U.S. EPA Request for Proposal EPA-OSWER-OSRTI-10-06, 2010

The purpose of the assistance agreement to be awarded under this RFP is to promote and stimulate research for use by state environmental officials to address Superfund policy and implementation issues of importance to states. This research will foster the resolution of Superfund related issues and aid in the identification of emerging Superfund issues that concern the states. This work is important for several reasons. First, states typically identify and refer sites to EPA for action, concur on fund lead cleanup decisions, and assume full responsibility for operation and maintenance (O&M) following construction of the cleanup remedy. O&M responsibilities can require long term stewardship when waste is left in place so that engineering and institutional controls are maintained, reviewed, and enforced. State research in appropriate methods, technology, or best practices is critical to improving the management of sites. Second, this research will identify and promote efficiencies that will assist states to work more effectively to manage their responsibilities. Third, this research will provide states with information and analyses on new program initiatives, which will support fuller state participation in the initiatives. There are four major task areas for project activities under this cooperative agreement. (1) The recipient, using focus groups, will conduct research to address priority issues of concern to states and, to inform states on assessment, cleanup, and long-term stewardship. (2) The recipient will coordinate research products, analyses, briefings, and other information with other recipients of EPA financial assistance to provide more comprehensive information for states to use in their cleanup programs. (3) The recipient will provide travel assistance for state employees who participate in research or who use the research the recipient provides to represent the interests of state co-regulators in discussions with EPA on Superfund remedial policies, guidance, or similar matters that affect states. (4) The recipient will support training for states. The closing date and time for receipt of proposals is September 16, 2010, 6:00 p.m. ET. http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=56505

Lee, S., N. Kaushik, and D.S. Walia, ARCTECH, Inc., Chantilly, VA.
2010 Global Demilitarization Symposium and Exhibition, 10-13 May, Tulsa, Oklahoma. 14 presentation slides, 2010

The Actodemil® technology is based on naturally occurring coal-derived humic acid for accomplishing a series of reactions that decompose toxic and hazardous chemicals. Humic acid is a water-soluble colloidal solution and a reducing agent; thus, it promotes reductive hydrolysis. In addition, it has a strong affinity for organic molecules and metal ions and is effective for absorption of reaction products. The key reactant material is the ARCTECH proprietary a-HAX reagent. The reaction is carried out in a vessel operating at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 160 to 180°F. Following completion of reaction (between 2 to 4 hours), the product is neutralized and then is ready for application as a fertilizer or for safe disposal. This presentation describes the Actodemil® technology and gives potential costs for destruction of perchlorate-containing missiles. Another presentation made at this conference, "Actodemil® Technology for Safe and Effective Decontamination of Empty Projectile Shells, Egyptian Armament Authority," provides technology implementation details. Contacts are provided at the end of each presentation for additional information on the technology. See these and other presentations at https://midas.dac.army.mil/Symposium/2010proceedings.html

Nzengung, V., PLANTECO Environmental Consultants, LLC.
2010 Global Demilitarization Symposium and Exhibition, 10-13 May, Tulsa, Oklahoma. 41 slides, 2010

MuniRem® (Patent Pending) is an innovative, rapid chemical process for in situ or ex situ treatment of bulk explosives and munitions constituents in soil and groundwater. The process generates free radicals that rapidly degrade oxidized organic compounds, such as explosives, propellants, and chlorinated solvents. When the reactions are complete, any residual MuniRem® reacts with oxygen in the air to degrade to innocuous chemicals. The very rapid reactions shorten cleanup time, which can reduce remediation costs. At Ravenna Army Ammunition Plant in Ohio, implementation of the MuniRem® process destroyed DNTs, ADNTs, TNT, RDX, and HMX (total explosive concentration >20%) and achieved "response complete" in less than two weeks. At a BATF-licensed facility, MuniRem® rapidly neutralized Explosive D (picric acid, 2,4,6-trinitrophenol) removed from demilitarized munitions. Bulk explosives were neutralized in tank reactors containing liquid MuniRem® at ambient temperatures in a matter of minutes. This presentation also describes the use of the photosynthesizing Microbial Mats Aquatic Treatment System (MATS) to treat wastewater containing explosives constituents, such as perchlorate. The constructed microbial mat comprises cyanobacteria and purple autotrophic bacteria and other microorganisms organized into a layered structure held together with slime. MATS can sequester heavy metals and simultaneously degrade organic and some inorganic contaminants. Contacts are provided at the end of the presentation for additional information on MuniRem® and MATS. Presentation slides at https://midas.dac.army.mil/Symposium/2010/10_Proceedings/VA-4_Nzengung.p
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Federal Business Opportunities, Solicitation PR-CI-10-10450, July 2010

U.S. EPA's Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management, requires advisory and assistance services consisting of technical, analytical, and administrative support, to include all labor, facilities, and equipment necessary to assist EPA in the development, implementation, and oversight of programs under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act, particularly in support of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), including both municipal and industrial treatment facilities, to concentrate on storm water discharges from sewer system overflows, construction, discharges from commercial vessels, and animal feeding operations. In addition, support services will be required for assistance under the CWA, Section 316 [cooling water intake], the National Pretreatment Program, the Clean Water Act State Revolving Loan Fund, the Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund, and the National Biosolids Program. Typically, the contractor will be involved in the collection, compilation, and analysis of environmental data culminating in reports and recommendations with regard the health, effectiveness, and compliance of regional and state water quality programs, as well as supporting the development of a system to monitor and correct noted deficiencies. The contractor will perform program audits and evaluations and impact and benefit analyses, and prepare recommendations, option papers, reports, and special studies. Additionally, the contractor will support the NPDES for certain point-source classifications, to include permit application review, statistical analyses, draft permit preparation, monitoring permit compliance, and provision of appropriate guidance and training. Any resultant contract is expected to be a performance-based service contract issued as a cost-plus-fixed-fee level-of-effort contract, comprising an annual base period followed by four consecutive 12-month optional performance periods, for a total potential performance period of five years. Responses are due by September 11, 2010. NAICS: 541620. http://www.epa.gov/oamcinc1/1010450/coverpg.htm

U.S. Army, RDECOM Contracting Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-3121, Solicitation W91ZLK10R0013, 2010

The U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Aberdeen Installation Contracting Division, intends to initiate a procurement for remedial action operations and optimization services at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The desired method of procurement is a firm fixed-price remediation approach under a performance-based acquisition. The work will take place at the following six sites: 1) AAOA08: Other Aberdeen Areas, GW Sites; 2) EACC4A: East Area CC Aquifer Cluster 4A-A; 3) EAGQ02-D: Surficial Aquifer Cluster 2; 4) EANS01-A: Unconfined Groundwater; 5) EAOF01: Old O-Field GWTS-OU1, and 6) EAOF02: Old O-Field Source Area OU2. [NOTE: EA=Edgewood Area, AA=Aberdeen Area.] RFP W91ZLK-10-R-0013 likely will be available on or about 1 September 2010, and proposals will be due 45 days from issuance of the RFP. The applicable NAICS code is 562910 with a size standard of 500 employees. https://www.fbo.gov/notices/1fe0a7398733a04653f8bca59877dc91

U.S. EPA, Homeland Security Research News Brief, 12 Jan 2010

Scientists from EPA and DOE have collaborated in developing innovative water-quality software that enhances the ability to detect intentional or unintentional contamination in a water system. The Canary software can help detect a wide variety of chemical and biological contaminants, including pesticides, metals, and pathogens. Once contamination is detected, a water utility can issue a "Do Not Drink" order quickly to prevent customers from ingesting the water. Drinking water utilities use the software in conjunction with a network of water quality sensors for rapid detection of contamination. The software helps to distinguish between natural variation in water quality measurements and hazardous contamination, and sends an alarm to indicate when water utilities should take steps to investigate and respond to potential contamination incidents. In addition to achieving homeland security goals, Canary can be used to enhance day-to-day water quality management and ensure the safety and security of water for all consumers. The Greater Cincinnati Water Works is the first utility to pilot the software and has been using Canary to assist in detecting and managing contamination incidents since 2007. The software currently is being evaluated in four other U.S. cities—New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco—and in Singapore. EPA and DOE received a 2010 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine for developing Canary. The R&D 100 awards recognize the top high-technology products of the year. As a free software tool, Canary is available worldwide to drinking water utilities striving to provide safe water to their customers. The software has been accessed by more than 600 users in 15 countries. http://www.epa.gov/nhsrc/news/news122007.html

R&D Daily, 25 May 2010

A company called The Essential Element has commercialized a trailer-mounted device that cleans over 20,000 gallons of water a day, stores electricity better than a battery, makes medical-grade oxygen, and runs on the sun. The inventors have unveiled the first working model of The HYDRA, a fuel cell-based device they say does all that. The HYDRA is priced at $99,500, and the inventors are marketing it to medical clinics, schools, remote communities, and disaster relief agencies. The system relies on solar power to break water into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen can be saved for medical uses, and the hydrogen powers the fuel cell that provides the energy to run the water purification system. The system is fully self-contained, needs no outside sources of power, and can be flown in by helicopter, dropped by parachute, or delivered on the back of a pickup truck. The HYDRA's mobile solar/hydrogen fuel cell uses light-weight, low-power components and very fine water filters. Electrical devices can be plugged directly into the unit. Full story at http://www.rdmag.com/New-To-Market/2010/05/Environment-Green-Technology-
Device-makes-produces-clean-water-through-sunlight-and-fuel-cells/

Athens, N., EcoVac Services.
E2S2 2010: Environment, Energy Security, and Sustainability Symposium and Exhibition, 14-17 June 2010, Denver, Colorado. National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Abstract 9970, 31 presentation slides, 2010

At a site located in Norman, Oklahoma, application of a cost-effective mobile remedial system successfully eradicated in 37 days a 2.5-acre gasoline plume approximately 620 ft by 280 ft in size. The mobile system employed dual-phase extraction combined with surfactants. Enhanced Fluid Recovery (EFR®) Dual Phase Extraction Technology and Surfactant Enhanced Aquifer Remediation (SURFAC®) were implemented May 29 to June 30, 2007, at treatment wells spaced 35 to 40 ft apart. Significant reductions in dissolved-phase concentrations accompanied the removal of NAPL at this site, and nominal greenhouse gases were emitted during the process. The mobile system allowed successful circumvention of numerous surface challenges, including several active businesses, an office park, parking lots, a 5-lane highway, and a 2-lane side street all located within the plume footprint. The mobile system was implemented (remediation in place) within 24 hours of contract execution. This mobile remedial approach has been used successfully at over 50 sites throughout the United States and provides the additional benefits of supporting real-time remedial process optimization and low emissions of greenhouse gases. http://e2s2.ndia.org/schedule/Documents/Abstracts/9970.pdf

