficiently.

Negotiation of Consent Decrees, Compliance Agreements and any Similar Agreements • Year: 1989
Summary: This is a Department of Energy memorandum regarding negotiation of consent decrees, compliance agreements, and any similar agreements.

Overview of Executive Orders Affecting Federal Facilities • Year: N/A
Summary: The Executive Office has published numerous orders that direct Federal Agencies and facilities to become leaders in environmental protection and stewardship.

Policy on Future Environmental Compliance Agreements • Year: 1989
Summary: This is a memorandum from the U.S. Secretary of Energy, regarding future environmental compliance agreements.

Policy on Listing Mixed Ownership Mine or Mill Sites Created as a Result of the General Mining Law of 1872 on the Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket • Year: 2003
Summary: The Federal Facilities Enforcement Office believes that mixed-ownership mine or mill sites created as a result of the General Mining Law of 1872 generally should not be listed on the Docket.

Procedures and Criteria for Department of Justice Concurrence in CERCLA Administrative Orders to Federal Agencies • Year: 2016
Summary: The final version of the Justice Department's Procedures and Criteria for concurrence in proposed EPA administrative orders to federal agencies.

RCRA Post-Closure Permits for Regulated Units at NPL Sites • Year: 1992
Summary: This page contains two memos regarding the issuance of post-closure permits to RCRA-regulated units at NPL sites.

Reporting under CERCLA S. 120(h) of Hazardous Substances Used as Building Materials • Year: 1989
Summary: Memo regarding whether federal agencies must give notice, in connection with property transfers, that hazardous substances have been used as building materials in that property.

United States Department of Energy v. Ohio et al.  | PDF Version • Year: 1992

Summary: Held: Congress has not waived the National Government's sovereign immunity from liability for civil fines imposed by a State for past violations of the CWA or RCRA.

Use of §3008(h) Orders or Post-Closure Permits At Closing Facilities • Year: N/A
Summary: This memorandum clarifies the use of §3008(h) orders and post-closure permits to address corrective action at closing interim status facilities.

Five-Year Review

Program Priorities for Federal Facility Five-Year Review • Year: 2011
Summary: The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information on the Federal Facility program priorities for Five-Year Reviews.

Correction to the Memorandum "Program Priorities for Federal Facility Five-Year Reviews" (February 22, 2012) • Year: 2012 Summary:This memorandum corrects the August 1, 2011 policy memorandum (see above) by clarifying the CERCLIS language on page 4.

Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket

Docket Reference Manual: Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket - Interim Final (PDF) (31 pp, 316 K) • Year: 2007
Summary: This manual facilitates the process of identifying and adding federal facilities to the Docket, as well as activities after a federal facility is added, pursuant to Docket requirements.

Institutional Controls (IC)

Institutional Controls and Transfer of Real Property under CERCLA Section 120(h)(3)(A), (B) or (C) • Year: N/A
Summary: Guidance to the Environmental Protection Agency on the exercise of its discretion when it is called upon to evaluate institutional controls as part of a remedial action.

Institutional Controls: A Citizen's Guide to Understanding Institutional Controls at Superfund, Brownfields, Federal Facilities, Underground Storage Tanks, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Cleanups (OSWER 9255.0-98) • Year: 2005
Summary: This guide informs communities about the role of institutional controls (ICs) in cleanups, and it discusses the community's role in providing assistance in IC selection and monitoring.

Institutional Controls: A Guide to Planning, Implementing, Maintaining, and Enforcing Institutional Controls at Contaminated Sites (PIME IC Guidance) • Year: 2012
Summary: This guide identifies and addresses many of the common issues that may be encountered when using ICs pursuant to several of the Agency’s cleanup programs (Superfund remedial and removal, federal facilities, Brownfields, underground storage tanks, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act sites). It also provides an overview of the Agency’s policy regarding the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved in various aspects of the IC life cycle, namely the planning, implementing, maintaining, and enforcing of ICs.

Remedy Selection and Land Use at Federal Facilities • Year: 1996
Summary: This report presents the results of an examination of remedy selection at Federal Facility Superfund sites on the National Priorities List.

