IDEM’s 2018 Screening Level Tables (Table A-6 and A-7), effective March 7, 2018, are now available on IDEM’s Screening and Closure Levels web page located at http://www.in.gov/idem/cleanups/2392.htm.
On an annual basis, IDEM compares its risk-based screening levels against the most recent updates the U.S. EPA applies to its own regional levels. Changes to state and federal screening and closure levels can affect environmental liabilities for companies across Indiana with respect to how the primary risk driving chemicals, specific industries or ongoing site characterizations could be affected, positively or negatively. Certain changes sometimes have significant ramifications. For 2018, although the number of chemicals affected are numerous, most of the changes are relatively minor.
It is notable that updated Table A-6 includes the same list of chemicals shown in the 2017 Table with the exception of barium chromate, calcium chromate, lead chromate, sodium dichromate, and strontium chromate, which have been removed. In addition, updated Table A-6 includes new screening levels for the following 9 chemicals: o-aminophenol, 1-bromo-3-fluorobenzene, 1-bromo-4-fluorobenzene, 1-bromopropane, 2,2-difluoropropane, diphenyl ether, guanidine nitrate, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, and p-toluic acid. The name for 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-butyric acid was changed to 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-butanoic acid. Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) was changed to perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), and perfluorobutanesulfonate was added with the same parameters as PFBS. The 2018 Table A-6 also incorporates updates by the U.S. EPA, including new toxicity parameters for benzo(a)pyrene, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (as previously announced last year, http://www.in.gov/idem/cleanups/files/risc_screening_table_2017_bap_announcement.pdf), and 51 pesticides.
Table A-7 (Recreational Soil Direct Contact Screening Levels) incorporates updates by the U.S. EPA for benzo(a)pyrene (see above referenced 2017 BaP Announcement).
As with prior changes, there is a 6-month transition period, which ends this year on September 7, 2018. per IDEM’s Remediation Closure Guide. Accordingly, 2017 screening levels remain applicable if a remediation or corrective action work plan is submitted by a responsible party during the transition period. After the transition period has ended, 2018 screening levels become enforced.
Wilcox Environmental Engineering continually monitors ever-changing regulations at both the state and federal levels. Prompt awareness permits us to analyze changes for our clients and thus maximize the benefits of positive change, or conversely, minimize the impact of negative change to their specific environmental liabilities.