bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing groundwater remediation options
Authors: Cheremisinoff Paul N. , Goessmann Glenn
Published: February 2007

Although many conventional physical remediation methods are viewed as proven, they often only relocate wastes to other sites or into the air. How do the emerging biological and chemical in situ methods perform in the same applications? This article reviews their results (much of it in the laboratory) as well as their promise of more complete neutralization of hazardous wastes, lower capital costs, and longer‐duration cleanup processes. The optimal method may be a combination of chemical and biological in situ techniques with physical pump‐and‐treat methods.
How changing regulations determine biotreatment options for petroleum wastes
Authors: Day Sue Markland
Published: February 2007

Remediation of refinery wastes is regulated by three major federal environmental statutes: the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); other statutes apply, but to a lesser degree. During the past two years, RCRA's rules have effectively outlawed the passive biological treatment of primary refinery waste sludges in waste ponds and lagoons, even though the law recommends active biological treatment as the second stage in the waste treatment train. RCRA's land disposal restrictions may also outlaw land farming treatment for the bottom sludges involved in crude oil storage. Since 1980, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed an initial group of five waste streams as hazardous, the agency has listed two more waste streams and twenty‐five organic constituents, several found in petroleum wastes. Now it is about to list fourteen more petroleum refining wastes and is studying the addition of fifteen more waste streams. Treatment standards and restrictions have also been promulgated. This article explores the biotreatment techniques and technologies that are still available to petroleum and environmental engineers.
Stabilization and a multimedia cap for a doe mixed waste site
Authors: Bowers Marvin H.
Published: February 2007

Closure often of the eleven waste management units covering almost seventy‐five acres at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Y‐12 Plant has been completed. Costing about $47 million, DOE's accelerated Closure and Post Closure Program (CAPCA) has involved structural waste stabilization and installation of a multimedia cap to contain ferrous metals, salts, uranium, solvents, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), oils and coolants, asbestos, and material contaminated with radioisotopes. Designs for closure of the remaining waste unit—used for disposing depleted uranium chips, metals, oxides, organic and caustic chemicals, aged ethers, and more—are being prepared now; they will address the potentially explosive and pyrophoric nature of these wastes. This article describes CAPCA's innovative design and construction methods, as well as how its management coordinated the tight schedules mandated by agreements with federal and state regulatory agencies.
Proven methods for managing public perception of cleanups
Authors: Germann Ray
Published: February 2007

Negative public perceptions can dramatically increase site remediation costs or even bring projects to a grinding halt. Public opposition and ensuing political pressure are two damaging, but often ignored, obstacles that confront remediation managers. This article discusses these and other public management issues, recommending tactics proven for maintaining positive working relationships with a site's human neighbors, the media (electronic and print), government officials, regulatory agencies, and other concerned groups to allow site cleanup to proceed without intervention, opposition, or unnecessary delay. It illustrates its warnings about public and political hostility with case histories from Superfund, RCRA, and other cleanup sites, recounting how corporate management won the public's confidence and kept their projects on time and within budget.
Forum
Authors: Lagoy Peter K.
Published: February 2007

The State of Washington's Model Toxics Control Act cleanup standards, argues the author, provide the best available strategy for setting and achieving cleanup goals. Besides Protecting human health and the natural environnment, Washington's guidelines, which took effect March 1, 1991, incorporate enough flexibility to handle site‐specific, finaical, and tehnological considerations. This column outlines the law's three approaches for defining cleanup levels for groundwater, surface water, air, industrial soils, and nonindustrial soils, comparing these methods with related methods in California, New Jersey, and New York.
Recent developments in cleanup technologies
Authors: Simon John A. , McCulloch John I. B.
Published: February 2007

A recent draft report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory in Ada, Oklahoma, entitled „General Methods for Remedial Operation Perforrmance Evaluation,”︁ establishes protocols for evaluating and optimizaing the performance of groundwater pump‐and‐treat systems (EPA 1992). For the first time, EPA proposes guidelines for determining when these systems can be terminated, regardless of whether a site's remediation goals are met. This column reviews the chemical and physical limits of pump‐and‐treat technology and discusses how these protocols can improve pump‐and‐treat performance and determine when it may be time to pull the plug.
Translating a remediation technology into the required air, water, and rcra permits
Authors: Chizzonite Jan J. , Schlesinger Martin M. , Powell Christopher D.
Published: February 2007

Because remediation techniques and technologies are themselves generally viewed as contaminant source by hazardous waste laws and regulations, permits are required to use them, even if it is only to contain or remove a site's principal contaminants. Referring to such major environmental laws as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, RCRA, TSCA, and CERCLA, this article outlines the steps needed to translate cleanup projects into the appropriate permits.
Recent developments in cleanup technologies
Authors: Wyckoff John S. , Simon John A.
Published: February 2007

Traditional environmental investigations are expensive and time‐consuming, involving heavy drilling equipment, several intermediate processes, and analyses at off‐site commercial laboratories. New, relatively inexpensive in situ sampling surveys can now quickly generate preliminary data in the field, helping to analyze soil gas and soil and groundwater forvolatile organic compounds (VOCs). Many of the companies that do them now also provide their own mobile laboratories for delineating contaminant plumes more quickly and at less cost than the traditional methods and guiding the placement of groundwater monitoring wells and soil borings. This column describes the main in situ sampling surveys available today, calculates their costs per sample, explores their advantages and disadvantages for remedial investigations, and offers advice on how to carry them out.
Expect the best but plan for the worst: Negotiating contracts for remediation services
Authors: Smith Diane R.
Published: February 2007

The risks associated with environmental remediation projects are of concern to engineers, consultants, contractors, owners, and the public. The cost, scheduling, and other uncertainties inherent in performance of construction at sites contaminated by hazardous substances dictate caution with respect to contract terms. Further, the possibility that conditions will be exacerbated by the work, or the public or workers exposed to on‐site substances, makes remediation projects of particular concern to those who will be held accountable for the effects and impacts of such substances.

This article discusses particularly important contractual issues and suggests approaches for liability allocation and incentives. Practical, effective, realistic approaches to management of environmental remediation are presented, including the form of contract utilized, negotiated terms, attention to contractor selection and management, and the parties' relative economic strength.
Chromium removal from groundwater using simple physical/chemical treatment
Authors: Koolik Scott I.
Published: February 2007

Groundwater at a Superfund site in west Texas has been found to contain chromium at concentrations exceeding EPA's drinking water standard of .05 mg/l. Alternative treatment methods for this site were investigated; this article presents the evaluation of a physicochemical treatment system, in which removal of total chromium to levels below the drinking water standard was achieved through reduction of hexavalent chromium and subsequent removal by coprecipitation with iron. Costs for the construction of the pilot and full‐scale systems are also discussed.
Techniques for rapidly evaluating the progress of in‐situ remediation
Authors: Marrin Donn L. , Adriany John J.
Published: February 2007

Although standard methods of monitoring the progress of in‐situ remediation may provide general results for the most permeable zones affected by soil vapor extraction or bioventing, they are essentially unsuccessful at providing information on the degree of heterogeneity within the remediation zone and on the existence of “hot spots.” Data are presented that suggest that monitoring the concentrations of fixed and biogenic gases and measuring soil permeability on a small‐scale basis may circumvent the common problems associated with assessing the progress of in‐situ remediation. The costs of these monitoring techniques are minor compared to those of designing and operating an in‐situ remediation system, and may save additional time and costs by identifying problem areas early in the cleanup process.
Negotiating for assistance and cost control: Effectively interacting with environmental regulatory agencies
Authors: Smith Diane R.
Published: February 2007

Regulatory agencies are involved in analysis of plans for, and results of, virtually every environmental site investigation and remediation project. Controlling the cost of such projects is largely dependent on arriving at a reasonable scope of work. Regulatory approval is heavily influenced by the approach, cooperation, level of expertise, communication skills, preparation, and diplomacy of those who interact directly with agency personnel. Agencies also can be sources of assistance in obtaining the cooperation of other responsible parties. This article discusses a practical approach to maximize assistance, cooperation, and collaboration from regulatory agencies.
Using ultraviolet light to investigate petroleum‐contaminated soil
Authors: Colligan Thomas H. , LaManna John M.
Published: February 2007

Ultraviolet (UV) light can aid in the investigation of petroleum‐contaminated soil and sediment. The visible fluorescence of many petroleum products under UV illumination often results in a striking contrast when compared with surrounding, uncontaminated media. This contrast can be used in a variety of applications, including delineating the extent of petroleum in excavations, locating seeps along shorelines, and selecting sample intervals in sediment cores.

