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Green Remediation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Greener Cleanup Standard Initiative works to improve the environmental outcome of site cleanups.  Greener cleanups can minimize the environmental footprint of site remediation by reducing the impact to energy, water and natural resources.
EPA's core elements of a Greener Cleanup include:
  • minimizing total energy use and maximizing the use of renewable energy
  • minimizing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
  • minimizing water usage and impacts to water resources
  • reducing, reusing, and recycling material and waste
  • protecting land and ecosystems by minimizing habitat disturbance
EPA recently signed a memorandum entitled “Consideration of Greener Cleanup Activities in the Superfund Cleanup Process” that strongly encourages the use of best practices (such as the ASTM Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups [E2893] BMPs) and/or footprint analysis (such as EPA’s Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis) in all phases of the remediation process.
 
EPA Region 1 Clean and Green Policy for Contaminated Sites - applies to all cleanups performed by EPA or under EPA oversight through Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action, Underground storage Tank (UST), and Brownfield programs. Region 1 promotes this policy in state cleanup programs.
 
The ASTM Standard for Greener Cleanups can complement state regulatory cleanup programs and accommodate for each phase in the investigation and remediation process. Please note that in using this ASTM, the environmental professional should evaluate the current standard of care and applicability to Connecticut's Remediation Standard Regulations.

Guidance for Green Remediation in Connecticut

Although not required by regulation or statute in Connecticut, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection encourages the use of green and sustainable remediation (GSR) practices in conducting site investigation and cleanup. The use of green best management practices (BMPs) can produce economic benefits and better environmental outcomes. The following Programs align with GSR practices:

Resources

Please note that in using these resources, the environmental professional should evaluate the current standard of care and applicability to Connecticut's Remediation Standard Regulations.

Contacts

Julianne Pardi Sammut
EPA Region I
Green Remediation Liaison
Sammut.Julianne@epa.gov
617-918-1426

Kathleen Woodward
EPA Region I
Green Remediation Liaison
Woodward.Katherine@epa.gov
617-918-1353

Content Last Updated April 17, 2020