REMOVAL PROCESS

Those documents that are referred to in the Removal Process Course and are available on the Internet are provided below by module number. This page will be updated regularly, so please check back for more information.


Module 2 - Response Authority Overview

  • National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR, 300
    Part 1 (457 kb), Part 2 (494 kb)
    Part 3 (583 kb), Part 4 (106 kb)

  • Preambles to the National Contingency Plan (NCP)
  • Executive Orders
    • Executive Order 12580, January 1987 - Superfund Implementation (17 kb)
    • Executive Order 12777, October 1991 - Implementation of Section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Act of 1972 and OPA (18 kb)

  • Designation, Reportable Quantities, and Notification, 40 CFR, 302. This section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) identifies reportable quantities of hazardous substances and sets forth the notification requirements applicable to releases of such quantities. This section of the CFR can be viewed on line at .

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Module 4 - Emergency Response Operations

  • Incident Command System/Unified Command - Technical Assistance Document. The purpose of this document is to educate all responders under the National Response System about the organizational management concept of unified command as it fits into the incident command system for emergency response. This document can be viewed on line at ; click on "Publications."

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Module 5 - Removal Site Evaluation

  • Clarification to the 1994 Interim Soil Lead Guidance for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Corrective Action Facilities, EPA 540-F-98-030. This document, developed in 1998, is available on line at .

  • Examples of Incident Reports (86KB PDF). Two examples of incident reports are provided.

  • Hazard Evaluation Handbook, EPA 903/B-97-006. This handbook was developed for EPA Region 3 and updated in 1997.

    - Part 1 (259KB PDF) - Part 6 (461KB PDF)
    - Part 2 (363KB PDF) - Part 7 (543KB PDF)
    - Part 3 (457KB PDF) - Part 8 (216KB PDF)
    - Part 4 (556KB PDF) - Part 9 (273KB PDF)
    - Part 5 (827KB PDF) - Part 10 (245KB PDF)

  • Numeric Removal Action Levels for Contaminated Drinking Water Sites (392KB PDF). This document provides the latest removal action levels (RAL), as of April 1997.

  • Superfund Removal Procedures: Removal Enforcement Guidance for On-Scene Coordinators, OSWER Directive No. 9360.3-06. Developed in 1992, this document summarizes the relevant guidance and statutory authorities for conducting enforcement activities.

    - Part 1 (525KB PDF)
    - Part 2 (814KB PDF)
    - Part 3 (814KB PDF)

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Module 6 - ARARs and Removal Actions

  • Superfund Removal Procedures: Guidance on the Consideration of ARARs During Removal Actions, EPA/540/P-91/011. This document, written in 1991, provides information about community involvement and the administrative record. It can be viewed on line at .


  • Example Letter Identifying ARARs (168KB PDF). This letter provides an example of how to explain applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements (ARAR) to the potentially responsible party (PRP).

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Module 7 - Planning Removal Actions

  • Guidance on Conducting Non-Time-Critical Removal Actions Under CERCLA, EPA 540/P-93/057. This guidance was developed in 1993.

    - Part 1 (897KB PDF)
    - Part 2 (779KB PDF)
    - Part 3 (719KB PDF)


  • Sample Liability Notice Letters (412KB PDF). Three letters are presented as examples: general notice of potential liability, general notice of potential liability and request for information, and confirmation of the general notice letter.


  • Model Administrative Order on Consent for Removal Actions, OSWER Directive No. 9833.06 (1.1MB PDF). The model provided was developed in 1993.


  • Model Unilateral Administrative Order for Removal Response Activities, OSWER Directive No. 9833.07. The model is available on line at .

  • Required Use of the Removal Cost Management System for All Removal Actions, OSWER Directive No. 9360.0-020 (1.8MB PDF). This guidance was developed in 1989 and discusses the use of RCMS.

  • Superfund Removal Procedures: Public Participation Guidance for On-Scene Coordinators, OSWER Pub. No. 9360.3-05. This guidance was developed in 1992.

