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VRP | Frequently Asked Questions

Process

Can a VRP Volunteer get approval for cleaning up a portion of a property?

Yes, an applicant may enter the VRP to clean up a portion of a property, however, the boundaries of the portion of the property brought into the program may expand as additional sampling provides more information about the extent of contamination. The Volunteer will be required to continue to expand the portion of the property until sampling data shows contaminant of concern (COC) levels below target cleanup levels.

Does the VRP have any guidance or template documents (i.e., work plans, sampling plans)?

Yes, the VRP website provides numerous templates and guidance documents. Templates and documents are found under the “Forms” and “Templates & Resources” tabs on the main VRP page | View >

Can a meeting be scheduled with the VRP prior to submitting an application and the $2000 application fee?

Yes, a general discussion regarding the conditions of the site and whether it appears to qualify for the VRP has been beneficial for previous applicants.

Is a Phase II environmental assessment necessary if a Phase I did not identify a concern?

Yes. If a No Further Action (NFA) is sought, laboratory analytical data must show characterization of the media investigated regardless of historic property use.

Is a historic Phase II sufficient for characterizing the site?

This depends on the current use of the site. If the use of the property has changed since the Phase II was conducted, additional characterization may be required. In addition, a Phase II generally includes limited sampling and is conducted to gather additional information and determine if environmental problems exist at the site. Generally, a Phase II is not conducted with the adequate spatial characterization to vertically and laterally characterize a site.

Is drilling to groundwater required for a soil investigation?

This is dependent on the site-specific conditions, which may include, but are not limited to, the contaminant(s) of concern, type/nature of release, depth to groundwater and lithology, etc.

Can a Volunteer develop site-specific soil remediation levels?

Yes, a Volunteer can develop site-specific soil remediation levels.  If approved, these levels can be used to support an NFA determination.

Can a Volunteer prepare a risk assessment?

Yes, a person may remediate soils to a residential or a non-residential site-specific remediation level derived from a site-specific human health risk assessment.

Can a characterization work plan and remedial action work plan be combined?

Yes, depending on site-specific conditions, characterization and remedial activities may be combined.

How does the VRP handle emerging contaminants?

To qualify for an NFA, the VRP evaluates only contaminants for which a published Arizona regulatory standard exists. However, the VRP, on a case-by-case basis, may allow an applicant to bring in a site for evaluation of an emerging contaminant to be compared to another state or federal regulatory level, but the closure process will differ from that of an NFA determination.

What is the process to withdraw from the VRP?

A Volunteer may withdraw from the VRP at any time. However, the resulting withdrawal will void any suspension of actions established under statute.  In addition, the VRP may refer the site information to another ADEQ program under Title 49 if the VRP has been made aware of contamination which causes or may threaten to cause an impact to public health and the environment.

Does the VRP have an approved contractor list?

ADEQ is not able to make recommendations regarding which contractors to use. Upon request, the VRP can provide a list of contractors used by the State of Arizona through the Arizona Superfund Response Action Contract, the Arizona Pollutants Contract, and the Arizona Tanks Contracts.  However, there are many contractors outside of these contracts who may also be well-qualified and should be assessed by the applicant/Volunteer.

How does VRP handle vapor intrusion issues?

On a case-by-case, site-specific basis. The VRP does not issue an NFA for vapor intrusion/indoor air characterization. However, the VRP will require evaluation of the potential for a vapor intrusion issue as a secondary evaluation to the primary media listed in statute (groundwater, surface water, soil).

Does VRP consider ecological risk when addressing a site?

The VRP has the authority to require a Volunteer to conduct an ecological risk assessment based upon known site-specific information, including the existence of ecological receptors and complete exposure pathways. When remediating a site, the Volunteer must remediate soil so that any concentration of contaminants remaining in the soil after remediation does not cause or threaten to cause an adverse impact to ecological receptors. If the ecological risk assessment indicates any such impact, the Volunteer must remediate soil to an alternative soil remediation level, derived from the ecological risk assessment, that is protective of ecological receptors.

Am I required to come into the VRP if I am requesting a Declaration of Environmental Use Restriction (DEUR) modification or removal?

Yes, if modification or removal of the DEUR requires site characterization and/or remediation, the property owner is required to have agency oversight for approval of the completeness of the activities | Learn More & View Contact >

No Further Action (NFA)

What is meant by "area-specific" and "COC-specific" in regards to NFAs?

"Area-specific" refers to the lateral and vertical extent of the media characterized to below regulatory levels for an NFA. COCs are contaminants of concern, of which a specific target list may be presented by an applicant in pursuit of an NFA. The VRP may require the list to be expanded once the source(s) is/are clearly identified.

Can we include specific language in the NFA to accommodate site-specific conditions?

Yes, the NFA can include specific language to accommodate site-specific conditions. For example, if a site's soil is remediated to the 1x10-6 residential Soil Remediation Level, it would be specified in the NFA determination letter.

Can a participant in the VRP get an NFA if long-term monitoring is required?

