Message #62: April 2002

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Mention of non-EPA documents or presentations does not constitute a U.S. EPA endorsement of their contents, only an acknowledgment that they exist and may be relevant to the TechDirect audience.

Open Solicitations

Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program Treatment Technology Solicitation for PCB and Dioxin/Furan Contaminated Sediments. The purpose of this Treatment Technology Application (TTA) is to solicit alternative in situ bioremediation treatment alternatives that can be demonstrated at a selected site in Hawaii for removing or destroying PCBs and dioxins in contaminated sediments in a saltwater environment. Technologies selected must be able to handle moderate concentrations of PCBs and dioxins/furans in the presence of other organic compounds, and, potentially, metals. Proposals are due July 19, 2002. For complete information on this solicitation, see http://www.epa.gov/ORD/SITE/solicitations.htm .

EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Solicitation. EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program provides financial support to help for-profit businesses develop new environmental technologies. The Phase I Solicitation opened on March 28 and will close on May 23, 2002. Phase I awards of up to $70,000 will be made and Phase I winners will be invited to compete in a future Phase II solicitation with awards of up to $295,000. Topics include hazardous waste management and site remediation, solid waste recycling, and environmental measurement and monitoring. Additional topics include nanotechnology and pollution prevention, air and water pollution control, and environmental bioterrorism. The SBIR Solicitation is posted on the SBIR Website at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir or Help Line at 800-490-9194.

New Documents and Websites

ITRC Diffusion Sampler Information Center . This website provides a centralized location for the posting and exchange of information on the development and use of diffusion samplers. The ITRC Diffusion Sampler Team is working with the US Air Force, US Navy, USEPA, USGS, and private industry, to compile, analyze, and disseminate information on the deployment of passive diffusion bag (PDB) samplers on a national basis. Site users can access a current listing of deployments nationwide, news updates, and a searchable deployment database (in development). For more information, see http://diffusionsampler.itrcweb.org/common/default.asp .

Technology Focus Area. The CLU-IN Technology Focus Area has been expanded with the addition of Soil Washing. Through the Technology Focus section, CLU-IN provides a compilation of the most relevant information resources on 15 remediation technologies. These resources are presented under 5 categories for each technology with a summary and direct link to each resource. The following are the resources initially included in the new Soil Washing focus:

Citizen's Guides (1 resource)
Technology Description (2 resources)
Applications (10 resources)
Engineering/ Regulatory Guidance (5 resources)
Training (2 resources)
References (1 resource)

For more information, see http://clu-in.org/techfocus/ .

Tech Trends - current issue (EPA 540-N-02-001). The March issue of Tech Trends is our last. This July, the EPA Technology Innovation Office will publish a new newsletter that combines Tech Trends updates on innovative soil cleanup technologies with Ground Water Currents updates on innovative ground-water technologies. The new bimonthly newsletter will be mailed out to all of our current subscribers to Tech Trends and Ground Water Currents and be available on CLU-IN. This issue focuses on projects using bioventing, thermal desorption and lead stabilization (March 2002, 6 pages). View or download at http://clu-in.org/techpubs.htm . For hard copies, contact (800) 490-9198 or (513) 489-8190 or fax to (513) 489-8695.

Workshop on Monitoring Oxidation-Reduction Processes for Ground-water Restoration (EPA 600-R02-002). This report was produced by the EPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory. It summarizes the findings of a workshop held to discuss and summarize the current state-of-the-science with respect to methods of redox monitoring, data interpretation, and their applications to ground-water remediation (January 2002, 148 pages). View or download at http://www.epa.gov/ada/pubs/reports.html . For hard copies, contact Kay Cooper at (580) 436-8651 or fax (580) 436-8503.

Well Injection Depth Extraction (WIDE) Soil Flushing (DOE OST/TMS ID 2172). This report was published by the U.S. Department of Energy. This Innovative Technology Summary Report describes the Well Injection Depth Extraction (WIDE) system. This technology is a hybrid soil flushing/soil gas extraction system that uses Prefabricated Vertical Wells (PVWs) for the in situ remediation of contaminated fine-grained soils with hydraulic conductivities ranging from 10-3 to 10-8 cm/s. The WIDE system has been field demonstrated as suitable for removal of dissolved-phase contaminants, dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), and light non-aqueous phase liquids or LNAPLs (May 2001, 30 pages). View or download at http://apps.em.doe.gov/ost/pubs/itsrs/itsr2172.pdf .

