Mississippi
Target Remediation Goals (TRGs)
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) defines Target Remediation Goals (TRGs) as risk-based media concentrations used in the Tier 1 evaluation of human health and environmental impacts. MDEQ says soil and groundwater TRGs are provided in its Risk Evaluation Procedures, and its Technical Resources page lists a Tier 1 TRG Table as Appendix A of the Brownfields Risk Evaluation Procedures. MDEQ says the branches that manage its uncontrolled sites use the Brownfield Risk Evaluation Procedures to ensure consistency of cleanup.
In a Phase I ESA
ASTM E1527-21 does not name state cleanup goals among its standard record sources. They matter when reading a cleanup file: MDEQ says TRGs are to be compared with the exposure point concentrations, which it defines as the amount of a chemical of concern available at the exchange boundaries of the organism for absorption by humans. Five points from MDEQ's definitions shape how to read a file.
- Each medium has its own source. Soil TRGs are developed by MDEQ for individual chemicals to address the soil ingestion and inhalation exposure pathways and environmental risks. Groundwater TRGs are either the groundwater quality standards (current MCLs published by EPA) or risk-based remediation goals derived by MDEQ. Surface water TRGs are the water quality criteria published by MDEQ.
- A TRG does not decide by itself. MDEQ says "TRGs alone do not always trigger the need for response actions or define unacceptable levels of contaminants in soil or groundwater." The Tier 1 TRGs may be used as default remediation goals or as screening values that start a Tier 2 or Tier 3 Evaluation.
- There are three tiers. Tier 1 compares exposure point concentrations of chemicals of concern in soil or sediment with chemical-specific TRGs, and evaluates ecological impacts through an Ecological Checklist. Tier 2 is a more in-depth evaluation of site-specific conditions, which may include statistical methods, comparison with background or regionally prevalent chemical concentrations, site-specific variables, eliminating or minimizing exposure routes, and petroleum hydrocarbon fractioning. Tier 3 is a site-specific risk assessment under EPA's Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund and other EPA risk assessment guidance.
- A goal can be a barrier. MDEQ defines a remediation goal as a target cleanup level or objective that can be numerical or qualitative, such as the basis for an engineered barrier, and says "Fencing alone cannot be the RG." It defines a restricted site as one where access to the general public is limited or controlled, by such means as deed restrictions, use restrictions, restrictive covenants or restrictive zoning. Where a file shows a qualitative goal or a restricted site, look for the barrier or restriction it relies on.
- Tank release reporting cites another document. MDEQ's page on reporting a tank release counts as reportable any soil or groundwater samples above its typical UST cleanup levels, a separate document this handbook did not read.
Where to read the rule and the numbers
- MDEQ's Brownfields page links a Target Remediation Goals (TRGs) Table. Its Technical Resources page lists the Tier 1 TRG Table and the Risk Evaluation Procedures under Screening/Cleanup Criteria. This handbook did not read either document and carries no number from them.
- MDEQ's Definitions page holds the terms used above.
- The brownfield regulations are 11 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 3, Ch. 2. MDEQ's regulations page lists Groundwater Quality Standards as Chapter 5 of the same Part.
Sources
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality pages, read October 12, 2026, no modified date shown: