:net environmental benefit analysis (neba): euses in ... · coordinated approach to assessment,...

1
Key Steps in the NEBA Step 1: Identify potential impacts on ecosystem services (Figure 5) Step 2: Determine suitable metrics and indicators such as: • Ecological Service Value (discounted service acre year [dSAY]; $$$ per acre) • Human Use Value ($$$) • Human Recreation Use Value (User Days/$$$) • Economic Measures (e.g., tax revenue increases) At Site 74, the Habitat Equivalency Analysis (HEA) methodology was used to measure the change in ecosystem services over time, given the removal and land use scenarios evaluated. Within the HEA methodology, one or more indicators are typically selected to represent the ecological service ows from a habitat. For Site 74, the Belding’s savannah sparrow and light-footed clapper rail were selected as ecological indicators. Step 3: Quantify the changes in specic ecosystem services At Site 74, changes in ecosystem services were quantied as follows: • The habitat suitability index (HSI) was determined for each indicator species; • The pre-contamination level of services (baseline) for each habitat area (Figure 6) was determined; • The HSI was reduced to account for existing contamination; and • The ecological service losses and gains for each alternative were calculated using the approach developed by NOAA. In the HEA, ecological services are measured in a metric used to dene service ows over time. This metric is known as a service acre year (SAY). For example, a 1-acre tidal marsh determined to be perfect habitat for the clapper rail (an HSI of 1 or 100%) providing habitat for the clapper rail for 1 year is equivalent to one SAY. To reect the net present value (the current value of services that will be received at a future date), SAY values must be discounted. This discounted value is referred to as a dSAY. Step 4: Assess the changes in ecosystem services between alternatives • Removal Action Alternatives at Site 74 may include: - No Action Alternative – provides a baseline for comparison - Excavation and Offsite Disposal - Capping - Hot Spot Removal in Marsh Areas • The Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA) Evaluation Criteria include: - Effectiveness - Implementability - Cost Figure 7 shows the risk reduction under each removal action alternative as it relates to cost and ecological service losses. Because the NEBA is currently under review with the U.S. Navy, this is a hypothetical diagram of the NEBA results. For this example, it was assumed that there are no human-use services at the site. This diagram is used in the NEBA to determine a break point at which an alternative is protective (i.e., risks are managed) and environmental losses and removal action costs are minimized. Value of the NEBA Approach The NEBA approach is a valuable tool for risk and restoration managers because it: •uses quantiable metrics providing a justiable basis for decisions, •uses methodologies that are consistent with the policy and direction of natural resource agencies, •shows benets to the public and demonstrates environmental sustainability, and •allows for improved environmental management and environmental stewardship at lower costs. Acknowledgements Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA): Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA): Uses in Remediation/Restoration Decision-making for a Former Skeet Range Uses in Remediation/Restoration Decision-making for a Former Skeet Range Christine Arenal 1 , Linda Sands 2 , Pei-Fen Tamashiro 3 , Jennifer Sullivan 4 , Si Le 4 , and Bryant Wong 2 1 CH2M HILL, Sacramento, CA, USA 2 CH2M HILL, Santa Ana, CA, USA 3 Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Seal Beach, CA, USA 4 Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, CA, USA Introduction Site 74 is a former skeet range that was constructed in the late 1960s and operated for about 25 years (Figure 1). These activities have resulted in widespread distribution of solid lead shot and broken clay targets. The site consists of about 23.4 acres, with 10.4 acres of upland habitat and 13 acres of marsh habitat divided by Case Road (Figure 2). The terrestrial habitat located east of Case Road is predominantly covered with shrubs and tall grasses, though some areas are devoid of vegetation. West of Case Road, the marsh/tidal habitat is dominated by saltwort, shoregrass, estuary seablite, and cordgrass and is located within the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Extensive sampling at the site indicated that lead and antimony concentrations in the soil and sediment ranged as follows: – Soil Concentrations: Pb: 5 to 80,300 mg/kg; Sb: 0.1 to 3,930 mg/kg – Sediment Concentrations: Pb: 8.7 to 154,000 mg/kg; Sb: 19.8 to 2,980 mg/kg Results of the Tier II Ecological Risk Assessment indicated risks from antimony and lead exposure to resident birds and mammals, and risks from lead shot to birds. Lead and antimony concentrations in sediment also pose a risk to sediment invertebrates. Because portions of the site fell within the Seal Beach NWR and provided habitat for the federally endangered light-footed clapper rail and the state-endangered Belding’s savannah sparrow (also a federal candidate species), the impacts of potential removal activities were a concern. The challenge was to strike a balance between the risks to wildlife from contaminant exposure and habitat loss or disruption to sensitive species caused by the removal action. Using a process described as a Net Environmental Benets Analysis (NEBA), a range of actions, including excavation and offsite disposal of contaminated sediments and soils, capping, and hot-spot removal in marsh areas, in comparison to the no- action alternative were evaluated for Site 74. Additionally, restoration/ creation of a nearby wetland was considered as mitigation for habitat loss within the marsh areas of the site and is included in the NEBA. Figure 1. Site 74, Old Skeet Range Light-footed Clapper Rail Belding’s Savannah Sparrow Figure 2. Site Map Figure 5. Ecosystem Services Figure 6. Habitat Delineation Map Figure 7. Hypothetical Removal Action Alternatives Evaluation The NEBA Process as Applied to Site 74 When the U.S. Navy set out to clean up the former Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach skeet range in California, it needed an objective way to evaluate the tradeoffs among ecological benets and cost. While cost provides a clear measure of value, ecological benets are not as easy to pin down. The NEBA process was selected to quantify ecological benets and provide a basis for comparing tradeoffs. NEBA evaluates