Cleaning up contamination with model remedies

Benefits of using a model remedy

A path to a No Further Action letter

If you clean up your qualifying site under a model remedy, you can get up to two free written opinions through our Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP). Lenders usually accept the No Further Action letter we send to successful cleanups through VCP as proof of cleanup.

Skip the feasibility study

A feasibility study is a comparison of cleanup options. If you use an appropriate model remedy, you don’t have to prepare this report. This removes a major step of the cleanup planning process.

Specifically, when using an appropriate model remedy you don’t need to:

• Compare other cleanup options

• Demonstrate whether the cleanup action provides for a reasonable restoration time frame

• Demonstrate whether the cleanup action uses permanent solutions to the maximum extent practicable

• Complete a disproportionate cost analysis

Can you use a model remedy for your site?

Our model remedies apply to specific, common contamination situations.If your site fits one of the situations listed here, you may be able to follow a model remedy for cleanup.

You can’t use a model remedy if there are other contaminants on the same site, or if the contamination affects media that are not specified in that remedy. For example, you can’t use a model remedy that is developed for soil contamination if the same source also contaminated surface water.

Lead and arsenic contaminated soil in the Tacoma Smelter Plume

If your site is within the Tacoma Smelter Plume (check the Dirt Alert map) and soil is the only affected media, you may be able to use a model remedy. See the Tacoma Smelter Plume technical assistance page and read the Tacoma Smelter Plume Model Remedies guidance.

Lead and arsenic contaminated soil on former orchard lands

Land historically used for orchards may be contaminated with lead and arsenic from pesticides. Visit the former orchards lands page to see if your site was likely to be in an orchard area, read a summary of the model remedies, or read the full guidance, Model Remedies for Cleanup of Former Orchard Properties.

Soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum

If your site has soil or soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum and only petroleum, you may be able to use a model remedy.

• Model remedies for sites with petroleum contaminated soils (no groundwater impacts)

• Model remedies for sites with petroleum impacts to groundwater (soil and groundwater impacts)

Before you consider a model remedy

Make sure these steps in the MTCA cleanup process have been completed:

• A release to the environment has been confirmed.
• Ecology has been notified of the release.
• Emergency/interim actions have been completed if needed.
• An adequate site characterization has been completed. Review the instructions for sampling and characterization in the applicable model remedy guidance for more information.

Review the model remedy guidance documents above that apply to your situation, then contact the Voluntary Cleanup Program coordinator for your region. They can help you confirm if a model remedy is appropriate for your site.

Developing model remedies

Sites cleaned up with a model remedy must meet the same standards as any cleanup site, set out in the Model Toxics Control Act. The Toxics Cleanup Program develops model remedies, and also solicits proposals from qualified persons for new ones. We make every new set of model remedies available for public comment. Based on the comments, we may add, change, or remove a proposed remedy.

If you’d like to be informed about updates, proposed remedies, and solicitations, sign up for our model remedies email list. We also announce model remedies available for comment and new model remedies in the Contaminated Site Register and on our online events calendar.