Cleanup Levels For Hazardous Waste Sites Federal Cleanup Levels
State Cleanup Levels
International Cleanup Levels
These are some well-known, and some less well-known, Toxicity Values, Physical Constants & Other Stuff
sources for cleanup and/or screening levels at hazardous waste sites. Acronyms
Web sites with numeric values are highlighted in blue. Arsenic and Lead Values
FEDERAL Guidance Documents and Values
USEPA Soil Screening Guidance (SSG) View Generic SSLs
This is a great source for soil screening levels (SSLs), information on calculating site cleanup levels, and general guidelines for the use of levels at sites.
 
USEPA Region 9 Preliminary Removal Goals (PRGs) View EPA Region 9 PRGs
This source, called R9 PRGs for short, not only gives you lots of soil cleanup values in table form but also has detailed technical information on calculating site-specific cleanup goals, including inhalation of volatiles methodology, info on calculating csat and cleach values, and those up-to-date and in demand toxicity values and chemical physical constants. Also has some drinking water values. THIS IS THE KING OF US SOIL BENCHMARK TABLES (Leave it to Cali...)
 
USEPA Region 6 Medium-Specific Screening Levels (MSLs) View EPA Region 6 MSL Page
According to Region 6, these are very general and should be used as screening levels only (ok, got that out of the way). Tables have toxicity info and physical parameters in addition to the soil screening levels.  Get MSLs - Pdf file 02/07
Get MSLs - Excel file 02/07
USEPA Region 3 Risk-Based Concentrations (RBCs) View EPA Region 3 RBC Page
This site presents the R3 Risk-Based Concentrations (RBCs) tables along with guidance on Monte Carlo, groundwater exposure point concentrations and assessing dermal exposure to and risk from soils.  Get RBCs - Pdf file 04/07
Get RBCs - Excel file 04/07
 
USEPA RAGS: Part B, Preliminary Removal Goals (RAGS, Part B) View RAGS Part B - PRGs
RAGS Part B is the holy grail of cleanup levels. Simple document that gives the general risk (intake) equations used in a quantitative risk assessment and the general equations for cleanup goals or PRGs (just a note: people use the acronym PRGs for preliminary removal goals, preliminary remedial goals AND preliminary remediation goals....generally we are talking about the same thing). No actual soil levels but does have the original exposure default values used in EPA risk assessments and general calculations of cleanup goals. Examines various pathways and media, though mostly for use with soil. Some of the inhalation defaults have changed since this was written, but it is still a must have for those attempting to determine their own cleanup levels. 
 
Federal Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories View MCLs and MCLGs
This has the national primary (MCLs and MCLGs) and the secondary drinking water standards. A must-have for sites with possibly contaminated groundwater.
 
MTBE Groundwater Clean-up Levels for LUST Sites View MTBE Benchmarks - US Map
This is a really cool map of the states on EPA's website that shows the current and proposed cleanup levels for MTBE in each of the states. I have also included the TBA map. View TBA Benchmarks - US Map
 
Risk Assessment Information System (RAIS) View Risk PRG Search
This engine will let you search by chemical for the following; Primary and Proposed Drinking Water MCLs and MCLGs including radionuclides, Secondary Drinking Water SMCLs, Human Health WQCs for Aquatic Organisms and Drinking Water, Human Health WQC for Aquatic Organisms Only, and Federal Freshwater WQCs - Maximum and Continuous. Also, there is an eco engine for surface water, sediment and soil. View Eco PRG Search
USEPA Soil Preliminary Remediation Levels for Radionucleides View 1997 CERCLA Soil PRGs Memo
This is a collection of sources of guidelines for soil levels for radionucleides in soil. View 2002 CERCLA Rad PRGs Memo
View Rad PRG Calculator
STATE Guidance Documents And Values
Alabama: Risk-based Corrective Action  View ARBCA Guidance Manual
Alabama's RBCA values are outlined in Table 2-2 of its RBCA guidance. Basically, EPA Region 9 PRGs are the first tier.
 
