Introduction to RISC
Indiana's Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) uses a variety of programs to protect Hoosiers' health and their environment from pollution. Sometimes, these different programs serve the same function, but are responsible for different areas. IDEM's cleanup programs are a good example of this.
All of the cleanup programs are responsible for cleaning up contaminated land and water. As examples, one program focuses on underground storage tanks, one on abandoned contaminated sites, and another on currently operating industrial sites. Since all of these programs deal with cleanups, IDEM wants to ensure that all sites are cleaned to consistent levels and are equally protective.
The Risk Integrated System of Closures (RISC) document provides the consistency across cleanup programs. For property owners or potentially responsible parties who are involved in a site's cleanup, RISC provides flexible procedures for conducting site assessments, consistent risk-based closure goals, and flexible cleanup alternatives for situations where removal or treatment of contamination to the closure goal is not feasible.
Table of Contents
What is RISC?
RISC is a guidance manual that describes how to achieve consistent closure of contaminated soil and groundwater using existing IDEM programs. It is a non-rule policy document, which means that RISC does not have the full force and effect of law. As such, RISC is to be used in conjunction with other laws, not instead of them. Existing laws give IDEM the authority to require cleanups to occur, RISC defines objectives and options for how to do it. RISC applies to contaminated industrial, commercial, or residential sites that are currently covered under existing IDEM programs. (See below for a list of programs.)
RISC is a general guide that describes:
- How to determine which contaminants are present at a site;
- What the options are for determining site closure levels;
- What options are available for cleaning the site;
- How to use exposure prevention as a closure option (to prevent people from coming in contact with contaminants) when cleanup to risk-based levels is not feasible, and;
- What to do if contamination threatens drinking water or environmentally sensitive areas.
What is the Goal of RISC?
RISC was created to fulfill a number of goals. Most importantly, RISC was created to establish cost-effective closure standards and closure options that result in negligible risk to human health and the environment. The RISC system is designed to provide IDEM staff, industry and consultants with a consistent, but flexible, framework for achieving closure of contaminated sites. It has expanded the number of closure options by allowing methods that prevent people from coming in contact with contamination when cleanup is not technically feasible. All of these goals help IDEM achieve cost-effective closures that wisely use government's limited resources.
Which Programs Will Be Using RISC?
The following is a list of IDEM programs that may use RISC:
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST)
Petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel fuel, and other hazardous substances are often stored in underground storage tanks. Older underground storage tank systems were not required to have leak detection and containment measures like newer systems. Most of these older tanks leaked. New underground storage tanks sometimes leak as well, mainly due to failures in the tank lines. When underground storage tanks leak, they contaminate soil and sometimes groundwater. The LUST program oversees the cleanups of leaks from underground storage tanks at gas stations, fleet fueling facilities, industrial manufacturers, and government installations.
Hazardous Waste Closure and Corrective Action Programs
These programs implement and enforce the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and related state laws and rules. These laws and rules manage the generation, storage, shipment, and disposal of solid wastes (such as household garbage) and hazardous wastes (like industrial wastes left over from manufacturing and chemical production). The hazardous waste program requires industries to receive a permit to store, treat, or dispose of hazardous waste. The programs also direct the cleanup of contamination resulting from waste management activities.
State Cleanup Program
Many abandoned sites that require clean up do not qualify for federal funding under Superfund, because of the level or nature of contamination. Because all contamination must be addressed, the State Cleanup Program was designed to handle sites not covered under other laws.
Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP)
The VRP provides a way for site owners or operators to voluntarily enter an agreement with IDEM to clean up contaminated property. When the cleanup is successfully completed, IDEM will issue a Certificate of Completion, and the Governor's Office will issue a Covenant Not to Sue to the cleaned property. These documents provide assurance that the cleaned areas will not become the subject of future IDEM enforcement action. Any site owner or operator, or prospective owner who wishes to clean up property contaminated with petroleum or hazardous substances is potentially eligible to participate in VRP
Additional Resources
If you have questions regarding RISC, please see the Contact about RISC webpage
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