Integrated Cleanup Initiative

2010 EPA Letters Regarding Remediation Metrics and GPRA Measures • Year: 2010
Summary: Collection of letters between EPA and responsible federal agencies regarding planned remediation metrics and EPA's GPRA measures at agencies' sites.

2011 EPA Letters Regarding Remediation Metrics and GPRA Measures • Year: 2011
Summary: Collection of letters between EPA and responsible federal agencies regarding planned remediation metrics and EPA's GPRA measures at agencies' sites.

Analysis of EPA's Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO) Regional Performance Report • Year: 2011
Summary: This is a summary report of a series of analyses of the Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO) regional programs' performance in meeting their annual targets for the last six years (2005-2010).

Long Term Stewardship

Memorandum of Understanding on Long-Term Stewardship at Federal Facilities in the United States • Year: 2003
Summary: This memo provides a common understanding and basis for discussion and coordination between the Environmental Council of the States and federal agencies regarding Long-Term Stewardship.

Military Munitions & Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Concurrence Memo for the Interim Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) Methodology • Year: 2008
Summary: This memo discusses the MEC HA Methodology for assessing potential explosive hazards to human receptors at munitions response sites.

Definitions Related to Munitions Response Actions • Year: 2003
Summary: The use of accurate, descriptive terminology is important in the Department of Defense's ongoing efforts to engage stakeholders in its efforts to address munitions-response issues.

Department of Defense (DoD) Range Rule • Year: 1999
Summary: This page contains a letter from Timothy Fields to Sherri Goodman regarding the Department of Defense Range Rule.

Draft Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment Guidance Document - Comment Form: Consolidated DoD Comments Received on April 19, 2007 • Year: 2007
Summary: This file contains DoD comments related to the Draft Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment Guidance Document.

Draft Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment Guidance Document - Comment Form: Final Responses • Year: 2007
Summary: This file contains the final responses related to the Draft Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment Guidance Document.

Draft Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment Guidance Document - Comment Form: State of Colorado • Year: 2007
Summary: This file contains the State of Colorado's comments related to the Draft Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment Guidance Document.

EPA Course: Planning and Management of Munitions Response Action • Year: 2005
Summary: This course provides training to project managers involved in the investigation and cleanup of unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, and (to some extent) munitions constituents.

EPA Federal Facilities Forum Issue Paper: Site Characterization for Munitions Constituents • Year: 2011
Summary:This paper provides remedial project managers and other federal, state, and private personnel working on hazardous waste sites the technical information needed to make decisions regarding the nature of energetic residues on Department of Defense training ranges (and other munitions sites, such as Formerly Used Defense Sites), sampling strategies that provide representative samples, and analytical methods developed to characterize these samples.

EPA Munitions Response Guidelines (OSWER Directive 9200.1-101) • Year: 2010
Summary: Framework for overseeing responses involving munitions and explosives of concern and munitions constituents at locations other than ranges with known/suspected hazards/contamination.

Framework Issue Paper # 2: Comparison of Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol (MRSPP) and Initial MEC Hazard Assessment (HA) Consensus Input Factors • Year: 2004
Summary: This paper initiates an examination of how well the MRSPP Explosive Hazards Evaluation (EHE) module, as designed for its specific purpose, would meet the purposes of the MEC HA process.

Framework Option Paper #5: The Role of the MEC HA in the Decision-Making Process • Year: N/A
Summary :This document's discussion and flowchart explain how the proposed MEC HA process could integrate with the site-investigation and decision-making process.

Handbook on the Management of Munitions Response Actions • Year: 2005
Summary: This handbook has been written for regulators and the public to facilitate understanding of the technical issues surrounding munitions response actions at current and former DoD facilities.

Handbook on the Management of Ordnance and Explosives at Closed, Transferring, and Transferred Ranges and Other Sites - Interim Final • Year: 2002
Summary: This handbook facilitates understanding of technical issues surrounding the investigation and cleanup of closed, transferring, and transferred ranges and other DoD sites.

Hazard Assessment for Munitions and Explosives of Concern Concept Paper • Year: 2004
Summary: This paper presents consensus decisions of an inter-agency, State, and Tribal Technical Working Group on Hazard Assessment (TWG-HA) of Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC).

