文档介绍：Risk Analysis, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2001
Safety Risk Analysis of an Innovative
Environmental Technology
Gregory S. Parnell,1* Michael Frimpon,2 John Barnes,2 Jack M. Kloeber, Jr.,3
Richard F. Deckro,3 and Jack A. Jackson3
The authors describe a decision and risk analysis performed for the cleanup of a large Depart-
ment of Energy mixed-waste subsurface disposal area governed by prehensive Envi-
ronmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). In a previous study, the au-
thors worked with the site decision makers, state regulators, and . Environmental Protection
Agency regional regulators to develop a CERCLA-based multiobjective decision analysis value
model and used the model to perform a screening analysis of 28 remedial alternatives. The anal-
ysis results identified an innovative technology, in situ vitrification, with high effectiveness versus
cost. Since this technology had not been used on this scale before, the major uncertainties were
contaminant migration and pressure buildup. Pressure buildup was a safety concern due to the
potential risks to worker safety. With the help of environmental technology experts remedial al-
ternative changes were identified to mitigate the concerns about contaminant migration and
pressure buildup. The analysis results showed that the probability of an event with a risk to
worker safety had been significantly reduced. Based on these results, site decision makers have
refocused their test program to examine in situ vitrification and have continued the use of the
CERCLA-based decision analysis methodology to analyze remedial alternatives.
KEY WORDS: Risk analysis; decision analysis; CERCLA; Superfund; environmental remediation; nu-
clear waste; innovative technologies
1. INTRODUCTION ulators to develop a multiobjective decision analysis
value model and used the model to perform a screen-
This article describes a decision and risk analysis
ing analysis of 28 remedial alternative