Technology Innovation News Survey

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, SPOC Southwest, Washington, DC
Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov, Solicitation 12970223Q0073, 2023

This is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 562910. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service requires emergency response, cleanup and disposal services for Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) that has been spilled/released/dumped on National Forest System Lands located in the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5). Services performed under this requirement may be subject to regulatory review and approval by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies (i.e. EPA, the Regional Water Quality Control Board). Depending on the complexity of a project, intermediate reviews may be required by the Government. The Contractor shall prepare any necessary responses for the Government to comments generated by these regulatory agency reviews, provide any additional information requested, and modify the final document(s) as needed. All projects will be negotiated and awarded as a Task Order under an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The Contractor must provide all appropriate labor, equipment, materials, supervision, and transportation needed to investigate, assess, or classify the site(s), and prepare the requested documents required by the individual Task Order. The Contractor will consult with and provide technical data and advice to USFS officials and staff; and will be expected to attend, report, and advise at meetings and conferences with regulators and other parties and analyze any other data pertinent to the projects when required. Offers are due by 5:00 PM PDT on September 1, 2023. https://sam.gov/opp/5be40845c9044a1cb9f2c6e0c31722f5/view

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, CA
Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov, Solicitation W912PL23S0006, 2023

This is a sources sought notice for marketing research purposes only under NAICS code 562910. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, has been tasked to solicit and award an ORC at Vandenberg Spaceforce Base in Santa Barbara, CA. This remediation will involve Installation Restoration Program and Military Munitions Response Program sites base-wide. The proposed project will be a competitive, firm-fixed-price contract, pursuant to FAR 15, using the Tradeoff process. The government intends to issue a solicitation; however, the results and analysis of the market research will finalize the determination of the set-aside decision. The type of set-aside decision(s) to be issued will depend upon the responses to this notice. The anticipated solicitation issuance date is on or about February 2024 and the estimated proposal due date will be on or about March or April 2024. Responses to this sources sought notice are due by 2:00 PM PDT on September 25, 2023. https://sam.gov/opp/eb42e37d096445fcbb94636ce1e922a2/view

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 Contracting Office, Lenexa, KS
Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov, Solicitation 68HE0723R0046, 2023

This is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 562910. EPA Region 7 Acquisition & Management Branch (AMBR) is seeking the services of an experienced firm to provide excavation, consolidation, and disposal of mine waste and associated soil/sediments contaminated with heavy metals within Operable Unit (OU) 3 and OU8 in Cherokee County, Kansas. This is a remedial action for the mine waste located at multiple mine waste areas in the Baxter Springs subsite OU3 and three segments of railroad line located in the Railroads OU8 portion of the Cherokee County Superfund site. The Baxter Springs OU3 subsite is located along the Kansas-Oklahoma border in the south-central portion of Cherokee County to address surficial mine waste areas and contaminated sediment located at the former Sunflower Mine Complex South of 19th Street and east of SE 30th St., Hessee/Lewis repository, Bruger Shaft complex, and multiple distal sites in and around Baxter Springs, KS. EPA anticipates an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity with fixed unit prices contract consisting of a one-year base period and two one-year option periods. Offers are due by 2:00 PM CDT on August 21, 2023. https://sam.gov/opp/e925eec429164d9787ed46a19bd158e3/view

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity, Alexandria, VA
Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov, Solicitation W912HQ-23-S-0032-1, 2023

