Southeastern Technology
Center Tests Aerobic System
at Georgia Landfill
Studies Focus on Reducing
Lead Bioavailability at
Superfund Site
Phase III of DoD's UXO
Demonstration
Program Completed
Polyurea Spray Elastomer
Used for Containment
NATO Pilot Study
Meeting Held
Technical Issue
Papers Released
The Applied Technologies
Newsletter for Superfund
Removals & Remedial
Actions & RCRA
Corrective Action
Southeastern
Technology Center
Tests Aerobic System
at Georgia Landfill
by Milton Garden, STC
Southeastern Technology Center (STC)
reports that early data from a demonstra-
tion of an aerobic biodegradation system at
a landfill in Columbia County, GA,
indicate that methane levels can be reduced
by 50-90%, biological oxygen demand in
the leachate can be reduced by more than
50%, and metal contamination of the
leachate can be prevented. STC is a non-
profit organization that facilitates the
transfer of commercially viable technolo-
gies from the government sector to the
private sector to promote economic growth
regionally and nationally.
STC conducted the demonstration project
under a cooperative agreement with the
U.S. Department of Energy-Savannah
River (DOE-SR) to commercialize
innovative technologies developed by the
agency. Columbia County, GA, and
American Technologies Inc. of Grovetown,
GA, also participated in the demonstration
program. DOE-SR personnel provided
technical support for these demonstrations.
The aerobic system STC tested at the
Columbia County Landfill is designed to
reduce or eliminate problems
associated with the anaerobic
("dry tomb") technology
commonly used in design,
construction, and closure of
municipal landfills.
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Disadvantages of the traditional anaerobic
process include the production of methane,
leaching of metals, formation of toxic
compounds, slow stabilization, and odor.
Conversion of the Columbia County
Landfill to an aerobic system involved the
injection of air into the subsurface through
horizontal pathways. The injected air
provided oxygen to aerobic microorgan-
isms located in the overlaying waste mass,
thereby promoting microbial population
growth and activity. This system involves
the return of leachate collected from the
landfill to the top of the waste mass, where
it is allowed to percolate down into the
waste, providing moisture for microorgan-
isms. The stimulated aerobic microorgan-
isms promote the decay of carbon com-
pounds into carbon dioxide and water.
Under the DOE cooperative agreement,
STC also managed development of the
HaloSnif™ fiber-optic spectrochemical
sensor, the BaroBall™ technology using
pressure differentials in gas venting wells,
depth-discrete sampling ports for multiple
depth sampling in a single well, and the
PHOSter™ system (described in the March
issue of Tech Trends). For additional
information, contact James Ullery (STQ at
706-722-3490 or the World Wide Web site
www.CSRA.net/SETC.
Studies Focus on
Reducing Lead
Bioavailability at
Superfund Site
by Mark Doolan, EPA Region 7, and
Stan W. Casteel, Ph.D., University of
Missouri
EPA Region 7 is supporting field tests to
determine the effectiveness of various
forms of phosphorous amendment in
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reducing the bioavailability of lead in soil
from the Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt
Superfund Site in Jasper County, MO. The
amendments include phosphoric acid, triple
superphosphate, rock phosphate, iron-rich
material, and compost material. Methods of
treatment with these amendments include
rototilling, surface aeration, and pressure
injection.
In conjunction with the field studies,
University of Missouri researchers are
testing a new method for determining lead
bioavailability using immature swine dosed
with lead-contaminated soil from the site.
Researchers selected swine for the
bioavailability testing because immature
swine are physiologically similar to young
children, on which EPA's lead-uptake model
is based. Dosing trials with phosphorous-
amended, lead-contaminated soil indicate
that a 50% or greater reduction in lead
bioavailability may be possible.
These tests will help EPA regulatory
officials determine whether using phosphate
to treat lead-contaminated soil will modify
existing cleanup levels. An existing
contingent Record of Decision (ROD) for
the site calls for excavation and replacement
of top soil for 2,400 residential properties
with lead contamination levels as high as
10,000 ppm. At properties where phosphate
amendment is successful in significantly
reducing bioavailability rates, excavation
and replacement of the soil may be greatly
reduced.
EPA anticipates completion of the Oronogo-
Ducnwcg Mining Belt Site lead studies in
early 1998.
Results of previous swine studies using
lead-contaminated soil reinforce the
usefulness of site-specific bioavailability
measurements in setting priorities or
determining remedial needs. For example,
in one study conducted with lead-contami-
nated soils taken from the Smuggler
Mountain Superfund Site in Aspen, CO,
50 juvenile male pigs were dosed orally
with varying amounts of lead-contaminated
soil over a 15-day period. Post-mortem
analysis of liver, kidney, and bone tissues
(weighted) indicated relative bioavailability
values of 63-64%. These results differed
significantly from the lower absorption rates
measured in studies involving high doses
administered to animals with physiologies
unlike humans, such as adult rodents.