Biggar, K., A. Richardson, and O. Iwakun.
2010 RPIC Federal Contaminated Sites National Workshop, 10-13 May 2010, Montreal, Canada. Real Property Institute of Canada, 25 slides, 2010

The Colomac Mine is undergoing significant remedial work under the oversight of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Contaminants and Remediation Directorate. As part of this effort, fuel tanks have been dismantled and the contaminated overburden from the tank farm area excavated for treatment in a biopile. Residual petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contamination is present in the underlying bedrock. Remediation of PHCs in fractured bedrock is a difficult challenge in temperate climates and becomes even more complicated by the presence of permafrost and deep seasonal freezing and thawing in a fractured bedrock environment. The impact of PHC seepage has been evident along the shoreline of Steeves Lake, immediately adjacent to the site, warranting an active remediation program. Geochemical data indicate that intrinsic biodegradation of the dissolved-phase hydrocarbons is likely ongoing; however, containment and remediation of the free-phase PHC remains a challenge. Recovery of free product in the fractured bedrock has been very difficult. Despite thicknesses in some monitoring wells of meters of free product in the winter when the water table was at its lowest, recovery of free product after initial product removal was very slow. A large trench blasted and excavated into the bedrock in the most contaminated area had more success, but was very costly. Vacuum application at monitoring wells to enhance free-product recovery has met with limited success. Slides at http://www.rpic-ibic.ca/downloads/FCS_2010/presentations/E12-biggar-e.pd
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Wilson, D., S. Sundaram, and R. McCullough, Stantec Consulting Ltd.
2010 RPIC Federal Contaminated Sites National Workshop, 10-13 May 2010, Montreal, Canada. Real Property Institute of Canada, 20 slides, 2010

The difficulties presented by northern contaminated sites in discontinuous permafrost-fractured bedrock settings are well known. One such site is the former Colomac open-pit gold mine, located approximately 220 kilometers north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Recent efforts to remediate petroleum hydrocarbon contamination have been hampered by an incomplete understanding of the site's subsurface structure and the behavior of seasonal groundwater. As part of the free-product recovery plan for 2009, an updated hydrogeological assessment included a multi-parameter dye-tracer study. This paper reports on preliminary results from that study and updates the conceptual subsurface model for the site, demonstrating a much more active, variable, and mobile groundwater system than was previously suggested. Slides at http://www.rpic-ibic.ca/downloads/FCS_2010/presentations/E8-wilson-e.pdf

U.S. Government Accountability Office.
GAO-10-348, 73 pp, 15 July 2010

EPA and DoD use different terms and metrics to report cleanup progress; therefore, the status of cleanup at Fort Meade Army Base, McGuire Air Force Base (AFB), and Tyndall AFB is unclear. EPA reports that cleanup at all three installations is in the early investigative phases, while DoD's data suggest that cleanup is further along and, in some cases, in mature stages. EPA and DoD have differing interpretations of cleanup progress because they describe and assess cleanup differently. Although both agencies divide installations into smaller cleanup projects, DoD divides them into units generally smaller than EPA's; therefore, DoD measures its progress in smaller increments. Further, because DoD did not obtain EPA's approval for key cleanup decisions, EPA does not recognize them. Unless key cleanup decisions are justified, documented, and available to the public for review and comment, they are not sufficient under CERCLA, and once an interagency agreement (IAG) is in place, some DoD cleanup work may have to be redone. When a government agency refuses to enter into an IAG and cleanup progress lags because of statutory and other limitations, EPA cannot take steps—such as issuing and enforcing orders—to compel CERCLA cleanup as it would for a private party. Several obstacles have delayed cleanup progress at these installations. (1) DoD's persistent failure to enter IAGs, despite reaching agreement with EPA on the basic terms, has made managing site cleanup and addressing routine matters challenging at these installations. For example, in the absence of IAGs, DoD can fund work at other sites ahead of the NPL sites. (2) DoD failed to disclose some contamination to EPA and the public in a timely fashion, including lead shot on a playground, delaying cleanup and putting human health at risk. (3) The extensive use of performance-based contracts at these installations has created pressure to operate within price caps and fixed deadlines. In some cases, these pressures might have contributed to installations not exploring the full range of cleanup remedies, or relying on nonconstruction remedies, such as monitored natural attenuation of contaminated groundwater. In particular, Tyndall AFB's long-standing lack of full compliance with environmental cleanup requirements, such as notification of hazardous releases and EPA's 2007 administrative order, has been an obstacle to verifiable cleanup of that installation. GAO is recommending, among other things, that EPA and DoD identify options that would provide a uniform method for reporting cleanup progress at the installations and allow for transparency to Congress and the public. EPA and DoD agreed with the recommendations directed at them. GAO is also suggesting that Congress might want to consider giving EPA certain tools to enforce CERCLA at federal facilities without IAGs. DoD disagreed with this suggestion. GAO believes EPA needs additional authority to ensure timely and proper cleanup at agency sites. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-348

U.S. Government Accountability Office.
GAO-10-277, 73 pp, 25 Feb 2010

In the 1990s, creosote was discovered under a residential neighborhood in Manville, New Jersey. Creosote from a former wood-treatment facility known as the Federal Creosote Site had contaminated the soil and groundwater. Under the Superfund program, EPA assessed site risks, selected remedies, and worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on site cleanup. As of May 2009, construction of EPA's remedies for the site had been completed; however, total cleanup costs were almost $340 million, and remedial construction costs had exceeded original estimates. In this context, GAO examined (1) how EPA assessed risks and selected remedies for the site and what priority EPA gave to site cleanup; (2) what factors contributed to the difference between the estimated and actual costs; and (3) how EPA and the Corps divided responsibilities for site work. Cleanup of the site was given a high priority because of the residential setting, and EPA took steps to shorten the cleanup period and prioritized the use of regional Superfund resources on the Federal Creosote Site over other sites in the region. The $338 million in total site costs exceeded EPA's estimated remedial construction costs of $105 million by about $233 million, primarily because EPA's estimates focused only on construction costs rather than all site costs, and additional contamination was discovered during cleanup. Other factors, such as contractor fraud, affected total site costs to a lesser extent. EPA was responsible for managing the overall cleanup and community relations, while the Corps was responsible for implementing the cleanup. EPA completed all major site cleanup work in November 2007, and the site was declared "construction complete" in March 2008. Ultimately, EPA performed cleanup activities on 93 of the 137 properties in the residential area as well as on the commercial portion of the site. The remediation of these properties required permanent and temporary relocation of residents, excavation to depths ranging from 1 to 35 feet below ground surface, removal of over 275,000 tons of soil from the residential development, thermal treatment off site, and disposal of the treated soil off site. Although the quantities of soil and contaminated material increased above EPA's estimates, GAO's analysis found that the average unit costs EPA paid for thermal treatment and disposal of contaminated material—the most expensive remediation option—were lower than originally estimated and decreased over time. For example, the estimated unit cost for these services ranged from $510 for OU1 to $650 for OU2 and OU3, whereas actual average unit costs were $448 per ton for OU1, $426 per ton for OU2, and $354 per ton for OU3. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-277

Sieczkowski, M., JRW Bioremediation.
E2S2 2010: Environment, Energy Security, and Sustainability Symposium and Exhibition, 14-17 June 2010, Denver, Colorado. National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Abstract 9796, 24 presentation slides, 2010

This presentation explores the physical properties of a true soy microemulsion substrate and how its properties affect storage, preparation, application, subsurface distribution, and product performance for enhanced reductive dechlorination. True microemulsions are thermodynamically stable; hence, storage of a true microemulsion product is simplified because the only requirement is to maintain the material at an ambient temperature of between 55 and 110°F. The increased stability also allows the material to be mixed with water with minimal shear force, forming a stable, low-viscosity, dilute product. Routine dilution is similar to mixing miscible materials and typically entails pouring the product into a tank and then filling the tank with water. Recirculation of the tank can be conducted to ensure complete mixing, but this usually is not necessary. Under standard dilution rates of one part product to nine parts water, the dilute injectate is also stable for an extended period of time. Laboratory samples show that the dilute product becomes completely homogenized with minimal mixing and exhibits only minimal separation after 60 days at ambient temperatures. Because the dilute product remains stable and has a low viscosity, normal injection equipment can be used to deliver the dilute product to the matrix via either direct push injection points or permanent injection wells. The stability of the microemulsion enhances subsurface distribution of the dilute product. The microemulsion has a Zeta potential of about -80 mV, which helps partially retard the movement of the substrate in the groundwater due to a partial attraction to oppositely charged soil particles. As the product becomes further diluted in the groundwater, the microemulsion concentration is reduced and eventually breaks, forming standard emulsion particles. These particles then react like standard oil emulsions that break and allow the organic components to be metabolized. This stepwise reduction in stability gives the material groundwater transport characteristics that are superior to standard oil emulsions. Field tests are currently being conducted to estimate product distribution and subsurface longevity. The material comprises oleagineous material, surfactant, ethyl lactate, and water arranged in a bi-continuous-phase matrix. Ethyl lactate and oleagineous vegetable material has been used independently to enhance halorespiration, and initial field tests show that the product readily promotes biological activity conducive to reductive dechlorination of TCE in a bio-barrier configuration. This presentation reviews data from Site 24, Treasure Island Naval Station; Site 19, Vandenberg AFB; and a former fire training area at Myrtle Beach AFB. http://e2s2.ndia.org/schedule/Documents/Abstracts/9796.pdf

Krug, T., S. O'Hara, M. Watling, and J. Quinn, Geosyntec Consultants.
ESTCP Project ER-0431, 763 pp, Apr 2010

