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The Triad Approach to Site Remediation
Although there are many overlapping ideas and terms used throughout the course of environmental restoration projects, the core concepts remain the same – to restore the land and water as efficiently and effectively as possible. While the USEPA and other federal and state agencies, as well as private and academic concerns use the term Triad to encompass these concepts, the basis for all of these processes is Best Management Practices. It is mutually beneficial to all stakeholders to do the best job we can while controlling costs. The Triad approach provides a framework to ensure that these objectives are met in a logical and reviewable way.
As with any science and technology based activity, evolution based on increased understanding is a sign of success. The Triad approach incorporates knowledge from the restoration community gained from over thirty-five years of restoration activities. Although some of these updates are to fill shortcomings in the earlier methods, it is also true that many of these updates represent a better understanding based on experience, not to correct a problem but striving to constantly improve the outcome of restoration projects.
The heart of the Triad approach is the Conceptual Site Model (CSM). The CSM provides a palette for all stakeholders to ensure that their individual concerns are truly considered in the restoration decisions. By defining exit expectations, which leads to an exit strategy to achieve those expectations and then permanently recording that strategy in the CSM, all stakeholders have a roadmap to measure progress.
Importantly, a well-developed CSM will define uncertainties that lie between current conditions and the exit expectations of stakeholders. Uncertainty ranges from physical uncertainty due to the very complex nature of hazardous waste movement to the uncertainty of public citizens that live near a “potentially” hazardous site. By declaring uncertainties early, much of a remediation can orbit around addressing these uncertainties, leading ultimately to a solution that meets all stakeholders concerns, from the public all the way to the regulator charged with upholding legal requirements.
The following links offer outstanding references to gain a greater understanding of the Triad approach.
- www.triadcentral.org – This site is the “original” container for all things Triad. It is a great starting place to become familiar with the Triad approach.
- www.epa.gov/tio - This is the main page for the Branch of EPA that heads up the Triad effort.
- www.itrcweb.org – The Interstate Technology Regulatory Council provides technical insight as well as establishing common elements of environmental restoration projects to help individual state regulatory agencies and private concerns match efforts with Federal restoration efforts. The ITRC also offers many free online classes and seminars.
- www.clu-in.org – The Clu-in site is a sister site to www.triadcentral.org. It contains case studies and many references to other resources as well.
- Triad Implementation Guide - Practical implementation of the Triad approach. Prepared by the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council Sampling, Characterization, and Monitoring Team May 2007.
- Region 4 Triad Sites