Alaska: Contaminated Sites Program View Table B1_Soil Levels
Alaska distinguishes cleanup levels by zones (arctic vs non-arctic and depth). 18 AAC 75.341 has soil levels in Tables B1 and B2. Groundwater is in Table C of 18 AAC 75.345. If your chem is not listed, there are more options at the ADEC website. View Table B2_PHs in Soil
View To Table C - GW & SW Levels
 
Alaska: Other Cleanup Levels View Screening Links
This site has a list of the miscellaneous cleanup levels and methods for calculation under "Contaminant Screening and Establishing Cleanup Levels". Also other tech docs.
Arizona: Soil Remediation Levels  View Title 18 SRLs
This is Title 18 Chapter 7 of the Arizona Administrative Code. Chapter 7 presents the Department of Environmental Quality's soil remediation levels (SRLs). Skip a third of the way down the page to the actual levels.Also including a table of the levels courteousy of AeroTech Labs. The SRLs may be changing in the summer of 2007 - here is the proposed rule and value change as of April 2007. View Clean Table of SRLs
View Proposed SRL Changes
 
Arkansas: ADEQ Hazardous Waste Division View Tech Guidance
Arkansas' Hazardous Waste Division relies on EPA Region VI MSLs for screening purposes. The majority of the sites are cleaned up to site-specific levels. Technical guidance for ADEQ's process can be found here. ADEQ does have a very simple checklist for ecological assessment and/or sampling that may be useful to some readers. The link takes you to the list of forms available to download, including sources for eco benchmarks and the eco checklist.
 
California: OEHHA Standards View PHGs
From the CalEPA website, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment presents PHGs for water, Acute RELs for air, Chronic RELs for air. Also a link to Proposition 65; Safe Harbor Levels is included. View Acute RELs
View Chronic RELs
View Prop 65
California: CHHSLs View CHHSL Guidance
This draft has California Human Health Screening Levels (CHHSLs) for residential and industrial soil (Table 1) and even for soil gas (Table 2).
California: Soil Screening Numbers View OEHHA Screening Document
This draft OEHHA "Human-Exposure-Based Screening Numbers Developed to Aid Estimation of Cleanup Costs for Contaminated Soil" document has soil and soil gas screening numbers in Section 5 and Appendix B.
California: San Francisco Board of Water Screening Levels Get SF RBSLs
Although not a state document, this is worth the look for anyone. The Application of Risk-Based Screening Levels and Decision Making To Sites With Impacted Soils And Groundwater is a Tier 1 type of document that gives not only typical soils and groundwater levels but also gives a bit more tailored groundwater standards than the MCLs. 
 
Colorado: Soil Remediation Objectives View COL SROs
This proposed document gives tiered values.
 
Connecticut: Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs) View CT RSRs
The Department of Environmental Protection has standard regulation values in this document for soil (residential and industrial), groundwater and even surface water. Also has many of the inputs and equations needed to calculate your own.
Connecticut: Proposed Remediation Standard Regulations, Volatilization Criteria  View Proposed Standards
This proposed March 2003 document updates the volatilization criteria in the previous state RSRs guidance (see above). It uses more recent information and methods to supply new groundwater and soil vapor volatilization criteria to be used when determining indoor air values as well as presents revised target indoor air concentrations (Table 1). No word on finalization or revision dates. TY K.B. 
Connecticut: Significant Environmental Hazard Condition Notification Threshold Concentrations View Table A - VOCs
We do not know if there is an acronym for these but there should be. CDEP presents required reporting limits for various contaminants. Please note that these are not cleanup levels or even appropriate screening levels, but are included here for those dealing with potential releases. The levels for VOCs are in Table A, SVOCs are in Table B and inorganics are in Table C.  View Table B - SVOCs
View Table C - Inorganics
 
Delaware: Remediation Standards Guidance View DEL Guidance with Levels
The Adobe document on this link takes a bit to load but has explanatory text which may be helpful to some. The values start on page 45.
 