Through funding provided by ESTCP and with support from U.S. EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Geosyntec Consultants Inc. and NASA conducted a technology demonstration to evaluate the use of emulsified zero-valent iron (EZVI), an innovative remediation technology, to remediate chlorinated solvent DNAPL source zones. The field demonstration/validation was conducted at Site 45, a former drycleaning facility at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. The goal was to evaluate degradation occurring due to abiotic and biological components as well as to demonstrate the efficacy of EZVI at a scale large enough to generate accurate full-scale design and cost information for widespread technology consideration and application. EZVI was injected into the test plots in October 2006. The technology demonstration was designed to inject a maximum of 850 gal of EZVI into a pneumatic injection test plot and 50 gal into a direct injection test plot. This report presents the approach, methodology, and results of the EZVI field demonstration. NOTE: As NASA holds the patent for this technology, no fees for the use of EZVI will be levied on any federal facility. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/8196/100906/file/ER-0431-FR.
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Majcher, E.H., M.M. Lorah, D.J. Phelan, and A.L. McGinty.
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5112, 84 pp + appendices, 2009

A permeable reactive microbial mat was developed as part of an enhanced bioremediation study in a tidal wetland area along West Branch Canal Creek at Aberdeen Proving Ground, where localized areas of preferential discharge (seeps) transport groundwater contaminated with carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane from the Canal Creek aquifer to land surface. The reactive mat consisted of a mixture of commercially available organic- and nutrient-rich peat and compost bioaugmented with a dechlorinating microbial consortium, WBC-2, developed for this project. Due to elevated chlorinated methane concentrations in the pilot test site, a layer of zero-valent iron mixed with the peat and compost was added at the base of the mat to promote simultaneous abiotic and biotic degradation. A 22-inch-thick reactive mat, containing 0.5% WBC-2 by volume, was constructed at seep area 3-4W and monitored from October 2004 through October 2005. Overall, the pilot test attained the design goal of at least 90% mass removal of total chlorinated VOCs in the reactive mat and maintained it for 1 year without any undesired geotechnical, hydraulic, or water-quality effects on the wetland and tidal creek. Additional monitoring would be necessary to evaluate long-term sustainability of enhanced biodegradation in the mat. Future applications would benefit from either deeper placement within the native sediments or a thinner mat to minimize final elevation of the mat above land surface. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5112/

Major, D., C. Aziz, M. Watling, J. Gossett, J. Spain, and S. Nishino.
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) Project ER-0516, 245 pp, Jan 2010

SERDP Project ER-1168 isolated and characterized a novel aerobic bacterium (Polaromonas sp. strain JS666), which uses cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) as a sole carbon and energy source. JS666 will grow and thrive where oxygen and cDCE are co-located, and JS666 also degrades 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) and cometabolizes TCE and vinyl chloride (VC). Ideal groundwater conditions for JS666 include dissolved oxygen levels between 0.01 mg/L and 8 mg/L; low ionic strength (conductivity <15 milliSiemens per centimeter [mS/cm]); a pH of 6.5 to 8; and relatively low concentrations of TCE, 1,2-DCA, and VC (<500 µg/L). Under ESTCP Project ER-0516, a field demonstration to evaluate the effectiveness of JS666 in biodegrading cDCE was conducted at Site 21, St. Julien's Creek Annex in Chesapeake, Virginia. This site had several relatively well-characterized groundwater plumes of chlorinated VOCs (mainly cDCE, TCE, and VC). The demonstration site was instrumented to create four plots within the pilot test area: a bioaugmentation plot receiving JS666, oxygen, and buffer (Plot 1); a bioaugmentation plot receiving JS666 and buffer (Plot 2); a control plot receiving buffer (Plot 3); and a control plot receiving oxygen and buffer (Plot 4). The two bioaugmentation plots were established to evaluate the effect of adding JS666 and additional oxygen on the rate of biodegradation, while the corresponding control plots were intended to account for the effects of buffer, and buffer and oxygen. Two bioaugmentation events took place during the demonstration: one in October 2008 and one in February 2009. During each event, ~8 to 9 L of culture (density of 108 colony-forming units/mL) was injected into each bioaugmentation plot. Although substantial cDCE declines were observed in some of the bioaugmented wells, the percent reduction was less than 75% relative to baseline concentrations, and the reduction in the bioaugmented plots was not twice that of the control plots, likely due to TCE inhibition and/or oxygen limitation; therefore, neither performance objective was met. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/4985/71374/file/ER-0516-FR.p
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Steffan, R., C. Schaefer, and D. Lippincott, Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc.
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Project ER-0515, 345 pp, Feb 2010

A groundwater plume of dissolved-phase cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) present in the MAG-1 Area at Fort Dix, New Jersey, was selected for a field demonstration of bioaugmentation using Shaw's SDC-9 Dehalococcoides sp. (DHC)-containing culture. The culture was introduced in three separate groundwater recirculation loops augmented with 1 L of culture, 10 L of culture, and 100 L of culture, respectively. A fourth control loop was not augmented. Groundwater monitoring was performed to evaluate DHC growth and migration, dechlorination kinetics, and aquifer geochemistry. The results were used to develop a bioaugmentation 1-D fate-and-transport screening model. The project evaluated the amount of culture needed to remediate the plume effectively, the effect of inoculum dose on remedial time, the effect of site characteristics on the effectiveness of the technology, and the ability to increase and maintain an elevated pH for successful bioremediation. A methodology for isolation, production, storage, and distribution of DHC-containing cultures suitable for field-scale applications was also developed. Results demonstrated that CVOC-contaminated aquifers can be remediated effectively by using active groundwater recirculation, bioaugmentation with Shaw's SDC-9 consortium, and pH adjustment. Two major challenges encountered were pH adjustment of the aquifer and injection well fouling. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/8469/104062/file/ER-0515-FR.
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Wade, R., J.L. Davis, A.H. Wani, and D. Felt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ERDC.
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Project ER-0110, 351 pp, Jan 2010

A field evaluation of the Biologically Active Zone Enhancement (BAZE) process was conducted in 2001 at the former Nebraska Ordnance Plant using runway deicer (sodium acetate) as the organic carbon source to enhance biological transformation of RDX in the groundwater. RDX concentrations decreased from an average of 256 µg/L to below the laboratory detection limit of 0.1 µg/L. The estimated cost of the study was $74/kgal, while the real-world cost for a BAZE system was determined to be $27/kgal ($7.40/m³), which is comparable to the cost for traditional pump and treat. Wells were installed for the field demonstration in September 2003. The first sodium acetate injection was performed in January 2004, and acetate injections/sampling was completed in August 2005. Fifteen rounds of sodium acetate solution were injected and circulated through the treatment system during the course of the demonstration. During each injection event, ~200 gallons (757 L) of 13% sodium acetate solution were diluted with groundwater pumped from the extraction well into an in-line mixer, resulting in a 0.3% sodium acetate solution. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for explosives, total organic carbon, and nutrients (acetate, nitrate, nitrite, and sulfate). Representative samples were also analyzed for dissolved metals, biomass composition, and plant toxicity. RDX concentrations fell over time in all the affected wells, with induction of RDX degradation occurring at different times depending on each well's distance from the injection site. The development of an enhanced microbial community responsible for RDX degradation was confirmed by the slow degradation induction, residual acetate concentrations, increased biomass, and anaerobic conditions. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/4116/62993/file/ER-0110-FR.p
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Cho, Y.M., U. Ghosh, A.J. Kennedy, A. Grossman, G. Ray, J.E. Tomaszewski, D.W. Smithenry, T.S. Bridges, and R.G. Luthy.
Environmental Science & Technology, Vol 43 No 10, p 3815-3823, 2009

This paper reports on results from the first field-scale application of activated carbon (AC) amendment to contaminated sediment for in situ stabilization of PCBs. The work was performed on a tidal mud flat at South Basin, adjacent to the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco Bay, California. The major goals were to (1) assess scale-up of the AC mixing technology using two available, large-scale devices, (2) validate the effectiveness of the AC amendment at the field scale, and (3) identify possible adverse effects of the remediation technology. The project also allowed comparison among monitoring tools, evaluation of longer-term effectiveness of AC amendment, and identification of field-related factors that confound the performance of in situ biological assessments. Following background pretreatment measurements, AC was incorporated successfully into sediment to a nominal 30-cm depth during a single mixing event, as confirmed by total organic carbon and black carbon contents in the designated field plots. The measured AC dose averaged 2.0 to 3.2 wt% and varied depending on sampling locations and mixing equipment. AC amendment did not impact sediment resuspension or PCB release into the water column over the treatment plots, nor did it affect the existing macro benthic community composition, richness, or diversity. The PCB bioaccumulation in marine clams was reduced when exposed to sediment treated with 2% AC in comparison to the control plot. Field-deployed semi-permeable membrane devices and polyethylene devices showed about 50% reduction in PCB uptake in AC-treated sediment and similar reduction in estimated pore-water PCB concentration. This reduction was evident even after 13 months post-treatment, indicating retention of AC treatment efficacy for an extended period. Aqueous equilibrium PCB concentrations and PCB desorption showed an AC-dose response. Field-exposed AC after 18 months retained a strong stabilization capability to reduce aqueous equilibrium PCB concentrations by about 90%, which also supports the long-term effectiveness of AC in the field.

