Underground Storage Tanks

RBCA (pronounced "Rebecca") is an acronym for "Risk-Based Corrective-Action. RBCA refers specifically to the standard entitled Guide For Risk-Based Corrective Action Applied At Petroleum Release Sites [E-1739-95] that was published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Subcommittee on Storage Tanks. The ASTM standard is one example of how risk-based decision-making can be incorporated into UST corrective action programs in a manner consistent with EPA policies and regulations. EPA is telling implementing agencies that the ASTM standard may be a good starting point for the development of a risk-based process tailored to applicable state and local laws and regulatory practices.

The "formal" definition of RBCA is as follows:

A streamlined approach in which exposure and risk assessment practices are integrated with traditional components of the corrective action process to ensure that appropriate and cost-effective remedies are selected, and that limited resources are properly allocated.

The goals of a RBCA process are:

1. Protection of human health and environment
2. Practical and cost-effective application of risk-based decision-making
3. Consistent and technically-defensible administrative process

Top of page