In another application, a field screening test using UV light combined with solvent extraction was developed to detect low levels of petroleum in soil. The test rapidly screens soil samples for the presence and relative concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons. The test was used to screen samples for laboratory analysis and identify residual petroleum product in boring samples.
Nitrate enhancement of in‐situ bioremediation of monoaromatic compounds in groundwater
Authors: Gersberg Richard M. , Dawsey W. John , Bradley Mark D.
Published: February 2007

Removal of benzene, toluene, and the isomers of xylene (BTX) from gasoline‐contaminated groundwater under denitrifying conditions was investigated. In laboratory microcosms, benzene removal was found to be significantly stimulated by phosphorus addition. For total xylenes, removal followed a similar response, but toluene disappearance was unaffected by phosphorus enrichment. An in‐situ bioremediation project was conducted to extend this laboratory work to an actual field‐scale cleanup of gasoline‐contaminated groundwater. The flow of groundwater from two extraction wells to an infiltration gallery created a mostly closed loop to recycle the groundwater enriched with added nutrients and the electron acceptor (nitrate). The coincident occurrence of BTX loss (greater than 90 percent) in situ, nitrate (as well as phosphorus and ammonia) appearance, and increased levels of denitrifying bacteria at a downgradient well all suggested that denitrification may play a significant role in BTX remediation at this site.
Application of in‐situ bioremediation to a gasoline spill in fractured bedrock
Authors: Hoffman Adam H. , Bell Richard A.
Published: February 2007

After achieving remediation goals during only thirty‐two months of operation, the first full‐scale in‐situ bioremediation (ISB) system in the state of Missouri was shut down in 1990. In addition to ISB, the system included a combination of soil venting and air stripping to remediate subsurface gasoline contamination at a large manufacturing facility. More than 84,000 pounds of gasoline were degraded or removed from the fractured limestone bedrock aquifer and overburden materials. The successful application of ISB in this complex geologic environment and the fact that this was the first such system to complete remediation in Missouri make this system unique.
In‐situ bioremediation of hanford groundwater
Authors: Skeen Rodney S. , Luttrell Stuart P. , Brouns Thomas M. , Hooker Brian S. , Petersen James N.
Published: February 2007

The U.S. Department of Energy has generated liquid wastes containing radioactive and hazardous chemicals throughout the more than forty years of operation at its Hanford site in Washington State. Many of the waste components, including nitrate and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), have been detected in the Hanford groundwater. In‐situ bioremediation of CCl4 and nitrate is being considered to clean the aquifer. Preliminary estimates indicate that this technology should cost significantly less than ex‐situ bioremediation and about the same as air stripping/granular activated carbon. In‐situ bioremediation has the advantage of providing ultimate destruction of the contaminant and requires significantly less remediation time. Currently, a test site is under development. A computer‐aided design tool is being used to design optimal remediation conditions by linking subsurface transport predictions, site characterization data, and microbial growth and contaminant destruction kinetics.
Treatability studies as a remedial option screening tool for contaminated soils
Authors: Korfiatis George P. , Christodoulatos Christos
Published: February 2007

As the limitations of site remedial technologies become more apparent and greater experience in their field implementation and effectiveness is gained, increased emphasis is placed on development of a structured technology selection process. Ideally, this selection process should yield the most cost‐effective technology, which will accomplish cleanup goals in the shortest time frame. Although laboratory treatability studies comprise an essential component of this process, very little has been written about the methodology of designing, executing, and assessing the value of their results. This article presents practical considerations for environmental professionals who use treatability results in technology selection or others who execute such studies.
A dynamic methodology for estimating cleanup efforts for mercury in soil at gas utility gate stations
Authors: Roffman Amiram , Verbanic Evan J. , Shervill R. Paul
Published: February 2007

This article provides an overview of a dynamic methodology leading to the estimation of the level of mercury concentration in soil and soil cleanup volumes associated with a large number of gate stations suspected of having mercury in their soil. The methodology uses a unique screening approach that has been developed for relating measurements of volatile mercury near the surface to mercury concentration in the upper soil subsurface (about twelve inches deep). The screening approach was used in an effort to reduce the number of sites that are subject to extensive multimedia environmental sampling and analysis. The approach helps to focus on a small number of sites that are suspected of having the highest mercury concentration in soil, perform multimedia environmental sampling at these sites, use the field data to perform risk assessment, and determine the cleanup action levels and the volume of hot spots soil to be cleaned at these sites. The information obtained for the most contaminated sites is used to determine, if required, the level of cleanup for less contaminated sites.
Treatment of remediation wastes in RCRA corrective action management units
Authors: Calland Dean A.
Published: February 2007

This article explains new EPA regulations that provide for use of corrective action management units (CAMUs) and temporary units (TUs) as cost‐effective techniques for remediating hazardous wastes at facilities undergoing RCRA corrective action and at CERCLA remediation sites. The author outlines EPA criteria for approving the use of CAMUs, discusses the benefits and limitations of using them, and recommends possible ways to improve on the CAMU concept.
An assessment of hydraulic containment to control vertical DNAPL migration
Authors: Hedgcoxe H. Reiffert , Stevens William S.
Published: February 2007

Because of increased awareness and knowledge about their behavior, dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) are being detected at an increasing frequency at hazardous and solid waste land disposal units. Remedial systems at sites containing DNAPLs need to be designed to address the specific problems presented by DNAPLs. Because of their physical properties, DNAPLs migrate downward and are difficult to remove using conventional recovery methods. Groundwater pumping schemes can be designed to hydraulically contain this vertical migration. The purpose of this article is to present an approach for evaluating the potential to halt the vertical migration of DNAPLs using hydraulic control.

