An Introduction to wSTARS
Overview
• wSTARS--What is it? How is it used and
maintained?
•How does it benefit tribes?
•How to get your data into the system
•System walk through
•Questions
What is wSTARS?




web-based Sanitation Tracking and Reporting
System
IHS database
Internet database that stores and tracks information
on sanitation facilities projects
Confidential and secure database
What is wSTARS used for?
 IHS
uses the data to track and prioritize projects
and needs related to sanitation of all media types-water, wastewater, solid waste
 EPA uses
wSTARS to store and track dump data
EPA’s Role
 EPA collects
and inputs data into the wSTARS
system
 National Open Dump Inventory
 Since
2007
 Current national total 3,000+
 Report
to Congress
How does wSTARS benefit tribes?
 Means
of getting your data into part of the national
picture
 Beginning
ups
of process to request funding for clean
wSTARS and SDS
 wSTARS
has 6 sub-systems for tracking and
reporting data
 Only
one we are interested in today -SDS
 Sanitation Deficiency System
 documents information about sanitation deficiencies
related to AI/AN individual homes and communities
How the SDS works
 Contains
variety of media projects
 Once a project is in the system it is assigned a
score or deficiency ranking
 Scores are assigned by IHS via national guidelines
 Projects are selected for funding based on
deficiency ranking every FY
How the SDS works…
 Projects
can be assigned a deficiency value 1-5
 Solid waste projects cap at 3
 Open dump cleanups can earn high rankings
 Contain
hazardous materials
 Only option for disposal in the community
 Can use discretionary points to up ranking
 Projects
are rescored every year, priority list not a
waiting list
Getting your data in the system…
 wSTARS
 Get
your information to EPA Regional wSTARS
contact
 SDS
contact your IHS area reservation engineer
Information for wSTARS

What is an open dump?


Open Dump Inventory Form


Any facility or site where solid waste is disposed of which is not
a sanitary landfill which meets the criteria promulgated under
section 6944 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act 42 U.S.C 6941 and
which is not a facility for disposal of hazardous waste. --Open
Dump Cleanup Act 1994
One form per dump site!
Open Dump Inventory Form Field Guide
Solid Waste Inventory Form
Facility Name:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Community: _______________________________________ Tribe:
_________________________________________________
State: ______________________County: __________________________________ EPA ID (if any)
_______________________
Lat/Long: N_____________________________________(Decimal) W_____________________________________
(Decimal)
Land Status: ___AK Native Land ___Allotted ___Fee ___NM Pueblos ___Private ___Trust (Individual) ___Trust
(Tribal)
Solid Waste Inventory Form
Solid Waste System Type (check one)
Condition (check one)
___Solid Waste Disposal Site
___Open Dump-Buried
___Open Dump-Surface
___Closed ___Cleaned up ___Upgraded
___Properly
Managed
___Collection System with Off-Reservation Disposal
___Open Dump-Surface ___Properly Managed
___Needs Improve
___Transfer Site
___Open Dump-Surface ___Cleaned up
___Properly Managed
___Transfer Site with Off-Reservation Disposal
___Open Dump-Surface ___Cleaned up
___Properly Managed
___Recycling facility
___Open Dump-Surface ___Cleaned up
___Properly Managed
___Construction and Demolition Debris Landfill
___Open Dump-Buried
___Open DumpSurface
___Closed ___Cleaned up ___Properly
Managed
System Status: ___Active ___Inactive
Site Characteristics
1.Surface Area (Acres)
_______________Acres
2.Surface Volume (Cubic Yards)
______________yd3
Hazard Factors (check all that apply)
1.Contents
___Abandoned automobiles
___Abandoned trailers
___Animal carcasses
___Appliances/white goods
___Construction and demolition waste
___Drums/containers of unknowns/pesticide containers
___Electronics
___Florescent light bulbs
___Furniture
___Lead acid batteries
___Medical wastes
___Meth-lab wastes
___Municipal solid waste
___Scrap tires
___Sewage sludge/septic-tank pumpings
___Suspected asbestos or lead containing materials
___Suspected RCRA Subtitle C hazardous wastes
(treated wood, paints, solvents)
___Waste oil/oily wastes
___Yard/green wastes
1.Rainfall (check one)
___Low (<10 in/yr)
___Medium (10-25 in/yr)
___High (>25 in/yr)
2.Site Drainage and Leachate Potential (check one)
___Site drainage protects ground or surface water
___Limited ponding, drainage effects largely neutral
___Site drainage increases ground or surface water
contamination
3.Flooding Potential (check one)
___No potential for flooding
___Debris movement from flooding unlikely
___Debris movement from flooding likely
4.Frequency of Cover (check one)
___Daily
___Monthly
___Never
___Weekly
___Yearly
Open Dump Inventory Form
Hazard Factors (continued)
Proximity Factors
1.Frequency of Burning (check one)
___Burning does not occur
___Burning less frequently than weekly
___Burning more frequently than weekly
1.Vertical Distance to Drinking Water Aquifer
(check one)
___Greater than 600 feet
___51-599 feet
___Less than 50 feet
2.Fenced site
___Yes
___No
3.Controlled Access (check one)
___Effectively controlled access
___Ineffective controls or poorly restricted access
___Unrestricted access
4.Public Concern (check one)
___No concern voiced
___Little concern voiced by the public
___Concern frequently voiced by the public
2.Horizontal Distance to Surface Water Bodies
(check one)
___Greater than 1,000 feet
___51-1,000 feet
___Less than 50 feet
3.Distance to Homes (check one)
___Greater than 5,000 feet
___1,000-5,000 feet
___Less than 1,000 feet
Open Dump Inventory Form
General Description (include description of how to get to the site from a known location)
Comments
Surveyor:__________________________________________________________InventoryDate:_________
_______________
(First Name, Last Name, Organization) (mm/dd/yy)
Tips For Inventory Forms

Lat/Longs
Should be in decimal form but Degrees, Minutes, Seconds can be
converted easily.
 Most GPS units will calculate an area for you when walking the
perimeter of the site.


Calculating Area/Volume:
1 acre is approximately the size of a football field without the
end zones.
 Dump Truck ~ 10 cy and Semi trailer ~ 100 cy

Tips for Inventory Forms
-Use free internet tools/maps to help determine proximity
factors.
-Answer every question.
-Take time to include information on how to get to the site –
under general description.
-Great work for summer help!!!
wSTARS online
 https://wstars.ihs.gov/
 Minimum
Requirements:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
Adobe Flash Player 9.0 or higher
Questions?
Becky Geyer, US EPA Region 5
312-353-8314
geyer.rebecca@epa.gov
Scott Snell, IHS Bemidji
218-444-0502
Scott.snell@ihs.gov