v>EPA Underground Storage Tank
Research Program
Volume II - Appendices
DRAFT
Prepared for:
Science Advisory Board
Prepared by:
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory and
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - LV
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Underground Storage Tank
Research Program
Volume II - Appendices
Prepared for:
Science Advisory Board
Prepared by:
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory and
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - LV
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
May 1992
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CONTENTS
Page
VOLUME I
FIGURES iv
TABLES iv
1. INTRODUCTION 1-1
2. REGULATORY AND RESEARCH PROGRAM BACKGROUND
2.1 Regulatory History 2-1
2.2 Trends in Research 2-3
2.2.1 RREL Research Trends 2-6
2.2.2 EMSL-LV Research Trends 2-11
3. CURRENT AND PLANNED RESEARCH PROGRAM
3.1 RREL Research Program: Site Assessment and Corrective Action 3-1
3.1.1 RREL Site Assessment: Past, Current and Future Research ...... 3-3
3.1.1.1 Assessment of tank system for regulatory development .. 3-6
3.1.1.2 Assessment of tank system for compliance support 3-7
3.1.13 Improved technologies for assessing tank systems 3-8
3.1.1.4 Aboveground storage tanks 3-11
3.1.1.5 Preliminary data analysis (Loci Conceptual Model) . . i .. 3-11
3.1.2 RREL Corrective Action: Past, Current and Future Research .... 3-14
3.1.2.1 Technology screening 3-16
3.1.2.2 Technology development and evaluation 3-20
low density nonaqueous phase liquid removal 3-21
in-situ technologies 3-22
ex-situ technologies 3-26
integrated systems 3-29
3.1.23 New and improved technologies 3-30
3.1.2.4 Fractured rock media 3-33
3.1.2.5 Alternative fuels 3-34
3.2. EMSL-LV Research Program: Site Assessment and Corrective Action . .. 3-35
3.2.1 EMSL-LV Site Assessment: Past and Current Research 3-41
3.2.1.1 Methods for sampling for petroleum contaminants 3-41
3.2.1.2 Interpreting monitoring data to estimate contamination .. 3-43
3.2.13 Interpreting data to characterize site hydrogeology 3-45
i
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CONTENTS (continued)
Page
32,2 EMSL-LV Site Assessment; Future Research 3-46
3.2.2.1 Carbon Dioxide, Oxygen, Hydrocarbon Sensor 3-47
3.22.2 Immunoassay test kits tailored to UST applications 3-47
3223 Improved non-invasive site investigation techniques 3-48
322.4 Site characterization for fine-grained soils 3-48
322J5 Site characterization for fractured bedrock 3-49
323 EMSL-LV Corrective action: Past and Current Research 3-49
323.1 Monitoring to support remediation design '. 3-49
323.2 Monitoring to verify remediation progress 3-S2
3.2.4 EMSL-LV Corrective Action: Future Research 3-56
3.2.4.1 Improved monitoring of in-situ air sparging 3-56
3.2.4.2 Improved siting of recovery wells 3-57
3.2.43 Improved feedback on product recovery systems 3-57
3.2.4.4 Improved field screening procedures for SVE. 3-57
3.2.4.5 In-situ tests for assessing bioactivity 3-58
4. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
4.1 RREL Technology Transfer Program 4-1
4.1.1 Technology Transfer Tools: Past and Current 4-2
4.1.2 Enhancing Technology Transfer: Future 4-5
4.13 Technology Transfer Accomplishments 4-5
4.13.1 Volumetric leak detection methods evaluation 4-5
4.132 Computerized on line information system 4-6
4.133 Pipeline protocol 4-7
4.2 EMSL-LV Technology Transfer Program 4-7
42.1 Building New Research Capabilities .... 4-8
4.2.2 ASTM UST Standards 4-8
423 Sponsoring Development of New Tools For Commercialization ... 4-9
42.4 Outreach Activities 4-9
4.2.4.1 Tank issue papers 4-9
4.2.4.2 Workshops and presentations at national conferences ... 4-10
4.2.43 Training programs co-sponsored by OUST 4-10
ii
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CONTENTS (continued)
VOLUME H
APPENDICES
A Summary of Federal UST Regulations Al-4
B Listing of UST Research Program Products
RREL Research Products Bl-8
EMSL-LV Research Products/References B9-21
C Project Descriptions
RREL Projects Cl-34
EMSL-LV Projects C35-45
iii
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APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF FEDERAL UST REGULATIONS
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Federal UST Regulations
Reg.
Citation
Compliance Requirements
Reporting/Record Keeping
Subpart B: Performance Standards
280.20(a)
NEW TANK OPTIONS
FRPor
Steel with CP or
Steel-FRP composite or
Metal without CP il approved
Design, construction, and CP must be in
accordance with code(s). Compliance with CP
must be documented
UST notification form to IA (within 30 days)
Certificate of Compliance for CP. CP analysis
required if CP not used.
280.20(b)
NEW PIPING OPTtONS
FRPor
Steel with CP or
Metal without CP (if approved)
280.20(c)
SPILL PREVENTION
Catch basin or equivalent
280.20(c)
OVERFILL PREVENTION OPTIONS
Automatic shut-off valves or
Flow restrictors or
High-level alarm
280.20(d)
INSTALLATION Compliance with installation must be documented
Must be in accordance with code and manufacturer's
instructions
Certificate of Compliance for installation
280.21(b)
UPGRADING EXISTING TANKS
Interior lining and/or CP
By December 22, 1998 all UST systems must be
replaced, upgraded, or closed
280.21(c)
UPGRADING EXISTING PIPING
CP
Installation must be in accordance with code(s)
and inspections as per regulations
280.21(d)
UPGRADING FOR SPILL AND OVERFILL
PREVENTION
Same as for new systems
Subpart C: Operating Requirements
280.30
SPILL AND OVERFILL CONTROL
II spill occurs -> GO TO SUBPART E
Report to IA
280.31 .
