Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Technology Transfer Property IB-2385, 2008

John Coates and Cameron Thrash of Berkeley Lab have developed a new xenobiotics bioremediation system that can be used to treat contaminated soil and water, including household, industrial, and agricultural waste streams containing perchlorate, chlorate, gasoline, monoaromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, polychlorinated benzenes, heavy metals, radionuclides, pesticides, herbicides, and textile dyes. This remediation system offers a cost-effective, energy-efficient, chemical-free, and flexible alternative to existing bioremediation systems. While conventional bioelectrical remediation methods rely on the addition of chemicals to provide electron donors or acceptors to stimulate the remediative organism's metabolic process, the Berkeley Lab system uses an electrical current to electrolyze the contaminated liquid in a single-chamber bioreactor, producing hydrogen gas at the cathode surface and oxygen gas at the anode surface. The presence of these bioavailable gases stimulates the activity of diverse microorganisms to biodegrade or biotransform an extensive range of xenobiotics, such as chlorinated ethenes, halogenated compounds, and dioxins, into benign end products. The invention also allows users to control electron donor or acceptor production by adjusting the electrical current. This innovative one-step process maintains an environment that stimulates the microorganisms' biological metabolism of contaminants and eliminates problems typically associated with standard systems, such as biofouling resulting from the overgrowth of microorganisms. This patent-pending technology is available for licensing or collaborative research. More information at http://www.lbl.gov/Tech-Transfer/techs/lbnl2385.html

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Technology Transfer Property CR-2219, 2008

Michael D. Sohn and David M. Lorenzetti of Berkeley Lab have developed the first probabilistic algorithm for siting indoor samplers that detect airborne bio-agents. The PASS (Probabilistic Approach to Sampler Siting) algorithm maximizes the probability of detecting a release. Specifically, the system chooses sampler locations to maximize the chance of detecting a release from a suite of relevant scenarios, subject to constraints such as the number and type of samplers, maintenance costs, and other factors. Sohn and Lrenzetti published a paper about application of the PASS algorithm—Siting Bio-Samplers in Buildings—in the August 2007 issue of Risk Analysis (27(4):877-886). PASS provides sampler network designers with answers to a variety of questions: (1) What sampler placements maximize the probability of detecting a biological release, given the uncertainties and variability in the building and release conditions? (2) How does that probability improve with additional samplers? (3) What sampler characteristics maximize the detection probability? (4) What sampler placements minimize occupant exposures from an undetected attack? Unlike PASS, alternate sampler siting techniques do not account for the relative likelihoods associated with uncertain, variable, and interdependent conditions, such as the weather, release particulars (location, amount, timing), and mode of building operation, which means that they cannot optimize the sampler system, in a probabilistic sense, against the expected threats it should detect. By accounting for the relative probability of each release, PASS avoids excessive sensitivity to highly unlikely scenarios, such as a release in a secure area of the building, if that leads to worse performance under more likely conditions, such as a release at a ground-level air intake. The software is protected by copyright and is available for licensing. More information at http://www.lbl.gov/Tech-Transfer/techs/lbnl2219.html

World Business Council for Sustainable Development News Release, 8 Sep 2008

Bosch, DuPont, and Xerox Corporation have joined the Eco-Patent Commons, a first-of-its-kind business effort to help the environment by pledging environmentally beneficial patents to the public domain. The three companies and founding member Sony pledge environmentally friendly patents to the public. The newly pledged patents include a cutting-edge Xerox technology that significantly reduces the time and cost of removing hazardous waste from water and soil; a technology developed by DuPont that converts certain non-recyclable plastics into beneficial fertilizer; automotive technologies from Bosch that help lower fuel consumption, reduce emissions, or convert waste heat from vehicles into useful energy; and technologies developed by Sony that focus on the recycling of optical discs. The Eco-Patent Commons, launched by IBM, Nokia, Pitney Bowes, and Sony in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in January 2008, provides a unique opportunity for over 200 (at present) global business to make a difference by sharing innovation in support of sustainable development. The objectives of the Eco-Patent Commons are to facilitate the use of existing technologies to protect the environment and encourage collaboration between businesses that foster new innovations. These recent pledges more than double the number of environmentally friendly patents available to the public. The patents are available on a dedicated Web site hosted by the WBCSD at www.wbcsd.org/web/epc
          Patents pledged to the Eco-Patent Commons can involve innovations directly related to environmental solutions or innovations in manufacturing or business processes where the solution also provides an environmental benefit, such as pollution prevention or the more efficient use of materials or energy. Since the launch of the Eco-Patent Commons in January, many of the patent holders have been contacted directly about their patents and at least three patents have already been used by others. In addition to patents pledged by the three newest members of the Eco-Patent Commons, Sony has pledged three more patents to contribute further to environmental conservation. Optical discs are widely used as a recording media in the digital age, and these technologies enable them to be recycled by the retrieval of pigment composition and metal from the disc's reflective film.
          Most of the pledged patents from Bosch relate to automotive technology and include applications for energy and engine management in the vehicle, including the manufacture of injection systems and particulate filters. Among other uses, the patents may help lower fuel consumption, reduce emissions, or convert waste heat from vehicles into useful energy. DuPont has contributed four patents to the Eco-Patent Commons, one of which involves waste reduction technology that uses selected enzymes to accelerate the conversion of certain non-recyclable plastics to beneficial fertilizers. Plastics that are designed to be tough and durable for applications such as packaging, appliances, and small durable consumer goods can be decomposed quickly and completely using this technology, potentially reducing the amount of plastic that remains as landfill solid waste. The three other DuPont patents involve the company's Lux technology for pollution detection. When exposed to an environmental stress, such as a pollutant, the patented microorganism will produce light to indicate the presence of the pollutant. This new detection technology is useful in monitoring soil, air, and water quality, as well as in medical and industrial applications. Xerox has pledged 11 patents pertaining to a technology for rapid removal of toxic waste from soil and water—2-PHASE Extraction™—which has been used by Xerox to remove more than 98% of volatile organic solvents from shallow ground water in contaminated sites. The 2-PHASE Extraction™ system uses a strong vacuum that simultaneously removes both soil vapors and water in the form of mist. Xerox developed the 2-PHASE technology more than 15 years ago to remediate sites contaminated with volatile organic compounds more quickly and at lower cost that conventional remediation methods.

Cronin, Nancy, ipCapital Group.
GreenBiz.com, 16 Apr 2008

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) launched the Eco-Patent Commons in January 2008. The Eco-Patent Commons is an initiative to build an on-line, searchable repository for patents donated by companies for royalty-free use by anyone, without need for a license or purchase. The only limitation for the donated patents is that they should provide "environmental benefit," either directly (e.g., an air emissions treatment technology) or indirectly (e.g., a more energy-efficient manufacturing process). The objective is to promote technology, innovation sharing, and environmental improvement through the free use of these inventions. IBM, Sony, Pitney-Bowes, and Nokia are among the companies who have donated patents. The current initiative consists only of patented technologies, which due to the lengthy patent process are years old and may be cutting edge no longer. To increase access to recently developed technologies, the author argues that the Eco-Patent Commons should expand beyond patented ones by accepting new inventions made available through enabled invention disclosures. An enabled invention disclosure (also called a "defensive publication" or "technical bulletin") is a written description of an invention that has the same degree of detail as an issued patent. A well-written invention disclosure provides sufficient information to the reader to understand and use the invention. By using enabled invention disclosures to publish the invention, companies can save the cost of patenting while establishing a "prior art bar" to obtaining the patent and make it impossible for competitors to claim the invention as their own. Several Web site forums exist for publishing invention disclosures, such as www.ip.com
and www.researchdisclosure.com
Full article at http://www.greenbiz.com/column/2008/04/16/growing-eco-patent-commons-tru
ly-promote-green-innovation

Chemical Online, 25 Sep 2008

NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, has undertaken aggressive remediation of ground water and soil to address an area contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. To meet the challenge of removing the contamination despite the presence of underground utilities, piping, and infrastructure, NASA and consultant Tetra Tech chose RegenOx®, a non-corrosive and cost-effective in situ chemical oxidation technology developed by Regenesis (San Clemente, CA). The Launch Equipment Shop, part of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building complex, has conducted highly specialized manufacturing, fabrication, and assembly work for the space program since the early 1960s. Leaks from a 4,000-gallon underground fuel oil tank, subsequently decommissioned and removed, contaminated the soil and deposited a layer of light nonaqueous-phase liquid up to 15 inches thick on top of the ground water, with total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbon (TRPH) levels as high as 20,000 parts per million (ppm) in soil and 42 ppm in ground water. The tank and 178 tons of readily accessible contaminated soil were excavated and disposed of early on, but the harder-to-reach contaminated soil had to be left in place beneath and near the building's foundations where essential underground utilities are located. The cost of excavating the hard-to-reach soils was prohibitive at over $1 million. Most conventional in situ chemical oxidation chemistries also were ruled out due to their corrosivity and tendency to generate intense heat and/or explosive pressures. RegenOx®, however, is a non-corrosive, low-temperature, low-pressure chemical oxidation technology. This two-part product consists of an alkaline oxidizer powder and a liquid activator; combined, they produce chemical oxidation reactions that destroy a range of contaminants but pose no destructive risk to subsurface infrastructure and other equipment. The contractor injected approximately 50,000 pounds (137,000 gallons) of RegenOx® into the site via 52 injection wells. After treatment, the area of TRPH-impacted soils was reduced to approximately one-fourth its original size. Site-wide ground-water contaminant concentrations of TRPH also fell substantially, and the thickness of the free-product layer was reduced by 80%. The program originally called for a more costly soil-removal phase to address the free-product contamination, but the RegenOx® dosing was adjusted to handle the phase-separated material. Source: http://www.chemicalonline.com/article.mvc/NASA-Site-Uses-Advanced-In-Sit
u-Chemical-0001

