bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of hazardous waste incineration wastewater
Authors: De Gesero Roy , Teringo John , McIlbenny Bill
Published: February 2007

This article outlines the general design concepts and new chemistry necessary to achieve truly cost‐effective management of an important part of the hazardous waste incineration system—i.e., the unit operations needed to treat wastewater generated by rotary kiln incinerators burning wastes containing halogens and heavy metals.
Using pneumatic fracturing extraction to achieve regulatory compliance and enhance voc removal from low‐permeability formations
Authors: Mack James P. , Apsan Howard N.
Published: February 2007

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy (NJDEPE) has been developing cleanup regulations that focus on remediation, rather than extended delineation, and on integrating regulatory requirements with technological developments. To this end, the NJDEPE, under the regulatory aegis of the Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (ECRA), is monitoring an innovative treatment technology pilot test at a TCE‐contaminated ECRA site in Hillsborough, New Jersey. The purpose of the study is to determine the applicability of pneumatic fracturing extraction (PFE) as a source‐removal technique for extracting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) trapped informations with low permeability.

The technology being pilot tested is pneumatic fracturing extraction, a process for enhancing permeability to promote in‐situ removal and treatment of VOCs. The patented process uses high‐pressure air injected into an isolated subsurface zone at controlled rates and pressures. At a critical point, the geologic material ruptures, and fractures are created that radiate outward from the fracture location. At the pilot test site, formation air flow was increased from 400 percent to 700 percent.

PFE is a key component of the overall remediation strategy at the Hillsborough site. Consistent with proposed NJDEPE regulations, a ground‐water pump‐and‐treat system will be installed for plume migration control. Once the pump‐and‐treat system has been established and shown to be effective, a more aggressive source removal program will be implemented using PFE. This program will include construction of a vadose zone PFE system and evaluation of the use of pneumatic fracturing to remove saturated zone residual dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPL). Preliminary calculations suggest that if source zone concentrations can be reduced to 10 ppm of TCE, then TCE groundwater concentrations may be reduced to background levels at the property boundary compliance points.
Alternative contracting strategies for controlling costs and avoiding performance disputes on remediation projects
Authors: Manuele Vincent O.
Published: February 2007

It is critical that all participants in the remediation effort develop comprehensive contracting strategies aimed at controlling remediation costs and avoiding performance disputes. Initially, greater emphasis should be placed on negotiated, cost‐type contracts that fairly address the allocation of risk between contractor and owner. This article examines the use of this contracting method and discusses industry studies on contract risk allocation, reviewing several typical contract clauses. Moreover, the participants in the remediation process should commit to the use of partnering as a framework for contract performance, as well as alternative dispute resolution techniques to swiftly settle disagreements. Through partnering, the owner and contractor work cooperatively throughout performance, rather than focus solely on their contractual rights and remedies. The article examines the mechanics of the partnering process, identifying the critical stakeholders as well as potential pitfalls, and relates industry applications. Relying on an extension of the partnering concept to the resolution of performance disputes, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques are designed to encourage negotiated settlements of disputes. The article examines various ADR methods, including the use of a dispute escalation network, job‐site dispute resolution, and post‐performance ADR techniques.
Understanding the RCRA corrective action process
Authors: McCullough Matthew L. , Morabito Joseph R. , Rodriguez Thomas E.
Published: February 2007

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was enacted in 1976. The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) of 1984 specify “corrective action” requirements for protecting human health and the environment from environmental contamination at active hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. RCRA and its corrective action requirements are designed to prevent the creation of new Superfund sites by regulating and remediating active facilities. The RCRA corrective action process has four basic components: the facility assessment, facility investigation, corrective measures study, and corrective measures implementation. This article presents an overview of the RCRA corrective action process and presents four case studies from three U.S. EPA regions.
Using biopolymers to remove heavy metals from soil and water
Authors: Krishnamurthy S. , Frederick Raymond M.
Published: February 2007

Chemical remediation of soil may involve the use of harsh chemicals that generate waste streams, which may adversely affect the soil's integrity and ability to support vegetation. This article reviews the potential use of benign reagents, such as biopolymers, to extract heavy metals. The biopolymers discussed are chitin and chitosan, modified starch, cellulose, and polymer‐containing algae.
Risk assessment: A site‐specific approach to establishing acceptable soil cleanup levels
Authors: Huggins C. B. , Money Robert D.
Published: February 2007

In 1980 the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) was passed to instigate the cleanup of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. CERCLA necessitated the development of a set of criteria for estimating the severity of the contamination at these sites, the potential impact on human health and the environment, and establishing appropriate cleanup levels for the contaminated media. The risk assessment (RA) format was developed to meet these challenges.

Though RAs vary dramatically in their scope, emphasis, and regulatory application, there are two primary objectives common to all RAs: (1) to evaluate potential risks to human health and the environment posed by the release of hazardous substances and (2) to evaluate and establish safe cleanup levels based primarily on the number and type of potential receptors, the toxicity and mobility of the contaminants, and the types of exposure pathways present.

Achieving these objectives may be a relatively simple task or an extremely complex and difficult one depending on the type of material released and our understanding of its behavior in the environment, the site conditions, and the governing regulations.

This article presents an approach for establishing acceptable cleanup levels for subsurface soils and illustrates the application of this approach to three different regulated sites.
PAH removal using soil and sediment washing at a contaminated harbor site
Authors: Amiran Mohsen C. , Wilde Charles L.
Published: February 2007

In tests conducted for the Canadian government on sediment from Thunder Bay Harbour, Ontario, the BioGenesis washing process was demonstrated to be effective in remediating contaminated harbor sediments. Removal efficiencies for 16 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in concentrations exceeding 4,000 parts per million averaged 90 to 95 percent in pilot tests. These results are significant because, until now, washing processes have not proven effective in cleaning the small‐size particles of silt and clay that make up most underwater sediments. In Thunder Bay, 81 percent of the particles were less than 38 microns (medium silt) in size. The tests on Thunder Bay sediment were conducted under the auspices of the Contaminated Sediment Treatment Technology Program of Environment Canada's Wastewater Technology Centre. Thunder Bay Harbour is one of 43 “areas of concern” identified by the International Joint Commission of Great Lakes Water Quality.
Pollutant source identification and allocation: Advances in hydrocarbon fingerprinting
Authors: Sauer Theodor C. , Uhler Allen D.
Published: February 2007

Often liability for environmental damage and cleanup of contaminated sites is made difficult, especially with chemically complex environments containing different pollutants, by the inability to differentiate potential sources (or “owners”) of pollutants from each other. As a result, unnecessary costs may be associated with having to assume financial responsibility for alleged contamination of a site. This article reviews the advances in chemical fingerprinting as a tool in identifying and differentiating sources of hydrocarbon pollutants in chemically complex environments. Appropriate hydrocarbon target analytes and required analytical methods for hydrocarbon fingerprinting are discussed, and new interpretative tools are presented that may be applied to contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater environmental situations. With these analytical and interpretative techniques, an appropriate allocation of chemical contamination and costs at a site can be made.
Protecting environmental audits and reports: Balancing self‐examination and self‐protection
Authors: Erickson Randall L.
Published: February 2007

Recently, some companies have begun making environmental reports and internal audits public. Other companies have chosen not to do so. The desire to engage in a critical and thorough self‐examination is often thwarted by the fear that audits and other reports may be used against a company in later litigation or administrative proceedings. However, there are some legal, regulatory, and procedural safeguards that can protect a company that chooses to make reports and audits public. This article examines these safeguards, their strengths and weaknesses, and their role in balancing self‐examination and self‐protection.
Land treatment and the toxicity response of soil contaminated with wood preserving waste
Authors: Huling Scott G. , Pope Daniel F. , Matthews John E. , Sims Judith L. , Sims Ronald C. , Sorensen Darwin L.
Published: February 2007

Soils contaminated with wood preserving wastes, including pentachlo‐rophenol (PCP) and creosote, are treated at field‐scale in an engineered prepared‐bed system consisting of two one‐acre land treatment units (LTUs). The concentration of selected indicator compounds of treatment performance included PCP, pyrene, and total carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (TCPAHs) was monitored in the soil by taking both composited soil samples at multiple points in time, and discrete soil samples at two points in time. The mean concentration of the indicator compounds and the 95‐percent confidence interval (CI) of the composite and discrete samples agreed relatively well, and first‐order degradation rate kinetics satisfactorily represented the mean chemical concentration loss of indicator compounds in the LTU. Toxicity of the soil, as measured by MicrotoxTM assay of the soil extracts, indicated that toxicity reduction corresponded with indicator compound disappearance. No toxicity effects were observed with time in treated layers of soil (lifts) buried beneath highly contaminated lifts of newly applied soil. This indicated that vertical migration of soluble contaminants from such lifts had little effect on the microbial activity in the underlying treated soil.
Methods for evaluating investment strategies for environmental technologies
Authors: Showalter W. Eric , Booth Steven R. , Hardie R. Wayne
Published: February 2007

Environmental technology development, like other ventures, requires decisions regarding where to invest scarce capital. The investment option that offers the greatest benefit relative to the cost should be chosen. The problem is to determine a way to analyze the project and apply a useful measure for comparison to other investment opportunities. In this article, three methods of analysis are presented: return on investment, benefit‐to‐cost ratio, and payback period. Formulas are developed for each of the methods, and a case study illustrates their application.
Case study: On‐site remediation of soil and groundwater for a michigan town's water supply
Authors: Patterson John
Published: February 2007

In 1993 environmental consultants, working in concert with the State of Michigan, discovered groundwater contamination that threatened the drinking water supply of the town of Big Rapids. The contamination originated from leaking underground storage tanks and gasoline lines, which were removed. A pilot study indicated the contaminated area extended to 240′ x 180′ and affected soil as well as groundwater. A remediation plan was designed by and implemented by Continental Remediation Systems, Inc., a Natick, Massachusetts, firm. The remediation plan is ongoing and includes an interceptor trench to stop gasoline from flowing into the creek, as well as air sparging to vent and treat the contaminated soil. It is anticipated that the remediation project will take six months to complete. The chief advantage of on‐site remediation is that it avoids the costs and liabilities associated with landfill disposal and no materials need leave the site.
Bioventing pilot test results at the low point drain area at Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Authors: Werner Frank T. , Walters James E. , Keefer Gary B.
Published: February 2007

Bioventing is a relatively new technology that uses forced air movement to deliver supplemental oxygen to contaminated soils to stimulate the biodegradation of contaminants by indigenous microorganisms. A bioventing pilot test was initiated at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, in August 1992, at a site contaminated with jet fuel. Air was injected into the subsurface over a period of 15 months, and tests were conducted at 6 months, and again at 15 months, to determine the effectiveness of the system. This article describes the bioventing process and its application at this test site. The results of the pilot test are discussed to illustrate the extent of the remediation accomplished through bioventing.
Evaluation of soil‐washing process for “unwashable” clays and silts from the palmerton zinc site
Authors: Snyder Brian M. , Dennis Ronald M. , Roth Mary J. S. , Krishnan Ramesh , Parker Harry W.
Published: February 2007

The Palmerton Zinc Site is a Superfund site in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Its former mineral processing operations have contaminated nearby wells and soils with zinc and cadmium. Preliminary analysis of soil and dust sampling conducted in May 1991 has revealed that the dust poses a potential threat to human health. Based on the results of a previous study, which showed a high percentage of silt and clay in soils from Palmerton residential properties, it was concluded that soil washing is not likely to be a viable method to treat the soil and dust contamination in Palmerton. However, since the completion of this study, a soil‐washing process for “unwashable” clays and silts has been developed. A residential soil sample from Palmerton, which had low concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead, and a somewhat high concentration of zinc, was washed in a bench‐scale version of this process. The results showed that the new soil‐washing process for “unwashable” clays and silts may be a viable method to treat the soil and dust contamination in Palmerton, depending on the soil quality criteria concentrations selected for site cleanup.
Expediting remedial designs and assessments
Authors: Tillman J. Edward , Kirk Charles E.
Published: February 2007

A successful air‐based remediation system, now frequently chosen for sites contaminated with VOCs, demands a thorough understanding of the nature and distribution of the VOCs and the soil air permeabilities. Considering likely remediation methods during the site investigation allows collection of all data needed for method selection and design within a single, highly efficient site visit. A case history illustrates how to integrate several data collection and testing activities into a single site visit.
Remediation of metal‐contaminated sites using plants
Authors: Azadpour Azadeh , Matthews John E.
Published: February 2007

Heavy metal contamination of soil resulting from anthropogenic sources poses a significant challenge in many industrialized societies. The current technologies employed for removal of heavy metals often involve expensive ex‐situ processes requiring sophisticated equipment and removal, transportation, and purification of the soil. Generally, in‐situ remedial technologies are favored to ex‐situ methods for detoxification, neutralization, degradation, or immobilization of contaminants. In‐situ bioremediation is increasingly favored because of its effectiveness and low cost. A new type of bioremediation, known as vegetative remediation or “phytoremediation,” uses metal‐tolerant hyperaccumulator plants to take up metal ions from soils and store them in their aboveground parts. To select the appropriate phytoremediation technology, one must understand the technical feasibility, cost effectiveness, and availability of the suitable plant species. Equally important is determining whether the site's soil conditions are optimal to enhance or restore the soil biological activity. Before phytoremediation can be exploited on a contaminated site, greenhouse‐scale confirmatory testing is necessary to measure plant uptake and correlate shoot metal concentrations to available soil metals. These tests also validate that the harvesting and subsequent disposal of metal‐containing plant tissues are environmentally safe and manageable.
Field application of reactive iron walls for in‐situ degradation of volatile organic compounds in groundwater
Authors: Focht Robert , Vogan John , O'Hannesin Stephanie
Published: February 2007

