The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2013-14

MEASUREMENTS  - Data last updated on: 

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

This performance measure seeks to assess how well the Water Boards are doing at protecting human health at cleanup cases. We have determined that the human health exposure has been controlled for approximately 26% of Active and Inactive site cleanup cases, either because the source of the contamination has been identified, the extent and magnitude of soil and groundwater contamination is defined, or that human health risk assessment has been performed. In order to consider a case to be controlling human health exposure, appropriate remedial actions, such as cleanup or risk management measures, must be implemented. Although the number and percentage of cases where human health exposure is not controlled is small (approx. 3%), the number of cases pending determination is relatively high at 71%.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

The ultimate goal of the cleanup program is to protect beneficial uses of water quality by reducing or minimizing the exposure to harmful chemicals to humans from contaminated sites. The "number of cleanup cases with human health exposure controlled" means a count of all open Water Board-lead cases and Shared-lead cases where human health exposure has been evaluated as of the end of the fiscal year. The process of cleaning and remediation of the impacts of pollution may take several years and may be completed in different phases. During the period that a case remains active, work will be done to investigate the nature and extent of the contamination, determine appropriate cleanup goals and construct/implement actions to effect cleanup (remediation). This performance measure is intended to show how well the Water Boards are doing at controlling the human health exposure to pollution from contaminated sites.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Data source: GEOTRACKER. Period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.
• Unit of Measure: Number of cases where human health is controlled
• Data Definitions: Active Cases:The number of cases overseen by Regional Boards that had an Open status as of June 30, 2014. Inactive Cases: Include cases where there is no funding or resources available to work on the case. Cases With Human Health Exposure Controlled: human health exposure is controlled either because the source of the contamination has been identified, the extent and magnitude of soil and groundwater contamination is defined or that human health risk assessment has been performed. Cases Where Human Health Exposure is Not Controlled: An unacceptable human health risk is determined to be present. Cases Pending Determination: Include cases for which there is insufficient data to determine that human health exposure is controlled and those cases for which no data has been entered in the databases.
• References:
  The Water Boards' Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Program,
  Brownfields
  Public Reports and Data.

GLOSSARY:

Site Cleanup

The Site Cleanup program addresses commercial, industrial and other non-military sites with non-fuel contamination. Many of these sites are considered Brownfields because of their reuse potential. These sites are regulated under Site Cleanup Requirements, which are issued by the Regional Water Boards. Site Cleanup Requirements generally mandate a time schedule for specific tasks that must be performed by the responsible party(ies) to investigate and clean up the site. Water Board staff oversee implementation of these tasks including investigations, corrective actions, and human health risk assessments at sites with current or historic unauthorized discharges, which have adversely affected or threaten to adversely affect waters of the state.

Procedures for site investigation and remediation are promulgated in State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 92-49 entitled Policies and Procedures For Investigation and Cleanup and Abatement of Discharges Under Water Code Section 13304. Responsible parties conduct work in a stepwise fashion, starting with preliminary assessment, then soil and water investigation; interim remedial measures if warranted; risk assessment; setting cleanup goals; cleanup plan; cleanup implementation and monitoring. Most often, responsible parties conduct the work voluntarily, but sometimes enforcement orders are necessary to compel the work to be performed.

Number of cleanup cases with human health exposure controlled

Means a count of all open Water Board-lead cases and Shared-lead cases where human health exposure has been evaluated as of the end of the Fiscal Year.

Active Remediation

Active remediation comprises the phase(s) of work where the actual construction or implementation of activities to accomplish cleanup at a site occurs.

Case Closure

A site cleanup qualifies to receive a "No Further Action" (closure) letter once the owner or operator meets all appropriate corrective action requirements. After this occurs, the county agency or regional board will inform the responsible party in writing that no further work is required.

Number of cleanup cases groundwater contaminant migration under control

Means a count of all open Water Board-lead cases and Shared-lead cases where groundwater contaminant migration has been evaluated as of the end of the Fiscal Year.

( Updated:  10/13/14 )