Environmental Hazard Evaluation and Environmental Action Levels

An Environmental Hazard Evaluation (EHE) is the link between site investigation activities and response actions carried out to address hazards posed by the presence of contaminated soil and groundwater.

Environmental Action Levels (EALs) are concentrations of contaminants in soil, soil gas, and groundwater that are used in decision making throughout the EHE process. This page provides information on EHE guidance and supplemental models in Microsoft Excel; periodic updates to the EALs and associated guidance; and additional resources for related information. For additional information, contact Roger Brewer of HEER at [email protected].


EHE GUIDANCE

Evaluation of Environmental Hazards at Sites With Contaminated Soil and Groundwater

The document Evaluation of Environmental Hazards at Sites With Contaminated Soil and Groundwater (the “EHE Guidance”) is a technical report that can be used to expedite the identification of potential environmental hazards at sites with contaminated soil and groundwater as well as assist in the cleanup and redevelopment of these properties.

The most current edition of the EHE Guidance is dated Fall 2017. The updates primarily reflect relatively minor revisions to physiochemical constants used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop EPA’s 2017 Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) and new information on risks posed by total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH).

Important Notes:

  • The EHE Guidance should be used in conjunction with the HEER Office’s Technical Guidance Manual, which provides information on site investigation design and implementation as well as a an overview of the EHE process, and other HEER Office guidance.
  • The EALs refer to EPA RSLs as one of a number of sources for soil, water and air screening levels. As stated in the EPA RSL Guidance User’s Manual, the EPA RSLs cannot be used as a stand-alone tool to evaluate the need for additional actions at contaminated sites. The EPA RSLs only address direct exposure of humans to contaminants in soil. Other potential environmental hazards, including leaching and impacts to groundwater, vapor intrusion and gross contamination, have been incorporated into the EALs to allow for a more comprehensive review of contaminated properties without the need to assess these issues separately.
  • Reference:
    • Hawaiʻi Department of Health, 2017, Evaluation of Environmental Hazards at Sites with Contaminated Soil and Groundwater (Fall 2017): Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office.

SUPPLEMENTAL MODELS AND GUIDANCE
  • HDOH EAL Surfer (Fall 2017)
    • The EAL Surfer is a searchable, electronic version of the EAL lookup tables.
    • Use of the EAL Surfer to screen site data and expedite preparation of EHE reports is highly recommended.
    • The EAL Surfer automatically generates a summary page that can be included in reports. The EAL Surfer also includes a glossary, a summary of information on the chemical selected and an overview of options for more advanced evaluations of environmental hazards.
    • If you have trouble using the pulldown menus on the EAL Surfer then remove the write protection (under the Tools menu). The password to unprotect the EAL Surfer worksheets is EAL. The EAL Surfer is updated on a regular basis. Check this post periodically to ensure that you have the most up-to-date edition available.
  • Tier 2 DE Excel Spreadsheet (HDOH EALs rev May 2018)
    • The Tier 2, Soil Direct Exposure spreadsheet was updated May 2018 to correct an error in the Csat calculation.
    • The write-protect password for all Excel file worksheets is EAL.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION

Related guidance and information is posted below. Refer also to the HEER Office Technical Guidance webpage.

Recommended Risk-Based Drinking Water Action Levels for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) Associated with Releases of JP-5 Jet Fuel (revised April 12, 2022)

The HEER Office is updating guidance for development of risk-based, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) action levels for drinking water (tapwater). A summary of the updated approach and example TPH tapwater action levels specific to JP-5 jet fuel are presented in the Technical Memorandum posted at the below link. Table 6 of the memorandum was revised in September 2022 (to be incorporated in the next revision of the memo) to correct an error in the noted, relative makeup of JP-5 fuel. This did not affect the final TPH action levels presented in the memorandum.

Comments and suggestions on the approach described are welcome and should be submitted to Roger Brewer ([email protected]) of the HEER Office by March 25th, 2022. Updates to TPH tapwater action levels for gasoline, diesel and other petroleum fuels presented in the HEER Office Environmental Action Level guidance will be made after the review period.

JP-5 Tapwater Action Levels (HIDOH Apr 20, 2022)

EALs FOR PFASs (January 2024)

The January 2024 memorandum posted below presents soil, groundwater, indoor air and soil vapor Environmental Action Levels (EALs) for screening of sites contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The action levels represent a supplement to the HEER Office guidance document Evaluation of Environmental Hazards at Sites with Contaminated Soil and Groundwater (“EHE Guidance;” HIDOH 2017 and updates). An Excel-based EAL Surfer of electronic lookup tables specific to PFASs is available for download from the link below.

