Cleanup Objectives: Contain 15-acre hazardous waste landfill

Greener Remediation Strategy:

Installed a four-foot-thick monolithic evapotranspiration cover in semiarid climate

• Uses biosolids from on-site wastewater treatment plant
• Prevented erosion through use of straw mulch
• Revegetated with native prairie grass resistant to drought and disease
• Provided uncompacted soil more conducive to plant growth than conventional earthen covers

Results:

• Reduced potential for desiccation
• Reclaimed sludge otherwise destined for landfill disposal
• Enhances visual aesthetics contrasting to adjacent asphalt cover
• Saved nearly $1.5 million in construction costs compared to a conventional cover
• Incurs annual O&M costs averaging $75,000

Property End Use: Open space