Reactive walls containing metallic iron have been installed at several commercial sites in the United States to degrade chlorinated organic compounds in groundwater. Although the results of laboratory studies conducted to determine reaction mechanisms have been widely disseminated, little information has been published on the full‐scale application of this technology. This article describes the construction, implementation, and cost of in‐situ reactive walls at three commercial sites.
Industrial facility deactivation: A proactive approach for reducing costs and liabilities
Authors: Kulik Ernest J. , Lingle Joseph P. , Nowlan Thomas A. , Nesbit Rickie G.
Published: February 2007

For both private corporations and military branches, downsizing and consolidation are becoming more commonplace. A range of environmental concerns must be addressed to effectively implement a consolidation program. A facility deactivation program can often become a minefield for an organization. Responsible personnel are typically inexperienced with the process, and this can lead to costly mistakes. This article provides insight into this topic based on experience gained with a multifacility program and related environmental issues. It emphasizes the importance of detailed, up‐front, proactive project planning; a solid program management system; and accurate identification of project objectives and deliverables.
Concepts for sediment restoration on the palos verdes shelf, California
Authors: Palermo Michael R. , Clausner James E.
Published: February 2007

This article summarizes a study conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station to develop technical information and to evaluate the engineering feasibility of restoration alternatives for DDT‐and PCB‐contaminated sediments on the Palos Verdes shelf and slope near Los Angeles, California. The study evaluated the nonremoval alternative of in‐place capping of contaminated sediments on the shelf and slope; removal of contaminated sediments using conventional and specialized dredging equipment and deep ocean mining equipment; treatment of contaminated sediments; and disposal of contaminated sediments in confined (diked) disposal facilities (CDFs), contained aquatic disposal (CAD) sites, upland landfills, and deep ocean basin sites. Cost estimates of the various alternatives were also prepared.

This article concludes that restoration of the contaminated sediments is technically feasible. Sediments on the shelf and slope can be removed using available dredging technologies for deep water environments. In‐place capping, CAD, and CDF alternatives are technically feasible. The deep ocean basin disposal alternative is not feasible from the technical or regulatory standpoint. The treatment alternative is not feasible from the implementability and economic standpoint.
Remediation of uranium‐contaminated soil using the segmented gate system and containerized vat leaching techniques: A cost‐effectiveness study
Authors: Cummings Mark , Booth Steven R.
Published: February 2007

Using an innovative, two‐stage process to remediate uranium‐contaminated soils, researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory's (LANL's) Technical Area 33 (TA‐33) successively reduced 218 cubic yards of contaminated soil to approximately 30 gallons of leachate solution and resins. In the first step, the contaminated soil is separated from the clean soil using the Thermo Nuclean (a division of the Thermo NUtech company) Segmented Gate System (SGS). Contaminated soil proceeds via conveyor belt to a separate storage bin to await further processing, while uncontaminated soil is returned to its original location. From the 218 cubic yards of soil excavated from the test site at TA‐33, only seven cubic yards were found to contain uranium contamination above the criterion release limit, yielding an initial waste volume reduction of 97 percent. Using the containerized vat leaching (CVL) method, a technique borrowed from the mining industry, the uranium was then removed from the reduced volume of contaminated soil. This article describes the two processes and analyzes potential cost savings based on different disposal and storage options.
RCRA leapfrog: How statistics shape and in turn are shaped by regulatory mandates
Authors: Cameron Kirk M. D.
Published: February 2007

During the past ten years, a statistical program applicable to RCRA groundwater monitoring data has been developed with input from regulators, geologists, regulated individuals, and a small group of professional statisticians. At first driven by the RCRA regulations, the evolution of the statistical program now often influences changes in regulatory requirements, which in turn affect opinions on the best statistical approach for addressing the requirements. This article describes that evolution and the issues that have emerged over the years. In the following article, Dr. Robert Gibbons, another of the professional statisticians involved in the debate, responds to comments made in this article.
Phytoremediation experimentation with the herbicide bentazon
Authors: Conger Robert Mark , Portier Ralph J.
Published: February 2007

