Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada News Release, 19 Oct 2009

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) recognizes successful partnerships between universities and industry that have led to important innovations and discoveries. NSERC's 2009 Synergy Awards for Innovation recognized partnerships between universities and industry in Canada that enabled companies and researchers to position themselves as leaders in their fields both nationally and internationally. The partners receiving the 2009 Synergy Awards have developed innovative ultrasound imaging techniques for research laboratories worldwide, a new process that destroys groundwater contaminants directly, definitions of fundamental principles of biomass, and applied technologies that enhance industrial manufacturing operations. Winning universities receive a $200,000 NSERC research grant. Industrial partners receive the prestigious Synergy sculpture and an opportunity to hire an NSERC Industrial R&D Fellow for two years (NSERC will bear the cost of the industrial portion of the fellow's salary). Among this year's winners are Elizabeth Edwards of the University of Toronto and Geosyntec Consultants for the development of new technologies for bioremediation of groundwater. Professor Edwards' partnership with Geosyntec focused on the development of effective techniques for using bacteria to clean up contaminated groundwater sites. This work has led to the development of the KB-1 bioaugmentation culture, which breaks down the chlorinated solvents used in drycleaning and industrial degreasing. Most recently, they received a $10 million grant from Genome Canada toward the discovery and commercialization of novel cultures and enzymes for environmental and biofuels applications. Professor Edwards and Geosyntec were also key partners in the creation of "Biozone," a collaborative research facility in the University's Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry with a mandate to "engineer a sustainable future." NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 28,000 university students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11,800 university professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

Lee, P.L., J.B. Gladden, G.T. Jannik, C.A. Langton, M.G. Serrato, C. Urland, and E. Reynolds.
Report No: SRNL-RP-2009-00269, 63 pp, June 2009

Savannah River National Laboratory, as the Corporate Laboratory for DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM), conducted an ISD Technology Needs Workshop in December 2008 to identify decommissioning technology needs at DOE sites. The workshop assembled experienced decommissioning operations personnel from the Richland Operations Office, Idaho National Laboratory, and Savannah River with scientists and engineers whose specific expertise allowed identification of incremental and 'game-changing' solutions to ISD technology challenges. The workshop and follow-up activities yielded 14 technology needs statements and recommendations for prioritizing and pursuing specific technology development and deployment actions. Activities that are time-critical for ISD projects or require unique capabilities that reside in the DOE Laboratory system will be funded directly to those institutions. Activities that have longer lead times and where the private sector, universities, or other agencies are expected to have greater expertise will be accomplished through an open competitive solicitation process. Several of the needs areas will require joint efforts from the two classes of resources. The recommended technology acquisition mechanisms (competitive solicitation [CS] or direct funding [TCR]) are provided for the following needs areas:
  •  Develop and demonstrate new and alternative fill materials: ceramicrete testing of "non-alkaline fill" for reactor vessel ISD (TCR); highly flowable concrete and grout mixtures (TCR,CS); and alternative "green" fill materials (CS).
  •  Select (and/or develop) and deploy a suite of sensors to verify the performance of near-term ISD projects (subsidence, stress/strain, and fractures) (TCR,CS).
  •  Develop an ISD-specific performance model: develop ISD-specific conceptual site model (TCR,CS); incorporate performance verification dataset from P&R ISD (TCR,CS); perform sensitivity analyses to identify suite of key parameters (TCR,CS); and identify data quality objectives for key parameters (TCR,CS).
  •  Define and quantify the degradation rates and release mechanisms for concrete structures (CS), activation products from steel (CS), and fill materials (CS).
  •  Develop and deploy state of the art characterization instrumentation for difficult to sample locations (tanks and sumps) (TCR,CS) and difficult to measure contaminants (long-lived, low-energy) (CS), and develop indicator contaminant or isotopic ratios (TCR,CS).
Report available at http://www.em.doe.gov/EM20Pages/ISD.aspx

U.S. DOE News Release, 9 Dec 2009

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the offer of a $245 million conditional loan guarantee to Red River Environmental Products, LLC, to build an activated carbon (AC) manufacturing facility near Coushatta, Red River Parish, Louisiana. The company expects to create 500 jobs during construction and 70 jobs once the plant is fully operational. In addition to its uses in hazardous waste site cleanups, AC is the leading technology for reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and has been adopted by virtually all coal-fired boilers required to reduce mercury emissions. AC can reduce a coal-fired power plant's mercury emissions by up to 90% by absorbing vaporized mercury contained in the flue gas and collecting it in the plant's particulate collection device. Demand for activated carbon for mercury emissions control has grown significantly in the past two years and is expected to continue to outstrip available supplies due to regulatory initiatives. Nearly 20 states have issued mercury emissions regulations. At full capacity, the plant will produce 150 million pounds per year of powdered AC, which will remove 30,000 pounds of mercury from the flue gas of approximately 160 coal-fired power plants. The plant will use state-of-the-art air pollution control equipment to reduce its own emissions of volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide and also will use AC to sequester 80% of the plant's mercury emissions. The plant's design will save 26 million gallons of water per year compared to conventional AC plant designs. Waste heat will generate the plant's electrical power, and the excess electricity will be sold to the local utility—enough to power 13,000 homes. This is the fourth conditional commitment for loan guarantees made by the Obama Administration. The first recipient of a loan guarantee for an innovative technology energy project was Solyndra, Inc., a manufacturer of cylindrical solar photovoltaic panels. Two other conditional commitments have been made to Nordic Windpower, USA, a maker of two-blade, one-megawatt wind turbines, and Beacon Power, an energy storage company. Red River Environmental Products applied under the 2008 Loan Guarantee Program solicitation for "Projects that Employ Innovative Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Advanced Transmission and Distributed Technologies." For more information on this program, visit the Loan Guarantee Program Office at http://www.lgprogram.energy.gov/

