RISK REDUCTION ENGINEERING LABORATORY SITE REMEDIATION
TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROGRAM: FY92 ANNUAL REPORT
By
SAIC
Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
Contract #68-C8-0048
Project Officer:
Benjamin L. Blaney
Superfund Technology Demonstration Division
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
RISK REDUCTION ENGINEERING LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45268
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DISCLAIMER
This material has been funded wholly or in part by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency under contract 68-C8-0048 to SAIC. It has
been subject to the Agency's review and it has been approved for publication
as an EPA document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not
constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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FOREWORD
Today's rapidly developing and changing technologies and industrial
products and practices frequently carry with them the increased generation of
materials that, if improperly dealt with, can threaten both public health and
the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is charged by
Congress with protecting the Nation's land, air, and water resources. Under a
mandate of national environmental laws, the Agency strives to formulate and
implement actions leading to a compatible balance between human activities and
the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life. These laws direct
the EPA to perform research to define our environmental problems, measure the
impacts, and search for solutions.
The Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory is responsible for planning,
implementing, and managing research, development, and demonstration programs
to provide an authoritative, defensible engineering basis in support of the
policies, programs, and regulations of the EPA with respect to drinking water,
wastewater, pesticides, toxic substances, solid and hazardous wastes, and
Superfund-related activities. This publication is one of the products of that
research and provides a vital communication link between the researcher and
the user community.
This report summarizes the activities and accomplishments of the
Laboratory in providing technical support to EPA Regional Offices and others
on contaminated soil site remediation engineering problems.
E. Timothy Oppelt, Director
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
iii
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ABSTRACT
The Risk Reduction Engineering-Laboratory provides technical support to
the EPA Regional Offices and the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
on engineering problems associated with site remediation. As part of this
program, the Laboratory also publishes technology transfer documents. The
Laboratory's Technical Support Branch coordinates this support. This report
summarizes the activities and accomplishments of the technical support proqram
in fiscal year 1992.
IV
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Abstract ..................... " " .................................... 1
CONTENTS
Foreword ........................
Abstra
jabies.
Figure .................. , ......... . ........................................ V1:
Introducti on ................... i
FY92 Highi ights .................... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ! 1 1 1 1 1 .............. i
site-specific Assistance ................. 11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.'! ..... i
Superfund Rev i tali zat ion and Superfund Accelerated 'cleanup Model ..... 1
Treatability Assistance Program ...................... 1
Techno! ogy Transfer ............................. !!!!!!!!!!! .......... i
Support Program Overview ............................. 1 ! 1 1 1 1 1 1 ! 1 1 ! 1 11 1 1 1 11 1 1 2
Site Specific Assistance ...................... I!!!!!!!!! ............. 2
Treatabil ity Assistance ...................... !!!!!!!!!!!! ............ 3
Technology Transfer ............................. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ............. 3
Technology Teams ................. ..... .......... '.'.'.'.'. ............... " 3
Further Information .............. ..... .......... ] .* ................... 3
Site-Specific Assistance ............... ..... ...... 1 1 1 1 1 1 ! 1 1 1 1 1 ............. 3
START Program Activities ......... ..... ..... 111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ........ 3
ETSC Program Activities .......... ..... ____ ... "•' ................... 4
RCRA CA Technical Activities ..... ........ ................. 6
OSWER Superfund Revital ization Program. ..... ......... 1 1 1 ! 1 1 1 1 1 1 ! 1 1 ......... 6
Evaluation of Technologies for Common Site Types! 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 .......... 5
Individual Site Assistance on SACM and Regional Pilot Projects ..... 1" 7
Treatability Assistance Program ......................... 7
Improved Use of Treatability Studies ............ I!!!!! ................ 7
Treatabil ity Study Guidance Documents .................. ........... 7
Remedy Screening Treatability Study Laboratory ____ .......... 7
Treatability Database ......................... .......... 8
Technology Transfer Activities ............................. I!!!!! .......... 9
Technical Resource Documents .................. ! ! ! ! ] .................. q
Engi neeri ng Bull et i ns .............................. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ........ 9
ETSC Issue Papers and Workshops ...... ......... ..................... q
ATTIC .............. . ............... ..... ..... ;;;;;; ;;;;; ;;;; ;;; ;;;;;; ....... g
SUTI Treatment Technologies Course ...... 1 1 !'! 1 1 ! 1 1 ! 1 .................. 10
Concl usi ons ........................................ . . 1 . 1 1 1 1 1 1 ! 1 1 ! 1 1 1 ....... 10
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TABLES
Number Paqe
1 Summary of START Site Technical Assistance by Region - FY92 3
2 START Site Classifications 5
3 Innovative Technologies Investigated in START Program 5
4 ETSC Total Requests for Assistance 5
5 ETSC Requests by Techno! ogy Team 6
6 ETSC Types of Site-Specific Requests 6
7 RCRA CA Requests in FY92, By Region 6
8 Technology-Specific Treatability Study Guidance Documents 8
9 Screening Level Treatability Tests - FY92 8
10 Engineering Bulletins 10
***-********0****"*"****' *•**
11 ETSC Issue Papers, Workshops, and Training Courses , n
FIGURE
1 START and ETSC Program Assistance (FY89, 90, 91, and 92) , 4
vi
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INTRODUCTION
In addition to its research functions, the Office of
Research and Development (ORD) Risk Reduction Engi-
neering Laboratory (RREL) provides engineering and sci-
entific support to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Regional Offices, Program Offices, and others involved in
the remediation of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. RREL
staff members have a wide range of expertise in technologies
applicable to site remediation, including the treatment of
aqueous streams, soils, sludges, and sediments; containment
of contaminants; decontamination of debris; and related
topics.
