Message #80: October 2003

Welcome to TechDirect. Since the September 1 message, TechDirect gained 227 new subscribers for a total of 17,238. If you feel the service is valuable, please share TechDirect with your colleagues. Anyone interested in subscribing may do so on CLU-IN at http://clu-in.org/techdirect . All previous issues of TechDirect are archived there.

The purpose of TechDirect is to identify new technical, policy and guidance resources related to the assessment and remediation of contaminated soil and ground water.

Mention of non-EPA documents or presentations does not constitute a U.S. EPA endorsement of their contents, only an acknowledgment that they exist and may be relevant to the TechDirect audience.

Internet Seminars

This summer we made a series of equipment improvements to the CLU-IN system that hosts the internet seminars and supplies the audio streaming. The consistency and quality of the audio stream are much better than with the old equipment. Transition between slides is now much faster. If you have not tried the audio streaming option in a while or were put off by a previous bad experience, we suggest trying it now. October is another busy month for live seminars.

RCRA Sites and EPA Brownfield Grants - October 7. This session hosted by the U.S. EPA, will cover the FY04 U.S. EPA Brownfield Grants application process (deadlines and logistics), the types of RCRA site projects that were included in last year’s Brownfield Grant applications, and the types of RCRA site projects might be appropriate for a future application. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/studio .

ITRC Radiation Risk Assessment: Updates and Tools - October 9. The training consists of four modules with the following specific purposes: 1. Regulatory Background & Case Studies: Provide an overview of the regulatory requirements for cleanup of radioactive waste; 2. Existing Practices in Radiation Risk Assessment: Clarify differences between existing radiation risk assessment practices (dose and risk-based approaches) and provide updates; 3. Use of Radiation PRG Calculator: Explain how to use EPA’s new Risk-based PRG- and ARAR Dose-calculators for radionuclides; and 4. Case Study Application for PRG Calculator: Demonstrate site-specific challenges in application of tools. Register to participate at http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/studio .

NIEHS/EPA PCBs - Monitoring and Detection - October 15. This seminar will discuss the limitations of Aroclor (commercial PCB mixture) analysis and why congener analysis provides for better decision-making with regards to human health and ecological risks of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Register to participate at http://clu-in.org/studio .

ITRC Systematic Approach to In Situ Bioremediation in Groundwater: Nitrates, Carbon Tetrachloride & Perchlorate October 21. This course presents a decision tree for reviewing, planning, evaluating, and approving in situ bioremediation (ISB) systems in the saturated subsurface. It defines site parameters and appropriate ranges of criteria necessary for characterization, testing, design and monitoring of ISB technologies. Register to participate at http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/studio .

ITRC Surfactant/Cosolvent Flushing of DNAPL Source Zones - October 23. The purpose of this training is to familiarize you with the ITRC Technical and Regulatory Guidance for Surfactant/Cosolvent Flushing of DNAPL Source Zones (DNAPL-3). This document provides technical and regulatory information to help you understand, evaluate and make informed decisions regarding potential surfactant/cosolvent flushing projects. Register to participate at http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/studio .

NIEHS/EPA PCB Remediation, October 28. This seminar will present the latest advances in PCB bioremediation research. This involves genome sequencing and other genomic tools to evaluate the consequences of pollutant exposure on the overall bacterial community genome. The health of this genome is critical for effective bioremediation of PCBs to a biologically acceptable endpoint. In addition, presenters will examine the lessons learned from the PCBs found in dated sediment cores taken from the Hudson River in New York and New Jersey. Cores from depositional areas have been used to determine the history of PCB contamination, the progress of in situ dechlorination of PCBs, and the extent of influence of PCB inputs to the upper Hudson. Register to participate at http://clu-in.org/studio .

Documents

Using the Triad Approach to Streamline Brownfields Site Assessment and Cleanup – Brownfields Technology Primer Series (EPA 542-B-03-002). The primer contains a description of the three elements of the Triad approach with examples. It also discusses the role of the technical team in managing a project, procurement considerations when planning a project, and decision-support software and other tools that are available to help brownfields site managers (June 2003, 48 pages). View or download at http://www.brownfieldstsc.org/publications_index.htm . For hard copies, contact (800) 490-9198 or (513) 489-8190 or fax to (513) 489-8695.

Directory of Technical Assistance for Land Revitalization. (EPA 542-B-03-001). This directory, published by the EPA Brownfields Technical Assistance Center, includes information about the different types of support available to help with site assessment and cleanup, including technical support and funding sources (June 2003, 129 pages). View or download at http://www.brownfieldstsc.org/publications_index.htm . For hard copies, contact (800) 490-9198 or (513) 489-8190 or fax to (513) 489-8695.