This is a full and open competition under NAICS code 541715. ESTCP is DoD's demonstration and validation program for environmental technologies. The ESTCP Office is interested in receiving proposals for innovative technology demonstrations that address DoD environmental requirements as candidates for funding. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(2). Readers should note that this is an announcement to declare ESTCP's intent to competitively fund demonstration projects as described in the Program Announcement on the ESTCP website. The purpose of ESTCP is to demonstrate and validate promising innovative technologies that target DoD's most urgent environmental and installation energy needs and are projected to pay back the investment through cost savings, improved efficiencies, or improved outcomes. ESTCP responds to high-priority DoD environmental and installation energy technology requirements and the need to improve defense readiness by reducing the drain on the Department's operation and maintenance dollars caused by real-world commitments such as environmental restoration, waste and facility management, range sustainability, energy security, and water conservation. The goal is to enable promising technologies to receive regulatory and end-user acceptance and be fielded and commercialized more rapidly. To achieve this goal, ESTCP projects create a partnership between technology developers, responsible DoD organizations, and the regulatory community. This program announcement is seeking proposals from the technology development community. No RFP, solicitation, or other announcement of this opportunity will be made. It is the sole responsibility of the offerors to verify the proposal is properly received by ESTCP. Awards will take the form of contracts. To be eligible for consideration, parties wishing to respond to this announcement must submit a proposal in accordance with the instructions on the website, no later than 2:00 P.M. ET on September 14, 2023. https://sam.gov/opp/8c87ea0f5f00416c931602680dc253d2/view

Crownover, C., C. Thomas, M. Boulos, R. Glass, G. Crisp, G. Heron, B.S. Kennington, S. Tarmann, and L. Hidalgo. ǀ Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 43(3):33-44(2023)

Thermal conduction heating of a TCE source zone was conducted within vadose zone soil consisting of glacial till at depths of 50 to 125 ft below an active manufacturing facility. Access limitations inside the facility prevented traditional spatial soil confirmation sampling, making performance assessment a unique challenge. Instead, an approach was developed that utilized multiple lines of evidence to document remediation success. The lines of evidence included achieving target temperatures within the treatment volume, demonstrating asymptotic vapor concentrations extracted from the treatment volume, achieving modeled energy input goals, and verifying TCE concentrations in post-treatment soil samples collected at accessible locations. The treatment volume was divided into three discrete treatment areas or heating groups, each constructed and heated independently. Each line of evidence was required to be met in each group. After ~283 days of heating, temperatures exceeded 90°C at 95% of the temperature monitoring points, TCE levels had diminished to asymptotic levels in the recovered vapors, and mass removal rates from the treatment volume declined to minimal levels. Confirmatory soil sample results indicated that average TCE concentrations achieved were more than an order of magnitude below the remedial goal of 1 mg/kg.

Riis, C., E.E. Cox, J. Wang, D. Gent, M.B. Bymose, and D.M. Pade.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 43(3):70-78(2023)

The novel electrokinetic (EK) technique EK-BIO was demonstrated at full-scale to overcome the limitations of conventional in situ bioremediation with respect to reagent delivery. Electron donor and dehalorespiring bacteria (KB-1®) were effectively and uniformly delivered throughout a PCE source area in clay till using the technique. Lactate, used as an electron donor, was effectively delivered through the clay soils over a 720-day sustained operational period. A one-time bioaugmentation of the treatment area with KB-1 was conducted within the first month of operation. Vinyl chloride reductase functional gene counts increased by several orders of magnitude in treatment area wells with PCE dechlorination to ethene and chloride occurring in all treatment area wells. Remediation goals for site soil of 10 mg PCE/kg were met within 2 years of system operation. Average soil concentrations in the treatment area were reduced by 98.75% (PCE eq.). Rebound testing 6 months after cessation of EK-BIO operation showed sustained dechlorination and compliance with remedial goals.

Shultz, M., C. Plank, M. Stapleton, L. Giannetta, and R. Cramer.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 43(3):70-78(2023)

A groundwater extraction and treatment system was installed at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) in the Florida Panhandle to contain and remediate a chlorinated solvent plume. After 2 years of operation, the system was not removing the contaminant mass at the rate predicted or required to meet performance-based contract terms. As a result, a sequence-stratigraphic analysis was initiated to develop a strategy to improve performance. Sequence Stratigraphy methods were employed to identify a marine flooding surface (mfs) formed during a relative sea level highstand. The analysis found that the mfs was locally eroded, indicating that incised valleys were eroded into the formation during a relatively low sea level stand. These valleys were backfilled with coarse-grained fluvial and estuarine strata. The analysis concluded that the groundwater extraction system lacked an extraction well screened within the coarse-grained valley fill. An additional extraction well installed to target the incised valley fill significantly increased the contaminant mass removal rate without increasing system capacity or operational costs. This case study suggests that efficiency improvements are tenable at many sites where groundwater remediation is occurring within the Surficial Aquifer System of the Gulf Coast (Citronelle Formation) and sites in similar geologic settings worldwide. https://ngwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gwmr.12608