U.S. DOE, Office of Environmental Management, 2 Nov 2009

Using funding provided under the Recovery Act, DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM) has employed 12,760 workers on stimulus projects in 12 states. This number includes employees in direct contracts to DOE, subcontractor employees, and temporary and part-time workers. The EM estimates differ from those reported at Recovery.gov because Recovery.gov tracks only direct contractor jobs for the EM program. EM has completed over 50% of its job creation and retention goals after only seven months of Recovery Act work and expects to meet or exceed job projections for direct contractors and subcontractors. The hiring of these workers has been a continual ramp-up for the EM program from March 2009 onward. The period of execution of the Recovery Act funding in EM is 2.5 years. As of October 2009, EM has spent approximately $650 million.

National Science Foundation Funding Opportunity PD-10-7909, 12 Nov 2009

NSF's Biosensing Program primarily supports innovative fundamental and applied research with applications to the biomedical, food safety, energy, environmental, and security needs for the development of new paradigms in the identification and detection of existing or emerging pathogenic micro-organisms, unknown toxins, and viral threat agents. New approaches in integrated sensor systems, probe development, and actuators are sought to achieve novel, robust, and easy to operate sensor systems with a highly selective response to multiple analytes under variable conditions, with significantly reduced false positive and false negative responses and increased sensitivity. The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The typical award size for the program is $100,000 for individual investigators or $200,000 for multiple investigators per year (including indirect cost). The submission window for this announcement is February 1, 2010 - March 3, 2010. Grants.gov notice at http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId
=48424

Merritt, K., J. Conder, V. Magar, V.J. Kirtay, and D.B. Chadwick.
SPAWAR Technical Report 1983, 55 pp, May 2009

This report presents three detailed enhanced monitored natural recovery (EMNR) case studies of contaminated sediments for the following sites: Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund Site in Bainbridge Island, Washington; the Ketchikan Pulp Company Site in Ketchikan, Alaska; and the Bremerton Naval Complex in Bremerton, Washington. These three sites represent locations in which EMNR has been implemented as a component of a mature site remedy, and for which the success of implementation can be assessed through available placement and post-placement monitoring data. EMNR was selected for those portions of each site in which stated goals were to reduce the concentration of chemicals in the biologically active zone of sediment in a manner that would enhance the potential for ecologically balanced recolonization, while not causing widespread disturbance to the existing habitat. Overall remedies for the three sites also variously included dredging, construction of confined disposal facilities, isolation capping, debris removal, and monitored natural recovery. Other sites are discussed briefly for additional information on sediment remediation through EMNR. The secondary examples include a site where a landslide created conditions similar to the placement of a thin layer cap, sites in which thin layer cap placement constituted a pilot project with monitoring goals focused on implementation rather than demonstration of long-term stability or risk reduction, and sites in which limited placement and/or monitoring data are available for assessing progress toward meeting site-specific remedial action objectives. Available at http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA502887

U.S. EPA Region 9, 2009

The 1.4-acre Pemaco Superfund site is located on the banks of the Los Angeles River in a mixed industrial and residential neighborhood. The City of Maywood now owns the Pemaco property and has rezoned it from industrial to recreational use. The city is in the process of building the 7.3-acre Maywood Riverfront Park on six properties surrounding and including the Pemaco site. Spills and leaks that occurred during the blending of custom chemicals from 1950 through 1991 on this property resulted in high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the site's soil, as well as the presence of perchloroethene, trichloroethene, trichloroethane, dichloroethane, and vinyl chloride in the groundwater beneath the site. On January 1, 1999, the site was placed on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites. To clean up the soil and groundwater contamination, EPA began construction in 1998 of an on-site treatment system that incorporated multiple technologies: electrical resistive heating and heat-enhanced bioremediation in the DNAPL source area and combinations of dual-phase extraction, groundwater pump and treat/containment, bioremediation, and monitored natural attenuation for other contaminated zones. EPA Region 9 completed construction of the on-site groundwater treatment system in the summer of 2006. In July 2007, a Xantrax Grid Tie Solar Inverter photovoltaic (PV) system was installed on the remediation facility building to help power the equipment used to clean up the site's soil and groundwater. The installation of the solar PV system was the first pilot project of the EPA Region 9 Cleanup/Clean Air Initiative, designed to facilitate reduction of diesel and greenhouse gas emissions at Superfund cleanup and redevelopment sites. After applying a $9,000 rebate, the net cost of the system was $21,000. As of July 2008 (after one year of operation) the solar PV system generated 6,172 kilowatt-hours per year, an annual electricity savings of $2,839. In addition, the system is estimated to have prevented the emission of 3.3 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, emissions comparable to 7,600 vehicle miles per year. To learn more about siting renewable energy systems on contaminated land, visit http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland

Pintenich, J.L., K. Rolick, and R. Bascom.
Abstracts: In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation 2009: Proceedings of the 10th International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium, 5-8 May, Baltimore, Maryland. Battelle Press, ISBN: 9780981973012, 2009

