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TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum-Contaminated Sites

Navigating this Website
1 Overview
2 Introduction
2 Introduction Overview
2.1 Issues Unique to TPH
2.2 Applicability of Guidance
2.3 Background of Current Approaches
2.4 TPH Risk Characterization Framework
3 Regulatory Framework
3 Regulatory Framework Overview
3.1 History of TPH Regulation
3.2 What is the Legal Basis for Risk-Based Closure of Petroleum Sites?
3.3 TPH-Specific Regulatory Challenges
3.4 TPH-Specific Regulatory Tools
4 TPH Fundamentals
4 TPH Fundamentals Overview
4.1 Petroleum Chemistry and Refining
4.2 Physical and Chemical Properties of Petroleum Constituents, TPH Carbon Ranges (Fractions), and Metabolites
4.3 Properties of Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbon Fractions
4.4 Alterations of Petroleum Mixtures in the Environment Through Weathering Processes
4.5 Definition of “TPH” in Environmental Media in Risk Assessment
5 Conceptual Site Models
5 Conceptual Site Models Overview
5.1 Source Identification (Qualitative CSM)
5.2 Source Area Characterization, Extent, Distribution (Source Definition)
5.3 Fate, Transport, and Attenuation Mechanisms (Pathway Definition)
5.4 Points of Exposure (Receptor Definition)
5.5 TPH Target Levels
5.6 Compiling a CSM
5.7 TPH Data Collection Plan
5.8 Field Sampling Methods and Handling Procedures
5.9 TPH Analytical Methods
5.10 Silica Gel Cleanup Method
5.11 Reporting, Data Qualification, and Chromatograms
5.12 Data Usability, Interpretation, and Implications
6 Human Health Risk
6 Human Health Risk Overview
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Exposure Assessment
6.3 Direct Contact with TPH
6.4 Soil to Ambient Air Exposure to TPH (Volatiles and Particulates)
6.5 Leaching from Soil to Groundwater
6.6 Exposure to Groundwater/Surface Water
6.7 Exposure to Air
6.8 Food Chain
6.9 Toxicity Assessment
6.10 Evaluating Toxicity of Polar Metabolites
6.11 Toxicity Considerations for Different Exposure Rates
6.12 Risk Characterization
7 Ecological Risk Assessment
7 Ecological Risk Assessment Overview
7.1 ERA Process for TPH
7.2 Current National and North American TPH ERA Practice
7.3 Exposure Assessment
7.4 Toxicity Assessment
7.5 Risk Characterization
8 Risk Calculators
8 Risk Calculators Overview
8.1 Calculating TPH Risk
8.2 Electronic TPH Risk Calculators
9 TPH Special Considerations
9 TPH Special Considerations Overview
9.1 Special Factors
9.2 Emergency Conditions
9.3 Worker Exposure and Safety
9.4 Managing Open and Reopened TPH-Contaminated Sites
9.5 Estimating TPH Fractions
9.6 Managing the Presence of TPH Breakdown Products/Metabolites
9.7 Remedial Action and Institutional Controls
9.8 Common Mistakes and Lessons Learned
10 Stakeholder Concerns
10 Stakeholder Concerns Overview
10.1 Community Engagement Plans
10.2 Tools for Effective Community Engagement
10.3 Risk Communication
10.4 Communicating Risk Associated with TPH
10.5 VOCs in Commonly Used Products
10.6 Public Notification of Sampling
10.7 TPH Concepts Explained
11 TPH Risk Case Studies
Additional Information
Appendix A. Fact Sheets
A.1 Definition of TPH—Don’t Let the Name Fool You
A.2 TPH Analytical Methods
A.3 Silica Gel Cleanup (SGC)
A.4 Chemistry of Weathering Processes
A.5 Chromatograms: A Wealth of Information
A.6 TPH Fractionation Methods
Appendix B. Risk Evaluation Reference Tool
Appendix C. States Survey
Appendix D. Field Screening Methods
Acronyms
Glossary
Acknowledgments
Team Contacts
Document Feedback

 

TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum-Contaminated Sites
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Acknowledgments

The members of the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) TPH Risk Evaluation Team wish to acknowledge the individuals, organizations, and agencies that contributed to this guidance.

