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ARTICLE · 21 APRIL 2020

EPA Guidance On Remedial Work During The COVID-19 Emergency

Foley Hoag LLP
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I hope that I am not struck down for saying this, but EPA's guidance on doing remedial work during the COVID-19 emergency is reasonable and appropriate. At the risk of oversimplifying, it basically has two requirements...

United StatesEnvironment
Seth Jaffe
Seth Jaffe
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I hope that I am not struck down for saying this, but EPA's guidance on doing remedial work during the COVID-19 emergency is reasonable and appropriate. At the risk of oversimplifying, it basically has two requirements:

  1. Consider the benefits to be obtained by performing the work, and prioritize work intended to eliminate or abate serious hazards that are imminent, such as immediate risks to indoor air or drinking water supplies; and
  2. Consider the risks to remedial workers and the public from proceeding with on-site work and identify those types of work most likely to create significant risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Examples here would include residential sampling that necessitates going into people's homes.

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