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TechDirect's purpose is to identify new technical, policy and
guidance resources related to the assessment and remediation of
contaminated soil, sediments 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.
Upcoming Live Internet Seminars
EPA NNEMS Fellowship 2010 Program Solicitation - January 8,
2010, 1:00PM-2:30PM EST (18:00-19:30 GMT). The Environmental
Protection Agency's National Network for Environmental
Management Studies (NNEMS) Fellowship Program started in 1986 to
foster a growing interest in environmental careers among higher
education students. The competitive solicitation for the 2010
summer program is currently open and closes on February 5, 2010
(see http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/NNEMS/2010apply.html).
Instructors for the live 1.5-hour webinar will provide an
overview of the program, identify eligibility requirements,
discuss the application process and the evaluation and selection
process, highlight some of the projects in the 2010 NNEMS
catalog, and review some of the most frequently asked questions
by student applicants. Time will be set aside to answer
participant questions. For more information and to register, see
http://clu-in.org/live
.
ITRC Use of Risk Assessment in Management of Contaminated Sites
- January 12, 2010, 2:00PM-4:15PM EST (19:00-21:15 GMT). This
training course identifies how various risk-based approaches and
criteria are applied throughout the processes of screening,
characterization, and management of contaminated sites. The
training course and associated overview document, Use of Risk
Assessment in Management of Contaminated Sites (RISK-2, 2008),
are intended for risk assessors and project managers involved
with the characterization, remediation, and/or re-use of sites.
The training and overview document provide a valuable tool for
federal and state regulatory agencies to demonstrate how site
data collection, risk assessment, and risk management may be
better integrated. For more information and to register, see
http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/live
.
ITRC Perchlorate Remediation Technologies - January 14, 2010,
11:00AM-1:15PM EST (16:00-18:15 GMT). This training introduces
state regulators, environmental consultants, site owners, and
community stakeholders to Remediation Technologies for
Perchlorate Contamination in Water and Soil (PERC-2, 2008),
created by ITRC's Perchlorate Team to assist reviewers in
assessing the adequacy of perchlorate remediation projects. This
course gives the student a background in the available
remediation technologies to treat perchlorate contamination,
discusses emerging technologies, and presents case studies of
applications. For more information and to register, see
http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/live
.
ESTCP Funding Opportunities Webinar, January 15, 1:00PM-2:00PM
EST (18:00-19:00 GMT). This webinar will provide a summary of
the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program
(ESTCP) funding opportunities for innovative environmental and
energy technology demonstrations. This 'how to play' briefing
will offer valuable information for those who wish to understand
the ESTCP solicitation process and new funding opportunities.
The ESTCP solicitation is scheduled to be released on January 7,
2010 and attendees may use the seminar to ask general questions
about the solicitation. The ESTCP web site
(www.estcp.org/opportunities) will provide the topic areas and
pre-proposal instructions for the ESTCP Solicitation once
released. Pre-registration for this webinar is required.
Go to www.estcp.org/webinar-registration to register. If you
have any difficulties registering, please contact Jonathan
Bunger in the Program Office at Jonathan.Bunger.ctr@osd.mil or
by telephone at 703-696-2126.
Taking to the Superfund Skies: A Look at the Academy of Model
Aeronautics and Superfund Redevelopment Initiative Partnership -
Your Input for Future Directions - January 21, 2010,
2:00PM-4:00PM EST (19:00-21:00 GMT). This seminar will highlight
the partnership between the Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
(SRI) and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). Since 2005,
this partnership has linked AMA with interested Superfund
communities, providing much-needed flying fields for
aeromodelers and responsible long-term stewards for Superfund
sites. EPA and AMA presenters will discuss how the partnership
came about and how it has evolved since its inception. The
majority of the webinar will focus on stories of specific sites
that currently serve as flying fields. Presenters will offer
insights into factors allowed for the site's reuse, the role
each party involved (AMA Club, EPA, and site owner) played and
continues to play at the site, impacts of the site's reuse on
the community, and key benefits of the reuse of these sites. For
more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/live .
Superfund Research Program Strategic Planning - Your Input for
Future Directions - January 25, 2010, 2:00PM-4:00PM EST
(19:00-21:00 GMT). The Superfund Research Program (SRP) funds
basic and applied research addressing health effects, risk
assessment, detection and remediation of hazardous substances.
