HAZARD EVALUATION & EMERGENCY RESPONSE (HEER) OFFICE

Steps for Completing the Alternative Removal Action Process and Preparing Appropriate Hazard Maps

The HEER Office has prepared a Fact Sheet that explains the steps in the Removal Action Alternative for Redevelopment process. This alternative process is for property owners and developers who plan to redevelop properties with known environmental contamination (sometimes referred to as Brownfield sites) or properties that may be impacted by environmental contamination that has not yet been identified, and where the contamination has yet to be adequately characterized and remediated in accordance with the Response Action process described in Hawaii Administrative Rule 11-451, also known as the State Contingency Plan (SCP), and the HEER Office Technical Guidance Manual (TGM).  This alternative process allows for the remediation to be conducted concurrently with the completion of the site characterization during the initial construction phases of site redevelopment, such that at the completion of the project, an acceptable remedy, implemented in accordance with the SCP and TGM, will be in place to mitigate any residual environmental hazards and the project can achieve site closure from the HEER Office.  This alternative process is particularly recommended for sites where the completion of site characterization prior to the start of construction is impractical or infeasible due to existing site infrastructure or other limitations.  It is recommended that you consult with the HEER Office before selecting this alternative process for your project, as it may not be appropriate for all sites.

In addition, the HEER Office has prepared Hazard Map Guidance specifically for use with the Removal Action Alternative for Redevelopment process, which explains how to identify and differentiate areas of known and presumed environmental hazards at the site and how to prepare appropriate Hazard Maps for use with this alternative process.