Background:
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is in the process of implementing several initiatives which illustrate how institutional changes and involvement with the ITRC leads to expanded use of innovative technologies. These actions also foster a climate where teamwork and cooperation produces more efficient delivery of improved state environmental protection services.

Initiatives:

1. Monitored Natural Attenuation
During 1997 twenty members of the DEQ staff attended ITRC sponsored training sessions on Monitored Natural Attenuation. The increased understanding of Monitored Natural Attenuation provided by this training led directly to Oregon DEQ's first signing of a Record of Decision incorporating MNA. At present, MNA is commonly considered in evaluating remedial technologies for many organic contaminants, and in the summer of 1998, DEQ issued guidance specifying that MNA meets the "treatment preference" for hot spots. These events illustrate the evolutionary process by which state agencies assimilate and then apply the innovative approaches and technical opportunities that are developed, encouraged and supported by the ITRC.

2. Permeable Reactive Barriers
Fifty DEQ staff members attended an internal workshop on Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRB) during the Spring of 1998. This workshop was based in part on the extensive work and information developed by the ITRC Permeable Barrier Work Team and it included information about the ITRC Permeable Barrier Wall Regulatory and Design Guidance Documents which were published in final form in March 1998. This training significantly assisted the DEQ staff in identifying and evaluating opportunities where this innovative technology might be applied to remediate sites with groundwater contamination. Oregon DEQ is currently evaluating the effectiveness of a PRB in degrading chlorinated solvent contaminated groundwater at a site in southern Oregon.

3. Review and Concurrence on ITRC Guidance Documents
Oregon DEQ has implemented an in-house process designed to achieve a thorough review and formal concurrence on ITRC Guidance Documents. Staff members from each of the DEQ regional offices have reviewed the 9 available documents and have provided their comments to Kevin Parrett, who is the Oregon DEQ State Point of Contact to the ITRC. Oregon DEQ expects to submit formal concurrence letters to the ITRC on most of the guidance documents in the near future. They also expect that this process will continue to be used to expedite the review and concurrence on future ITRC guidance documents as well as to assimilate other information involving the regulatory acceptance of innovative technologies. Oregon DEQ also plans to establish an electronic link between the DEQ web site and the ITRC web site in order to provide responsible parties, consultants, and DEQ staff with easier (electronic) access to ITRC Guidance Documents, related services and resources.

Who to Contact for additional Information:
Kevin Parrett
Department of Environmental Quality
811 Southwest 6th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-229-6748
Fax: 503-229-6954
e-mail: parrett.kevin@deq.state.or.us

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