Hazard Assessment for Munitions and Explosives of Concern: Workgroup Briefing Book - Section A • Year: 2004
Summary: This document contains the introduction and agenda of the workgroup.

Hazard Assessment for Munitions and Explosives of Concern: Workgroup Briefing Book - Section B • Year: 2004
Summary: This document contains the glossary and acronyms of the workgroup briefing book.

Hazard Assessment for Munitions and Explosives of Concern: Workgroup Briefing Book - Section C • Year: 2004
Summary: This document contains issue papers of the workgroup.

Hazard Assessment for Munitions and Explosives of Concern: Workgroup Briefing Book - Section D • Year: 2004
Summary: This document contains background materials of the workgroup.

Hazard Assessment for Munitions and Explosives of Concern: Workgroup Briefing Book - Table of Contents • Year: 2004
Summary: This document contains the table of contents for the workgroup briefing book.

Issue Paper: Is the unmodified Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol adequate for a site-specific hazard assessment for munitions and explosives of concern? • Year: N/A
Summary: The MRSPP Explosive Hazard Evaluation is based on a broad view for comparing sites for prioritizing site investigations and responses. It does not take into account site-specific conditions.

Letter to Susan Bodine Regarding the Interim Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) Hazard Assessment (HA) (MEC-HA) Methodology • Year: 2008
Summary: The purpose of this letter is to transmit the support of the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) for the use of the Interim MEC-HA Methodology.

MEC HA Framework Option Paper #1: Performance Objectives and Criteria • Year: 2004
Summary: This paper identifies recommended performance objectives for the Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) process currently under development.

MEC HA Framework Option Paper #3: Recommended Input Factors • Year: 2004
Summary: This paper presents recommendations for input factors to be included in the MEC HA framework.

MEC HA Framework Option Paper #4: Structure and Output • Year: 2004
Summary: This paper discusses options for the remaining two elements of the MEC HA framework: the structure and the output.

MEC HA Matrix (Microsoft Excel) (39 K) • Year: 2007
Summary: A matrix illustrating MEC HA outreach planning.

Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) Initiative • Year: 2004
Summary: This slideshow about the MEC HA Initiative discusses the participants, progress, and process; the purpose of the initiative; and next steps and outreach.

Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) Initiative: ASTSWMO • Year: 2005
Summary: This slideshow about the MEC HA Initiative targets ASTSWMO (Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials).

Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) Initiative DoD • Year: 2005
Summary: This slideshow about the MEC HA Initiative targets the DoD's Munitions Response Committee.

Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) Initiative: Stakeholder Workshop • Year: 2005
Summary: This slideshow about the MEC HA Initiative targets stakeholders.

Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) Initiative: USAF (Microsoft PowerPoint) (66 pp, 4.4 MB) • Year: 2005
Summary: This slideshow about the MEC HA Initiative targets the US Air Force.

Munitions and Explosives of Concern: Hazard Assessment • Year: 2005
Summary: This fact sheet introduces stakeholders to the Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) Initiative.

Munitions and Explosives of Concern: Hazard Assessment Methodology (Interim) • Year: 2008
Summary: This document describes the munitions and explosives of concern hazard assessment methodology for assessing potential explosive hazards to human receptors at munitions response sites.

Recommendations for EPA Regional Offices on Preliminary Assessments and Site Inspections for the Department of Defense Military Munitions Response Program • Year: 2010
Summary: Recommendations for EPA Regional Offices on Preliminary Assessments and Site Inspections for the Department of Defense Military Munitions Response Program

Unexploded Ordnance Management Principles • Year: 2000
Summary: This page contains a memo and interim guidance regarding unexploded ordnance at closed, transferring, and transferred ranges.

Unexploded Ordnance: A Critical Review of Risk Assessment Methods (PDF)(181 pp, 1.6 MB) • Year: 2004
Summary: This report documents the findings of a study that examined methods for assessing the risks of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and munitions constituents on former military training land.

UXO Incident Report (Revision 1) • Year: 2001
Summary: DPRA, Inc. identified incidents with unexploded ordnance, chemical munitions/agents, or other military munitions that resulted in death or injury to civilians in the United States.

