U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, NE.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-2294, Solicitation W9128F-06-R-0033, 2008

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, intends to solicit and award up to three indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award task-order contracts for environmental consulting services, encompassing environmental compliance projects initiated for the Northwestern Division and Omaha District customers. The solicitation will be set aside for qualified HubZone small business concerns and initiated under NAICS Code 541620, with a size standard of $6.5 M. Proposals are due by May 30, 2008. The contract or contracts awarded will include firm fixed-price task orders for consulting services on environmental issues, including the control of environmental contamination from pollutants, toxic substances, and hazardous materials. This will be a multiple-award contract with up to three successful offerors assigned their own contract numbers. These three contractors will compete per each task order up to the maximum shared capacity, not to exceed $10,000,000.00. A performance period of five years is planned (3-year base period plus one 2-year option period). The RFP will be announced in FedBizOpps and issued electronically using the Army Single Face to Industry Acquisition Business Website at https://acquisition.army.mil/asfi/
. FBO notice, updates, and contact information at https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=b99738bdefc3539
d96101a8ba7ee29a1&_cview=0

U.S. Postal Service, Eastern Facilities Service Office, Greensboro, NC.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-2309, Solicitation 362575-08-A-0018, 2008

This advertisement is for environmental engineering services in the state of Pennsylvania, NAICS code 491110. The work can include (1) underground storage tank consulting, (2) hazardous waste management, (3) identification of asbestos-containing materials and design of remedial actions, (4) environmental and health risk assessments, (5) environmental permitting, (6) environmental assessments and environmental impact statements to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, (7) pre-acquisition site and/or building environmental audits, (8) multi-media facility audits, (9) floodplain and wetlands determinations, (10) historic, architectural, and archaeological investigations, (11) traffic and utility impact assessments, (12) socioeconomic impact studies, (13) geologic and seismic hazard evaluations, (14) water and ground-water resources evaluation and planning, (15) zoning and land use compatibility studies, (16) air quality assessments, (17) public participation, community right to know, and regulatory compliance assistance, (18) remediation design and management services, and (19) building valuations for toxic/hazardous conditions. Firms shall have the capability and personnel required to perform construction administration of Postal Service environmental construction contractors. Firms also may be requested to assist the Postal Service in obtaining county, state, and federal permits associated with environmental site evaluation and development. The contract will be for a base term of one year, with four one-year renewal options. The total contract amount over the five-year period cannot exceed $9,500,000. The minimum contract amount is $5,000. At the discretion of the contracting officer, contracts may be awarded to more than one A/E firm. Individual work orders will be negotiated for each project. This advertisement is not a request for proposal; instead, firms that have the qualifications to perform the services described are invited to submit two copies of SF-330, Architect-Engineer Qualifications. SF-330 can be found at www.gsa.gov
under Standard Forms. Responses are due by May 8, 2008. FBO notice and contact information at http://www2.fbo.gov/spg/USPS/FP/MAFSO/362575%2D08%2DA%2D0018/listing.htm
l

U.S. Air Force, Air Mobility Command, 22 CONS, McConnell AFB, KS.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-2306, Solicitation FA4621-08-R-0001, 2008

The 22d Contracting Squadron of the 22d Air Refueling Wing announces the projected solicitation for the hazardous waste management support services requirements on McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. The anticipated workload consists of providing all personnel, vehicles, supervision and other items and services necessary for hazardous waste management support services, such as the 90-Day Hazardous Waste Storage Management Program that includes servicing satellite accumulations points, maintenance of the firing range bullet traps, and the Universal Waste Program, as well as Enterprise Environmental Safety Occupational & Health Management Information System (EESOH-MIS) Management Support and Environmental Sampling for analytical testing. The estimated contract period including all option years is 1 October 2008 through 30 September 2013. The NAICS code for this requirement is 562112, hazardous waste collection. The Small Business Size Standard is $11,500,000. The Government contemplates issuing a 100% set-aside for a HUBZone certified small business contract, NAICS code 562112. The Government intends to issue an award to a single HUBZone-certified small business using a firm fixed-price, requirements-type contract in August 2008. The expected award will consist of one base period of performance and up to four 1-year optional periods of performance, although there is no guarantee that any optional periods of performance will be exercised. The closing date and time for submission of offers will be contained in the solicitation package. The entire solicitation package will be made available only on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site at www.fedbizopps.gov
. Potential offerors are responsible for monitoring the FedBizOpps website for the release of the solicitation package, which should be about April 2008, for downloading a copy of the solicitation package and any amendments. FBO notice and contact information at http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AMC/22CONS/FA4621-08-R-0001/listing.html

U.S. Department of Transportation, Cambridge, MA.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-2299, Solicitation DTRT57-08-R-20006, 2008

The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center intends to issue a solicitation for multiple award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts for environmental remediation and decommissioning services. The solicitation is expected to be issued on or around May 30, 2008. The government intends to award three contracts from this solicitation. The first award will be made to a service-disabled, veteran-owned (SDVO) small business and the other two awards will be made on a full and open basis. The services to be performed are an integral part of environmental remediation activities undertaken by the Volpe Center in support of its internal organizations, such as the Federal Aviation Administration. Individual Task Orders under the resulting contracts will be issued on the basis of firm fixed-price, cost plus fixed-fee (CPFF) term form or CPFF completion form. The resulting contracts will require contractors to provide decommissioning services and environmental remediation services for various hazardous, toxic, and radioactive sites over a period of five years. Typical environmental remediation work activities can include removal, treatment, sampling, and analysis for monitoring and control, as well as transportation, and disposal of confirmed or suspected hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste. Decommissioning actions will support the closure and proper disposition of obsolete and abandoned facilities and infrastructure and may include project planning, cost estimating, engineering evaluations, hazard assessments, permitting, hazardous materials abatement, utility disconnection or relocation, demolition, disposal, site restoration, and site closure. The applicable NAICS Code is 562910, Environmental Remediation Services. The size standard is 500 employees. Detailed specifications and minimum requirements will be set forth in the solicitation, which will be available only in electronic format via FedBizOpps (fedbizopps.gov) and the Volpe Center Acquisition Division home page (www.volpe.dot.gov/procure/index.html
). FBO notice and contact information at http://www2.fbo.gov/spg/DOT/RITA/VNTSC/DTRT57%2D08%2DR%2D20006/listing.h
tml

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE), Brooks City-Base, TX.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-2315, Solicitation AFCEEBAA-08-001, 2008

This announcement constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement for the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, Restoration Branch, Technology Transfer Office, under NAICS code 541712. This announcement is open for one year and will be advertised annually. AFCEE seeks out technologies and methodologies to reduce environmental impacts from current and past Air Force operations and apply to Air Force installations worldwide. The key focus of this effort is to develop technologies and methodologies for demonstration/field-tested remediation, contaminated site characterization and monitoring, and pollution prevention. The goal is to identify more technically advanced, efficient, effective, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective solutions than are currently available. These methods will serve as an innovative means to save money and time while achieving compliance with all air, soil, and water regulatory requirements and Air Force policies and technical guidance. The purpose of this acquisition is to apply promising demonstration/field-tested innovative technologies and methodologies. This acquisition is not to test theoretical concepts or technologies and methodologies that currently exist solely in a laboratory research and development phase. The remedial technologies areas of interest include the following:
• Effective characterization, monitoring, fate and transport, detection, and remediation of dense nonaqueous-phase liquids;
• Optimization of remediation and long-term monitoring technologies;
• Assessment and mitigation of hazards associated with vapor intrusion;
• Remedial techniques and methods to treat soil and ground water contaminated with chlorinated solvents more effectively;
• Implementation of rapid site characterization through definitive field-based analytical methods for volatile and semivolatile organics and other common contaminants;
• Innovative pollution prevention techniques;
• Innovative site characterization approaches and tools;
• New and innovative quality assurance methodologies; and
• Innovative monitoring and optimization systems for existing remediation operations (e.g., pump and treat), including sensors and data management systems.
FBO notice and contact information at http://www2.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/HQAFCEE/AFCEEBAA%2D08%2D001/listing.ht
ml

Heron, G., J.P. Galligan, J. LaChance, and R. Baker (TerraTherm, Inc., Fitchburg, MA); S. Vinci (C&S Engineers, Syracuse, NY). The 23rd Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, 15-18 October 2007, University of Massachusetts at Amherst: Abstracts. Northeast Regional Environmental Health Center, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst.