Other studies involved dosing juvenile
swine with lead-contaminated soil samples
from widely diverse sites across the country.
In these studies, relative bioavailability of
lead varied substantially among sources,
with absolute bioavailability rates ranging
from 15% to 45%.
For more information on the phosphate
amendment studies at the Oronogo-
Duenweg site, contact Mark Doolan (EPA
Region 7) at 913-551-7169. For more
information on bioavailability testing in
swine, contact Stan W. Casteel, Associate
Professor of Toxicology (College of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Mis-
souri) at 573-882-6811.
Phase 111 of DoD's
UXO Demonstration
Program Completed
by Kelly Rigano, U.S. Army
Environmental Center
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
Army Environmental Center (USAEC), in
partnership with the Naval Explosive
Ordnance Disposal Technology Division,
has completed Phase HI of the Unexploded
Ordnance (UXO) Technology Demonstra-
tion Program. The U.S. Army Jefferson
Proving Ground in Madison, IN, hosted
15 demonstrations of various technologies
at a 16-hectare, controlled test site contain-
ing a known baseline of emplaced, inert
ordnance.
Phase JH results indicate that UXO tech-
nologies show continued improvement in
detection performance since the initial
Phase I demonstrations in 1994. Improve-
ments to the capabilities for discriminating
UXO from background clutter, however,
need a focused effort. Additionally,
performance of excavation technologies has
not improved significantly. Results also
show lhat technology for remote excavation
is feasible, but slow and inefficient.
The detection technologies demonstrated
in Phase III utilized electromagnetic
induction, gradiometers, magnetometers,
and ground penetrating radar sensors.
Top performers detected over 95% of the
emplaced ordnance targets. Correspond-
ing false alarms (demonstrator target
reports that do not correspond to baseline
ordnance targets) exhibited by all demon-
strators were high. For optimum perform-
ers, the false alarm (FA) ratios (the number
of FAs/number of detected ordnance)
ranged between 1.91 and 5.18. Thismeans:
that 2-5 targets were identified for every"
baseline ordnance target detected. These
results show that demonstrator detection
performance was dependent not only on the
type of sensor used, but on each
demonstrator's entire technical process for
collecting, processing, and reporting data.
In its Phase III final report, UXO Technol-
ogy Demonstration Program at Jefferson
Proving Ground, Phase HI, April 1997,
DoD recommends establishment of target
discrimination goals and standard formats
for raw sensor data, identification of
discrimination factors, and availability of
raw sensor data to technology developers.
DoD also recommends further funding for
development of innovative and high-risk
technologies and the availability of a test
area at the Jefferson Proving Ground for
technology development. For further
information, contact Kelly Rigano
(USAEC) at 410-612-6868.
Polyurea Spray
Elastomer Used for
Containment
by Carol J. Miller, Ph.D., P.E., Wayne
State University
Researchers recently found that a
polyurea elastomeric material is highly
effective in forming a continuous, seam-
free landfill liner. Experts from Wayne
State University, Drexel University, and
Foamseal collaborated to develop the
elastomer as an alternative to the materi-
als conventionally used for landfill liner
and cover systems.
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The elastomer consists of an isocyanate-
terminated prepolymer reacted with an
amine-terminated resin. These liquids are
pumped by a two-component dispense
unit at 2000 psi and 155° F and sprayed
through a mechanical purge gun in a fan-
shaped pattern. Application of the
elastomer is performed by hand or with
automated equipment utilizing a
transversing spray gun. Completed
chemical reaction occurs within minutes
of application. A color coding system is
used to reflect varying thickness of the
liner needed for differing site conditions,
ranging from red, for a thickness of 165
mil, to green, for 105 mil. By uniquely
coloring base materials, field personnel
responsible for spraying the elastomer are
guided in achieving the required thickness
and controlling uniformity of the spray.
Complete coverage with the spray is
achieved when base materials lose color.
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Laboratory testing of mechanical and
hydraulic properties of the polyurea spray
indicated a tensile strength, at maximum
stress, of 20.8 MPa, tear resistance of 4.0
N/mm, and puncture resistance of 16.6 N/
mm. Water vapor transmission occurred at
7.1 x 10'10 cm/sec. Direct shear testing
results showed a friction angle and cohesion
of 38.7° and 2 psi, respectively, when the
elastomer was sprayed onto soil; 14.5° and
0 psi when sprayed onto geotextile material;
and 37.4° and 0 psi when combined with
geotextile material and sprayed on soil.