and compares removal action alternatives within an objective analytical framework. In this process, factors such as impairment from contamination, habitat quality, recovery rates for habitat and prey items, and other species or ecosystem metrics are used to calculate an ecological service value for the site. In this way, the NEBA quanties and compares ecosystem service benets and/or losses associated with alternative removal actions and restoration activities. It helps identify cleanup alternatives that provide the best combination of public, natural resource, and cost benets. EPA guidance directs that the potential ecological impacts of cleanup must be considered. Therefore, the Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs) for Site 74 were to: • reduce future exposure of human and ecological receptors to contaminated soil and sediment in a cost-effective manner, • comply with Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs), and • balance risk to ecological receptors from contaminated soil and sediment against the harm from the habitat loss and disruption caused by the remediation or removal efforts Overall Goals •Minimize NRI through remedial strategy •Manage short and long-term risks •Reduce time to resolution (transaction costs) •Reduce study costs, improve design (e.g., eco-risk) Parallel Track Remedial Investigation Human Health/Eco Risk Assessment EE/CA, FS ROD Remedial Action O&M Cleanup Natural Resource Injury NRI Overall Goals •Minimize NRI through remedial strategy •Manage short and long-term risks •Reduce time to resolution (transaction costs) •Reduce study costs, improve design (e.g., eco-risk) Parallel Track Parallel Track Remedial Investigation Human Health/Eco Risk Assessment EE/CA, FS ROD Remedial Action O&M Cleanup Remedial Investigation Human Health/Eco Risk Assessment EE/CA, FS ROD Remedial Action O&M Cleanup Natural Resource Injury NRI Natural Resource Injury NRI Marginal Risks/Uncertainty Effort/Cost ($) Concentration/Risk Criterion Level High Risk Areas Lower % Higher % Larger Reduction in Risk • Provides formal basis for alternative selection using quantifiable metrics • Allows For offsetting restoration • Assists with risk management decisions NEBA : Compares residual risks in marginal areas to gains from alternative implementation Marginal Risks/Uncertainty Marginal Risks/Uncertainty Marginal Risks/Uncertainty Effort/Cost ($) Concentration/Risk Criterion Level Criterion Level High Risk Areas High Risk Areas Lower % Lower % Higher % Higher % Larger Reduction in Risk Larger Reduction in Risk Smaller Reduction in Risk Smaller Reduction in Risk • Provides formal basis for alternative selection using quantifiable metrics • Allows For offsetting restoration • Assists with risk management decisions NEBA : Compares residual risks in marginal areas to gains from alternative implementation NEBA : Compares residual risks in marginal areas to gains from alternative implementation Figure 3. Coordinated Approach to Assessment, Remediation and Restoration Figure 4. Cleanup to Criterion (Cost/Benet) This guidance and the RAOs for Site 74 are best addressed through a coordinated approach to assessment, remediation and restoration (Figure 3). The NEBA provides formally quantied values using agency- approved tools and techniques developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to quantify and compare ecosystem service benets and/or losses associated with a remedial, removal, or restoration action. The goals of the NEBA include: • quantication of ecosystem benets of an action, • comparison of benets between actions, and • modication of actions to maximize benets A NEBA is useful when the balance of risks and benets from remediation of a site is ambiguous. That ambiguity arises when: • the site retains signicant ecological value, • remedial or removal actions are environmentally damaging • eco-risks are relatively small, uncertain, or limited to a component of the ecosystem, • remediation or restoration may fail, and • costs appear to be disproportionate to risk reduction (benet) Site 74 has sensitive habitat that may retain signicant ecological value to protected wildlife, and remedial or removal actions (excavation and removal and/or capping) are expected to be environmentally damaging. The NEBA provides a formal basis for alternative selection using quantiable metrics, allows for offsetting restoration, and assists with risk management decisions. A NEBA is particularly useful in comparing residual risks in marginal areas to gains from alternative implementation (Figure 4). 100 200 300 400 Ecological Service Loss (dSAYs) Remedial Cost ($ millions) Concentration/Risk Human Use Value Loss ($ millions) ALTERNATIVE 0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2 5 10 0 15 30 Note: It was assumed that there are no human-use services at this hypothetical site. Protective Not Protective Break Point Alternative Protective, Risks Managed Between Alt B and C, there is a large differential cost for a marginal change in risk 100 200 300 400 Ecological Service Loss (dSAYs) Remedial Cost ($ millions) Concentration/Risk Human Use Value Loss ($ millions) ALTERNATIVE No Action Alternative A Alternative B 0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2 5 10 0 Alternative C 15 30 Note: It was assumed that there are no human-use services at this hypothetical site. Protective Not Protective Break Point Alternative Protective, Risks Managed Between Alt B and C, there is a large differential cost for a marginal change in risk Habitat Direct Human Uses (e.g., Recreational, Commercial) Bird watching Fishing Swimming Hunting Commercial Fishing Existence value Aesthetic value Preservation of diversity Threatened & Endangered Species Passive Use Ecological Nesting Area for Birds Breeding Area Erosion Control Water Quality Enhancement Many Others Services Functions a natural resource (e.g., habitat) provides for other resources and for humans. Habitat Habitat Direct Human Uses (e.g., Recreational, Commercial) Bird watching Fishing Swimming Hunting Commercial Fishing Direct Human Uses (e.g., Recreational, Commercial) Bird watching Fishing Swimming Hunting Commercial Fishing Existence value Aesthetic value Preservation of diversity Threatened & Endangered Species Passive Use Ecological Nesting Area for Birds Breeding Area Erosion Control Water Quality Enhancement Many Others Services Functions a natural resource (e.g., habitat) provides for other resources and for humans. Services Functions a natural resource (e.g., habitat) provides for other resources and for humans. Case Road Case Road Marsh Habitat ES072009003SAC