An in situ thermal desorption (ISTD) system was used to remediate three separate source zones of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) at the Midler Avenue project of the Redevelopment Brownfield Cleanup Program in Syracuse, New York. The three CVOC source zones covered a total area of 22,300 square ft and averaged a depth of 20 ft below ground surface. Thermal conduction heating was applied to a sediment volume of 16,200 cubic yards, 90% of which lay below the water table, about 3 ft below grade. A significant mass of DNAPL constituents (primarily tetrachloroethene) was present within the treatment zone. The thermal treatment system consisted of 211 heater wells and 17 horizontal vapor collection wells. Monitoring included temperature profiling using 30 thermocouple wells. A power supply of 2,500 KVA raised the subsurface temperatures to an average 100°C in approximately 150 days. Effluent vapors were treated using thermal oxidation and acid gas scrubbing. Interim and final confirmatory soil sampling demonstrated compliance with the stringent remedial objectives set by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). This presentation describes the subsurface design, remediation mechanisms utilized, implementation sequence, and operational adjustments. Slides from a presentation by Karen Cahill, NYSDEC, illustrate the progress of this project at http://www.awma-cny.org/pdf/techconf07/cahill_midler_brownfield.pdf

Soukup, J., D. Brammer, and B. Nowack (Weston Solutions, Inc., Manchester, NH); J. Tsang (U.S. EPA, Boston, MA); P. Ollila (MassDEP, Worcester).
The 23rd Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, 15-18 October 2007, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Northeast Regional Environmental Health Center, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst. CD-ROM, 2007

A hydrogeologic investigation at the Fisherville Mill site showed that extended pumping of the well field under drought conditions could draw chlorinated solvent contamination from the site beneath the Blackstone Canal toward supply wells. A temporary dam was installed on the canal to impound water, thereby creating a hydraulic barrier to contaminant migration while source area treatment was evaluated. In June 2000, an in situ bioremediation technology demonstration project utilizing Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC®) to address the contaminants was conducted under EPA's Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program, but after 18 months of monitoring, it was unclear whether the dechlorination/degradation process would proceed to completion. Evaluation of an alternate remedial technology began in January 2002, and in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using sodium permanganate was selected as the preferred alternative. The cleanup objective was to decrease trichloroethene (TCE) concentrations in the source area by two orders of magnitude to reduce the size of the contaminant plume and the risk of drawing TCE into the downgradient water supply wells. Three rounds of permanganate injections were made into a grid of approximately 100 wells, and the permanganate was recirculated twice in selected grid areas to ensure optimal distribution. Post-removal ground-water sampling confirmed that the cleanup objective was achieved. Additional information on this project is available in a paper delivered at the 2004 Battelle Conference by A. Willett, et al. Paper at http://www.regenesis.com/products/enhAna/hrc/2004%20Publications/HRC%20W
illett,%20Koenigsberg,%20Norris,%20Murray%20-%20CHLORINATED%20SOLVENT%20
TREATMENT.pdf
A slide presentation that illustrates the history of this project is available at http://www.ttemidev.com/oscAdmin2008/conference/materials/190/12-Remedia
tion%20Final.pdf

Boelk, Barbara.
Lake Elmo Leader, 7 Nov 2007

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has solicited bids for construction of an air stripper and treatment building to address a ground-water contamination source for the Baytown Superfund site. About 900 private wells are located within an area that has been affected by a plume of dissolved-phase trichloroethene. The MPCA theorizes that the contaminant entered the ground water from a metal fabrication shop that once occupied the property. The system will address about 100 gallons a minute, or 144,000 gallons a day, 24 hours a day for the next five to 20 years. The water under the site contains more than 10,000 times the allowable concentration level. Cleaned water will flow from the treatment building through pipes under the ballpark. A horizontal discharge well will be installed at the end of underground perforated pipe that will allow treated water to irrigate the ball fields and recharge the ground-water system. Construction is expected to take about two months, with startup of the hydraulic barrier projected to be in January. MPCA budgeted $615,000 for construction of the hydraulic barrier, including operation and maintenance during fiscal year 2008. For fiscal year 2009, the agency has budgeted $126,000. In addition to constructing the hydraulic barrier, MPCA officials are conducting a pilot test to treat ground water under Hagberg's Country Market with in situ chemical oxidation. If the pilot test is successful, full-scale chemical oxidation is anticipated in spring 2008. Additional treatment of the source zone with bioremediation may be necessary over the long term. The overall estimated Baytown Superfund project cost over the next two state fiscal years is $2 million: $1.4 million in FY 2008 and $600,000 in 2009. This funding includes providing bottled water to residents, sampling and analysis, and change-out and maintenance of private well granular activated carbon filters.

Larson, R., J. Applegate, J. Farrell, and W. Linn.
Proceedings of the 2007 World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, May 15-19, 2007, Tampa, Florida. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Reston, VA. ISBN: 0-7844-0927-7, 10 pp, 2007

In March 2003, a remediation system for soil and ground water was designed and installed to address chlorinated ethenes at the 60 Minute Cleaners in Ft. Myers, Florida. A ground-water contaminant plume had migrated approximately 200 feet downgradient of the facility. The remedial system consisted of a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system, nested ground-water extraction wells installed downgradient of the drycleaning facility, and multiple injection wells installed upgradient of the facility. The ground-water remediation system was designed to enhance the rate of dechlorination of dissolved chlorinated ethenes by indigenous microorganisms in the presumed source area (beneath the former drycleaning facility) by injection of ethyl lactate into the surficial aquifer. The injection/extraction system design provided for accelerated movement of the ethyl lactate through the aquifer in the source area. Intrinsic attenuation processes are expected to be adequate for remediation of dissolved-phase chlorinated ethenes outside the source area. Carbon adsorption within two 2,000-pound granular activated carbon (GAC) vessels removes dissolved-phase chlorinated ethenes in the system's influent water stream, and the SVE system decreases the concentrations of chlorinated ethenes in the presumed source-area vadose zone. Initially, contaminants within the soil vapor stream were removed prior to atmospheric discharge by two 170-pound GAC vessels. To allow the site to be monitored for natural attenuation processes, the SVE system was turned off in September 2005, and the ground-water system was shut down in October 2005. Concentrations of chlorinated volatile organics have decreased significantly on both a mass and molar basis since startup. A significant decrease in dissolved tetrachloroethene (PCE) concentrations was observed in the source area monitoring wells, while an increase in dissolved PCE breakdown products was observed throughout the site in monitoring wells outside the source area, especially vinyl chloride (VC) concentrations. Recent data indicate a decreasing trend in VC concentrations during the third year of system operation. Chlorinated ethene concentrations remained below the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's natural attenuation default concentrations in the monitoring and recovery wells sampled during March 2006. The State Coalition for Remediation of Drycleaners provides additional details on this cleanup at http://www.drycleancoalition.org/profiles/display.cfm?id=110

Gregoire, Colette, Peter K. Joesten, and John W. Lane, Jr. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5191, 35 pp, 2007