In 2002, studies at the site of a former drycleaning operation showed subsurface impacts of drycleaning chemicals in soil and groundwater, primarily perchloroethene, with lesser concentrations of trichloroethene, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride (VC). Initial corrective action consisting of potassium permanganate injections was performed in 2004 to attempt chemical oxidation of the contaminants of concern (COCs) in soil and groundwater, but subsequent monitoring events showed contaminant rebound, and concentrations significantly greater than maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) remained in site groundwater at some locations. Evaluation by another consultant found that migration of COCs likely had been constrained by the low permeability clays beneath the property. The consultant developed a corrective action plan for the groundwater to identify and recommend treatment alternatives that could reduce COCs in groundwater to concentrations below their MCLs, ultimately allowing for future unrestricted use of the property. Biostimulation through injection of electron donors—Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC™) and Hydrogen Release Compound Extended Release Formula (HRC-X™)—into the subsurface was considered to offer the most suitable combination of practicability, logistics, safety, time, and cost parameters, and these materials were selected for the corrective action. Prior to implementation, samples were collected from two of the on-site groundwater monitoring wells for VC reductase enzyme testing. This proof-of-concept testing was needed to verify the presence of adequate strains of Dehalococcoides (Dhc) known to degrade VC to ethene. The samples also were subjected to DNA testing to verify the presence of the VC reductase (vcrA) gene. If the results had been negative, then bioaugmentation or an alternative corrective action would have been proposed. Based on acceptable Dhc and vcrA results, 3,450 pounds of HRC™ and 1,740 pounds of HRC-X™ were injected into the subsurface under pressure using a direct-push technology in May 2008. The amendments were injected into 143 locations within an 8-foot center-to-center grid to distribute the donors in the treatment zone. A closer spacing was used in the vicinity of monitoring well MW-4, where the highest COC values were measured. Results for the first two monitoring events after electron donor injection are reported. The observed trend of declining COC concentrations and the presence of degradation products demonstrate that biodegradation is occurring and is somewhat enhanced at this point. Bioparameter data corroborate this conclusion by showing favorable geochemical conditions that promote reductive dechlorination.

Wovkulich, K., M. Stute, T. Protus, B. Mailloux, and S. Chillrud, Columbia Univ., NY
2009 Annual Meeting of the NIEHS Superfund Research Program: Emerging Issues, Emerging Progress, Columbia University, New York, NY, November 2-5, 2009. Poster abstract 51, 2009

Technology transfer is an underlying theme of the scientific project being carried out by Columbia University's Superfund Research Program (SRP) at the Vineland Superfund Site. To this end, the SRP scientists interact with U.S. EPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the remediation contractor at the Vineland site with the primary aim of developing a method for greatly increasing the efficiency of pump and treat being used for the arsenic-contaminated site. This presentation reports on a small example of technology transfer that has occurred as a result of Columbia University's SRP project at this site. The technology transfer is related to the recent development of an inexpensive manifold system for evenly distributing chemicals into a nest of study wells. Many hydrological and geochemical studies, as well as remediation technologies, call for the injection of chemicals into groundwater wells at constant rates. The even distribution of liquids to multiple injection points can be challenging or expensive, especially when multiple pumps are used. To meet this need, the University scientists designed an injection system using one chemical metering pump for even distribution of the desired influent simultaneously to 15 individual injection points through an injection manifold. The system was used during a 3-month injection experiment at the Vineland site. During the two injection phases of the experiment, the system maintained even distribution of flow to each injection well. Upon seeing the injection system in operation, the consulting firm carrying out the remediation activities at Vineland immediately recognized its potential for use in their remediation activities. They requested the design, constructed an injection system based on the scientists' designs, and began using it to inject chemicals to prevent iron fouling in their extraction wells. Both a patent application and a manuscript have been prepared, and additional efforts will be made to disseminate the information to other consulting companies.

Tsang, J.K., U.S. EPA, Boston, MA. Abstracts: The 25th Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy, 19-22 October 2009, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Association for the Environmental Health of Soils, Amherst, MA, 2009

At the request of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. EPA conducted a site investigation on a 5-acre property located in a residential area in Harwinton, Litchfield County, Connecticut. The investigation revealed concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (primarily trichloroethene, or TCE), ranging from 0.6 to 6,300 ppb in soil, and from non-detect to 3,150 ppb in groundwater. A source area of approximately 2,000 cubic yards of TCE-contaminated soil located from 0 to 20 feet below ground surface (bgs) was a result of multiple improper disposals of chlorinated solvents during metal stamping and tooling operations by the former owner of the property. Depth to groundwater ranges from 6 to 15 feet bgs. The groundwater classification for the area is GAA, which means that the groundwater is within the influence of private and potential water supply wells and is considered suitable for drinking without treatment. The site was deemed a removal action under EPA's Superfund Program. From August to October 2007, EPA conducted a removal options assessment and determined that ex situ chemical oxidation using sodium permanganate would be the best option for treating contaminated soils from both saturated and unsaturated zones at the source area and that a conventional water treatment system could be used to treat groundwater removed during the excavation activities. EPA mobilized to this Superfund site in September 2007 to conduct a time-critical removal action and completed the ex situ treatment in September 2008. Post-treatment soil sample results indicated that the concentration of TCE had been reduced to below the treatment goal of 0.02 ppm and below the Connecticut Pollutant Mobility Criteria for GAA areas (0.1 ppm). The treated soil was used as backfill. This presentation describes EPA's technology assessment analysis for selecting ex situ chemical oxidation treatment, the implementation method, problems encountered, and the post-treatment sampling results.