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Page 1: :Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA): eUses in ... · Coordinated Approach to Assessment, Remediation and Restoration Compares Compares residual risks in marginal areas to gains

Key

Ste

ps

in t

he

NE

BA

Step

1: I

dent

ify p

oten

tial i

mpa

cts

on e

cosy

stem

ser

vice

s (F

igur

e 5)

Step

2: D

eter

min

e su

itabl

e m

etric

s an

d in

dica

tors

suc

h as

:• E

colo

gica

l Ser

vice

Val

ue (d

isco

unte

d se

rvic

e ac

re y

ear [

dSAY

]; $$

$ pe

r acr

e)• H

uman

Use

Val

ue ($

$$)

• Hum

an R

ecre

atio

n U

se V

alue

(Use

r Day

s/$$

$)• E

cono

mic

Mea

sure

s (e

.g.,

tax

reve

nue

incr

ease

s)At

Site

74,

the

Hab

itat E

quiv

alen

cy A

naly

sis

(HE

A) m

etho

dolo

gy w

as u

sed

to m

easu

re th

e ch

ange

in

ecos

yste

m s

ervi

ces

over

tim

e, g

iven

the

rem

oval

and

land

use

sce

nario

s ev

alua

ted.

With

in th

e H

EA

met

hodo

logy

, one

or m

ore

indi

cato

rs a

re ty

pica

lly s

elec

ted

to re

pres

ent t

he e

colo

gica

l ser

vice

fl ow

s fro

m

a ha

bita

t. Fo

r Site

74,

the

Beld

ing’

s sa

vann

ah s

parro

w a

nd li

ght-f

oote

d cl

appe

r rai

l wer

e se

lect

ed a

s ec

olog

ical

indi

cato

rs.

Step

3: Q

uant

ify th

e ch

ange

s in

spe

cifi c

eco

syst

em s

ervi

ces

At S

ite 7

4, c

hang

es in

eco

syst

em s

ervi

ces

wer

e qu

antifi

ed

as fo

llow

s:• T

he h

abita

t sui

tabi

lity

inde

x (H

SI) w

as d

eter

min

ed fo

r eac

h in

dica

tor s

peci

es;

• The

pre

-con

tam

inat

ion

leve

l of s

ervi

ces

(bas

elin

e) fo

r eac

h ha

bita

t are

a (F

igur

e 6)

was

det

erm

ined

;• T

he H

SI w

as re

duce

d to

acc

ount

for e

xist

ing

cont

amin

atio

n; a

nd

• The

eco

logi

cal s

ervi

ce lo

sses

and

gai

ns fo

r eac

h al

tern

ativ

e w

ere

calc

ulat

ed u

sing

the

appr

oach

de

velo

ped

by N

OA

A. I

n th

e H

EA

, eco

logi

cal s

ervi

ces

are

mea

sure

d in

a m

etric

use

d to

defi

ne

serv

ice

fl ow

s ov

er ti

me.