Florida: Soil Cleanup Target Levels Get Table 2 - Soil Target Levels
This Adobe document presents Contaminated Cleanup Target Levels for Florida (62-777) for soil in Table 2 and GW in Table 1. Also including page with links on guidance. Get Table 1 - GW Target Levels
View Guidance Links
 
Idaho: Risk Evaluation Manual View Software and Initial DTLs
Idaho is a state that once used company-developed software (was available for $17.95) similar to that which is required to buy in other states for hundreds of dollars. Beginning July 2004, it has developed a new approach, the REM, to address sites in the state. The approach includes FREE software (applause - see Editor's Note) to calculate risk-based target levels in addition to Initial Default Target Levels (IDTLs). The manual and software are free after a simple registration.   
Illinois: Risk-Based Cleanup Objectives View IL Title 35 TACO
The Illinois Pollution Control Board has a tiered approach to corrective action objectives (with the cool name of TACO) as laid out in Title 35, Subtitle G, Chapter I, subchapter F of the Administrative Code. Title 35 also has standards for air and groundwater.  View For Chems not in TACO
Indiana: Risk Integrated System of Closure (RISC) View RISC Appendix 1
The RISC Technical Guide, Appendix 1, February 15, 2001, has the default Closure Tables and contains residential and industrial soil levels.
 
Iowa: Statewide Standards for Soils in the Land Recycling Program View IA Land Standards
Iowa's land recycling program has standards for soil specific to residential, non-residential and restricted access land uses. Values are also flexible to differing depths (<2 ft., 2-10 ft., and > 10 ft.).
Kansas: Risk-Based Standards  View RSK Manual
KDHE released the Risk-based Standards (RSK) Manual in 2003 for contaminated sites in Kansas. This is a tiered approach to addressing sites in a consistent manner.  
 
Kentucky: Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs)  
Previous levels for this state have been removed from the web. The state's waste management program has a voluntary environmental remediation program (VERP) that now lists values for ambient inorganics statewide in its background assessment guidance (Table 2) but uses Region 9 PRGs for screening sites.
 
Louisiana: Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Program (RECAP) Get Table 1 Screening Levels
The Dept. of Environmental Quality's RECAP program has set minimum screening standards for soils and groundwater (Table 1). The DEQ also allows site management options (MO) in which higher levels for some sites may be allowed (Table 2).  Get Tables 2&3 - MO Standards
 
Maine: Remedial Action Guidelines for Contaminated Soils View RAGS Levels
This is from the DEP. Has actual values for soil and groundwater. Soil levels are also scenario-specific (even has a trespasser value). Go down towards bottom of page.
Maine: Maximum Exposure Guidelines (MEGs) Get Maine MEGs
These MEGs are for Maine's drinking water. 
 
Maryland: Generic Numeric Cleanup Standards for Groundwater and Soil View MD Cleanup Guidance
These standards were updated in August 2001.
 
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) View Table 1-GW Standards
This plan provides soil standards for different combinations of soil (and groundwater) categories as presented here. The MA DEP also has a great list of acronyms for those totally confused by the alphabet soup of site cleanup.   View Method 1 S-1 Standards
View Method 1 S-2 Standards
View Method 1 S-3 Standards
View Method 2 Standards
View Method 3 UCLs
Michigan: Part 201 Generic Cleanup Criteria View Part 201 Rules
Administrative Rule Part 201 provides soil (Rules 746 and 748) and groundwater standards (Rule 744) for differing situations (direct exposure, protection of groundwater, inhalation, etc.). Also has the toxicity information for those who calculate their own in the Rule 752 table.  The GO link takes you to the list of rules and their tables.  
 
Minnesota: Soil Reference Values (SRVs) View MN SRVs
The Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program (VCP) has draft guidance documents available. Appendix C presents the draft Tier 1 and Tier 2 SRVs for this program. 
 