    - Part 1 (609KB PDF)
    - Part 2 (592KB PDF)

  • Guidance on Use of Non-Time-Critical Removal Authority in Superfund Response Actions, February 14, 2000.

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Module 8 - Documenting the Decision

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Module 9 - Conducting the Removal Action

  • Model Pollution Report (POLREP). This model pollution report (POLREP) was developed in 1998.

  • Establishing Work Zones at Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites, EPA Pub. No. 9285.2-06FS (526KB PDF). This document was developed by EPA in 1991.

  • Procedures for Monitoring and Enforcing CERCLA Administrative and Judicial Orders/Decrees (344KB PDF). This memorandum sets forth procedures for monitoring administrative and judicial orders and decrees under CERCLA and determining and documenting appropriate enforcement response to violations of the requirements of such orders and decrees.


  • Example 1900-55 Form (238KB PDF). This is a sample of the 1900-55 report form used by EPA Region 5.

  • Model Program for Removal Site File Management, OSWER Directive No. 9360.2-01 (2.80MB PDF). This document provides a file structure for on-site file management and regional file maintenance.

  • Quality Assurance/Quality Control Guidance for Removal Activities: Sampling QA/QC Plan and Data Validation Procedures (Interim Final), EPA 540/G-90-004. This document, developed in April 1990, is available on line at .

  • Removal Cost Management Manual, OSWER Directive No. 9360.0-02B. This manual, developed in 1988, provides comprehensive cost management procedures.

    - Part 1 (874KB PDF) - Part 5 (577KB PDF)
    - Part 2 (536KB PDF) - Part 6 (329KB PDF)
    - Part 3 (544KB PDF) - Part 7 (821KB PDF)
    - Part 4 (1.06MB PDF) - Part 8 (555KB PDF)
    - Part 4b (587KB PDF) - Part 9 (408KB PDF)

  • Superfund Removal Procedures: Removal Response Reporting, POLREPs and OSC Reports, EPA 540/R-94/023. This document clarifies reporting criteria and informs the preparers of POLREPs and OSC Reports about the potential users and uses of these reports.

    - Part 1 (619KB PDF)
    - Part 2 (639KB PDF)
    - Part 3 (787KB PDF)

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Module 10 - Waste Treatment and Disposal Requirements

  • Waste Profile Package (440KB PDF). This document is a sample standard waste profile package that includes acceptable waste codes and an acceptance and rejection policy.


  • Compliance with the Off-Site Rule During Removal Actions (355KB PDF). The Office of Regional Counsel developed this summary of the off-site policy.


  • Procedures for Planning and Implementing Off-Site Response Actions, 40 CFR 300.440. This section of the CFR is available on line at .

  • Sending Wastes Off Site? OSC and RPM Responsibilities under the Off-Site Rule (195 KB PDF), EPA 540/F-97/006. This document was developed in September 1997.

  • Notification of Out-of-State Shipments of Superfund Site Wastes, OSWER Directive No. 9330.2-07. This document, developed in September 1989, is available on line at .

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Module 12 - Oil Spill Response

  • Technical Operating Procedures - State Access to Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) (188KB PDF). This document provides technical operating procedures related to eligibility, communications, financial management, and record keeping for states that request access to the OSLTF, federal on-scene coordinators (OSC), and staff of the U.S. Coast Guard.


  • Oil Pollution Act (OPA) 90 - OSLTF for U.S. Coast Guard (115KB PDF). This document is an outline for the U.S. Coast Guard that provides information about the OSLTF.


  • OPA 1990, 101 P.L. 380; 104 Stat. 484 (216KB PDF). The entire text of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) is presented.

  • Guidance for Use of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, EPA 540-R-96-044. This document, prepared in 1997, is intended to assist OSCs and financial management personnel in accessing and using the fund.

    - Part 1 (713KB PDF)
    - Part 2 (430KB PDF)

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