Ivey, G.A. (Ivey International Inc., Mississauga, ON); G. Kenoyer, (RMT Inc., Los Angeles, CA); L. Chan (Canada Colors and Chemicals, Toronto, ON).
WaterTech 2010: Proceedings of the Water Technologies Symposium, 21-23 April 2010, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Environmental Services Association of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 34 presentation slides, 2010

A surfactant improves desorption of target contaminants from soil. It also lowers the surface tension of water, improving both its wetting and associated permeability properties. It is effective as a standalone technology for soil washing and can enhance other remediation techniques. This presentation discusses the coupling of surfactant injection with high-vacuum dual-phase extraction (HVDPE) of diesel-range petroleum hydrocarbons with respect to surfactant chemistry, site conditions, pilot-test approach, and pilot results. The site has clayey shale with sandstone interbeds, with groundwater at 50 to 70 ft below ground surface. For multiple years prior to the coupled technology pilot test, the property owner had operated an HVDPE system at considerable cost without satisfactory results. The pilot test of Ivey-sol 103 injections was undertaken in July 2009 using a mobile HVDPE system. The pilot objectives were to maintain hydraulic control, achieve effective injection radius of influence to improve LNAPL recovery, and assess potential mass recovery for full-scale design. The presentation includes a diagram of the HVPDE well showing the radius of influence for LNAPL collection, as well as several on-site photographs. The project achieved hydraulic control, increased TPH-d recovery, and obtained information for the full-scale design. http://www.esaa-events.com/watertech/2010/default.htm

Venkatraman, K. and N. Ashwath, Central Queensland Univ., Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
Proceedings of the Environmental Research Event 2009, Noosa, Queensland. 11 pp, 2009

Greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide are produced from landfills when the waste comes in contact with water. Various techniques, such as clay capping, are used to minimize percolation of water into the waste, and gas flaring and gas recovery systems are installed to reduce methane emission into the atmosphere. Flaring and recovery systems for reducing methane gas are very expensive for smaller and medium-sized landfills (<100,000 tonnes/annum), and the use of a clay cap has proven ineffective in avoiding percolation of water to controls methane emission. An alternative technique known as phytocapping was demonstrated at Rockhampton's Lakes Creek Landfill using two depths (700 mm and 1,400 mm) of soil cover and 21 tree species. Methane emissions were monitored at the surface as well as at various depths of the two phytocaps. Results show that phytocaps can reduce surface methane emission 4 to 5 times more than the adjacent unvegetated control site, and the thick cap reduces surface methane emission 45% more than the thin cap. The investigators examined the root zone effects of 19 tree species on methane emission and compared methane flux between phytocaps and non-vegetated sections of the same landfill. Results demonstrate that the phytocapping technique can reduce surface methane flux by 75 to 85% compared to an unvegetated cap. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:179626/Venkatraman_-_ERE2009.pd
f

U.S. EPA Region 3, July 2010

Valmont TCE was formerly the property of Chromatex. From 1978 until March 2001, the plant was used for upholstery fabric manufacturing. A spill released TCE to the groundwater, and the site was placed on the National Priorities List in September 2001. In 2004, more than 18,000 tons of VOC-contaminated soil were excavated and removed from three areas on the exterior of the Chromatex facility, and a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system was installed below the facility's foundation. An SVE pilot study completed in November 2004 established that installation of a full-scale SVE system within the plant was more difficult than originally anticipated. Following a treatability study completed in March 2005, an SVE/air injection system was completed in March 2007. To date, the system has removed ~19 lbs of TCE from soil beneath the plant. The results from a treatment study of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) revealed that although it was ineffective for soil under the building, it did decrease VOC levels in the groundwater. During the week of July 20, 2009, EPA began an ISCO pilot study at the site. The study involved construction of six new injection wells around the old Chromatex plant. EPA decided to inject potassium permanganate solution slurry into selected bedrock zones in each of the six new injection/extraction wells. Potassium permanganate can convert TCE contamination in groundwater into water, carbon dioxide, and chloride. The pilot allowed EPA to test several methods of injecting the oxidant in various amounts to determine the most effective approach. Based on the success of the pilot study, EPA has identified ISCO in the proposed plan as its preferred alternative for remediation of contaminated groundwater at the Valmont TCE site. Additional information on this site at http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/npl/PAD982363970.htm

Fellows. R.J., J.S. Fruchter, and C.J. Driver.
PNNL-18294, 44 pp, Apr 2009

Phytoextraction of strontium-90 (Sr-90) is being considered as a potential remediation system along the riparian zone of the Columbia River as part of a treatment train that includes an apatite barrier to immobilize groundwater transport of Sr-90. Coyote willow (Salix exigua) would be planted along the riparian zone of the Columbia River to extract Sr-90 from the vadose zone soil and aquifer sediments (phytoextraction) and to filter Sr-90 from the shallow groundwater (rhizofiltration). As the stem and foliage of coyote willows accumulates Sr-90, the plants become a potential pathway for the isotope to enter the riparian food chain via consumption by natural herbivores. Large and small animal fencing constructed around the field plot will control the intrusion of deer, rodents, and humans, but these efforts will have little effect on mobile phytophagous insects. This study was undertaken to determine the potential for food-chain transfer by insects prior to placement of the remediation technology at 100-N. The study included direct consumers of the sap or liquid content of the plants vascular system (xylem and phloem) by aphids as well as those that directly consume the plant foliage, such as the larvae (caterpillars) of Lepidoptera species. Previous work demonstrated that coyote willows accumulated >10% of the total activity in potted soil into above-ground shoots within 60 days. Birds performing secondary consumption of insect herbivores (moth larvae as they feed on trees) present a slight risk of transfer of the label present in the moth digestive tract to the bird. While Sr-90 has been reported to have low or little biotransfer in laboratory feeding experiments, it has not been shown definitively in the field. A conservative approach would be to explore the use of bird netting over the fenced plot along the shoreline to restrict bird access to the plants. Results to date indicate that the risk for detectable transfer of Sr-90 from willow trees growing in the contaminated soil along the 100-N shoreline through the food chain of herbivorous insects would be very slight to non-existent. http://www.osti.gov/bridge/purl.cover.jsp;jsessionid=05A62DD4C4ED54AD6E8
FC4668D4C365B?purl=/982961-K9IbrH/

Christiansen, Camilla Maymann, Ph.D. thesis, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, ISBN: 978-87-91855-88-7, 86 pp, May 2010

The purpose of this Ph.D. project has been to research possible enhancements of in situ mass removal of chloroethenes in clay till. Both this contaminant group and sediment type are common in Northern Europe and North America. Together, they represent a combination that is particularly difficult to remediate. Focus has been placed on the (enhanced) delivery of in situ remediation amendments in clay till rather than on the contaminants themselves or the specific in situ remediation amendments developed for their treatment. A field study was conducted at a clay till site in Denmark from March 2006 to March 2010 to test and document the capabilities of three enhanced delivery methods—pneumatic fracturing, hydraulic fracturing, and direct-push delivery—at depths of 2.5 to 9.5 m bgs. Direct documentation at depth was largely confined to coring, but was supplemented by excavation at shallow depths. The study demonstrated that hydraulic fracturing functioned well at 3 m bgs; however, attempts to emplace horizontal (closely-spaced) fractures at 6 to 7 and 9.5 m bgs were unsuccessful. Induced pneumatic fractures (4 to 8 m bgs) were initially horizontal but prone to diversion in natural (vertical) fractures in the sediment. Close networks of fractures at each fracturing depth were not observed, but discrete, closely-spaced fractures might be obtainable if a smaller spacing is implemented between fracturing intervals. Direct-push delivery was successful in creating closely-spaced, horizontal substance deliveries at all tested depths (2.5 to 3.5, 6 to 7, and 8.5 to 9.5 m bgs). These findings correspond well with expectations, given the geological and geotechnical features of the chosen clay till site (a normally consolidated, extensively naturally fractured basal clay till). The findings furthermore emphasize the need for thorough geological characterization and geotechnical testing at all sites where in situ remediation potentially could be assisted by enhanced delivery. Unresolved issues remain. For pneumatic and hydraulic fracturing, the main unresolved issues are 1) the lower limits of fracture spacing at depths greater than 5 m bgs, and 2) the ability of these technologies, especially hydraulic fracturing, to create subhorizontal fractures at depths greater than 5 m bgs. For direct-push delivery, the influence of delivery volumes on delivery orientation, form, and radius remains unclear. http://orbit.dtu.dk/getResource?recordId=265125&objectId=1&versionId=1

Kennedy, A.J., G.R. Lotufo, J.A. Steevens, and T.S. Bridges, U.S. Army ERDC, Vicksburg, MS.
ERDC/EL TR-10-2, 114 pp, May 2010

Risk assessment of contaminated sediments often involves quantification of compounds in tissues via laboratory bioaccumulation exposures of benthic invertebrates; however, the standard 28-day exposure duration may not be adequate for some compounds to reach steady state, which is defined as a stable concentration in exposed organisms. Steady-state tissue residues can be estimated using uptake and elimination rate constants. Experiments were conducted using two marine sediments from New York Harbor to assess bioaccumulation of PAHs, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, dioxins, and mercury (Hg) by sampling tissue during seven successive time points over an exposure of 56 days for the polychaete worm Nereis virens and 119 days for the clam Macoma nasuta. Exposure time required to attain steady state was organism and compound specific. Generally, N. virens tissues reached steady state more rapidly and accumulated higher contaminant residues. N. virens attained apparent steady state within roughly 28 days for PAHs, Hg, and most PCBs, but longer exposure was needed for some dioxins and pesticides. Steady state in M. nasuta generally was attained after 28 days of exposure for most compounds (sometimes after 100 days); thus, bioaccumulation can be underestimated in some 28-day tissue residues, with subsequent risk to benthos and higher trophic-level organisms. The study results allow development of site-specific correction factors for estimating steady-state residues from 28-day exposures. http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/trel10-2.pdf

Ward, A., G. Seedahmend, G. Anderson, and F. Zhang.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Project ER-1366, 84 pp, Apr 2010

The principle objective of Project ER-1366 was to develop a rapid, robust, and reliable tool for in situ measurement of hydraulic properties in heterogeneous, anisotropic, variably saturated porous media. A team of researchers assembled from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center to develop direct-push, in situ sensors that could be deployed individually or as part of an integrated tool. The sensors included 1) a tension (subatmospheric pressure) permeameter for measuring variably relative permeability as a function of saturation, and 2) a microscopic imaging system for in situ imaging of sediments from which grain-size characteristics and independent estimates of hydraulic properties would be derived using digital photogrammetry. A critical component of this project was the modification of the existing SCAPS/GeoVIS system to function as dual field-of-view video camera system for sub-surface soil imaging. One camera view field is used to capture grain size data in the silt-sized fraction and the other to capture information in the sand-sized fraction. These two levels of magnification provide fields of view ranging from 2 to 20 mm diagonal. Digital images of sediments were converted into particle size distributions and their moments using the Pixel-Vernier, a suite of photogrammetric algorithms that combine markers-controlled watershed algorithm with a minimum-distance clustering to solve the segmentation problem. The segmentation algorithm decomposes the image into separate particle regions, which are used to derive several geometric attributes for each particle. These were used to estimate the particle size distribution and their relevant statistics. Particle size distributions were then used with a packing model to estimate porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity, which have the added benefit of constraining hydraulic conductivities derived from the borehole permeameter measurements. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/8435/103550/file/ER-1366-FR.
pdf

Ficko, S.A., A. Rutter, and B.A. Zeeb.
Science of the Total Environment, Vol 408 No 16, p 3469-3476, 15 July 2010

A comprehensive investigation of the potential of 27 different species of weeds to phytoextract PCBs from contaminated soil was conducted at two field sites (Etobicoke and Lindsay) in southern Ontario, Canada. Soil concentrations were 31 µg/g and 4.7 µg/g at each site, respectively. All species accumulated PCBs in their root and shoot tissues. Mean shoot concentrations at the two sites ranged from 0.42 µg/g for Chenopodium album to 35 µg/g for Vicia cracca (dry weight). Bioaccumulation factors (BAF=[PCB](plant tissue)/[PCB](mean soil)) at the two sites ranged from 0.08 for Cirsium vulgare to 1.1 for V. cracca. Maximum shoot extractions were 420 µg for Solidago canadensis at the Etobicoke site, and 120 µg for Chrysanthemum leucanthemum at the Lindsay site. When plant density was taken into account with a theoretical density value, 17 species appeared to be able to extract a similar or greater quantity of PCBs into the shoot tissue than pumpkins (Curcurbita pepo ssp. pepo), which are known PCB accumulators. Some of these weed species are promising candidates for future phytoremediation studies.