Mississippi: Target Remediation Goals (TRGs) View MS TRGs
The MS DEQ has developed risk evaluation procedures for voluntary cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfields. The guidance and Target Remediaton Goals (TRGs) are in the link to the right. We have also included cleanup levels for underground storage tanks. View MS UST Levels
 
Missouri: Cleanup Action Levels in Missouri (CALM) View Part 201 Rules
This online document from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources gives a tiered approach to determining cleanup levels. Includes a Tier 1 lookup table. Be sure to use the new tables that went into effect September 1, 2001. Also gives csat and cleach values. 
Missouri: Risk-Based Corrective Actions for Tanks and Other Programs View MO MRBCA Guidance
Missouri is another state that contracted the same company to develop software for its tanks programs that allows reporting and calculation of site-specific cleanup goals. Tanks MRBCA is to the right (Levels in Tables 3-1, 4-1 & 7-1)). The state-wide MRBCA approach applies to other sites in Missouri for the time-being. The older VCP CALM guidance is basically replaced by the new program-wide (excluding tanks) MRBCA guidance. View MRBCA DTLs and Tier 1s
View MRBCA for Tanks Guidance
View MRBCA Tanks Tables
 
Montana: Risk-Based Screening Levels (RBSLs) View MT UST Levels
These Montana DEQ RBCA-based levels are for petroleum releases. There are RBSLs for differing depths to groundwater and land uses. The first link takes you to the list of Tier 1 tables including Table 1 (surface soil RBSLs), Table 2 (subsurface soil RBSLs), Table 3 (groundwater RBSLs) and Appendix C (master table of soil levels - recommended). 
Montana: Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment Act View MT VCRA Guidance
The Montana VCRA allows cleanup to published and/or determined levels following a hierarchy presented in the Application Guide beginning on page 16. The hierarchy includes using RBSLs for petroleum releases, EPA Region 9 SSL values for migration of groundwater (cleach), EPA Region 9 PRGs for soil and air, background, Washington State and DOE levels for sediment, state's abandoned mine cleanup values (could not find online), and site-specific determined cleanup levels. This program has flexibility but readers are advised to read the guide (Section 5). Some numbers provided.   View MT Levels Flowchart
View MT SW & GW Levels
View EPA Region 9 PRGs
View DOE Eco Endpoints
 
Nebraska: Risk-based Screening Levels View NE Tanks RBCA Guidance
Another state who bought RAM's software from hell. The Nebraska DEQ Leaking Underground Storage Tanks program has risk-based screening levels (RBSLs) here beginning on page 52 for petroleum-related constituents.
 
New Hampshire: Risk Characterization and Management Policy View RCMP document
This is the NHDES' Risk Characterization and Management Policy has values for groundwater and soil. The document also has some background levels for metals in NH. Be sure to use the 04/2001 revised values. Takes time to open this one.
 
New Jersey: Soil Cleanup Criteria View NJ Soil Criteria
This is the NJ DEP Site Remediation Program's soil cleanup criteria. Includes residential and industrial levels, as well as protection of groundwater levels. 
 
New Mexico: Soil Screening Levels (SSLs) View NM Guidance Page
The NM Environmental Department's 2000 Soil Screening Guidelines used to include screening levels for residential, industrial and construction land uses/receptors. The state's link to the 2006 guidance does not work. The first link is to the guidance page. NM also uses EPA Region 6 MSLs. Also including link to October 2006 TPH benchmarks. View TPH Benchmarks
View Region 6 MSLs
 
New York: Determination of Soil Cleanup Objectives and Cleanup Levels View NY Cleanup Levels
New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation has consolidated its approach to determining soil cleanup levels for contaminated sites (Brownfield CLeanup Program, Inactive Hazardous Waste Program and Environmental Restoration Program) with the petroleum cleanup program. TAGM #4046, is used to determine cleanup levels at all sites. Memo #4046  is divided into cleanup objectives for VOCs, SVOCs, pesticides/PCBs and metals. Two tables (gasoline and fuel oil) have been created for use in the spill program in recognition that only petroleum compounds are considered at petroleum sites.  Stars #1 continues to be used for its intended purpose:  providing direction on the handling, disposal and/or reuse of contaminated soils at petroleum sites . STARs # 1 is no longer used to determine soil cleanup levels at petroleum sites. Thanks to JH for this info.
 