Cohen, H.A., K.P. Breslin, and M.T. Rafferty.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 43(3): 129-138(2023)

The Federal Government transferred 225 acres (91 ha) of the former Bannister Federal Complex (BFC) in Kansas City, Missouri, to Bannister Transformation & Development, LLC (BTD), for demolition, environmental corrective measures, and preparation of the site for redevelopment. The transfer presented an opportunity to reconfigure groundwater remedies and address long-standing soil contamination issues. The property contained more than 40 previously identified solid waste management units, 3.9 million ft² (362,000 m²) of buildings, subsurface utilities dating back to the 1940s, and an active groundwater containment system. Remediation activities included excavation and capping of contaminated soils, installation of groundwater containment treatment systems, and abandonment of legacy utilities. Completing the work within the originally planned timeframe was made possible by factors including up-front multi-year funding, early and ongoing engagement of regulators, an extended 3-year due diligence program and planning stage, and establishing well-defined environmental targets. Soil and groundwater remedies were also designed with the flexibility needed to accommodate unknown conditions, changing schedules, and revisions to the regrading and redevelopment plans.

Edmiston, P.L., E. Carter, K. Toth, R. Hershberger, N. Hill, P. Versluis, P. Hollinden, C. Divine.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation [Published online 1 April 2023 before print]

A passive sampler designed to measure PFAS in surface and groundwater was tested at Ellsworth and Peterson Air Force bases, the Ohio River, and the Santa Ana River. Over the 2-year study, 96 passive samplers were deployed at 33 sample locations and were compared with co-collected grab samples, all of which were measured for 19 PFAS analytes by HPLC-MS/MS. Correlations were observed (typically within 2×difference) between aqueous PFAS concentrations measured by passive versus discrete grab samples across over 5 orders of magnitude in concentration (0.5 to 150,000 ng/L). Overall relative % difference between grab and passive results displayed a median of 18% (interquartile range of -19 to 73%). Detection limits were ~ 1 ng/L for a 2-week sampling time, with sampling rates ranging from 12 to 70 mL/day in flowing systems. Duplicate samplers deployed in all study areas indicated a 14 to 42% (median 24%) relative standard deviation in the precision of passive sampling. Larger variances were seen with sites with higher and potentially more variable water flows. A commercial lab measured a sub-set of duplicate samplers, which returned equivalent data to research lab measurements (43 [±26 SD]% relative percent difference). Standardized protocols and calculation methods were developed during the study to facilitate expanded testing and future broader use of passive sampling for PFAS. https://ngwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gwmr.12574

Quinnan, J., V. Pulikkal, T. Reid, and C. Bellona. ESTCP Project ER19-5181, 365 pp, 2022

