incorporating options to minimize the environmental footprints of a cleanup
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- Recent Superfund Optimization Progress Report includes summary of green remediation implementation
- EPA Region 9 updates its Greener Cleanups Policy
- New issue paper addresses ecosystem services at contaminated site cleanups
- Final Vermont DEC rule includes requirement to consider environmental impacts and sustainability in evaluations of corrective action alternatives
- Travis AFB becomes first US DOD installation to certify use of ASTM Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups and wins 2017 Environmental Restoration, Installation award
- News archives...
- October 16-19 International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy in Amherst
- October 24 CLU-IN webinar on Ecosystem Services Approaches and Tools for Contaminated Site Cleanup
- November 7 CLU-IN webinar on matching biochar characteristics with metals-contaminated soils
- November 15-16 training on groundwater high-resolution site characterization in Addison, Texas
- December 4 Implementing Greener Cleanups Through ASTM's Standard Guide (E2893-16) — A Workshop preceding Brownfields 2017 conference in Pittsburgh
- More on the calendar...
Treatment of contaminated groundwater over recent years at the Re-Solve, Inc. site in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, has included use of best management practices to reduce the project's environmental footprint. When compared to 1998 annual rates, the onsite groundwater pump-and-treat (P&T) system now uses 86% less chemicals, generates 98% less waste requiring offsite disposal, and directly or indirectly emits 80% less carbon dioxide. Additionally, recent integration of an onsite photovoltaic system enables the project to generate nearly 10% more electricity than demanded by the P&T system.
At the Pemaco Superfund site in Mayfield, California, the greener cleanup strategy involves onsite production of renewable energy, continued optimization of soil or groundwater treatment and monitoring processes, and development of a green infrastructure benefiting both remediation and reuse of the site. Associated annual reductions in the environmental footprint of cleanup activities include a four metric ton reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, 50% reduction in groundwater samples collected, and 281,000 gallon reduction in stormwater runoff.
More than 81 million gallons of groundwater treated at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport Superfund Site each year is stored for irrigation use by the City of Goodyear.
Nearly 2,300 cubic yards of concrete was salvaged during cleanup at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard Superfund site in Baltimore and re-used onsite as infill for excavated areas.
In situ mixing of chemical oxidation reagents to treat soil at the Whitney Young Branch Library brownfield site avoided double handling of materials in an ex situ process.
Air emissions during activities such as soil excavation and surface grading were minimized at the Elizabeth Mine NPL site through use of machinery equipped with Tier 4 engine technology.
Use of a renewable energy-powered fan assembly at the Rainbow Valley Citrus Maintenance Yard Facility UST site avoided use of grid electricity to collect air stripping off-gas.
Six acres of freshwater wetlands created during RCRA corrective action at the Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC Site help manage stormwater while providing critical animal habitat.
Best Management Practice (BMP)
Fact Sheets
- An Overview (PDF) (2 pp, 231K)
- Excavation and Surface Restoration (PDF) (4 pp, 238K)
- Site Investigation and Environmental Monitoring (PDF) (4 pp, 179K)
- Pump and Treat Technologies (PDF) (8 pp, 225K)
- Bioremediation (PDF) (4 pp, 176K)
- Soil Vapor Extraction & Air Sparging (PDF) (4 pp, 131K)
- Clean Fuel & Emission Technologies for Site Cleanup (PDF) (10 pp, 354K)
- Integrating Renewable Energy into Site Cleanup (PDF) (8 pp, 335K)
- Sites with Leaking Underground Storage Tank Systems (PDF) (6 pp, 448K)
- Landfill Cover Systems & Energy Production (PDF) (6 pp, 465K)
- Overview of EPA's Methodology to Address the Environmental Footprint of Site Cleanup (PDF) (2 pp, 176K)
- Mining Sites (PDF) (6 pp, 535K)
- Implementing In Situ Thermal Technologies (PDF) (6 pp, 249K)
- Materials and Waste Management (PDF) (4pp, 397K)
GR Technology Primer (PDF) (56 pp, 814K):
Incorporating Sustainable Environmental Practices into Remediation of Contaminated Sites
A Citizen's Guide to Greener Cleanups (PDF) (2 pp, 1.4MB)
- EPA Strategic Plan, FY 2014-2018
- ...EPA's hazardous waste programs also are working to reduce the energy use and environmental footprint during the investigation and remediation of hazardous waste sites.
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development
EPA's Methodology for Understanding and Reducing a Project's Environmental Footprint uses 21 metrics and a seven-step process to quantify energy, air, water, and materials & waste comprising the environmental footprint of a remedy. The supporting Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis (SEFA) workbooks are available to help users estimate each of the methodology's metrics on a site-specific basis. Related background studies, examples, and data gathering tools offer additional information of value to environmental footprint assessment.
Aligning with National Goals
Learn about executive orders, requirements, and guidance on energy and water management, green purchasing, and environmental stewardship
Questions and comments about EPA's green remediation efforts may be forwarded to:
Carlos Pachon, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation.
