United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid \Nasle and
Emergency Response
(5102G)
EPA 542-F-97-020
November 1997
Consortium for Site Characterization
Technology Fact Sheet
INTRODUCTION
As a pilot under EPA's Environmental Tech-
nology Verification (ETV) Program, the
Consortium for Site Characterization Technol-
ogy (CSCT) was established to increase the
acceptance and use of innovative site character-
ization and monitoring technologies by estab-
lishing a process for the EPA verification of the
performance of the technologies. The CSCT:
• Identifies, verifies, and transfers
information about innovative and
alternative monitoring, measurement, and
site characterization technologies.
The Consortium employs a third-party verifica-
tion organization (U.S. Department of Energy's
Oak Ridge and Sandia National Laboratories) to
develop demonstration plans, conduct the
evaluations, and write the environmental
technology verification reports.
Based on the needs of users, the Consortium
annually solicits available vendors, selects
appropriate technologies, and conducts perfor-
mance evaluations. Technologies are selected
based on their applicability to the identified
category of need, their maturity (commercially
ready, full-scale field units), and the willingness
of the vendors to participate. After the field
evaluation, the Consortium produces a detailed
technical report on each technology accompa-
nied by a verification statement signed by EPA
which summarizes key findings.
EPA's Environmental
Technology Verification
(ETV) Program
The Consortium is one of twelve pilot pro-
grams under ETV, managed by EPA's Office
of Research and Development. ETV was created
to substantially accelerate the entrance of new
environmental technologies into the marketplace
by supplying technology buyers, developers,
consulting engineers, states, and EPA regions
with high quality data on the performance of
new technologies verified by neutral third
parties under the auspices of EPA. Other ETV
pilots cover the following sectors:
Drinking Water Systems
Pollution Prevention/Waste Treatment
Pollution Prevention/Innovative Coatings
and Coatings Equipment
Indoor Air Products
Advanced Monitoring Systems
Air Pollution Prevention and Control
EvTEC (an independent, private-sector
approach pilot)
Wet Weather Flows Technologies
Pollution Prevention/Metal Finishing
Source Water Pollution Technologies
Climate Change Technologies
In these pilot areas, EPA utilizes the expertise
of partner "verification organizations" to
design efficient processes for conducting
performance tests of innovative technologies.
EPA selects its partners from both the public
and private sectors including federal laborato-
ries, states, universities, and private sector
entities. Verification organizations conduct
the verification activities in accordance with
standard operating protocols. These protocols
are developed with input from relevant
stakeholders and customers.
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VERIFICATION PROCESS
The Consortium supports site characterization
and monitoring technology developers by
assisting with selecting the sites, approving the
demonstration plan, and auditing the demonstra-
tion. Data interpretation, verification report
preparation, and issuance of the verification
statement are the prime responsibilities of EPA
and the verifying organization.
The process begins with identifying the needs of
the user community by consulting with the CSCT
Board of Technology Users (see p. 3). The
Consortium then determines the commercial
availability of technologies that meet those needs.
Qualified vendors are then invited to participate in
the verification process. Vendors selected for
participation work with the Verification Organiza-
tion to develop test plans in accordance with the
Guidance Manual (see p.3). Field testing is
usually done at two separate sites. Verification
reports are prepared for review by EPA, the
vendor, and experts (peer review). The final report
(including the EPA Verification Statement) is then
issued.
STATUS OF CONSORTIUM
TECHNOLOGY
VERIFICATION ACTIVITIES
Technologies Tested to Date
Technology demonstrations have been completed
and verification reports and statements issued for
two cone penetrometer/laser induced fluorescence
(LIF) technologies: the Site Characterization and
Analysis Penetrometer System (SCAPS) LF
Sensor Support System, operated by the U.S. Navy;
and the Rapid Optical Screening Tool (ROST),
operated by Fugro Geosciences.
Technology demonstrations have been completed
for two other technologies: field portable X-ray
fluorescence (XRF) analyzers and field portable
gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS).
The verification reports and statements for these
technologies have completed the peer review stage
and are awaiting final EPA sign off which is
expected in the fall of 1997. Field portable XRF
vendors include HNU Systems, Metorex (2
systems), Niton, Scitec, and TN Spectrace (2
systems). Field portable GC/MS vendors include
Bruker-Franzen, Analytical Systems, Inc., and
Viking Instruments, Inc.
In June 1997, six developers participated in a
demonstration of soil and soil gas sampling
devices. The developers participating are:
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Art's Manufac-
turing and Supply, Geoprobe Systems, Inc..
SimulProbe, Quadrel Services, Inc., and
Clements and Associates, Inc. The reports for
this demonstration are in preparation. First
drafts are expected for review in the second
quarter of FY98.
In July 1997, a technology demonstration was
completed that involved four PCB analysis
technologies. The developers are: Dexsil Corpora-
tion, Hach, Electronic Sensor Technology, and
Strategic Diagnostics. Reports for these technolo-
gies are in preparation. First drafts are expected for
review in the first quarter of FY98.