Schulz, T. and V. Bertrand (Golder Associates Ltd.); L. Dyer (Public Works and Government Services Canada); B. O'Rae ( Indian and Northern Affairs Canada).
2008 RPIC Federal Contaminated Sites National Workshop, 28 April - May 1, Vancouver, BC. Real Property Institute of Canada, presentation: 23 slides, 2008

Tundra Mine is an abandoned underground gold mine under federal custody. Located in the Northwest Territories, 240 km northeast of Yellowknife, it was operated as a mine and mill from 1963 to 1968, and as a mill from 1983 to 1987, leaving behind a legacy of mine tailings, an arsenic-contaminated tailings pond, and soil contaminated by leaks from bunker oil and diesel fuel storage areas. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has reviewed various closure plans. The contractor is developing a remedial action plan (RAP) for the closure of Tundra Mine using a capillary break design tailings cover. A capillary cover is expected to come closest to achieving INAC's goal of a permanent, walk-away solution. This presentation describes the main aspects of the RAP, which incorporates treating the arsenic-rich water in the tailings pond, capping the tailings with the capillary break design cover, and bioremediating the contaminated soil. The tailings pond began as a small natural lake that was later diked to raise its level and submerge the tailings. The water in the lake must be drained to expose the tailings so that a soil cover can be placed over them; however, the arsenic concentration must be reduced prior to draining. Tests of various arsenic precipitation techniques at the bench scale are underway. Once the tailings pond water has been treated and drained, the sludge and exposed tailings will be covered. The hydrocarbon-contaminated soil will be excavated and placed in open bioremediation cells. Bioremediation has been proven to work at Northern sites and has the advantage of being a low-maintenance technology. The remediation action plan will be submitted to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for approval. Presentation slides through the meeting program at http://www.rpic-ibic.ca/en/activities/2008_FCS/paper_presentations/steam
_a.shtml

Bryant, D. and J. Wilson, Geo-Cleanse International, Inc., Matawan, NJ.
Abstracts: Subsurface Remediation Symposium, April 29, 2008. Central New York Association of Professional Geologists. 19 pp slide presentation, 2008

Fenton's reagent has been utilized commercially for in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for over 15 years. Two recent field applications have expanded the range of Fenton's reagent applications by combining it with complementary technologies to improve treatment and cost efficiency. At a former manufactured gas plant located in an urban area of Augusta, Georgia, the 5.4-acre site was contaminated with coal tar, much of which had been stabilized in situ. Coal tar also had migrated off site under several buildings, including a gasoline station, historic church, and private homes. ISCO was coupled with product recovery to accelerate treatment and reduce cost at one of the largest ISCO projects completed to date. The heat and circulation produced by an aggressive application of Fenton's reagent enhanced product recovery from adjacent wells at the same time as in situ destruction occurred. The entire two-year project, including pilot test and full-scale treatment, required installation of 731 injection wells and injection of over 2.2 million gallons of Fenton's reagent solution. The primary treatment objective—the elimination of nonaqueous-phase liquid—was achieved in every injection and monitoring well, with an estimated 88 to 98% reduction in contaminant mass. No buildings were demolished, and the treatment was achieved at significantly lower cost than could have been achieved using other options.
          At a site located in downtown Orlando, Florida, tetrachloroethene (PCE) levels as high as 14,000 µg/L in the ground water required remediation to less than 3 µg/L before construction could begin on the new Orlando Events Center. Allowing seven months from contracting to completion, the contractor developed a plan to implement Fenton's reagent ISCO as a primary treatment to address the bulk of the contaminant mass quickly, followed by permanganate ISCO as a secondary treatment to achieve the very low cleanup standard. A network of 72 injection wells was installed in December 2007 across the on-site plume area. The injection of 77,000 gallons of Fenton's reagent solution from January 2 through 26, 2008, was followed one week later by the injection of 20,350 gallons of permanganate solution from February 4 though 10. Field evidence indicated complete destruction of the contaminant mass. At completion of the first sampling event on February 14, PCE was non-detectable in all wells inside the treatment area. Presentation slides at http://redox-tech.com/Power%20Point%20PDFs/Field%20Applications%20of%20F
enton's%20Chemistry.pdf

U.S. EPA Region 2 News Release, 7 Aug 2008

U.S. EPA is proposing a plan to clean contaminated soil and ground water at the Emmell's Septic Landfill Superfund site in Galloway Township, New Jersey. The site formerly was used to dispose of septic waste and sewage sludge that reportedly was put into trenches and lagoons on the property. In addition to septic waste and sewage sludge, chemical wastes, drums of paint sludge, gas cylinders, and household garbage also were disposed of inappropriately at the site. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in July 1999, making it eligible for Superfund cleanup. Sampling and testing have shown that soil around the former disposal area is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and the ground water is contaminated with volatile organic compounds. EPA excavated and removed 435 drums, 11 compressed gas cylinders, and approximately 28,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the site in the summer and fall of 1999. EPA also installed a system to treat drinking water from an affected well at a nearby residence and connected 36 other impacted residences to a municipal water supply. According to the proposed plan, EPA will excavate and remove PCB-contaminated surface soil from the site property near the former disposal area. As part of the first phase of cleanup, contaminated ground water migrating from the site will be captured by two extraction wells and treated at an on-site facility currently under construction. In addition, EPA is proposing to use biosparging to address the portion of the ground-water plume not captured by the ground-water extraction wells. Using this approach, oxygen will be injected into the contaminated ground water, creating an ideal setting for indigenous microbes to break down vinyl chloride into harmless compounds. The Agency will monitor the ground water over the long term to verify the effectiveness of the cleanup.

U.S. EPA Region 9 News Release, 5 Feb 2008

U.S. EPA and Shell Oil Company have removed more than 23,000 pounds of hazardous toxins from the Del Amo Superfund Site Waste Pits near Torrance, California. The site was used as an industrial dump for a World War II-era synthetic rubber plant. After the war, the government sold the facility to Shell, which continued to operate the plant until 1972. Toxic waste, including benzene, naphthalene, and ethyl benzene, contaminated the underlying soil and ground water. To address the contamination, EPA approved Shell's final designs for a soil vapor extraction (SVE)/in situ bioventing system in September 2005. SVE uses a vacuum to extract vapors from the ground. In this system, the majority of the extracted vapors are re-injected underground with the addition of oxygen, which enables naturally occurring bacteria to flourish and consume the contamination. The remaining extracted vapors are sent through a carbon filtration system for cleansing before being discharged into the air. Shell's contractor constructed the system in 2006, and the system has been operating since August 2006. From August 2006 to December 2007, the treatment system removed approximately 23,035 pounds of benzene via degradation and adsorption. The system stops further contamination of area ground water, a potential drinking-water resource. EPA will continue to oversee the waste pits area cleanup effort, which is expected to take approximately 10 to 15 years.