Detailed groundwater flow modeling of a group of waste basins indicates that groundwater pumping in low‐permeability sands can impose the upward hydraulic gradients required to stop downward DNAPL movement. However, a recovery well system located around the perimeter of the waste basins will not impose the required gradients over a sufficiently large area to effectively contain DNAPLs under the basins because the distribution of vertical gradients that could stop DNAPLs extends only about fifty to sixty feet from the wells. Additional modeling indicates that horizontal recovery wells located directly under the basins can contain the vertical migration of DNAPLs.
Radiolytic decomposition of environmental contaminants and site remediation using an electron accelerator
Authors: Matthews S. M. , Boegel A. J. , Loftis J. A.
Published: February 2007

Halogenated and nonhalogenated hydrocarbon contaminants are currently found in natural waterways, groundwater, and soils as a result of spills and careless disposal practices. The development of proper treatment methodologies for the waste streams producing this environmental damage is now a subject of growing concern. A significant number of these waste stream compounds are chemically stable and are thus resistant to environmental degradation.

Numerous researchers have investigated the use of ionizing radiation to decompose chlorinated hydrocarbons in diverse matrices and have proposed various free‐radical‐induced reaction mechanisms.

This article is divided into two sections. First, we present data on experimentally measured, radiolytically induced decomposition of hazardous wastes and toxic substances using accelerator‐generated bremsstrahlung sources and gamma radiation from cobalt‐60. Data are presented on the radiolytically induced reduction in concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) dissolved in water and in air, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) dissolved in oil, high explosives dissolved in groundwater, and chemical weapon surrogates. The results of these studies suggest the potential use of ionizing radiation as a method of hazardous waste treatment.

The second section of this article describes the technical aspects of a field‐scale radiolytic decomposition site cleanup demonstration using an electron accelerator. A portable, commercially available electron accelerator was set up at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's (LLNL's) Site 300, a Superfund site, where vacuum extraction wells were removing trichloroethylene (TCE) vapor from a ground spill into the unsaturated soil zone. The accelerator was retrofitted into the existing vacuum extraction system such that the extracted TCE‐containing vapor passed through the accelerator beam for treatment. The concentration of TCE in the vapor was reduced by an amount dependent on the accelerator beam power. Production of reaction products in the vapor was measured as a function of absorbed dose.
Cost‐effective contaminant plume delineation using multilevel drive point samplers
Authors: Widdowson Mark A. , Suddeth Charles K. , Scaturo David M.
Published: February 2007

Over the past several years, environmental professionals have sought new and innovative field techniques to allow on‐site plume delineation and in‐field location of monitoring wells. One technique adopted for site characterization is the multilevel drive point sampler (MLDPS). This technology allows sampling of soil gas and groundwater and measurement of aquifer permeability. MLDPSs offer a cost‐effective solution to the high cost of plume delineation by providing in‐field data for decisions on monitoring well location and depth. MLDPS technologies can increase the effectiveness of monitoring well installation programs, decrease the cost of site characterization, and accelerate the time between initial site assessment and implementation of a remediation program. MLDPS technologies offer distinct advantages over other field techniques, and a cost comparison is offered. A case study describing application of the MLDPS to the delineation of a TCE‐contaminated plume is described.
Surfactant‐enhanced remediation of DNAPL zones in granular aquifer systems
Authors: Jackson Richard E.
Published: February 2007

Dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), in particular chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene, pose groundwater contamination problems at hazardous waste sites across North America. The mobility of DNAPLs in the subsurface, their low aqueous solubility, and the heterogeneity of typical aquifer systems combine to create conditions that inhibit the rapid remediation of DNAPL sites by traditional pump‐and‐treat methods. Surfactant‐enhanced methods for DNAPL‐site remediation accelerate the pace of remediation in granular aquifer systems, e.g., alluvium and outwash. The importance of adequate hydraulic conductivity and aquitard conditions is stressed in the application of surfactant‐enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR).
Commentary: A paradigm for plastics recycling
Authors: Shorthouse Barry O.
Published: February 2007