Yes, an NFA determination can be issued after long-term monitoring is completed and the media's valid laboratory analytical data indicates contaminants of concern are below applicable standards.

What contaminants can be included in the NFA?

Any contaminant having been properly investigated and having valid laboratory analytical data indicating it is below an applicable standard may be included in an NFA determination letter.

For what media can I get an NFA?

Any media (e.g., soil, groundwater, etc.), having been properly investigated and having valid laboratory analytical data indicating contaminants of concern are below applicable standards, may be included in an NFA determination letter.

Timing

How long does it typically take to get to closure?

Time to closure is site-specific and varies depending on the complexity of the site and the active engagement of the Volunteer. Volunteers enter the VRP at different stages/phases of the project. The time between acceptance into the VRP and determination of NFA depends on the thoroughness and accuracy of the data submitted, the nature and extent of contamination, and the length of time participants take to respond to VRP inquiries, requirements and comments.

If the applicant has a real estate transaction deadline, will the VRP expedite the application review process and/or the review time?

The VRP understands external pressures/deadlines often influence applicant’s timelines, however, the VRP cannot guarantee expedited review of complete and accurate applications or other documents submitted to the program. The VRP strives to achieve document review in as short a time-frame as possible.

How long is the application review and approval period?

An application must be accepted within 60 days of receipt, unless the VRP notifies the applicant that the application is incomplete or has been denied.

How long can a site remain inactive in the VRP before the site is terminated?

The VRP prefers no less than quarterly communication on any site. Site-specific factors will be used to determine an appropriate time-frame for inactivity. The VRP understands events outside the control of the Volunteer may occur. If this should happen, the Volunteer should work with the VRP to establish an appropriate schedule. If established communication requirements are not met, the VRP holds the authority to terminate the site.

Requirements

Is a Volunteer liable for remediating contamination emanating from an adjacent property unrelated to the Volunteer's property?

No, the Volunteer is not required to remediate another party’s release. However, the Volunteer must provide the VRP with clear and defensible lines of evidence to illustrate they have not contributed to, nor caused, the impacts.

What are the community involvement requirements in VRP?

There are statutory requirements such as, but not limited to, signage for field activities and public notices for certain submittals.

Are community advisory boards required in VRP?

Although some sites with off-site contamination follow Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF) Rule for remedial action, community advisory boards are not a requirement of the VRP. However, other WQARF community involvement requirements are applicable, such as public meetings, if requested by interested parties and public comment periods | Learn More About WQARF > 

What media am I required to evaluate?

The media to be investigated will be specific to the site conditions and COCs but could include soil, soil gas, groundwater and/or surface water.

If I have offsite contamination, what are the regulatory requirements in VRP?

A Volunteer who determines they have off-site groundwater contamination is required to follow WQARF Rule for characterization and remedial action in the VRP.

How are soil data evaluated in the VRP?

The VRP requires the collection of soil gas data when evaluating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a VRP site. The soil gas data are to be converted to a soil solid concentration using a three-phase partitioning calculation, and the resulting concentration is then compared to the applicable soil regulatory level(s). All other potential non-VOC COCs may be evaluated using a soil solid concentration from soil media collected in the field. Be advised, if soil solid data for VOCs are submitted to the VRP, the data will be included in the overall data evaluation process. 

What are the applicable regulatory levels for remediating soil?    

The applicable regulatory levels are Soil Remediation Levels (SRLs), which ensure remaining concentrations of contaminants do not cause harm when soil comes in contact with skin, is inhaled or ingested. Soil contamination remaining onsite must also be at a level that is protective of groundwater. To look up minimum Groundwater Protection Levels (GPL) or calculate an alternative GPL, use the ADEQ GPL Model (using ADEQ's 1996 guidance and 2013 update) | Download Guidance & Instructions (ZIP) > The more conservative number between the SRL and the GPL shall be used as the applicable cleanup level for the contaminant of concern.

Cost

What are the charges associated with VRP?

When submitting the VRP application, the applicant is required to pay a $2,000 application fee. This fee is non-refundable and covers the cost of the application review process. If the site is accepted into the VRP, a $4,000 deposit request will be sent to the applicant with the acceptance letter. VRP personnel bill at $110 per hour for any work related to the site, and those hours are deducted from the site account. If the account balance falls below $1,000, the VRP Project Manager will send the applicant another $4,000 deposit request. Any funds remaining in the account upon closure of the site will be refunded.

From a VRP billing perspective, how much does it typically cost to get to closure?

Cost to closure is site-specific and varies depending on the complexity of the site. Very broad estimates can be provided upon request for certain types of sites.

Can I send in a $2,000 application and $4,000 "retainer" fee with the application?

No, the Volunteer should only send in the $2,000 application fee.  Once accepted, the VRP will send a VRP acceptance letter along with a deposit request for the $4,000 "retainer" fee.

Can I use Brownfields grant money in the VRP?

In very specific instances, it may be possible to pay for VRP oversight utilizing funds awarded through the state Brownfields Program, however, this is determined on a case-by-case basis | Learn More & View Contact >