National Priority List Measures and Accomplishments

Clarification of NPL Listing Policy
• Year: 1995
Summary: Discusses a restatement of the policy regarding what is included in the National Priorities List site, addressing the perception that federal facilities are listed fenceline-to-fenceline.

Clarification of the Listing Policy for Federal Facilities
• Year: 1994
Summary: This memorandum clarifies the position of the Superfund Site Assessment program with regards to listing Federal Facilities "fenceline to fenceline."

Guidance on Deferral of NPL Listing Determinations While States Oversee Response Actions
• Year: 1995
Summary: The deferral guidance provides a framework for Regions, States, and federally recognized Tribes to determine the best means of addressing more sites more quickly than EPA.

Listing and Deletion Policy for Federal Facilities
• Year: 1997
Summary: This notice announces an interim final revision to the Agency's policy on placing federal facility sites on the NPL and on deleting those sites already on the NPL.

Pre-Remedial Summary Guides for Federal Facilities
• Year: 2005
Summary: EPA has produced these guides to aid its Regions and help other federal agencies improve the quality of Preliminary Assessments and Site Investigations.

Federal Facilities Remedial Preliminary Assessment Summary Guide • Year: 2005

Federal Facilities Remedial Site Inspection Summary Guide • Year: 2005
Summary; These guides are intended to assist EPA Regions and other federal agencies improve the quality of Preliminary Assessments (PAs) and Site Inspections (SIs) at federal facilities. See the transmittal memo associated with these guides.

Property Transfer

Addendum to EPA's 1997 Policy Towards Landowners and Transferees of Federal Facilities: Applicability of the Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Liability Protections to Transferees of Federal Real Property • Year: 2006
Summary: This policy clarifies how the bona fide prospective purchaser liability protection provisions in the Brownfields Amendments may apply to real-property transfers.

Asbestos and 120(h) Transfers • Year: N/A
Summary: How the presence of asbestos on closing bases affects the United States' ability to transfer under §120(h)(4) and §120(h)(3).

DoD Guidance on the Environmental Review Process to Reach a Finding of Suitability to Transfer (FOST) for Property Where No Release or Disposal Has Occurred • Year: 1995
Summary: This policy provides guidance to DoD components on documenting parcels of real property made available through the BRAC process and which are environmentally suitable for transfer by deed.

DoD Guidance on the Environmental Review Process to Reach a Finding of Suitability to Transfer (FOST) for Property Where Release or Disposal Has Occurred • Year: 1995
Summary: This policy provides guidance to DoD components on documenting parcels of real property made available through the BRAC process and which are environmentally suitable for transfer by deed.

Environmental Requirements for Federal Agency-to-Agency Property Transfer • Year: 1995
Summary: This page contains a memorandum regarding environmental requirements for federal agency-to-agency property transfer at BRAC installations.

Environmental Suitability for Leasing Property • Year: 1994
Summary: Memorandum of Understanding between EPA and DoD, regarding the procedures to determine environmental suitability for leasing property available as a result of a base closure or realignment.

EPA Guidance on the Transfer of Federal Property by Deed Before All Necessary Remedial Action Has Been Taken Pursuant to CERCLA Section 120(h)(3) -- (Early Transfer Authority Guidance) • Year: 1998
Summary: Guidance on transfer of NPL-listed real property held by a federal agency where the release/disposal of hazardous substances has occurred but before necessary remedial action has been taken.

Facilitating Property Transfers at Federal Facilities • Year: 1992
Summary: This memorandum contains approaches that may be useful in expediting property transfers without hindering any ongoing environmental response action.

Guidance for Documenting and Reporting Performance in Achieving Land Revitalization • Year: N/A
Summary: This guidance provides technical direction to Environmental Protection Agency personnel in documenting and reporting land-revitalization achievements at Superfund and federal-facility sites.

Institutional Controls and Transfer of Real Property under CERCLA Section 120(h)(3)(A), (B) or (C) • Year: N/A
Summary: Guidance to the Environmental Protection Agency on the exercise of its discretion when it is called upon to evaluate institutional controls as part of a remedial action.

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signed by DoD and Those Federal Agencies that Sponsor Public Benefit Transfers • Year: 1997
Summary: This memorandum delineates responsibilities for environmental obligations associated with the assignment of base-closure properties approved for public-benefit transfers.