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE OF CP
Must be inspected by qualified tester
Within 6 months of installation; then every 3 years
If impressed current CP; inspect every 60 days
Maintain test results of last 2 inspections
Maintain test results of last 3 inspections
280.32
COMPATIBILITY with stored substances required
280.33
REPAIRS
FRP tanks and fiberglass pipes/fittings
Repair as per code(s) or manufacturer's
instructions and tightness test
* Maintain records of compliance
Metal pipes/fittings that have released product
Must replace
CP
Repair and test
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Subpart D:
Release Detection
280.40
ALL USTs MUST HAVE RO
Within phase-in period; otherwise UST must be
closed
Performance requirements must be met.
Methods used after December 22, 1990 must
detect at P
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TANKSMONTHLY METHODS
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
280.43(d)
ATGS
0.2 qal/hr with inventory control requirements
280.43(e)
Vapor monitoring (requires site assessment)
Any significant increase in concentration above
background
280.43(f)
Groundwater monitoring (requires site assessment)
1/8' of free product on groundwater table
280.43(g)
Interstitial monitoring
Standard requirements apply
280.43(h)
Other methods
0.2 gal/hr or 150 gallons within a month
TANKSOTHER METHODS
280.43(a)
Inventory controls (measure daily, reconcile monthly)
1% of flow-through plus 130 gal monthly
280.43(b)
Manual tank gauging (weekly or monthly)
Only lor tanks <2000 gal nominal capacity
If tank <550 gal, detect 10 gal/week or 5 gal/month
(may use this as sole method of RD)
If tank >550 and <1000 gal, detect
13 gal/week or 7 gal/month (may use in place
of manual inventory controls .
If tank >1000 and <2000 gal, detect
26 gal/week or 13 gal/month (may use in place
of manual inventory controls)
280.43(c)
Tank tightness testing (frequency: see above §280.41)
0.1 gal/hr and account for various effects
280.44
PIPING(frequency: see above §280.41)
280.44(a)
Automatic line leak detectors
3 gal/hr at 10 psi within 1 hour
280.44(b)
* Line tightness testing
0.1 gal/hr at 1.5 times operating pressure
280.44(c)
Vapor, groundwater, or interstitial monitoring
See above
Subpart E: Release Reporting, Investigation, Confirmation
SUSPECTED RELEASES
280.50
. 280.51
IF Discover leak at/near site or
Observe unusual operating conditions
(and equipment is not defective) or
RD indicates leak (and equipment is not defective
and additional monitoring is negative) or
Off-site impacts might indicate a leak
Report within 24 hours
280.52
THEN Investigate & confirm
Conduct tightness tests on system,
IF Leak -»repair, replace or
upgrade -> GO TO SUBPART F
No leak and no contamination -» STOP
No leak and
contamination -> DO SITE CHECK
Within 7 days unless CA is initiated
Conduct site check (excavation zone & site)
IF Leak -» GO TO SUBPART F
No leak-4 STOP
280.53
SPILLS AND OVERFILLSCONTAIN AND CLEANUP
and
If cleanup of releases of <25 gal (petroleum) or
25 gal petroleum or creates sheen
Report within 24 hours
Or if release >RQ (under CERCLA)-> GO TO
SUBPART F
Report immediately
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Subpart F: Release Response and Corrective Action
280.61
INITIAL RESPONSE: Stop leak, mitiqate hazards
Within 24 hoursmandatory
Report confirmation within 24 hours
280.62
INITIAL ABATEMENT MEASURES AND SITE CHECK
Mandatory
Report progress within 20 days
280.63
INITIAL SITE CHARACTERIZATION: Assemble
information
Mandatory
Submit information within 45 days
280.64
FREE PRODUCT REMOVAL: Abate migration
Mandatory
Submit report within 45 days
280.65
INVESTIGATIONS FOR SOIL & GROUNDWATER
CLEANUP
If on-site conditions warrant
Submit information when practicable
280.66
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN:
IA sets schedule and goals
At direction of IA
Submit per IA schedule
Owner/operator establishes strategy
Upon approval, implement plan
IA notifies affected public
Subpart G: Out-of-Service UST Systems and Closure
280.70
TEMPORARY REMOVAL FROM USE: MUST CONTINUE
O&M OF CP AND RD UNLESS UST IS EMPTY
If out-of-service more than 3 months -> close
off access
If out-of-service more than 12 months -> permanent
closure unless it has maintained CP and RD
280.71
PERMANENT CLOSURE AND CHANGES IN SERVICE
MUST PERFORM SITE ASSESSMENT
Maintain records of compliance
If closing: empty, clean, and remove or fill with inert
solid material
Notify 30 days prior to closure
If change in service: empty, clean, and store non-
regulated substance
Notify 30 days prior to change in service
280.72
SITE ASSESSMENT MEASURE FOR RELEASES
External RD meets requirement
Maintain assessment results for 3 years
If release discovered -> GO TO SUBPART F
280.73
UST SYSTEMS CLOSED PRIOR TO DECEMBER 22,
1988: Perform site assessment and close per
regulations
At agency direction
Abbreviations
ATGS Automatic tank gauging system
CA Corrective action
CP Corrosion protection
Code Code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory (specified throughout regulations)
FRP Fiberglass-reinforced plastic
IA Implementing agency
O&M Operation and maintenance
Pq Probability of detection
Pra Probability of false alarm
RD Release detection
RQ Reportable quantity (of hazardous substance under CERLCA)
TT Tightness test
UST Underground Storage Tank
Please note: This chart is not exhaustive. Many exceptions apply. Specific requirements are detailed in the regulationssee regulatory citation numbers for
applicable section of the final regulations as published in the Federal Register on September 23, 1988 (40 CFR Part 280).
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APPENDIX B
LISTING OF RESEARCH PRODUCTS
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RISK REDUCTION ENGINEERING LABORATORY
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK RESEARCH PROGRAM PRODUCTS
SITE ASSESSMENT/CHARACTERIZATION
1. Underground Tank Leak Detection Methods:
A State-of-the-Art Review
2. Leak Prevention in Underground Storage
Tanks: A State-of-the-Art Survey
3. A Leak Detection Performance Evaluation
of Automatic Tank Gauging Systems and
Product Line Leak Detectors at Retail
Stations
EPA No./NTIS No.