After over 20 years of progress, the SRP is undergoing a
strategic planning process to develop a framework for
prioritization of activities over the next 5-10 years and to
enhance the impact of the Program. The purpose of this
information session is to receive input from SRP's stakeholders
about the future direction of the Program. The session will
feature a moderated discussion period framed by a series of
questions addressing the scope of SRP science, training,
translation, and outreach. We encourage participation by
officials from sister Superfund agencies US EPA and ATSDR, as
well as representatives of local, state, tribal governments,
non-profit organizations, universities, and practicing
environmental professionals. For more information and to
register, see http://clu-in.org/live .
Implementation of Triad for Petroleum Brownfield's Cleanup and
Reuse - January 26, 2010, 12:00PM-1:30PM EST (17:00-18:30 GMT).
This presentation features the redevelopment of a former
Petroleum Bulk Terminal into residential reuse in Alexandria,
VA. The site operated as a fuel depot since the late 1800's.
Environmental work began in the early 1980's with a reported
release. In the early 2000's, the Triad philosophy was adopted.
The property has since been redeveloped into town homes and
flats with a below-grade parking structure. The discussion will
include the process from investigation up to redevelopment and
the perspective of State DEQ and City Office of Environmental
Quality. For more information and to register, see
http://clu-in.org/live .
ITRC Performance-based Environmental Management - January 26,
2010, 2:00PM-4:15PM EST (19:00-21:15 GMT). Performance-based
environmental management (PBEM) is a strategic, goal-oriented
methodology that is implemented through effective planning and
decision logic to reach a desired end state of site cleanup. The
goal of PBEM is to be protective of human health and the
environment while efficiently implementing appropriate
streamlined cleanup processes. This ITRC training presents an
overview of what PBEM is, explains how and when to implement it,
and describes the issues that regulators are concerned about
throughout PBEM's implementation. Case studies will be presented
to illustrate successful PBEM projects. The course is valuable
not only because PBEM is being proposed and implemented at many
federal and private sites throughout the country, but also
because PBEM provides an opportunity to enhance all site
remediation. For more information and to register, see
http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/live
.
ITRC Quality Considerations for Munitions Response Projects -
January 28, 2010, 11:00AM-1:15PM EST (16:00-18:15 GMT). This
training introduces state regulators, environmental consultants,
site owners, and community stakeholders to Quality
Considerations for Munitions Response Projects (UXO-5, 2008),
created by the ITRC's Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Team. In this
document, quality is defined as 'conformance to requirements.'
To manage quality, the quality requirements of the project must
first be understood. Requirements must be precisely stated and
clearly understood by everyone involved. A plan is then put in
place to meet those requirements. The UXO Team emphasizes taking
a whole-system approach to designing, planning and managing a
munitions response (MR) project to optimize quality. This
training course is intended for an intermediate audience and
assumes a basic understanding of specialized processes
associated with MR projects. For more information and to
register, see http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/live .
New Documents and Web Resources
New CLU-IN Evapotranspiration Covers Site. This site focuses on
covers that utilize natural processes to manage water
precipitating on waste containment sites, commonly known as
evapotranspiration (ET) covers. These covers have proven an
effective means of containing waste at municipal landfills,
hazardous, and industrial waste landfills. ET covers are also
known as store and release covers, vegetative covers, sponge and
pump covers, alternative final covers (AFC), alternative final
earthen covers (AFEC), and other names. They include various
combinations of earthen materials and plants. View and use at
http://www.clu-in.org/products/evap/
.
Assessing the Use and Application of Zero-Valent Iron
Nanoparticle Technology for Remediation at Contaminated Sites.
This document was prepared by Sean M. Cook, a National Network
for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS) grantee under a
fellowship from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The
main focus of this paper is discussing the use of zero-valent
iron nanoparticles. Due to its unique properties, this
manufactured nanoparticle is able to effectively eliminate or
neutralize certain recalcitrant pollutants that can be found in
aquatic environments (e.g., groundwater aquifers). Nanoscale
zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles are typically 5-40 nm sized
Fe0/Fe-oxide particles that rapidly transform many
environmental contaminants to benign products and are a
promising in situ remediation agent. Due to their small size and
increased reactivity, these manufactured nanoparticles have the
potential to be more effective than the microscale ZVI that is
already in use for contaminant remediation in soil and
groundwater aquifers. However, little is known about the
environmental fate of these nanomaterials once they have
undergone biological and non-biological processes within a
contaminated aquifer. For this reason, it is important to find
out what the possible impacts of these nanomaterials are once
they enter the environment and how they could potentially affect
human health or the environment. Despite these concerns, NZVI
technology and its application are a very promising, efficient
and cost-effective method for remediating contaminated soil and
groundwater aquifer sites (August 2009, 39 pages). View or
download at http://www.clu-in.org/techpubs.htm .