This report describes the technical support activities
and accomplishments of RREL during Fiscal Year 1992
(FY92). The report is intended to provide a description of
RREL's technical assistance program and its major accom-
plishments in FY92. The report is divided into six sections:
highlights of FY92; support program overview; site-specific
assistance; Superfund Revitalization Program; treatability
assistance program; and technology transfer activities.
FY92 HIGHLIGHTS
In FY92 RREL has continued to demonstrate that it
can provide quality expert technical support to the EPA
Regional Offices and others in a timely manner. The number
of site-specific requests continues to increase with a total of
more than 200 in FY92. At many sites innovative technolo-
gies are being considered or implemented with RREL sup-
port. The laboratory has continued its treatability assistance
program. This program is an important component of the
Superfund program because efficient performance of qual-
ity treatability studies is critical to the proper selection of
remediation technologies. Finally, the RREL program has
further expanded its technology transfer activities to dis-
seminate remediation information to as broad an audience as
possible.
Site-Specific Assistance
• Administrator Reilly, in his October 3,1991 address to
a subcommittee of the House Committee on Public
Works and Transportation, cited RREL's Superfund
Technical Assistance Response Team (START) pro-
gram for making "a real impact on how Superfund
uses innovative technologies" and for "accelerating
Superfund cleanup actions."
• In FY92 RREL provided assistance to 59 sites with
complex remediation problems under the START pro-
gram.
• Fourteen special investigations (in-depth evaluations of
site-specific engineering problems) were completed;
eight are ongoing.
The RREL Technical Support Branch's Engineering
Technical Support Center (ETSC), which provides fo-
cused, short-term technical assistance, responded to
128 requests in FY92.
RREL's ETSC initiated a pilot program in FY91 to
provide site-specific technical support to EPA Regional
Office staffs responsible for Resources Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action (CA).
RREL responded to 21 requests for Corrective Ac-
tion technical assistance in FY92.
Superfund Revitalization and Superfund Accelerated
Cleanup Model (SACM)
• RREL technical assistance teams have contributed
to work groups, decision teams, planning commit-
tees, and treatment technology teams directed at
accelerating cleanups. Presumptive remedies, treat-
ment selection standardization, and impediment re-
moval are important facets of these efforts.
Treatability Assistance Program
• FY92 was the first year of full operation of the RREL
remedy screening treatability study program, which
includes capabilities to test nine soil remediation
treatment technologies. Twenty-four screening-level
tests were conducted.
• RREL published a revision of its generic treatability
guidance document. To date, six technology-specific
treatability study guidance documents have also been
published, and two others are in progress.
• RREL expanded the Treatability Database by approxi-
mately 3,200 new treatability data sets on the effective-
ness of soil and aqueous stream treatment technologies.
Technology Transfer
• RREL assumed responsibility in FY92 for the man-
agement of the Alternative Treatment Technology
Information Center (ATTIC) and initialed a pro-
gram to upgrade the system to make it even more
user friendly. ATTIC is an information management
and retrieval system database containing abstracts and
other information on waste treatability. Currently, it
contains about 2^00 entries, 600 of which were
entered in FY92.
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RKEL, published one Technical Resource Document
(TRD) for selection of control technologies at wood-
preserving sites. TRDs for two other site types are in
progress.
