Henry Schuver, Ph.D., EPA RCRA Corrective Action Office, recently speaking about vapor intrusion affecting site remediation and redevelopment projects at the "Sustainable Property Transactions: Retooling The Business of Contaminated Sites Redevelopment" program held in Philadelphia, addressed the status of the Agency's guidance in this area. He advised that EPA hopes to finalize guidance on vapor intrusion by the end of 2012. More important, EPA anticipates release of an interim guidance document yet this year. These efforts appear to be prompted, in part, by the December 14, 2009 report from the EPA Office of Inspector General "Lack of Final Guidance on Vapor Intrusion Impedes Efforts to Address Indoor Air Risks."
The report highlighted the concerns with the 2002 draft vapor intrusion guidance noting it has limited purpose and scope. The report recommended that EPA issue final guidance on the evaluation and mitigation of vapor intrusion risks, including final toxicity values for TCE and PCE.
The EPA Office of Inspector General report is available at http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2010/20091214-10-P-0042.pdf