North Dakota: Cleanup Action Level Guidelines for Gasoline and Other Petroleum Hydrocarbons View ND UST Levels
These are released by the North Dakota Department of Health. Gives a benzene and TPH value for soils. 
 
Ohio: Generic Cleanup Numbers  View OH Generic Levels
The Ohio EPA has generic risk-based standards (residential direct contact, groundwater and protection of groundwater) published in May 2006. They also have some soil gas software available on the Guidance Docs link. View Guidance Docs
 
Oregon: Risk-Based Concentrations View RBDM Page
Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality published RBCs to go with its Risk-Based Decision Making for the Remediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Sites. They are in Excel format here. Kudos to OR for offering levels that address vapor intrusion into buildings, FREE Excel sheets that can calculate site-specific RBCs, and a generic Excel-based CSM which can be modified for site-specific use. The sheets are much better and more simple to use than others being sold for $500.  Thanks to MA for this info.  Get RBCs in Excel
Get RBC Calculating Sheet
Get SCM in Excel
 
Pennsylvania: Medium Specific Concentrations (MSCs) View PA Health Standards
The Department of Environmental Protection has MSCs for soil and groundwater. Also, has soil leaching, capped soils and ecological values. The link takes you to a list of tables (excel or pdf) for all the "Statewide Health Standards".
 
Rhode Island: Metals Background Levels View RI Background Metals
An older document with background levels for metals in Rhode Island.
 
South Carolina: Risk-Based Corrective Action for Tanks View SC Tanks RBCA Guidance
South Carolina has the May 2001 Risk-based Corrective Action for Petroleum Releases guidance. Levels are in Appendix B.
 
South Dakota: Look-Up Tables View SD Lookup Tables
The SD Department of Environment & Natural Resources has look-up tables including a table for BTEX, naphthalene and MTBK in surface soils. 
 
Tennessee: Cleanup Criteria for Petroleum Contaminated Sites Get TN-RBCA Levels in Excel
At the end of 2004, the Division implemented a new Risk Based Corrective Action (TN-RBCA) Process for UST sites. Levels are in the linked excel file.
 
Texas: State Cleanup Levels View PEL's TX Level Generator
This site is from PEL Labs (no, they have not paid us but we will take cash if they feel generous) and calculates TX cleanup levels depending on media, source area and and land use. Cool toy to play with. 
 
Utah: RCLs for UST Sites View UT RCLs
 This memo includes the 1990 document showing Utah's guidelines for Recommended Soil Cleanup Levels (RCLs) related to Underground Storage Tanks. Presents levels for TPH and BTEX. Numbers are for gasoline constituents and a little hard to find: go to the end of the document to Tables 10 thru 12. 
 
Virginia: Voluntary Remediation Program Risk Assessment Guidance View VA Tables
Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality has a tiered procedure similar to other states. They have Excel tables with information on toxicity, exposure factors, etc. to use in your calculations. They also have tables for soil levels (residential - vrp25.xls, industrial - vrp29.xls), groundwater values, and some surface water info. Link is to the complete list of tables.  
 
Washington: CLARC Search Engine View CLARC Engine
The Cleanup Levels and Risk Calculation (CLARC) tool is a searchable database developed and maintained by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). Enter in the chemical and parameters and it generates the screening level. Also including metals background levels for WA state. View Metals Background Levels
Washington: WAC Soil Cleanup Levels View Table 740-1 Unrestricted Soils
Here are links to the WAC cleanup levels for soil and groundwater at unrestricted land use sites (Table 740-1) and industrial land use sites (Table 720-1). View Table 720-1 Industrial Soil
Washington: Site-specific Levels for Former Dupont Works View DuPont Site SRLs
From the "Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment for the Former DuPont Works Site", this is Appendix E – Soil Cleanup Level and Remediation Level Calculations. These are for this site only but can provide an example for project managers.
 