Nineteen Engineering Bulletins had been published by
the end of FY92 and six more were nearing completion.
ETSC published three ETSC Issue Papers; three others
are in preparation.
ETSC conducted three Superfund University Training
Institute (SUTI) treatment technology training courses
and one workshop on dust and vapor suppression.
SUPPORT PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Remediation technical support is provided by RREL
staff under the leadership and coordination of the Technical
Support Branch. The Branch provides the Regions with
engineering technical assistance for site remediation in the
following areas:
• Site-Specific Assistance
- ETSC -
- START
- RCRACA
• Treatability Study Assistance
• Technology Transfer Activities.
Site-Specific Assistance
ETSC and START both handle site-specific remedia-
tion engineering problems for Regional Project Managers,
(RPMs). The following are examples of technical assistance
that can be obtained through either program:
• Preliminary screening of treatment technologies
• Review of Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
(RI/FS) treatability study work plans and final reports
• Oversight of RI/FS treatability studies
• Evaluation of alternative remedies
• Assistance with studies of innovative technologies
• Review of Remedial Designs
• Technology implementation assistance.
RREL's site-specific assistance programs place a spe-
cial emphasis on evaluating the applicability of innovative
technologies. An emphasis is also placed on recognizing
problems replicated at similar types of sites such as lead
battery reclaimers, wood preservers, solvent disposal, pesti-
cide disposal, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) sites, mines,
and landfills. By identifying commonalities in the problems
at similar sites, RREL can match its experts with particular
site problems. This also enables the publication of appropri-
ate guidance and promotes nationwide consistency in the
selection of site cleanup remedies.
ETSC also provides site-specific assistance to Re-
gional RCRACA projects. The assistance is very similar to
the assistance provided for Superfund remediation.
Responses to requests for assistance are normally
written, although RREL experts are often involved in con-
sultations at scoping meetings, meetings with Potentially
Responsible Parties (PRPs), public meetings, etc. RREL
responds to requests by researching problems, evaluating
the problems based on RREL field experience, and analyz-
ing data from other pertinent studies. Answers to complex
questions are provided to RPMs on a schedule established by
the participants. Such services are typically free to the
Regions, with the exception of large-scale treatability stud-
ies and special engineering studies that require regional
funding and are negotiated with the RPM.
RREL's technical support capacity includes a full-
time START staff, several in-house Technology Teams, and
individual experts. Contract technical support is also pro-
vided. The contributions of the Technology Teams and
RREL experts who respond to Regional requests are an
important factor in the success of RREL's technical support
program. Collectively, they addressed more than 200 tech-
nology-specific problems during FY92. They also provided
the direction and expertise for the development of many of
RREL's technology transfer products.
Site-specific, long-term technical assistance is pro-
vided through the START program to a limited number of
Superfund sites that have been selected by the Regional
Offices in conjunction with ORD. Sites selected for the
START program receive comprehensive engineering assis-
tance from early RI/FS scoping through remedial action.
START sites typically involve complex remediation prob-
lems, requiring evaluation of a number of treatment options
and other special engineering problems. RREL START
personnel are directly involved in consulting with the Reme-
dial Project Managers (RPMs), making site visits, and sup-
porting the Regions in meetings with PRPs and the public.
Site-specific, short-term consultations are provided
by RREL's ETSC. (RREL is one of four ORD laboratories
that participate in the OSWER Technology Innovation Of-
fice (TTO) Technical Support Project.) ETSC and START
provide assistance with the same types of remediation prob-
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lems; however the problems encountered by ETSC do not
generally require as much in-field support activities and may
be less complex than those in the START program. ETSC
is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the extent
permitted by RREL support capacity.
Treatability Assistance
RREL's Treatability Assistance Program helps the
Regions determine when and how to conduct treatability
studies and collects data on treatability performance for
reference purposes. Besides assisting with site-specific
problems, the program has developed treatability study
guides and treatability databases.
Technology Transfer
RREL also provides technical assistance on Super-
fund remediation problems to a broad audience through
technology transfer. Technology transfer activities include
the following.
• TRDs address the selection of control technologies for
specific categories of contaminated sites.
• Engineering Bulletins describe various technologies
and remediation problems in a brief (8- to 10-page)
format which can be quickly read and updated.
• ETSC Issue Papers address remediation issues raised
by RPMs through the OSWER Engineering Forum.
• ATTIC provides a computer-assisted waste treatment
information system.
