Richard J Wenning, Wenning Environmental LLC, Portland, Maine, US
Timothy Havranek, Optima-Analytics Inc, New Castle, Pennsylvania, US
Published on JD Supra, 19 May 2025
ABSTRACT:
A broad range of reactions – from celebratory to alarmist – describe the workforce reductions and regulatory rollbacks proposed or currently underway at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Notable concerns surround the agency’s decision-making process at contaminated sites. Regulatory rollbacks and a refocus on the President’s economic priorities may risk detracting from the EPA’s commitment to protecting the nation’s environment and the well-being of communities. If ‘taking action quickly’ is the EPA’s new guiding mantra, how will the agency fulfill its mission? Quick actions are most attractive when they pinpoint high-value site cleanup decisions, safeguard human health and the environment, and accelerate the repurposing of previously contaminated sites for productive use. Even better are decisions that accomplish these outcomes at the lowest possible cost. The EPA and the environmental industry can rely on well-established methods to achieve the quick actions and cost-effective goals sought by the current administration. Environmental decision support tools (EDSTs) assess, manage, and remediate contaminated sites, particularly within the Superfund, RCRA (renamed in October 2024 as the Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program), and Brownfields programs. These tools facilitate data collection, analysis, modeling, visualization, and risk assessment. EDSTs have evolved to systematically support the evaluation and selection of remediation strategies that balance economic, environmental, and social considerations. If EPA recognizes the functions and roles that different EDSTs can serve in the decision-making process, the agency can reassure communities that taking action quickly at contaminated sites does not compromise public safety and well-being. Presumably, quick action does not mean the EPA will abandon its approach to community participation. Maintaining transparency and accountability in selecting remediation actions while aligning closely with community needs and values contributes to achieving favorable decisions at contaminated sites and paving the way for swift action.