West Virginia: Risk-Based Concentrations (RBCs) View WV RBC Guidance
The WV Voluntary Remediation and Redevelopment Act supplies several tiers of levels from a first tier of standard published values to determining site-specific values. The Guidance Manual contains the RBCs in Appendix C-1. 
 
Wisconsin: Remediation Levels View NR746 Document
The WI DNR has some regulations with actual remediation values in Chapter NR746. For residual petroleum in soils, see Tables 1 and 2 of 746.06, available in the full NR746 document in pdf form or in the online outline which seems to have a couple more values listed.  For generic soil levels, see NR720.09(4). For groundwater standards, see Tables 1 and 2 of the NR140 document (pdf or outline). For guidance on conducting site-specific standards, see NR720.  View 746.06 Screening Criteria
View NR 720 - Soil Levels
View NR 140 - GW Levels
 
Wyoming: Soil Cleanup Levels Look-Up Table Under the Voluntary Remediation Program View Soil Look-Up Table
This WY Fact Sheet presents the soil cleanup levels for state's VRP. Industrial levels are not included but can be obtained and/or determined if considerations of local land restrictions are accepted by the program. WY Fact Sheet #13 speaks on GW levels which are MCLs or WY calculated levels.
INTERNATIONAL Guidance Documents And Values
Australia: Health-Based Guidelines View Australia HILs
Health-based soil investigation levels (HILs)are included in this guidance document, starting on page 23.
Canada: Canada-Wide Standards View Canada-Wide Standards
Canada-wide Standards (CWSs) are intergovernmental qualitative or quantitative standards, guidelines, objectives and criteria for protecting the environment and reducing risks to human health. 
Canada: Canada-Wide Standards for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil View CWSs for PHC
Canada-wide Standards (CWSs) for petroleum hydrocarbons in soil.
Netherlands: Dutch Intervention Values Get Dutch Values
The Dutch Intervention Values are widely used throughout Europe. Was initially known as the "ABC List" but now modified to the New Dutch List. Here is the "Annex A: Target Values, Soil Remediation Intervention Values and Indicative Levels for Serious Contamination" which presents the values. 
UK: CLEA Values and Software Get CLEA Docs and Values
Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (CLEA) presents the CLEA model, software, Health Criteria Values (TOX reports) and the Soil Guideline Values (SGVs). This replaces the older ICRCL values as available. SGVs are at the bottom of the page.
UK: ICRCL Values Get ICRCL Values
The Interdepartmental Committee on the Redevelopment of Contaminated Land (ICRCL) published the Guidance Note 59/83 in 1983 and updated in 1987(2nd edition). It set out a number of Trigger Values (threshold and action concentrations) for contaminants in soil including ten metals, cyanides, sulphates, PAHs and phenols. Outdated by the CLEA numbers now.
UK: Kelly Indices - Gasworks Values Get Kelly Indices
Kelly Indices (Former GLC) Guidelines for Contaminated Soils is specifically developed for gasworks sites in London.
Other Stuff
GO EPA Soil Screening Guidance's Attachment C: Chemical Specific Parameters
GO RAIS's Chemical-Specific Factors such as dermal information and physical parameters that can be used in calculating cleanup levels
GO RAIS's chemical-specific Risk Assessment Toxicity Values
GO ATSDR's obtained values for drinking water and air. They also have their own dose levels termed Minimum Risk Levels (MRLs): 
GO Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS): This is the ultimate source for all your toxicity value needs (well most of them).
GO Environmental Health Information
Many states are requiring site owners to purchase "Software".
Editor's Note: We both applaud and chide development in many states of software (actually a set of Excel sheets) to generate cleanup levels. We applaud the approach to empower site owners and consultants with determining site-specific values in a consistent manner; however, in many states, it is the same company generating the same set of excel sheets. States have expressed that the software was advertised as doing more than it does, has actually added to the workload at each site due to repetition and multiple forms, and has cost a great deal of money. For small sites, it is throwing budgets out of whack. We do not know the answer but, for those frustrated, we feel your pain.

 

 
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