• SUTI provides treatment technology training.
• Workshops present information/training on selected
remediation issues.
Although the documents associated with the above
activities were prepared for the Superfund Program, most of
them are directly applicable to other situations, including
RCRA CA sites.
Technology Teams
RREL's technical assistance programs are led by the
staff of the Technical Support Branch. The Branch also
coordinates the involvement of a larger cadre of experts from
RREL. Many of these individuals, whose principal mission
is to conduct control technology research, are members of
Technology Teams. In FY92 the Laboratory had eight
Technology Teams:
Thermal Treatment
Bioremediation
Extraction
Solidification/Stabilization
Chemical Treatment
Aqueous Stream Treatment
Materials Handling
Mining.
Other laboratory experts are available to the Branch on
an as-needed basis. The Technology Teams and other
laboratory experts, with their extensive knowledge of tech-
nologies and their ability to convey their knowledge to
others, are responsible for the success of the program.
Collectively, they addressed over 200 technology-specific
problems during FY92. They also provided the direction
and expertise for the development of many of RREL's
technology transfer products.
Further Information
Further information regarding RREL technical assis-
tance may be obtained by contacting the Technical Support
Branch at (513) 569-7406.
SITE-SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE
START Program Activities
The START program provided assistance to 59 sites
during FY92, compared to 45 sites in FY91 (see Figure 1).
The distribution of these sites is shown in Table 1. START
assistance has increased at a relatively steady pace since the
inception of the program. The number of sites in FY92
represents utilization of the available program capacity for
the year.
Table 1. Summary of START Site Technical Assistance
by Region - FY92
Region
I
n
m
IV
V
VI
vn
VIII
IX
X
Technical
Assistance Sites
3
6
7
13
6
4
3
5
8
4
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22
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26
50
• V*'.V
II
110
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128
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START Program
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Table 2. START Site Classifications*
Site Type
# of Sites
Contaminated Groundwater
Landfills/Lagoons/Multiple Wastes
Chemical Processors
PCBs
Waste Oils
Wood Treatment
Mining/Ore Processing Wastes
Lead Battery Breaking
Smelting, Steel Manufacturing
Pesticides
Dioxins/Furans
Asbestos
Petroleum Refinery
Military Munitions
Aluminum Processing
Drum Recycling
Radioactives Wastes
Chrome/Tannery Wastes
29
23
7
7
7
7
6
5
5
5
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
* Classifications are for Operable Units; there may be more than
one at each START site.
of waste that included arsenic. The Solidification/Stabiliza-
tion Technology Team has been involved in a number of
reviews evaluating the immobilization of organic contami-
nants.
The Extraction Team responded to 25 technical assis-
tance requests in FY92. This Team was instrumental in the
development and dissemination of information on soil wash-
ing, soil vapor extraction, and soil flushing technologies. In
FY92 the Team was involved in reviewing and guiding soil
washing treatability studies at screening and remedy selec-
tion scales by a firm from The Netherlands.
The Biotreatment Team responded to 24 technical
assistance requests in FY92. Biotreatment is increasingly
selected for remediation; the technology is also character-
ized by recent innovations. The Biotreatment Team has
played an important role in expanding the use of this technol-
ogy for site remediation. The Team provided technical
assistance with bioventing and the treatment of pesticides by
white rot fungus.
The Technology Teams often work together in screen-
ing technologies for a particular site and in proposing treat-
ment trains. The teams have also played an important role
in developing the treatability study protocols for the RREL
screening laboratory and in evaluating site-specific screen-
ing tests.
Table 6 depicts FY90 through FY92 figures for certain
types of site-specific requests. The distribution of the
number of requests reflects the fact that most National
Priority List (NPL) sites are still'in the RI/FS stages of
remediation. However, it can be seen that the site requests
for assistance involving the latter stages of remediation [i.e.,
remedial design/remedial action (RD/RA) assistance] are
increasing. Also, theprescreening of treatment technologies
and treatability assistance continue to be strong areas of
RREL support
Table 3. Innovative Technologies
Investigated in START Program
Technology
# of Sites
S/S of Organics
Solvent Extraction
Thermal Desorption
Soil Vapor Extraction
Biological
Soil Washing
Chemical Dehalogenation
Secondary Lead Smelter
In Situ Vitrification
Constructed Wetlands
24
11
17
9
16
7
3
2
1
3
Total
93
Table 4. ETSC Total Requests for Assistance
Region
I
n
m
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
FY90
5
9
4
6
6
4
3
5
5
3
FY91
8
14
23
20
10
11
5
8
8
3
FY92
7
19
22
34
19
9
3
8
5
2
Totals
50
110
128
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Table 5. ETSC Requests by Technology Team
RREL
Technology Team
Thermal
Solidification/Stabilization
Chemical
Extraction
Materials Handling
Biodegradation
Aqueous
Mining
Miscellaneous
(other RREL experts)
FY90
14
16
10
15
1
14
6
2
8
Year*
FY91
34
27
9
41
6
19
14
0
18
FY92
39
27
10
25
3
24
14
1
14
* Numbers in these columns exceed the number of annual
requests due to multiple team involvement on some sites.