Single-hole radar reflection and crosshole radar tomography surveys were used in conjunction with conventional borehole-geophysical methods to evaluate the effectiveness of borehole-radar methods for monitoring the movement of steam and heat through fractured bedrock. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with U.S. EPA, conducted surveys in an abandoned limestone quarry at the former Loring Air Force Base during a field-scale, steam-enhanced remediation (SER) pilot project conducted to study the viability of SER to remediate nonaqueous-phase liquid contamination in fractured bedrock. Numerical modeling and field experiments indicate that borehole-radar methods have the potential to monitor the presence of steam and to measure large temperature changes in the limestone matrix during SER operations. Based on modeling results, the replacement of water by steam in fractures should produce a decrease in radar reflectivity (amplitude of the reflected wave) by a factor of 10 and a change in reflection polarity. In addition, heating the limestone matrix should increase the bulk electrical conductivity and decrease the bulk dielectric permittivity. These changes result in an increase in radar attenuation and an increase in radar-wave propagation velocity, respectively. Single-hole radar reflection and crosshole radar tomography data were collected in two boreholes using 100-megahertz antennas before the start of steam injection, about 10 days after the steam injection began, and 2 months later, near the end of the injection. Fluid temperature logs show that the temperature of the fluid in the boreholes increased by 10°C in one borehole and 40°C in the other; maximum temperatures were measured near the bottom of the boreholes. The results of the numerical modeling were used to interpret the borehole-radar data. Analyses of the single-hole radar reflection data showed almost no indication that steam replaced water in fractures near the boreholes because (1) no change of polarity was observed in the radar reflections; (2) variations in the measured travel times were unsubstantial; and (3) most of the observed decreases in reflectivity were too small to have resulted from the replacement of water by steam. Analyses of the crosshole radar tomography data also support the conclusion that steam did not replace water in the fractures around the boreholes because travel-time-difference and attenuation-difference tomograms showed only small decreases in velocity and small increases in attenuation accompanying the steam injection. The radar data are consistent with an increase in the conductivity of the limestone as a result of heating of the limestone matrix near the boreholes. Single-hole radar reflection data collected near the end of the steam injection near the bottom of the borehole with the largest temperature increase showed substantial attenuation. Also, reflector analysis showed small decreases in the amplitudes of radar-wave reflections in data collected before injection and data collected near the end of the collection period. In the crosshole radar tomography data, decreases in velocity and small increases in attenuation also are consistent with temperature increases in the matrix. Report at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5191/

Mulica, W.S. (Global Technologies, Inc., Fort Collins, CO); J.S. Roemmel (SECOR International, Inc., Murray, UT).
IPEC 2007: 14th Annual International Petroleum Environmental Conference November 5-9, 2007, Houston, Texas. Abstracts, 2007

A release of gasoline occurred in the underground storage tank (UST) system supplying fuel to boats at the Colter Bay Marina Village at Teton Park. Ground water in the immediate area was contaminated with BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) to levels above 5,000 ppb. A major challenge in the selection of an appropriate ground-water remediation system was the need for successful functioning in a low-permeability glacial till with minimal oversight during the very long, frigid winters common to Teton Park. Consultants for the project selected the insitu Submerged Oxygen Curtain (iSOC) technology for the project. The iSOC technology infuses bubbleless oxygen into ground water via monitoring wells. A total of seven iSOC injection wells has been operating at the Colter Bay site from September 2004 to the present. Results to date indicate that (1) the iSOC system has created strongly oxidizing conditions throughout the entire ground-water contamination area, (2) BTEX in the UST source area has been reduced substantially over time, (3) the oxygen barrier along the shore of Jackson Lake is successfully keeping petroleum constituents from reaching the lake, (4) the ground-water remediation system is operating year round, and (5) all site monitor wells were "non detect" for all petroleum constituents in May 2006.

U.S. EPA Region 7 Fact Sheet, Oct 2007

EPA is the lead agency for the Parkview Well site, and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is the support agency. Two ground-water contaminant plumes resulting from leakage of chlorinated solvents have been identified at the site. EPA's selected remedy for Operable Unit 2 is in situ chemical oxidation for the ground water contamination and placement of institutional controls on the 3304 Engleman Road property. The final remedy was selected because it reduces toxicity, mobility, and volume of the contaminants; it is a cost-effective innovative technology; it is readily implementable; and the need for any additional treatment can be evaluated quickly.

Williams, Lee, Pamplin Media Group.
Lake Oswego Review, 11 Dec 2007

Portlanders are helping in the effort to clean up an oil spill in the San Francisco Bay, thanks to the voluntary efforts of hairstylists. When the Cosco Busan container ship collided with the Bay Bridge tower on November 7, spilling 58,000 gallons of oil into San Francisco Bay, the salon owners sent a year's worth of collected clippings south to Matter of Trust, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that collects hair from about 300,000 salons and barbershops throughout North and South America, China, and India. The hair is woven into mats that can soak up oil from oil spills as well or better than commercial spill remediation products. Matter of Trust has been collecting hair for mats since 2000. Hair doesn't absorb oil, it adsorbs it, i.e., oil coats the hair without soaking it, so the hair mats can be wrung out and reused 30 to 100 times. Ninety-eight percent of the oil recovered by the hair mats can itself be recovered, according to OttiMat, the company that invented the mats and has loaned out the design for use to Matter of Trust for emergency spills. Since the spill in San Francisco Bay, Matter of Trust has helped dispense around 12,500 hair mats. The city of San Francisco had used the mats previously to remediate motor oil spills on the ground, but the spill in the bay marks the first city use of the technique in a large water body. The mats that are no longer useable can be broken down organically using mushroom spores, thanks to a mycologist who donated $10,000 worth of oyster mushroom spawn to Matter of Trust. At present, salons and individuals now cover the cost of mailing donated hair to the facility. All kinds of hair can be donated. Additional details about oil spill hair mats and the Matter of Trust program is available at http://www.matteroftrust.org/programs/hairmatsinfo.html
Full story at http://www.clackamasreview.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=1197054387
94870600

Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Project ER-0114, 47 pp, Apr 2007

The passive flux meter (PFM) is a new technology that measures subsurface water and contaminant flux directly. This technology addresses DoD's need for cost-effective, long-term monitoring because flux measurements can be used for process control, remedial action performance assessments, and compliance monitoring. Under ESTCP Project ER-0114, the PFM was demonstrated and validated as an innovative flux monitoring technology at several locations: the National Air and Space Administration's Launch Complex 34 in Cape Canaveral, Florida; Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario, Canada; the Naval Construction Base in Port Hueneme, California; and the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head, Maryland. Projects at Cape Canaveral, Borden, and Port Hueneme included objectives of evaluating the flux meter as a technology for direct in situ measurement of cumulative water discharge and contaminant flux under controlled flow and under natural gradient conditions. Tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, dichloroethene, vinyl chloride, ethylene, and methyl tertiary butyl ether were the contaminants studied. At the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head, Maryland, the PFM was demonstrated and validated as a technology for measuring water and perchlorate fluxes. The cost and performance data from the individual site demonstration reports have been compiled and interpreted in this review to expedite regulatory and end-user acceptance and to stimulate commercialization. Report at http://www.estcp.org/viewfile.cfm?Doc=ER%2D0114%2DC%26P%2Epdf

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
Environment Quick News, Sep 2007

A new report from EPRI—In Situ Chemical Oxidation of MGP Residuals: Field Demonstration Report (Item 1015411)—describes the use of activated persulfate to oxidize residual contaminants at the Laurel Street former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site in Poughkeepsie, New York. Because activated persulfate remains stable and persists after subsurface application, it is a good choice for treating low-solubility MGP contaminants. A single application of alkaline-activated persulfate was made to a defined area at the Laurel Street site in 2006. Soil measurements before and after showed that total average polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations decreased by approximately 55%, mass by 49 to 63%, and leaching by 62%. The total average concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) increased by approximately 4%, with no change in mass, and leaching decreased by 26%. The total average concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons fell by approximately 68%, with a mass decrease of 63 to 75%. These results confirmed predictions based on bench-scale testing of site soils and demonstrated that in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using activated persulfate is a feasible alternative to excavation and disposal for selected MGP sites. The report describes suitable sites in terms of soil type, hydraulic conductivity, soil heterogeneity, ground-water flow, geochemistry, and source contaminant levels. General principles are provided to guide MGP site managers considering ISCO, noting that treatment costs vary from $100 to $500 per cubic yard (2006 dollars) depending on site conditions. For more information, contact Andrew Coleman, 650-855-2249, acoleman@epri.com

Sapsford, D., A. Barnes, M. Dey, K. Williams, A. Jarvis, and P. Younger.
Mine Water and the Environment, Vol 26 No 4, p 243-250, Dec 2007

Iron and manganese removal data are presented from a novel, low-footprint treatment system for mine water along with design configurations to show how a system footprint of 66 m² could treat mine water containing 7.2 mg/L Fe to <1 mg/L 1 L/s. A conventional lagoon and aerobic wetland system based on standard sizing criteria would require a minimum of 135 m² to achieve the same treatment. The system also polishes manganese concentrations and produces ochre that is dense (15% w/v) and free of plant detritus, and is therefore amenable to recycling. The use of heavy machinery generally is not required for the construction of systems of this scale.