Thi

s m

etric

is k

now

n as

a s

ervi

ce a

cre

year

(SAY

). Fo

r exa

mpl

e, a

1-a

cre

tidal

mar

sh

dete

rmin

ed to

be

perfe

ct h

abita

t for

the

clap

per r

ail (

an H

SI o

f 1 o

r 100

%) p

rovi

ding

hab

itat f

or th

e cl

appe

r rai

l for

1 y

ear i

s eq

uiva

lent

to o

ne S

AY.

To refl e

ct th

e ne

t pre

sent

val

ue (t

he c

urre

nt v

alue

of

serv

ices

that

will

be re

ceiv

ed a

t a fu

ture

dat

e), S

AY v

alue

s m

ust b

e di

scou

nted

. Th

is d

isco

unte

d va

lue

is re

ferre

d to

as

a dS

AY.

Step

4: A

sses

s th

e ch

ange

s in

eco

syst

em s

ervi

ces

betw

een

alte

rnat

ives

• Rem

oval

Act

ion

Alte

rnat

ives

at S

ite 7

4 m

ay in

clud

e:

- N

o Ac

tion

Alte

rnat

ive

– pr

ovid

es a

bas

elin

e fo

r com

paris

on

- Ex

cava

tion

and

Offs

ite D

ispo

sal

-

Cap

ping

-

Hot

Spo

t Rem

oval

in M

arsh

Are

as• T

he E

ngin

eerin

g Ev

alua

tion

and

Cos

t Ana

lysi

s (E

E/C

A) E

valu

atio

n C

riter

ia in

clud

e:

- Ef

fect

iven

ess

-

Impl

emen

tabi

lity

-

Cos

tFi

gure

7 s

how

s th

e ris

k re

duct

ion

unde

r eac

h re

mov

al a

ctio

n al

tern

ativ

e as

it re

late

s to

cos

t and

eco

logi

cal

serv

ice

loss

es. B

ecau

se th

e N

EBA

is c

urre

ntly

und

er re

view

with

the

U.S

. Nav

y, th

is is

a h

ypot

hetic

al

diag

ram

of t

he N

EBA

resu

lts. F

or th

is e

xam

ple,

it w

as a

ssum

ed th

at th

ere

are

no h

uman

-use

ser

vice

s at

th

e si

te. T

his

diag

ram

is u

sed

in th

e N

EBA

to d

eter

min

e a

brea

k po

int a

t whi

ch a

n al

tern

ativ

e is

pro

tect

ive

(i.e.

, ris

ks a

re m

anag

ed) a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal l

osse

s an

d re

mov

al a

ctio

n co

sts

are

min

imiz

ed.

Val

ue

of

the

NE

BA

Ap

pro

ach

The

NEB

A ap

proa

ch is

a v

alua

ble

tool

for r

isk

and

rest

orat

ion

man

ager

s be

caus

e it:

• use

s qu

antifi

abl

e m

etric

s pr

ovid

ing

a ju

stifi

able

ba

sis

for d

ecis

ions

,• u

ses

met

hodo

logi

es th

at a

re c

onsi

sten

t with

the

polic

y an

d di

rect

ion

of n

atur

al re

sour

ce a

genc

ies,

• s

how

s be

nefi t

s to

the

publ

ic a

nd d

emon

stra

tes

envi

ronm

enta

l sus

tain

abilit

y, a

nd• a

llow

s fo

r im

prov

ed e

nviro

nmen

tal m

anag

emen

t and

en

viro

nmen

tal s

tew

ards

hip

at lo

wer

cos

ts.

Ack

now

led

gem

ents

Nav

al W

eapo

ns S

tatio

n Se

al B

each

Nav

al F

acilit

ies

Engi

neer

ing

Com

man

d So

uthw

est

Ne

t E

nv

iro

nm

en

tal

Be

ne

fit

An

aly

sis

(N

EB

A):

Ne

t E

nv

iro

nm

en

tal

Be

ne

fit

An

aly

sis

(N

EB

A):

Us

es

in

Re

me

dia

tio

n/R

es

tora

tio

n D

ec

isio

n-m

ak

ing

fo

r a

Fo

rm

er S

ke

et

Ra

ng

eU

se

s i

n R

em

ed

iati

on

/Re

sto

ra

tio

n D

ec

isio

n-m

ak

ing

fo

r a

Fo

rm

er S

ke

et

Ra

ng

e

Chr

istin

e A

rena

l1 , Lin

da S

ands

2 , Pei

-Fen

Tam

ashi

ro3 , J

enni

fer

Sulli

van4 , S

i Le4 , a

nd B

ryan

t Won

g2

1 CH

2M H

ILL, S

acra

men

to, C

A, U

SA 2 C

H2M

HILL

, San

ta A

na, C

A, U

SA 3 N

aval

Wea

pons

Sta

tion

Seal

Bea

ch, S

eal B

each

, CA

, USA

4 Nav

al F

acili

ties

Engi

neer

ing

Com

man

d So

uthw

est,

San

Die

go, C

A, U

SA

Intr

od

ucti

on

Site

74

is a

form

er s

keet

rang

e th

at w

as c

onst

ruct

ed in

the

late

196

0s a

nd

oper

ated

for a

bout

25

year

s (F

igur

e 1)

. The

se a

ctiv

ities

hav

e re

sulte

d in

w

ides

prea

d di

strib

utio

n of

sol

id le

ad s

hot a

nd b

roke

n cl

ay ta

rget

s. T

he s

ite

cons

ists

of a

bout

23.

