The Department of Defense's (DoD) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) released a solicitation on January 7, 2020, requesting proposals for demonstrations of environmental and installation energy technologies. Researchers from DoD, other Federal organizations, universities, and private industry can apply for ESTCP funding. All proposals must respond to a Topic Area associated with the solicitation. ESTCP projects are formal demonstrations in which innovative technologies are rigorously evaluated. ESTCP demonstrations are conducted at DoD facilities and sites to document improved efficiency, reduced liability, improved environmental outcomes, and cost savings. The due date for all pre-proposals is March 5, 2020 by 2:00 p.m. ET.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking action to fully understand and address the current extent and impacts of DDT contamination at the United Heckathorn Superfund site in Richmond, California. Recent sediment sampling in the harbor will help EPA identify the source of DDT that has been re-contaminating the Lauritzen Channel since earlier cleanup activities.

Learn about the soil vapor extraction/bioventing system at the Del Amo Superfund Site, Waste Pits Area, in Los Angeles, California. See how it works to remove cancer-causing benzene from the soil, and how progress is measured.

State, EPA personnel and Boston area activists recall the Boston Harbor cleanup. Highlights: EPA's role in the process, the dreadful condition of the harbor beforehand, the major construction projects it took to get the harbor clean and what having a clean harbor has meant to marine life and how the change has affected the average Bostonian's quality of life.

US EPA's proposed enhanced biological treatment uses cheese whey and molasses as a food source for natural microbes that live in the soil and ground water. The video describes the use of this enhanced biological treatment (or bioremediation) at the Romic facility in East Palo Alto, California. These microbes break down the contaminants into carbon dioxide, water and salt.

The former creosote treating facility on Bainbridge Island in Washington State requires a coordinated effort to address contamination on the land and in the water. Three remedies are being used, groundwater treatment, a seawall to prevent chemicals from reaching Puget Sound, and a protective cap on the sea floor. Site investigation from the EPA Scientific Diving Team monitors how the sea floor is recovering. State, local and community partners are critical to the success of the cleanup efforts.

Learn about the soil and groundwater cleanup at the Pacific Coast Pipeline Superfund Site near Fillmore, CA, located at the southern end of Ventura County. A refinery operated there until 1950, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now overseeing the cleanup so the property can be restored and put to beneficial use.

This video walks audiences through the Superfund cleanup process at the Fletcher's Paint Superfund Site in Milford, NH, where there has been significant work done to analyze and study the site, work with the State of New Hampshire and Responsible Parties to then design a cleanup and cleanup the site.

The cleanup efforts at the Lawrence Aviation Superfund Site in Port Jefferson, NY embrace sustainable and green remediation practices. Green remediation practices for long term cleanup efforts make the cleanup more efficient and more sustainable for the surrounding community. The groundwater treatment plant at the site has a number of green features including sustainable sourcing, local labor and geo-thermal heating and cooling.

EPA developed the set of analytical workbooks known as "SEFA" to help remedial project managers and other decision-makers estimate the environmental footprint of a cleanup project at a detailed level. As an Excel-based tool, SEFA uses site-specific input and automated calculations to quantify 21 metrics such as the amounts of energy used onsite (BTUs), onsite emission of hazardous air pollutants (pounds), used potable water sourced from public water supplies (gallons), refined materials used onsite (tons), and onsite waste that is recycled or reused (percent). In November 2019, EPA released Version 3.0 of SEFA. The update reflects new default footprint conversion factors for additional materials, diesel or gasoline engines of various sizes, and laboratory analyses. SEFA output enables decision-makers to determine which cleanup activities drive the environmental footprint and to accordingly adjust the project parameters in ways that reduce the footprint and improve the environmental outcome.

EPA recently updated its three-part fact sheet series to continue helping project managers and other cleanup stakeholders assess site-specific remedy vulnerabilities and, where needed, implement measures to increase the remedy's resilience. The series addresses contaminated sediment sites (EPA 542-F-19-003, October 2019, 10 pages), contaminated waste containment systems (EPA 542-F-19-004, October 2019, 10 pages) and groundwater remediation systems (EPA 542-F-19-005, October 2019, 8 pages). The updated series provides more examples of potential measures to increase remedy resilience, highlights Superfund projects involving measures to address recently-identified vulnerabilities, and describes new decision-making tools developed by EPA or other federal agencies to address particular implications of a changing climate. The climate resilience concepts may also apply to site cleanups conducted under other regulatory programs or through voluntary efforts.