A demonstration and validation study was conducted at Horsham Air Guard Station (AGS) and former Naval Air Station (NAS) at Willow Grove in Horsham, PA to test a sub-micron powdered activated carbon (SPAC) coupled with ceramic membrane filtration (CMF) to reduce the total life-cycle cost of treating PFAS-impacted groundwater. The approach combined proven CMF and SPAC technologies into a new configuration specifically designed to treat water resources highly contaminated with PFAS (>1 µg/L) with a prototypical system at a fidelity level that could be replicated at other DoD sites. The AquaPRS technology provides an alternative to GA) and IX systems based on treatment efficacy and cost performance using life cycle cost analyses (LCA). The SPAC-CMF system consisted of cloth media filters to remove particulates, a sorbent reactor in which SPAC is mixed with influent surface water, followed by a CMF filter to separate PFAS-sorbed SPAC from the water matrix to obtain PFAS-free water. The SPAC is recirculated back into the sorbent reactor to continue the treatment cycle. The first 9-month study conducted at Horsham AGS demonstrated and validated the SPAC-CMF treatment approach using a mobile pilot system, while the second 6-month study at the former NAS at Willow Grove further optimized cost, performance, and scalability. The technology was validated by measuring the specific adsorption rate (SAR) of various PFAS on SPAC and compared to GAC and IX. Costs were compared to estimate a payback period for the SPAC-CMF system compared to GAC and IX. At 10% breakthrough, the SAR of SPAC-CMF for the combined concentration of EPA's UCMR3 compounds was nearly 1,000 times higher than those treated with GAC. At 40 ng/L breakthrough for combined UCMR3 compounds, a single-stage SPAC-CMF system at Horsham achieved 146 µg PFAS/g sorbent SAR, while a dual-stage SPAC-CMF system at Willow Grove achieved 2,128 µg PFAS/g sorbent. The SPAC-CMF system showed a 3-month payback period compared to a comparable GAC system, while with an IX system, the payback period ranged from 24 to 36 months. The SPAC-CMF system effectively performs in the presence of co-contaminants, is adaptable to changing conditions, has limited downtime for sorbent replacement, resistance to biofouling, a small footprint, and reduced disposal requirements.
Final Report: https://serdp-estcp-storage.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-06/ER19-5181%20Final%20Report.pdf?VersionId=gbgvHD8YF6WXj330kyoHMfdbZPoKf23l
Executive Summary: https://serdp-estcp-storage.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-06/ER19-5181%20Executive%20Summary.pdf?VersionId=Ulm5nwTHAmUxrw6MzLDx.v3TXlKXKMTE

Medon, B., B.G. Pautler, A. Sweett, J. Roberts, F.F. Risacher, L.A. D'Agostino, J. Conder, J.R. Gauthier, S.A. Mabury, A. Patterson, P. McIsaac, R. Mitzel, S.G. Hakimabadi, and A. Le-Tuan Pham. ǀ Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 25:980-995(2023)

A simple equilibrium passive sampler, consisting of water in an inert container capped with a rate-limiting barrier, was developed, and tested through lab and field experiments to monitor PFAS in sediment pore water and surface water. Lab experiments were conducted to determine the membrane type that could serve as the sampler's rate-limiting barrier, the mass transfer coefficient of environmentally relevant PFAS through the selected membrane, and the performance reference compounds (PRCs), that could be used to infer the kinetics of PFAS diffusing into the sampler. The polycarbonate membrane was deemed the most suitable rate-limiting barrier of the membranes tested, as it did not appreciably adsorb the studied PFAS (≤8 carbons). Fick's law of diffusion could be used to describe the migration through this membrane. When employed as the PRC, isotopically-labeled PFAS M₂PFOA and M₄PFOS could predict the mass transfer coefficients of the PFAS analytes. In contrast, the mass transfer coefficients were underpredicted by Br^- and M₃PFPeA. For validation, the PC-based passive samplers consisting of these four PRCs and M₈PFOA and C₈H₁₇SO₃^-, were deployed in the sediment and water at a PFAS-impacted site. The concentration-time profiles of the PRCs indicated that the samplers deployed in the sediment required at least 6 to 7 weeks to reach 90% equilibrium. If the deployment times are shorter, PFAS concentrations at equilibrium could be estimated based on the concentrations of the PRCs remaining in the sampler at retrieval. All PFAS concentrations determined via this approach were within a factor of two compared to those measured in the mechanically extracted sediment pore water and surface water samples obtained adjacent to the sampler deployment locations. Neither biofouling of the rate-limiting barrier nor any physical change was observed on the sampler after retrieval. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2023/em/d2em00483f

Willey, J., A. Hanley, R. Anderson, A. Leeson, and T. Thompson. SERDP Project ER19-1409, 211 pp, 2023