4 ac

res,

with

10.

4 ac

res

of u

plan

d ha

bita

t and

13 a

cres

of m

arsh

hab

itat d

ivid

ed b

y C

ase

Roa

d (F

igur

e 2)

. Th

e te

rrest

rial h

abita

t loc

ated

eas

t of C

ase

Roa

d is

pre

dom

inan

tly

cove

red

with

shr

ubs

and

tall

gras

ses,

thou

gh s

ome

area

s ar

e de

void

of

vege

tatio

n. W

est o

f Cas

e R

oad,

the

mar

sh/ti

dal h

abita

t is

dom

inat

ed b

y sa

ltwor

t, sh

oreg

rass

, est

uary

sea

blite

, and

cor

dgra

ss a

nd is

loca

ted

with

in

the

Seal

Bea

ch N

atio

nal W

ildlif

e R

efug

e (N

WR)

. Ext

ensi

ve s

ampl

ing

at

the

site

indi

cate

d th

at le

ad a

nd a

ntim

ony

conc

entra

tions

in th

e so

il an

d se

dim

ent r

ange

d as

follo

ws:

– So

il C

once

ntra

tions

: Pb:

5 to

80,

300

mg/

kg; S

b: 0

.1 to

3,9

30 m

g/kg

– Se

dim

ent C

once

ntra

tions

: Pb:

8.7

to 1

54,0

00 m

g/kg

; Sb:

19.

8 to

2,

980

mg/

kg

Res

ults

of t

he T

ier I

I Eco

logi

cal R

isk

Asse

ssm

ent i

ndic

ated

risk

s fro

m

antim

ony

and

lead

exp

osur

e to

resi

dent

bird

s an

d m

amm

als,

and

risk

s fro

m le

ad s

hot t

o bi

rds.

Lea

d an

d an

timon

y co

ncen

tratio

ns in

sed

imen

t al

so p

ose

a ris

k to

sed

imen

t inv

erte

brat

es. B

ecau

se p

ortio

ns o

f the

site

fe

ll w

ithin

the

Seal

Bea

ch N

WR

and

pro

vide

d ha

bita

t for

the

fede

rally

en

dang

ered

ligh

t-foo

ted

clap

per r

ail a

nd th

e st

ate-

enda

nger

ed B

eldi

ng’s

sava

nnah

spa

rrow

(als

o a

fede

ral c

andi

date

spe

cies

), th

e im

pact

s of

po

tent

ial r

emov

al a

ctiv

ities

wer

e a

conc

ern.

The

chal

leng

e w

as to

stri

ke a

bal

ance

bet

wee

n th

e ris

ks to

wild

life

from

con

tam

inan

t exp

osur

e an

d ha

bita

t los

s or

dis

rupt

ion

to s

ensi

tive

spec

ies

caus

ed b

y th

e re

mov

al a

ctio

n. U

sing

a p

roce

ss d

escr

ibed

as

a N

et E

nviro

nmen

tal B

enefi

ts A

naly

sis

(NEB

A), a

rang

e of

act

ions

, inc

ludi

ng

exca

vatio

n an

d of

fsite

dis

posa

l of c

onta

min

ated

sed

imen

ts a

nd s

oils

, ca

ppin

g, a

nd h

ot-s

pot r

emov

al in

mar

sh a

reas

, in

com

paris

on to

the

no-

actio

n al

tern

ativ

e w

ere

eval

uate

d fo

r Site

74.

Add

ition

ally,

rest

orat

ion/

crea

tion

of a

nea

rby

wet

land

was

con

side

red

as m

itiga

tion

for h

abita

t los

s w

ithin

the

mar

sh a

reas

of t

he s

ite a

nd is

incl

uded

in th

e N

EBA

.