University of Teesside News Release, 10 Dec 2007

BioReGen, a pioneering project that could transform thousands of acres of derelict brownfield sites in North East England, is expanding after successful trials. The University of Teesside's Clean Environment Management Centre (CLEMANCE) is using willow and grasses to clean up contaminated sites once used by industry. The project began in 2004 with test planting at several small brownfield sites, the first being a former enamel works in County Durham. The willow trees and miscanthus, reed canary, and switch grasses cleaned up the soil by extracting metal contaminants, such as zinc, copper, and cadmium. Planting has been carried out on five larger full-scale demonstration sites, each covering a hectare and all with a history of heavy industrial use: the former Haverton Hill shipyard; part of the old Head Wrightson engineering site at the Tees Barrage; a former colliery and coal yard; Warden Law, a landfill site, and former gravel pit; and a former sewage treatment works. The work is supported by a 1.2 million Euros grant from the European Union's LIFE-Environment research program. The CLEMANCE Program has demonstrated that plants can grow successfully on contaminated land, but it is not a quick fix. To ready a site for development via phytoremediation can take years, but where there is no rush to redevelopment, this slower approach can serve as a holding operation until the sites are needed for industry again. CLEMANCE also has been negotiating with energy provider SembCorp about providing willow to the company's Wilton 10 wood-burning power stations.

Mcintyre, C.P. (CSIRO Petroleum, North Ryde, NSW, Australia), P.M. Harvey, S.H. Ferguson, A.M. Wressnig, H. Volk, S.C. George, and I. Snape.
Environmental Science and Technology, Vol 41 No 7, p 2452-2458, 2007

Isoprenoid/n-alkane ratios are commonly used to determine the extent of petroleum product biodegradation at low levels but are not useful once the n-alkanes have been removed. In a bioremediation trial conducted at Casey Station, Antarctica, researchers found that the diastereomers of the acyclic isoprenoids can be used to determine the extent of biodegradation in moderately biodegraded fuel in soil. The biological diastereomers of pristane were depleted more rapidly during moderate biodegradation than the geological or mature diastereomers, and thus the ratio of pristane diastereomers could be used to determine the level of biodegradation. The statistical difference among mean diastereomer ratios for samples grouped according to the biodegradation scale and pristane/phytane ratios was highly significant. The ratios of norpristane and phytane diastereomers changed with biodegradation in a similar fashion, and different levels of sensitivity exist for each. The method can be performed on conventional gas chromatographs by non-specialist chemists; the ratios are independent of evaporation and do not necessarily require a non-biodegraded reference sample. This paper describes a simple alternative method for determining the extent of biodegradation of fuels at moderate levels that can be applied to a wide range of petroleum products.

Rahbeh, M.E. and R.H. Mohtar, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN.
Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol 143 Nos 1-2, p 156-170, 2007

A numerical model developed for the design and operation of air sparging and soil vapor extraction (AS/SVE) systems was used to simulate two field case studies of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) contamination. First-order mass transfer kinetics were incorporated into the model to account for contaminant mass transfer between the water and air (stripping), NAPL and water (dissolution), NAPL and air (volatilization), and water and soil (sorption/desorption). The model also accounted for soil heterogeneity. In the second case study, the model was used to evaluate the effect of pulsed sparging on the removal rate of BTEX compounds. The close comparison between the observed and simulated contaminant concentration in the aqueous phase showed that the approximation of the pulsed sparging operation yielded reasonable prediction of the removal process. Field heterogeneity was simulated using Monte Carlo analysis. The model predicted removal of about 80 to 85% of the contaminant mass by air/water mass transfer, which was similar to the average removal obtained by Monte Carlo analysis. The analysis of the removal/rebound cycles demonstrated that removal rate was controlled by the organic-aqueous distribution coefficient. Due to the lack of site-specific data, the aerobic first-order biodegradation coefficients were obtained from a literature survey. Results of both case studies showed that biodegradation played a major role in the remediation of the contaminated sites.

Merino, J. and V. Bucala, PLAPIQUI-UNS-CONICET, Bahia Blanca, Argentina.
Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol 143 Nos 1-2, p 455-461, 2007

A natural organic soil (2.5% total organic carbon) was spiked with hexadecane and thermally treated under an inert medium for 30 min at temperatures ranging from 150 to 800°C to simulate ex situ thermal process conditions. Neat and contaminated samples were heated separately to assess the impact of the soil itself and the contaminant in the release of volatiles. Eighty to 88% of the initial hexadecane content in the soil matrix was recovered after the thermal treatment, which indicates the potential for recovering the contaminant for recycling. The large amount of hexadecane collected with no sign of chemical transformation suggested that evaporation was the main mechanism for hexadecane removal. The analysis of the light gases released from contaminated samples indicated negligible hexadecane pyrolysis reaction rates, confirming that the processes of evaporation/desorption governed the removal of the contaminant from the soil. Good removal efficiencies (>99.9%) were detected for the soil at a relatively small surface area at about 300°C; higher temperatures were not required to improve contaminant removal.

Chen, W., R. Parette, J. Zou, F.S. Cannon, and B.A. Dempsey, Pennsylvania State Univ.
Water Research, Vol 41 No 9, p 1851-1858, 2007

Iron-impregnated activated carbons have been found to be very effective in arsenic (As) removal. Oxyanionic arsenic species, such as arsenate and arsenite, adsorb at the iron oxyhydroxide surface by forming complexes with the surface sites. The goal of this research has been to load as much iron within the carbon pores as possible while also rendering as much as possible of the iron to be available for sorbing As. Surface oxidation of carbon by HNO₃H₂SO₄ or by HNO₃KMnO₄ increased the amount of iron that could be loaded to 7.6 to 8.0%; As stayed below 10 ppb until 12,000 bed volumes during rapid small-scale tests using actual contaminated ground water (40 to 60 ppb As at 7.6 to 8.0 pH). Boehm titrations showed that surface oxidation greatly increased the concentration of carboxylic and phenolic surface groups. Iron impregnation by precipitation or iron salt evaporation increased iron content to 9 to 17% with internal iron loading and to 33.6% with both internal and external iron loading. The iron-tailored carbons reached 25,000 to 34,000 bed volumes to 10 ppb As breakthrough during the rapid small-scale tests. With 33.6% iron loading, some iron peeled off.

Audet, P. and C. Charest, Univ. of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Environmental Pollution, Vol 147 No 1, p 231-237, 2007

A literature survey was conducted to correlate heavy metal uptake and plant growth factors from published data in an estimate of the effectiveness of phytoextraction. The indicators of the actual plant metals uptake showed positive correlations with soil metals concentrations, while the relative plant metals uptake showed negative correlations. Plant growth was negatively correlated with both the plant and soil metals concentrations. These significant relationships were found for the majority of metals tested (e.g., zinc, cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, and iron) with the exception of nickel, cobalt, and manganese. After fitting the correlation coefficients, the highest proportion of variance among the studies was mainly due to the experimental parameters or the plant species. When the metabolic costs of metals uptake are taken into account, phytoextraction appears to be less effective beyond critical metals concentrations. Despite these constraints, the authors emphasize that metals phytoextraction can play an important role in site remediation.

Van Nevel, L., J. Mertens, K. Oorts, and K. Verheyen.
Environmental Pollution, Vol 150 No 1, p 34-40, Nov 2007

For most trace elements, the technique of phytoextraction needs significant improvements to become practically feasible. Calculations for cadmium (Cd) revealed that the amount of Cd taken up by Thlaspi caerulescens or Salix spp. needs to be at least double the present amount to achieve a slight decrease of Cd concentrations in the upper 0.5 m of the soil within a period of 10 years. Additionally, metals taken up by plants might pose an important risk to adjacent, unpolluted areas via dispersal of plant litter. Alternatives such as bioavailable contaminant stripping (i.e., extraction of only the most labile, bioavailable metal pools) and phytostabilization might be more effective. Paper at http://www.aseanenvironment.info/Abstract/41016151.pdf

Gallegos-Garcia, M., M.L.B. Celis-García, J.R. Rangel-Mendez, and E. Razo-Flores, IPICYT, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
AIChE 2007 Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Extended Abstract.

