Koppers Superfund Site: Risk Assessment, Cleanup, and Legal Aspects

This case study provides a comprehensive analysis of the environmental health risks associated with the Koppers Superfund Site. It begins by evaluating the performance of risk assessments, focusing on the health threats to residents from exposure to vapor, dust, and contaminated groundwater, while also addressing the contamination of the Floridan aquifer. The study then proposes a modified cleanup plan for the site, emphasizing preliminary assessments, national priority listing, remedial studies, and the installation of aquifer and bag filters. Finally, the case study examines Florida real estate law concerning seller and realtor disclosure obligations related to the Koppers site, recommending modifications to prioritize environmental parameters and increase penalties for non-disclosure. Desklib offers a wealth of similar solved assignments and past papers for students seeking academic support.

Environmental health

Table of Contents
Question 1..................................................................................................................................2
Performance of Risk Assessment...........................................................................................2
The two topics those are addressed in the risk assessment studies are as below...................2
The way the topics are described...........................................................................................2
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................2
Question 2..................................................................................................................................3
Modified cleanup proposal for the site...................................................................................3
Current 2011 plan of cleaning Kopper Superfund Site..........................................................3
Question 3..................................................................................................................................4
The Law regarding seller and realtor disclosure to the Koppers site.....................................4
Reasoning and recommendation regarding current laws.......................................................4
Reference list..............................................................................................................................5
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Question 1
Performance of Risk Assessment
The performance of risk assessment includes the quantitative analysis of the environmental
parameters. The environmental parameters include the air, soil and water quality of the
Koppers Superfund site. The Risk Assessment of the Koppers site is mainly done on the
Basis of DNAPL (Trček, Auersperger, Leis & Sültenfuss, 2013) These are the contaminants
those are mixed from the waste site in the subsurface aquifers of the area. Risk assessment is
done through air sampling using high volume samplers to find any contamination in the air.
The two topics those are addressed in the risk assessment studies are as
below
 The study addresses health threats of the residents from present or future exposure to
vapour or dust from the Koppers Superfund site.
 It also includes the threat of resident from the past or present use of contaminated
groundwater from the Florida Aquifer.
The way the topics are described
The topics are described in an elaborated manner. The air sampling is done to find out the
risk of exposure and environmental health hazard caused to the residents (Trček,
Auersperger, Leis & Sültenfuss, 2013). The water sampling is done to find out the
contamination of the Floridan aquifer by the NADAL'S.
Conclusion
According to the report of the, It can be concluded that the site is contaminated. It has the
potential to cause environmental health concern to the residents leaving in those areas.
Contamination of the different kind of heavy metals like Copper chromium is found in the
groundwater.
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Question 2
Modified cleanup proposal for the site
The modified cleanup proposal for the Koppers Site is essential that consist of the following
points:
 Preliminary assessment of the site is done properly by the Environmental Protection
Agency.
 National priority listing process is done in a proper way. The EPA identifies the worst
effected Hazardous sites and action plan for cleanup is done.
 Remedial and restoration studies are performed to comprehend the present contamination
level.
Ø Record of decisions is done. In the Koppers site, the soil, air and water restoration
activities are implemented.
 Installation of the aquifer filters and bag filters are done for the restriction of Air and
water pollution ( Kavanaugh, 1995)
 Monitoring of the site should be perfectly done by the authority after the cleanup of the
environmental parameters.
Current 2011 plan of cleaning Kopper Superfund Site
The remedial measures are being planned in the site for implementation in a proper way. The
different components of the plan are mentioned below:
 Construction of a vertical barrier wall and hydraulic containment system with the
engineered cap will be done within 2018 to mitigate pollution
 Contaminated sediments will be removed from the drainage ditch which leads to
springs stead creek within 2018.
 Remedial process like in situ solidification and stabilization is planned in a proper
manner.
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Question 3
The Law regarding seller and realtor disclosure to the Koppers site
The Law is that Florida Real estate Act 1985. The law is passed in the Florida court and it
explains that the real estate sellers should disclose any hazard to their properties to the
buyers. According to the Law, the sellers have to disclose the features which will affect the
price of the property. The main controversy is the material defect that must be refectories.
Generally, a stigma is not disclosed ( Kavanaugh, 1995).
The sellers will not disclose it because it will affect the cost of the property. Another factor is
the amount of environmental hazard is not clearly comprehended by the sellers sometimes
that mislead the sellers to sell the properties.
Reasoning and recommendation regarding current laws
The current Law can be modified according to the need. The environmental parameter should
be given priority under the law. Proper implementation of the law should be done in the
practical Koppers Superfund site. The punishment of the sellers not disclosing about the
properties adjacent to the site should be made more severe for proper implementation of the
law. These are the steps that can be taken to modify the Law for the protection of buyers.
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Reference list
Kavanaugh, M. (1995). Cleanup of contaminated groundwater: A major policy
dilemma. Environmental Progress, 14(2), M3-M4. doi: 10.1002/ep.670140202
Trček, B., Auersperger, P., Leis, A., & Sültenfuss, J. (2013). Risk assessment of an urban
aquifer based on environmental tracers. Geologija, 56(1), 97-106. doi:
10.5474/geologija.2013.008
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