Figu

re 1

. Site

74,

Old

Ske

et R

ange

Ligh

t-foo

ted

Clap

per R

ail

Bel

ding

’s Sa

vann

ah S

parr

ow

Figu

re 2

. Site

Map

Figu

re 5

. Eco

syst

em S

ervi

ces

Figu

re 6

. Hab

itat D

elin

eatio

n M

ap

Figu

re 7

. Hyp

othe

tical

Rem

oval

Act

ion

Alte

rnat

ives

Eva

luat

ion

Th

e N

EB

A P

roce

ss a

s A

pp

lied

to

Sit

e 74

Whe

n th

e U

.S. N

avy

set o

ut to

cle

an u

p th

e fo

rmer

Nav

al

Wea

pons

Sta

tion

Seal

Bea

ch s

keet

rang

e in

Cal

iforn

ia, i

t ne

eded

an

obje

ctiv

e w

ay to

eva

luat

e th

e tra

deof

fs a

mon

g ec

olog

ical

ben

efi ts

and

cos

t. W

hile

cos

t pro

vide

s a

clea

r m

easu

re o

f val

ue, e

colo

gica

l ben

efi ts

are

not

as

easy

to p

in

dow

n. T

he N

EBA

proc

ess

was

sel

ecte

d to

qua

ntify

eco

logi

cal

benefi t

s an

d pr

ovid

e a

basi

s fo

r com

parin

g tra

deof

fs. N

EBA

eval

uate

s an

d co

mpa

res

rem

oval

act

ion

alte

rnat

ives

with

in a

n ob

ject

ive

anal

ytic

al fr

amew

ork.

In th

is p

roce

ss, f

acto

rs s

uch

as

impa

irmen

t fro

m c

onta

min

atio

n, h

abita

t qua

lity,

reco

very

rate

s fo

r hab

itat a

nd p

rey

item

s, a

nd o

ther

spe

cies

or e

cosy

stem

m

etric

s ar

e us

ed to

cal

cula

te a

n ec

olog

ical

ser

vice

val

ue fo

r the

si

te. I

n th

is w

ay, t

he N

EBA

quan

tifi e

s an

d co

mpa

res

ecos

yste

m

serv

ice

benefi t

s an

d/or

loss

es a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith a

ltern

ativ

e re

mov

al a

ctio

ns a

nd re

stor

atio

n ac

tiviti

es. I

t hel

ps id

entif

y cl

eanu

p al

tern

ativ

es th

at p

rovi

de th

e be

st c

ombi

natio

n of

pub

lic,

natu

ral r

esou

rce,

and

cos

t ben

efi ts

.

EPA

guid

ance

dire

cts

that

the

pote

ntia

l eco

logi

cal i

mpa

cts

of

clea

nup

mus

t be

cons

ider

ed. T

here

fore

, the

Rem

edia

l Act

ion

Obj

ectiv

es (R

AOs)

for S

ite 7

4 w

ere

to:

• red

uce

futu

re e

xpos

ure

of h

uman

and

eco

logi

cal r

ecep

tors

to

con

tam

inat

ed s

oil a

nd s

edim

ent i

n a

cost

-effe

ctiv

e m

anne

r,• c

ompl

y w

ith A

pplic

able

or R

elev

ant a

nd A

ppro

pria

te

Req

uire

men

ts (A

RAR

s), a

nd• b

alan

ce ri

sk to

eco

logi

cal r

ecep

tors

from

con

tam

inat

ed s

oil

and

sedi

men

t aga

inst

the

harm

from

the

habi

tat l

oss

and

disr

uptio

n ca

used

by

the

rem

edia

tion

or re

mov

al e

fforts

Ove

rall

Goa

ls

•Min

imiz

e N

RI t

hrou

gh re

med

ial s

trate

gy•M

anag

e sh

ort a

nd lo

ng-te

rm ri

sks

•Red

uce

time

to re

solu

tion

(tran

sact

ion

cost

s)

•Red

uce

stud

y co

sts,

impr

ove

desi

gn (e

.g.,

eco-

risk)

Para

llel T

rack

Rem

edia

l Inv

estig

atio

nH

uman

Hea

lth/E

co R

isk

Ass

essm

ent

EE

/CA

, FS

RO

DR

emed

ial A

ctio

nO

&M

Cle

anup

Nat

ural

Res

ourc

e In

jury

NR

I

Ove

rall

Goa

ls

•Min

imiz

e N

RI t

hrou

gh re

med

ial s

trate

gy•M

anag

e sh

ort a

nd lo

ng-te

rm ri

sks

•Red

uce

time

to re

solu

tion

(tran

sact

ion

cost

s)

•Red

uce

stud

y co

sts,

impr

ove

desi

gn (e

.g.,

eco-

risk)

Para

llel T

rack

Para

llel T

rack

Rem

edia

l Inv

estig

atio

nH

uman

Hea

lth/E

co R

isk

Ass

essm

ent

EE

/CA

, FS

RO

DR

emed

ial A

ctio

nO

&M

Cle

anup

Rem

edia

l Inv

estig

atio

nH

uman

Hea

lth/E

co R

isk

Ass

essm

ent

EE

/CA

, FS

RO

DR

emed

ial A

ctio

nO

&M

Cle

anup

Nat

ural

Res

ourc

e In

jury

NR

I

Nat

ural

Res

ourc

e In

jury

NR

I

Mar

gina

l R

isks

/Unc

erta

inty

Effo

rt/C

ost (

$)

