Human Health Risk Assessment: Sabin Metals Superfund Site

New York

Roux Associates was retained to conduct a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at a New York State Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Site in Modena, New York. As part of the RI, the potential risks associated with heavy metals in surficial soils and wetland sediments were evaluated. The purpose of the risk assessment was to determine whether the Site, in its unremediated state, posed an unacceptable risk to human health and, if so, to provide a basis for establishing clean-up criteria for compounds of possible concern. The risk assessment assumed residential and recreational future land uses.

The risk assessment followed all US Environmental Protection Agency guidance and included a determination of chemicals of potential concern, an evaluation of potential future site uses, a determination of toxicity potential for chemicals of potential concern, an evaluation of possible exposure pathways, and a determination of localized areas of unacceptable risks.

Based on the risk assessment and an associated Habitat Assessment, the remedial action recommended was a limited “hot spot” removal for both the soil and sediments. The risk assessment formed the basis for establishing the extent of the “hot spots” that required remediating, and greatly limited the scope of excavation that was necessary.