EPA/600/2-86/001, 1/86
NTIS/PB86-137155
EPA/600/2-87/018, 3/87
NTIS/PB87-168662/REB
American Petroleum
Institute Publication, 1/88
4. Evaluation of Volumetric Leak Detection
Methods for Underground Fuel Storage
Tanks, Volume 1
5. Evaluation of Volumetric Leak Detection
Methods for Underground Fuel Storage
Tanks, Volume 2
6. Volumetric Tank Testing: An Overview
7. Pressure and Temperature Fluctuations
in Underground Storage Tank Pipelines
Containing Gasoline
8. Test Procedures for Evaluating the
Performance of Underground Storage Tank
Leak Detection Methods
9. Standard Test Procedures for Evaluating
Leak Detection Methods: Pipeline Leak
Detection Systems
10. Evaluation of Volumetric Leak Detection
Methods Used in Underground Storage
Tanks
11. State-of-the-Art Procedures and
Equipment for Internal Inspection of
Underground Storage Tanks
12. Volumetric Leak Detection in Underground
Storage Tanks Containing Chemicals
EPA/600/2-88/068a, 11/88
NTIS/PB89-124333
EPA/600/2-88/068b, 11/88
NTIS/PB89-124341/REB
EPA/625/9-89/009, 4/89
NTIS/PB89-205983/REB
Oil and Chemical Pollution
Journal, Volume 7, 1990
EPA/600/J-90/519
NTIS PB91-206912/AS
National Water Well Association
Conference, 8/90
EPA/530/UST-90/010, 9/90
EPA/600/S2-90/050, 2/90
NTIS/PB91-106245
Journal of Hazardous Materials,
Volume 26, 1991
EPA/600/J-91/155
NTIS PB91-226316/AS:A03
EPA/600/2-90/061, 1/91
NTIS/PB91-149609/REB
Proceedings 84th Annual Meeting
of the Air & Waste Management
Association, 6/91
B-l
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RREL PROOUCTS (cont'd)
13. Volumetric Leak Detection in Large
Underground Storage Tanks
14. Chemicals Stored in USTs:
Characteristics and Leak Detection
15. Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
on Indian Lands: Awareness is the
Key to Mitigating Environmental Threat
16. Characteristics of Underground Storage
Tanks Containing Chemicals
17.. Location of Leaks in Pressurized
Petroleum Pipelines by Means of
Passive Acoustic Methods
18. Extrapolating the Performance Capability
of a Volumetric Leak Detection System
from Small Tanks to Large Tanks
19. Locating Leaks in Underground
Pressurized Petroleum Pipeline Systems
20. Evaluation of Leak Detection Methods
for Large Underground Storage Tanks
21. Technical Aspects of UST Closure
EPA/600/2-91/044a, 8/91
NTIS/PB91-227942
EPA/600/2-91/037, 8/91
NTIS/PB91-219592/AS
Journal of American Indian
Sciences and Engineering, 3/92
ASTM STP 1160
Proceedings on Leak Detection
in USTs, 6/92
ASTM STP 1160
Proceedings on Leak Detection
in USTs, 6/92
EPA Report Pending, 7/92
EPA Report Pending, 9/92
Journal of Hazardous Materials,
In Press
EPA/600/R-92-057, 5/92
EPA/600/SR-92/057
CORRECTIVE ACTION
22. Underground Storage Tank Corrective
Action Technologies
23. Motor Fuel and Organic Chemicals
Released in an Underground Environment
24. Assessment of Vacuum Extraction
Technology Application: Belleview,
Florida LUST Site
25. Evaluation of Soil Washing Technology
for Remediation of LUST Sites
26. Assessing UST Corrective Action
Technologies: Site Assessment and
Selection of Unsaturated Zone Treatment
Technologies
EPA/625/6-87-015, 1/87
Internal EPA Report, 2/88
Internal EPA Report, 9/88
Proceedings HMCRI 10th Superfund
Conference, 11/89
EPA/600/2-90/011, 3/90
NTIS/PB90-1872200/REB
B-2
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RREL PRODUCTS (cont'd)
27. Assessing UST Corrective Action
Technologies: Early Screening of
Cleanup Technologies for the Saturated
Zone
28. Bench Scale Evaluation of Soil Washing
Technology For Cleaning Up Releases
From Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
29. Soil Vapor Extraction Technology
Reference Handbook
30. Soil Vapor Extraction Air
Permeability Method Evaluation
31. Column Vapor Extraction Experiments on
Gasoline-Contaminated Soil
EPA/600/2-90/027 6/90
NTIS/PB90266727/REB
Internal EPA Report, 9/90
EPA/540/2-91/003, 2/91
NTIS/PB91-168476/REB
Proceedings Hazardous Materials
Control Northeast Conference,
Boston, MA, 7/91
Proceedings Hydrocarbon
Contaminated Soil Conference,
Univ. of Massachusetts, Volume 5,
9/91, Lewis Publications
EPA/600/2-91/053, 9/91
32. Assessing UST Corrective Action
Technologies: A Scientific Evaluation of NTIS/PB 92-114552/A5
the Mobility and Degradability of Organic
Contaminants in Subsurface Environments
33. Thermal Desorption of Petroleum-
Contaminated Soils
34. Understanding the Fate of Petroleum
Hydrocarbons in the Subsurface
Environment
Proceedings Hydrocarbon
Contaminated Soils Conference,
University of Massachusetts,
Volume5, 9/91, Lewis Publications:
Journal of Chemical Education
(accepted 2/92)
35. Treatment of Petroleum Contaminated
Soils by Thermal Desorption Technology
36. Screening Methodology for Assessing
Leaking UST Site Cleanup Technologies
37., Non-Intrusive Subsurface
Identification Techniques for Improved
Remediation of LUST Sites
38. Potential Reuse of Petroleum-
Contaminated Soils: A Directory of
Permitted Recycling Facilities
Journal of Air & Waste Management
Association, 3/92
ASTM STP 1161
Proceedings on Leak Detection
in USTs, 6/92
EPA Report Pending, 6/92
EPA Report Pending, 6/92
B-3
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RREL PROOUCTS (cont'd)
