State of Rhode IslandDepartment of Environmental Management

Office of Waste Management

Policy Memo 2014-01

Guidelines for the Management of Historically Agricultural Properties for Future Use as Open

Space and/or Recreational Land

Historical Agricultural Use Policy

Several other states have addressed this issue (NJ, OR, CA, CT)

Intent: provide streamlined, practical, and economically feasible options for managing historically agricultural properties while simultaneously maintaining the Department’s overall mission of protecting human health and the environment.

Common Hurdles◦Site Size◦Wide-spread application of pesticides resulted in

jurisdictional levels

Background

Soil sampling data from 15 appropriate sites on file Sample depth 0 – 1’ bgs Applicable Contaminants◦Arsenic◦ Lead◦Dieldrin◦Chlordane

Data Analysis

Site Site Size # Samples # >RDEC # >I/CDEC Avg. (ppm) Range (ppm)

Orchard 1 93 39 3 1 66.59 ND – 674

Orchard 2 106 Not Analyzed

Orchard 3 50 7 None None 46.36 ND – 138

Orchard 4 13.6 15 None None 14.68 6 – 46

Orchard 5 11.6 Not Analyzed

Orchard 6 6.3 2 None None 67.65 5.3 – 130

Row Crops 7 17 9 None None 20.2 8.5 – 28.9

Row Crops 8 57 28 None None 18.2 ND – 38

Row Crops 9 4.5 7 None None 11.1 8 – 23

Orn./Nursery 10 140 14 None None 11.9 5.3 – 22

Orn./Nursery 11 8 13 None None 9.14 2.7 – 20

Orn./Nursery 12 1.4 13 6 None 162 7.2 – 390

Orn./Nursery 13 0.59 2 None None 38 19 – 57

Orn./Nursery 14 1.6 Not Analyzed

Unknown Ag. 15 6.3 5 None None 23 19.6 – 25.4

ND (non-detect) results evaluated at one half the laboratory MDL/MRL value

Lead (RDEC – 150ppm, I/CDEC – 500ppm)

Site Site Size

# Samples

# > 7ppm % > 7ppm Avg. (ppm) Range (ppm) NJD per Rule 12.03

Rule 12.04 options

Orchard 1 93 34 12 35% 9.19 ND – 72.1 12.04 A

Orchard 2 106 332 129 39% 7.63 ND – 62.4 12.04 A

Orchard 3 50 65 53 82% 30.1 ND – 133 12.04 B

Orchard 4 13.6 15 3 20% 4.82 1.2 – 21 NJD1,2

Orchard 5 11.6 49 2 4% 2.92 0.76 – 16 NJD1

Orchard 6 6.3 24 18 75% 48.8 0.85 – 140

Row Crops 7 17 30 6 20% 5.72 2.9 – 12.7 NJD

Row Crops 8 57 19 7 37% 6.32 1.6 – 13 12.04 A

Row Crops 9 4.5 13 1 8% 3.6 1.4 – 9.3 NJD2

Orn./Nursery 10 140 14 1 7% 4.14 1.7 – 7.1 NJD2

Orn./Nursery 11 8 32 7 22% 5.16 ND – 21 NJD1

Orn./Nursery 12 1.4 13 11 85% 11.3 2.8 – 23 12.04 A

Orn./Nursery 13 0.59 67 25 37% 7.96 ND – 36 12.04 A

Orn./Nursery 14 1.6 28 26 93% 9.71 6 – 18 12.04 A

Unknown Ag. 15

6.3 11 none none 4.95 2.2 – 6.6 NJD2

1 – Site would be non-jurisdictional per Rule 12.03 with “hot-spot” removal2 – Site does not meet the minimum sample requirements for Rule 12.03ND (non-detect) results evaluated at one half the laboratory MDL/MRL Value

Arsenic (RDEC – 7 ppm, I/CDEC – 7 ppm)

Site Site Size # Samples # >RDEC # >I/CDEC Avg. (ppm) Range (ppm)

Orchard 1 93 34 9 1 0.048 ND – 0.42

Orchard 2 106 Not Analyzed

Orchard 3 50 8 3 None 0.049 ND – 0.152

Orchard 4 13.6 8 4 2 0.42 ND – 1.7

Orchard 5 11.6 Not Analyzed

Orchard 6 6.3 20 17 12 0.529 0.004 – 2.6

Row Crops 7 17 8 None None ND ND

Row Crops 8 57 26 6 None 0.021 ND – 0.1

Row Crops 9 4.5 13 None None ND ND

Orn./Nursery 10 140 14 9 1 0.099 ND – 0.51

Orn./Nursery 11 8 22 None None 0.002 ND – 0.024

Orn./Nursery 12 1.4 9 3 None 0.034 ND – 0.17

Orn./Nursery 13 0.59 Not Analyzed

Orn./Nursery 14 1.6 Not Analyzed

Unknown Ag. 15 6.3 Not Analyzed

ND (non-detect) results evaluated at one half the laboratory MDL/MRL value

Dieldrin (RDEC – 0.04 ppm, I/CDEC – 0.4 ppm)