Mine Reclamation Using Biosolids (2001). This document was prepared by a University of Arizona undergraduate student under an internship with United States Environmental Protection Agency. It describes the current uses of biosolids in the United States, especially the progress being made at mine reclamation sites. The background section defines and describes the production and traditional uses of biosolids. It responds to common concerns over biosolid use, such as leaching, and explains the safeguards associated with every biosolids project. Finally, case studies are examined and analyzed to determine the best use of biosolids to date (Fall, 2001, 43 pages). View or download at http://clu-in.org/techpubs.htm .

Literature on Open-Path Monitoring Technologies. The Monitoring and Measurement Technology for the 21st Century (21M2) Internet site has a new, focused literature search on open-path monitoring technologies. The site updates its literature database (which now includes 970 citations) of articles and research (e.g., SBIR) abstracts on a quarterly basis and from time to time develops focused searches on topics relevant to primary waste program monitoring needs. The focused open-path search provides citations of articles on UV-DOAS, FT-IR, and LIDAR work and research. Other focused searches archived under the literature search section of the Internet site are on landfill leak detection and on techniques for perchlorate analysis. The focused searches support EPA projects funded under the initiative. For more information, see http://clu-in.org/21m2 .

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife. POPs circulate globally and can cause damage wherever they travel. In implementing the Convention, Governments will take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. For a copy of the treaty document, see http://www.chem.unep.ch/sc/ .

Sixth International HCH and Pesticides FORUM BOOK. This report was published by the Polish Plant Protection Institute in conjunction with the International HCH and Pesticides Association. It contains session papers, summaries, and conclusions from the Sixth International HCH and Pesticides Forum. The aim of the conference was to find technical solutions to problems arising from obsolete pesticides problems in Central/Eastern European and Central Asian countries (February 2002, 587 pages). To download the document, see http://www.6thhchforum.com/book.htm

Upcoming Internet Seminars

EPA Small Business Innovation Research Overview and Proposal Writing - April 9. This seminar will describe the EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program which provides financial support to help small technology based firms develop new environmental technologies and ready them for commercialization. The presentation will cover the basics of the SBIR program, the open 2002 solicitations and schedules, and helpful information on writing a competitive proposal and winning an SBIR award. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/studio .

ITRC In Situ Chemical Oxidation - March 16. This seminar presents technical and regulatory information to assist site managers in understanding, evaluating and making informed decisions on ISCO proposals. It includes descriptions of the various chemical oxidants, regulatory considerations, stakeholder concerns, case studies, and technical references. For more information and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.orgg or http://clu-in.org/studio .

ITRC Enhanced In Situ Bioremediation of Solvents in Ground Water - April 18. The training focuses on a variety of amendments, which may be added to in situ bioremediation systems, the mechanism of delivery and regulatory issues associated with approving or permitting EISB systems. It will also cover common problems encountered during operation of a system. For more information and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/studio .

ITRC Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Solvents in Groundwater: Principles and Practices - April 30. The seminar focuses on the basic information one needs to determine and document the conditions necessary for natural processes to be an effective part of remediating chlorinated solvents in ground water. For more information and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/studio .

ITRC Phytotechnologies - May 2. This ITRC seminar focuses on the ITRC Phytotechnologies Technical and Regulatory Guidance and Phytoremediation Decision Tree. It provides technical and regulatory information to help you understand, evaluate and make informed decisions on phytotechnology proposals. For more information and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/studio .

Conferences and Symposia.

Improving the Quality of Site Characterization Conference, June 4, Manchester, NH and June 6, Hartford, CT. The New england Waste Management Officials Association is sponsoring two one-day conferences in June. The objective of the events are to raise awareness of state and EPA concerns about traditional approaches to site characterization and to present strategy and technology options that can help improve the information obtained during site characterizations and the subsequent remediation decisions. Agenda and logistics information will be available shortly at http://www.newmoa.org/Newmoa/htdocs/cleanup/improvingquality.cfm .

2002 National Site Assessment Conference, May 13-17, Austin, TX. Since its inception in 1989, the National Site Assessment Conference (NSAC) has been an annual forum for EPA, (including removal and remediation program staff) States, Tribes, and other Federal agencies to review accomplishments, revisit goals, and discuss recent and pending changes in legislation, funding, policies, and guidance. Speakers representing a broad site assessment spectrum share ideas and expertise on how to address evolving site assessment needs. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/siteasmt/sa_conf/ .