In an inverse fluidized bed reactor (IFBR), the carrier material floats at the top, fluidification (which provides for liquid mixing) is achieved by a down-flow current of liquid, and the inverse flow allows the recuperation of particles at the bottom of the reactor. The liquid and biogas flow in opposite directions, which helps for bed expansion. This presentation reports the performance of a laboratory-scale, 2.5-liter IFBR for the anaerobic treatment of synthetic acid mine drainage (AMD). The IFBR was inoculated with sulfate-reducing granular sludge equivalent to 1.63 grams of volatile suspended solids (VSS). As support, 600 mL of fine, low-density polyethylene particles were used, with an average diameter of 500 µm and an apparent density of 400 kg/m³. The material was fluidized by recirculation flow, maintaining 30 to 50% bed expansion of the reactor volume. The system was fed with a synthetic influent of mineral media (pH 7), plus ethanol/lactate or ethanol as electron donors. The organic loading rate varied from 0.5 to 2.5 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L-day. Sulfate was added as electron acceptor. Once stable sulfate-reducing conditions were reached, iron in the form of ferrous chloride was fed into the reactor at a concentration of 100 mg/L, controlling the pH of the influent at 5.0 to ensure that the iron remained soluble. The performance of the reactor was evaluated through organic material and sulfate removal efficiencies, sulfide production, and removal/precipitation of soluble iron (as FeS). The IFBR has been operated in continuous mode for more than 275 days at hydraulic retention times in the range of 24 to 48 hours and ambient temperature (18 to 30°C). The average efficiencies of COD removal and sulfate conversion were 50 and 38.8%, respectively, and sulfide production reached values up to 436 mg/L, indicating that the immobilization of SRB in the plastic support was achieved. The SRB immobilized in the biofilm did not completely oxidize the substrates as was evidenced by the acetate found in the effluent. The specific sulfate-reducing activities with ethanol and lactate were 3.96 and 8.44 g COD-H₂S/g immobilized volatile solids (IVS)-day, respectively, and the immobilized solids reached values up to 1.4 g IVS/L support. The results indicated that the biofilm had a higher sulfate-reducing activity when comparing the values obtained with those of sulfidogenic granular sludge (0.45 to 2.1 g COD-H₂S/ g VSS-day) with volatile fatty acids as electron donors. Introduction of Fe did not affect the performance of the IFBR. Metal precipitation was 99%, and effluent-soluble concentration was below 1 mg/L. This system has a potential application for the treatment of metal-containing effluents that react immediately with the produced sulfide and form insoluble metal sulfides that can be recovered easily at the bottom of the reactor.

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
Environment Quick News, Dec 2007/Jan 2008

EPRI has produced a new report entitled "Laboratory Screening Tests for Permeable Reactive Barrier Media: Treatability Data" (EPRI product 1014018) that presents screening-level treatability data for several media potentially effective for remediating inorganic constituents typically found in ground water at coal combustion product (CCP) disposal sites. Because upcoming regulatory guidelines will increase monitoring at these facilities and could raise ground-water quality compliance issues, EPRI is developing a complete tool kit for CCP disposal site assessment and remediation. The 13 candidate media tested are suitable for use in permeable reactive barriers or other in situ applications. The media were batch-tested in the laboratory on two bituminous coal ash leachates and one sub-bituminous coal ash leachate from disposal sites. These materials were selected to provide a range of constituent concentrations. The researchers were looking for significant reductions in concentrations of previously identified constituents of concern: boron, sulfate, arsenic, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, antimony, thallium, and vanadium. After 30-day tests, the investigators found that ArsenXnp (originally developed to treat arsenic) and zero-valent iron were effective in treating at least one leachate sample for seven of the nine constituents, excluding boron. Compost was effective for six constituents, and Humasorb and Amberlite for five constituents. Two forms of iron-coated sands are still being tested. For more information, contact Ken Ladwig, 262-754-2744, keladwig@epri.com

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
Environment Quick News, Oct 2007

Arsenic-contaminated soil is a widespread problem due to the use of arsenical herbicides, pesticides, and wood preservatives. Arsenic also is used in the manufacturing of ammunition, fireworks and semi-conductors, in tanning, metal alloys, specialty glass, photocopier drums, and various pigments. Measurable levels of arsenic also occur naturally in soils. Exposure to this element can cause chronic health effects in humans. Upon learning that U.S. EPA planned to lower the drinking water standard for arsenic to 10 parts per billion in January 2006, EPRI sponsored a three-year study to develop and test in situ chemical fixation (ISCF) methods for remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil. Challenges to development of the ISCF technology include determining an appropriate application method, permanence, and regulatory acceptance. For example, the chemical fixation reagents ferrous sulfate (FS) or ferrous sulfate plus lanthanum chloride (FSLA) are effective reagents under oxidizing subsurface conditions, but other techniques, such as sequestration in sulfides, may be required under reducing conditions. Because ISCF technology does not remove the contaminant, regulators must be convinced that ISCF prevents leaching to ground water and is permanent under ambient subsurface conditions. The EPRI project was designed to answer these questions through a literature review to identify suitable reagents, followed by laboratory treatability studies of FS, FSLA, and the commercially available Metals Remediation Compound® (MRC). In batch studies, FSLA performed slightly better than FS, but MRC did not perform well for arsenic. In long-term column studies, no detectable arsenic leached from FS- or FSLA-treated soils even after more than 280 years of simulated leaching. Preliminary cost data suggest that ISCF is cheaper than conventional techniques. The study results have been documented in a report, In Situ Fixation of Arsenic-Contaminated Soil (EPRI Product 1014056). EPRI will continue to work on ISCF by sponsoring field trials of FS and FSLA. Future work will be undertaken to evaluate the stability of FS and FSLA treatments under reducing conditions and to determine the pH and redox parameters most effective for arsenic sequestration. An additional literature review will identify potential calcium-bearing minerals that might sequester arsenic. For more information, contact Mary McLearn, 650-855-2487, mmclearn@epri.com

Johnsen, A.R. (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Copenhagen); S. Schmidt; T.K. Hybholt; S. Henriksen; C.S. Jacobsen; O. Andersen.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol 73 No 5, p 1474-1480, 2007

Bioaugmentation of soil polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is often disappointing because of the low survival rate and low activity of the introduced degrader bacteria. The authors investigated the possibility of priming PAH degradation in soil by adding 2% bioremediated soil with a high capacity for PAH degradation. The culturable PAH-degrading community of the bioremediated primer soil was dominated by Mycobacterium spp. A microcosm containing pristine soil spiked with PAHs and primer soil showed a fast, 100- to 1,000-fold increase in numbers of culturable phenanthrene-, pyrene-, and fluoranthene degraders and a 160-fold increase in copy numbers of the mycobacterial PAH dioxygenase gene pdo1. An unpolluted microcosm primed with bioremediated soil showed a high survival rate for the introduced degrader community during 112 days of incubation. A non-primed control microcosm containing pristine soil spiked with PAHs showed only small increases in the numbers of culturable PAH degraders and no pdo1 genes. Initial PAH degradation rates were highest in the primed microcosm, but the later degradation rates in primed and nonprimed soil were comparable, thus indicating that the proliferation and persistence of the introduced, soil-adapted degraders had only a marginal effect on PAH degradation. Given the small effect of priming with bioremediated soil and the likely presence of PAH degraders in almost all PAH-contaminated soil, the virtue of priming PAH-contaminated soil with bioremediated soil to further large-scale soil bioremediation seems questionable.