Fate, Transport, and Toxicity of Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron
(nZVI) Used During Superfund Remediation. This document was
prepared by Emily Keane, a NNEMS grantee under a fellowship from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The goal of this
document is to provide information about the fate, transport,
and toxicity associated with the use of nanoscale zero-valent
iron (nZVI) for Superfund remediation. Specific and unique site
conditions are likely to determine the usefulness and influence
the fate and transport of nZVI particles during remediation
efforts. Factors to consider prior to application include:
effects of geochemistry on the mobility of nanoparticles, use of
metal catalysts and coatings on the movement of nZVI particles
and other variables affecting the fate and transport of nZVI in
the environment. Other considerations include potential
environmental and human health effects as a result of the fate
and transport of nZVI in the environment (August 2009, 38
pages). View or download at http://www.clu-in.org/techpubs.htm .
Solar Power Installations on Closed Landfills: Technical and
Regulatory Considerations. This document was prepared by Gabriel
Sampson, a NNEMS grantee under a fellowship from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. This paper examines the current
nature of solar energy developments on closed landfills using
the following focal areas: (1) solar power system considerations
with respect to landfill applications, (2) landfill technical
and engineering considerations, and (3) regulatory
considerations. Research results indicate that numerous
engineering techniques and solar technologies are available to
facilitate the placement of solar energy systems on closed
landfills. Results also indicate that the permitting and
regulatory process is complicated by disparate but specific
state and local government requirements. Though this study
focuses narrowly on the technical and regulatory affairs of
constructing solar farms on closed landfills, it also has
applications to the placement of solar energy systems in broader
settings. The views detailed in this study are designed to
inform decision makers and stakeholders and to facilitate the
design, construction, and operation of future solar
installations on closed landfills (September 2009, 36 pages).
View or download at http://www.clu-in.org/techpubs.htm .
Technology News and Trends (EPA 542-N-09-006). This issue
highlights innovative strategies for in-situ treatment of
contaminated groundwater through subsurface injection of
reagents to promote chemical oxidation (chem/ox) or
biodegradation through enhanced reductive chlorination of
contaminants (December 2009, 6 pages). View or download at
http://clu-in.org/techpubs.htm
.
Green Remediation Best Management Practices: Site Investigation
(EPA 542-F-09-004). The U.S. EPA Principles for Greener Cleanups
outline the Agency's policy for evaluating and minimizing the
environmental 'footprint' of activities undertaken when cleaning
up a contaminated site. Use of the best management practices
(BMPs) recommended in EPA's series of green remediation fact
sheets can help project managers and other stakeholders apply
the Principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup
objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving
its environmental outcome. Site investigations typically involve
sampling of soil and groundwater using various drilling and well
installation technologies and analysis of samples at offsite
laboratories. Investigations also may include sampling of
sediment, surface water, soil gas, or indoor air; searching for
underground storage tanks (USTs) or other buried objects; or
evaluating demolition material containing asbestos, lead-based
paint, or other toxic products (December 2009, 4 pages). View or
download at http://clu-in.org/techpubs.htm .
Green Remediation Best Management Practices: Pump and Treat
Technologies (EPA 542-F-09-005). The U.S. EPA Principles for
Greener Cleanups outline the Agency's policy for evaluating and
minimizing the environmental 'footprint' of activities
undertaken when cleaning up a contaminated site. Use of the best
management practices (BMPs) recommended in EPA's series of green
remediation fact sheets can help project managers and other
stakeholders apply the Principles on a routine basis, while
maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a
remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. Pump and treat
(P&T) technology typically is selected in a cleanup remedy to
hydraulically contain contamination and/or restore an aquifer to
beneficial use. Opportunities to reduce the energy and
environmental footprint of a P&T remedy, which are available
during site characterization and the remedy selection, design,
construction, and operation phases, rely on effective planning
and continual re-evaluation of P&T operations. Options for
reducing the footprint vary based on the site conditions and
cleanup objectives as well as the configuration and components
of a planned or existing P&T system (December 2009, 4 pages).