As part of the broader ITRC effort, the TPH Risk Evaluation Team effort is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy. Additional funding and support have been provided by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The team was led by two state regulatory representatives: Thomas Booze of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and Michael Kwiecinski of the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety. Team leaders were assisted by Program Advisor Roy Thun, and his colleagues at GHD, Matt Smith and Monica Martinez. Team leaders wish to sincerely recognize the efforts of the following topic and section leaders:

Lawrence Acomb, Geosphere, Inc.
Shanna Alexander, Georgia Environmental Protection Division
Salahadein Alzien, RWTH Aachen University
Barbara Bekins, USGS
Amanda Bess  Chevron
Bjorn Bjorkman, GEI Consultants, Inc.
Thomas Booze, California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Roger Brewer, Hawaii Department of Health
Richard Cerbone, Amec Foster Wheeler
Matthew Cohen, California State Water Resources Control Board
Robin Davis, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Retired
Elizabeth Denly, TRC
George DeVaull, Shell
Charlie DeWolf, Trihydro
Scott Dwyer, Kleinfelder
Nizette Edwards Consolazio, Carnegie Mellon University
David Elias, California Water Boards—SF Bay Region
Catalina Espino Devine, Chevron
Robert Ettinger, Geosyntec Consultants
Domonkos Feher, Hawaii Pacific University
Amy Goldberg Day, Arcadis
Debi Goodwin, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Karen Hathaway, Barr Engineering Company
Uta Hellmann-Blumberg, California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Tina Hoang, GSI ENVIRONMENTAL INC
Kathleen Johnson, The Westmark Group
Undine Johnson, Georgia Environmental Protection Division
Rodger Keller, Scott Energy Technologies
Jeffrey Kuhn, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Retired
Michael Kwiecinski, Colorado Division of Oil & Public Safety
Matthew Lahvis, Shell
Patricia Locklin, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Benjamin Luckey, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
Renae Magaw, Chevron
Diana Marquez, Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc
Elizabeth Miesner, Ramboll
Rachel Mohler, Chevron
Manivannan Nagaiah, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services
Jonathan Naile, Shell
Farhan Nuruzzaman, USEPA
Kanan Patel-Coleman, AECOM
Mala Pattanayek, Integral Consulting
Francis Ramacciotti, GHD
Ileana Rhodes, GSI ENVIRONMENTAL INC
Divinia Ries, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
David Rigg, Arcadis
Nicholas Santella, BSTI
Robert Scofield, GSI ENVIRONMENTAL INC
Simone Smith, Geosyntec Consultants
Ross Steenson, California Water Boards—SF Bay Region
Olga Stewart, Geosyntec Consultants
Jennifer Strauss, Colorado Division of Oil & Public Safety
Roy Thun, GHD
Laura Trozzolo, TRC
Lyle Trumbull, OBG
David Tsao, BP
Jeffrey Tyson, Scott Energy Technologies
Iris van der Zander, Hawaii Department of Health
Usha Vedagiri, AECOM
Mark Widdowson, Virginia Tech
Laurie Wright, BCS Incorporated
Christine York, Wood PLC
Dawn Zemo, Zemo & Associates, Inc.

Their contributions included leading smaller teams of volunteers in preparing each section of the document, writing and editing sections of the document, contributing and editing case studies, providing multiple rounds of review comments, and participating in multiday team meetings and monthly team conference calls. The team would also like to thank the approximately 240 team members who participated in developing the document. These included state regulatory representatives, stakeholders, federal agency representatives, and industry and consulting participants. A full list of individuals is provided in Appendix H. Their contributions were invaluable to the completion of this document. The team would also like to thank ITRC’s technical editor, Joy Drohan, and web layout/graphic designer, John Sours, who contributed to the final content and format of the document.

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