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ENGINEERING FORUM TELECONFERENCE
March 5, 2008
TOPICS IN THIS MONTH'S MINUTES:
- Technical Presentation
- 2008 NARPM Conference
- Winter 2009 TSP Meeting
- Project Updates/Action Items
- Miscellaneous Items
TECHNICAL PRESENTATION
Peter Bennett, a Senior Hydrogeologist with Geomatrix, Inc., gave a presentation entitled Local Applications of Innovative Groundwater Cleanup Using Zero Valent Metals. After completing a very high resolution characterization program for delineating dissolved chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in a complex alluvial environment near San Francisco Bay, Geomatrix, Inc., staff designed and constructed an in situ passive treatment system utilizing zero valent iron (ZVI) to destroy target VOCs. This permeable reactive barrier (PRB) system consists of a total of 172 hydraulically isolated reactive gates, installed within three to five different water-bearing zones, constructed to depths of up to 60 feet below ground surface along an alignment 374 feet in length. Low-permeability funnels direct flow into each gate. The system was designed to intercept and treat multiple water bearing zones containing differing concentrations of CVOCs.
The application of reactive metallic nanoparticles to treat chlorinated solvents in ground water could eventually be effective in minimizing potential indoor air impacts from vapor intrusion because of its reported simple delivery methods, rapid destruction of chlorinated compounds, and little accumulation of less-chlorinated and sometimes more toxic intermediate compounds. However, several challenges exist with the successful cost-effective implementation of this technology, including particle agglomeration (which limits subsurface transport in porous media), short “shelf-life” (where particles lose reactivity shortly after production due to corrosion in water), and high production and shipping costs. Researchers addressed these challenges by producing nanoparticles in the field just prior to injection, so post-production reactivity loss was minimal. Field experiments were conducted with the freshly prepared nanoparticles at a former manufacturing facility near San Francisco Bay, where ground water was contamined with CVOCs. The researchers believe that these experiments represent the first onsite fabrication and field-testing program for stabilized iron and iron/palladium nanoparticles.
The researchers concluded that field preparation of nanoparticles is feasible, mobility is short lived, and that complete dechlorination of CVOCs occurred at a rapid rate. More information is needed to scale-up nanoscale ZVI applications to full scale. Questions about this project may be directed to Peter Bennett (pbennett@geomatrix.com).
2008 NARPM CONFERENCE
The 2008 NARPM conference will be held the week of July 7th in either Portland, OR, or Pittsburgh, PA. The EF has tentatively scheduled their business sessions for Monday and Thursday afternoons, although these days and times depend on the final NARPM agenda. EF sessions on permeable reactive zones (PRZs) and green remediation have been approved.
WINTER 2009 TSP MEETING
The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program has suggested the TSP hold a joint meeting in the winter of 2009. A joint meeting with USGS would save EPA money and increase the likelihood that management would approve the meeting. Gary Turner (TIFSD) recommended the meeting be held in the southern part of the country (e.g., TX or FL) to avoid possible winter travel complications and delays. EF members want to review USGS’s tentative agenda before discussing the joint meeting in greater detail on a future teleconference. The EF would have their usual separate business sessions, but may request a longer time slot for those sessions. The EF also will discuss planning a field trip with an engineering focus that would be open to all meeting attendees.
PROJECT UPDATES/ACTION ITEMS
- Julie Santiago (Region 4) is updating the EF brochure. The updated brochure will be uploaded to the Science Connector website and should be ready in time for the spring NARPM conference.
- Mike Gill will update the evergreen list and post it to the Science Connector website.
- Dave Reisman is finalizing the Ex-Situ Treatment of Oxygenated Hydrocarbons & Perchlorates in Groundwater issue paper and the Technology Alternatives for the Remediation of Soil and Sediment Contaminated with PCBs issue paper. Both documents should be ready for publication before NARPM.
- The Indoor Air Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Approaches issue paper may require further revisions; regardless, the document should be ready for publication before the NARPM conference.
- No update was provided on the status of the evapotranspiration covers issue paper.
- Kira Lynch (Region 10) said Eva Davis (ORD/NRMRL-Ada) has started work on the technical component of the In Situ Thermal Treatment issue paper. Kira recommended that a companion guidance document be prepared to help RPMs with performance and management issues associated with this technology.
- Mike Gill has submitted the final draft of the on-line resources guide to OSRTI for approval. The guide should be ready for publication soon.
- Terry Burton (Region 6 STL) has the lead on the in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) lessons learned paper. Terry was not on the call, so no update was provided. Mike Gill will contact Terry to find out the status of this paper.
- Hilary Thornton (Region 3) reported that the EF strategic plan workgroup met to begin formulating the strategic plan and mission statement that will guide future forum activities. The fully developed plan could help justify the EF’s existence, link forum activities to GPRA goals, and more effectively manage the evergreen list. Hilary and Mike Gill are preparing a draft strategic plan. Workgroup members Donna McCartney (Region 3), Fred MacMillan (Region 3), Mike Gill, Don Bahnke (Region 7), and Mike Davis (Region 7) will participate in another teleconference to discuss the strategic plan on March 25.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
- Michael Overbay (Region 6) has resigned his position as co-chair of the Federal Facilities Forum on account of his reassignment to the Office of Water.
- Comments on ITRC’s In Situ Bioremediation of Chlorinated Ethenes: DNAPL Source Zones are due to Linda Fiedler (TIFSD) by March 14.
- Comments on the draft DNAPL contaminant focus section of the Clu-In website are due to Linda by March 21.
NEXT ENGINEERING FORUM TELECONFERENCE CALL
The next EF teleconference is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, 2008, from 12:30-2:00 pm EDT. Agenda items should be sent to the co-chairs prior to the call.
ATTENDEES
Ray Cody, Region 1
Kevin Bilash, Region 3
Fred MacMillan, Region 3
Donna McCartney, Region 3
Andy Palestini, Region 3
Hilary Thornton, Region 3
Julie Santiago, Region 4
Nate Nemani, Region 5
Gary Miller, Region 6
Sandra Bourgeois, Region 8
Mike Gill, Region 9 STL
Kira Lynch, Region 10
Ellen Rubin, TIFSD
Dave Reisman, NRMRL, Cinc.
Lindsey Lien, USACE
Dave Becker, USACE
Sam Bass, USACE
Suzanne Davis, CA DTSC
John Muegge, CA DTSC
Jim Harrington, NYSDEC
Peter Bennett, Geomatrix, Inc.
Keith Arnold, EMS, Inc.
In an effort to foster scientific and technical advances in characterization, monitoring and remediation of contaminated sites, the EPA Technical Support Project encourages full and frank discussion of all technical matters and related issues that come before it. Information presented in these minutes represent the views of the participants and has not received formal EPA peer review. Therefore, this information does not necessarily reflect the views of EPA or other participating organizations, and no official endorsement should be inferred. The information is not intended, nor can it be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States or any other party. Use or mention of trade names does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use. Errors and omissions in the information will be corrected as they are found and time permits.
In an effort to foster scientific and technical advances in characterization, monitoring and remediation of contaminated sites, the EPA Technical Support Project encourages full and frank discussion of all technical matters and related issues that come before it.Information presented in these minutes represents the views of the participants and has not received formal EPA peer review. Therefore, this information does not necessarily reflect the views of EPA or other participating organizations, and no official endorsement should be inferred. The information is not intended, nor can it be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States or any other party. Use or mention of trade names does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use. Errors and omissions in the information will be corrected as they are found and time permits.