This report is the first in a series presenting the results of a multi-lab validation study (MLVS) to validate EPA's draft Office of Water Method 1633: Analysis of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Aqueous, Solid, Biosolids, and Tissue Samples by LC-MS/MS. The MLVS objectives were to identify and quantify up to 40 PFAS in aqueous matrices and tissues using the isotope dilution LC-MS/MS method, achieve a low ppt level of quantitation (LOQ) in aqueous matrices and ppb in solids and tissues, produce a method that can be implemented at a typical mid-sized full-service environmental lab, and conduct single-and multi-lab validation studies of the draft method. Extracts for aqueous matrices were prepared via solid-phase extraction followed by carbon cleanup. Analyte concentrations were determined using an isotope dilution or extracted internal standard (EIS) quantification schemes; both utilize isotopically labeled compounds added to the samples before extraction. Non-extracted internal standards were used to determine EIS compound recoveries, providing a general indicator of overall analytical quality. The method includes 40 target analytes, 24 EIS compounds, and 7 NIS compounds. Analytes were quantified and reported in their acid form. Eight commercial and two state labs participated in the study. All labs were required to complete Initial Calibrations and Initial Demonstration of Capabilities studies before receiving unspiked and PFAS-spiked wastewater, surface water, and groundwater samples. Seven wastewater sample series were analyzed, each consisting of an unspiked sample, 3 replicate low spiked samples, and 3 replicate high spiked samples (49 total analyses). For surface water and groundwater, 3 samples for each matrix were analyzed as unspiked, low spiked and high spiked samples (21 total analyses per matrix). The objectives of this MLVS were achieved. Data generated during the MLVS demonstrated that EPA Method 1633, as written, is robust enough to be performed by suitable laboratories using similar instruments of different manufacturers and models.
Technical Report: https://serdp-estcp-storage.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-07/Multi-Laboratory%20Validation%20Study%20Report.pdf?VersionId=WrQZzILnYk3uZ2FxZcwxTjvMG9Fa.qO6
Appendices: https://serdp-estcp-storage.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-07/Multi-Laboratory%20Validation%20Study%20Report%20Appendices.pdf?VersionId=bYEw0JR1tsZBD09kI85mbJ.4Zf40g_Vh

Huizenga, J.M. and L. Semprini ǀ Biodegradation 29(2023)

A study investigated the degradation of the prevalent environmental contaminants benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) along with a common co-contaminant, MTBE by Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC Strain 21198. The ability of the strain to degrade the contaminants individually and in mixtures was evaluated with resting cells grown on isobutane, 1-butanol, and 2-butanol. The growth of 21198 in the presence of BTEX and MTBE was measured to determine the growth substrate that best supports simultaneous microbial growth and contaminants degradation. Cells grown on isobutane, 1-butanol, and 2-butanol were all capable of degrading the contaminants, with isobutane-grown cells exhibiting the most rapid degradation rates and 1-butanol-grown cells exhibiting the slowest. In conditions where BTEX and MTBE were present during microbial growth, 1-butanol was an effective substrate for concurrent growth and contaminant degradation. Contaminant degradation was a combination of metabolic and cometabolic processes. Evidence for the growth of 21198 on benzene and toluene and a possible transformation pathway are presented. MTBE was co-metabolically transformed to tertiary butyl alcohol, which was also observed to be transformed by 21198. The work demonstrates the possible utility of primary and secondary alcohols to support the biodegradation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons and MTBE.