Possibilities abound for organizing an effective plastics recycling industry. Whatever is done to waste plastic requires some knowledge of what the materials are and an understanding that any mixing, inadvertent or deliberate, will not destroy the material's usefulness. If all polymers could be changed back to monomers, the net result would be that polymers of a thousand different types could be reduced to less than a dozen types of monomer for well over 95 percent of plastic waste. If the cost of depolymerization is less than the current monomer price, the economics of depolymerization is an obvious advantage. Polymerization and depolymerization are both controlled by thermodynamics and kinetics. The paradigm is to discriminate one plastic formulation from another. If the properties are close and selection assured, then direct reuse may be possible. In all other cases, we must use a chemical process where the choices are few and the selection is easy.
A systematic approach to estimating the assessment phase of a remediation project
Authors: Morse Michael A.
Published: February 2007

Environmental assessment consists of scientific studies to define contamination at a potential release site or sites and to evaluate the risk posed to human health and the environment. These studies are performed within a prescribed regulatory framework. There is a high degree of uncertainty associated with preparing cost and schedule estimates for activities such as site characterization, risk assessment, and evaluation of remediation alternatives. This article describes the approach that Sandia National Laboratories is using to meet the challenge of estimating the assessment phase of its Environmental Restoration Project. Emphasis is placed on lessons learned, with examples given to illustrate the approach.
UV peroxidation with air stripping for optimized removal of VOCs from groundwater
Authors: Sirabian Russell , Sanford Theodore , Barbour Richard
Published: February 2007

No one remedial technology is best suited to treat every groundwater contaminant plume. This article describes how pilot testing and analytical evaluation targeted selection of two treatment technologies, UV peroxidation and air stripping, to be used in series to create a synergistic, cost‐effective pump‐and‐treat system for the removal of VOCs from groundwater.

Pilot plant size equipment was employed to treat the VOC‐contaminated groundwater in order to obtain site‐specific reaction rates and to develop full‐scale design parameters. It was found that by using the two treatment technologies in combination, the influent concentration of 2,000 ppb total VOCs could be reduced to less than 1 ppb, thus meeting drinking water standards.
Technical feasibility and conceptual design for using supercritical fluid to extract pesticides from aged soil
Authors: Farley James A. , Hunter G. Bradley , Crim Michael C.
Published: February 2007

The demand for processes to clean up contaminated soils without introducing additional contaminants is increasing. One approach to solving this problem is the use of supercritical fluids like carbon dioxide, alone or with cosolvents, to extract contaminants from the soil. Carbon dioxide is readily available, inexpensive, and nonpolluting. Gases exhibit unique properties under supercritical conditions. They retain the ability to diffuse through the interstitial spaces of solid materials, plus they have the solvating power of liquids.

Soil cleanup using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is being investigated as an alternative/complementary technology to other cleanup methods such as incineration and bioremediation. The objective of the studies included in this article was to collect and analyze data to support use of the SFE technology and to provide the conceptual design and operational processes needed for building a portable treatment unit.
Vegetative remediation process offers advantages over traditional pump‐and‐treat technologies
Authors: Gatliff Edward G.
Published: February 2007

The use of bioremediation technologies to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater is increasingly winning favor over more costly and often ineffective mechanical approaches. One new type of bioremediation process, known as TreeMediationTM, uses trees and other vegetation to remediate soil by acting as a natural pump to extract and remediate contaminated groundwater in aquifers less than 30 feet deep. This article describes this innovative treatment method, shows its advantages over traditional pump and‐treat techniques, and explains how TreeMediation is being used to extract nitrate and ammonium contamination from an aquifer in New Jersey.
Performing a regulatory compliance audit: Guidance for environmental managers
Authors: Fornino Robin L.
Published: February 2007

An important tool for managing environmental responsibilities is compliance auditing. Auditing the facility allows the environmental manager to identify problems, address potential violations, and streamline environmental compliance expenditures. However, the audit and associated program must be developed within the context of immediate and long‐term goals. Before initiating the physical audit, the environmental manager should identify the scope of the audit, select a team, establish the audit process, and decide on report documentation issues, such as confidentiality. If the audit program is developed correctly, todays environmental manager can streamline long‐term compliance while managing the company's liability.
Removal and recovery of creosote sludge at a wood treatment plant
Authors: Defeo Brent
Published: February 2007

Off‐site reclamation and incineration of residues proved to be the most efficient and cost‐effective solution for remediation of the Broderick Wood Products Superfund site, a closed‐down wood‐preserving plant outside of Denver, Colorado. More than 3,200 cubic yards of hazardous K001 creosote sludge were removed and recovered at a total cost of only $3.1 million.
Evaluating the cost‐effectiveness of new environmental technologies
Authors: Henriksen Anne D. , Booth Steven R.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this article is to present a framework for evaluating the cost‐effectiveness of innovative technologies for environmental characterization, remediation, monitoring, and waste management. The authors describe the steps involved in actually using the methodology to perform a cost‐effectiveness analysis. They provide basic techniques for designing a fair comparison, developing scenarios, choosing a baseline technology, assessing relative performance, evaluating life‐cycle costs, and calculating cost savings. Examples are used to illustrate these concepts and a case study is presented involving a new remediation technology called in‐situ air stripping.
Screening method for locating groundwater monitoring wells
Authors: Elmore Andrew Curtis , Skach Robert F.
Published: February 2007