View or download at http://clu-in.org/techpubs.htm .
EUGRIS Corner. New Documents on EUGRIS, the platform for
European contaminated soil and water information. More than 10
resources, events projects and news items were added to EUGRIS 1
- 24 December, 2009. These can be viewed at
http://www.eugris.info/whatsnew.asp . Then select
the
appropriate month and year for the updates in which you are
interested. The following reports were featured on EUGRIS:
PROMOTE Verification Approach for Monitoring and Remediation
Technologies in Soil and Groundwater Systems: Bringing
Innovation to the Market (2008). PROMOTE is a European project
developing verification approaches for contaminated land
technologies. CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) 32 provides
guidelines for the verification of specific products for site
characterization, monitoring and remediation of soil and
groundwater systems, as long as no European ETV system is in
place. In particular, it specifies a reporting structure for
verified vendor claims of products in these three technology
areas. This CWA describes a procedure which will result in a
report that contains verified elements. The report in turn
provides a standardized set of key information about a specific
technology undergoing the procedure. View or download at
http://www.promote-etv.org/media.php?mId=5910
.
COMMON FORUM and NICOLE Common Position Paper on Innovative
Technologies (2009). There are potentially millions of sites in
the EU where land contamination could pose a risk to water
resources, ecosystems, and/or human health. As a result over €
2,000 million is believed to be spent annually on site
characterisation, risk management and remediation. Stakeholders
are facing new challenges: the discovery of new sites or new
types of pollution and an increased demand for land that is
suitable for use. Without cost-effective and sustainable
management of the land the environmental impact and the cost
will only increase further. This paper proposes concrete actions
to help turn this trend around, supporting both the European
economy as well as common European efforts towards a better
environment. View or download at
http://www.nicole.org/documents/stream.aspx?o=2&fn=NICOLE_
.
Conferences and Symposia
Green Cleanup Symposium, Philadelphia, PA, February 10-11, 2010.
This symposium is a collaborative effort of the US Environmental
Protection Agency, Drexel University, University of
Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia, US Army Corps of Engineers,
Wildlife Habitat Council, and the States of New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Join high level decision makers
and the nation's leading thinkers on green cleanup and
revitalization of waste sites to discuss: The ABC's of
Sustainable Reuse; Cleaning up Properties While Using Green
Practices; Cutting-edge Analysis and Tools for Long-term
Cleanups; Initiatives Promoting Renewable Energy on Cleanup
Sites; and Ecological Revitalization at Contaminated Properties.
For more information and to register, see:
http://drexel.edu/cities/greencleanupsymposium.html
.
Preliminary Assessment and Site Inspection Training, Arlington,
VA, March 2-4, 2010 and San Francisco, CA, March 9-11, 2010.
This course provides participants with an introduction to the
Superfund site assessment process and covers both the
preliminary assessment and the site inspection phases of this
process. The course is designed for individuals with little
experience in the initial evaluation of hazardous waste sites
and focuses on general considerations for sample plan
development, reporting requirements and data evaluation. This
course is open to EPA, state, tribal and contractor personnel
who support site investigation programs. For more information
and to register, see:
http://www.trainex.org/offeringslist.cfm?courseid=457 .
Vapor Intrusion Pathway: A Practical Guideline ITRC 2-day
Classroom Training, Norfolk, VA, March 22-23, 2010. The ITRC
2-day Vapor Intrusion Pathway class is planned for three
locations in 2010: Norfolk, Virginia (March 22-23); Boston,
Massachusetts (area) (July 12-13); Atlanta, Georgia (October
4-5). Led by internationally recognized experts, this 2-day ITRC
classroom training will enable you to learn the latest
strategies to conduct site screening and investigations;
determine what tools are appropriate to collect quality data and
evaluate the results; apply multiple lines of evidence to ensure
quality decision-making; build solutions for VI issues through
understanding of mitigation options; and network with
environmental professionals dealing with this interdisciplinary
and complex pathway. Interactive learning with hands-on
exhibits, classroom exercises, and frequent Q&A sessions will
reinforce these course objectives and contribute to a practical
understanding of this difficult pathway. For more information
and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.org/crt.asp .
NOTE: For TechDirect, 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. Currently there are 115 conferences and
courses featured. 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.
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