Concentration/Risk

Crit

erio

n Le

vel

Hig

h R

isk

Area

s Low

er %

Hig

her %

Larg

er

Red

uctio

n in

Ris

k

Smal

ler R

educ

tion

in R

isk

•Pro

vide

s fo

rmal

bas

isfo

r alte

rnat

ive

sele

ctio

n us

ing

quan

tifia

ble

met

rics

•Allo

ws

For o

ffset

ting

rest

orat

ion

•Ass

ists

with

risk

m

anag

emen

t dec

isio

ns

NEB

A: C

ompa

res

resi

dual

risk

s in

m

argi

nal a

reas

to

gain

s fro

m a

ltern

ativ

e im

plem

enta

tion

Mar

gina

l R

isks

/Unc

erta

inty

Mar

gina

l R

isks

/Unc

erta

inty

Mar

gina

l R

isks

/Unc

erta

inty

Effo

rt/C

ost (

$)

Concentration/Risk

Crit

erio

n Le

vel

Crit

erio

n Le

vel

Hig

h R

isk

Area

s

Hig

h R

isk

Area

s Low

er %

Low

er %

Hig

her %

Hig

her %

Larg

er

Red

uctio

n in

Ris

k

Larg

er

Red

uctio

n in

Ris

k

Smal

ler R

educ

tion

in R

isk

Smal

ler R

educ

tion

in R

isk

•Pro

vide

s fo

rmal

bas

isfo

r alte

rnat

ive

sele

ctio

n us

ing

quan

tifia

ble

met

rics

•Allo

ws

For o

ffset

ting

rest

orat

ion

•Ass

ists

with

risk

m

anag

emen

t dec

isio

ns

NEB

A: C

ompa

res

resi

dual

risk

s in

m

argi

nal a

reas

to

gain

s fro

m a

ltern

ativ

e im

plem

enta

tion

NEB

A: C

ompa

res

resi

dual

risk

s in

m

argi

nal a

reas

to

gain

s fro

m a

ltern

ativ

e im

plem

enta

tion

Figu

re 3

. Coo

rdin

ated

App

roac

h to

Ass

essm

ent,

Rem

edia

tion

and

Rest

orat

ion

Figu

re 4

. Cle

anup

to C

riter

ion

(Cos

t/Ben

efi t)

This

gui

danc

e an

d th

e R

AOs

for S

ite 7

4 ar

e be

st a

ddre

ssed

thro

ugh

a co

ordi

nate

d ap

proa

ch to

ass

essm

ent,

rem

edia

tion

and

rest

orat

ion

(Fig

ure

3). T

he N

EBA

prov

ides

form

ally

qua

ntifi

ed v

alue

s us

ing

agen

cy-

appr

oved

tool

s an

d te

chni

ques

dev

elop

ed b

y th

e N

atio

nal O

cean

ic

and

Atm

osph

eric

Adm

inis

tratio

n (N

OA

A) to

qua

ntify

and

com

pare

ec

osys

tem

ser

vice

ben

efi ts

and

/or l

osse

s as

soci

ated

with

a re

med

ial,

rem

oval

, or r

esto

ratio

n ac

tion.

The

goa

ls o

f the

NEB

A in

clud

e:• q

uant

ifi ca

tion

of e

cosy

stem

ben

efi ts

of a

n ac

tion,

• com

paris

on o

f ben

efi ts

bet

wee

n ac

tions

, and

• mod

ifi ca

tion

of a

ctio

ns to

max

imiz

e be

nefi t

s

A N

EBA

is u

sefu

l whe

n th

e ba

lanc

e of

risk

s an

d be

nefi t

s fro

m

rem

edia

tion

of a

site

is a

mbi

guou

s. T

hat a

mbi

guity

aris

es w

hen:

• the

site

reta

ins

sign

ifi ca

nt e

colo

gica

l val

ue,

• rem

edia

l or r

emov

al a

ctio

ns a

re e

nviro

nmen

tally

dam

agin

g • e

co-r

isks

are

rela

tivel

y sm

all,

unce

rtain

, or l

imite

d to

a c

ompo

nent

of

the

ecos

yste

m,

• rem

edia

tion

or re

stor

atio

n m

ay fa

il, a

nd

• cos

ts a

ppea

r to

be d

ispr

opor

tiona

te to

risk

redu

ctio

n (b

enefi

t)

Site

74

has

sens

itive

hab

itat t

hat m

ay re

tain

sig

nifi c

ant e

colo

gica

l val

ue

to p

rote

cted

wild

life,

and

rem

edia

l or r

emov

al a

ctio

ns (e

xcav

atio

n an

d re

mov

al a

nd/o

r cap

ping

) are

exp

ecte

d to

be

envi

ronm

enta

lly d

amag

ing.