An experiment was performed on six species of trees to determine the feasibility of remediating groundwater contaminated with an agricultural herbicide, bentazon, at a site in southern Louisiana. Fate studies on bentazon support that it is translocated to the plant leaves where it is degraded by photolysis to lower‐order derivative compounds within short periods of time. Both transpiration observations and dosing tests suggest that the most favorable phreatophyte and tolerant specie of tree to bentazon exposure was the black willow (Salix nigra).
Two decision analysis approaches: Choosing a chemical analysis method
Authors: Henriksen Anne DePiante
Published: February 2007

This article illustrates how two different decision analysis (DA) methods can be used to assist in making environmental remediation decisions. The two DA methods are Multiattribute Utility Theory (MAUT) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). MAUT and AHP differ greatly in their underlying philosophies. MAUT employs an interval scale and constructs utility functions that quantify the total utility to the decision maker of each technology alternative; AHP employs a ratio scale and uses pairwise comparisons to produce a final ranking of the alternatives that reflects the decision maker's comparative preferences. In this study, the same technology was ranked first by both methods; however, the remaining rankings did not agree. Also, statistical analysis indicated that some score differences may be statistically insignificant. These results are presented and discussed along with a comparison of the features, advantages, and disadvantages of these two DA approaches.
New regulatory structure being considered for devices containing radioactivity
Authors: Kelly Brian A.
Published: February 2007

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established a Working Group to evaluate methods for improving control of devices containing radioactivity in industry. These devices include radiography equipment and moisture/density gauges. The Working Group was the result of a number of incidents in which these devices were inadvertently shipped to scrap dealers and steel recycling facilities. The resulting release of radioactivity when the devices were processed has cost millions of dollars to clean up. This article discusses the Working Group's conclusions and the potential impact of these conclusions on the remediation industry. It also makes recommendations for both current and prospective owners of devices containing radioactivity on how to prepare for regulatory changes likely to occur as a result of the Working Group's conclusions.
A Laboratory Assessment of an Innovative Technology for the Detection of DNAPLs
Authors: Davey Christine A.
Published: February 2007

A promising new technology for the detection of dense nonaqueous phase liquids, or DNAPLs, is cosolvent injection/extraction. Cosolvents, such as alcohols, are injected into the subsurface and interact with DNAPLs to increase their aqueous solubility, which increases recovery of the chemicals. A laboratory assessment was performed to determine if incorporating this technology with cone penetrometers could provide a useful sampling tool for DNAPL detection. A cone penetrometer was modeled in the laboratory by injecting and extracting small quantities of ethanol and propylene glycol at low concentrations into a homogeneous sand reactor contaminated with a residual saturation of tetrachloroethene (PCE). Experimental test results show that this technology is extremely sensitive to the vertical placement of the sampler, but is capable of enhancing PCE solubility while recovering most of the alcohol injected. Field testing of this technology will provide the next step in determining the feasibility of this technology for DNAPL detection.
Evaluating a Site for Natural Attenuation: EPA Region IV's New Guidance
Authors: Smith Christopher S.
Published: February 2007

Natural attenuation has recently been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an appropriate remedy for sites contaminated with chlorinated solvents. Because natural attenuation does not require active remediation, it is considerably less expensive than other groundwater remedies. However, as laid out in EPA's recently released guidance, careful, systematic evaluation of natural attenuation must be conducted to ensure that the remedial approach is appropriate for a given site. The guidance requires that data be collected to demonstrate that natural attenuation is occurring and a fate‐and‐transport model must be conducted to estimate the extent to which a contaminated plume will ultimately migrate. Finally, the proponent of natural attenuation must be prepared to conduct long‐term groundwater monitoring to verify that natural attenuation is controlling plume migration and that human health and the environment are not adversely affected.
Introduction to Therm Net Technology
Authors: Watson Mike , Wiberg Dan , Kasevich Ray
Published: February 2007

The Introduction to Therm Net technology is an overview of how radio frequency (RF) beating can be implemented to enhance conventional remediation technologies. Included in the article is a case study of a project conducted in March 1996 at a gasoline release site. The project consisted of a “hot spot” application to reduce BETX concentrations to achieve site closure. The application consisted of RF heating, soil vapor extraction, and groundwater ventilation. A bench scale study was also conducted to measure the effects that RF heating and vapor extraction had on the removal of PAH constitutents from a coal tar sludge. Up to 100 percent reductions were observed for some of the constituents in the study. Also included is a graphical representation of temperature versus vapor pressure for contaminants typically encountered at remediation sites, illustrating that as temperature increases, the removal rate increases.
Easing the Pain for Disputants: Fundamentals of Environmental Mediation
Authors: Smith Diane R.
Published: February 2007

