Site Mitigation & Restoration Program

We protect and maintain California’s land and places
by setting strict standards for land restoration and cleanup

Remedial Investigation & Feasibility Study Process

The Remedial Investigation & Feasibility Study (RI/FS) is a process focusing on defining the nature and extent of contamination, assessing risk to human health and the environment, and developing a cleanup strategy to eliminate potentially harmful human health and environmental impacts. The RI/FS process generally applies to larger, technically complicated projects anticipating cleanup action; smaller, more focused projects may prefer to implement the Supplemental Site Investigation process. Data collected in the RI influence the development of remedial alternatives in the FS, which in turn affects the data needs and scope of treatability studies and additional field investigations. This phased approach minimizes the collection of unnecessary data and maximizes data quality.

RI/FS tasks include the following:

  • Evaluate existing site data
  • Conduct a site visit
  • Conduct a limited site investigation
  • Define the conceptual site model
  • Develop risk assessment parameters
  • Identify preliminary applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements (ARARs)
  • Develop preliminary remedial action objectives and goals
  • Develop preliminary analysis of remedial technologies
  • Develop specific objectives of the RI/FS
  • Develop data quality objectives (DQOs)
  • Prepare an RI/FS Work Plan and sampling and analysis plan
  • Prepare a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
  • Prepare a health and safety plan
  • Prepare a community relations plan
  • Conduct Phase I site investigations
  • Evaluate Phase I data
  • Refine remedial action alternatives
  • Conduct Phase II site investigations, if necessary
  • Evaluate remedial action alternatives
  • Present details of implemented activities, findings and recommendations in an RI/FS Report

RI/FS Work Plan

The typical content of the Work Plan includes:

  • Introduction – Site information and background, goals and objectives, regulatory framework, and stakeholder identification
  • Conceptual Site Model
  • Data Quality and Management Plan
  • Remedial Investigation Tasks – project planning, sample collection and analysis, data validation and evaluation, and assessment of risks
  • Feasibility Study Tasks – Development and screening of alternatives
  • Schedule
  • Project Management Plan

An RI/FS Work Plan includes the following site-specific supporting documents:

  • Field Sampling Plan – Provides the guidance for all field work by defining in detail the sampling and data-gathering methods to be used on a project. The field sampling plan should be written so that a field sampling team unfamiliar with the property would be able to gather the samples and field information required.
  • Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) – Describes the policy, organization, functional activities, and quality assurance and quality control protocols necessary to achieve the data quality objectives dictated by the intended use of the data.
  • Health and Safety Plan (HASP) – Supports the field effort and must conform to the firm or agency’s health and safety program that must, in turn, be in compliance with requirements of Cal/OSHA.

For detailed information, be sure to refer to:

For more information, contact Fernando.Amador@dtsc.ca.gov.

Download a collection of all DTSC Voluntary Agreements Reference Guides

DTSC’s Voluntary Agreements – Assessment and Cleanup Process: 1) Agreement: a) Standard Voluntary Agreement b) California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act Agreement c) Reimbursement Agreement d) Prospective Purchaser Agreement e) Local Agency Oversight Agreement 2) Scoping Meetings a) During negotiation or shortly after agreement execution b) Establishes strong working relationship between DTSC, the Proponent, and the environmental consultant c) Also may be held prior to submitting any documents to DTSC for review 3) Evaluation a) Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) b) Supplemental Site Investigation c) Remedial Investigation d) Report of Findings Possible End Point 4) Remedy Selection a) Feasibility Study b) Removal Action Work Plan c) Remedial Action Plan d) Response Plan 5) Implementation a) Removal Action Implementation b) Remedial Design c) Remedial Action Implementation d) Response Plan Implementation 6) Certification & Stewardship a) No Further Action b) Certificate of Completion c) Land Use Restriction d) Operation and Maintenance e) Five-Year Review Possible End Point During Remedy Selection, there is a Public Comment Period and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). During this entire process, Public Participation Activities and Tribal Consulation is included, as needed. Possible End Points: 1) Based on site evaluation, projects may conclude without need for any further action; 2) Based on site evaluation, projects may conclude with the need for a Land Use Covenant, in which case a public notice process will be implemented through a Preliminary Endangerment Assessment, Report of Findings, or equivalent documents; and 3) Cleanups may either be conducted to unrestricted land use levels, or may require long term stewardships.

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This document is intended to be guidance only and it does not supersede or implement laws or regulations. The information in this advisory is intended solely as guidance and as educational reference material and should not be considered enforceable or regulatory in nature.

 

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