39. Generic QA Project Plan for Field
Evaluation of Soil Vapor Extraction/
Air Sparging
40. Assessment of SVE/Air Sparging
Technology for LUST Sites
41. Guidance Document for the Application
of Thermal Desorption for Treating
Petroleum Contaminated Soils
EPA Report Pending, 8/92
EPA Report Pending, 8/92
EPA Report Pending, 8/92
42. Enhanced SVE for Removal of Gasoline
from the Groundwater Zone
EPA Report Pending, 9/92
43. Assessment of Ex-Situ Bio-oxidation
Technology
44. Assessment of the Applicability of
Innovative Technologies to Treat
LUST Sites
EPA Report Pending, 9/92
EPA Report Pending, 9/92
45. Preliminary Assessment of SVE P.C.
Models for Application to LUST Sites
46. Assessing UST Corrective Action
Technologies
EPA Report Pending, 9/92
EPA Report Pending, 9/92
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: COMPUTERIZED ON-LINE INFORMATION SYSTEM
47. Computerized On-Line Information System
for Underground Storage Tank Technology
Transfer
User's Guide/On-Line System
Call (908) 906-6871
48. Case History Database of Underground
Storage Tank Corrective Action
49. Computerized Management and
Information for Research and
Development Operations at Technical
Information Exchange
50. An Outreach Process: Case History of
Underground Storage Tank Corrective
Actions
Proceedings 15th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
Proceedings 15th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
Proceeding 15th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
B-4
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RREL PROOUCTS (cont'd)
51. An Interactive Case History File of
Underground Storage Tank Corrective
Action
52. EPA UST Case History Database and
Library System is Up and Running
53. Assessing Leaking Underground Storage
Storage Tank Case Histories and
Publications Through EPA's Computerized
On-Line Information System
54. Remediation of Leaking USTs:
A System for Assessing Case Histories
and Related Documents
Proceedings Environmental
Hazardous Conference and
Exposition, Hartford, CT
10/89
EPA/600/J-90/321
NTIS/PB 91-149617/AS:A01
Proceedings 17th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/91
EPA/600/9-91/002, 4/91
NTIS/PB 91-233267
Journal of Air & Waste Management
Association, Volume 42, No. 3, 3/92
55. EPA Computerized On-Line Information
System for Underground Storage Tank
Technology Transfer
Numerous "Briefs" in various
publications such as Waste Tech
News, Water Well Journal, Steel
Tank Institute, Lust Line, Tank
Talk, etc.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: RREL ANNUAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
56. U.S. EPA Evaluation of Volumetric UST
Leak Detection Methods
57. Discovery of a New Source of Error in
Tightness Tests on Overfilled Tanks
58. Computerized Management and Information
for Research and Development Operations
at Technical Information Exchange
59. An Outreach Process: Case History of
Underground Storage Tank Corrective
Actions
60. Case History Database of Underground
Storage Tank Corrective Action
Proceedings 13th Annual HWERL
Research Symposium, 5/87
EPA/600/9-87/015, 7/87
Proceedings 14th Annual HWERL
Research Symposium, 5/88
CERI-88-20, 5/88
Proceedings 15th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
Proceedings 15th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
Proceedings 15th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
B-5
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RREL PRODUCTS (cont'd)
61. The Role of Site Investigation in the
Selection of Corrective Actions for
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites
62. Summary of the Results of EPA's
Evaluation of Volumetric Leak
Detection Methods
63. Consideration of Underground Storage
Tank Residuals at Closure
64. Evaluation of Internal Leak Detection
Technology for Large Underground
Storage Tanks
65. Soil Vapor Extraction Technology
Assessment
66. Evaluation of Soil Washing Technology
for Remediation of LUST Sites
67.. Sources of Contamination Associated
With Closure of Underground Storage
Tanks
68. Subsurface Fate and Transport of
Petroleum Hydrocarbons From
Leaking USTs
69. Soil Vapor Extraction Air
Permeability Testing and
Estimation Methods
Proceeding 15th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
Proceedings 15th Annual RREL
Research Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
Proceeding 15th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/89
EPA/600/9-90/006, 2/90
NTIS/PB 91-145524
Proceedings 16th Annual RREL
Research Symposium, 4/90
EPA/600/9-90/037, 8/90
NTIS/PB 91-148379
Proceedings 16th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/90
EPA/600/9-90/037, 8/90
NTIS/PB 91-148379
Proceedings*16th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/90
EPA/600/9-90/037, 8/90
NTIS/PB 91-148379
Proceedings 16th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/90
EPA/600/9-90/037, 8/90
NTIS/PB 91-148379
Proceedings 17th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/91
EPA/600/9-91/002, 4/91
NTIS/PB 91-233267
Proceedings 17th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/91
EPA/600/9-91/002, 4/91
NTIS/PB 91-233267
B-6
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RREL PRODUCTS (cont'd)
70. Assessing Leaking Underground Storage