“If we don't change the way we are going, we will end up where we are headed,” the saying goes. Well, with respect to environmental disputes, we are changing the way we are going, and we are doing it primarily through mediation. We are reaching for and finding cooperative, collaborative, and less expensive ways of solving problems. We are using mediation to eliminate or minimize the side effects of environmental issues and problematic sites. We are avoiding or dramatically reducing the “transactional” costs that have devastated so many persons and businesses involved in environmental problems. And we are finding ways to utilize collective intelligence and minimize collective damage through mediation. It's definitely good business.
Laser‐induced fluorescence and fast gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with subsurface thermal extraction of organics: Field analytical technologies for expediting site characterization and cleanup
Authors: Robbat Albert , Kenny Jonathan E. , Smarason Sigurdur , Pepper Jane Wu , Wright Andrew O.
Published: February 2007

This article describes new field‐based technologies that support the Dynamic Workplan/Adaptive Sampling and Analysis Program employed to better characterize hazardous waste sites at lower cost. A laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) probe was designed and field‐tested with a cone penetrometer (CP) for investigating petroleum contaminants present at under‐ground tank farms. The LIF produced real‐time quantitative data for naphthalene and semiquantitative results for total petroleum hydrocarbons and diesel range organics. Two different projects are described employing fast gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the field. A 70‐foot heated transfer line and probe were used in combination with a cone penetrometer to thermally extract (TE) subsurface soil‐bound semivolatile organics. In the second project, soil samples were collected by a GeoprobeTM and brought to the surface for analysis. The direct measurement TECP data produced semiquantitative results while the more conventional means of collecting and analyzing samples produced risk analysis quality data in the field. A new set of mass spectrometry algorithms provided the technology breakthrough for identifying and quantifying a wide range of Environmental‐Protection‐Agency‐listed target compounds in the presence of high levels of matrix (petroleum) interferents under fast, 7 min/sample, GC conditions.
Recent applications of phytoremediation technologies
Authors: Zodrow John J.
Published: February 2007

Although the application of microbe biotechnology has been successful with petroleum‐based constituents, microbial digestion has met with limited success for widespread residual organic and metal pollutants located above the potentiometric surface. Vegetation‐based remediation, on the other hand, shows potential for accumulating, immobilizing, and transforming low levels of persistent contamination from the subsurface. Agricultural bioremediation, called geobotany or phytoremediation, relies on the remediating abilities of contaminant‐accumulating plants to remove contamination from soil or groundwater.

In natural ecosystems, plants act to filter and metabolize substances generated by nature. Phytoremediation affirmatively applies this process to help clean up contamination created by artificial means. Plants have proven effective at remediating areas contaminated with organic chemical wastes such as petroleum products, solvents, wood preservatives, pesticides, and metals. Phytoremediation is not the best technology for every site but has shown success with lead, cadmium, zinc, and radionuclides. The phytoremediation process takes much longer than conventional methods to clean a site and is dependent upon the type and degree of contamination. Concentrations must be within a narrow range of tolerable levels and the presence of the contamination must be at the appropriate depth.

Nevertheless, phytoremediation offers an effective alternative to conventional, engineered remedial plans that usually involve costly activities like excavation, treatment, and disposal of soil or pump‐and‐treat technologies for groundwater. Phytoremediation also seems to be a promising new technology for the treatment of stormwater, industrial wastewater, and sewage. The relative low costs of capital for start‐up together with negligible operations and maintenance costs provide a strong incentive for further investigation and development of phytoremediation projects.
Augmenting in‐situ remediation by soil vapor extraction with six‐phase soil heating
Authors: Heine Kevin S. , Steckler David J.
Published: February 2007

The use and performance of soil vapor extraction (SVE) as an in‐situ remedial technology has been limited at numerous sites because of both geologic and chemical factors. SVE systems are not well suited to sites containing low permeability soils or sites contaminated with recalcitrant compounds. Six‐phase soil heating (SPSH) has been developed by the Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories (Battelle) to enhance SVE systems. The technology utilizes resistive soil heating to increase the vapor pressure of subsurface contaminants and to generate an in‐situ source of steam. The steam strips contaminants sorbed onto soil surfaces and acts as a carrier gas, providing an enhanced mechanism by which the contaminants can reach an extraction well.

