Risk evaluations for petroleum release sites present complex and unique challenges to site managers, risk assessors, regulators and other stakeholders. Mischaracterizing risks associated with petroleum contamination can lead to unnecessary cleanups, inappropriate property use limitations and unrealized site hazards. Once released to the environment, petroleum contamination changes over time and space due to natural and anthropogenic weathering processes. Traditional surrogate compounds (BTEXN) may be absent from samples and therefore not properly identify petroleum contamination or degradation products (metabolite compounds) which can pose a risk to human health and ecological receptors.

This presentation provides an overview of ITRC’s forthcoming guidance on TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum Contaminated Sites. ITRC’s TPH Risk guidance is being designed to improve regulators and project managers understanding of the unique properties of TPH, and provide the tools, techniques and lessons learned to make better-informed risk management decisions at petroleum-contaminated sites.

Primary Author / Conference Presenter:
Roy Thun
Senior Environmental Specialist
GHD
Santa Clarita, California, USA

Co-Authors:
Thomas Booze, California Dept. of Toxic Substances Control; Michael Kwiecinski, Colorado Division of Oil & Public Safety