RREL structured the RCRA CA pilot program to
provide assistance with the same types of problems that are
addressed for Superfund. To provide this assistance, RREL
designated a RCRA CA technical support leader who uses
contracted technical experts.
A pilot program was initiated during the Fourth Quar-
ter of FY91 and became a full operating program at the end
of FY92. Despite the fact that RCRA CA sites are still in the
characterization stage, 21 requests were received in FY92
from 7 of the 10 EPA Regions. The distribution of requests,
by Region, is shown in Table 7.
It is anticipated that the number of requests will
increase as the Regions become aware of the availability of
technical support and their sites reach the corrective action
stage. Because of the added workload, much of the RCRA
CA technical assistance has relied upon contractor support.
Table 6. ETSC Types of Site-Specific Requests
Table 7. RCRA CA Requests in FY92, By Region
Request
FY90 FY91 FY92
Technology Prescreening
Treatment Study Assistance:
• Workplan review
• Conduct studies
• Evaluate study results
Evaluate Single Technology
Other Special Studies
Review RI/FS
Review ROD
RD/RA Assistance
Miscellaneous
11
14
3
6
12
5
5
1
4
0
18
23
2
12
14
5
17
0
11
5
23
32
3
20
31
6
7
0
18
15
Region
I
n
in
IV
V
VI
vn
vm
IX
X
Technical
Assistance Sites
1
4
0
3
6
0
0
1
2
4
RCRA CA Technical Activities
In FY91, the Office of Solid Waste (OS W) determined
that site-specific technical support from ORD to the Re-
gional Offices would be needed to assist in carrying out the
corrective actions required at RCRA-permitted facilities.
There are approximately 3,700 treatment, storage, and dis-
posal facilities that require corrective actions. Since the
types of remediation problems are frequently similar to
those encountered at Superfund sites, OS W and ORD agreed
to institute pilot programs at four ORD laboratories that are
involved in the Superfund Technical Support Project RREL's
ETSC was given the responsibility for developing a pilot
program to provide engineering support to RCRA permitters
in the Regions.
OSWER SUPERFUND REVITALIZATION
PROGRAM
OSWER has been identifying ways to speed up
remediations and to carry them out more effectively. RREL
has been brought into the process and is contributing in
various ways. The following are examples of FY92 contri-
butions:
Evaluation of Technologies for Common Site Types
• Produced Technical Resource Documents (TRDs) on
lead-battery recycling and wood-preserving sites.
• Initiated TRDs on sites contaminated with solvents and
pesticides.
6
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Produced Engineering Bulletin on lead-battery sites.
Participated in work group developing presumptive
remedies at solvent sites and wood-treatment sites.
Participated in national team on wood treatment pre-
sumptive remedies.
Individual Site Assistance on SACM and Regional
Pilot Projects
• ProvidedtechnicalsupporttoMcCormick/BaxterSACM
site.
• Conducted screening treatability tests for two Region
VI "Lightning RODs" (Record of Decision).
• Participated in Region I decision team for sites desig-
nated for SACM.
TREATABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
RREL' s Treatability Assistance Program is designed
to help the Regions make decisions concerning: the neces-
sity for treatability studies; the design and conduct of cost-
effective, technically sound treatability studies; and the
interpretation of study results. In addition, the Program
collects data and records experiences for guidance docu-
ments and databases. FY92 Treatability Assistance Program
activities include the publication of a series of technology-
specific treatability guidance documents; the operation of a
laboratory to conduct preliminary evaluations of candidate
treatment technologies; and the addition of data into RREL's
Treatability Database on the treatment of contaminated soil
and aqueous streams. More extensive abstracts of treatabil-
ity study reports were entered into ATTIC, as described
subsequently.