Kiker, J. J. Connolly, W. Murray, S. Pearson, S. Reed, and R. Tess.
Abstracts: The 25th Annual Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy, 19-22 October 2009, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Association for the Environmental Health of Soils, Amherst, MA, 2009

At the U.S. Army Natick Soldier System Center (NSSC) in Natick, Massachusetts, groundwater is being pumped and treated to provide containment of an historical trichloroethene (TCE) plume. Upon discovering 1,4-dioxane (an emerging contaminant not previously monitored) at one of the monitoring wells above the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection drinking water goal of 3 µg/L, the existing on-site groundwater treatment system required augmentation to continue maintaining plume containment and meeting allowable discharge limits. Existing treatment consists of air-stripping and granular activated carbon, which both have a low efficiency for treating 1,4-dioxane. The concentration of 1,4-dioxane in the TCE plume requiring treatment is less than 100 µg/L and ~10 to 20 µg/L in the 4 to 6 gallon per minute (gpm) combined discharge stream from three new extraction wells. Because 1,4-dioxane was identified only in an isolated portion of the TCE plume and not in the 75 to 90 gpm flow to the existing treatment system from this TCE plume and others, in situ or wellhead treatment for the 1,4-dioxane was preferred. An engineering study conducted to evaluate 1,4-dioxane and TCE treatment options considered several advanced oxidation processes and settled upon ex situ application of Fenton's Reagent as a practical and cost-effective solution. Reagent dosing rates from bench-scale tests were used in the design and construction of a small wellhead treatment unit composed of off-the-shelf tanks and dosing units. Design of the treatment unit included optimizing the flow-through tank residence time for contact with the dosed Fenton's Reagent. The wellhead treatment unit is housed in a small storage shed. The first six months of operation show that influent 1,4-dioxane and CVOCs are removed by the wellhead unit down to non-detectable levels.

Kelley, R. (Regenesis) and D. Davis. In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation 2009: Proceedings of the 10th International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium, 5-8 May, Baltimore, Maryland. Battelle Press, ISBN: 9780981973012, 2009

This presentation provides field-scale data from multiple sites that demonstrate cost-effective in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) treatment of contaminated vadose zone soil using in situ soil mixing techniques. In situ treatment of vadose zone soil via ISCO often involves flooding the treatment area with large volumes of aqueous treatment amendments, but it is difficult to ensure proper contact between the treatment chemicals and all contaminants using this approach. In situ injection also requires tight hydraulic containment to avoid potential mobilization of contaminants to the underlying saturated zone prior to oxidation. In situ soil mixing with specialized auger application equipment has been shown to be a cost-effective method for treatment delivery, with cleanup completion achieved in short time periods. Several full-scale studies have been conducted to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of ISCO for vadose soil remediation, and the results are discussed in detail. These studies involved treatment of chlorinated and petroleum hydrocarbons in soils varying from sand to silt-sand to clays. The soil mixing machinery consisted of simple backhoes and specialized in situ mixing equipment. Degradation efficiency ranged from 45 to 95%, typically in less than 14 days. This presentation provides an overview of the results from the field demonstrations, draws conclusions for the applicability of the technology for contaminated soil remediation in the vadose zone, and provides recommendations for a best-practice approach for future work. In addition, the presentation includes lessons learned as an aid to screening future sites for technology selection. Several case studies of ISCO delivery via soil mixing are available on the Regenesis Web site at http://www.regenesis.com/regenesis-resource-center/case-studies/cs-list.
aspx?CategoryID=2

Kwon, S., C. Joshi, B. Amos, C.A. Menzie, and U. Ghosh, Univ. of Maryland.
2009 Annual Meeting of the NIEHS Superfund Research Program: Emerging Issues, Emerging Progress, Columbia University, New York, NY, November 2-5, 2009. Poster abstract 101, 2009

The authors are evaluating the field effectiveness of a sorbent delivery method to alter the binding capacity of sediments to reduce human exposure to contaminants such as PCBs and DDT. They addressed the challenges of delivering low-density additives without sediment disruption by developing composite pellets named SediMite™ that have the right density and structural integrity to withstand delivery through the water column. The pellets eventually break down in the sediment to release the amendments. This technology is being advanced to the field through a pilot-scale demonstration. Sediments collected from two contaminated sites were used for laboratory treatability studies, followed by a pilot-scale deployment at one of the sites. Laboratory treatability studies with sediments from a DDT-contaminated site showed that amendment of sediment with 5% by weight of activated carbon reduced bioaccumulation of DDT and its derivatives by 30 to 90%. Typically, the percent reduction was highest for DDT, followed by DDD and DDE. Laboratory treatability tests with a PCB-impacted wetland sediment indicated that application of activated carbon to creek sediment reduces PCB bio-uptake in a benthic organism by 74% for adult organisms after a 14-day exposure, and by 82% for juvenile organisms allowed to grow in sediment for 60 days. A pilot-scale demonstration conducted at a U.S. Army site in Virginia in August 2009 involved side-by-side treated and untreated plots in a wetland covering an area of ~225 square meters each. Treatment pellets containing activated carbon were applied using a boat/barge-mounted dispersion device similar to a commercial fertilizer/herbicide spreader (Vortex Systems). Baseline and post-application (2 months and 1 year) monitoring included PCB concentrations in sediment, porewater, benthic organisms, and distribution of amendment vertically and spatially within the treated sediment area. The metric of success for this work is a demonstration of reductions in the PCB uptake exposure pathways to fish from the field-treated sediment.

