EPA's "Methodology for Understanding and Reducing a Project's Environmental Footprint" report presents green remediation metrics associated with contaminated site cleanup and a process to quantify those metrics in order to achieve a greener cleanup. By providing quantified information, application of the methodology can help project teams identify green remediation best management practices (BMPs) that target large contributions to the footprint. EPA's Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation intends to update the methodology periodically to reflect new information; associated updates to the report will be posted on this website.
- by phone at: 703-603-9904
- by email at: pachon.carlos@epa.gov
The methodology involves:
- A total of 21 metrics corresponding to core elements of a greener cleanup, and
- A seven-step quantification process.
| Overview of Methodology | |
|---|---|
| Step 1: | Set goals and scope of analysis |
| Step 2: | Gather remedy information |
| Step 3: | Quantify onsite materials and waste metrics |
| Step 4: | Quantify onsite water metrics |
| Step 5: | Quantify energy and air metrics |
| Step 6: | Qualitatively describe affected ecosystem services |
| Step 7: | Present results |
The report addresses:
- The purpose of the methodology, the value of footprint analysis, and the associated level of effort and cost
- Considerations for evaluating and using the analytical results, and
- Illustrative approaches to reduce the footprint.
Appendices of the report provide:
- Seventeen exhibits containing planning checklists along with user-friendly reference tables on aspects such as common conversion factors, typical contents of materials frequently used for cleanup, and typical energy demands of equipment deployed in the field
- A series of spreadsheets illustrating potential formats for organizing raw data and quantified estimates and for presenting overall results of analysis, and
- Footprint reduction scenarios illustrating use of the methodology.
EPA's set of green remediation metrics is intended to encourage environmentally friendly behaviors during cleanup. Each metric represents a parameter that a project team likely has the ability to change.
| Core Element | Green Remediation Metric | Unit of Measure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials & Waste | M&W-1 | Refined materials used on site | tons |
| M&W-2 | Percent of refined materials from recycled or waste material | percent | |
| M&W-3 | Unrefined materials used on site | tons | |
| M&W-4 | Percent of unrefined materials from recycled or waste material | percent | |
| M&W-5 | Onsite hazardous waste generated | tons | |
| M&W-6 | Onsite non-hazardous waste generated | tons | |
| M&W-7 | Percent of total potential onsite waste that is recycled or reused | percent | |
| Water | Onsite water use (by source) | ||
| W-1 | - Source, use, fate combination #1 | millions of gallons | |
| W-2 | - Source, use, fate combination #2 | millions of gallons | |
| W-3 | - Source, use, fate combination #3 | millions of gallons | |
| W-4 | - Source, use, fate combination #4 | millions of gallons | |
| Energy | E-1 | Total energy use | MMBtu |
| E-2 | Total energy voluntarily derived from renewable resources | ||
| E-2A | - Onsite generation or use and biodiesel use | MMBtu | |
| E-2B | - Voluntary purchase of renewable electricity | MWh | |
| E-2C | - Voluntary purchase of RECs | MWh | |
| Air | A-1 | Onsite NOx, SOx, and PM10 emissions | lbs |
| A-2 | Onsite HAP emissions | lbs | |
| A-3 | Total NOx, SOx, and PM10 emissions | lbs | |
| A-4 | Total HAP emissions | lbs | |
| A-5 | Total GHG emissions | tons CO2e | |
| Land & Ecosystems | Qualitative description | ||
EPA pilot tested the methodology from 2009 through 2011 at several sites, including Romic East Palo Alto, BP Wood River, and Travis Air Force Base. Pilot testing included development of a set of analytical workbooks known as "SEFA" (Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis), which EPA now uses when quantification of a cleanup's environmental footprint is desired. Although SEFA is designed for EPA's internal use, other parties may wish to use it as a model for similar efforts on a voluntary basis. SEFA workbooks do not individually or collectively represent EPA guidance or requirements nor is their use required by EPA. EPA is making SEFA available to the public as a means of disseminating useful information about environmental footprint analysis. The Agency is not responsible for adaptation of this workbook model by other organizations or associated analytical results.
>>> Instructions for New Users of SEFA
- SEFA comprises three internally linked workbooks (files) in a standard spreadsheet (Excel) format; save the files in a single directory to assure accurate and complete data exchange.
- Optimal functioning of the workbooks relies on use of Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office for Mac 2011, or higher.
- An "Introduction" worksheet (tab) in the "Main" workbook provides an overview of SEFA, including its data structure; to foster site-specific adaptations of the workbooks, EPA has not developed a comprehensive user manual applying to all users or all contaminated sites.
- Technical support in using SEFA is not available outside the Agency; other parties interested in using or adapting the workbooks may wish to obtain technical assistance from qualified environmental or engineering professionals.
EPA's April 18, 2012, CLU-IN webinar on "Greener Cleanups - EPA's Methodology for Understanding and Reducing a Project's Environmental Footprint (Final)" discussed the methodology in greater detail.
More information about green remediation practices that can be used to reduce the environmental footprint of cleanup projects is available through EPA's series of BMP fact sheets on specific remedies and other key issues.