The April 2023 edition of the EALs was updated in to include action levels for additional PFASs compounds (total 25 compounds). A method for calculation of “Total PFAS Risk” based on “Total Oxidizable Precursors (TOPs)” sample processing methods and data for “Total Organic Fluorine (TOF)” is also added to the guidance. The approach allows consideration of PFAS precursor compounds in assessment of risk and design of remedial actions without the need to identify and assess each precursor compound separately. An Excel spreadsheet is included to assist in calculation of a cumulative Hazard Index for PFASs reported for a sample. A Fact Sheet is provided to summarize the basis of the Total PFAS Risk approach and guide use of the accompanying Excel spreadsheet.

February 10, 2024: The Total PFAS Calculator was revised to correct Drinking Water and Soil Action Levels for PFBS and PFPeS.

The guidance is posted as a Public Review Draft but should be referred to for PFAS projects currently underway in Hawaii. Comments on the update should be sent to Roger Brewer with the HIDOH HEER Office by February 26, 2024 ([email protected]). The PFASs EALs will be periodically updated in the future as new information is obtained. Comments and suggestions for future edits are welcome and should be submitted to Roger Brewer of the HEER Office at any time.

A recorded webinar entitled “Untangling the PFASs Web (October 2020)” that discusses basic information regarding PFASs is posted to the HEER Office webinar webpage.
https://health.hawaii.gov/heer/guidance/heer-webinars/#pfas.

Also visit the HEER page PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFASs) for more information on these substances in the environment.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

EHE EAL/ESL Training Webinar (Nov 21, 2017)

read more and download presentation
Below are links to PowerPoint slides and a recording of a webinar entitled Screening for Environmental Hazards at Sites with Contaminated Soil and Groundwater, presented by Roger Brewer of the HEER Office on November 21, 2017. The webinar discusses the upfront incorporation of Environmental Hazard Evaluation (EHE) concepts in Decision Unit and Multi Increment Sample site investigation methods (refer to HEER Office DU-MIS webinars posted on TGM webpage). Potential environmental hazards posed by different suites of chemicals and the development of soil, water and air action (screening) levels applicable to each concern are then reviewed. The webinar concludes with a discussion of the incorporation of EHE and EAL/ESL approaches in traditional, environmental risk assessments.

Fall 2014

Spring 2012 Updates

Field Investigation of the Chemistry and Toxicity of TPH in Petroleum Vapors: Implications for Potential Vapor Intrusion Hazards. Revised Dec 2012

Fall 2011 Update

The Tier 1 EALs were updated in Fall 2011. A summary of updates and HDOH comments can be downloaded from the links below.

Note that the Fall 2011 edition was revised in January 2012 to correct an error in the TPH action levels.

June 2010 Update:


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
  • Related Technical Documents

The case studies presented in the document link below highlight the use of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) data for soil, soil vapor, groundwater, surface water and ambient air associated with the risk-based investigation, remediation and long-term management of petroleum releases. The case studies in large reflect current, HDOH guidance and were prepared with input from multiple, outside state and federal regulators as well as private consultants and experts associated with the petroleum industry. The primary authors, Roger Brewer of the HDOH and Manivannan (Mani) Nagaiah of Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, are also active members of the TPH Risk Working Group of the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) and acknowledge important contributions to the document from many of the ITRC team members. The HDOH case studies will be referenced in the ITRC TPH Risk document for examples of the site-specific use of TPH data in a variety of petroleum-release scenarios (anticipated publication early 2019).

Reference:
HDOH, 2018. Collection and Use of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Data for the Risk-Based Evaluation of Petroleum Releases, Example Case Studies (October 2018): R. Brewer, M. Nagaiah and R. Keller, authors. Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office. Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.


EHE GUIDANCE – TROPICAL PACIFIC EDITION

A similarly named guidance document, referred to as the Tropical Pacific Edition, has been prepared for use in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam (formerly referred to as the Pacific Basin Edition). The Tropical Pacific Edition of the EHE guidance incorporates the EPA Regional Screening Level models. Similarities and differences between this guidance and the Hawaiʻi EHE Guidance and the EPA RSL guidance are discussed in Volume 1 of the document.

Contact us at (808) 586-4249 for any questions.