Willits Environmental Remediation Trust, Fact Sheet No. 30, Nov 2007

This fact sheet summarizes the rationale and plan for implementing an Interim Remedial Action (IRA) to clean up ground water containing elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) beneath four areas of the former Remco Hydraulics Facility. The IRA calls for injecting a carbohydrate solution consisting of food-grade molasses, yeast, and tap water into the ground water within Willits Trust-owned property boundaries. Following injection, the reducing conditions created in the subsurface enable naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade and eventually eliminate VOCs (primarily tetrachloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and their daughter products) in and around the injection area. Results from a pilot study implemented at the facility in 2003 indicate the technology is an effective means for cleaning up VOCs in ground water beneath the site. The injection of food-grade molasses can accelerate the biodegradation of VOCs, resulting in their complete degradation to produce benign substances (water and carbon dioxide) within an estimated time frame of approximately three to five years. Injection of the molasses solution is expected to begin early in 2008. The quarterly monitoring program will begin after completion of the injection program. This fact sheet and many earlier project reports can be found at the Willits Environmental Remediation Trust Web site at http://www.willitstrust.org/

Simcik, Robert F. (Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA); R. Santos-Ebaugh (NASA KSC, FL).
The Sixth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, 19-22 May 2008, Monterey, California. 4 pp, 2008

Full-scale air sparging (AS) of trichloroflouromethane (TCFM)-contaminated ground water was conducted at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Although the site characterization did not identify free product, TCFM concentrations up to 500,000 µg/L suggested the presence of free product in the subsurface. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection ground-water cleanup target level for TCFM is 2,100 µg/L. Within a treatment area of roughly 9,500 square feet, the formation consisted of fine sand suitable for AS implementation. The treatment system installed in September 2005 consisted of 31 sparge wells screened at a depth of 48 feet below ground surface and installed in a grid pattern with 20-foot spacing. The sparge wells were divided into four well groups to enable air flow patterns alternating in 12-hour increments. Although the system was expected to require less than one year of operation to achieve the system objectives, identification of free product and the rate of reduction of contaminant concentrations indicated the need for continued system operation. A modification for the additional operation and evaluation was obtained, and the system was expanded based upon additional evaluation of the site. Six additional sparge wells were installed in March 2007 at the same interval as the identified contamination, rather than below it. Additional sparging directly in the zone of highest contamination is designed to promote aggressive movement of potential pockets of high concentrations of TCFM, resulting in more effective removal of the residual contamination at this site. Operation of the expanded air sparging system and monthly ground-water monitoring continues. Based on recent sampling results (March 2008), the average TCFM concentration in the three source-area ground-water wells has decreased 98.7% from the initial concentration. Paper at http://www.tetratech.com/StaticFile/PDFs/Papers%20&%20Articles/TCFM%20Pl
ume%20Remediation%20using%20Air%20Sparging.pdf

LaChance, J., R. Baker, and J. Bierschenk, TerraTherm, Inc., Fitchburg, MA.
Abstracts: Subsurface Remediation Symposium, 29 April 2008. Central New York Association of Professional Geologists, 2008

In Situ Thermal Desorption (ISTD) was used successfully to remediate three separate source areas at the Midler Avenue Redevelopment Brownfield Cleanup Program Project in Syracuse, New York. Formerly used for storage and heavy industry (foundry and metal manufacturing, the site covers approximately 22 acres that have been redeveloped since remediation into a commercial home improvement center. The contaminants of concern were perchloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), trans- and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC). DNAPL had been observed at the site in the treatment areas. The primary objective of the ISTD remediation project was to reduce the average soil contaminant concentrations within the target treatment zone to less than the standards established by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: PCE 5,600 µg/kg; TCE 2,800 µg/kg, trans-1,2-DCE 1,200 µg/kg, cis-1,2-DCE (no standard established), VC 800 µg/kg, and a combined chlorinated contaminant concentration of 10,400 µg/kg. TerraTherm designed and installed the ISTD system to treat three separate zones of soil and ground water ranging in area from 1,220 to 12,675 square ft and 13 to 20 ft deep. A system consisting of 288 heater wells, 25 horizontal vacuum extraction wells, and 30 temperature monitoring points was installed in the three treatment areas to address a total volume of 16,207 cubic yards. Installation and startup of the ISTD system was completed on schedule, and heating commenced in November 2006. Treatment of all three areas was complete by the end of September 2007 and confirmed with the collection and analysis of soil samples from each of the three areas. Demobilization of the ISTD equipment was completed in early October 2007.

CL:AIRE Technology Demonstration Project Report TDP17, 112 pp, 2008

Gaswork activities at this former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site (recorded back to the 19th century) had resulted in a present-day requirement to manage the associated risks of contaminant transport. The selected remediation strategy builds upon permeable reactive barrier (PRB) techniques. The project encountered technological challenges both in the application of engineered in situ bioremediation of MGP contaminants and in remedial activities undertaken at an active industrial site. Fortunately, the PRB technology enabled emplacement at an active site where most other remedial technologies could not have been used. The sequential reactive barrier (SEREBAR) technology removes priority pollutants by a combination of biodegradation and sorption processes. Site investigations identified contaminants—a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, phenols, cresols, complex cyanide, and ammonium ions—present in both the soil and ground water under anaerobic conditions. Dense nonaqueous-phase liquid accumulated within the alluvial gravel aquifer at three locations of the site and provided the main source for ground-water contamination. This project has demonstrated the first implementation, from the laboratory to the field scale, of a sequential biologic reactive barrier for in situ bioremediation of ground water at a former MGP site. The major benefit that SEREBAR brings, in contrast to virtually all the alternatives, is that the site can remain active during and after the remedial works. The flexibility of the reactor design allows for easy modification of fill material to treat a variety of ground-water contaminants. The design of the PRB comprises, in series, an interceptor and six reactive chambers. The first four chambers (two non-aerated, two aerated) were filled with sand to encourage microbial colonization. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is present in the final two chambers to remove any recalcitrant compounds. Biodegradation promotes microbial proliferation via aeration and biofilm attachment, GAC removes contaminants via sorption, and zero-valent iron alters the chemical contaminants to non-hazardous forms. To date, monitoring has revealed a removal efficiency better than 99.9%, of which 91% is attributed to microbial activity. All changes in ground-water flow rates through the SEREBAR are adequately contained. The sequential design employed in the SEREBAR reactor enables straightforward maintenance of the system. Technology Demonstration Project Report 17 is available to download on the CL:AIRE Premium Web site, which requires registration and payment: http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=200&It
emid=28

Eggers, K.W., A.A. Rees, J. Siegal, and R.L. Hobbs.
Remediation Journal, Vol 18 No 2, p 49-66, 2008

A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of PHOSter® technology for treating ground water contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The technology involves injecting a gaseous mixture of air, methane, and nutrients into ground water to stimulate the growth of methanotrophs, a naturally occurring microbial group that is capable of catalyzing the aerobic degradation of chlorinated solvents into nontoxic products. Injection operations were performed at one well for a period of three months. Six monitoring wells were utilized for ground-water and wellhead vapor monitoring and for ground-water and microbial sampling. In the five monitoring wells located within 44 feet of the injection well, dissolved oxygen concentrations increased to a range between 6 and 8 mg/L, and the biomass of target microbial groups increased by one to five orders of magnitude. In the monitoring well closest to the injection well, TCE concentrations decreased by an average of 92% to a level below the California primary maximum contaminant level of 5 µg/L.

Reisman, D. (U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH); T. Rutkowski, P. Smart, and J. Gusek (Golder Associates, Inc., Lakewood, CO).
Abstracts of the 2008 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Richmond, VA: New Opportunities to Apply Our Science, 14-19 June 2008.
ASMR, Lexington, KY. p 46, 2008

A pilot biochemical reactor (BCR) was designed and constructed to treat mine-influenced water issuing from an adit at a site in southern Colorado. The remote site receives an average of 400 inches (10.2 meters) of snowfall each season. The project objective is to operate and monitor a BCR on a year-round basis in a harsh mountain environment. The treatment and monitoring system has been constructed at an elevation of 11,000 feet above mean sea level. The site has limited winter accessibility due to snowfall; hence, a remote monitoring system was designed to collect samples and field parameters throughout winter months. An automated sampling system powered by solar cells is in place to sample the system influent and effluent on a weekly basis, and an elaborate Teledyne ISCO™ satellite monitoring system tracks data on an hourly basis and uploads the data to a Web site. Winter water samples will be gathered from the autosamplers in the spring and analyzed for metals. Fall influent and effluent water quality results from the treatment system include field parameters reported via satellite and metal concentrations from water quality samples. Due to the limited availability of data on biochemical and sulfate-reducing reactors operating in elevated and harsh winter locations, the acquired data are unique for mine-influenced water remediation.

Gusek, J., T. Rutkowski, and E. Blumenstein (Golder Associates, Inc.); B. Shipley (USDA, Forest Service). Abstracts of the 2008 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Richmond, VA: New Opportunities to Apply Our Science, 14-19 June 2008.
ASMR, Lexington, KY. p 29, 2008

The Golinsky site is a small underground copper mine complex consisting of abandoned mine workings and remnants of smelter operations. The site is located on a steep hillside above Little Backbone Creek, a tributary to Lake Shasta. The mine pool is typical acidic mining-influenced water containing heavy metals with a pH of 2.5 to 4. The U.S. Forest Service committed to a bench- and pilot-scale testing program to demonstrate that the sulfate-reducing bioreactor (SRBR) technology would work at the remote site and reduce metal loading on Lake Shasta. The pilot-scale SRBR system was constructed in 2004 and decommissioned in September 2006 after 26 months of year-round operation. Despite overloading, the pilot system performed as expected. At the conclusion of the test run, the pilot-scale effluent was field-titrated with raw mining-influenced water. The results suggest that SRBR-treated mine drainage has geochemical benefits beyond the expected straight dilution effects in that the elevated alkalinity and sulfide concentrations of the SRBR effluent appear to be capable of providing additional treatment of raw drainage in a simple mixing and settling operation. A first-phase treatment module is being designed based on the pilot results.

