Determining ARARs at Federal Facility Sites is a two-hour webinar course that will highlight how to determine Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs) in decision-documents based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance, identify commonly used ARARs, and when to involve partners. By taking this course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Understand the general procedures for ARAR identification, analysis, and documentation;
• Learn about ARARs under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 121(d) and associated EPA guidance;
• Identify the three types of ARARs and how they are determined; and,
• Explore CERCLA ARAR waiver criteria and the six waivers identified under CERCLA 121(d).

The instructional methodology for this course includes lecture and quizzes. There will also be an opportunity for participants to ask questions. The target audience for this course is federal, state, and tribal representatives who work on Federal Facility cleanups. Ideally, students should have a basic understanding of ARARs and the CERCLA process. This course is part of the Federal Facilities Academy training program. Please consider registering for other Federal Facility Academy courses and obtain a certificate upon completion of the entire Federal Facility Academy series (12 courses total).

Presenters:

Emy Laija, EPA Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (Laija.emerald@Epa.gov or 202-845-3198)
Emy Laija is an Environmental Scientist who works on Superfund cleanups of hazardous waste sites through the EPA Federal Facility Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO) in Washington, DC. Her position includes implementing national policy, promoting consistency in cleanups, developing training, and developing relationships with other federal agencies and stakeholders. Before working in FFRRO, Emerald worked as a Remedial Project Manager for 8 years in EPA's Hanford Project Office in Richland, WA and continues to serve as a Hanford subject matter expert. She earned a Master's Degree focused in Environmental Studies from University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Elizabeth Lukens, EPA Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (lukens.elizabeth@epa.gov)
Elizabeth Lukens ("Betsy") is currently serving as the Senior Counsel in the Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO) at EPA Headquarters on a 6-month detail from the Region 3 Office of Regional Counsel (ORC). Betsy has been an attorney with Region 3 since 1986, where she started with the Water and General Law Branch and worked on matters arising under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In 1992, she transitioned to the CERCLA Branch, where she has worked on all phases of both private and Federal Facility Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) actions, including: the development of action memoranda for removal actions, and proposed plans and records of decision for remedial actions; preparation of unilateral administrative orders; negotiation of administrative orders on consent, consent decrees and Federal Facility Agreements (FFAs); preparation of cost recovery actions; and representation of EPA in civil judicial actions. In addition she has negotiated settlements in administrative cases under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) and the CWA. She serves as Region 3 ORC's ARARs expert.

Moderator:

Jean Balent, U.S. EPA Technology Innovation and Field Services Division (balent.jean@epa.gov or 202-566-0832)
Ms Balent is on the staff of the EPA's Technology Innovation and Field Services Division where she has worked to collect and disseminate hazardous waste remediation and characterization information since 2003. Ms Balent manages the Clean Up Information Network website and actively supports online communication and collaboration resources available to EPA. She formerly worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Engineering Division in the Buffalo District. Ms Balent was also a member of the SUNY-Buffalo Groundwater Research Group where she constructed and tested large scale models of groundwater flow. Ms Balent has also conducted research relating to the Great Lakes, environmental remediation, and brownfields re-development. She holds a Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from SUNY-Buffalo and a Master's degree in Information Technology from AIU.

Webinar Slides and References:

• Slide Presentation for Emerald Laija and Elizabeth Lukens (6.89MB/PDF)

Webinar Slides and References:

• Slide Presentation for Emerald Laija and Elizabeth Lukens (6.89MB/PDF)

Additional Resources:

• Federal Facilities Academy Training Tracker (54KB/XLS)
• EPA website on ARARs
• CERCLA Compliance with Other Laws Manuals: Part I (1.2MB/243p/PDF)
• CERCLA Compliance with Other Laws Manuals: Part II (985KB/175p/PDF)
• EPA's Overview of ARARs Fact Sheet, 1989
• Clarification of the Role of Applicable, or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements in Establishing Preliminary Remediation Goals Under CERCLA (411KB/4p/PDF)
• Best Practice Process for Identifying and Determining State Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements Status Pilot (1.5MB/19p/PDF)