Implementing relative risk site evaluations at air force installations

Abstract

AbstractIn April 1994, the Department of Defense issued management guidance directing the Services to begin developing their environmental restoration program guidance using a relative risk evaluation framework. The resulting Relative Risk Site Evaluation Framework categorizes sites and areas of concern in the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) into high, medium, and low relative risk groups to facilitate the prioritization of funding allocations. This article examines the Air Force's implementation of this guidance through the development of the Relative Risk Site Evaluation Framework at base closure sites managed by the Air Force Base Conversion Agency and by the Army Corps of Engineers in the restoration of formerly used defense sites (FUDS). Installations have the choice of two automated applications to assist them in the implementation of relative risk: the Relative Risk Site Evaluation Program (RRSEP) and the Relative Risk Mapinfo Interface (RRMI). Together, these user‐friendly automated systems provide installations with a flexible means of creating and managing remediation data to implement relative risk evaluation and communicate results of the evaluation to the stakeholders.