Improved Use of Treatability Studies
RREL has implemented several approaches to im-
prove the effectiveness of the treatability study process,
particularly during the RI/FS phases of remediation. The
approaches are listed below.
• Publication of treatability study guidance documents
and an inventory of treatability study vendors to pro-
vide information on when, how, and where to conduct
treatability studies cost-effectively.
• Modification of the nomenclature for treatability stud-
ies. RREL has proposed three functional designators
that apply directly to the remediation process:
Remedy screening;
Remedy selection; and
Remedy design.
• Preliminary engineering screening of potentially appli-
cable treatment technologies, based on site character-
ization data and, where necessary, remedy screening
tests, can help to ensure that more expensive remedy
selection tests are conducted on only a limited number
of technologies as part of the PS.
• Development of the capability by RREL to perform
remedy screening treatability studies in-house, as de-
scribed subsequently.
In FY92, RREL experts continued to visit EPA Re-
gional offices to describe these approaches to RPMs and to
discuss the specific treatability study problems. RREL
worked in close cooperation with the Center for Environ-
mental Research Information (CERI) to produce a series of
seminars on the use of treatability guidelines in site remedia-
tion. In FY92, these seminars were presented in Regions 2,
4,6, and 9. In addition, RREL provided similar seminars to
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and to the Department of
Energy.
Treatability Study Guidance Documents
The 1989 interim version of the Guide for Conducting
Treatability Studies Under CERCLA was updated in FY92
and published as a final report by RREL under the same title
(EPA/540/R-92/071A). A "Fact Sheet" for the guide will
also be produced. The purpose of this generic guide is to
present a logical approach to the conduct of treatability
studies, thus aiding the selection of remedial technologies at
Regional Superfund sites.
In FY92 RREL published three more technology-
specific treatment guidance documents, nearing completion
of a series covering major treatment technologies. Table 8
lists the guides thus far produced or in progress through
FY92. To date a total of six technology-specific guides have
been published or cleared for publication, and two are in
progress.
Remedy Screening Treatability Study Laboratory
The idea for a remedy screening laboratory was devel-
oped in response to a perceived regional need for inexpen-
sive screening tests to determine the potential applicability
of various treatment technologies to a particular site. Screen-
ing tests have thus been made a component of the process of
preliminary screening of technologies. If site characteriza-
tion data are insufficient to screen a technology, screening
studies can be run. This allows the feasibility study process
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Table 8. Technology-Specific Treatability Study Guidance Documents
Published or Cleared for Publication Through FY92
Preparation in Progress During FY92
Aerobic Biodegradation: Remedy Screening
(EPA/540/2-91/013a)
Fact Sheet (EPA/540/2-91/013b)
Soil Washing (EPA/540/2-9 l/020a)
Fact Sheet (EPA/540/2-91/020b):
Soil Vapor Extraction (EPA/540/2-91/019a)
Fact Sheet (EPA/540/2-91/019b)
Solvent Extraction (EPA/540/R-92/016a)
Fact Sheet (EPA/540/R-92/016b)
Thermal Desorption (EPA/540/R-92/074a)
Fact Sheet (EPA/540/R-92/074b)
Chemical Dehalogenation (EPA/540/R-92/013a)
Fact Sheet (EPA/540/R-92/013b)
Solidification/Stabilization
Aerobic Biodegradation: Remedy Selection
to focus on those technologies that have the best chance of
successfully remediating a site and to conduct more in-depth
evaluations (e.g., remedy selection treatability studies) on
just a limited number of technologies.
During FY91, RREL completed development of
nine treatability screening test protocols and installed and
adjusted test equipment The Technology Team members
are the principal designers of protocols for the Remedy
Screening Treatability Laboratory and are the expert re-
viewers of the results. The protocols include the following:
• Soil vapor extraction
• Solvent extraction
• Biotreatability
• Soil flushing
• Thermal desorption
• Dehalogenation (alkaline polyethylene glycol
treatment)
• Solidification/stabilization of inorganics
• Soil washing
• Incineration.
Initial startup difficulties, mostly involving analytical
services, were resolved in FY92, and the laboratory pro-
vided 24 screening-level tests to meet regional needs at 11
remediation sites (Table 9). The Technology Teams re-
sponded to three additional requests for which a judgment
was made that tests were not necessary.
