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| Resource Library > Restoration > ERP-O > process |
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Environmental restoration projects are complex with multiple steps beginning with site identification, followed by remediation, and ending with site closure. As shown in Figure 1-1, the activities can be broadly divided between the investigation and the remedial actions themselves. Throughout this process, there are multiple opportunities to adjust the approach and optimize the outcome. ERP Optimization (ERP-O) is the title given the program addressing optimization opportunities throughout the process. ERP-O has a number of component elements which have been demonstrated to provide better cleanup performance-frequently at substantial savings.
Why are we doing this?
- President's Management Agenda (Section 5, 2002) directed all Federal Agencies to focus on performance, ensuring programs are evaluated to determine if their funding is actually accomplishing the intended goals
- Management Guidance for Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP), Sep 2001, mandates continuous reviews of response actions, ensuring protectiveness and optimization of remedial actions
- Management Guidance for the Air Force Environmental Restoration Program, Feb 2003, requires annual optimization reviews for sites with an installed remedy
- Optimization directed by SAF/IEE memo, Air Force Cleanup Program Performance-Based Management Policy, 27 Oct 04
- Implementation of the RPO Policy directed by USAF/ILEV memo, Remedial Process Optimization (RPO) Policy, 5 Mar 05
- AFI 32-7020 requires ERP-O
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Anticipated Benefits of ERP-O
The ERP-O program provides multiple benefits. It ensures that existing remediation systems remain protective of human health and the environment, facilitates the reevaluation of cleanup goals, tracks and reports on remedial progress, reduces operating and monitoring costs, and accelerates site closures and property transfers.
Ensuring Protectiveness. ERP-O evaluations review the entire restoration program to evaluate and mitigate risks to human health and/or the environment.
Reevaluating Cleanup Goals. ERP-O evaluations review site cleanup goals to ensure that regulatory changes are incorporated. During the review, the technical assumptions are evaluated and appropriate changes are reflected in the recommendations.
Tracking and Reporting Remedial Progress. ERP-O evaluations examine the effectiveness of existing remedial systems and (as appropriate) update fate-and-transport model predictions. These models can be used to establish realistic cleanup timeframes. Based on these evaluations, the existing systems can be optimized or replaced with a more effective technical approach.
Reducing Operating and Monitoring Costs. The ERP-O team will evaluate the LTM plan and analytical protocol in place at each site. The team reviews each monitoring well and data collection point to verify its usefulness in tracking system performance. The team's recommendations may include abandoning unnecessary monitoring wells and decreasing sampling frequency. Eliminating unnecessary repetition decreases the annual O&M budget (sometimes significantly.)
Accelerated Site Transfer or Closure. The ultimate benefit of ERP-O is achieving the site cleanup goals more rapidly and efficiently. This is particularly important at facilities that have been deactivated and are awaiting property transfer based on OPS demonstrations.
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