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Superfund

Superfund: Remedial Design / Remedial Action

You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.Remedial design (RD) is the phase in Superfund site cleanup where the technical specifications for cleanup remedies and technologies are designed. Remedial action (RA) follows the remedial design phase. It involves the actual construction or implementation phase of Superfund site cleanup. The RD/RA is based on the specifications described in the Record of Decision (ROD). All new fund-financed remedies are reviewed by EPA’s National Risk-Based Priority Panel.

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To access the documents listed on this page, please use the document search tool below. Searching by document title or Superfund terms will generate a table of relevant results.

Note: Not all documents may be available at this time. EPA continues to update its website to enhance public access to Superfund-related information.


Remedial Design and Remedial Action

Remedial design (RD) is the phase in Superfund site cleanup where the technical specifications for cleanup remedies and technologies are designed. Remedial action (RA) follows the remedial design phase. It involves the actual construction or implementation phase of Superfund site cleanup. The RD/RA is based on the specifications described in the Record of Decision (ROD).

Remedial Design/Remedial Action Handbook

This handbook provides remedial project managers (RPMs) with an overview of the RD and RA processes. The handbook is designed for RPMs new to RD/RA projects as well as RPMs with significant RD/RA experience. It should be most useful at federal-lead sites where the Superfund Trust Fund is financing the RD or RA. The management principles outlined in the handbook, however, apply generally to all sites.The handbook focuses on how RPMs can use project management principles to implement selected remedies in accordance with a site’s ROD. It is not a conventional engineering manual. It is a general reference document for issues that come up during the RD/RA process.

Value Engineering

Value engineering (VE) is a specialized cost-control technique. It uses a systematic and creative approach to identify and reduce unjustifiably high project costs without sacrificing reliability or efficiency.

Health & Safety

The complexity of site cleanup activities and coordination among the many parties involved can make it challenging to administer a health and safety program. To implement an effective, well-coordinated program, all participants must be made aware of each party’s health and safety roles and responsibilities.

Additional Resources

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RD/RA Resources: Superfund State Contracts

Superfund State Contracts (SSCs) are required at sites where remedial actions will be fund-financed. For more information see the final rule issued by EPA entitled Cooperative Agreements and Superfund State Contracts for Superfund Response Actions (PDF) (27 pp, 478 K). Here you will find RD/RA information related to SSCs.

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RD/RA Resources: US Army Corps of Engineers

This category includes a documents related to the remedial design and remedial action (RD/RA) phase of site work, with a focus on working with USACE when conducting the cleanup.

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National Risk-Based Priority Panel

In August 1995, EPA established a National Risk-Based Priority Panel of program experts to evaluate the risk at National Priorities List sites with respect to human health and the environment. The Agency uses these evaluations to establish funding priorities for all new cleanup construction projects in the Superfund program. This national approach is intended as a way for each Region to list its priority projects and rank these projects against priority projects from other Regions, ensuring that scarce resources are allocated to the projects posing the most risk to human health and the environment.

For more information see: Superfund National Risk-Based Priority Panel

New Construction Projects Awaiting Funding

Each year, EPA selects new construction projects for funding based on prioritization of those sites that present the greatest risk to human health and the environment. To make the most efficient use of funds, the remedial program prioritizes funding for previously mobilized, ongoing construction projects over the funding to start new construction projects. As a consequence, EPA is unable to fund new construction work at some NPL sites that otherwise may be ready for new construction work. Construction projects awaiting funding result when a potentially responsible party is not found or cannot pay, and no other funding sources, including appropriated funds, are available.

For a list of projects awaiting funding by fiscal year see: Superfund Sites with New Construction Projects Awaiting Funding

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