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. For almost 50% of Active and Inactive military sites we can determine that the 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. 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 (6%), the number of cases pending determination is relatively high at 44%.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

The ultimate goal of the cleanup programs 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:
  Information on the Water Boards' Department of Defense Program
  Public Reports and Data

GLOSSARY:

Military Sites - Department of Defense Program

Decades of defense activities have degraded water quality on and around federally-owned facilities. Working with other agencies, the Regional Boards are involved with remedial investigation and cleanup actions. Agreements with the Department of Defense provide for accelerated cleanups at military bases and other Defense sites scheduled for closure and reuse. Site investigation and cleanup procedures are consistent with State laws and regulations as well as applicable provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) which guides the federal Superfund program.

Number of cleanup cases with human health exposure conrolled

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.

( Page last updated:  10/13/14 )