Mackova, M., P. Prouzova, P. Stursa, E. Ryslava, O. Uhlik, K. Beranova, J. Rezek, V. Kurzawova, K. Demnerova, and T. Macek.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Vol 16 No 7, p 817-829, Nov 2009

This paper summarizes 10 years of studies using aged PCB-contaminated soil from a dumpsite in South Bohemia, targeted for the use of plants (phytoremediation) and their cooperation with microorganisms in the root zone (rhizoremediation). The soil was used both for preparation of field plots at the site and for greenhouse and laboratory tests in microcosms. Over one hundred kilograms of homogenized dumpsite soil was used in microcosms (pots and buckets). Tested plants included tobacco, black nightshade, horseradish, alfalfa, and willow. The experiments were performed between 1998 and 2008 with real contaminated soil, both vegetated and non-vegetated. PCB analysis was performed by GC-ECD, metabolic products were identified using mostly 2D-GC/MS-MS and synthetic standards, and molecular methods included quantitative PCR and sequencing. The results provided analyses of changes in PCB content in untreated and vegetated soil, PCB uptake and distribution in different parts of the various plant species, analysis of products formed, and identification and characterization of cultivable and non-cultivable bacteria both in rhizosphere and in bulk soil. Different treatments and amendments were also tested. Experiments in contaminated soil were accompanied by in vitro experiments using aseptic cultures of plant biomass, genetically modified plants, and bacteria to identify players responsible for PCB metabolization in soil. The time-span of the experiments allowed extrapolation of and conclusions concerning the effectiveness of exploiting particular plant species and treatments to remove PCBs from soil. In addition to plant uptake, accumulation, and partial metabolization of PCBs, plant-produced compounds allow survival of microorganisms even in poor soils, serve as carbon and energy sources, and induce the degradation pathways of different xenobiotics. The study results show how the efficiency of PCB removal is dependent on the plant used.

Painter, P. and B. Miller, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park.
National Science Foundation, NSF Award 1045998, 6 July 2010

This award is funded under the Rapid Research Response program. The proposed research is aimed at developing a process to separate oil and tar from contaminated sand using ionic liquids (ILs) on the large quantities of contaminated sand—beach sand, sand berms, and barriers—that will need to be treated as a consequence of the recent release of vast amounts of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Preliminary work at Penn State has shown that ILs can be used to separate bitumen from tar or oil sands. Bitumen is a complex material consisting of molecules that range in size from small to polymeric. Oil that is washed onto beaches has usually lost its light or volatile fraction, leaving a sludge of heavy oil or tar balls that consist largely of oligomeric and polymeric hydrocarbons. Present methods used to separate oil, bitumen, or tar from sand are expensive or environmentally challenging (e.g., the hot or warm water process used to obtain bitumen from Canadian tar sands). Bitumen can be extracted from tar sands using ILs alone or in conjunction with a non-polar solvent. The separation occurs at room temperature and does not require the use of water in the initial separation process (the disposal of waste process water is a big problem in the oil or tar sands industry). Essentially all of the bitumen is recovered in a very clean form. The minerals (sand) are also recovered in an uncontaminated form after removing residual IL with small amounts of (cold) water. Preliminary unpublished work has shown that this process works equally well with both oil-contaminated sand and the weathered and hardened polymeric hydrocarbons formed during ageing. The proposed research will establish the appropriate choice of IL, proportions of co-solvent (to lower the viscosity of the sludge and tar to facilitate separation), and kinetics of separation necessary to obtain a clean separation of hydrocarbons from sand, such that the former is in a state suitable for delivery to a refinery and the latter can be used for environmental remediation. A bench-top separation unit will be built to determine the operating parameters necessary for a large-scale process. Although the proposed work is application-motivated, it is anticipated that a technology demonstration will lead to new fundamental science, such as an understanding of the interactions between ILs, minerals, and hydrocarbons, and how this affects phase behavior and separation processes. Obtaining an insight into these processes forms the intellectual merit of the proposal. http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1045998
NSF maintains a regularly updated list of RAPID awards for research targeting the Gulf oil spill response: http://nsf.gov/awardsearch/progSearch.do?SearchType=progSearch&page=2&Qu
eryText=&ProgOrganization=&ProgOfficer=&ProgEleCode=&BooleanElement=fals
e&ProgRefCode=5987&BooleanRef=false&ProgProgram=&ProgFoaCode=&Restrictio
n=2&Search=Search#results

Hua, B. and J. Yang, Lincoln Univ. of Missouri, Jefferson City.
E2S2 2010: Environment, Energy Security, and Sustainability Symposium and Exhibition, 14-17 June 2010, Denver, Colorado. National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Abstract 9711, 19 presentation slides, 2010

Soil collected from a Missouri shooting range, containing about 15,000 mg lead (Pb)/kg, was treated with four phosphate compounds (KH₂PO₄, H₃PO₄, CaHPO₄, and (NH₄)₃PO₄-containing fertilizer) to evaluate their efficiency in stabilizing Pb and minimizing its leaching potential from the soil. Leaching tests using the EPA toxicity characteristic leaching procedures (TLCP, pH=2.88) showed that the soil treatments with KH₂PO₄ and (NH₄)₃PO₄-containing fertilizer (12% P₂O₅) were most effective, resulting in over 99% reduction of leachable Pb within a 2-week period, as compared with the control. The X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that lead carbonate present in untreated soil had been converted to insoluble lead phosphates by the treatments. Solid-phase speciation analyses using SEM/EDS revealed that phosphorous in treated soils was closely associated with lead, suggesting the formation of insoluble pyromorphites or pyromorphite-like minerals. This study demonstrated that the soil treatments using KH₂PO₄ or (NH₄)₃PO₄-containing fertilizer are most effective in the context of rapid Pb immobilization and the immobilization reactions that transform labile Pb species to insoluble minerals. The formation of insoluble pyromorphites as induced by phosphate treatments is primarily responsible for reduced Pb leaching potential in treated soil. Slides at http://e2s2.ndia.org/schedule/Documents/Abstracts/9711.pdf

Sierra-Alvarez, R., Univ. of Arizona, Tucson.
Waste Management, Vol 29 No 6, p 1885-1891, 2009

This study investigated the effectiveness of solid-state fermentation with copper-tolerant brown-rot fungi for the remediation of wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) and acid copper chromate (ACC) formulations. Addressing CCA- and ACC-treated wood with the most effective strain, Antrodia vaillantii FRLP-14G, attained extensive leaching of As and/or Cr, but Cu elimination was poor (<18%). Additional research showed that a variety of organic acids, including citrate, are effective Cu extractants. Based on these findings, a process combining chemical extraction and subsequent fungal treatment was developed that proved highly effective in removing inorganic pollutants from CCA-treated wood. Extraction of CCA with citric acid (30 mM, pH 3.10) followed by a 28-day solid-state fermentation period removed 87% Cu, 80% Cr, and 100% As. These results indicate the potential of the two-stage process for the remediation of preservative-treated wood.

Alvarado, J.S., C. Rose, and L. LaFreniere.
Journal of Environmental Monitoring [online access prior to print publication] 2010

Efforts to achieve the decomposition of carbon tetrachloride through anaerobic and aerobic bioremediation and chemical transformation have met with limited success because of the conditions required and the formation of hazardous intermediates. After using particles of zero-valent iron (ZVI) with limited success for in situ remediation of carbon tetrachloride, the authors investigated the application of a modified microparticulate product that combines controlled-release carbon with ZVI for stimulation of in situ chemical reduction of persistent organic compounds in groundwater. With this product, physical, chemical, and microbiological processes were combined to create very strongly reducing conditions that stimulate rapid, complete dechlorination of organic solvents. In principle, the organic component of ZVI microparticles is nutrient rich and hydrophilic and has high surface area capable of supporting the growth of bacteria in the groundwater environment. The investigators found that as the bacteria grew, oxygen was consumed, and the redox potential decreased to values reaching -600 mV. The small modified ZVI particles provide substantial reactive surface area that, in the conditions of the study, directly stimulates chemical dechlorination and cleanup of the contaminated area without accumulation of undesirable breakdown products. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of ZVI microparticles in reducing carbon tetrachloride under laboratory and field conditions. Changes in concentrations and in chemical and physical parameters were monitored to determine the role of the organic products in the reductive dechlorination reaction. Results of laboratory and field studies are presented. http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayHTMLArticleforfree.cf
m?JournalCode=EM&Year=2010&ManuscriptID=c0em00039f&Iss=Advance_Article

Li, L. and C.H. Benson, Jackson State Univ., Jackson, MS.
Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol 181 Nos 1-3, p 170-189, 2010

Groundwater flow and geochemical reactive transport models were used to assess the effectiveness of five strategies implemented to limit fouling and to enhance the long-term hydraulic behavior of continuous-wall permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) containing granular zero-valent iron (ZVI). The flow model accounted for geological heterogeneity, and the reactive transport model included a geochemical algorithm for simulating iron corrosion and mineral precipitation reactions observed in ZVI PRBs. The five strategies evaluated are pea gravel equalization zones, a sacrificial pre-treatment zone, pH adjustment, large ZVI particles, and mechanical treatment. Simulations show that installation of pea gravel equalization zones results in flow equalization and a more uniform distribution of residence times within the PRB. Residence times within the PRB are less affected by mineral precipitation when a pre-treatment zone is employed. pH adjustment limits the total amount of hydroxide ions in groundwater to reduce porosity reduction and to retain larger residence times. Larger ZVI particles reduce porosity reduction as a result of the smaller iron surface area for iron corrosion and retain longer residence time. Mechanical treatment redistributes the porosity uniformly throughout the PRB over time, which is effective in maintaining residence time.