Tank Case Histories and Publications
through EPA's Computerized On-Line
Information System
71. Underground Storage Tank Containing
Hazardous Chemicals
72. Review of Soil Vapor Extraction
Computer Models
73. Site Assessment & Technologies for
Removal of LNAPL from LUST Sites
74. Subsurface Remediation of Gasoline by
Air Sparging and SVE
75. Remediating Leaking UST Sites on Native
American Lands
Proceedings 17th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/91
EPA/600/9-91/002, 4/91
NTIS/PB 91-233267
Proceedings 17th Annual RREL
Hazardous Waste Research
Symposium, 4/91
EPA/600/9-91/002, 4/91
NTIS/PB 91-233267
18th Annual.RREL Research
Symposium, 4/92
18th Annual RREL Research
Symposium, 4/92
18th Annual RREL Research
Symposium, 4/92
18th Annual RREL Research
Symposium, 4/92
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: OUST SPONSORED CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS
76. Internal Tank and Pipeline Leak
Detection Methods
77. Tank Closure Practices
78. UST Case Histories Database
79. Corrective Action Case Histories
80. Leak Detection: Volumetric Tank
Methods and Pipeline Leak Detection
CERI Technology Transfer Seminars
on Leak Detection Methods for USTs;
San Francisco, CA - 9/88; King of
Prussia, PA - 9/88; Atlanta, GA -
10/88; Rosemont, IL - 11/88
"Making It Work" - 1st Annual
UST/LUST Conference, Santa Fe, NM,
11/88
Presentation and Workshop, "Making
It Work" - 1st Annual UST/LUST
Conference, Santa Fe, NM, 11/88
Presentation and Workshop,
"Continuous Improvement" - 2nd
Annual UST/LUST Conference, Tucson,
AZ, 11/89
Presentation and Workshop,
"Continuous Improvement" - 2nd
Annual UST/LUST Conference, Tucson,
AZ, 11/89
B-7
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RREL PROOUCTS (cont'd)
81. A Comprehensive State UST Management
System
82. RREL Underground Storage Tank Research
Program Overview
83. RREL Underground Storage Tank Research
Program Overview
Presentation and Exhibit,
"Continuous Improvement" - 3rd
Annual UST/LUST Conference, New
Orleans, LA, 11/90
Panel Discussion, "Continuous
Improvement" - 3rd Annual UST/LUST
Conference, New Orleans, LA, 11/90
Poster Presentation, "Meeting the
Challenge" 4th Annual UST/LUST
Conference, Fort Lauderdale, FL,
11/91
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: RREL ENGINEERING/TECHNOLOGY BULLETINS
84. Solvent Extraction Treatment
85. In Situ Steam Extraction
86. In Situ Soil Vapor Extraction Treatment
87. Thermal Desorption Treatment
88. Soil Washing Treatment
89. In Situ Soil Flushing
90. In Situ Biodegradation Treatment
EPA/540/2-90/013, 9/90
EPA/540/2-91/005, 5/91
EPA/540/2-91/006, 5/91
EPA/540/2-91/008, 5/91
EPA/540/2-90/017, 9/91
EPA/540/2-91/021, 10/91
Draft
B-8
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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY-LAS VEGAS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK RESEARCH PROGRAM PRODUCTS
LEAK DETECTION
101. Modeling Vapor Transport for
Evaluating Tank Leak Detectors
102. Strategies for External Leak
Detection of Underground Stor-
age Tanks
103. Development of Procedures to
Assess the Performance of
External Petroleum Leak
Detection Devices-Performance
Test Procedures-Draft
104. Development of Procedures to
Assess the Performance of
External Petroleum Leak
Detection Devices-Executive
Summary Draft
107. Detection of Subsurface Gas-
oline Contamination in New
England Glaciated Terrain
Using Soil Gas Surveying
108. Modeling Vapor Transport for
Evaluating Tank Leak Detectors
109. Modeling Vapor Transport for
Evaluating Tank Leak Detectors
Abstract/Oral Presentation
at 5th Annual Hazardous
materials Control Research
Institute's Conference 9/87
UST Conference Sturbridge,
Maine Sponsored by the
Source Education
Institution, Inc., 4/88
Symposium Paper for NWWA
Conference on Petroleum
Hydrocarbon in Ground
Water, Las Vegas, NV
Symposium Paper, 2/88
EPA/600/X-88/141, 3/88
EPA/600/X-88/142, 3/88
EPA/600/X-88/143, 3/88
Published Conference
Proceedings, MWWA Outdoor
Action Conference, Las
Vegas, NV, 4/88
Published Conference
Proceedings, 7/88
Published Conference
Proceedings, 8/88
Symposium Paper, 1/89
105. Internal Report-Network Design
for External Release Monitoring
of Underground Storage Tanks
106. Hydrocarbon Vapor Concentrations
Adjacent to Tight Underground
Gasoline Storage Tanks
B-9
-------
EMSL-LV PRODUCTS (Cont'd)
110. Soil Vapor Monitoring for Fuel
Leak DetectionData Compiled
for Thirteen Case Studies
111. Estimation of Leak Rates from
Underground Storage Tanks
112. Direct Comparison of Vapor-,
Free-Product and Aqueous-
Phase Monitoring for Gaso-
line Leaks from Underground
Storage Systems
113. Vapor Transport in Fine-Grained
High-Water Content Soils: A
Field Example and Implications
for Leak Detection
114. Direct Comparison of Vapor-,
Free-Product and Aqueous-Phase
Monitoring for Gasoline Leaks
from Underground Storage Tanks
115. EPA's Development of Evaluation
Tests for Extramural Leak De-
tectors Used with Underground
Storage Tanks
116. Final Report: Summary of
Results of the Validation
of Test Method for Evalu-
ating the Performance of
External Leak Detection
Devices--Vapor-Phase ASTM
Formatted Methods and Liquid
Phase ASTM Formatted Methods
117. Development of Procedures to
Assess the Performance of Ex-
ternal Leak Detection Devices.