Technologies Undergoing Testing
Five well-head monitoring technologies were
demonstrated during the fourth quarter of FY97
at the Savannah River Site and McClellan Air
Force Base. The developers participating in this
demonstration are: PE Photovac, Inficon.
Electronic Sensor Technology, Sentex Systems.
Inc., and Innova AirTech Instruments.
Technologies to be Tested
Technologies scheduled for demonstration
testing in FY98 include groundwater sampling.
field extraction, and decision-support software
applications.
FUTURE CONSORTIUM
SOLICITATIONS-
TECHNOLOGY TRACKS
In early FY98, the Consortium will publish a
solicitation to identify potential technology
vendors for participation in FY99 and beyond.
The technology demonstrations slated for FY98
are Decision Support Software, Field Extrac-
tion, & Ground-Water Sampling.
This upcoming solicitation will focus on
identifying technologies that fit into one (or
more) of eight monitoring and characterization
technology tracks. The tracks are: on-site
chemical analysis; in situ monitoring (down
hole or down well); sampling; physical charac-
terization; decision support software; chemical
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analysis of contaminated structures; in situ
bioremediation monitoring; and toxicity
screening.
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
The Consortium maintains contact with and
receives feedback from State agencies, EPA
Regional Offices, and the technology user
community through the following panels and
networks:
CSCT Board of Technology Users:
The Consortium consults regularly with the
CSCT Board of Technology Users, comprised
of representatives from the Federal and private
technology user community (site owners), State
and Federal regulatory agencies, the consulting
engineering community, small business, and
associations representing manufacturers and
providers of field instrumentation. The Board
provides information on the needs for new
technologies, and it assists with the develop-
ment of reports to ensure maximum utility to
the user communities.
Regional Technology Advocates Network:
EPA has established a network of technology
advocates in each of EPA's 10 Regional
offices. The Regional Technology Advocates
serve as the point of contact within their Region
for the latest information on field analytical and
site characterization technology developments.
The Network meets monthly via teleconference
to be briefed by the Consortium on progress on
technology verification and other Consortium
activities. The Regional Advocates also review
Consortium publications and activities and
provide information on the needs for new
technologies in the Regions.
Interactions with State Agency Groups:
The Consortium has worked closely and
coordinated with the Association of State and
Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
(ASTSWMO) and the Interstate Technology and
Regulatory Cooperation (ITRC) workgroup to
further assess needs and promote the acceptance
of new technologies within the States.
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CONSORTIUM FOR SITE
CHARACTERIZATION
PUBLICATIONS
Information on obtaining CSCT Verification
Statements and Reports and other publications
on site characterization technologies including
those listed below are available electronically at
two World Wide Web sites maintained by EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/etv (ETV Homepage)
http ://clu-in.com/charl.htm (Hazardous
Waste Cleanup Information (CLU-IN)
Homepage)
Verification Statements and Reports
Complete:
Cone Penetrometer/Laser Induced Fluorescence
(LIF)
• U.S. Navy, Site Characterization and
Analysis Penetrometer System (SCAPS)
LIF Sensor and Support System, EPA 600-
R-97-019
• Fugro Geosciences, Rapid Optical Screen-
ing Tool (ROST) LIF System, EPA 600-R-
97-020
Pending (Fall 1997):
Field Portable X-Ray Fluorescence
• HNU Systems
• Metorex (2 technologies)
• Niton
• Scitec
• TN Spectrace (2 technologies)
Field Portable Gas Chromatograph/Mass
Spectrometer
• Bruker-Franzen
• Viking Instruments
Other Publications and Information Sources
Guidance Manual for the Preparation of Charac-
terization and Monitoring Technology Demon-
stration Plan, Interim Final Report 5.0: October
31, 1996, available via the EPA homepage at
http://www.epa.gov/etv/prtgm-02.htm
U.S. EPA/Navy Field Sampling and Analysis
Technology Matrix and Reference Guide
(Fall 1997)
Field Analytical and Characterization Tech-
nologies: Summary of Uses in Site Character-
ization (Fall 1997)
Vendor Fields Analytical and Site Characteriza-
tion Technology Systems (VFACTS)
EPA CERCLA Education Center, Field-Based
Characterization Technology Workshop
For more information on the
Consortium, contact:
Eric Koglin
EPA National Exposure Research Laboratory
Environmental Sciences Division
P. O. Box 93478
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-3478
702-798-2432 fax 702-798-2261
Internet: koglin.eric@epamail.epa.gov
Steve Billets
EPA National Exposure Research Laboratory
Environmnetal Sciences Division
P. O. Box 93478
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-3478
702-798-2232 fax 702-798-2261
Internet: billets.steve@epamail.epa.gov
Dan Powell
EPA Technology Innovation Office (5102G)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
703-603-7196 fax 703-603-9135
Internet: powell.dan@epamail.epa.gov
Information on updated activities of the
Consortium and the ETV program is also
available on the World Wide Web at the
following sites maintained by EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/etv (EPA Homepage)
http://clu-in.com/charl.htm (Hazardous Waste
Cleanup Information (CLU-IN) Homepage)
TECHNOLOGY
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