Risk Management I Risk AssessmentI Risk Management Plans

Risk Management Managing risks in the environmental arena can be complex and frustrating. It is important to identify and prioritize expenditures to address unacceptable risks to human health or the environment (and not incidentally, to business viability). Zephyr's approach is to apply only the level of scrutiny that a risk management problem warrants. The benefit to our clients is clear: the level of effort and associated project costs are minimized to the extent possible.

The following are examples of Zephyr's risk management experience:

• Supporting site characterization activities by the use of the precepts of risk based corrective action (RBCA)
• Active participation by Zephyr staff in the development of the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) (a comparison of the existing Risk Reduction Rules and the new TRRP is available as a table on the Useful Information page)
• Preparation of risk assessments for a broad range of clients, including law firms, electric utilities, natural gas pipeline facilities, pesticide formulation facilities, and chemical manufacturing facilities
• Use of probabilistic techniques to support risk characterization, i.e. the use of probability distributions versus point values as inputs in risk calculations
• Preparation of risk-based RCRA closure plans
• Preparation of risk management plans as required by Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act
• Supporting risk based decision making via the use of advanced risk analysis software tools

Risk Assessment Zephyr's staff is experienced in performing human health and ecological risk assessments for clients in both government and industry. It is our goal, using a conventional EPA risk assessment methodology in a streamlined or focused way, to produce a defensible risk assessment at a reasonable price. Typically, Zephyr's approach is to apply only the level of scrutiny that the problem warrants. For example, a simple risk assessment with a single contaminant and exposure pathway may warrant simple analytical models and hand calculations, while a Superfund site with multiple contaminants, exposure pathways, and receptors may require complex numerical models and potentially even probabilistic methods (e.g., Monte Carlo analysis).

The benefit to our clients is clear--the level of effort and associated project costs are minimized. If a "first tier" (and conservative) approach to a given problem yields a defensible demonstration of acceptable risk, there is generally limited value in refining the risk assessment further. However, Zephyr staff can effectively apply more sophisticated analyses when warranted.

Risk Management Plans Due to our extensive practice in risk management, safety, and air dispersion modeling, Zephyr is highly qualified to assist its clients in the preparation of Risk Management Plans (RMPs) as required by the Clean Air Act Section 112(r). Zephyr recognizes that preparation of an RMP must not only address hazard assessment, off-site consequence analysis, and prevention and emergency response programs but must also address public relations and local emergency preparedness issues. We are experienced in assisting our clients with the preparation of Integrated Contingency Plans, which not only fulfill the prevention and emergency preparedness requirements of a number of regulatory programs including 112(r), but also serve as a valuable resource for the facility staff.