Draft Summary Report on Labor- -
atory Evaluation of Vapor-Phase
Interference Test Method
118. Standard Test Method for
Interferences for Vapor-Phase
Out-of-Tank Petroleum Detectors
119. Background Hydrocarbon Vapor
Concentration Study for Under-
ground Fuel Storage Tanks
EPA/600/X-89/092, 3/89
Ground Water Review
Journal 5/89
Abstract/Proceedings of
Petroleum Hydrocarbon
and Organic Chemicals in
Ground Water, 7/89
Abstract, NWWA Conference
on Petroleum Hydrocarbon
in Ground Water, 7/89
Symposium Paper, NWWA
Conference on Petroleum
Hydrocarbon in Ground
Water, 10/89
Journal of Nondestructive
Testing, 10/89
EPA/600/X-90/044, 2/90
EPA/600/X-90/363, 12/90
EPA/600/X-90/364, 12/90
EPA/600/4-91/009, 4/91
B-10
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EMSL-LV PRODUCTS (Cont'd)
120. Soil Gas, Carbon Dioxide and
Oxygen Anomalies Associated
with Subsurface Gasoline
Leakage
Proceedings, Geological
Society of America, North-
eastern Section Meeting,
3/92
SITE ASSESSMENT
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
Hydrocarbon Vapor Concentrations
Adjacent to Tight Underground
Gasoline Storage Tanks
Strategies for External Leak
Detection of Underground Storage
Tanks
Density-Driven Vapor Transport in
the Vadose Zone
The Use of Industrial Hygiene
Samplers for Soil-Gas Measure-
ment
Soil Gas Sampling at a Site with
Deep Contamination by Fuels
A New Method for Field Analysis of
Soils Contaminated with Aromatic
Hydrocarbon Compounds
Modeling Vapor Phase Movement in
Relation to UST Leak Detection-
Phase I
Quality Assurance Project Plan
for Long Term Monitoring at
Underground Fuel Storage Tanks
Measurement of Carbon Dioxide in
Soil Gases for Indication of Sub-
surface Organic Contamination
Project SummaryBackground
Hydrocarbon Vapor Concentration
Study for Underground Storage
Tanks
Abstract/Oral Presentation,
12/87
Abstract/Oral Presentation,
Hazardous Materials Control
Research Institute's 5th
National RCRA Conference
(presented 4/88), Las
Vegas, NV, Abstract 9/87
Abstract/Oral Presentation,
Hazardous Materials Control
Research Institute's 5th
National RCRA Conference,
Las Vegas, NV 9/87
EMSL-LV/#81'35, 12/88
Symposium Paper, 11/88
Abstract Proceedings of
NWWA, Northeastern States
Conference 10/88
EPA/600/X-88/273, 4//88
EPA/600/X-88/144, 3/88
Ground Water Monitoring
Review Journal, 3/89
EPA/600/X-88/043, 1/88
B-ll
-------
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
EMSL-LV PRODUCTS (Cont'd)
The Role of QA/QC in Soil-Gas
Surveys
Long Term Soil-Gas Monitoring
of Underground Storage Tanks
Soil Gas Surveying for Subsur-
face Gasoline Contamination Using
Total Organic Vapor Detection
Instrumentations: Part II,
Field Experimentation
Soil Gas Surveying for Subsur-
face Gasoline Contamination Using
Total Organic Vapor Detection
Instrumentations: Part I, Lab-
oratory Theory and Experiment-
ation
Spatial Design Requirements for
Total Hydrocarbon Vapor Monitors
Around Underground Storage Tanks
Development of Standard, Pure-
Compound Base Gasoline Mixture
for Use as a Reference in Field
and Laboratory Experiments
Manual Headspace Method to Analyze
for the Volatile Aromatics of
Gasoline in Ground Water and Soil
Samples
ASTM Symposium, 1/88
Symposium Proceedings
Petroleum Hydrocarbon and
Organic Chemicals in
Groundwater, 10/89
Ground Water Monitoring
Review Journal, 12/89
Ground Water Monitoring
Review Journal, 12/89
Abstract, 12/89
Ground Water Monitoring
Review Journal, 10/89
Analytical Chemistry, 10/89
Vertical Dispersion of Ground-Water Abstract, NWWA Conference
Contaminants in the Near Field of on Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks in Ground Water, 7/89
Mass Continuity and Distribution
Implications for Collection of
Representative Ground-Water
Samples from Monitoring Wells
Proposed Guidance Document for
External Monitoring of Under-
ground Storage Tanks
Simulation of Subsurface Vapor
Movement from a Leaking Tank
Abstract, NWWA Conference
on Petroleum Hydrocarbons
in Ground Water, 7/89
EPA/600/X-89/019, 1/89
Symposium Paper *
Association of
International Hydrological
Sciences, 1/89
B-12
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EMSL-LV PRODUCTS (Cont'd)
142. A Manual for Conducting Field
Screening for Subsurface Gaso-
line Contamination
143. A Field Study Examining Mass
Continuity Influences Charact-
erizing Ground Water Contamin-
ation at a Gasoline Service
Station
144. Spatial Design Requirements for
Total Hydrocarbon Vapor Monitors
Around Storage Tanks
145. Tank Issues: Site Characteri-
zation for External Leak Mon-
itoring
146. The Sensing Characteristics
of Adsistor and Figaro Gas
Sensors for Underground
Storage Tank Leak Detect-
ion
147. Systematic Variations in
Relative Abundances of
Aromatic Compounds in Gas-
oline Contaminated Ground
Water
148. Comparison Between Field
and Laboratory Measurement
for Volatile Aromatics in
Gasoline Contaminated
Ground-Water Sampling
149. High-Speed Gas Chromato-
graphy Used with the Static
Headspace Method to Analyze
for the Volatile Aromatics
in Gasoline
150. Evaluation of the Inter-
relationship of Soil-Gas
and Ground-Water at a Gas-
oline Contaminated Site
EPA/600/8-90/067, 8/90
Journal of Contaminant
Hydrology, 8/90
Journal of Contaminant
Hydrology, 7/90
Pending Printing, 2/91
Poster Presentation,
Second International
Symposium: Field Screening
Methods for Hazardous
Wastes and Toxic Chemicals
2/91
NWWA Focus Eastern Confer-
ence Proceedings, Port-
land, MA. (10/91) Abstract
5/91
Pittsburgh Conference on
Analytical Chemistry and
Applied Spectroscopy,
New Orleans, LA. (3/92)
Abstract, 8/91
Pittsburgh Conference on
Analytical Chemistry and
Applied Spectroscopy,
New Orleans, LA. (3/92)
Abstract, 8/91
Pittsburgh Conference on
Analytical Chemistry and
Applied Spectroscopy,
New Orleans, LA. (3/92)
Abstract, 8/91
B-13
-------
EMSL-LV PRODUCTS (Cont'd)
151. A New Method for Determin-
ing Henry's Law Constants
for Volatile Compounds by
Static Headspace/Gas Chrom-
atography
152. Physical Modeling of Fuel
Leaks in Simulated Under-
ground Environments
153. High Speed Gas Chromato-
graphy used with the Static
Headspace Method to Analyze
for the Volatile Aromatics
in Gasoline
Pittsburgh Conference on
Analytical Chemistry and
Applied Spectroscopy,
New Orleans, LA. (3/92)
Video, 8/91
EMSL-LV #460
Journal of High Resolution
Chromatography and Chromat-
ography Communications, Vol
14, 11/91
154. Apparent Plume Attenuation
Distortions due to Vert-
ical Concentration Averaging
in Monitoring Wei Is
155. Evaluation of Slug Test
Methods for Determining
Hydrologic Conductivity
156. Multi-Level Groundwater
Sampling in Glacial Tills
157. Multi-Faceted Evaluation
of a Gasoline Contaminated
Bedrock Aquifer in Connect-
icut
158. Soil-Gas Surveys: Planning
Implementation, and Inter-
pretation
Abstract/Conference and
Proceedings, Geological
Society of America, North-
eastern Section Meeting,
3/92
Proceedings, Geological
Society of America, North-
eastern Section Meeting,
3/92
Proceedings, Geological
Society of America, North-
eastern Section Meeting,
3/92
Proceedings, Geological
Society of America, North-
eastern Section Meeting,
3/92
EPA Internal Report Pending
6/92
CORRECTIVE ACTION
159. Is Soil-Gas Analysis an Effect- Ground Water Monitoring
ive Means of Tracking Contamin- Review Journal, 12/87
ant Plumes in Ground Water?