The traditional approach to characterizing the extent of groundwater contamination is often phased over a period of several years. A screening method has been developed that allows the investigation process to be reduced to a single phase. Existing data are used to develop a preliminary estimate of the extent of contamination, which is refined by the screening method using groundwater data collected and analyzed in the field. The screening method is applicable at sites with volatile organic compound contamination. Groundwater samples are collected using direct push or drill rig assisted methods, and the groundwater headspace gas is analyzed for the contaminant of interest. The refined estimate is used to locate all of the groundwater monitoring wells necessary to finalize the estimate of the extent of contamination. Therefore, only one investigation phase is required, and time and cost savings are realized with respect to the traditional multiphase approach. The screening method was successfully applied at a CERCLA site in Nebraska with two distinct plumes of TCE‐contaminated groundwater. The Nebraska remedial investigation was completed approximately 18 months earlier than the estimated completion of a comparable phased investigation, with a corresponding cost reduction estimated at approximately 10 percent. If data from the screening method were used instead of data from monitoring wells, the estimated cost savings would be over 50 percent. Additional applications and evaluations may lead to industry and regulatory acceptance of the method as a primary characterization tool.
Vacuum pyrolysis process for remediation of hydrocarbon‐contaminated soils
Authors: Roy Christian , de Caumia Bruno , Blanchette Daniel , Pakdel Hooshang , Couture Geneviève , Schwerdtfeger Annette E.
Published: February 2007

A vacuum pyrolysis process was used for the remediation of hydrocarbon–contaminated soils from “Les Vidangeurs de Montréal” site in Mascouche in the province of Québec, near Montréal. Ten samples were tested on a laboratory scale batch reactor, and one sample was tested on a prototype process development unit. The process is simple, efficient, reliable, and economically competitive with other existing technologies. The vacuum pyrolysis process efficiently treated soils contaminated with a variety of pollution levels and types, irrespective of the soil matrix, providing treated soils meeting the A criterion (noncontaminated, residential level) of the Ministry of Environment Québec (MENVIQ). The pyrolytic oil and the noncondensable pyrolytic gases can be used as makeup fuel in the process, because they have a high calorific value and their combustion should not pose any emission problems. The waterphase effluent must be treated before discharge.
The decatur county landfill: One community turns over a clean sheet of paper
Authors: Martin Nancy S.
Published: February 2007

The Decatur County Landfill, a privately owned sanitary landfill, was shut down by Indiana officials in 1991. When the owner proved not to have the financial ability to close the site as required by law, state environmental officials turned to local businesses to remediate the landfill. In a pioneering effort at voluntary action, officials of the state, county, and city government worked in partnership with business and the local community to perform and fund closure and provide the postclosure care. This study illustrates the results that can be achieved when government and private parties work together.
Examining the economics of remediation by fluid injection with vacuum extraction
Authors: Cox Robert E.
Published: February 2007

Enhanced methods of in‐situ remediation based on patented technology involving fluid injection with vacuum extraction have been used successfully at the Sand Creek Superfund Site in Commerce City, Colorado. Approximately 177,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were removed from the subsurface in six months, two months ahead of schedule. Remediation goals were achieved on this thermally enhanced soil vapor extraction project by using vertical and horizontal wells interchangeably in vacuum or pressure service for vapor extraction, dual vacuum extraction, heated vapor reinjection, and air sparging. Although VOCs consisted of mixed chlorinated and petroleum hydrocarbons, the petroleum hydrocarbons, some in the form of nonaqueous phase liquids, had not been fully characterized. This article examines the evolution of the remedial design from that conceptualized in the Record of Decision (ROD) of the U.S. EPA, presents the rationale for the selection of alternative system components, and provides a cost analysis of the selected remedial technology, with comparisons to that of alternatives considered for use at Sand Creek.
Low intervention soil remediation approaches
Authors: Portier Ralph J. , Barton Kimberly K. , Koury John
Published: February 2007