Venot, C., L. Figueroa, and T.R. Wildeman (Colorado School of Mines); D. Reisman and M. Holmes (U.S. EPA). Abstracts of the 2008 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Richmond, VA: New Opportunities to Apply Our Science, 14-19 June 2008.
ASMR, Lexington, KY. p 78, 2008

Sulfate-reducing biochemical reactors (BCRs) were installed to provide a basis for substrate selection for a final treatment remedy for mining-influenced water from the National Tunnel adit, Black Hawk, Colorado. The waters exhibited elevated metal and sulfate concentrations, as well as pH fluctuations from 4.8 to 6.4. Three pairs of BCRs were installed in 2006, each of which contained a different mixture of solid or liquid-phase substrates. The aboveground BCRs partially froze during the first winter, prompting a redesign of the hydraulic system in May 2007 and the installation of heating and insulation in preparation for the following winter. During the hydraulic system redesign, a fourth pair of reactors that contained CHITOREM® SC-20 chitin complex was added to provide data on an alternative solid-phase substrate. The 2007 results indicate that nearly all the reactors removed > 95% of the iron and zinc and 50 to 95% of the sulfate from the waters during September through December 2007. Copper removal typically exceeded 95%. In addition, the chitin complex reactors averaged 4,200 mg/L as calcium carbonate and 80% manganese removal during the same period. The high alkalinity was due partially to high concentrations of ammonium (up to 450 mg/L as nitrogen). Operational challenges due to winter conditions in November and December 2007 caused significant temperature and flow fluctuations; however, effective removal of metals continued. The BCRs will be monitored through summer 2008, and the data will be evaluated in late summer 2008 to determine which substrates (CHITOREM® SC-20, ethanol, or a solid-phase organic mixture) are best suited for long-term treatment of the mining-influenced waters.

Petrusevski, B. (UNESCO-IHE Inst. for Water Education, Delft, Netherlands); W. Van Der Meer; J. Baker; F. Kruis; S.K. Sharma; J.C. Schippers.
Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, Vol 7 No 3, p 131-138, 2007

Elevated arsenic (As) concentration has been found in several wells used by the Water Supply Company in Mako, Hungary. Ground water in southern Hungary typically contains ammonia, methane, iron, and manganese, as does the ground-water in several surrounding countries. UNESCO-IHE has been developing an innovative As treatment approach, the IHE-Adsorptive Dutch Arsenic Removal Technology (IHE-ADART), based on As adsorption on iron oxide-coated sand and in situ regeneration of exhausted adsorbent. This paper presents results from field testing of the IHE-ADART technology in Southern Hungary, where two pilot plants have been operated at several As-contaminated wells with concentrations ranging from 20 to 260 µg/L. Very consistent As removal below 10 µg/L was achieved at all the wells throughout 18 months of continuous testing. The systems also removed methane, iron, ammonia, and manganese effectively. Life-cycle cost analysis showed that overall treatment costs would be below 0.10 Euro per cubic meter.

Lu, X. (Peking Univ., Beijing, China); J.T. Wilson; H. Shen; B.M. Henry; D.H. Kampbell.
Journal of Environmental Science and Health: Part A, Vol 43 No 1, p 24-35, 2008

A pilot-scale permeable reactive barrier (PRB) filled with plant mulch was installed at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma to address trichloroethene (TCE) contamination in ground water emanating from a landfill. Constructed in June 2002, the barrier was 139 meters long, 7 meters deep, and 0.5 meters wide. This type of PRB is also called a biowall because one of the mechanisms for removal of TCE is anaerobic biodegradation. Data from over four years of monitoring indicate that the biowall greatly affected the geochemistry in the study area and stimulated TCE removal. The concentration of TCE in the biowall and downgradient decreased significantly compared to ground-water TCE concentration upgradient, while the concentration of the degradation product cis-1,2-dichloroethene in the biowall and downgradient was much higher than that observed upgradient. Over time, the concentration of vinyl chloride in the biowall and downgradient increased. The detection of Dehalococcoides DNA within and downgradient of the biowall corresponded to the observation that vinyl chloride was produced at these locations. The natural ground-water velocity was estimated at an average of 0.060 plus or minus 0.015 m/d.

Eger, P. (Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, St. Paul); E. Paulson and D. Green (American Peat Technologies, Aitkin, MN).
Abstracts of the 2008 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Richmond, VA: New Opportunities to Apply Our Science, 14-19 June 2008.
ASMR, Lexington, KY. p 22, 2008

A low-temperature carbonization process has been used to convert peat into a hardened ion-exchange material called APTSorb. Peat pellets of about 9.5 mm are produced and then crushed to form low-cost ion-exchange media. The pellets were tested for their ability to remove copper and cobalt from several different mine drainages in northeastern Minnesota. Drainage pH ranged from around 5 to about 7.5, total copper ranged from about 0.01 to 3 mg/L, and cobalt from about 0.008 to 0.02 mg/L. Treatment was most effective for copper with a removal efficiency of 80 to 95%. The total volume treated decreased with increasing concentration and ranged from 900 bed volumes at a copper input of 3 mg/L to over 7,000 bed volumes at low-input copper concentrations. Total copper removal ranged from 180 to 2,900 mg/kg. Cobalt broke through more quickly than copper with total removals ranging from 70 to 95 mg/kg. A modified TCLP test was conducted and showed that copper and cobalt were tightly bound to the pellets, with over 99.5% retention of these metals. Projected costs for the pellets are on the order of $2.20/kg or about 5% of a commercial resin. More information at http://www.americanpeattech.com/Paul_Eger.pdf

Robinson-Lora, M.A. and R. A. Brennan, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park.
Abstracts of the 2008 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Richmond, VA: New Opportunities to Apply Our Science, 14-19 June 2008.
ASMR, Lexington, KY. p 62, 2008

Remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD) requires pH neutralization, reduction of sulfate concentrations, and removal of dissolved metals. A study was conducted to investigate the use of a sustainable waste material, crab-shell chitin, as a multifunctional substrate for AMD remediation. The performance of chitin was evaluated under different raw water characteristics and compared with lactate and spent mushroom compost as substrates. Sacrificial, duplicate microcosms were prepared in serum bottles containing AMD water, sediment, and the evaluated substrate. Three microcosm sets were prepared using AMD water from three different sites within central Pennsylvania, and all were treated with crab-shell chitin. For the comparative substrates test, the AMD source was held constant and the substrate was varied between crab-shell chitin, sodium lactate, and spent mushroom compost. Microcosms were incubated in the dark, at room temperature, and under anoxic conditions for up to 50 days. Crab-shell chitin (ChitoRem™ SC-20) increased the pH from pH 3.0 to 3.5 to near neutral in 2 to 3 days. Increases in pH were much faster in the microcosms containing chitin than with the other substrates. The activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria was evident after 7 to 9 days of incubation, with reduction rates of 11.9 to 17.8 mg sulfate per liter per day. Similar changes in alkalinity, acidity, and sulfate also were observed in lactate-containing microcosms, but they began only after 27 days. No alkalinity generation or sulfate reduction activity was observed in bottles containing spent mushroom compost. Aluminum and iron removal was observed with all substrates, but removal occurred at a much faster rate with chitin. Chitin was the only substrate able to remove manganese (> 73%). The results indicate the promise of crab-shell chitin as a substrate or amendment for AMD remediation. The slowly fermentable nature of this material makes it a suitable electron donor source to support the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria. In addition, the rapid release of its built-in carbonate minerals effectively neutralizes acidic waters and facilitates the precipitation of dissolved metals.

Morris, J.M. and S. Jin, Western Research Inst., Laramie, WY.
Journal of Environmental Science and Health: Part A, Vol 43 No 1, p 18-23, 2008

A single-cell microbial fuel cell (MFC) design was used to study anaerobic microbes that utilize petroleum contaminants as a sole substrate to produce power during remediation. Additionally, various proton bridge designs were tested to separate the anode and cathode chambers of a two-cell MFC by ~9 meters (~30 ft.). This separation enables the potential use of MFC technology for in situ bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in ground water, in which oxygen is usually depleted and oxygen availability only exists at or near the surface. Sustained power generation (as high as 120 mW/m² cathode) was recorded for about 6 days in a single-cell MFC utilizing a mixture of cell growth media and refinery waste containing varying concentrations of hydrocarbon contaminants. MFC cell potential decreased by 55% over the length of the 9-meter proton bridge at a 6.9% decrease in potential per meter. These preliminary data indicate that the modified MFC technology has the potential to enhance bioremediation of petroleum contaminants in ground water under anaerobic conditions. Because oxygen eventually is used as the terminal electron acceptor for anaerobic biodegradation inside an MFC, this technology may be a cost-effective innovation to enhance biodegradation in ground water by substituting or eliminating conventional in situ aeration. This report appears to be the first on power generation from MFCs utilizing mixed hydrocarbon substrates, as well as the first to show the applicability of using extended proton bridges for physical separation of anode and cathode chambers over extended distances.