Policy Towards Landowners and Transferees of Federal Facilities • Year: 1997
Summary: This policy addresses potential liability concerns of landowners and transferees who acquire federal-facility property.

Property Lease Information at Federal Facilities in CERCLIS • Year: 2006
Summary: In an attempt to eliminate double-counting of acreage at federal facilities, Regions should follow this process for zeroing out property leases that have turned into transfers.

Revised Model Comfort Letter Clarifying NPL Listing, Uncontaminated Parcel Determinations, and CERCLA Liability Involving Transfers of Federally Owned Property • Year: 1996
Summary: This memorandum transmits EPA's revised model comfort letter, which addresses various issues concerning perceived National Priorities List (NPL) stigma and Superfund liability.

Transmittal of "EPA Guidance on the Transfer of Federal Property by Deed Before All Necessary Remedial Action Has Been Taken Pursuant to CERCLA Section 120(h)(3)" • Year: 1998
Summary: This is for EPA Regions reviewing requests from federal departments/agencies that are transferring property to defer the CERCLA covenant that all necessary remedial actions have been taken.

Quality Assurance

Applicability of the Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans (EPA 505-04-900A) (OSWER Guidance 9272.0-20) • Year: 2005
Summary: This memo informs you that Quality Assurance Project Plans prepared and approved according to the UFP-QAPP meet the EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans (QA/R-5).

Audit Report: Laboratory Support Services for Environmental Testing • Year:1997
Summary:This report discusses the procurement and administration of the Department of Defense's environmental-testing contracts.

Enhancing the Quality and Oversight of Federal Facilities Data for Environmental Cleanup • Year: 1999
Summary: This memorandum establishes specific actions that Regions must implement to enhance the quality and oversight of data collection and environmental decision-making processes.

Environmental Quality Systems (PDF) (9 pp, 59 K) • Year: 2006
Summary: Policy for establishing environmental quality systems for DoD activities and programs involving the collection, management, and use of environmental data.

Implementation of the Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans (UFP-QAPP) at Federal Facility Hazardous Waste Sites (OSWER Directive 9272.0-17) • Year: 2005
Summary: This Directive transmits the final Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans and provides guidance on data collection at federal facility hazardous-waste sites.

Intergovernmental Data Quality Task Force: Scope, Elements, Basis, Benefits, Implementation • Year: N/A
Summary: This is a factsheet describing the Uniform Federal Policy for Implementing Environmental Quality Systems.

OSWER Quality Assurance Initiatives and Recommendations for Regional Implementation • Year: 1999
Summary: This memorandum informs recipients of the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response's initiatives related to Quality Assurance.

Part 2A(e): Electronic UFP-QAPP Workbook (ZIP)(6 pp, 5 MB)
Summary: These electronic UFP-QAPP Worksheets are provided as a tool to be used when developing a QAPP for environmental-data collection.

Quality Assurance Project Plan: Connecticut River Fish Tissue Study • Year: 2000
Summary: A Quality Assurance Project Plan based on the Intergovernmental Data Quality Task Force UFP-QAPP.

Summary of EPA Regional Data Quality "Best Practices" for Federal Facilities • Year: N/A
Summary: This page contains tables that summarize data-quality best practices for federal facilities.

Uniform Federal Policy for Implementing Environmental Quality Systems: Evaluating, Assessing, and Documenting Environmental Data Collection/Use and Technology Programs • Year: 2005
Summary: The policy provides recommendations and guidelines for documentation and implementation of acceptable quality systems for federal agencies.

Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans • Year: 2006
Summary: The purpose of this Department of Defense memorandum is to request that Components begin immediate implementation of the policy.

Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans: Evaluating, Assessing, and Documenting Environmental Data Collection and Use Programs - Part 1. UFP-QAPP Manual • Year: 2005
Summary: Part 1 of the UFP-QAPP Manual provides instructions for preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans for any environmental data-collection operation.

Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans - Part 2B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Compendium: Minimum QA/QC Activities • Year: 2005
Summary: The purpose of this QA/QC Compendium is to establish minimum specifications for data-quality activities for all phases and data uses in the CERCLA process.