Full‐scale applications of SPSH have been performed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina; at a former fire training site in Niagara Falls, New York; and at Fort Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska. At each site, chlorinated solvents were present in low permeability soils and SPSH was applied in conjunction with SVE. The results of the three applications showed that SPSH is a cost‐effective technology that can reduce the time required to remediate a site using only conventional SVE.
Communication at inactive hazardous waste sites
Authors: Scrudato Ronald J. , Wunderlich Michele , Weston Sandra
Published: February 2007

The remediation of inactive hazardous waste sites frequently involves a protracted negotiation with the respective state or federal agency and the entity responsible for creating the site and paying the costs. At orphaned sites, decisions are made almost exclusively by agency staff. Most of remedial decisions are made with little input or participation by the interested public. The public usually receives information in a highly technical and difficult‐to‐understand format after decisions are made. This ineffective form of communication can lead to mistrust and delays or changes in the remediation process.

Effective public participation requires multidirectional modes of communication that provide for active and full involvement by all interested parties. At the present time, most agencies pay minimal attention to the needs of the interested public, often leaving area residents suspicious and dissatisfied with the overall program. There is an opportunity to significantly improve the public participation component of the federal Super‐fund program through reauthorization. Subtle changes in the program can result in a significant increase of the public's sense of participation and overall satisfaction.
Defining a successful superfund clean‐up: A community representative's perspective
Authors: Trieste Marion
Published: February 2007

The successful use of the Superfund program involves developing partnerships with all of the stakeholders early in the process. Citizens living near Superfund sites are the primary stakeholders, falling victim to many health risks and economic costs. When equipped with technical advisors, citizens can play a primary role in the remediation decisions being made at hazardous waste sites. This article illustrates the important role and impact of concerned citizens living near the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Superfund site in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Superfund program was used successfully at this site in a number of ways, mainly in that it provided technical advisors through a technical assistance grant (TAG) for the citizens, which resulted in a thorough and conclusive remedial investigation.
Treatment of MTBE using fenton's reagent
Authors: Ray Asim B. , Selvakumar Ariamalar
Published: February 2007

This article addresses the removal of methyl tertiary‐butyl ether (MTBE) from water, using Fenton's Reagent. Although complete mineralization of MTBE by Fenton's Reagent was not achieved, greater than 99 percent destruction of MTBE was realized. This was accomplished at a Fe+2:H2O2 ratio of 1:1 and 1 hour of contact time. In all tests, twice the stoichiometric ratio of H2O2 to MTBE was used. The major by‐products were tertiary‐butyl alcohol, tertiary‐butyl formate, and acetone with traces of 2‐methyl‐1‐propene (isobutylene). While small quantities of O2 evolved, no significant quantity of CO2 gas was detected.
Modeling natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination using alternate electron acceptors: Case study comparing bioplume iii with BIOSCREEN
Authors: Akins Candy R. , Striegel Jami A. , Sanders Dee Ann , Veenstra John N.
Published: February 2007

Natural attenuation holds great promise as a cost‐effective means of remedying groundwater contamination at petroleum spill sites: this is particularly true at sites with sufficient background concentrations of alternate electron acceptors (nitrate and/or sulfate). The study reported in this article compared the results of a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) numerical model (BIOPLUME III) with an updated EPA analytical model (BIOSCREEN Version 1.4) used to predict natural attenuation at an underground fuel spill site in Oklahoma. High background sulfate concentrations were shown to result in unrealistic predictions from both BIOSCREEN and BIOPLUME III. BIOSCREEN could be easily used with a data set not significantly enlarged from that used in a routine leaking fuel tank investigation. BIOPLUME III was much more difficult to use and did not yield reliable results. Results of this study indicate that the additional complexity of the BIOPLUME III model is not justified for simple sites.
Internet focus groups and mailing lists for the environmental professional in site risk assessment and remediation
Authors: Guerin Turlough F.
Published: February 2007

In 1957, four computers across the United States were linked to form the first version of what we now know to be the Internet. The Internet has grown way beyond what anyone working in the U.S. Department of Defense's special project team, Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA, more than 40 years ago, could ever have imagined. Yet despite the phenomenal growth of Internet users, and access to information in all fields of endeavor, finding genuinely useful and helpful Internet resources is still a challenge. Knowledge sharing in contaminated site assessment and remediation is increasing and this is occurring through several mechanisms and at many levels. International collaboration on site contamination and remediation issues is becoming evident at the highest level between countries. Lower‐level interactions between organizations and individual practitioners are also increasing. Formation of partnerships in implementing site assessment and remediation solutions are becoming evident and there are now numerous websites, resulting from these collaborations, providing free access to completed reports and related materials. Internet mailing lists contribute to sharing of knowledge at all these levels but particularly encourage contributions from practitioners and those out there “doing the work” and often without the time to write up their contributions, though these can be substantial.
Life cycle ofArctopsyche ladogensis(trichoptera) in a regulated Norwegian river
Authors: Brittain John E. , Bildeng Rune
Published: February 2007

