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  Research Highlights

Decision Support Tool for Disposal of Contaminated Building and Water System Materials

Image: Decontamination Cleanup.
EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC), headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is developing a decision support tool for the disposal of residues from the decontamination of buildings and water systems. Researchers supporting these projects are located at EPA’s research centers in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Project Objective

A vital part of the contaminated site restoration process includes decisions related to:

  • Treatment or disposal options
  • Selection of the appropriate disposal facility
  • Packaging and storing residues
  • Transporting materials to the disposal site
  • Compliance with relevant permits
  • Worker safety
  • Protection of human health and the environment

The NHSRC is developing a Web-based tool that will assist in this decision making.

NHSRC Disposal Decision Support Tool

The Decision Support Tool and its associated handbook will assist in the disposal of residues from the cleanup of contaminated buildings and water systems by providing information needed for selection of an appropriate disposal facility. This information includes regulatory requirements and facility contact and permit information. The tool contains the ability to quickly estimate quantities and characteristics of residues produced during restoration operations so that cost tradeoffs between decontamination and disposal can be evaluated early in the process of restoring a contaminated facility. This information will then be incorporated into the detailed waste profiles needed to negotiate contracts with disposal facilities and transportation companies. A flexible user account security mechanism allows sharing of disposal scenarios developed while using the tool so that subsequent users who have a similar situation can rapidly generate the information needed to make decisions.

The currently released version addresses building residue packaging and storage, transportation, combustion/incineration, landfilling, and decontamination wastewater disposal. The tool also provides a module to estimate residue quantities, designed to address offices, school buildings, and hotels. This feature will be expanded to include theaters and airports. Hyperlinks within the tool allow quick access to fact sheets for contaminants and decontamination chemicals, guidance documents, and applicable regulatory requirements.

An enhanced version of the tool is being developed that will address residue quantities and disposal options for the restoration of water systems, including drinking water treatment plants, distribution systems, water using equipment and appliances, and wastewater treatment plants.

Users and Benefactors of the Decision Support Tool

Users and benefactors of this tool include EPA and other federal agencies, emergency responders, state and local governments, and disposal facility owners and operators. EPA routinely holds workshops for these stakeholders as each new module of the tool is developed. The workshops provide important feedback on existing components of the tool, and identify desired requirements for future releases.

For more information, login to the tool at http://www2.ergweb.com/bdrtool/login.asp.


Contact: Paul Lemieux

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