Smart, P. (Golder Associates, Inc.); D. Reisman (U.S. EPA); J Gusek (Golder Assoc., Inc.); E. Hathaway (U.S. EPA).
Abstracts of the 2008 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Richmond, VA: New Opportunities to Apply Our Science, 14-19 June 2008.
ASMR, Lexington, KY. p 67, 2008

A passive treatment study involving eight bench-scale biochemical reactors (BCRs) was conducted at the Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site near South Strafford, Vermont, from April 2005 through October 2006. The bench-scale BCR cells were vertical flow reactors fabricated from 200-liter plastic drums. Each cell contained a different mixture of organic media developed with local sources of wood chips, sawdust, crushed limestone, and cow manure. In 2005, four of the bench BCR cells accepted mildly acidic water from the South Open Cut, whose pit lake chemistry has not discouraged local college students from swimming in it despite a pH of 3. Another four bench BCR cells accepted leachate from an abandoned tailings storage facility, TP-1, whose chemistry is much more aggressive than the South Open Cut water. The eight cells remained on site throughout the winter, with routine exposure to sub-freezing temperatures. In April 2006, the four South Cut cells were transported to the TP-1 area. The eight bench cells treated comparable mine drainage chemistries for 26 weeks during 2006. The authors discuss the performance of a passive treatment system when the reactors are subjected to sustained sub-freezing temperatures followed by dramatic changes in mine water chemistry. The paper also highlights operational issues, such as vandalism and construction challenges in a remote setting, as well as performance data from 2005 through 2006.

Cho, I.-H. and S.-W. Chang, Sungil Technology and Consulting Center, Kyonggi, South Korea.
Journal of Environmental Science and Health: Part A, Vol 43 No 1, p 86-97, 2008

A solar-driven, photocatalyzed reactor system designed to test the efficacy of selected advanced oxidation processes—H₂O₂/solar light, TiO₂ slurry/solar light, and immobilized TiO₂/solar light—was constructed and applied to the treatment of benzene-contaminated ground water. A solar light/TiO₂ slurry/ H₂O₂ system showed higher removal efficiency than the solar light/ TiO₂ slurry and the solar light/immobilized TiO₂ systems for the treatment of benzene. The solar light/ TiO₂ slurry/ H₂O₂ remediation method achieved 98% degradation and substantially increased the removal of benzene due to the synergetic effect of titanium dioxide with hydrogen peroxide.

Vankar, P.S. and D. Bajpai, Indian Inst. of Technology, Kanpur, India.
Desalination, Vol 222 Nos 1-3, p 255-262, 2008

In an investigation of the biosorption of the chromium ion Cr(VI) onto the cell surface of Trichoderma fungal species in aerobic conditions, batch experiments were conducted with varied initial concentrations of chromium ions to obtain the sorption capacity and isotherms. A nonpathogenic species of Trichoderma achieved a reduction of 97.39% in a pH 5.5 chromium solution. The sorption isotherms of fungi for Cr(VI) appeared to fit Freundlich models. The results of FT-IR analysis suggested that the chromium binding sites on the fungal cell surface were most likely carboxyl and amine groups. The fungal surfaces showed efficient biosorption for the Cr(VI) oxidation state. The best results for sorption were obtained at 5.5 to 5.8 pH; at low or high pH values, Cr(VI) uptake decreased significantly. Paper at http://www.desline.com/articoli/8962.pdf

Turner, B.D. (Univ. of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia); P.J. Binning (Technical Univ. of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby); S.W. Sloan (Univ. of Newcastle).
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Vol 95 Nos 3-4, p 110-120, 2008

The use of calcite as a substrate for a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) for removing fluoride from contaminated ground water is proposed and illustrated by its application to ground water contaminated by spent potliner leachate (SPL), a waste derived from the aluminum smelting process. This paper focuses on the respective impacts of two factors—the ground-water chemical matrix and carbon dioxide addition—in the implementation of calcite PRBs for remediating fluoride-contaminated water. Column tests comparing pure sodium fluoride solutions, synthetic SPL solutions, and actual SPL leachate indicate that the complex chemical matrix of the SPL leachate can affect fluoride removal significantly. For SPL contaminant mixtures, initial fluoride removal is less than expected from idealized, pure solutions, although with time, the effect of other contaminants on fluoride removal diminishes. Column tests show that pH control is important for optimizing fluoride removal in that the mass removed increases with decreasing pH. Barrier pH can be regulated by carbon dioxide addition, with the point of injection a critical factor for optimizing remediation performance. Experimental and model results show that approximately 99% of 2,300 mg/L fluoride can be removed when carbon dioxide is injected directly into the barrier compared to a 30 to 50% removal when the influent solution is equilibrated with atmospheric carbon dioxide prior to contact with calcite. Paper at http://livesite.newcastle.edu.au/sites/cgmm/Publications/pdf/CONHYD2365.
pdf

Vaxevanidou, K., N. Papassiopi, and I. Paspaliaris, National Technical Univ. of Athens, Zografos, Greece.
Chemosphere, Vol 70 No 8, p 1329-1337, 2008

A combined chemical and biological treatment scheme was evaluated for the simultaneous removal of arsenic (As) and cationic heavy metals from contaminated soil. The treatment involved the use of the iron (Fe)-reducing microorganism Desulfuromonas palmitatis combined with the chelating strength of EDTA. Given that soil iron oxides are the main scavengers of As, the treatment with Fe-reducing microorganisms aimed at inducing the reductive dissolution of soil oxides and thus obtaining the release of the retained As. The introduction of EDTA was designed to remove metal contaminants, such as lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), through the formation of soluble metal chelates. Additionally, experimental results have indicated that EDTA enhances the biological reduction of Fe(III) oxides. Bacterial activity exerted a pronounced positive effect on As removal, which increased from 35% by chemical treatment alone to 90% in the presence of D. palmitatis. Approximately 85% of Pb was removed from soil using chemical mechanisms alone, with biological activity increasing the final removal up to 90%. Co-treatment had a negative effect only for Zn, for which removal fell from 80% under abiotic conditions to ~50% in the presence of bacteria.

Abreu, M.M. (Univ. Tecnica de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal); M.T. Tavares; M.J. Batista.
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, Vol 96 Nos 2-3, p 210-222, 2008

The area around the Sao Domingos copper mine in the Iberian Pyrite Belt is of great environmental concern owing to the presence of thousands of tons of mine waste and the extension of acid mine water several kilometers downstream from the mine. Erica australis and Erica andevalensis, two plant species indigenous to the area, have been studied for their phytostabilization potential. Soils and plants from Sao Domingos and a reference site were analyzed for soil characteristics and chemical element content in soils and in plants. Surficial and seepage water as well as waste material leachates were also analyzed. Seepage water showed high redox potential (mean 481 mV), high conductivity (mean 4,337 µS/cm), and low pH values (mean 2.6), which classified it as mining water. Leachate solutions mainly showed high levels of iron, aluminum (Al), and sulfate. The mining area soils were highly contaminated with lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and antimony (Sb). E. andevalensis grows in soils with pH between 3 and 4, whereas E. australis is found only in soils with pH above 3.5. Both species grow spontaneously in soil highly contaminated with Pb, As, and Sb. Even in uncontaminated soils, these plants are Al-tolerant and manganese accumulators. Given their metal-tolerant behavior in extreme environmental conditions, these Erica species may be of major importance for the physical and chemical stabilization of contaminated soils and recovery of the sulfide mining areas in climate conditions compatible with their breeding and growth. A version of this paper delivered at the 2008 Joint Conference of the 6th International Acid Sulfate Soil Conference and the Acid Rock Drainage Symposium is available at http://www1.ci.uc.pt/ecology/files/Proc%206ASSARD%20pages%2020-23.pdf

Euliss, K.; C.-H. Ho; A.P. Schwab; S. Rock; M.K. Banks (Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN).
Bioresource Technology, Vol 99 No 6, p 1961-1971, 2008

Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to evaluate the ability of plants to clean up highly contaminated sediments collected from Indiana Harbor. The greenhouse study showed several plant species were able to enhance the loss of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the contaminated sediments. The plant treatments that showed the most promise in the greenhouse study were the sedge, switchgrass, arrowhead, and eastern gamagrass. The field study focused on the performance of eastern gamagrass, switchgrass, and sedge and examined the rhizosphere characteristics of arrowhead and sedge. Sediment planted with arrowhead and sedge had microbial communities capable of degrading PAHs, but no significant differences in contaminant concentrations were observed in the 12 months of the field study. Soil concentrations of TPH near the canal were higher than the soils farther from the canal, indicating that the canal served as a constant source of contamination throughout the study and making it impossible to observe differences in contaminant concentration. Overall, phytoremediation of Indiana Harbor sediments holds great promise, although the constant source of contamination makes it difficult to observe the remediation that is taking place.