Table 9. Screening Level Treatability Tests - FY92
Technologies
Totals
Solvent Extraction
Biotreatment
Thermal Desorption
Incineration
Chemical Dehalogenation
Soil Washing
Soil Flushing
Soil Vapor Extraction
Solidification/Stabilization
2
4
3
2
1
4
1
Treatability Database
RREL's Treatability Database was originally devel-
oped to compile treatability data on a large number of
chemicals in various types of water and wastewater. Only
primary treatability references are used, and both the refer-
ences and the data are peer reviewed. Each reference is then
assigned a "quality" code which is included in the database
files. The current version of the database contains 1,173
chemical compounds with 429 sets of isotherms; 7,652 sets
of aqueous treatability data; and 4,814 sets of solids treat-
ability data. Since its inception, RREL has continued to
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update the database to include additional chemicals as well
as data on soils, sludges, and sediments. During FY92,
approximately 3,200 new treatability data sets were added to
the database.
The database was initially developed for the National
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), RCRA,
and Superfund programs in Regional and State Offices but
now serves industry, publicly-owned treatment works
(POTWs), consulting engineers, universities, drinking wa-
ter facilities, health departments, etc. Approximately 2,500
copies of the database have been distributed in the United
States. The database is also available in ATTIC.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES
Technical Resource Documents
RREL is developing a set of TRDs to provide detailed
information on contaminants and remedial options at several
types of Superfund and RCRA sites. Each document pro-
vides detailed, contaminant-specific site characterization
and option selection information. The first document, "Se-
lection of Control Technologies for Remediation of Lead
Battery Recycling Sites" (EPA/540/2-91/014) was pub-
lished in FY91. The second, "Contaminants and Remedial
Options at Wood Preserving Sites," was submitted for
publication in September, 1992. Three additional docu-
ments covering solvent-contaminated sites, pesticide-con-
taminated sites, and metal-contaminated sites will be pub-
lished in late FY93 or early FY94. Taken as a set, the TRDs
will cover characterization and cleanup options for a major
fraction of contaminants at Superfund and RCRA sites.
Each of these documents has been prepared in con-
junction with the Robert S. Kerr Laboratory in Ada, Okla-
homa (which prepared the contaminant characterization
information), numerous technical experts within RREL, and
experienced RPMs and On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs).
The documents cover technical information only, and are
not intended to be policy guides relative to technology
selection. The target audience is any site cleanup manager
at the Federal, State, or private levels, using CERCLA,
RCRA, or State guidelines to define suitable levels of
cleanup for a subject site. Once cleanup levels are estab-
lished, the TRDs assist the user in narrowing the range of
applicable remedial options.
" Short Sheets," or bulletins, are being prepared as
companion documents to the TRDs. The Short Sheet on
wood preserving sites is being prepared by OSWER's Envi-
ronmental Response Team (ERT) with RREL input as a
policy guide on "presumptive remedies" for wood sites.
This guide is intended to facilitate remedy selection under
the S ACM process. Similarly, a Short Sheet on presumptive
remedies for solvents-only sites is being prepared. Finally,
a bulletin on pesticide sites will be published in FY93, and
one on metals sites is planned for late FY93 or early FY94.
The scope of the TRDs has been expanded to incorpo-
rate issues applicable to RCRA corrective action sites in
addition to the initial focus on Superfund sites. This includes
an increase in the scope of agency review and emphasis on
containment options.
Engineering Bulletins
RREL Engineering Bulletins (Table 10) summarize
available information on selected site-remediation tech-
nologies and related engineering issues. The bulletins are
available to RPMs and others who wish to get an understand-
ing of a topic quickly. Most bulletins are technology-
specific and discuss the following: technology description;
limitations of the technology; previous applications; cost
information; and data requirements. As the publication
series continues, the focus is shifting to broader site-reme-
diation issues, i.e., general data requirements for technology
prescreening and air emission controls. In developing these
documents, RREL relies on experts from within and outside
of EPA. Currently, RREL has published 19 bulletins. Two
are in final draft form and will be published in FY93; four
additional bulletins are nearly completed.
ETSC Issue Papers and Workshops
Numerous engineering and scientific issues must be
addressed during site remediation. In collaboration with
others on the Agency's Engineering Forum, RREL's ETSC
develops issue papers that are intended to provide expert
discussion of site remediation problems. During FY92,
ETSC produced two issue papers and initiated three others.
A database of technical requests and responses summarizes
ETSC activities. The Center also conducts topical work-
shops at the request of the Regions and the Forurn. A list of
issue papers, workshops, and training courses is presented in
Table 11.