Yu, H., L. Zhu, and W. Zhou, Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol 142 Nos 1-2, p 354-361, 2007

The authors investigated the effects of anionic/nonionic mixed surfactants—sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) mixed with Triton X-100 (TX100)—on the desorption and biodegradation of phenanthrene in a soil-water system. The presence of SDS both increased the solubilization of TX100 for phenanthrene and reduced the sorption of TX100 onto soils. The desorption efficiency of phenanthrene from the contaminated soil was enhanced by mixed surfactant solutions compared with that of TX100 alone and appeared to be positively related with the mole fraction of SDS in solution. Mixed surfactants with a relatively smaller ratio promoted phenanthrene biodegradation. For example, the biodegradation percentage of phenanthrene in 1:9 SDS/TX100 was about 165% of that in TX100 alone at the same TX100 concentration of 1.6 mmol/L in 24 h; however, a larger ratio of SDS in the mixed solutions inhibited biodegradation, possibly due to preferential utilization of SDS by phenanthrene degraders. These results indicate that selection of mixed surfactants should be based on consideration of the effects of SDS on both desorption and biodegradation when designing a surfactant bioremediation approach for contaminated soils.

Stuczynski, T. and G. Siebielec (Inst. of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, Pulawy, Poland); W.L. Daniels (Virginia Tech., Blacksburg, VA); G. McCarty and R.L. Chaney (USDA, Beltsville, MD).
Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol 36, p 1154-1162, 2007

Biological aspects of revegetation of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) smelter wastelands using biosolids were investigated to assess to what extent biosolid treatment would support ecosystem functioning as measured by biological indicators, such as enzyme activities of revegetated metal waste or plant growth. Metal transfer to the ecosystem also was investigated to assess food chain risk and effects on the health of local fauna. A field experiment was conducted on a smelter waste deposit in Piekary Slaskie, Silesia, Poland, in two separate fields using wastes generated by the Welz and Doerschel smelting processes. The tested methods allowed revegetation of the fields via application of municipal biosolids at the rate 300 dry t/ha combined with the incorporation of commercial lime in a mixed oxide and carbonate form. This amendment was applied at the rate of 1.5 and 30 t for Welz waste. For the more acidic Doerschel waste, use of a 30-cm byproduct lime cap was followed by incorporation of biosolid at a rate of 300 t/ha. Evaluation of subsequent site biological activities indicated that these reclamation methods are an effective way to establish new, fully-functioning ecosystems that support plant growth. They also provided strong evidence that forage crops grown on Zn-, Pb-, and cadmium-contaminated sites reclaimed using lime and biosolids pose no obvious risk to wildlife and food safety.

Brown, S.L. (Univ. of Washington, Seattle); H. Compton (U.S. EPA, Edison, NJ); N.T. Basta (Ohio State Univ., Columbus).
Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol 36, p 1627-1634, 2007

Different soil amendments—diammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP), municipal biosolids (BS), biosolids compost, and Al- and Fe-based water treatment residuals—were tested on metals-contaminated yard soils and tailings at the Tar Creek NPL site in Oklahoma to determine if amendments could restore a vegetative cover and reduce metal availability in situ. For the yard soils, all amendments reduced bioaccessible lead (Pb), with reductions ranging from 35% (BS+Al, DAP 0.5%, DAP+compost+Al) to 57% (compost+Al). Plant zinc (Zn) and ammonium nitrate-extractable cadmium (Cd) and Zn also were reduced by some of the amendments. All amendments excluding BS reduced bioaccessible Pb in the tailings, with the largest reductions observed in the DAP 3% and DAP3%+BS treatments (75 and 84%). All treatments that contained DAP suppressed plant growth for the first season, while treatments that contained compost and biosolids produced the highest growth. In the second year, growth was vigorous for all treatments. Plant Zn and Cd and extractable metal concentration also decreased. Several treatments reduced bioaccessible Pb and sustained a healthy plant with reduced metal concentrations. For the yard soil, compost+Al was the most effective treatment tested. For the tailings, BS+DAP 1% was the most effective treatment. These results indicate that in situ amendments offer a remedial alternative for the Tar Creek site.

Morris, R.M., J.M. Fung, B.G. Rahm, S. Zhang (Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY); D.L. Freedman (Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC); S.H. Zinder and R.E. Richardson (Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY).
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol 73 No 1, p 320-326, 2007

In Dehalococcoides spp., reductive dehalogenases (RDases) are key respiratory enzymes involved in the anaerobic detoxification of halogenated compounds. Although housekeeping genes sequenced from Dehalococcoides spp. are >85% identical at the amino acid level, different strains are capable of dehalogenating diverse ranges of compounds, depending largely on the suite of RDase genes that each strain harbors and expresses. The authors identified RDase proteins that corresponded to known functions in four characterized cultures and predicted functions in an uncharacterized Dehalococcoides-containing mixed culture. Homologues within RDase subclusters containing PceA, TceA, and VcrA were among the most frequently identified proteins. Several additional proteins, including a formate dehydrogenase-like protein (Fdh), had high coverage in all strains and under all growth conditions. Paper at http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1797105

Williams, R.L., K.U. Mayer, R.T. Amos, D.W. Blowes, C.J. Ptacek, and J.G. Bain.
Applied Geochemistry, Vol 22 No 1, p 90-108, 2007

The strongly reducing nature of organic materials emplaced in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) can lead to gas production, potentially resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide or methane gas bubbles. Degassing in organic carbon-based PRB systems was investigated using the depletion of naturally occurring, non-reactive argon and molecular nitrogen gases to identify, confirm, and quantify chemical and physical processes. Sampling and analysis of dissolved gases was performed at the Nickel Rim Mine PRB, which was designed for the treatment of ground water contaminated by low-quality mine drainage characterized by slightly acidic pH and elevated iron(II) and sulfate concentrations. Analysis of the dissolved gas data with a simple 4-gas degassing model indicated that sulfate reduction is by far the dominant process of organic carbon consumption within the barrier. The data provided additional information to delineate rates of microbially mediated sulfate reduction and confirm the presence of slow and fast flow zones within the barrier. Degassing was incorporated into multicomponent reactive transport simulations for the barrier and the simulations were successful in reproducing observed dissolved gas trends.

Weishaar, Jeff, Master's thesis, University Of Missouri-Rolla. 100 pp, 2007

This research investigated the relationship between biodegradation and plant uptake of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) in laboratory and field settings. Studies were performed to evaluate the transport of BTEX and oxygen to the vadose zone as a result of diurnal fluctuations in the ground water caused by evapotranspiration. At a former refinery, inspectors discovered contaminated ground water and a BTEX contaminant seep in one impoundment. Phytoremediation was chosen to lower the ground-water table and remove the contaminants. Failure to detect BTEX in native trees through phytomonitoring led to an interest in microbial degradation occurring in the vadose zone. Hydrocarbon-degrader enumeration studies performed in the impoundment area indicated BTEX degrader populations up to 2.4 x 104 CFU/g. Reactors were constructed using site soils and DN34 hybrid poplar trees watered with either contaminated or uncontaminated water. Water input and levels in each reactor were monitored and used to calculate oxygen diffusion and advection into the reactors. The contaminated planted reactor had BTEX degrader populations of 6 x 105 CFU/g, the uncontaminated planted reactor contained BTEX degrader populations of 5 x 104 CFU/g, while unplanted reactors had populations of 2 x 103 CFU/g. Oxygen input levels in planted reactors containing natural soil were at least 2 times higher than in sterilized reactors and 3 to 5 times higher than in unplanted reactors. Results indicate that phytoremediation can aid microbial degradation by increasing oxygen levels in the soil as well as by transporting contaminants to the microbes via diurnal fluctuations of ground water. Thesis at http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/thesis/The_importance_and_i_09007dcc8042c283
.html

Anderson, LaShunda L., Ph.D. dissertation, Louisiana State University, 93 pp, 2007

The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of three plants, Thelypteris palustris (marsh fern), Asparagus sprengeri (asparagus fern), and Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) for use in phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soil. The objectives were to (1) confirm if arsenic (As) accumulation occurs in the selected plants, (2) examine morphological effects of As in the selected plants, and (3) evaluate the oxidation state of As upon accumulation in the selected plants. The results show that marsh fern, asparagus fern, and perennial ryegrass all take up As. Bioaccumulation factors of all plants except ryegrass were >1, whereas the bioaccumulation factors of marsh fern approached the range of the bioaccumulation factors (>10) of Pteris vittata, a recognized hyperaccumulator. After As exposure, plants exhibited necrosis or vascular system degradation and collapse. All plants contained a mixture of the As oxidation states of As(V), As(III), and/or zero-valent As. Ryegrass was the only plant to contain As(III) chemically associated with sulfur. As(V) and/or zero-valent As were the dominant oxidation states in aboveground biomass of asparagus fern and ryegrass. As(V) was the dominant oxidation state in the roots of marsh fern. The results indicate that marsh fern, asparagus fern, and ryegrass have the ability to survive As exposure and accumulate As into aboveground parts. Marsh fern is a good candidate for phytoextraction of areas contaminated with low levels of As. Although asparagus fern and ryegrass are not good candidates for phytoextraction, their potential in phytostabilization merits additional investigation. Dissertation at http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-04102007-160616/