Park, J., S. Huang, B.E. Koel, and P.R. Jaffe. ǀ Journal of Hazardous Materials 459:132039(2023)

Ferrihydrite particles were coated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) with four different molecular weights, resulting in a negative zeta potential on their surface to study their potential in accelerating PFAS defluorination. Zeta potential was determined as a function of pH and PAA loading, with the lowest value observed when the PAA/ferrihydrite ratio was >1/5 (w/w) at a pH of 5.5. Several 50-day incubations with an A6-enrichment culture were conducted to determine the effect of PAA-coated ferrihydrite as the electron acceptor of A6 on the Feammox activity and PFOA degradation. NH₄⁺ oxidation, PFOA degradation, production of shorter-chain PFAS, and F- were observed in all PAA-coated samples. The 6 K and 450 K treatments exhibited significant PFOA concentration reductions and substantial F^- production compared to incubations with bare ferrihydrite. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed lowered charge transfer resistance in the presence of PAA-coated ferrihydrite, indicating that PAAs facilitated electron transfer to ferrihydrite.

Freedman, M., K.G. Mumford, A. Danko, D. Hart, S.D. Richardson.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 43(2):90-97(2023)

The principal component analysis (PCA) trajectory method was employed on a dataset from an in situ bioremediation site impacted by TCE. This approach served as an alternative to the examination of time series data. The method connected each monitoring well's scores through PCA space to account for temporal changes in multiple analytes. Using the method, monitoring well locations were separated into categories that included "on-track" and "unsuccessful" based on their similarity to background wells in PCA space. Results agreed with those generated using traditional methods (e.g., time series plots) and were able to efficiently summarize large amounts of data to facilitate interpretation.

Wanzek, T., J. F. Stults, M.G. Johnson, J.A. Field, and M. Kleber.
Environmental Science & Technology 57(13):5231-5242(2023)

A study developed a comprehensive, generalized approach to predicting PFAS retention from AFFF by a soil matrix as a function of PFAS molecular and soil physiochemical properties. In one-dimensional saturated column experiments, PFAS mass retained was measured by adding an AFFF with 34 major PFAS (12 anions and 22 zwitterions) to uncontaminated soil. PFAS mass retention was described using an exhaustive statistical approach to generate a poly-parameter quantitative structure-property relationship. The relevant predictive properties were PFAS molar mass, mass fluorine, number of nitrogen atoms in the PFAS molecule, poorly crystalline Fe oxides, organic carbon, and specific surface area. The retention of anionic PFAS was nearly independent of soil properties and largely a function of molecular hydrophobicity, with the size of the fluorinated side chain as the main predictor. Retention of nitrogen-containing zwitterionic PFAS was related to poorly crystalline metal oxides and organic carbon content. Knowledge of the extent to which a suite of PFAS may respond to variations in soil matrix properties paves the way to develop reactive transport algorithms that can capture PFAS dynamics in source zones over extended time frames.

Kissel, J.C. I.A. Titaley, D.J. Muensterman, and J.A. Field.
Environmental Science & Technology 57(12):4951-4958(2023)

The physicochemical properties estimated by the SPARC calculator were utilized to compute transdermal permeability coefficients (k_p-g) and dermal-to-inhalation (D/I) exposure ratios for two categories of neutral PFAS compounds, including those on an EPA PFAS list. Eleven neutral PFAS showed calculated D/I ratios >5, indicating that direct transdermal absorption may be an important exposure pathway compared to inhalation. Data on consumer products or indoor air is needed for the 11 neutral PFAS, followed by possible biomonitoring to experimentally verify dermal absorption from air.

Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) Web-based document PT-1, 2023

This ITRC document provides guidance and an adaptive framework for optimizing groundwater pump and treat (P&T) systems. The goals of P&T optimization are to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the remedy, maintain or improve receptor protection, ensure adequate maintenance, reduce cost and liability, reduce the environmental footprint, and make the remedy more resilient to environmental changes. This document presents an overview of the optimization process and the tools and resources available to help users achieve these goals. https://pt-1.itrcweb.org/

Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 4 pp, 2023

This fact sheet covers the high-volume sampling (HVS) method to characterize the nature and extent of VOC vapor distributions beneath large buildings. Case studies at NAS Corpus Christi and NS Norfolk are presented in addition to a summary of the advantages and limitations before selecting and applying HVS. https://exwc.navfac.navy.mil/Portals/88/Documents/EXWC/Restoration/er_pdfs/h/NAVFAC%20HVS_FactSheet_Final_6_27_23.pdf?ver=4gEX_BdB7Xd7XG_CLISj_g%3d%3d