ATTIC
ATTIC is a computer-assisted information manage-
ment and retrieval system that provides up-to-date informa-
tion on innovative waste treatment technologies. It is
directly accessible by anyone with a personal computer and
a modem. ATTIC allows quick screening of hundreds of
source documents and databases. Information includes treat-
ability information, case histories, and other technical
information. Sources include the Superfund Innovative Tech-
nology Evaluation (SITE) project summaries, Records of
Decision (RODs), State agency reports, international pro-
grams, and industry studies
ATTIC was transferred to RREL control from ORD
Headquarters in early FY92. This was done because the
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Table 10. Engineering Bulletins
Title
EPA Publication Number
Published
Solvent Extraction Treatment
Mobile/Transportable Incineration Treatment
Chemical Dehalogenation Treatment APEG Treatment
Slurry Biodegradation
Soil Washing Treatment
In Situ Steam Extraction
In Situ Soil Vapor Extraction
Thermal Desorption
In Situ Soil Flushing
Air Stripping of Aqueous Solutions
Control of Air Emissions From Material Handling
Granular Activated Carbon
Chemical Oxidation Treatment
Supercritical Water Oxidation
Rotating Biological Contactors
Slurry Walls
Technology Preselection Data Requirements
Pyrolysis
Selection of Control Technologies for Remediation of
Lead Battery Recycling Sites
Final Draft
Design Considerations for Ambient Air
Monitoring at Superfund Sites
Ah- Pathway Analysis
In Process
Solidification/Stabilization of Organics and Inorganics
In Situ Vitrification Treatment
Landfill Covers
. In Situ Biodegradation
EPA/540/2-90/013
EPA/540/2-90/014
EPA/540/2-90/015
EPA/540/2-90/016
EPA/540/2-90/017
EPA/540/2-91/005
EPA/540/2-91/006
EPA/540/2-91/008
EPA/540/2-91/021
EPA/540/2-91/022
EPA/540/2-91/023 ,
EPA/540/2-91/024
EPA/540/2-91/025
EPA/540/S-92/006
EPA/540/S-92/007
EPA/540/S-92/008
EPA/540/S-92/009
EPA/540/S-92/010
EPA/540/S-92/011
RREL staff is more familiar with the technologies and
cleanup sites, and because RREL has a closer working
relationship with the clients and the data sources.
There are about 2,200 entries in the ATTIC database,
600 of which were added in FY92. There were approxi-
mately 10,200 on-line calls to the database in FY92. ATTIC
has more than 2,000 registered users, 55 percent of whom are
hi the private sector. Plans are in place to improve the user
friendliness and content of ATTIC.
SUIT Treatment Technologies Course
In conjunction with the University of Cincinnati (UC),
RREL has formed a SUTI for treatment technology training.
SUTI at UC is one of six institutes hi the United States
developed to assist EPA hi producing experienced, knowl-
edgeable OSCs and RPMs.
The SUTI treatment technology course is designed to
aid experienced Superfund project managers hi evaluating
and selecting remedial technologies for specific sites. SUIl
focuses on current developments in treatment technologies
and their application. In response to demand, SUTI training
is being expanded and provided to the Regions. The two and
one-half day course was presented initially in Cincinnati hi
August 1990 and again in April 1991. It was presented hi
Atlanta, San Francisco, and Seattle in FY92.
CONCLUSIONS
RREL's site remediation technical support program is
assisting EPA's Regional Offices in a variety of ways on
site-specific engineering problems. In addition, the program
produces anumber of different technical support documents
for use by all site-remediation managers, and manages two
databases for immediate access to treatment technology
information. All these activities help to ensure more timely
and effective remediation of contaminated sites.
10
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Table 11. ETSC Issue Papers, Workshops, and Training Courses
Papers
Published in FY 92
Considerations for Evaluating the Implications of
Metals Partitioning during the Incineration of
Contaminated Soils from Superfund Sites
(EPA/540/S-92/014)
Construction Quality Management for Remedial Action
and Remedial Design for Contaminated Facilities
(EPA/540/R-92/073)
Database of Materials Handling Experts (disk and hard
copy for Regional use)
In Progress in FY 92
Considerations in Deciding to Treat Contaminated
Soils In Situ
Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Treatment of PCB-Contaminated Soils
Workshops and Training Courses
FY 90-91
Remediation of Explosives-Contaminated Soils
Remediation of Lead-Contaminated Sites
FY92
Dust and Vapor Suppression Workshop, Dallas - 11/91
SUTI Training Course
Atlanta-11/91
San Francisco - 5/92
Seattle - 6/92
11
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