Traditional bioremediation approaches have been used to treat petroleum source contamination in readily accessible soils and sludges. Contamination under existing structures is a greater challenge. Options to deal with this problem have usually been in the extreme (i.e., to dismantle the facility and excavate to an acceptable regulated residual, or to pump and treat for an inordinately long period of time). The excavated material must be further remediated and cleanfill must be added to close the excavation. If site assessments were too conservative or incomplete, new contamination adulterating fill soils may result in additional excavation at some later date. Innovative, cost‐efficient technologies must be developed to remove preexisting wastes under structures and to reduce future remediation episodes. An innovative soil bioremediation treatment method was developed and evaluated in petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated (PHC) soils at compressor stations of a natural gas pipeline running through Louisiana. The in‐situ protocol was developed for remediating significant acreage subjected to contamination by petroleum‐based lubricants and other PHC products resulting from a chronic leakage of lubricating oil used to maintain the pipeline itself. Initial total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) measurements revealed values of up to 12,000 mg/kg soil dry weight. The aim of the remediation project was to reduce TPH concentration in the contaminated soils to a level of <200 mg/kg soil dry weight, a level negotiated to be acceptable to state and federal regulators. After monitoring the system for 122 days, all sites showed greater than 99‐percent reduction in TPH concentration.
Using pneumatic fracturing for in‐situ remediation of contaminated sites
Authors: Schuring John R. , Chan Paul C. , Boland Thomas M.
Published: February 2007

Pneumatic fracturing is an innovative technology enhancing the removal and treatment of contaminants in moderate‐to‐low permeability formations. The main advantages are a reduction in treatment time and the extension of available in‐situ technologies to more difficult geologic conditions. Pneumatic fracturing has been successfully demonstrated in the field at a number of contaminated sites and in a variety of geologic formations. The technology is now commercially available and is being incorporated into site cleanups. This article provides an overview of the pneumatic fracturing technology, beginning with a general description of the concept and apparatus. Next, key technological considerations will be discussed including fracture initiation, fracture orientation, fracture flow, and treatable soils and contaminants. Three case studies are presented describing different applications of pneumatic fracturing. The article concludes with a discussion of cost benefits of the technology.
Assessing cleanup levels for industrial sites under state risk reduction programs
Authors: Roffman Amiram , Roffman Haia
Published: February 2007

Many states are promoting the cleanup and reuse of industrial sites. The reasons stem from the need to implement cost‐effective risk reduction programs that show reasonable progress in the cleanup of contaminated sites and from the need to make effective use of industrial sites instead of abandoning them and making use of greenfield sites for new industrial facilities. The industrial land‐use cleanup criteria developed by states are primarily risk‐based. Several EPA regional offices also have developed similar risk‐based cleanup criteria.

This article addresses methodologies employed for assessing and evaluating the level of cleanup at several industrial sites in Texas, Michigan, and Ohio. This includes defining the regulatory framework, estimating the level and extent of contamination of soil and groundwater, assessing migration pathways, performing health risk assessments, and estimating cleanup requirements and associated costs. The implications associated with the various types of risk reduction options available for these states also are addressed.
Environmental project management using fast‐track methods to save time and money
Authors: Kulik Ernest J. , Havener Michael C.
Published: February 2007

In 1992, Eaton Corporation, a major manufacturer of vehicle components and electrical and electronic controls, implemented a fast‐track remediation method to expedite the installation of a groundwater recovery and treatment system to contain and mitigate a chlorinated solvent plume at an industrial site. This dual‐track method included fast‐track and turnkey project management techniques. Our goal was to expedite the containment and removal of identified contamination, which would protect the environment, minimize future liability, and significantly reduce remediation time and costs. This goal was in the best interests of all concerned—Eaton, the community, and the state regulatory agency. This strategy took the project from dual‐track concept approval by the regulatory agency to remediation system installation and start‐up in less than eight months, cutting over two years from the standard Remediation Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) approach, with consequent earlier contaminant containment. Total remediation costs were half of what they would have been under the standard RI/FS procedure for this site.
Successfully applying sparging technologies
Authors: Marley Michael C. , Droste Edward X.
Published: February 2007

Air sparging is an innovative methodology for remediating organic compounds present in contaminated, saturated soil zones. In the application of the technology, sparging (injection) wells are used to inject a hydrocarbon‐free gaseous medium (typically air) into the saturated zone below or within the areas of contamination. Two major mechanisms of remediation are engaged/enhanced due to the sparging process. First, volatile organic compounds are dissolved in the groundwater and sorbed on the soil partition into the advective air phase, effectively simulating an in‐situ air stripping system. The stripped contaminants are transported in the air phase to the vadose zone, generally within the radius of influence of a standard vapor extraction and vapor treatment system. Second, with optimal environmental conditions, volatile and semivolatile organic compounds may be biodegraded by utilizing the sparging process to oxygenate the groundwater, thereby enhancing the growth and activity of the indigenous bacterial community.