Product cost is competitive with more
traditional landfill liner material options.
The application cost for a typical 60 mil
liner is estimated as $10/yd2.
An alternative use for the spray elastomer as
a clay liner desiccation inhibitor was field
tested on a limited scale; this application
would have widespread use in arid and
semi-arid climates where desiccation
cracking of clay liners is a major threat For
more information, contact Carol Miller,
Ph.D., P.E., (Wayne State University) at
313-577-3876 or Rick Tanis (Foamseal) at
810-628-2587.
NATO Pilot Study
Meeting Held
Members of the NATO Committee for the
Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS)
pilot study met March 17-21, 1997, in
Golden, CO, in their fifth annual meeting
to address contaminated land and ground-
water. Colorado School of Mines hosted
the meeting, which was sponsored by the
EPA, DOE, and DoD. Representatives
from eighteen countries participated in the
meeting to evaluate demonstrated and
emerging treatment technologies. In
addition to technical presentations,
members participated in field trips to
DOE's Rocky Flats Environmental Site
and the Clear Creek, CO, mining area to
observe various innovative technologies.
The agenda included discussions of
selected technologies, such as
phytoremediation, that researchers have
identified for potential use at a low cost in
Central and Eastern European countries.
During the past five years, the NATO/
CCMS has reviewed over 50 treatment
technologies under this U.S.-lead pilot
study. A final report on the pilot study is
scheduled to be released later this year.
For more information, contact project Co-
Directors Stephen James (EPA's Office of
Research and Development) at 513-569-
7877 or Dr. Walter Kovalick (EPA's
Technology Innovation Office) at 703-
603-9910. Information also is available on
EPA's CLU-IN World Wide Web site
(http://clu-in.com) under Partnerships.
Technical Issue
Papers Released
EPA's Technical Support Project (TSP)
has released two new issue papers. "On-
Site Analytical Methods and Field
Sampling for Explosives in Soil,"
sponsored by the TSP Federal Facility
Forum, addresses screening procedures
for the characterization of soils contami-
nated with explosive and propellant
compounds. Technical experts from the
U.S. Army Environmental Center, U.S.
Army Cold Regions Research and
Engineering Laboratory, DOE's Idaho
National Engineering Laboratory (INEL),
and EPA Region 10 participated in this
analysis of the unique problems posed at
facilities with potential explosive con-
tamination.
"Determination of Background Concen-
trations of Inorganics in Soils and
Sediments at Hazardous Waste Sites"
addresses analytical needs identified by
the National Engineering Forum. INEL
collaborated with EPA's National Expo-
sure Research Laboratory (NERL) to
provide information investigators need to
determine whether site activities have
resulted in elevated concentrations of
inorganic contaminants in soil, compared
with naturally occurring and off-site
concentrations of the same contaminants.
For more information on these and other
TSP issue papers, contact Ken Brown
(EPA/NERL Technology Support Center)
at 702-798-2270.
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Hazardous Waste Site Characterization on CD-ROM
Over 3,200 pages of RCRAand Superfund directives and manuals are now available in a single CD-ROM. The system
contains capabilities for key word searches, as well as selected software packages such as ASSESS, Decision Error
Feasibility Trials (DEFT), Geostatistical Environmental Assessment Software (Geo-EAS), and the Geophysics Advisor
Expert System. Volume I of the system is available at a cost of $135 from the National Technical Information Service at
703-487-4650. Volume II, containing Volume I material plus over 12,000 pages, of additional guidance, is scheduled fqr ,
release in late 1997 with no licensing fee. For more information, contact Jeffrey van Be (EPA/NRMRL) at 702-798-2367.
Preferred Alternatives Matrices AvailableOn-Line
The Preferred Alternatives Matrices (PAMs), technology selection tools developed by DOE, are now available on the
World Wide Web at http://www.em.doe.gov/define. PAMS are designed to help decisioiHnakers identify appropriate
technologies based on groups of site media and contaminants, otherwise known as "problem sets." The matrices rank
proven, available technologies on the basis of performance, risk of technology failure, and cost against such problem sets.
Project managers may use PAMs as a baseline for meast '""" """ ^"'faficfe of innovative technologies. Interested
innovative technology vendors may request certification», i the matrices. In the future, PAMS will include
cost and performance data on technology demonstrations cw, . jy DOE's Office of Environmental Restoration. For
more information, contact Mary McCune (DOE) at 301-903-8152~or e-mail mary.mccune@em.doe.gov,
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5102G)
EPA 542-N-97-003
July 1997
Issue No. 26
EPA TECH TRENDS
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