Site Site Size # Samples # >RDEC # >I/CDEC Avg. (ppm) Range (ppm)Orchard 1 93 34 None None ND ND

Orchard 2 106 Not Analyzed

Orchard 3 50 7 None None ND ND

Orchard 4 13.6 4 1 None 0.932 ND – 1.3

Orchard 5 11.6 Not Analyzed

Orchard 6 6.3 Not Analyzed

Row Crops 7 17 8 None None ND ND

Row Crops 8 57 26 4 None 0.292 ND – 1.6

Row Crops 9 4.5 13 None None ND ND

Orn./Nursery 10 140 14 None None 0.046 ND – 0.32

Orn./Nursery 11 8 28 2 None 0.179 ND – 1.6

Orn./Nursery 12 1.4 1 None None ND ND

Orn./Nursery 13 0.59 Not Analyzed

Orn./Nursery 14 1.6 Not Analyzed

Unknown Ag. 15 6.3 Not Analyzed

ND (non-detect) results evaluated at one half the laboratory MDL/MRL value

Chlordane (RDEC – 0.5 ppm, I/CDEC – 4.4 ppm)

Lead◦Of 154 samples, only 6% exceeded RDEC◦ Just 1 sample exceeded I/CDEC

Arsenic◦Approx. half of the sites could meet the requirements to

be considered NJD for arsenic per Rule 12.03, though three would need limited “hot-spot” removal

◦ The remainder of the sites could use the remedial options under Rules 12.04 A or 12.04 B

Conclusions from Data Analysis

Dieldrin◦ 10 sites sampled for dieldrin◦Detected above RDEC in 31% of samples, 10%

>I/CDEC◦When detected, site wide averages of dieldrin seemed to

hover around the RDEC Chlordane◦Sampled for on 9 sites, detected above RDEC on 3◦No I/CDEC exceedances◦Avg. chlordane levels were below RDEC on all 9 sites

Conclusions from Data Analysis

Vast majority of exceedances were considered “low-level” exceedances

Average contaminant concentrations were lower than expected

Ag policy inspired by Rule 12

Other Findings..

Sites or portions of sites where pesticides were historically applied and only COCs are lead, arsenic, dieldrin, and/or chlordane

End use:◦Undeveloped open space (not for recreational use)◦Passive Recreation◦Active Recreation

Applicability

Spills or other activities that would constitute a “release” under CERCLA

“Hot-spots” or concentrated areas of the Ag COCs attributed to spills, leaks, or improper disposal

Areas not utilized as agricultural fields Areas that have been redeveloped Any contaminants other than lead, arsenic,

dieldrin, or chlordane

Not Applicable To:

Notification to the Department Conduct Limited SI for Ag COCs if:◦Phase I ESA demonstrates the site or portion of the site

subject to the policy was used only for agricultural purposes.

◦Minimum sampling requirements are met◦End result will be a No Further Action Letter relative to

the Agricultural Contaminants of Concern Submit Agricultural Property SIR/RAWP Program Letter Public Notice RDL/RAL

Process

Protocol:◦Sample for Ag COCs◦Discrete grab samples from 0-1’ bgs◦ Located within the applicable areas

Frequency:◦ 1 acre – 8 samples minimum◦ 1 to 5 acres – 8 samples + 2 per additional acre over 1st

acre◦Over 5 acres – 16 samples + 1 per additional acre over 5 th

acre

Sampling Requirements

ELUR/SMP restricting the site or portions of the site to specific use

Must meet specific conditions depending on end use◦ For example: A passive recreation area must meet the

following conditions with respect to chlordane: No individual sample shall be greater than 4.4 ppm (I/CDEC) No greater than 25% of samples shall exceed 0.5 ppm

(RDEC) The average chlordane concentration shall be below 0.5

ppm (RDEC)

Remedial Options

Offers an alternative to the standard capping remedial approach for large sites that contain lower levels of the Ag COCs as a result of years of proper pesticide use

Allows for averaging of soil data Combined Ag SIR/RAWP expedites the process to

obtain an NFA Can be used on entire or portions of former Ag

sites Alternative to Residential or I/C reuse

Benefits of Ag Policy

RISEP Legislative/Regulatory Sub-Committee

Patrick Cavanagh, URI – Intern

Matt DeStefano & Leo Hellested, RIDEM/OWM

Acknowledgements