Nelson, L.C. (WorleyParsons Komex, Calgary, AB); T. Li (Earth Tech Canada Inc.); J. Barker, N. Thomson, M. Ioannidis, and J. Chatzis (Waterloo Univ., ON).
Proceedings of OttawaGeo 2007: The 60th Diamond Jubilee. Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 8th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Groundwater Conference, 21-24 October 2007, Ottawa, ON.
BiTech Publishers Ltd., Richmond, BC, Canada. ISBN: 0-920505-36-8, Vol 1, p 552-558, 2007

This paper presents an innovative technology for ground-water remediation by which nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs) can be recovered through supersaturated water injection (SWI). The ability of SWI to recover NAPLs was studied at the field scale as part of an ongoing program to evaluate the applicability of this technology to ground-water remediation. SWI uses Gas inFusion™ technology to dissolve gases into liquids at elevated pressures. A GasInfusion generator supplies carbon dioxide (CO₂)-saturated water that is injected under pressure into the subsurface below an area of residual contamination. Once the water enters the aquifer, bubbles of CO₂ begin nucleating because the concentration of CO₂ in water is no longer stable. When a bubble contacts NAPL, either the CO₂ will volatilize it or the NAPL will spread around the bubble as a film. In both cases, the bubble will rise until it becomes trapped in a pore or until it reaches the water table, where it can be removed by a multiphase extraction system. In this study, a known quantity of NAPL (a mixture designed to represent a residual source of weathered gasoline) was placed below the water table in a hydraulically isolated cell in an unconfined sand aquifer at Canadian Forces Base Borden, Ontario. After emplacement of the source, SWI was used to remove as much of the contaminant mass as possible in 22.25 days of operation over a period of three months. SWI removed 64% of the volatile NAPL but very little of the non-volatile NAPL. Contaminant mass was still being removed when the system was shut down. For additional information on this field study, see L.C. Nelson's 2007 Master's thesis (179 pp) at http://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/handle/10012/2711

Guelta, M.A. and A.S. Beck, Noblis, Inc., Falls Church, VA.
Report No: ECBC-TR-537, 38 pp, Aug 2007

Nitrocellulose based compounds are the primary ingredients historically used as solid rocket and mortar propellants. These compounds were mass produced for many years and stored in bulk or configured into chemical and high-energy munitions. With the planned destruction of the U.S. chemical agent inventory, the associated propellant charges and the now antiquated propellants in storage for use in high energy rounds await disposal. Many of these propellants were manufactured over 40 years ago and are of questionable reliability. Reuse of these propellants is unlikely because of advances in more modern formulations and the economics of converting them into more usable materials. Traditional open burn/open detonation of these compounds is under pressure from more stringent environmental regulations. Biotreatment is seen by environmental and citizen groups as a friendly alternative for destruction of hazardous wastes. This report describes a laboratory study in which peroxone and biotreatment were used successfully to degrade neutralized propellants to a level near surface water regulatory requirements. Commercially available continuous-flow peroxone treatment systems may include additional oxidation schemes that can improve overall efficiency above what was achieved by the lab-scale batch system used in this study. These units can be engineered into dedicated biotreatment systems to allow seamless transition and operation of an integrated, site-specific treatment solution. Report at http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA473568

Crimi, Michelle, East Tennessee State Univ.
Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program (SERDP), Project ER-1484, 113 pp, Sep 2008

Subsurface reactions attendant upon in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using permanganate can produce manganese dioxide (MnO₂) particles. These particles have the potential to deposit in the subsurface and affect the flow regime in and around the permanganate injection site, including the well screen, filter pack, and surrounding subsurface formation. Research was conducted to understand the genesis and control of MnO₂ particles and to identify particle stabilization aids that will allow for their transport in ground water through porous media under a variety of reaction conditions. Control of these particles can allow for improved oxidant injection, oxidant transport, and contact between the oxidant and contaminants of concern. Initial bench-scale batch experiments to study important chemical interactions were followed by column studies to incorporate transport phenomena and study particle stabilization aids under varied reaction matrix conditions (i.e., ground-water ionic content, pH, particle and stabilization aid concentrations, porous media type, and redox conditions). The stabilization aid sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP) demonstrated the most promising results. HMP inhibited particle settling, provided for greater particle stability, and resulted in particles of a smaller average size over a range of pH, particle concentration, ionic content/strength, and oxidation/reduction potential conditions compared to results for systems that did not include HMP. These results suggest that the inclusion of HMP in a permanganate oxidation system improves conditions that facilitate particle transport. Improved oxidant delivery and flow translates to more efficient ISCO treatment, decreased potential for post-treatment contaminant rebound, and less reliance on invasive or expensive post-ISCO processes for treating contaminant residual. Report at http://www.serdp.org/Research/upload/ER-1484-FR.pdf

Lukens, Wayne W., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program (SERDP), Project ER-1428, 42 pp, 2007

The main hypothesis/assumption inherent in this work is that the pyridinic nitrogen sites in activated carbon can be alkylated to produce cationic sites that are similar to those found in certain strong base anion exchange resins. Different approaches were used to increase the nitrogen content in activated carbons, and techniques were developed for alkylating these carbon materials. The most effective alkylated carbon materials had ~15 times the perchlorate adsorption capacity of the parent activated carbon, but increasing the nitrogen content had little or no effect on the perchlorate adsorption capacity of the activated carbons. Consequently, the main hypothesis that the nitrogenous sites in activated carbon can be alkylated appears to be false. Instead, alkylation appears to increase the net positive charge of the activated carbons by alkylating the anionic oxygen surface sites and converting them to neutral species, as well as converting some neutral oxygen sites into cationic sites. While alkylation greatly increases the selectivity of the cationic sites for perchlorate, the fact that this approach does not seem capable of increasing the number of cationic surface sites strongly suggests that modified activated carbons are not promising materials for perchlorate remediation because perchlorate-selective ion exchange resins can perform the same task more economically. http://www.serdp.org/Research/upload/ER-1428-FR.pdf

Rose, A.W. and H.L. Barnes.
Abstracts of the 2008 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Richmond, VA: New Opportunities to Apply Our Science, 14-19 June 2008.
ASMR, Lexington, KY. p 63, 2008

In 2002/2003, masses of pyrite-bearing Bald Eagle sandstone and Reedsville shale were removed from the route of an interstate highway cut through Bald Eagle Ridge near State College, Pennsylvania. The rock contained an average of 4.5% pyrite as veins and fine veinlet networks across 200 m of road cut. During excavation, the pyrite was recognized as a potential problem and considerable lime was added as layers to the various piles of rock. Despite the lime addition, highly acidic seeps emerged from the piles and fills, with pH 2.0 to 2.7, iron (Fe) at 90 to 1,500 mg/L, and acidities as high as 18,000 mg/L. In experiments to test remediation methods, a Bauxsol slurry sprayed onto part of the buttress area failed to prevent continuing acid seepages. Inspection trenches showed little penetration of the Bauxsol and indicated the presence of the added lime as impermeable lime layers within the buttress. Bucket tests of mixtures of alkaline circulating fluidized-bed ash with pyritic rocks, when well mixed, gave alkaline effluents. These and similar field and lab experiments indicate that thorough mixing of alkaline materials with pyritic rock is crucial for maintaining non-acid effluent. Experiments with a slurry of magnesium hydroxide showed promise. Ultimately, however, the movable acid rock is being trucked to a lined landfill and mixed with a large excess of waste lime material.

Muegge, J.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Pollution Prevention and Technology Development. Document No. 1219, 154 pp, Apr 2008

The development of permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) to treat chlorinated solvents in ground water emerged in the mid-1990s. Granular zero-valent iron (ZVI) has been the material most commonly emplaced in PRBs installed to address contamination by chlorinated solvents, such as trichloroethene. To assess the current status of this technology's deployment in California, PRB installations completed at California hazardous waste sites were identified and evaluated. A review of available databases, the literature, and a survey of site mitigation project managers within Cal/EPA identified 15 PRB installations within the state. Of these 15 projects, 10 were considered suitable for analysis and were reviewed in detail to identify successful practices and outcomes, as well as lessons learned that could be shared with a broader audience. Most of the installations used ZVI as the reactive treatment medium. The 10 PRB projects reviewed were installed at Alameda Naval Air Station, BP-Hitco, DuPont Oakley, Fairchild/Applied Materials, Intersil, Moffett Field, Mohawk Laboratory, Sierra Army Depot (two separate PRBs), and Travis Air Force Base. In most projects evaluated, the PRB treated influent contaminated water to below maximum contaminant levels by the time the water reached monitoring wells located in the middle of the PRB itself. When compared to upgradient conditions, however, very little improvement in downgradient water quality was observed in most of the 10 case studies, even in instances where the PRB had been in place for many years of operation. These results are consistent with observations made for other PRBs discussed in the literature and are attributable to the complex behavior of chemical contaminants in aquifers. It should be noted that long-term improvements both up- and downgradient of the PRB were observed at some of the sites, presumably due to natural attenuation or other factors. While some PRBs may have been installed with the hope that ground-water contaminant plumes could be remediated relatively quickly, the results indicate otherwise. Based on the results from the 10 projects evaluated in this report, it should not be expected that a PRB containing ZVI will provide near-term improvement of water quality very far below the installation. The same levels observed downgradient of a PRB before its installation can persist for extended periods—often decades—despite the presence of a PRB. Report at http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/TechnologyDevelopment/upload/Final_PRB_Report_422
08.pdf