Remedial Guidance & Technologies

Agreements for NPL Sites -- Interim Guidance Material • Year: 1988
Summary: This page contains guidance material from the Assistant Secretary of Defense, regarding NPL sites.

Blank FOST/FOSL Submission Dates in CERCLIS • Year: 2006
Summary: In the ongoing efforts to improve and validate regional data quality in CERCLIS, missing historical FOST/FOSL submission dates (start dates) need to be entered.

Clarification to 1998 Agreement Regarding the National Remedy Review Board Review Criteria for Department of Energy Non-Time Critical Removal Actions • Year: 2002
Summary: This memorandum provides additional clarification on the applicability of the October 5, 1998, Environmental Protection Agency-Department of Energy agreement on DOE decommissioning projects.

Commonly Asked Questions Regarding the Use of Natural Attenuation for Chlorinated Solvent Spills at Federal Facilities (PDF) (4 pp, 850 K) • Year: N/A
Summary: This document contains common questions (and answers) regarding the use of natural attenuation for chlorinated solvent spills at federal facilities.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 120 Interagency Agreements • Year: 2005
Summary: An affirmation of EPA's responsibility to enter into interagency agreements (IAGs) or Federal Facility Agreements (FFAs) to ensure the proper management of federal Superfund cleanups.

Cooking Up Solutions: Cleaning Up with Lasagna (PDF) (6 pp, 973 K) • Year: 1999
Summary: Lasagna™ is an innovative technology that reduces trichloroethene (TCE) contamination in soil in a manner that is faster, more effective, and less costly than traditional cleanup options.

Delegation of Authority to Review Leases of Property at Department of Energy Weapon Production Facilities Under the Department of Energy Organization Act • Year: 1997
Summary: Delegating the authority of the Administrator to review leases of property at Department of Energy weapon facilities to the Assistant Administrator for OSWER and Regional Administrators.

Delegation of Authority Under the Community Environmental Response Facilitation Act (CERFA) - Decision Memorandum • Year: 1994
Summary: This memo concerns how the Office of Enforcement proposed that two new authorities under the Community Environmental Response Facilitation Act be delegated to the Regional Administrators.

EPA Concurrence/Approval of Federal Facility Proposed Plans and Records of Decision and other Documents • Year: 2001
Summary: This memorandum seeks to ensure that EPA Regions scrutinize all proposed plans, draft and final RODs, and post-ROD documents that address institutional controls.

EPA Policy for Innovative Environmental Technologies at Federal Facilities • Year: 1994
Summary: Memo about the opportunities for developing/applying innovative technologies/approaches to pollution prevention, source control, site investigation, and remediation at federal facilities.

EPA Policy Towards Privately-Owned Formerly Used Defense Sites • Year: 2002
Summary: EPA is issuing this policy to the Regions in order to clarify the Agency's role at privately-owned formerly used defense sites.

Federal Facilities Remedial Preliminary Assessment Summary Guide • Year: 2005
Summary: This guide assists federal agencies in conducting Remedial Preliminary Assessments for determining whether further action at a site is necessary.

Federal Facilities Remedial Site Inspection Summary Guide • Year: 2005
Summary: This guide assists federal agencies conducting Remedial Site Inspections to obtain sufficient information under CERCLA to meet National Contingency Plan requirements.

Federal Facility NPL Boundary Issues • Year: 1992
Summary: This is Daniel McGovern's follow-up to his January 28, 1992 memo on Federal Facility Base Closure Issues.

Final Department of Defense - State Memorandum of Agreement (DSMOA) • Year: 1989
Summary: Model DoD-State Memorandum of Agreement, developed by ASTSWMO and DoD with assistance from NAAG and NGA.

Final Guidance on Improving Communication to Achieve Collaborative Decision-Making at Department of Energy Sites • Year: 1997
Summary: This guidance describes a communication framework that should improve compliance, accelerate environmental work, and increase efficiencies.