Hudak, P.F., Univ. of North Texas.
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol 84 No 4, p 418-421, 2010

With the aid of a groundwater flow and mass transport model, different configurations of trenches with permeable backfill were compared for capturing hypothetical contaminant plumes in homogeneous and heterogeneous unconfined aquifers. The evaluation included longitudinal (parallel to groundwater flow), as well as conventional transverse (perpendicular to groundwater flow) trench configurations. Alternate trench configurations intercepted the leading tip of an initial contaminant plume and had identical length, equal to the cross-gradient width of the plume. A longitudinal trench required 31% less time than its transverse counterpart to remediate a homogeneous aquifer. By contrast, in simulated heterogeneous aquifers, longitudinal remediation timeframes ranged from 41% less to 33% more than transverse trenches. Results suggest that longitudinal trenches might be a viable alternative for narrow contaminant plumes under low groundwater velocity but are impractical for plumes with wide leading tips or in complex heterogeneous aquifers with divergent flow.

Bolster, D., M. Barahona, M. Dentz, D. Fernandez-Garcia, X. Sanchez-Vila, P. Trinchero, C. Valhondo, and D.M. Tartakovsky.
Water Resources Research, Vol 45, 10 pp, W06413, 2009

Heterogeneity of subsurface environments and insufficient site characterization are some of the reasons why decisions about groundwater exploitation and remediation have to be made under uncertainty. A typical decision maker chooses between several alternative remediation strategies by balancing their respective costs with the probability of their success or failure. The authors conducted a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) to determine the likelihood of the success of a permeable reactive barrier, one of the leading approaches to groundwater remediation. While PRA is used extensively in many engineering fields, its applications in hydrogeology are scarce, likely because rigorous PRA requires quantification of structural and parametric uncertainties inherent in predictions of subsurface flow and transport. The paper shows how PRA can facilitate a comprehensive uncertainty quantification for complex subsurface phenomena by identifying key transport processes contributing to a barrier's failure, each of which is amenable to uncertainty analysis. Probability of failure of a remediation strategy is computed by combining independent and conditional probabilities of failure of each process. Individual probabilities can be evaluated either analytically or numerically or inferred from expert opinion. http://www.nd.edu/~bolster/files/Download/13%20-%20Risk%20in%20Groundwat
er.pdf

Schaefer, C.E., R.M. Towne, S. Vainberg, J.E. McCray, and R.J. Steffan.
Environmental Science & Technology, Vol 44 No 13, p 4958-4964, 2010

Lab experiments were performed in discretely fractured sandstone blocks to evaluate the use of bioaugmentation to treat residual PCE DNAPL. Significant dechlorination of PCE and growth of Dehalococcoides spp. (DHC) occurred within the fractures. DNAPL dissolution was enhanced during bioaugmentation by up to a factor of approximately 3.5, with dissolved PCE concentrations at or near aqueous solubility. The extent of dechlorination and DNAPL dissolution enhancement were dependent upon the fracture characteristics, residence time in the fractures, and dissolved concentration of PCE. No relationship was observed between DHC concentrations exiting the fracture and the observed extents of PCE dechlorination and DNAPL dissolution. Measured DHC concentrations exiting the fracture increased with increasing flow rate and bioaugmentation dosage, suggesting that these parameters might be important for distribution of DHC to treat dissolved-phase chlorinated ethenes migrating downgradient of the DNAPL source. Bioaugmentation dosage for the DHC dosages and conditions studied did not have a measurable impact on DNAPL dissolution or dechlorination within the fractures themselves. Overall, the results indicate that bioaugmentation is potentially a viable remedial option for treating DNAPL sources in bedrock.

Hoffmann, R, R. Bernier, S. Smith, and S. McMillen, Chevron, Australia.
Society of Petroleum Engineers International Conference on Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, 12-14 April 2010, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Vol 3, p 1955-1969, 2010

Bioremediation is often the preferred method for remediating crude-oil contaminated soil at exploration and production facilities because it is proven, cost-effective, robust, and performed on location; however, some soils are not amenable to this treatment. A four-step protocol, including predictive equations, has been developed to assess the feasibility of ex situ bioremediation for oil-contaminated soil, enabling site managers potentially to forego expensive and time-consuming biotreatability trials. First, representative samples are tested for conditions that would preclude bioremediation or necessitate pre-treatment, special management, or up-front lab treatability studies. The source crude and soil-based residual hydrocarbons are characterized geochemically to determine the inherent biodegradability of the crude and amount of hydrocarbon that has already been passively biodegraded or removed by an abiotic mechanism such as volatilization. A database of first-order rate constants characterizes the biotreatment kinetics. In steps two and three, compositional and rate data are used to estimate the duration of treatment and endpoint achievable by ex situ bioremediation. The predictive endpoint equation is derived from first principles, empirically corrected using field-scale data, and validated at full scale for source condensates and crude oils ranging from 14 to 45° API. The degree of validation suggests the predictive equations are suitable for making decisions on bioremediation potential, thereby eliminating the need for lab and pilot treatability studies in many cases. If the duration and extent of removal predicted would fulfill the project's objectives, the final configuration (land treatment or composting) is selected in step four, considering schedule and spatial constraints and the properties the bioremediated soil needs to possess to support the designated end use. As with any predictive methodology, the practitioner must exercise caution to identify any confounding factors that could constrain the rate or degree of removal. This paper presents the biotreatability protocol, predictive equations for inferring bioremediation feasibility from compositional information, and other lessons learned from crude oil bioremediation projects performed over the last 20 years.

Indriolo, J., G.-N. Na, D. Ellis, D.E. Salt, and J.A. Banks.
Plant Cell [online access prior to print publication] 2010

By isolating a gene that allows a type of fern to tolerate high levels of arsenic, researchers from Purdue University, the University of Toronto, and West Virginia University hope to use the finding to create plants that can clean up arsenic-contaminated soil and water. The fern Pteris vittata can tolerate 100 to 1,000 times more arsenic than other plants. The scientists uncovered what may have been an evolutionary genetic event that creates an arsenic pump of sorts in the fern: it extracts the arsenic out of the soil and puts it in the fronds. Lacking a genome sequenced for P. vittata, the researchers used a method of gene identification called yeast functional complementation. They combined thousands of different P. vittata genes into thousands of yeast cells that were missing a gene that makes them tolerant to arsenic. The yeast was exposed to arsenic, with most of it dying. The yeast strains that lived had picked up the genes from the fern that convey arsenic resistance. To confirm that this was the correct gene, its function was knocked down and the plant was exposed to arsenic. Without the gene functioning properly, the plant could not tolerate arsenic. Other plants, such as Arabidopsis, were examined for the gene, but it was not found in that or any other flowering plant. The protein encoded by this gene was found to end up in the membrane of the plant cell's vacuole. The protein acts as a pump, moving arsenic into the cell and storing it away from the cytoplasm so that it does not affect the plant. Understanding how P. vittata functions with arsenic could lead to ways to clean up arsenic-contaminated land as the genes for arsenic tolerance potentially could be inserted into other types of plants used for phytoextraction. For example, rice plants could be modified with the gene to store arsenic in the roots of plants—instead of rice grains—in contaminated paddies. The next step in the research is to put the arsenic-tolerance gene from P. vittata into Arabidopsis to see whether it gives the new plant the same characteristics. The National Science Foundation funded the research. http://www.plantcell.org/cgi/reprint/tpc.109.069773v1

Johnson, J.L., J.L. Davis, and C.C. Nestler.
ERDC/EL TR-10-10, 50 pp, June 2010

Blow-in-place operations provide a proven method of handling unexploded ordnance, but they also deliver significant amounts of munitions constituent residues to the environment. These residues can persist and affect environmental sustainability on training ranges. Alkaline hydrolysis is a well-established method for the destruction of explosives compounds. This report describes a study conducted to measure the efficacy of on-site treatment of munitions constituents with hydrated lime following blow-in-place operations. Samples taken immediately following topical application of hydrated lime show that lime has an immediate effect on RDX concentration; however, some munitions residues remained at the end of the study, possibly due to poor contact with the lime. This study highlighted three challenges to consider as technology development moves forward on alkaline treatment of munitions constituents. First, inconsistent RDX concentrations obscured the results of the field study. Second, the application method will make an important impact on the success of the treatment. Finally, application rates will need to be tailored to individual applications so that enough alkaline material is delivered to effect complete destruction of the constituents of concern. http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/eltr10-10.pdf

Gent, D.B., J.L. Johnson, D.R. Felt, E. Holland, S. May, S.L. Larson, and G. O'Connor.
ERDC/EL TR-10-8, 150 pp, June 2010

When the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation made known its intention to establish a total maximum daily load for the mass of RDX that can be discharged into the Holston River, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center conducted a project to demonstrate two technologies—alkaline hydrolysis and direct electrochemical reduction—as potential pretreatment systems for wastewater containing munitions constituents. Three lab-scale pilot reactors were constructed and tested: a 115-L semi-batch alkaline hydrolysis system, a 106-L rotating electrode batch electrochemical treatment system, and a 300-mL/min packed electrode continuous flow electrochemical treatment system. All three pilot reactors were effective in removing RDX from process wastewater taken from the Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Kingston, Tennessee. A 10,000 gallon per day (gpd) alkaline treatment system could be built for $439,200, with a corresponding estimated annual operating cost of $296,737. Based on the lab results, a 10,000-gpd rotating electrode system could be built for $687,520, with an annual operating cost of $184,599. A packed electrode continuous flow reactor could be built for $1,774,000, with an annual operating cost of $82,308. The present costs of the evaluated treatment systems are $2.81M, $2.16M, and $2.43M for an alkaline system, a rotating electrode system, and a packed electrode system, respectively. Given the potential of electrochemical treatment systems to operate at much lower costs, continued development and demonstration of electrochemical treatment systems is warranted. http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/trel10-8.pdf