Deshpande, Niranjan, Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 185 pp, 2007

When a dispersant is applied to an oil slick, its effectiveness in dispersing the spilled oil depends on various factors, such as oil properties, wave mixing energy, temperature of both oil and water, and salinity of the water. Estuaries represent water with varying salinities. In this study, three salinity values in the range of 10 to 34 ppt were investigated, representing potential salinity concentrations found in typical estuaries. Three oils were chosen to represent light refined oil, light crude oil, and medium crude oil. Each of the oils was tested at three weathering levels to represent maximum, medium, and zero weathering. Two dispersants were chosen for evaluation. A modified trypsinizing flask termed the 'Baffled Flask' was used for conducting the experimental runs. A full factorial experiment was conducted for each oil to investigate the effect of salinity on three environmental factors: temperature (2 levels), oil weathering (3 levels) and mixing energy (150,200 and 250 rpm). Each experiment was replicated four times to evaluate the accuracy of the test. Evaluations were conducted to study the effect of different variables like salinity, weathering, mixing speed, and temperature on dispersant effectiveness. Statistical analysis of the data was performed separately on each of the nine oil-dispersant combinations, which revealed the significant factors for each of the combinations. A linear regression model was fitted to the experimental data collected. Thesis at http://www.eng.uc.edu/~gsorial/Deshpande%20MS%20Thesis.pdf

Koran, Karen M., Ph.D. dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 240 pp, 2007

A laboratory testing protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of surface washing agents (SWAs) to remove crude oil from solid substrates was developed in this study. Variables were tested to determine their effect on SWA performance using Prudhoe Bay crude oil as a representative oil. The protocol was most sensitive to the SWA-to-oil ratio (SOR), rotational speed of mixing, and oil weathering; it was not greatly affected by volume of oil applied, oil/SWA contact time, mixing time, or SWA concentration (when total applied mass was constant). The protocol was tested using wet and dry substrates. Application of oil to dry substrates is preferred based on lower variability and greater differential between treatments and controls. Interfacial tension and contact angle were measured for crude in the presence of 5 SWAs at 3 concentrations. SWAs were ranked based on (1) efficiency under the developed protocol, (2) ability to reduce interfacial tension and (3) ability to increase oil-substrate contact angle. Four of six SWAs had the same relative rankings under each of these criteria. The other two ranked high based on ability to lower interfacial tension, but low for an increase in contact angle. The efficiency of these two products under the protocol was mid to low. The best predictor of SWA performance at high SOR was the term representing the difference between SWA-substrate and oil-substrate interfacial tensions. This term is a measure of the preferential wetting of the substrate surface by either the oil or the SWA wash water. A high correlation was observed between SWA efficiency at 10:1 SOR and the SWA-substrate/oil-substrate interfacial tensions difference at 5% SWA solution concentration. At low SOR, critical micelle concentration was a better predictor of SWA performance. Dissertation at http://www.eng.uc.edu/~gsorial/Karen%20PhD%20Dissertation.pdf

Fernet, Jennifer Lynne, Master's thesis, University of Saskatchewan, 138 pp, 2008

The hypothesis for this study was that phenanthrene-degrading bacterial inoculants in combination with grass species able to tolerate petroleum hydrocarbon contamination will result in increased degradation, as compared to natural rates of hydrocarbon degradation or to rates of degradation attributed to bacteria or plants alone. Three experiments were performed to examine this hypothesis: (1) assessment of the effect of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria (Sphingomonas yanoikuyae, Rahnella aquatilis, and Arthrobacter globiformis) on seed germination, location of attachment on seeds and roots, and inoculant survival on selected grass species, (2) determination of inoculant survival in contaminated soil in the absence of plants and the ability to degrade target compounds, and (3) degradation potential and survival of selected grass species and bacterial inoculants in soil. All applied inoculants generally were able to colonize the seeds and had a neutral or positive effect on seed germination and seedling growth. The following plants and bacteria were paired based on positive influence of the inoculant: perennial ryegrass or creeping red fescue with A. globiformis or S. yanoikuyae, or slender wheatgrass with A. globiformis or R. aquatilis. Soil-based assessment of the survival and degradation of hydrocarbons by the selected inoculants was examined with and without a manure nutrient amendment. Inoculant addition had a positive impact on the efficacy of hydrocarbon removal in the soil. The manure-amended soil and the A. globiformis-inoculated non-amended soil treatments reduced total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration by ~45%, whereas the non-amended control had only a ~20% reduction. When soils were amended with manure and inoculated with any of the phenanthrene-degrading bacteria, soil contaminant concentrations decreased by ~33%. S. yanoikuyae survived longest in soil in the absence of plants. In a growth-chamber experiment conducted to determine the efficacy of plant and bacteria pairs for hydrocarbon removal, additional replicates containing this soil were spiked with hexadecane, phenanthrene, and pyrene to assess the effectiveness of the plant and bacteria pairs at higher levels of fresh contamination. In the spiked treatment, inoculation with S. yanoikuyae increased creeping red fescue root biomass. In the non-spiked treatment, S. yanoikuyae application increased creeping red fescue root and shoot biomass. Perennial ryegrass root and shoot biomass did not increase when inoculated with S. yanoikuyae, although root biomass values were observably higher in non-spiked soils. Creeping red fescue inoculated with S. yanoikuyae resulted in the greatest decrease in hydrocarbon concentration as compared to other treatments (~61%). Inoculation with S. yanoikuyae increased the perennial ryegrass treatment percent hydrocarbon removal (~10%) above that obtained with the ryegrass alone. The addition of plants and S. yanoikuyae increased hydrocarbon degradation relative to control soils, although the addition of vegetation alone had a comparable effect. A critical benefit of inoculation was the increase in creeping red fescue root biomass at higher concentrations of contamination, which is significant because the larger the root biomass, the larger the volume of soil that can be remediated. The results indicate that the use of specific plant/bacterial inoculant combinations can enhance remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. Thesis at http://library2.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-02152008-125535/

McPherson, Alexis Meghan, Master's thesis, University of Saskatchewan, 206 pp, 2007

The purpose of this project was to monitor phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated field soils in the laboratory under simulated field conditions. The main objectives were to examine petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) transfer and degradation processes involved in phytoremediation of contaminated field soils, compare phytoremediation of contaminated field soils with intrinsic bioremediation, and develop a rationally based model that could be used as a starting point for a quantitative prediction of the rate of PHC removal. A series of lab-scale experiments reproduced pole planting of hybrid poplars into diesel-contaminated field soils from a former bulk fuel station. The experiments were conducted in a closed and controlled environment over a period of 215 to 230 days with monitoring for numerous system aspects, including volatilization of PHC from the tree and soil and microbial activity of the soil. Monitoring data indicated that microbial degradation of the contaminant was by far the most influential monitored degradation pathway, accounting for 96.3 to 98.7% of the mass removed from poplar-planted soils. The total estimated contaminant mass removed varied between 8.3 and 27.7% of the initial mass for soils containing poplars and between 6.0 and 6.1% of the initial mass for soils without poplars. Finally, a rationally based model was developed to be used as a starting point for quantitative prediction of the rate of PHC removal based on the monitoring data and the belowground biomass of the poplars in each of the experimental test cells. Thesis at http://library2.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-09272007-093304/