Air sparging is a complex multifluid phase process which has been applied successfully in Europe since the mid‐1980s. Major design considerations include site geology, contaminant type, gas injection pressures and flow rates, injection interval (areal and vertical), and site‐specific biofeasibility parameters. Site‐specific geology and biofeasibility are the dominant design parameters. Pilot testing and full‐scale design considerations should also be addressed. Mathematical models have been developed to simulate the air flow field during the sparging process and to examine the limitations imposed by site geology. Correct design and operation of this technology have been demonstrated to achieve groundwater cleanup to low part‐per‐billion contaminant levels. Incorrect design and operation can introduce significant pollution liability through undesirable contaminant migration in both the dissolved and vapor phases.
Cement‐based solidification/stabilization of lead‐contaminated soil at a utah highway construction site
Authors: Wilk Charles M. , Arora Raghu
Published: February 2007

This article describes portland cement‐based solidification/stabilization (S/S) treatment of heavy metal‐contaminated soil. The soil was discovered during highway construction in West Jordan, Utah. Environmental Chemical Corporation (ECC) performed an emergency response to remediate the soil under contract with the EPA and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). The soil was treated by S/S. Treatment of the soil, contaminated with lead and arsenic, involved: (1) excavation, (2) size segregation, (3) reduction of oversized particles, (4) addition and mixture of portland cement and cement kiln dust, and (5) beneficial reuse of the treated soil as a subbase. S/S treatment successfully reduced Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) concentrations of the contaminants to below regulatory levels.
A conceptual cost estimate for remediation activities at a multisite federal facility
Authors: Morse Michael A. , Valdez John M. , Cox Warren B.
Published: February 2007

The Sandia National Laboratories Environmental Restoration Project is in the process of determining the nature and extent of environmental contamination at numerous potential release sites. Sites found to be contaminated above certain action levels must be remediated. Sandia is responsible for preparing preliminary cost estimates for remediation activities in order to meet Department of Energy planning requirements for future funding. Sandia used the ENVEST parametric cost‐estimating model to prepare conceptual cost estimates for remediation prior to having definitive knowledge of the nature and extent of contamination. This article describes the estimating approach and the results achieved at Sandia.
Successful contracting based on candor, realism, and common goals
Authors: Williams Steven N.
Published: February 2007

This article is intended to provide an overview of the issues involved in remediation contracting, from general principles of contract law and negotiation, to specific contract provisions of interest to the remediation community, to the practical consequences of including or not including these provisions on disputes arising under the contract. This article does not treat every potential issue arising in contracts concerning remediation, but hopefully it discusses many of these issues and provides an overview that will be helpful to the reader.
Expect Déjà vu all over again
Authors: Smith Diane R. , Gibson Robert J. , Sherlock Sean M.
Published: February 2007

It is difficult to define “property damage,” but one knows it when one sees it. Groundwater and soil impacts are readily discernible. However, owners of property that has been adversely affected by environmental conditions caused by others have recently sought recovery for the stigma which may attach to property which has in the past been affected by hazardous substances, even after remediation. These cases are particularly interesting in light of the traditional causes of action for negligence, trespass, and nuisance, and the statutes of limitations which may affect both rights to sue and damages. This article addresses “stigma” as an emerging area and an element of damages in environmental cases.
Cost effectively decommissioning an automotive parts facility
Authors: Huismann Scott S. , Astin Michael S. , Fleet Terrance M. , Grasmick Daniel L.
Published: February 2007

Using a comprehensive approach to decommission a 180,000‐square‐foot automotive parts manufacturing facility saves time and money while reducing environmental liability. Prior to starting the facility decommissioning, a detailed facility characterization was conducted to identify contaminated areas. Remediation activities were scheduled to coincide with facility demolition. Specialized subcontractors were used to perform tasks such as asbestos and lead‐paint abatement, soil bioremediation, underground storage tank and clarifier removal, and facility destruction and recycling. The project timetable was reduced by using several crews simultaneously to conduct recycling, demolition, and remediation. Costs were offset by selling remaining equipment, scrap metals, overhead lights and fixtures, and a premanufactured steel building. A total of 415 tons of scrap metal was recycled, not including the aforementioned steel building. On‐site recycling and remediation were used wherever possible to reduce cost and associated hauling liabilities. For example, concrete and asphalt debris were crushed and used as base for final site paving, saving disposal costs and base material purchase costs. On‐site bioremediation of soil impacted by perchloroethene (PCE) saved over $1.5 million, with total project savings of $2.4 million. On‐site remediation and recycling also reduced both long‐term and short‐term environmental liability.