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Institutional Controls Tracking Network - Linked Systems
Institutional controls (ICs) - e.g., deed restrictions, zoning, local ordinances - are an important tool to ensure the protection of human populations and the environment at many contaminated sites. However, ICs will not provide the required protection if they are not appropriately applied, enforced, and tracked. Some cleanup programs have already developed systems to track ICs that they have authority over. Yet there are potentially many gaps and no widely recognized mechanism to ensure that every IC is documented and enforced. Therefore, EPA will lead a coordinated effort to encourage linkages between existing tracking systems, and identify common elements and guidelines for the ongoing development of a reliable, comprehensive network of IC tracking systems.
Purpose
EPA's goal is to promote the development of a voluntary network of individual local, state, tribal, federal, and industry tracking systems dedicated to promoting stewardship of ICs. This network of independent systems will facilitate the coordinated collection, tracking, and sharing of accurate information about ICs across cleanup programs.
EPA will lead this effort, and continue to coordinate with the states so that eventually, any individual tracking system will be able to voluntarily share critical data on ICs. This network will provide IC information in a common and user-friendly manner to a broad range of stakeholders, including citizens seeking information about sites in their neighborhood.
As a first step, EPA will work with its external partners and other programs developing tracking systems to identify:
- common IC tracking elements
- common IC tracking definitions
- standard data sharing protocols
Additionally, through the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, EPA will work with grantees to encourage them to track institutional controls and stress the importance of maintaining the integrity of the engineering controls to protect human health and the environment.
Participation
For this activity to be successful, broad participation is required:
EPA cleanup programs - Superfund, Brownfileds, RCRA, Federal Facilities, Underground Storage Tanks, and EPA Enforcement (Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of General Council)
- EPA has formed an internal workgroup comprised of representatives from each EPA cleanup program, each with technical lead responsibility for various aspects of the development and implementation of the cross-program/cross-agency IC Tracking Action Plan.
- Each EPA Region also is represented on the IC tracking workgroup and serves as a regional point of contact for other IC coordination activities.
Other Federal Agencies, States, Tribes, Local Agencies, Industry, NGOs, communities and others.
- Co-regulators, industry, NGOs, communities and other stakeholders are important contributors to the success of this network and will actively participate and/or be routinely consulted in it's development.
Planned Activities / Work Plans / Schedules
Link to workplans - schedules - next steps
Contacts
Workgroup Chair / Superfund Representative - Michael Bellot (703) 603-8905
Brownfields Representative - Nancy Porter (202) 566-2751
ICMA Representative - David Borak (202) 962-3506