Applebaum, A.J. and B. Smith, Environmental Alliance, Inc. In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation 2009: Proceedings of the 10th International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium, 5-8 May, Baltimore, Maryland. Battelle Press, ISBN: 9780981973012, 2009

Remedial enhancements to an existing pump-and-treat (P&T) system were selected for a pilot study to address trichloroethene (TCE)-impacted groundwater within a fractured bedrock system extending into a residential neighborhood. The focus for implementing the remedial enhancements was the farthest downgradient area of the dissolved plume, which groundwater modeling indicated was not responding fully to P&T system operations due to pumping well distance. This area is hydrogeologically complex due to an upward vertical gradient where TCE-impacted bedrock groundwater moves into overlying unconsolidated sediment. To enhance treatment of the area, an aggressive in situ treatment train was implemented to reduce groundwater impact quickly using RegenOx™ followed by a long-term anaerobic reductive dechlorination (ARD) bioremediation process using NewmanZone® for stimulating microbial growth. Application of RegenOx™ and NewmanZone® was accomplished via permanent injection points into the bedrock and unconsolidated sediments (alternating points screened within glacial till and fluvial deposits/fill). RegenOx™, a chemical oxidant consisting of sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate monohydrate activated by ferrous sulfate (comparable with Fenton's Reagent chemistry), initially was injected via installed points to enhance the oxidation process of chlorinated solvents and break them down into harmless byproducts. NewmanZone®, an electron donor formulation consisting of sodium lactate, soybean oil, food-grade additives, and proprietary surfactants and stabilizing agents that stimulate the ARD process, was injected via a continuous feed to the injection points. ARD is an electron donor/carbon source (substrate) rate-driven, microbially mediated, oxidation/reduction reaction that is capable of degrading chlorinated solvents to final end products of chloride, ethene, and ethane. The RegenOx™ application directly to injection points in the treatment zone achieved TCE concentration reductions from 16 to 93%. After monitoring to determine that aquifer conditions were suitable for establishing ARD, NewmanZone® was injected via a continuous feed to the injection points. A former residential well provided the necessary injection water for substrate addition. The well also played a part in hydraulic control and the formation of an in situ recirculation loop to establish conditions for naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria growth in the area. Reducing conditions and TCE concentration reductions were observed two months after initiating NewmanZone® injection, indicating the potential for full-scale application of this remedial strategy to enhance P&T system effectiveness and achieve remedial goals.

Downen, Maureen A., Master's thesis, Air Force Inst. of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFIT/GEM/ENV/09-M04, 153 pp, Mar 2009

This thesis discusses case studies of granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment of co-mingled contaminant plumes at Edwards AFB, Stringfellow Superfund site, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Massachusetts Military Reservation. Tailored granular activated carbon (T-GAC), which involves pre-loading GAC with cationic surfactants, is an innovative technology that is being evaluated to determine if it can remove perchlorate more cost effectively than conventional technologies. Trichloroethene and perchlorate were removed successfully by adsorption using a T-GAC/GAC system in a pilot-scale field study conducted in Fontana, California. These results motivated the development of a model that could be applied to predict the cost and performance of a T-GAC/GAC system to remove perchlorate and organic co-contaminants from water. Correlations developed to predict organic compound adsorption onto GAC were incorporated into a T-GAC/GAC system performance model. These predictions then were used as input to a technology cost model. The predicted T-GAC/GAC system costs were similar to actual costs of conventional technologies currently being used to treat perchlorate- and organics-contaminated waters. Due to other advantages of the technology (e.g., ease of implementation), it appears the T-GAC/GAC technology has the potential to treat water contaminated by perchlorate and organic compounds cost effectively. Thesis at http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA502599

Kuyukina, M.S. and I.B. Ivshina (Russian Acad. of Sciences, Perm); T.A. Peshkur and C.J. Cunningham (Edinburgh Univ., Scotland). Proceedings of the 2009 IASTED International Conference on Environmental Management and Engineering, 6-8 July 2009, Banff, Alberta. ACTA Press, Calgary, AB, Canada, ISBN: 978-0-88986-797-0, p 117-122, 2009

Integrated ex situ bioremediation treatments for oil-contaminated site management in cold climates were considered in this study. In a pilot-scale field trial located in Siberia, bioaugmentation and biosurfactant applications, a slurry bioreactor, and biopile treatments were used to remediate heavily contaminated soils. A risk-based approach was employed to determine appropriate application of the proposed remediation techniques. The approach considered the hydrophobicity and recalcitrance of compounds caused by weathering. A fate and transport model for vadose and saturated zones was used to estimate receptor point concentrations. The selected treatment scheme cleaned soil heavily contaminated by crude oil to within risk assessment standards, and subsequent tests showed minimal phytotoxicity in the remediated soil.

Peterson, Alicia Ann, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Minnesota, 161 pp, 2009

The objective of this work was to study the dehalogenation of environmental pollutants mediated by rhodium hydrides. In Chapter 2, the dehalogenation of chlorinated and fluorinated ethenes was explored using chlorotris(triphenylphosphino)rhodium [(PPh₃)₃RhCl] as a homogeneous catalyst in the presence of triethylsilane (Et₃SiH); counter-intuitively, vinyl fluoride was dehalogenated 6 times faster than vinyl chloride. The study established substrate scope and preferences for the catalytic system. In Chapter 3, the mechanism for dehalogenation of chlorinated and fluorinated ethylenes was elucidated using H₂ as the reducing agent with the pre-catalyst (PPh₃)₃RhCl. These results were compared to those from using Et₃SiH as the reducing agent. Dehalogenation using (PPh₃)₃RhCl and either H₂ or Et₃SiH support an insertion/beta-chloride elimination mechanism; however, the two systems display distinct differences. Based on these differences, the dominant pathway for Et₃SiH is proposed to involve rhodium(I), while the H₂ system primarily involves rhodium(III). In Chapter 4, a heterogeneous catalytic system using a rhodium/aluminum oxide (Rh/Al₂O₃) catalyst and H₂ as the reducing agent was investigated. Consistent with the homogenous system of (PPh₃)₃RhCl and H2, the data from this system also support an insertion/beta-Cl-elimination mechanism as the dominant degradation pathway. Ultimately, the goal of this work was to facilitate the preparation of engineered pump-and-treat strategies that will function to degrade environmental pollutants to benign products with no halogen substituents. Dissertation at http://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/55817