Johnson, C.,V. Vokal, and T. Macbeth. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory RemPlex-IAEA Seminar, 107 minutes, May 2023

This seminar features three presentations about different aspects to consider in the selection of groundwater remediation approaches. The first presentation provides an overview of factors to consider in selecting a groundwater remedy, including nine criteria to evaluate alternatives. Examples from DOE sites are used to illustrate the application of groundwater remediation technologies. The second presentation features remediation of a uranium mining site in the Czech Republic. Over 50 years, ~130,000 tons of uranium in concentrate were produced from 86 exploited deposits leading to widespread environmental impacts and groundwater contamination. The objectives of a large-scale environmental program established in 1996 were to restore the rock environment to a condition guaranteeing continuing usability of an aquifer, decommission boreholes and surface installations, and incorporate the surface of leaching fields into the ecosystems, while taking into account regional systems of ecological stability and urban plans. The final presentation discusses innovative approaches to treating groundwater with mixed contaminants, including PFAS.
YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FrTSxfQ58w
Slides: https://www.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/media/file/RemPlex-IAEA_GroundwaterRemediation_All-Presentations_23May2023.pdf

Divine, C., S. Justicia-Leon, J.M. Tilton, E. Carter, E. Zardouzian, K. Clark, and D. Taggart.
Remediation 33(3):209-216(2023)

The Min-Trap sampler is a simple, cost-effective tool that can directly measure reactive mineral formation in situ without additional drilling or soil core collection. Methods presented in this article describe how Min-Traps deployed in conventional monitoring wells can measure reactive minerals and how these minerals can be identified through commercially available analytical methods. Several examples show how the sampler can be used to characterize the rate and spatial variability of reactive mineral precipitation, data that may support operation and optimization decisions.

Wice, R. ǀ 2023 Bioremediation Symposium Proceedings, 8-11 May, Austin, TX, 21 slides, 2023

This presentation provides an overview of EPA's environmental justice (EJ) program and how it is being applied to Superfund sites. EPA's EJScreen tool uses demographic data defaulted to American Community Survey (ACS 2015-2019, or earlier census data) and environmental data to create reports and maps that help identify EJ areas. Demographic data categories used as tool inputs for an area include people of color, low income, unemployment, linguistic isolation, less than high school education, and persons under age 5 and over age 64. The EJScreen tool environmental data categories used as tool inputs for an area include particulate matter 2.5, ozone, diesel particulate matter, air toxics, traffic proximity, and volume, lead paint, Superfund site proximity, Risk Management Plan Facility proximity, hazardous waste proximity, number of underground storage tanks (USTs) and leaking (USTs) and wastewater discharge to streams. Users can develop a search area using zip codes, census tracts, radius from a pin drop on a map, and city or county boundaries. Reports and maps can be generated for the major data categories or a combined EJ Index map. EPA's EJScreen tool is explained, and examples of tool output for a Superfund site with EJ concerns are compared to a non-impacted affluent area in the San Francisco Bay Area. https://www.battelle.org/docs/default-source/hidden/2023-bio-symp-presentations/track-e/e1_0800_16_wice.pptx.pdf?sfvrsn=b28e6045_3

Hubbard, B. and J. Weidhaas. SERDP & ESTCP Webinar, August 2023

This webinar featured DoD-funded research efforts to develop treatment technologies for munitions in wastewater. First, Dr. Jennifer Weidhaas presented her research results on developing more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable treatment trains for mixed munitions wastewater. Second, Mr. Brian Hubbard discussed the development, scale-up, and results from several field demonstrations of a technology capable of rapidly and completely destroying insensitive munition constituents in explosives production wastewater. https://serdp-estcp.org/toolsandtraining/details/ed4068e0-cc35-4cff-8cdf-0a946b7f2d4c/removal-of-munitions-constituents-from-wastewater