The life cycle of the net‐spinning caddisfly,Arctopsyche ladogensis(Kolenati), was studied at a site 25 km below a major catchment transfer dam on the large Norwegian river, the Glomma. The site experiences 25–50% of pre‐impoundment flows during winter and at times during summer. The sampling frequency varied between 2 and 3 weeks in mid‐summer to every 2 months during winter. There were five larval instars. In the fifth instar there was a clear size bomodality, the females being larger than the males. Pupae were present during the spring flood. The adult flight period extended from early June until mid‐July. There was a mixture of one‐ and two‐year life cycles, with a semivoltine cycle dominating. Such life cycle flexibility is advantageous in adapting to changed temperature and flow regimes in regulated river systems.
Long‐term changes of macroinvertebrate communities in relation to flow variations: The river Glen, Lincolnshire, England
Authors: Bickerton M. A.
Published: February 2007

Taxa and community relationships with flow were investigated using National Rivers Authority macroinvertebrate sampling records from a total of 45 sites in the River Glen catchment and daily flow records, taken over the period 1976–1994. Four sites (two upstream and two downstream of an interbasin transfer outflow) were studied in detail. Community analyses of summer samples (41 records from 1977 to 1994) showed April mean flow and low flows in the same summer as sampling to be the best predictors of macroinvertebrate community type. Comparison of the frequency of individual taxa in summers when flows were above or below the flow sustained by the inter‐basin transfer (0.107 m3 s−1) showed a relatively high number of taxa, including Sailidae, Molannidae, Planorbis spp. and Haliplidae, to be more frequent in low‐flow summers, whereas other taxa, including Rhyacophilidae and Leptophlebidae, were more frequent in high‐flow summers, differences apparently related to position in the catchment and variability in the development of marginal macrophytes. The implications of altering flow regime on habitat and macroinvertebrate communities are discussed, and the suitability of National Rivers Authority biological records for developing long‐term flow‐preference relationships for individual taxa are considered.
Impact assessment of regulation at the reach level using macroinvertebrate information from mesohabitats
Authors: Armitage Patrick D. , Pardo Isabel
Published: February 2007

The environmental effects of stream regulation are often assessed with reference to changes in river benthos, and biotic scores and indices have been used to summarize data on faunal community structure and richness. Although they have their use in presenting complicated data in a simplified form, they often do not detect the more subtle effects of regulation. In lowland regions the regulation of rivers is most often due to water abstraction, channelization and the construction of weirs or sluices. The effects of this form of stream regulation may sometimes be particularly difficult to demonstrate with conventional biological assessment techniques. In this study we examine a length of stream regulated with sluice gates using conventional techniques and test the applicability of the mesohabitat method (categorization of reaches on the basis of their substratum types) in describing changes brought about by regulation. Conventional biological assessment techniques were unable to demonstrate the regulation effects. This was because, although changes had occurred along the reach, these were not associated with a significant change in scores and indices based on family richness. The changes were subtle and were most clearly revealed by clustering techniques and analysis of variance. Most of the change was due to altered physical habitat and this was reflected in the proportions of mesohabitats above and below the sluice gates. The association of mesohabitats with particular faunal assemblages allows an assessment of the overall effects of habitat change on the composition of the faunal community.
Artificial deposition of eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) in a regulated Norwegian river: Hatching, dispersal and growth of the fry
Authors: Raddum Gunnar G. , Fjellheim Arne
Published: February 2007

Fertilized eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were artificially deposited in the regulated River Ekso, western Norway. This was done by placing 320–2400 eggs in perforated platic baskets, together with small stones and gravel, buried in the river. To evaluate development of the eggs, some baskets were removed and examined with respect to fertilization and mortality at the eye‐roe stage. After swim‐up of alevins, all baskets were examined for the number of dead eggs. The hatching of eggs was between 55 and 98% in the baskets. There was no correlation between the egg number in the basket and survival. The alevins were restricted to their hatching area for the first month; after the first season they migrated 50 m upstream and 175 m downstream of their birthplace. One year later they occupied the whole area (375 m) between the two weir basins. Mortality was 80% in the first season and 87% in the second (regarded as normal and high, respectively). High mortality was probably due to acid episodes, independent of regulation. Growth was fast and salmon became smolt at age 2+, explained by favourable temperature and low fish density. Competition between salmon and native brown trout (Salmo trutta) seemed to be low as they occupied different habitats.