| EPA-ORD's Engineering Issue Papers (EIPs) are a series of technology transfer documents that summarize the latest information on selected waste treatment and site remediation technologies and related issues and present it in a conveniently accessible manner to the user community. EIPs are designed to help remedial project managers (RPMs), on-scene coordinators (OSCs), contractors, and other contaminated sites technical staff and site managers understand the type of data and site characteristics that are needed to evaluate a technology for a specific site, as well as ways to design and optimize a technology for a particular application. This latest EIP summarizes the current knowledge on electrokinetic (EK)-enhanced in situ remediation technologies that are available for addressing contaminants in low-permeability (low-k) subsurface environments where conventional hydraulic delivery technologies often face challenges. |
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| Over the years, organizations such as engineering firms, construction companies and academic or non-profit groups have made valuable contributions to EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. EPA’s latest remediation market study estimates that completing remediation at approximately 1,000 sites on the National Priorities List may cost $15.4 billion to $21.1 billion. EPA compiled this primer to help Superfund service contractors and subcontractors plan and implement their work in manners that consider green remediation and climate resilience strategies. The primer summarizes pertinent language in contract clauses and task orders relating to design and engineering services, remediation environmental services, environmental services and operations, and other types of work performed under the Superfund Remedial Acquisition Framework. It also describes associated aspects such as potential deliverables, metrics and costs. |
EPA 542-R-24-001
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| Use of ex situ or in situ technologies to remediate a site with contaminated groundwater relies on a thorough understanding of the site’s unique hydrogeological conditions. It also relies on an understanding of groundwater characteristics that may change under future climate scenarios. The changes should be considered throughout the site cleanup pipeline, from site assessment through long-term remedy maintenance. This fact sheet describes potential climate change impacts on groundwater, such as altered directions of groundwater flow or decreased infiltration, as well as potential impacts on cleanup remedies and associated remediation technologies. The fact sheet also describes how climate vulnerabilities are addressed at National Priorities Lists sites such as the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Superfund site in California, Torch Lake Superfund site in Michigan, and Wyckoff Co./Eagle Harbor site in Washington. |
EPA 542-F-24-001
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| The U.S. EPA Principles for Greener Cleanups outline the Agency’s policy for evaluating and
minimizing the environmental footprint of activities involved in cleaning up contaminated sites. Best management practices (BMPs) of green remediation involve specific activities to address the core elements of greener cleanups. Remediation at thousands of sites across the United States involves addressing hazardous waste from former industrial landfills, aged municipal landfills, illegal dumps or waste piles. A final cover system is commonly installed in these areas as part of proper closure to serve as a surface barrier that contains the source material, reduces contaminant exposure pathways or migration, and manages associated risk. Green remediation BMPs can help meet sustainability and in some cases climate resilience goals associated with site cleanup projects. When properly designed and maintained, a final cover system could provide opportunities to reuse a site for purposes such as renewable energy production and greenspace preservation. Such land use may greatly benefit communities experiencing the negative impacts of environmental contamination from local sources such as aged landfills and illegal dumps. |
EPA 542-F-23-002
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| The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this issue paper to document lessons learned in conducting climate vulnerability assessments (CVAs) at sites on the National Priorities List. The goals of a CVA are to assess future changes in climate conditions at a site so they may be factored into site decision making; determine whether adaptation measures are necessary to improve remedy resilience; and ensure remedy protectiveness is maintained under future changes in climate. A CVA may be performed by federal or state authorities or potentially responsible parties for any type of Superfund site at various stages of remediation. |
EPA 542-R-23-002
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| Cleanup of hazardous waste sites can involve significant consumption of gasoline, diesel, or other fuels by mobile and stationary sources. Minimizing emission of air pollutants such as greenhouse gases (GHGs) and particulate matter (PM) resulting from cleanup activities, including those needing fossil or alternative fuel, is a core element of green remediation strategies. Efforts to reduce these emissions during site investigation, remedial or corrective actions, and long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) must meet regulatory requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and state air quality standards as well as federal and state cleanup programs. Deployment of green remediation BMPs can help reduce negative impacts of cleanup activities on public health and the environment. |
EPA 542-F-23-001
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| Contaminated site cleanups involving complex activities may benefit from a detailed environmental footprint analysis to inform decision-making about application of suitable best management practices for greener cleanups. The U.S. EPA's two-page fact sheet explains how EPA's methodology provides a roadmap for conducting such an analysis and summarizes the Agency's preferred metrics and processes when an analysis is conducted. |
EPA 542-F-22-003
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| The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Principles for Greener Cleanups outline the Agency's policy for evaluating and minimizing the environmental footprint of activities involved in cleaning up contaminated sites. Use of the best management practices (BMPs) recommended in EPA's series of green remediation fact sheets can help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is used at certain sites to address volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are sorbed to soil within the unsaturated zone. An SVE system extracts air from, or sometimes injects air into, the vadose zone to strip the VOCs from soil and transfer the vapors to an aboveground treatment system for destruction or recovery. In contrast, air sparging (AS) involves injecting air into contaminated groundwater to drive volatile and semi-volatile contaminants into the overlying vadose zone by way of volatilization. The vapors are then removed from the vadose zone, typically by a co-located SVE system. Cleanup at some sites also may require mitigation of vapor intrusion (VI) into nearby buildings until remediation of soil or groundwater is complete. |
EPA 542-F-22-002
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| The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Principles for Greener Cleanups outline the Agency's policy for evaluating and minimizing the environmental footprint of activities involved in cleaning up contaminated sites. management practices (BMPs) identified in EPA's series of green remediation fact sheets can help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. Renewable energy provides a significant opportunity to minimize energy- and air-related contributions to the environmental footprint of cleaning up hazardous waste sites. Use of renewable energy during site cleanup also can decrease burdens on local power grids and provide a backup supply of power. |
EPA 542-F-22-001
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| The goal of these fact sheets is to share technical information on best practices that build sustainability into contaminated site cleanup operations across the portfolio of remediation approaches. The updated fact sheet includes new BMPs gathered from projects across the country and describes how climate resilience is being built into our sites to ensure continued remedy protectiveness. The fact sheet also highlights synergies between green remediation and climate adaptation practices, where one action provides both greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate resilience. Examples are BMPs involving use of renewable energy, green infrastructure or carbon sequestering vegetation that mitigate GHG emissions and add resilience to ongoing climate change. The fact sheet also highlights how advanced practices gleaned from Superfund's optimization and technical support work, such as reclaiming and reusing treated water for beneficial purposes, help reduce the environmental footprint of remedies. |
EPA 542-F-21-029
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