I was wondering if anyone can direct me to some good sources regarding US EPA requirements on groundwater risk assessment for inorganics. Specifically I'm looking at how regulators and the industry deal with the uncertainties and variabilities involved in assessing certain natural attenuation mechanisms such as precipitation and sorption. I'd also like to know by what process regulators assess the plausibility of proposed conceptual models.
Any links to standard industry practices and regulatory guidelines/requirements that include nitty-gritty and technical details would be greatly appreciated. (The links I found at the EPA site were just too broad and generic)
Following is the link which may help you. However, you have to be very specific in your question, please. Thank you
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-11/documents/montecar.pdf
You're asking a question that EPA doesn't actually know how to deal with. All of their models assume finite (zero) variability. Industry in general just checks boxes when dealing with the agency because there is so little real science that occurs within those walls. You want to know how to actually use scientific principles to forecast - you have made an (unfortunately) erroneous assumption that there is any science underpinning the USEPA regulations. There is not - it is, as with most regulations, a negotiated, botched, awful mess that ultimately gets published as de facto law.
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