160. Prototype Expert System for the EPA/600/X-87/413, 11/87
Selection of External Monitoring
Methods for Underground Storage
Tanks
B-14
-------
EMSL-LV PRODUCTS (Cont'd)
161. Soil-Gas Surveying for Subsur-
face Organic Contamination:
Active and Passive Techniques
162. Field Evaluation of Three
Methods of Soil-Gas Measurement
for Delineation of Ground-
Water
163. Soil Venting for Remediation of
Subsurface Gasoline Releases:
Experiments in Very Large
Physical Model
164. Long-Term Monitoring of Soil
Gas Concentrations Near Under-
ground Storage Tanks
165. Protocols for Ground-Water and
Vapor Monitoring--Procedures for
Determining: 1) The Lower Detect-
ion Limit of Vapor Phase Detectors,
2) The Lower Detection Limit of
Liquid-Phase Detectors, 3) The
Specificity of Dissolved Liquid-
Phase Detectors, 4) The Accuracy
and Response Time of Dissolved
Liquid-Phase Detectors, 5) The
Accuracy and Response Time for
Thin-Layer, Liquid-Phase Detectors,
6) The Specificity of Thin-Layer
Liquid-Phase Out-of-Tank Petroleum
Detectors
166. A Field Screening Method for
Gasoline Contamination Using a
Polyethylene Bag Sampling System
167. Draft Summary Report on
Laboratory Evaluation of
Vapor-Phase Interference
Test Method
168. Mass Continuity Modeling of
Monitoring Well Purging
Hazardous Materials
Control Research
Institute's 8th National
Conference and Exhibition
Washington, D.C. (11/87)
Abstract 8/87
Symposium Paper,
Solid Waste Testing and
Quality Assurance Confer-
ence, Washington, D.C. 6/87
NWWA Conference on
Petroleum Hydrocarbon
in Ground Water, Abstract
7/89
NWWA Conference on
Petroleum Hydrocarbon
in Ground Water, Abstract
7/89
EPA/600/X-89/091, 3/89
Ground Water Monitoring
Review, 1/89
EPA/600/X-90/363, 12/90
Contaminant Hydrology, 8/90
B-15
-------
EMSL-LV PRODUCTS (Cont'd)
169. Simulated Monitoring Well
Purging Using Mass-Continuity
Modeling
170. Tank Issues: Design and Place-
ment of Floating Liquid Monit-
oring Wells
171. Tank Issues: Design and Place-
ment of Vapor Monitoring Wells
172. Applications of Field Screen-
ing Techniques for Expediting
and Improving Site Investiga-
tions at LUST Sites
173. "Lab in a Bag" - A New Field
Screening Method for Volatile
Organic Contaminants Using
Total Organic Vapor Detectors
174. Measurement and Analysis of
Adsistor and Figaro Gas
Sensors Used for Underground
Storage Tank Leak Detection
175. A Laboratory In-Soil Evaluation
of 3M Badge and Barringer
Passive Soil Gas Samplers
176. Use of Ion Selective Electrodes
in the Field to Examine Inorganic
Groundwater Quality in Relation
to Biological Activity at Gas-
oline Contaminated Sites
AGU Meeting, Abstract, 3/90
Pending Printing, 2/91
Pending Printing, 2/91
ASTM Symposium, New
Orleans, LA (1/92)
Abstract 4/91
NWWA Convention and
Exposition, Washington,
D.C., Conference Pro-
ceedings (10/91)
Abstract 6/91
EPA Report Pending, 6/92
EPA Report Pending, 7/92
Pending Journal Article
in Environmental Science
and Technology, 7/92
B-16
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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY-LAS VEGAS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK RESEARCH PROGRAM REFERENCES
177. Survey of Vendors of External Petroleum Leak Monitoring Devices for Use
with Underground Storage Tanks, ORD, EMSL-LV, 1988.
178. Portnoff, M.A., 1991. Measurement and Analysis of Adsistor and Figaro
Gas Sensors Used for Underground Storage Tank Leak Detection. Paper
Presentation at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Summer
Meeting, Pittsburg, PA, August 18-21.
179. Portnoff, M.A. 1992. Evaluation of metal Oxide Semiconductor and
Polymer Adsorption: Gas Sensors as Applied to Underground Storage Tank
Leak Detection. Paper Presentation of the ASTM E-50 Committee Meeting:
Symposium on Leak Detection for Underground Storage Tank, New Orleans,
LA, January 29.
180. Robbins, G.A. and T.L. Johnson. 1991. "Lab-in-a-Bag"A New Field
Screening Method to Volatile Organic Contaminants Using Total Organic
Vapor Detections. Proceeding at the Annual Meet, of the Assoc. of
Groundwater Scientist and Engineers (NWWA), Washington, D.C., October
21-23.
181. Stuart, J.D., S. Wang, M. Lacy, G.A. Robbins, J. Jasiorkowski, G.
Binkhorst and J. Martin-Hyden. 1991. Analyses for BTEX in Gasoline
Contaminated Ground Water by a Manual Static Headspace Method, Amer.
Chem. Soc., Pittsburgh Conf. Proceedings, March 4-8, Chicago, IL,
Abstract #577.
182. Stuart, J.D., S. Wang, G.A. Robbins and C. Wood. 1991. Field Screening
of BTEX in Gasoline-Contaminated Ground Water and Soil Samples by a
Manual, Static Headspace GC Method, in Proc. of Second International
Symposium-Field Screening Methods for Hazardous Wastes and Toxic
Chemicals, National Water Well Assoc., February 12-14, Las Vegas, NV,
lOp.
