Thursday, January 19, 2006
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Central Time
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time / 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time

Program Overview:
In response to new concerns about potential risks associated with the intrusion of vapors from residual subsurface contamination into buildings, EPA and several states have issued guidance documents that provide a context for evaluating these risks. Whether the concern over vapor intrusion is real or overblown, the effects are being felt in real estate transactions, toxic tort lawsuits and the site remediation context, including reopeners of remedial decisions. The science of vapor intrusion is changing rapidly, as is the range of mitigation and remediation options.

A panel of leading national experts will discuss both the basics of vapor intrusion as well as their opinions about how this issue will evolve in the future. On the technical side, the panel will discuss issues such as what contaminants are likely to volatilize, the meaning of partitioning and flux, what factors can affect volatilization, and what models and tools are currently used to evaluate these issues. The panel will further provide information about new and differing state and federal guidelines and regulations for assessing, monitoring, and remedying vapor intrusion. Some regulatory issues to be discussed include how to investigate the extent of a potential vapor intrusion issue; when and how to perform sampling; how to evaluate if the current or proposed mitigation system is adequately designed to protect the health of building occupants; and what kind of long-term operation and maintenance systems should be established. The program will also address how private and public entities are addressing concerns over vapor intrusion, and practical strategies for addressing potential concerns, from stigma to low-cost remedial measures. Finally, the panel will share their views on future trends in vapor intrusion, on both a science and policy level.

Educational Objectives:

• To discuss and compare state and federal guidelines and policies.
• To discuss legal strategies for responding to requests for reassessments and the re-opening of previously approved remedies/sites.
• To provide information regarding the challenges presented by the use of mathematical models and estimated attenuation factors for determining site-specific data.
• To discuss the complexities of background air issues, namely, determining whether the sources of contaminants stem from household products and other sources.
• To discuss remediation options and preventative measures.

Faculty:
Moderator:
Amy L. Edwards, Holland + Knight, Washington, DC

Panelists:
Robbie Ettinger, Geosyntec Consultants, Santa Barbara, CA
Asimakis "Maki" Iatridis, Berg, Hill, Greenleaf & Ruscitti, Boulder, CO
Lawrence Schnapf, Schulte Roth & Zabel, New York, NY
Henry Schuver, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

This program will not offer CLE credit.

The Basic Practice Series