Guidance for Documenting and Reporting Performance in Achieving Land Revitalization • Year: 2007
Summary: On March 2, 2007, EPA released the Final Guidance outlining how the Superfund and Federal Facilities programs will document and report performance in achieving Land Revitalization. This complements the October 18, 2006, Interim Guidance for OSWER Cross-Program Revitalization Measures (CPRM guidance), which provides the overarching framework for this effort across all OSWER cleanup programs, and reflects comments received on the EPA December 21, 2006, draft Guidance for Documenting and Reporting Performance in Achieving Land Revitalization. See the transmittal memo associated with this guidance.

Guidance for Evaluating Technical Impracticability of Ground-Water Restoration • Year: 1993
Summary: Guidance for evaluating the technical impracticability of attaining required ground-water cleanup levels and establishing alternative remedial strategies.

Guidance for Evaluation of Federal Agency Demonstrations that Remedial Actions are Operating Properly and Successfully Under CERCLA Section 120(h)(3) • Year: 1996
Summary: This guidance addresses the approach EPA should use in evaluating a federal agency's demonstration that a remedial action is "operating properly and successfully."

Guidance on Accelerating CERCLA Environmental Restoration at Federal Facilities • Year: 1994
Summary: The purpose of this guidance is to encourage and support efforts at federal facilities to accelerate and develop streamlined approaches to the cleanup of hazardous waste.

Guidance on Deferral of NPL Listing Determinations While States Oversee Response Actions • Year: 1995
Summary: The deferral guidance provides a framework for Regions, States, and federally recognized Tribes to determine the best means of addressing more sites more quickly than EPA.

Guidance on EPA Concurrence in the Identification of Uncontaminated Parcels under CERCLA Section 120 (h)(4) • Year: 1997
Summary: Addresses the approach EPA should use in determining whether to concur that a parcel has been properly identified by a military service as "uncontaminated" and therefore transferrable.

Improving RCRA/CERCLA Coordination at Federal Facilities • Year: 2005
Summary: This memo reemphasizes EPA's Policy on coordination of RCRA and CERCLA cleanup at federal facilities and encourages coordination between the facilities and the regulatory agencies.

Interim Guidance on the Use of SiteStat/GridStats and Other Army Corps of Engineers Statistical Techniques to Characterize Military Ranges • Year: 2001
Summary: This memo discusses Army Corps of Engineers statistical techniques, lists installations where SiteStat/GridStats have been used, and provides direction on communicating with the public.

Interim Status Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities; Final Rule • Year: 1987
Summary: The Environmental Protection Agency amended the interim status regulations for closing and providing postclosure care for hazardous-waste surface impoundments.

Joint DOE/EPA Interim Policy Statement on Leasing Under the "Hall Amendment" • Year: 1998
Summary: Joint statement providing interim policy on processing proposals for leasing DOE real property using the authority in 42 U.S.C. 7256, commonly referred to as the "Hall Amendment."

Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference - Application of Certain Provisions to Federal Facilities • Year: N/A
Summary: This document includes application to federal facilities of certain provisions of Senate and House amendments to the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

Lead Regulator Policy for Cleanup Activities at Federal Facilities on the National Priorities List • Year:1997
Summary: The purpose of this policy is to clarify roles and minimize overlapping Federal and state regulatory oversight of cleanups at federal facilities on the National Priorities List (NPL).

Letter to Raymond Dubois Regarding Post-ROD Project Management • Year: 2003
Summary: Letter to Raymond Dubois regarding post-ROD project management.

Off-site Policy: RFA or Equivalent Investigation Requirement at RCRA Treatment and Storage Facilities • Year: 1988
Summary: The off-site policy describes procedures that should be observed when a response action under CERCLA or Section 7003 of RCRA involves off-site storage, treatment or disposal of CERCLA waste.

Overview of Early Transfer Guidance • Year: 1999
Summary: To implement Congressionally mandated action, the US EPA has issued guidance on the transfer of federal property contaminated with hazardous wastes, before cleanup completion.

Performance Based Contracting by Other Federal Agencies at Federal Facilities (OSWER Guidance 9272.0-21) • Year: 2006
Summary: This memorandum guides EPA personnel on their roles and responsibilities when other federal agencies use Performance Based Contracting at federal facilities to conduct response actions.

Policy on Joint Repositories at Mixed-Ownership Hardrock Mine Sites - OSWER Directive • Year: 2005
Summary: This memorandum presents OSWER's policy on placement of hardrock mine waste in joint repositories at mixed-ownership, abandoned hardrock mine sites and mining-impacted watersheds.