Medina, V.F., S.A. Waisner, A.B. Morrow, A.D. Butler, D.R. Johnson, A. Harrison, and C.C. Nestler.
ERDC/EL TR-09-20, 50 pp, Dec 2009

Chlordane was used for termite prevention in Air Force housing areas, where it was sprayed heavily on the ground around building exteriors. Base closure regulations require the Air Force to assess residual chlordane in the soil. A team examined two soil types containing chlordane residuals: a silty sand and a sand soil type from housing areas at McGuire AFB, New Jersey, and Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, respectively. Using these two soils, chlordane leachability was evaluated along with its potential for chemical or biological degradation. Leachability was tested using four different procedures. The potential for chemical remediation was evaluated by alkaline hydrolysis and persulfate oxidation. The potential of biodegradation was evaluated by composting with spent mushroom waste. Additionally, the potential toxicity of the chlordane was assessed using plant and earthworm bioassays. The results of these investigations indicated that aged chlordane in the soil is not likely to desorb and migrate under either landfill or physiological conditions. Chlordane in solution was susceptible to photodegradation and alkaline hydrolysis, while chlordane in soil was not, nor was it susceptible to persulfate oxidation. Composting showed promise as a long-term ex situ remediation strategy. Bio-uptake results indicated that chlordane had no adverse effect on seed germination, root length, or shoot length, although the plants did take up chlordane from the soil and translocate it to the shoots. The presence of chlordane did not affect earthworm mortality, but did affect weight loss and reproductive success. http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/trel09-20.pdf

Paul, A.P., D.K. Maurer, K.G. Stollenwerk, and A.H. Welch.
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5161, 30 pp, 2010

Conventional arsenic remediation strategies primarily involve aboveground treatment that includes costs involved in the disposal of sludge material. The primary advantages of in situ remediation are that building and maintaining a large treatment facility is not necessary, plus costs associated with sludge disposal are eliminated. A two-phase study was implemented to address the feasibility of in situ arsenic remediation in Douglas County, Nevada, where arsenic concentrations in groundwater range from 1 to 85 µg/L. The primary arsenic species in groundwater at >250 ft from land surface is arsenite; however, arsenate predominates in the upper 150 ft of the aquifer. Where arsenite is the primary form of arsenic, the oxidation of arsenite to arsenate is necessary. The results of the first phase of this investigation indicated that arsenic concentrations can be remediated to below the drinking-water standard (i.e., <10 µg/L) using aeration, chlorination, iron, and pH adjustment. Arsenic concentrations were remediated to <10 µg/L in groundwater from the shallow and deep aquifer when iron concentrations of 3 to 6 mg/L and pH adjustments to <6 were used. Because of the rapid depletion of dissolved oxygen, the secondary drinking-water standards for iron (300 mg/L) and manganese (100 µg/L) were exceeded during treatment. Treatment was more effective in the shallow well as indicated by a greater recovery of water meeting the arsenic standard. The second phase of this study involved lab and field tests. During the 147-day laboratory experiment, the primary mechanism of arsenic removal was through coprecipitation with iron oxide. Calculations based on the results of the column experiments and assuming 10 and 30% porosity indicated that treatment of ~237,000 to 714,000 gallons of water would be required to reach the treatment goal. During the first Phase 2 field experiment, effective injection of treated groundwater back into the aquifer was prevented by clogging, likely caused by entrained gases and the fine texture (sand, clay, and gravel) of the aquifer sediments. Only 3,760 gallons of treated water were injected, and no arsenic remediation was apparent immediately following. About 24 hours after terminating the experiment, however, arsenic concentrations in groundwater collected from one of the injection wells showed a decrease from about 30 to 15 mg/L, indicating that some remediation had taken place. In agreement with the laboratory column experiments, pre-aeration prevented the exceedance of the secondary drinking-water standards for iron and manganese. Because of complications associated with system hydraulics, no additional experiments were performed. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5161/

Cupples, A.M., Michigan State Univ.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), Project ER-1606, 34 pp, Feb 2010

The objective of SERDP Project ER-1606 was to identify the microorganisms responsible for the biodegradation of RDX in complex, mixed culture samples through the application of stable isotope probing (SIP). This approach identifies microorganisms responsible for a particular function without cultivation, thereby supporting the study of RDX degradation under conditions similar to those at contaminated sites. Additionally, only active organisms are targeted. RDX-degrading microcosms were exposed to labeled RDX. After an incubation period, DNA was extracted, ultracentrifuged (to separate the labeled nucleic acid from the unlabeled background nucleic acid), and then molecular analysis steps (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism [TRFLP], 16S rRNA gene sequencing) were performed to identify the organisms responsible for label uptake from RDX. Two RDX concentrations were examined (10 and 20 ppm), but only the higher concentration resulted in a significant SIP signal. In these ultracentrifugation fractions only one TRFLP fragment (260 bp) showed a reliable trend of label uptake. Specifically, this fragment was of higher relative abundance in the heavier fractions from labeled samples compared to the heavier fractions from the unlabeled control samples. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated the organisms represented by fragment 260 bp belonged to either the Sphingobacteria or the Acidobacteria. In conclusion, the proof-of-concept was achieved and the methods could be applied to other RDX-transforming cultures or environmental samples to determine additional RDX degraders in complex samples and thus biomarkers for assessing the feasibility of natural attenuation. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/8515/104439/file/ER-1606-FR.
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Siegrist, R., R. Oesterreich, L. Woods, and M. Crimi.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), Project ER-1490, 116 pp, Apr 2010

This report describes the methods and results of a SERDP-sponsored project that was carried out to determine (1) the effects that sampling methods can have on the accuracy of measurements made for chlorinated solvents in samples of porous media collected from intact cores, and (2) the effects that remediation agents can have on the ability to infer chlorinated solvent mass levels in the subsurface based on groundwater concentration data. The results of SERDP Project ER-1490 are intended to help delineate the limitations of current standard practices and help guide development of improved monitoring and assessment methods. The accuracy of VOC measurements was investigated using an experimental apparatus packed with sandy porous media and contaminated with known levels of VOCs, which could be sampled using different methods under variable, but controlled, conditions. Five sampling methods were examined representing different degrees of porous media disaggregation and duration of atmospheric exposure (MDE) that can occur during sample acquisition and preservation in the field. Three pervasive chlorinated solvents—PCE, TCE, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane—were studied at low and high concentration levels (low = dissolved and sorbed phases; high = dissolved, sorbed, and nonaqueous phases). Five porous media temperatures were examined ranging from 5 to 80°C to represent ambient or thermal remediation conditions, and two water saturation levels were used to mimic vadose zone and groundwater zone conditions. The results demonstrated that sampling method attributes can affect the accuracy of VOC measurements in porous media by causing negative bias in VOC concentration data ranging from near 0 to 90% or more. The magnitude of the negative bias is highly dependent on the attributes of the sampling method used (i.e., level of MDE) and interactions with key contaminant properties and environmental conditions (i.e., VOC KH, temperature, water saturation level). In situ remediation technologies have the potential to alter subsurface properties, which can affect the behavior of chlorinated VOCs, including DNAPLs. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/8519/104473/file/ER-1490-FR.
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Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, 215 pp, July 2010

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup's Indoor Air Workgroup is in the process of developing guidance for addressing vapor intrusion (VI) at properties with soil or groundwater contamination. To inform its analysis and decision making, MassDEP engaged a contractor to conduct a national survey of available guidance and best practices for addressing VI concerns in other states. The survey also included the guidance provided by U.S. EPA, the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council, and the American Society for Testing and Materials. MassDEP expressed specific interest in learning about the use of physical vapor barriers to mitigate vapor intrusion; therefore, the project also encompassed research on commercially available contaminated soil vapor barrier products and their use. This report presents the results of the state and agency survey and the vapor barrier research. The report is organized as follows: Section 2 discusses the survey of state and agency vapor intrusion practices; Section 3 discusses the vapor barrier research and findings; and Section 4 presents a summary of key findings. http://indoorairproject.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/final-massdep-vi-rep
ort-072710.pdf

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 114 pp, May 2010

The intrusion of subsurface vapors into buildings is one of many exposure pathways that must be considered in assessing human health risk posed by releases of hazardous substances and petroleum. In this document, the Ohio EPA, Division of Emergency and Remedial Response, recommends a stepwise approach and sampling methodologies for evaluating vapor intrusion. This document was developed using established guidance from U.S. EPA, the Interstate Technology Resource Council, the American Society of Testing and Materials, and other states, modified for the purposes of complying with remedial response and voluntary actions in Ohio. In some instances, the authors used exact phrasing from California's guidance, Interim Final Guidance for the Evaluation and Mitigation of Subsurface Vapor Intrusion to Indoor Air, December 2004, as a template. http://www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/30/rules/VI%20guidance.pdf

Kutzman, R.S. and D.M. Gimon (NOBLIS, San Antonio, TX); J.P. Hinz (Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks City Base, TX). AFRL-SA-BR-SR-2010-0001, 564 pp, 2010

U.S. EPA is in the process of updating the toxicity information in its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) that is greater than 10 years old. The IRIS toxicity values are elements of the risk assessments used to establish exposure limits and cleanup standards at hazardous waste sites, and revisions to these values can have implications for Defense activities both in terms of guidance for monitoring human health and occupational exposures, as well as the cost of cleanup at Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) sites. To estimate the potential Defense interest in the IRIS chemicals due for updates, DoD estimated the overall occurrence of these chemicals and their occurrence at ERP sites at concentrations greater than the EPA Region 9 regional screening levels (RSLs). The five IRIS chemicals most frequently noted in DoD Hazardous Material Information Resource System purchases are ethylbenzene, ethylene glycol, nickel, methanol, and manganese. The five IRIS chemicals most frequently found at ERP sites at concentrations exceeding the RSLs are arsenic, naphthalene, benzo[a]pyrene, trichloroethene, and tetrachloroethene. The ranking of all of the IRIS chemicals due for updating is provided in the report. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA521523

Kalkhoff, S.J., S.J. Stetson, K.D. Lund, R.B. Wanty, and G.L. Linder.
U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 495, 43 pp with appendix, 2010