California EPA, Department of Toxic Substances Control, 420 pp, Aug 2008

The information in this report is applicable on a case-by-case basis at sites where the primary environmental concern involves soils contaminated with metals, although it will not be applicable to all sites with metal contamination. For example, the environmental regulatory oversight agency should be consulted and should concur with the use of this approach at metals sites co-contaminated with chemicals or where contamination has affected ground water or surface water. The methods can be applied at operating or closing hazardous waste facilities and at brownfield sites. Although expedited cleanup is emphasized, the approaches discussed in this guidance are designed to ensure safe, protective remediation. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) reviewed and screened data for 188 sites contaminated primarily with metals. The reviewers found that "containment by capping" and "excavation and off-site disposal" were the most frequently selected cleanup alternatives, and this report was prepared to streamline the cleanup process for sites that are suitable for these alternatives. Streamlining the cleanup process can be accomplished by (1) limiting the number of evaluated technologies to two alternatives—excavation/disposal and containment/capping, (2) facilitating remedy implementation, and (3) facilitating the documentation and administrative processes. To gain the maximum cost and time savings, the applicability of the approach could be discussed during the scoping meeting and initiated as early as possible in the cleanup processes (e.g., during the characterization phase). This streamlined cleanup approach is not intended to replace the evaluation of innovative and new technologies as DTSC continues to encourage the use and evaluation of emerging technologies. Available at http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/PublicationsForms/upload/Guidance_Remediation-Soi
ls.pdf

U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO), Washington, DC.
Report No: GAO-08-1081, 55 pp, September 26, 2008

DOE spends billions of dollars annually to clean up nuclear wastes at sites that produced nuclear weapons. Cleanup projects decontaminate and demolish buildings, remove and dispose of contaminated soil, treat contaminated ground water, and stabilize and dispose of solid and liquid radioactive wastes. Ten of these projects meet or nearly meet DOE's definition of a major cleanup: costs exceeding $1 billion in the near term—usually a 5-year window of the project's total estimated life cycle. GAO was asked to determine (1) the extent to which the cost and schedule for DOE's major cleanup projects have changed and key reasons for changes, and (2) factors that may hinder DOE's ability to manage these projects effectively. GAO met with project directors and reviewed project documents for 10 major cleanup projects: nine above the near-term $1 billion threshold and one estimated to cost between $900 million and $1 billion over the near term. Nine of the 10 cleanup projects GAO reviewed had lifecycle baseline cost increases, from a low of $139 million for one project to a high of nearly $9 billion for another, and lifecycle baseline schedule delays from 2 to 15 years. These changes occurred primarily because the baselines GAO reviewed included schedule assumptions that were not linked to technical or budget realities, and the scope of work included other assumptions that did not prove true. Specifically, the schedules for 8 of the 10 projects were established in response to DOE's 2002 effort to complete cleanup work, which in some cases moved up project completion dates by 15 years or more. Most of the 10 projects had cost increases and schedule delays because the previous baselines (1) had not fully foreseen the type and extent of cleanup needed, (2) assumed that construction projects needed to carry out the cleanup work would be completed on time, or (3) had not expected substantial additional work scope. DOE has not used management tools effectively—such as independent project baseline reviews, performance information systems, guidance, and performance goals—to help oversee major cleanup projects' scope of work, costs, and schedule. DOE's independent reviews, which are meant to provide reasonable assurance that a project's work can be completed within the baseline's stated cost and schedule, have not done so for 4 of 10 projects. DOE recently changed its goals for "successful" cleanup projects, reducing the amount of work and raising the allowable cost increases against the near-term baseline. DOE has initiated several actions to improve project management, but it is too early to determine whether these efforts will be effective. GAO provided six recommendations aimed at improving DOE's project management performance. Report at http://www.gao.gov/products/A84418

Greenberg, M. (Rutgers Univ.); C. Powers (Vanderbilt Univ.); H. Mayer (Rutgers Univ.); D. Kosson (Vanderbilt Univ.).
Remediation Journal, Vol 18 No 1, p 83-93, 2007

The Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP) was asked by U.S. DOE to consider the root causes of remediation projects that fail to achieve their goals in their entirety and then to offer suggestions to assist the Department. In the early phase of this project, CRESP held several meetings in which the group defined problematic outcomes, the early symptoms of problematic outcomes, and the root causes of failing to meet expectations. The group determined that the five root causes are complex science, engineering, and technology; ambiguous economics; project management shortcomings; political processes and credibility; and history and organizational culture. This article, while focusing on DOE, provides a larger context for many remediation projects that have failed to live up to their sponsors' expectations.

Powers, C.W. and D.S. Kosson (Vanderbilt Univ.); M. Greenberg, J. Burger, and H. Mayer (Rutgers Univ.); F. Parker; J. Clarke; B. Toffler; L. Bliss; M. Gochfeld.
Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP) III, 15 pp, Dec 2007

U.S. DOE's remediation program involves first-of-a-kind projects that call for processes and construction projects found nowhere else. DOE's Environmental Management (EM) Program faces distinct challenges: (1) radioactive waste processing; (2) remediation of contaminated geologic media (e.g., soil, sediments) and water from land surface to deep subsurface; (3) decommissioning, including decontamination and demolition, of complex contaminated structures; and (4) establishment, operation, and closure of near-surface disposal and deep geologic repositories. Following the CRESP II findings on root causes of DOE remediation project problems (described in a 2007 paper by Greenberg, et al. in Remediation Journal 18(1):83-93), additional evaluation of these problems was conducted under CRESP III, and the results are presented here. The following four problem areas were identified:
      •      EM projects often do not adequately achieve their stated objectives.
      •      They do not regularly reduce risk as much as needed and intended.
      •      They frequently do not meet project schedules and adversely affect other work.
      •      They habitually overrun cost schedules with adverse effects on total site costs and the credibility of EM cost estimation.
The authors relate "best in class" concepts to the earlier CRESP work on root causes of EM problems and look back to see how EM has or has not been able to use prior advice as a guide to what kind of effort is needed to press an effective best-in-class initiative. A four-part approach to a comprehensive EM effort to strive for the quality and qualities that will make it best in class is proposed. Paper at http://www.cresp.org/CRESPIII_reports_2007/Final_Root_Causes_Best_in_Cla
ss_121007.pdf

Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) Risk Assessment Resources Team.
Report No: RISK-2, 249 pp, Aug 2008

ITRC's Risk Assessment Resources Team examined the use of risk assessment and risk-related practices in the management of contaminated sites through a series of case studies. The influence of risk-based practices and risk assessment approaches employed by state regulatory agencies on risk management outcomes was the primary driver. Debate and controversy invariably surround the development of a risk-based numerical criterion for a chemical. The team's previous report on risk-based soil screening values determined that, for the most part, states follow a similar process and only minimal variation results in risk-based numerical criteria. In the development of this overview document, the team determined that the implementation of risk-based numerical criteria—the way in which the criteria are used in the field and in the management of contaminated sites via risk assessment—introduces orders-of-magnitude variation in decision outcomes. Risk managers thus are advised that field implementation of risk-based numerical criteria deserves more attention than that subject historically has been given. Traditional case studies were conducted on five sites where risk assessment or risk-based principles and practices were used. The team observed that while many traditional stumbling blocks to site cleanup were apparent, several innovations and unique approaches—field screening methods, composite sampling, and probabilistic risk assessment—enhanced both the assessment and management of risk at several sites. The team then used a comparative case study approach in which state and federal representatives were provided the same data sets and asked to address key issues in the risk assessment and risk management process. When the team compared the results, the differences presented enabled the team to pinpoint steps in the risk assessment process where variations can lead to differences in risk management outcomes. As a result, recommendations were developed to both identify the likely sources of variation in risk assessment and identify the resulting variation in risk management. Report at http://www.itrcweb.org/Documents/Risk_Docs/RISK2.pdf

U.S. EPA, Office of Water.
Regulatory Determinations Support Document for Selected Contaminants from the Second Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 2), EPA 815-R-08-012, 76 pp, June 2008

U.S. EPA has not made a final regulatory determination for methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in drinking water. Because EPA understands that members of the public may have a particular interest in this contaminant, this chapter discusses the status of EPA's evaluation of information and data on the compound's physical and chemical properties, use and environmental release, environmental fate, potential health effects, and occurrence and exposure estimates. Available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/pdfs/reg_determine2/report_ccl2-reg2_su
pportdocument_ch14_mtbe.pdf