Promotion of Innovative Technologies in Waste Management Programs (OSWER Policy Directive 9380.0-25) (PDF) (7 pp, 19 K) • Year: 1996
Summary: This directive describes several initiatives to facilitate the testing, demonstration, and use of innovative cleanup and field-measurement technologies.

Request to Finalize Revisions to CERCLA Delegation of Authority 14-21-A, Consultations, Reviews, and Selection of Remedial Actions • Year: 2002
Summary: This memo serves as a request to finalize revisions to CERCLA Delegation of Authority 14-21-A.

Strengthening Brownfields Redevelopment • Year: 1998
Summary: This page discusses how FFRRO can collaborate with those involved in brownfields cleanup and/or redevelopment.

Toolkit for Preparing CERCLA Records of Decision • Year: 2011
Summary: This document provides Remedial Project Managers (RPMs) with a resource to help improve the public transparency and understanding of Superfund Records of Decision (RODs) for remedy decisions developed in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), using communication tools designed to enhance the decision document's presentation.

Transmittal of Guidance for Documenting and Reporting Performance in Achieving Land Revitalization • Year: 2007
Summary: This transmits the final OSRTI/FFRRO Guidance for Documenting and Reporting Performance in Achieving Land Revitalization, and it provides an update on data-collection implementation plans.

Reports and Factsheets

An Evaluation of Planning and Data Processes for Cleanup Milestones for the Federal Facilities Response Program: Final Report • Year: 2008
Summary: This evaluation identifies the reasons why certain Federal Facilities Response Program targets are not met and the processes that regions can put in place to meet those targets.

DoD Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Network and Information Exchange (DENIX): Annual Report to Congress • Year: N/A
Summary: The Report describes the Department's accomplishments during the past year in its restoration, conservation, compliance, and pollution-prevention programs.

Streamlining Initiatives: Impact of Federal Facilities Cleanup Process(OSWER 9272.0-12, PB97-963310) • Year: 1997  
Summary: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Federal Facilities (Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE)) have undertaken a number of initiatives designed to streamline the cleanup of contaminated sites. 

Streamlining Federal Facility Cleanup • Year: N/A
Summary: The purpose of this fact sheet is to summarize findings from a newly released report entitled "Streamlining Initiatives: Impact of Federal Facilities Cleanup Process."

Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Bulletin: Presumptive Remedies for Municipal Landfill Sites (PDF) (2 pp, 424 K) • Year: 1993
Summary: This bulletin presents findings from municipal-landfill pilots, particularly regarding the level of detail appropriate for establishing risk—and a basis for remedial action—at two sites.

Statutory/Regulatory Authorities

Community Environmental Response Facilitation Act • Year: 1992
Summary: To amend CERCLA to require the Federal Government to identify real property where no hazardous substance was stored, released, or disposed of.

Executive Order 12088: Federal Compliance with Pollution Control Standards • Year: 1978
Summary: An Executive Order to ensure federal compliance with applicable pollution-control standards.

Executive Order 12580: Superfund Implementation • Year: 1987
Summary: An Executive Order regarding the implementation of Superfund.

Executive Order 13016: Amendment to Executive Order No. 12580 • Year: 1996
Summary: An Executive Order amending Executive Order 12580.

Executive Order 13308: Further Amendment to Executive Order 12580, as Amended, Superfund Implementation • Year: 2003
Summary: Another Executive Order amending Executive Order 12580.

Federal Facility Compliance Act of 1992 • Year: 1992
Summary: This page contains the text of the Federal Facility Compliance Act of 1992.

State Authorization To Regulate the Hazardous Components of Radioactive Mixed Wastes Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • Year: 1986
Summary: To obtain and maintain authorization to administer and enforce a hazardous waste program under RCRA, States must have authority to regulate the hazardous components of radioactive mixed wastes.

Summary of Key Statutes That Affect Federal Facilities • Year: N/A
Summary: This page contains a table summarizing key statutes that affect federal facilities.

Cleanups at Federal Facilities

Contact Us about Federal Facility Cleanups
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Last updated on July 16, 2024