In its remedial investigation, Evergreen should adequately account for the impacts of climate change on existing soil and water contamination. These impacts could occur before, during, and after remediation. Sea-level rise, storm surges, and the increased frequency and volume of events like superstorms could have major implications on the migration of contaminants in the soil and groundwater to the river, and into adjacent residential neighborhoods.
Remedial investigations are evaluations of current conditions. Those current condition measurements would inherently include climate effects as they have occurred and are occurring. The future effects of climate change will be evaluated in future modeling efforts. Note that the future fate and transport modeling is also a remedial investigation activity. The fate and transport modeling efforts are also part of the remedial investigation process.