U.S. EPA, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, 22 pp, Sep 2008

U.S. EPA is providing this document to assist states, EPA regional staff, and other stakeholders in identifying approaches for the development of mercury total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). Compiled in a checklist format, the document focuses on the elements of mercury TMDLs where mercury loadings are predominantly from air deposition; however, the tools and approaches described here may be useful in other situations where the pollutant loadings occur primarily through air deposition. In addition, states have begun to develop mercury TMDLs on scales that are other than waterbody-specific, given the large number of mercury-impaired waters in some states. The checklist identifies the elements of TMDLs and other considerations for developing mercury TMDLs at different geographic scales: waterbody-specific, regional or statewide, and multiple states. Available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/pdf/document_mercury_tmdl_elements.pdf

U.S. EPA, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
Report No: EPA 600-R-06-096F, 679 pp, Sep 2008

Staff of the National Center for Environmental Assessment have prepared this handbook to provide information on various physiological and behavioral factors commonly used in assessing children's exposure to environmental chemicals. Children have different exposure circumstances than do adults. Understanding these differences is key for evaluating the potential for environmental hazards from pollutants. Children consume more of certain foods and water and have higher inhalation rates per unit of body weight than adults. Young children play close to the ground and come into contact with contaminated soil outdoors and with contaminated dust on surfaces and carpets indoors. Ingestion of human milk presents another potential pathway of exposure for infants and young children. This report is an update of the 2002 interim final version of this handbook. The 2008 version provides analysis of exposure factors data using EPA's recommended age groups for assessing childhood exposures. Available at http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=199243

U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
OSWER Directive 9200.0-68, 71 pp, Sep 2008

This framework was developed to provide remedial/removal managers, remedial project managers, on-scene coordinators, and site assessors with information needed to assist in the evaluation of asbestos risks at hazardous waste sites. Historically, asbestos has been addressed in the Superfund program by reference to the term asbestos-containing material, defined in the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, 40 CFR Part 61, as materials containing greater than 1% asbestos. EPA's 2004 OSWER Directive 9345.4-05—Clarifying Cleanup Goals and Identification of New Assessment Tools for Evaluating Asbestos at Superfund Cleanups—indicated that the 1% definition may not be reliable for assessing potential human health hazards from asbestos-contaminated soil at Superfund sites. This guide implements the August 2004 directive by recommending a risk-based, site-specific approach for site evaluation based on current asbestos science. An empiric approach to site characterization is emphasized because models to predict airborne asbestos concentrations from soil concentrations have not been validated. Specifically, a combination of soil, dust, and air samples is recommended to characterize exposure. Concentrations of asbestos in air at the location of a source disturbance are measured rather than predicted. The framework is designed with the necessary flexibility to facilitate site decisions under conditions of incomplete characterization and to accommodate the varied nature of environmental asbestos contamination and emerging risk science for asbestos. While this document provides guidance for site assessment, data gaps remain in the areas of analytical methods and toxicity of asbestos. Available at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/health/contaminants/asbestos/pdfs/framework
_asbestos_guidance.pdf

Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), Project ER-1429, Document TR0197, 132 pp, July 2008

This project combined literature reviews, laboratory studies, and controlled field experiments to generate data to estimate potential ground-water impacts from significant non-military perchlorate sources. A detailed SERDP white paper published in 2005—Alternative Causes of Widespread, Low Concentration Perchlorate Impacts to Groundwater—examined the potential historic and continuing contributions (production figures, use practices, application/release rates) of perchlorate to the environment from non-military inputs. Several anthropogenic perchlorate-containing sources are produced in high volume, particularly fireworks, which have a very high perchlorate content. Most of the perchlorate-containing sources are combusted or consumed during proper use, which greatly reduces the amount of perchlorate available to impact the environment; however, even these lower levels of perchlorate may be sufficient to cause elevated concentrations of perchlorate in ground water locally, given the low action levels for perchlorate in ground water. Improper use (i.e., incomplete combustion or misfires) or poor housekeeping can create situations where much higher levels of perchlorate can affect the environment. It is critical that unused fireworks, flares, and explosives be removed from the site following use. Sources such as Chilean nitrate fertilizers and sodium chlorate-based defoliants and herbicides, although potentially lower in perchlorate than the other sources, are applied directly to crops and soil and over large areas. These sources therefore have the potential to contaminate soil and ground water, especially if they are used repeatedly over a span of years. When perchlorate is detected in the absence of military activity, anthropogenic or natural non-military sources should be suspected. Past practices, geographic regions, co-constituents and isotopic markers can provide evidence to identify the source of perchlorate. Report at http://www.serdp.org/Research/upload/ER-1429-FR.pdf

Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Project SI-0311, 45 pp, Aug 2008

Water quality criteria for dissolved copper (Cu) in receiving bodies of water includes a freshwater criterion maximum concentration (acute value) of 13 µg/L or parts per billion, and a freshwater criterion continuous concentration (chronic value) of 9 µg/L. Rapid, in-place characterization of total recoverable Cu in effluents can be accomplished by the total copper analyzer (TCA). This in-place characterization will allow for the rapid separation of the effluent between waters in compliance and waters in need of treatment, thus minimizing the volume of water sent for treatment and reducing operating costs. Conventional characterization of effluents is performed off site with laboratory tests, with the associated costs and turnaround time often taking weeks for processing. As the TCA will provide a means to verify that the discharge is within permit requirements for Cu in near real-time and at the place of discharge, it will be a great asset for any regulated discharger. This demonstration and validation of the TCA under industrial situations supports its use as a management tool in most situations. Agreement with Cu concentrations measured with the accepted graphite furnace atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technologies supports the performance of the TCA in cases of saline waters with low organic matter content (i.e., discharges from dry docks); however, as the performance of the TCA did not meet the expectations under conditions of high organic matter (i.e., outfall of a wastewater treatment plant), the application of the TCA for regulatory purposes is not warranted. Available at http://www.estcp.org/viewfile.cfm?Doc=SI%2D0311%2DC%26P%2Epdf

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Works Technical Bulletin. PWTB 200-1-53, 40 pp, Nov 2007

This bulletin presents an overview of native plant species that have been shown, through previous phytoremediation investigations, to provide some level of improvement in soil contaminant persistence and/or mobility. Scientific literature identifies specific plants that possess qualities favorable for reducing the availability of specific soil contaminants, either through degradation or stabilization. Species possessing these traits have been sorted to extract only those species native to the continental United States having wide geographic ranges, broad growth requirements, commercial availability, and potential for success when used in land rehabilitation plantings. Many of these species already are components of widespread range seed mixes. All of the species in this bulletin have the potential to improve training land sustainability. Appendix A provide an overview of contaminants—heavy metals, explosives, and petroleum products—including sources of contamination, likely contaminated areas on military training lands, and environmental effects of contamination. Appendices B through F provide specific information for native plant species with remediation capacity adapted to a particular geographic region (Pacific Coast, Western Mountain, Central Plains, Southeast, and Northeast) by type of vegetation and type of contaminant to which each species is applicable. Appendix G provides an overview of growth requirements for all plant species presented in this bulletin. http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/ARMYCOE/PWTB/pwtb_200_1_53.pdf

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Works Technical Bulletin. PWTB 200-2-58, 40 pp, Sep 2008

This Public Works Technical Bulletin outlines methods to determine and quantify the environmental contributions that Army installations make to their regional ecosystems, and to calculate the monetary value of these contributions. A step-by-step approach is described for obtaining the data needed to determine both monetary and environmental contributions that Army installations extend to their surrounding environment and communities. The bulletin presents an example application of the methodology for Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Available at http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/ARMYCOE/PWTB/pwtb_200_2_58.pdf

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC.
EM 1110-1-4014, 544 pp, Jan 2008

Statistics are applicable to environmental projects throughout their entire life cycle and yield defensible, cost-effective solutions to environmental questions. Statistics can be used to guide the selection of sampling locations, analyze large data sets, and verify that project objectives have been met. Statistics are of particular importance for quantifying the power and limitations of environmental data, specifically because these data usually are limited. It is not possible to collect and analyze every bit of an environmental medium (for example, soil, sediment, ground water, or surface water) at a site; instead, a set of sample data is used to characterize the environmental medium as a whole. The CERCLA project life cycle is not always linear. As information regarding a given site is gathered, additional questions may be raised about a previously unrecognized threat to human health or the environment. In that case, the process can repeat in whole or in part, creating a series of loops to previous portions of the cycle. In addition, at any point in the process, emergency activities (e.g., time-critical remedial actions) may occur at earlier or later times in the cycle. It also is possible for the process to terminate at the end of any given phase in a determination of "no further action." The remedial action process under CERCLA is necessarily iterative and the same statistical tools can be employed repeatedly to address the original problem or newly identified issues at the site. For purposes of this text, a linear progression is described through an idealized project life cycle. The first four chapters address the following areas: (1) overview, (2) preliminary assessment/site investigation (PA/SI), (3) remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS), and (4) remedial design/remedial action (RD/RA). Different aspects of the statistical process are addressed in detail in 18 separate appendices. Available at http://www.usace.army.mil/publications/eng-manuals/em1110-1-4014/toc.htm