R&D Daily, 25 Nov 2009

Low concentrations of arsenic are found in nearly all soils and thus also in groundwater. About 140 million people worldwide are estimated to drink water that contains arsenic concentrations above the World Health Organization-recommended limit of 10 ppb. Researchers at Jackson State University led by Paresh Chandra Ray have developed a new approach for a rapid, easy, and highly sensitive arsenic test. As reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the method is based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles, and it selectively detects arsenic in drinking water down to concentrations of 3 ppt. Current analytical techniques are time consuming and require a series of enrichment steps, but the new process could speed up and simplify arsenic analysis. The researchers have attached special organic molecules to the surfaces of gold nanoparticles. These molecules act as ligands for arsenic, meaning that they form a complex with it. Each arsenic ion can bind to three ligands, which allows it to link to three gold particles. The higher the arsenic concentration in the sample, the more strongly the gold particles clump together, and the number of bigger aggregates increases. The color of gold nanoparticles in a liquid depends on their size. Whereas the arsenic-free gold nanoparticles appear red, arsenic-induced aggregation causes the color to change to blue. Concentrations down to 1 ppb can be detected with the naked eye by means of the color change. Arsenic binds to the ligands much more strongly than to other metals; the researchers were able to increase this selectivity by attaching three different ligands to the gold. One very precise method for detecting minimal changes in particle size is dynamic light scattering (DLS), in which laser light scattered by the particles is analyzed. By using DLS, the team found 28 ppb arsenic in samples of well water from Bangladesh and 380 ppt in water from taps in Jackson, Mississippi. The abstract for a paper on this work, "Use of Gold Nanoparticles in a Simple Colorimetric and Ultrasensitive Dynamic Light Scattering Assay: Selective Detection of Arsenic in Groundwater," is at http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1002/anie.200903958

James, C.A., G. Xin, S.L. Doty, I. Muiznieks, L. Newman, and S.E. Strand.
Environmental Pollution, Vol 157 Nos 8-9, p 2564-2569, Aug/Sep 2009

A mass-balance study was performed under controlled field conditions to investigate the phytoremediation of perchloroethene (PCE) by hybrid poplar trees. After the addition of water containing 7 to 14 mg/L PCE to the test bed, PCE, trichloroethene, and cis-dichloroethene were detected in the effluent at an average of 0.12 mg/L, 3.9 mg/L, and 1.9 mg/L, respectively. The total mass of chlorinated ethenes in the water was reduced by 99%. Over 95% of the recovered chlorine was as free chloride in the soil, indicating nearly complete dehalogenation of the PCE. Transpiration, volatilization, and accumulation in the trees were all found to be minor loss mechanisms. In contrast, 98% of PCE applied to an unplanted soil chamber was recovered as PCE in the effluent water or volatilized into the air. These results suggest that phytoremediation can be an effective method for addressing PCE-contaminated groundwater in field applications. A chlorine balance performed on a planted test bed with PCE-contaminated water demonstrated VOC mass reduction of 99% and complete dechlorination.

Chambon, J., G. Lemming, M. Broholm, P.J. Binning, and P.L. Bjerg, Technical University of Denmark. Danish Ministry of the Environment, Environmental Project 1296, 73 pp, 2009

Enhanced reductive dechlorination has been applied successfully in high permeability media contaminated with chlorinated ethenes, but this technique has not yet proved its effectiveness for use in low permeability media. In Denmark, there are few examples of in situ bioremediation that focus on a source zone located in clay till, and so a better understanding is needed of the different processes involved in this remediation technology. A project was undertaken to assess the effects and timeframes for remediation using enhanced reductive dechlorination in clay till. The first phase consisted of gathering the different experiences for reductive dechlorination as a remediation technology in clay till in Denmark. The second phase saw the development of a modeling tool for assessment of the time horizons for remediation of low permeability media using reductive dechlorination. In the third phase, which this report details, the modeling tool was tested on three selected case sites, each representing clay till systems with different occurrences of vertical fractures, horizontal sand lenses, and sand stringers. The initial model has undergone further development, and Section 3 gives a short description of the model and the new features. The report is available in both pdf and html formats though http://www.mst.dk/Udgivelser/Publications/2009/07/978-87-92548-10-8.htm
The Phase 2 modeling tool report is available through http://www.mst.dk/Udgivelser/Publications/2009/07/978-87-92548-08-5.htm

Hosokawa, R., M. Nagai, M. Morikawa, and H. Okuyama.
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol 25 No 9, p 1519-1528, Sep 2009