Th

e N

EBA

prov

ides

a fo

rmal

bas

is fo

r alte

rnat

ive

sele

ctio

n us

ing

quan

tifi a

ble

met

rics,

allo

ws

for o

ffset

ting

rest

orat

ion,

and

ass

ists

with

ris

k m

anag

emen

t dec

isio

ns. A

NEB

A is

par

ticul

arly

use

ful i

n co

mpa

ring

resi

dual

risk

s in

mar

gina

l are

as to

gai

ns fr

om a

ltern

ativ

e im

plem

enta

tion

(Fig

ure

4).

100

200

300

400

Ecological Service Loss(dSAYs)

Remedial Cost($ millions)

Concentration/Risk

Human Use Value Loss($ millions)

AL

TE

RN

AT

IVE

No

Actio

nAl

tern

ativ

e A

Alte

rnat

ive

B

00

0.5

1.0

1.5

2510 0Al

tern

ativ

e C

1530

Not

e: It

was

ass

umed

that

ther

e ar

e no

hum

an-u

se s

ervi

ces

at th

is h

ypot

hetic

al s

ite.

Prot

ectiv

e

Not

Prot

ectiv

e

Bre

ak P

oint

Alte

rnat

ive

Prot

ectiv

e, R

isks

Man

aged

Bet

wee

n A

lt B

and

C, t

here

is a

larg

e di

ffer

entia

l cos

t for

a m

argi

nal c

hang

e in

risk

100

200

300

400

Ecological Service Loss(dSAYs)

Remedial Cost($ millions)

Concentration/Risk

Human Use Value Loss($ millions)

AL

TE

RN

AT

IVE

No

Actio

nAl

tern

ativ

e A

Alte

rnat

ive

B

00

0.5

1.0

1.5

2510 0Al

tern

ativ

e C

1530

Not

e: It

was

ass

umed

that

ther

e ar

e no

hum

an-u

se s

ervi

ces

at th

is h

ypot

hetic

al s

ite.

Prot

ectiv

e

Not

Prot

ectiv

e

Bre

ak P

oint

Alte

rnat

ive

Prot

ectiv

e, R

isks

Man

aged

Bet

wee

n A

lt B

and

C, t

here

is a

larg

e di

ffer

entia

l cos

t for

a m

argi

nal c

hang

e in

risk

Hab

itat

Dire

ct H

uman

Use

s (e

.g.,

Rec

reat

iona

l, C

omm

erci

al)

Bird

wat

chin

gFi

shin

gSw

imm

ing

Hun

ting

Com

mer

cial

Fis

hing

Exis

tenc

e va

lue

Aest

hetic

val

uePr

eser

vatio

n of

div

ersi

tyTh

reat

ened

& E

ndan

gere

d Sp

ecie

s

Pass

ive

Use

Ecol

ogic

al

Nes

ting

Area

for B

irds

Bree

ding

Are

aEr

osio

n C

ontro

lW

ater

Qua

lity

Enha

ncem

ent

Man

y O

ther

s

Serv

ices

Func

tions

a n

atur

al

reso

urce

(e.g

., ha

bita

t) pr

ovid

es fo

r oth

er

reso

urce

s an

d fo

r hu

man

s. Hab

itat

Hab

itat

Dire

ct H

uman

Use

s (e

.g.,

Rec

reat

iona

l, C

omm

erci

al)

Bird

wat

chin

gFi

shin

gSw

imm

ing

Hun

ting

Com

mer

cial

Fis

hing

Dire

ct H

uman

Use

s (e

.g.,

Rec

reat

iona

l, C

omm

erci

al)

Bird

wat

chin

gFi

shin

gSw

imm

ing

Hun

ting

Com

mer

cial

Fis

hing

Exis

tenc

e va

lue

Aest

hetic

val

uePr

eser

vatio

n of

div

ersi

tyTh

reat

ened

& E

ndan

gere

d Sp

ecie

s

Pass

ive

Use

Ecol

ogic

al

Nes

ting

Area

for B

irds

Bree

ding

Are

aEr

osio

n C

ontro

lW

ater

Qua

lity

Enha

ncem

ent

Man

y O

ther

s

Serv

ices

Func

tions

a n

atur

al

reso

urce

(e.g

., ha

bita

t) pr

ovid

es fo

r oth

er

reso

urce

s an

d fo

r hu

man

s.

Serv

ices

Func

tions

a n

atur

al

reso

urce

(e.g

., ha

bita

t) pr

ovid

es fo

r oth

er

reso

urce

s an

d fo

r hu

man

s.

Case Road Case Road

Mar

sh H

abita

t

ES07

2009

003S

AC