This report presents data collected as part of a reconnaissance study to evaluate the occurrence of perchlorate in rivers and streams and in shallow aquifers in selected areas of the United States. Perchlorate, a component in rocket fuels, fireworks, and some explosives is soluble in water and persists in soils and water for long periods. It is biologically active at relatively low levels in the environment, and has been identified as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. The purpose of this reconnaissance was to determine the occurrence of perchlorate in agricultural areas of the Midwestern and North-Central United States and in arid Central and Western parts of the United States. Samples were collected from 171 sites on rivers and streams and 146 sites from wells during the summer and early fall of 2004. Samples were collected from surface-water sites in 19 states and from wells in 5 states. Perchlorate was detected in samples collected in 15 states and was detected in 34 of 182 samples from rivers and streams and in 64 of 148 groundwater samples at concentrations equal to or greater than 0.4 µg/L. Perchlorate concentrations were 1.0 µg/L or greater in surface-water samples from seven states and in groundwater samples in four states. Only one surface-water and one groundwater sample had concentrations greater than 5.0 µg/L. Perchlorate concentrations in follow-up samples collected from 1 to 3 months after the initial sample were unchanged at four of five stream sites. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/495/

Bailey, S.E., T.J. Estes, P.R. Schroeder, T.E. Myers, J.D. Rosati, T.L. Welp, L.T. Lee, W.V. Gwin, and D.E. Averett. ERDC TN-DOER-D10, 24 pp, July 2010

Dredged material confined disposal facilities (CDFs) represent a major capital and operating investment for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). As such, they need to be managed in a manner that maximizes the useful life of the facilities, as well as economic, material, and manpower resources. In some areas of the United States, confined disposal capacity for dredged material is finite and dwindling. Limited CDF storage capacity is expected to present major challenges to the Corps' navigation dredging mission in the future. A strategy for prolonging the life of U.S. disposal facilities is critical to preserving the continued ability to dredge and maintain the nation's navigation. What practical measures can be used to define sustainability as it applies to CDFs? On a most basic level, "what goes in must come out." If this balance could be achieved, CDFs would be infinitely sustainable; however, the target appears to be unreachable, given that some contaminated sediments require either treatment (which is typically economically infeasible) or permanent containment. Thus, even if outgoing material is maximized and incoming material is minimized, the life of a CDF is ultimately finite. The goal of sustainability as it applies to CDFs is to manage dredged material disposal in such a manner that 1) disposal capacity is optimized; 2) dredging operations are not limited by disposal capacity; 3) operations are economically feasible now as well as in the future; and 4) adverse environmental impacts are minimized and benefits maximized. Three management alternatives for dredged material currently exist: open-water disposal, confined (diked) disposal, and beneficial use. While open-water disposal is often the preferred alternative on the basis of least cost, it is not environmentally acceptable to all stakeholders. Beneficial or productive use of the dredged material, such as for habitat creation or restoration, or for beach nourishment, offers environmental advantages by conserving a resource. This document takes a broad look at dredging and disposal and the factors relevant to the use and sustainability of CDFs. The objectives of this work are to identify gaps that should be addressed to advance the practice of sustainable CDF management and ultimately, dredging sustainability. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA525153

Cole, R.A., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Inst. for Water Resources, Alexandria, VA.
ERDC/EL TR-10-12, 52 pp, July 2010

A new environmental benefit metric is described and proposed for use in planning environmental quality improvement projects using an ecosystem restoration approach. Called the Biodiversity Security Index (BSI), the metric indicates the value gained from securing the Nation's native species from decline toward extinction by providing more natural ecosystem support. The BSI takes different forms of expression depending on ecosystem restoration project reconnaissance, feasibility study, and program budget planning needs. In its simplest form, the index score is the sum of indicator species identified to be insecure in the ecosystem planned for restoration. The most advanced form requires estimates of the number of viable population units restored and includes indicators of species distinctiveness, based on taxonomic differences and unmanaged risk of species recovery failure. Policy-determined weights are applied to reflect the relative importance placed on species security, species distinctiveness, and risk of viable population units not being recovered as planned. The metric appears to be consistent with federal project planning and feasibility study objectives described in Corps planning policy. Its direct indication of benefits and comparability across projects are major advantages over other metrics now in use. http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/trel10-12.pdf

Hooda, P. (ed.).
John Wiley and Sons Ltd., ISBN: 978-1-4051-6037-7, 616 pp, 2010

Trace elements occur naturally in soil. Some elements are essential nutrients for plant growth, as well as human and animal health; however, at elevated levels, all trace elements become potentially toxic. Anthropogenic input of trace elements into the natural environment therefore poses a range of ecological and health problems. As a result of their persistence and potential toxicity, trace elements continue to receive widespread scientific and legislative attention. This text reviews the latest research in the field, providing a comprehensive overview of the chemistry, analysis, fate, and regulation of trace elements in soil, as well as remediation strategies for contaminated soil. Each chapter has been prepared by an expert in the field. The book is divided into four sections. The section on basic principles, processes, sampling, and analytical aspects presents an overview that includes general soil chemistry, soil sampling, analysis, fractionation, and speciation. The section on long-term issues, impacts, and predictive modeling reviews major sources of metal inputs, the impact on soil ecology, trace element deficient soils, and chemical speciation modeling. The section on bioavailability, risk assessment, and remediation discusses bioavailability, regulatory limits, and cleanup of contaminated soil via phytoremediation and trace element immobilization. The section on characteristics and behavior of individual elements is written as an authoritative guide for scientists working in soil science, geochemistry, environmental science, and analytical chemistry. The book is also a resource for professionals involved in land management, environmental planning, protection, and regulation. Chapters can be purchased individually. A detailed table of contents is available on the Wiley website at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/bookhome/123350554

McMahon, P.B., T.K. Cowdery, F.H. Chapelle, and B.C. Jurgens.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009-3041, 6 pp, 2009

Reduction/oxidation (redox) processes affect the quality of groundwater in all aquifer systems. Redox processes can alternately mobilize or immobilize potentially toxic metals associated with naturally occurring aquifer materials, contribute to the degradation or preservation of anthropogenic contaminants, and generate undesirable byproducts, such as dissolved manganese (Mn²⁺), ferrous iron (Fe²⁺), hydrogen sulfide, and methane. Determining the kinds of redox processes that occur in an aquifer system, documenting their spatial distribution, and understanding how they affect concentrations of natural or anthropogenic contaminants are central to assessing and predicting the chemical quality of groundwater. The framework presented in Table 1 of this fact sheet allows for an analysis of redox processes in aquifer systems using five chemical parameters that are relatively inexpensive and easy to measure. A Microsoft Excel workbook was created to automate implementation of the framework to large data sets. The redox framework can be used to address practical water-quality issues such as aquifer vulnerability to contamination and contamination of water-supply wells. Given the interpretive power of the redox framework and relative ease of application, the five chemical parameters (O₂, NO₃^–, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and SO₄^2–) should be included in routine water-quality monitoring programs whenever possible. Fact sheet at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2009/3041/
Additional information and several journal papers on the development of redox analysis can be found at http://oh.water.usgs.gov/tanc/NAWQATANCRedox.htm
The framework is described in detail in An Excel® Workbook for Identifying Redox Processes in Ground Water, USGS Open-File Report 2009-1004, http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1004/

Barlock, V. and J. Fontana, Vista GeoScience.
E2S2 2010: Environment, Energy Security, and Sustainability Symposium and Exhibition, 14-17 June 2010, Denver, Colorado. National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Abstract 10053, 50 presentation slides, 2010

Hydraulic fracturing has been applied in the oil and gas industry for decades as a technique to increase formation porosity, fluid flow, and recovery of petroleum and natural gas. Beginning in the mid-90s and accelerated by grants offered by DOE and DoD, patented methods were developed that made the hydrofracturing technology applicable to shallow environments (typically less than 150 feet bgs). The primary purpose, to install enhanced in situ treatment zones in contaminated soil and groundwater zones to enhance formation permeability, delivery rates, and radius of influence of chemical oxidation of contaminants, as well as bioaugmentation and/or biostimulation of indigenous microbes. The original patent on this technology, held by Seth Hunt of Foremost Solutions, was expanded to include any chemical, biological, and bio-chemical treatment of contaminated soil or groundwater. Various proppants can be used hold the fractures open, which allows more contact time with the contaminant and creates an environment that accelerates the remediation process. Proprietary and patented tooling, proppant, and technology refinements are presented that have allowed previously inaccessible impacted media to be fractured and remediated. Hydraulically emplaced Chem-Net™ and Bio-Net™ systems can include chemical oxidants, reductive treatments, aerobic and anaerobic biological systems, bioaugmentation, and combinations of chemical and biological treatments, and also enable conversion of the treatment system from one type to another. These systems can be installed economically using either direct-push technology (DPT) in alluvial or weathered formations, or hollow stem auger or air/mud-rotary methods in harder bedrock formations. Both methods allow for the placement of permanent and temporary injection and monitoring points for future remedial treatments and performance monitoring. DPT-assisted injections and hydraulic fracturing are becoming the most widely accepted means of enhancing permeability and aquifer storage and delivering a wide variety of chemical and biological amendments for remediation. Single versus multiple-packer placement and borehole sizing and DPT tool selection are critical for emplacing injectate and fractures effectively in tight cohesive soils and fractured bedrock. http://e2s2.ndia.org/schedule/Documents/Abstracts/10053.pdf

International Atomic Energy Agency, Technical Reports Series No. 472, 208 pp, 2010

This report covers radionuclide transfer in the terrestrial and freshwater environments. The data collected here are relevant to the transfer of radionuclides through food chains to humans and are not specifically addressed to radionuclide transfers to non-human species, although in many situations they are also applicable for assessments of radionuclide transfer to non-human species. The data relate mainly to equilibrium conditions, i.e., conditions where equilibrium has been established between the movements of radionuclides into and out of the compartments of the environment; however, some data relevant to time-dependent radionuclide transfer in the environment are also included. This publication focuses on transfer parameter values; the models in which they are used generally are not described here, but that information is supported by IAEA-TECDOC-1616, Quantification of Radionuclide Transfers in Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments for Radiological Assessments, which contains the full collection of the reviewed data and provides radioecological concepts and models facilitating the use of these values in specific situations. This publication is intended to supplement existing IAEA reports on environmental assessment methodologies. http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/trs472_web.pdf