The effectiveness of bioaugmentation is variable because the survival and the xenobiotic-degrading ability of introduced microorganisms are highly dependent on environmental conditions. An alternative approach designated "autochthonous bioaugmentation" (ABA) is proposed to overcome these difficulties. The ABA approach employs microorganisms indigenous to the contaminated site or predicted contamination site that are well-characterized and potentially capable of degrading oils. These microorganisms should be enriched under conditions mirroring locales where bioaugmentation would be conducted and where it is possible to obtain information in advance on the chemical and physical characteristics of potential oil spill sites and of oils that might be spilled. The application of ABA in the coastal areas of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, is discussed because Hokkaido is located south of Sakhalin Island, Russia, where development of oil fields is in progress. If potential oil spills in this region were well characterized in advance, ABA could be a feasible technology. Additional information on the development of ABA is available in a 2007 paper co-authored by A. Ueno, Y. Ito, I. Yumoto, and H. Okuyama, "Isolation and characterization of bacteria from soil contaminated with diesel oil and the possible use of these in autochthonous bioaugmentation," at http://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/handle/2115/30188

Wong, J.W.C., Z.Y. Zhao, J. Yang, and S.Y. Wong.
Proceedings of the 2009 IASTED International Conference on Environmental Management and Engineering, 6-8 July 2009, Banff, Alberta. ACTA Press, Calgary, AB, Canada, ISBN: 978-0-88986-797-0, p 218-223, 2009

A study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using microemulsions to enhance the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Microemulsions commonly are employed in soil washing to enhance the solubility of hydrophobic pollutants. The researchers used Tween-80, 1-pentanol, and linseed oil in the study. Phenanthrene (PHE) was dissolved in dichloromethane and added to a glass vial. Microemulsions were added separately to the vials. A high-performance liquid chromatograph was used to determine PHE concentrations. The vials were inoculated with an isolated PAH-degradative bacterium, Bacillus subtilis B-UM. Soil collected from abandoned shipyards in Hong Kong was spiked with the mixtures and aged for 3 months. One-way analysis of variance analyses showed that a microemulsion composed of 0.4% Tween-80, 0.1% 1-pentanol, and 0.05% linseed oil effectively enhanced the biodegradation of PHE in the aqueous phase. Natural composting of PAH-contaminated soil on the other hand could remove 47.6 and 14.6% of PHE and benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P), respectively, while inoculation of B-UM together with the addition of Tween 80 increased the removal of B[a]P to 42.2%. The combined addition of microemulsion and inoculation of B-UM significantly increased the biodegradation of B[a]P and PHE by 63.6% and almost 100%, respectively. The results affirm that microemulsion is more effective than surfactants in facilitating the biodegradation of PAHs under thermophilic composting conditions, which provides a potential novel approach to remediate soil contaminated with PAHs.

Yang, Y., W. Hunter, S. Tao, D. Crowley, and J. Gan, Univ. of California, Riverside.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol 28 No 11, p 2283-2288, 2009

Bioavailability is a governing factor that controls the rate of biological degradation of hydrophobic organic contaminants in soil. Among the solid phases that can adsorb hydrophobic organic contaminants in soil, black carbon (BC) exerts a particularly significant effect on phase distribution, but knowledge of the effect of BC on the microbial availability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil is still limited. In the present study, the effect of a coal-derived activated carbon on the bioavailability of phenanthrene (PHE) during its degradation by Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 was measured in three soils. The freely dissolved concentration of PHE was determined concurrently in soil solutions using disposable polydimethylsiloxane fibers. The results showed significant inhibition of PHE mineralization following addition of activated carbon in all test soils. After 216 h, only 5.20, 5.83, and 6.85% of PHE was degraded in the 0.5% BC-amended soils initially containing organic carbon at 0.23, 2.1, and 7.1%, respectively. Significant correlation was found between PHE degradability and freely dissolved concentration, suggesting that BC affected PHE bioavailability by decreasing chemical activity. The effect of activated carbon in the amended soils was attributed to its enhancement of soil surface areas and pore volumes. Results from the study clearly highlighted the importance of BC for influencing the microbial availability of PAHs in soils.

Zander, N.E., Dynamic Science, Inc
Army Research Laboratory Report No: ARL-CR-0623, 22 pp, Mar 2009

Although there are many approaches to clean up wastewater and soil contaminated with heavy metals and other industrial pollutants, remediation with chelating polymers is one of the most versatile and inexpensive methods. The polymer ligand's efficiency and selectivity for particular metal ions are two important parameters that can be controlled by ligand type, ligand density, solubility of the polymer, and operating pH. This paper provides an overview of polymers and ligands currently used in environmental cleanups, as well as an outlook for the future directions of chelating polymer design. Paper at http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA495762

Plante, T., A. Gustafson, M. Guay, and K. Corradino.
Gasworks Europe: Redevelopment, Site Management and Contaminant Issues of former MGPs and other Tar Oil Polluted Sites. Proceedings of MGP 2008 Conference, 4-6 March 2008, Dresden, Germany. Technical Univ. of Dresden, ISBN 978-3-934253-48-3, p 191-199, 2008

Important considerations for using in situ solidification (ISS) at MGP sites include water content of soils, coal tar saturations and distributions, site heterogeneity of geologic strata, surface and subsurface infrastructure and debris, and proposed site reuse. This paper illustrates many factors that affect implementation of ISS at MGP sites, as well as important scaleup issues commonly encountered when transitioning from bench-scale treatability studies to the field. This paper also describes the types of construction equipment used to implement ISS for various field conditions, including single-auger mixing, patented rake injectors, high-speed rotating mixing devices, and excavators. Paper at http://www.sedimentremediation.com/technicalreferences/TR%20841.pdf

Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE), 455 pp, Apr 2009

The methodology, case study examples, and recommendations described in this report are intended to provide descriptions of methods and tools that can be used to advance the state of practice for monitoring and documenting the long-term sustainability of monitored natural attenuation (MNA)-based remedies for chlorinated solvent-impacted groundwater. Specifically, this report 1) presents a strategy and framework for quantitatively assessing the sustainability of MNA-based remedies for groundwater at chlorinated solvent-impacted sites, 2) provides case-study reviews using existing long-term monitoring data sets from multiple U.S. Air Force sites where chlorinated solvents exceed closure criteria, and 3) summarizes observations and recommendations that were developed when working through the case study examples. The three principal components of the sustainability assessment framework described in this report are analysis of plume stability, estimation of remediation timeframes, and estimation of the longevity of specific chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon degradation processes. It should be noted, however, that a review of available data from 35 candidate sites did not yield any sites with existing data sets that contained all of the data required to perform the type of analysis that is believed to be needed to make a quantitative assessment of MNA sustainability where biodegradation is a significant contributor to contaminant mass degradation and protection of site-specific receptors. Available at http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA506445

Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) LNAPLs Team. LNAPL-2, 144 pp, 2009

Once in the subsurface, light nonaqueous-phase liquids (LNAPLs) can be difficult to assess and recover adequately and thus can be a long-term source of risk and exposure issues (e.g., vapor, groundwater, and soil contamination), acute risk concerns (e.g., explosive conditions), and LNAPL mass concerns (e.g., regulations that require recovery of free product for aesthetics or mass reduction reasons, or for potential LNAPL migration). All LNAPL sites do not pose the same concerns and risks and therefore may not warrant the same level of management. This guidance provides a framework to help stakeholders select the best-suited remedial technology for an LNAPL site and outlines which technologies apply in different site situations. This text discusses 17 technologies for LNAPL remediation, some of which are more innovative or less proven than others. Regulatory practices that might foster better completion of LNAPL remediation are addressed, including the important step of developing an adequate conceptual site model to guide the setting of LNAPL remedial objectives and remedial technology selection. Use of this guidance is intended to facilitate regulatory oversight of LNAPL remediation, streamline remedial technology selection and regulatory approval, enhance communication between stakeholders, and facilitate closure of LNAPL remediation projects. http://www.itrcweb.org/Documents/LNAPL-2.pdf

U.S. EPA, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, 9 pp, 30 Sep 2009

This memorandum sets forth revised, interim procedures for managing the duration of remedial design/remedial action (RD/RA) negotiations. The Office of Site Remediation Enforcement's (OSRE) objective is to strengthen negotiation practice, shorten the duration of negotiations, and achieve timely settlements. EPA recognizes that these revised procedures represent a new way of doing business and will require the commitment of all involved. OSRE will evaluate this Interim Policy 18 months after implementation. Available at http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/cleanup/superfund/rdra-
neg-timeline-mem.pdf

U.S. EPA, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, 172 pp, Oct 2009

This model supersedes both the "Model Remedial Design/Remedial Action Consent Decree" dated June 15, 2001, and the "Revisions to the 1995 National Model Remedial Design/Remedial Action (RD/RA) Consent Decree to Resolve Federal Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) Liability" dated December 28, 1998. The purposes of this revision are threefold: 1) to incorporate model language changes that have been issued since 2001; 2) to incorporate federal PRP settlement language for use when settling federal agencies are parties to the consent decree (CD); and 3) to improve the clarity and consistency of the model. Parts B, C, and D of this cover memorandum address each of these purposes in turn. This revision is not intended to modify EPA's standard and well-established settlement practices in the RD/RA area. It does, however, provide a clean version of the 2009 CD, a redlined version comparing the 2001 CD to the 2009 CD, and a chart that provides a paragraph-by-paragraph guide to the more significant changes made to the 2001 CD. Available at http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/cleanup/superfund/rev-r
dra-2009-mem.pdf
Additional RD/RA policies and models can be found at http://cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/cleanup/superfund/ind
ex.cfm?action=3&sub_id=1232

U.S. DOE, Office of Environmental Management, 24 pp, Dec 2009

DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM) was established in 1989 to achieve the safe and compliant disposition of legacy wastes and facilities from U.S. defense nuclear sites that performed nuclear energy research, uranium enrichment, isotope production, weapons production, and nuclear fuel processing. The sheer volumes and types of wastes, as well as affected groundwater, soil, and facilities, make this one of the world's most complex environmental challenges. Over the last 20 years, new technologies and approaches have been developed and applied successfully. To address continuing remediation needs, EM established the Office of Engineering and Technology (now renamed the Office of Technology Innovation and Development) to reduce technical risks and uncertainties for EM projects. The mission is to improve performance of environmental cleanup projects over the entire lifecycle through investments that develop and implement the best engineering technologies and practices by transitioning from state-of-the-art fundamental research to technology development to full-scale deployment; promoting lessons learned across DOE sites; reducing project life-cycle costs; and improving safety, while enhancing operational efficiencies. This annual report presents examples of successes achieved by DOE in 2009. http://www.em.doe.gov/EM20Pages/Spotlight.aspx

U.S. DOE, EM-22 Office of Groundwater and Soil Remediation, 15 slides, 2009

This presentation describes the following four DOE action areas/technology needs for environmental cleanup: (1) attenuation-based remedies for metals and radionuclides in groundwater (Savannah River); (2) advanced remediation methods for metals and radionuclides in the vadose zone (Hanford); (3) attenuation-based remedies for chlorinated solvents in the vadose zone and groundwater (Savannah River and Hanford); and (4) mercury characterization and remediation (Oak Ridge). The last two slides show EM and SERDP/ESTCP linkages by action areas having high technology transfer potential from DoD to the EM-22 Program. Presentation at http://www.em.doe.gov/pdfs/2009-March_strategicplanoverview.pdf