Abstracts of Remediation Case Studies, Volume 7 (EPA 542-R-03-011). This report is a collection of abstracts summarizing 29 case studies of site remediation applications prepared primarily by federal agencies. The case studies, collected under the auspices of the Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable (FRTR), were undertaken to document the results and lessons learned from technology applications (July 2003, 131 pages). View or download at http://clu-in.org/techpubs.htm . For hard copies, contact (800) 490-9198 or (513) 489-8190 or fax to (513) 489-8695.

Environmental Technology Verification Report Ground Water Sampling Technologies Geoprobe Inc. Pneumatic Bladder Pump, GW1400 Series (EPA 600-R-03-085). This report was prepared by the EPA ETV program. The performance of ground-water sampling technologies was evaluated at the US Geological Survey Hydrological Instrumentation Facility at the NASA Stennis Space Center in southwestern Mississippi and at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida. Each technology was independently evaluated to assess its performance in the collection inorganic cations, commonly encountered in ground-water, as well as volatile organic compound- (VOC) contaminated ground-water (August 2003, 54 pages). Details of the test results are provided in http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_geoprobe_gw1400.pdf .

Environmental Technology Verification Report: Ground-water Sampling Technologies Geoprobe Inc. Mechanical Bladder Pump, Model MP470 (EPA 600-R-03-086). This report was prepared by the EPA ETV program. The performance of ground-water sampling technologies was evaluated at the US Geological Survey Hydrological Instrumentation Facility at the NASA Stennis Space Center in southwestern Mississippi and at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida. Each technology was independently evaluated to assess its performance in the collection inorganic cations, commonly encountered in ground-water, as well as volatile organic compound- (VOC) contaminated ground-water (August 2003, 58 pages). Details of the test results are provided in http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_geoprobe_mp470.pdf .

Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Report: Lead in Dust Wipe Measurement Technology NITON LLC X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrum Analyzer, XLt 700 Series (EPA 600-R-03-087). This report was prepared by the EPA ETV program. It presents the results from tests designed to evaluate technologies that detect and measure lead in dust wipes. The technology vendor blindly analyzed 160 dust wipe samples containing known amounts of lead, ranging in concentration from 2 to 1,500 ug/wipe (September 2003, 45 pages). Details of the test results are provided in http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_niton_700.pdf .

Technology News and Trends - September (EPA 542-N-03-005). This is an EPA newsletter for environmental professionals that features a combination of articles on innovative, in-situ technologies for the characterization and treatment of soil, sediment, and ground water. This issue focuses on the completion of a full scale demonstration of the Lasagna technology, a summary of a seven-year demonstration of phytoremediation, fuel recovery using bioslurping, and propane biostimulation barrier for MTBE contaminated ground water (September 2003, 6 pages). View or download at http://clu-in.org/techpubs.htm . For hard copies, contact (800) 490-9198 or (513) 489-8190 or fax to (513) 489-8695.

ITRC Quarterly Update - September 2003. This periodic newsletter is published by the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). This issue provides updates on the work being done by its 16 teams (September 2003, 12 pages). View or download at http://www.itrcweb.org/ITRC0903Update.pdf .

Conferences and Symposia

Brownfields 2003 Growing A Greener America Portland, OR, October 27-29. The EPA National Brownfields conference is for everyone interested in brownfields [real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of contamination]. The program will include many different panel sessions, mobile workshops, Marketplace of Ideas roundtable discussions and individual poster presentations, the prestigious Phoenix Awards, and an extensive Exhibit Hall. For more information and to register, see http://www.brownfields2003.org/index.aspx .

Emerging Scientific Issues for Superfund, Berkeley, October 8-10. This conference is sponsored by the U.S. EPA, NIEHS, UC Davis, and the University of Arizona. It will focus on emerging problems and issues in three distinct areas: (1) new contaminants and new threats, (2) transport and detection, and (3) remediation and treatment. There will be a half-day workshop addressing the transition of emerging technologies from the laboratory to the field. For more information and to register, see http://www-sf.ucdavis.edu/conferences/ .

Reminder!! Fall ITRC Classroom Training Opportunities. The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) is offering four classroom training deliveries on three topics in October 2003. For more information on each course and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.org and click on Classroom Training. Each course is two days in duration. The ITRC has scheduled deliveries for the following topics.

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Basic Training Course, Austin, October 28-29.
Accelerated In Situ Bioremediation of Chlorinated Solvents Course, Chicago, October 28-29.
Phytotechnologies - Mechanisms and Applications Course, San Francisco, October 23-24.
Phytotechnologies - Mechanisms and Applications Course, Seattle, October 27-28.

NOTE: We prefer to concentrate mainly on new documents and the internet live events. However, we do support an area on CLU-IN where announcement of conferences and courses can be regularly posted. We invite sponsors to input information on their events at http://clu-in.org/courses . Likewise, readers may visit this area for news of upcoming events that might be of interest. It allows users to search events by location, topic, time period, etc.