Smoke, Jordan D., Master's thesis, University of Pittsburgh, 99 pp, 2007

Jonathan Run is a tributary of Beech Creek that was impacted with fill material containing acid rock and clay during the construction of I-80 in Centre County, Pennsylvania. The acidic discharges into Jonathan Run contain white aluminum precipitates that have degraded surface water quality, resulting in loss of aquatic life. Research was conducted to identify sources of acid rock discharge (ARD) and to conduct research aimed at identifying and developing methods to eliminate, mitigate, or treat ARD at reasonable cost. Based on field research and subsurface investigations, preliminary suggestions are made involving flow elimination via covering the acidic rock source or removing the ground water, mitigation by injecting alkaline material into the source to neutralize the acid-producing potential, and passive and/or active treatment systems to increase the pH of the water and allow metal precipitation. An active treatment system was selected for the major contaminated discharge into Jonathan Run, and a passive treatment system for less contaminated discharge. A preliminary design consists of two vertical flow ponds, each designed to treat 100 gpm of flow. At this flow, each pond will have a detention time of 24 hours and contain 2,050 tons of limestone, 19.5 inches (depth) of organic compost consisting of mushroom compost and wood chips, and a ponded water layer of 4-ft depth. The ponds will discharge into a 100 ft x 24 ft x 10 ft settling pond. The active system will consist of the chemical addition of sodium hydroxide at an average rate of 0.0298 gpm mixed through the contaminated water by stationary baffles or large rocks under turbulent conditions. The water will discharge into a 79 ft x 20 ft x 6 ft primary settling pond and then combine with the discharge from the vertical flow ponds in the second settling pond before entering back into Jonathan Run. Thesis at http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-06142007-162751/unrestrict
ed/smokejd_etdPittJune2007.pdf

Goode, D.J., C.R. Tiedeman, P.J. Lacombe, T.E. Imbrigiotta, A.M. Shapiro, and F.H. Chapelle.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2007-3074, 2 pp, 2007

The U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating organizations are studying chlorinated solvents in a fractured sedimentary rock aquifer underlying the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, New Jersey. Fractured-rock aquifers are common in many parts of the United States and are highly susceptible to contamination, particularly at industrial sites. Compared to unconsolidated aquifers, there can be much more uncertainty about the direction and rate of contaminant migration and about the processes and factors that control chemical and microbial transformations of contaminants. Research at the NAWC is improving the investigators' understanding of the transport and fate of chlorinated solvents in fractured-rock aquifers. The work will include comparisons of the effectiveness of different strategies for contaminant remediation. Fact sheet at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3074/

U.S. General Accountability Office, Washington, DC.
Report No: GAO-07-221, 110 pp, 21 Mar 2007

Low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) ranges from very low activity to higher activity waste. To identify potential approaches to overcome limitations in the management of U.S. LLRW, GAO examined the extent to which other countries have (1) LLRW inventory databases, (2) timely removal of higher-activity LLRW from waste generator sites, (3) disposition options for all LLRW, and (4) requirements that LLRW generators have financial reserves to cover waste disposition costs, as well as any other approaches that might improve U.S. LLRW management. A survey of 18 countries representing leading LLRW generators identified the various management approaches, and the results were compared with U.S. survey results and with approaches suggested by LLRW generators, disposal operators, and regulators in the United States. Academic, industrial, medical, utility, and government entities in the United States, particularly DOE, disposed of at least 15 million cubic feet of LLRW in 2005. This waste includes debris, rubble, soil, paper, liquid, metals, contaminated clothing, and sealed disused radiological sources. GAO found that most of the surveyed countries indicated the use of national radioactive waste inventory databases that include information on all waste generators, waste types, storage locations, and disused sealed radiological sources. These databases are used to forecast future disposal capacity needs. Most countries indicated they have disposal options for lower-activity LLRW, central storage options for higher-activity LLRW, and alternative disposal options for very low-level radioactive waste that in most cases does not require an exemption review by a nuclear regulatory authority. Half the countries indicated they impose financial assurance requirements on all waste generators to cover disposition costs, and most of these countries also use other approaches to reduce government costs to recover higher-activity LLRW, such as requiring a disposal fee at the time that a sealed radiological source is purchased. GAO also found that most countries surveyed use national radioactive waste plans to guide the management of their radioactive wastes. Available through GAO Reports and Testimony at http://www.gao.gov

National Research Council.
National Academies Press, Washington, DC. ISBN-10: 0-309-11000-9, 286 pp, 2007

Many regulations issued by U.S. EPA are based on the results of computer models. Models help EPA explain environmental phenomena in settings where direct observations are limited or unavailable and anticipate the effects of agency policies on the environment, human health, and the economy. Given the critical role played by models, EPA asked the National Research Council to assess scientific issues related to the agency's selection and use of models in its decisions. This text recommends a series of guidelines and principles for improving agency models and decision-making processes. The centerpiece of the book's recommended vision is a life-cycle approach to model evaluation that includes peer review, corroboration of results, and other activities. This approach will enhance the agency's ability to respond to requirements from a 2001 law on information quality and improve policy development and implementation. The report can be ordered or read on line at http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11972

Huber-Humer, M. (BOKU-Univ. of Vienna, Austria); J. Gebert (Univ. of Hamburg, Germany); H. Hilger (Univ. of North Carolina, Charlotte).
Waste Management & Research, Vol 26 No 1, p 33-46, 2008

Increasing use of gas collection systems has reduced the risk of escaping methane emissions entering the atmosphere, but gas capture is not 100% efficient, and some landfills lack gas collection systems entirely. Biotic methane mitigation systems, such as interim or long-term biocovers, passively or actively vented biofilters, biowindows, and daily-use biotarps, have been developed that can be used alone or with other gas collection systems to mitigate landfill methane emissions. The authors review the science that guides bio-based designs, summarize experiences with natural or engineered substrates, describe some studies and field trials of biotic methane mitigation systems, and discuss how they can be used for better landfill operation, capping, and aftercare.

Jarman, Max and Mike Madden.
The Arizona Republic, 2 Dec 2007

Under terms of mining-reform legislation now before the U.S. Senate, billions of dollars worth of environmental damage could be repaired and thousands of abandoned mines safely secured; however, the bill also could hamper U.S. competitiveness and mining exploration and make the country more dependent on foreign sources of ore. Miners on federal lands would be required for the first time ever to pay a royalty for the minerals they extract. The funds would be used to pay for an estimated $70 billion cleanup of the wreckage left by more than a century and a half of hardrock mining. Currently, companies pay royalties for taking oil sands and coal from public lands but not for copper, gold, silver, uranium, and other minerals. Minerals estimated at a value of $1 billion are taken from public lands each year with no compensation to the government. The industry is regulated by the General Mining Act of 1872, which was designed to promote the search for valuable minerals and the settlement of the West and established mining as the highest and best use for federal land. It allows miners and mining companies to take whatever they find with no compensation to the government. It establishes a process to acquire rights to the subsurface minerals by staking a claim and to purchase the surface rights for as little as $2.50 per acre by "patenting" the claim. The Hard Rock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 proposes that new mines would pay 8% of the gross value of minerals they extract from federal land. Existing mines would pay a 4% royalty. Royalty payments from existing mines would generate about $40 million a year to fund environmental cleanups, abandoned-mine closures, and aid to communities that have been negatively affected by hardrock mining. Half of the royalties would be returned to the states that generated them and half would be available to all other states. Although current mining operations are required to clean up or reclaim mines when they are closed, older projects that did not fall under the current regulations have left as many as 500,000 abandoned mines across the nation. The legislation passed the House in November 2007 with a 244-166 vote but faces hurdles in the Senate. Full story at http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/1202biz-mining120
2.html
More information on the progress of the proposed act at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2262

Widdowson, M, E. Mendez III, and F. Chapelle.
Journal AWWA, Vol 99 No 3, p 40-42, 44, & 46, 2007

The Natural Attenuation Software (NAS) can help remedial project managers and their contractors estimate the time of ground-water remediation through consideration of natural attenuation processes, such as advection, dispersion, sorption, source zone depletion, and biodegradation. NAS consists of a combination of computational tools implemented in three main interactive modules to provide the following estimates: the target source concentration and the time required for a plume extent to contract to regulatory limits; the maximum distance at which a plume with a given source area concentration will stabilize; and the time that would be required for contaminants in the source area to attenuate to a predetermined target source concentration. This paper discusses testing and evaluation of NAS along with expected benefits of the software tool. The software is available as a free download from Virginia Polytechnic University at www.nas.cee.vt.edu/index.php
.