183. Wang, S., J.D. Stuart, M.J. Lacy and G.A. Robbins. 1992. A New Method
for Determining Henry's Law Constants for Volatile Compounds by Static
Headspace/Gas Chromatography, Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical
Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, New Orleans, LA, March 9-13,
Abstract #1181.
184. Stuart, J.D., S. Wang, H. Ke, S.P. Levine and C. Wood. 1992. High-
Speed Gas Chromatography used with the Static Headspace Method to
Analyze for the Volatile Aromatics in Gasoline-Contaminated Groundwater
Samples, Journal of High Resolution Chromatography and Chromatography
Communications, November 1991, Vol. 14, 757p. and the Pittsburgh
Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, New
Orleans, LA, March 9-13, Abstract #887.
B-17
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EMSL-LV REFERENCES (Cont'd)
185. Lacy, M.J., J.D. Stuart, S. Wang, 6.A. Robbins and C. Wood. 1992.
Comparison between Field and Laboratory Measurements for Volatile
Aromatics in Gasoline Contaminated Groundwater Samples, Pittsburgh
Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applies Spectroscopy, New
Orleans, LA, March 9-13, Abstract #1192.
186. Lacy, M.J., S. Wang, J.D. Stuart, G.A. Robbins, G. Binkhorst, and J.
Jasiorkowski. 1991. Analysis of Gasoline Contaminated Groundwater for
MTBE by Purge-and-Trap/Gas Chromatography, Amer. Chem. Soc., Pittsburgh
Conf. Proceedings, March 4-8, Chicago, IL. Abstract #304.
187. Hampton, D.R., R.B. Wagner, H.G. Huevelhorst and J.A. Howell. 1992. A
New Tool to Measure Hydrocarbon Thickness in Shallow Aquifers, Ground
Water Monitoring Review, January.
188. Hampton, D.R., R.B. Wagner, and J.A. Howell. 1992. The Aquifer^
Dipstick for Detecting Free Product Leaked from Underground Storage
Tanks. Presented to the ASTM Symposium on Leak Detection for
Underground Storage Tanks, January.
189. Martin-Hayden, J.M. and G.A. Robbins. 1992. Apparent Plume Attenuation
and Distortions Due to Vertical Concentration Averaging in Monitoring
Wells, Geological Society of America NE Section Conf., March.
190. Green, A., F.L. Pai1 let and J.T. Gurrieri. 1992. Multi-Faceted
Evaluation of a Gasoline Contaminated Bedrock Aquifer in Connecticut,
Geological Society of America NE Section Conf., March.
191. Deyo, B.G., G.K. Binkhorst and G.A. Robbins. 1992. Soil Gas Carbon
Dioxide and Oxygen Anomalies Associated with Subsurface Gasoline
Leakage, Geological Society of America NE Section Conf., March.
192. Hampton, D.R. 1990. Monitoring of free product in wells purposes and
pitfalls, in Proc. of Conf. on Prevention and Treatment of Soil and
Groundwater Contamination in the Petroleum Refining and Distribution
Industry, Oct. 16-17. Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 9.1 - 9.20.
193. Johnson, R.J., K.A. McCarthy and M. Perrott. 1989. Direct Comparison
of Vapor-, Free-Product- and Aqueous-Phase Monitoring for Gasoline Leaks
from Underground Storage Tanks. Proceedings of the Petroleum
Hydrocarbons and Organic Chemicals in Ground Water: Prevention,
Detection and Restoration Conference and Exposition. National Water
Well Association and American Petroleum Institute. Houston TX, pp. 605-
615. Nov. 15-17.
194. Johnson, R.L. 1989. Soil Venting for Remediation of Subsurface
Gasoline Releases: The Implication of Subsurface Gasoline Transport on
the Effectiveness of Soil Vacuum Extraction. Presentation to the
Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Organic Chemicals in Ground Water:
Prevention, Detection and Restoration Conference and Exposition.
National Water Well Association and American Petroleum Institute.
Houston TX. Nov. 15-17.
B-18
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EHSL-LV REFERENCES (Cont'd)
195. Robbins, G.A. and J.M. Martin-Hayden. 1991. Mass Balance Evaluation of
Monitoring Well Purging, Part I: Theoretical Models and Implications for
Representative Sampling. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 8, 203-224.
196. Martin-Hayden, J.M., G.A. Robbins and R.D. Bristol. 1991. Mass Balance
Evaluation of Monitoring Well Purging, Part II: Field Tests at a
Gasoline Contamination Site. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 8, 225-
241.
197. Nikolaidis, N.P., H. Shen, and G.A. Robbins. 1991. Hydrogeologic and
Geochemical Modeling of Chromium Contamination in the Subsurface,
presented at workshop on Chemodynamics of Groundwaters: Confrontation
of Laboratory and Field Experiments and Modeling, Mont Sainte-Odile,
Alsace, France, November 5-8.
198. Jasiorkowski, J.L. and G.A. Robbins. 1991. Systematic Variations in
Relative Abundances of Aromatic Compounds in Gasoline-Contaminated
Ground Water, Proc. of Eastern Focus Conference, National Water Well
Assoc., October 29-31, Portland, Maine, 13p.
199. Wood, C., S. Campbell, J.D. Stuart, S. Wang, M.J. Lacy, G.A. Robbins, J.
Jasiorkowski and G. Binkhorst. 1991. Field Analysis for MTBE in
Gasoline Contaminated Groundwater, Amer. Chem. Soc. Pittsburgh Conf.
Proceedings, March 4-8, Chicago, IL, Abstract #578.
200. Binkhorst, G.K. and G.A. Robbins. March 1992. Evaluation of Slug Test
Methods for Determining Hydraulic Conductivity, Geological Society of
America NE Section Conf.
201. McCarville, M.E., W. Lock, and D.R. Hampton. Tracers for Immiscible
Hydrocarbons in Groundwater: Laboratory Experiments. Abstract
currently under review for Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Organic Chemicals
in Ground Water, Nov. 1992, session on Transport and Fate: Migration of
petroleum hydrocarbons and organic chemicals within hydrogeologic
environments.
202. Johnson, T.L. 1992. Multi-Level Groundwater Sampling in Glacial Tills,
Geological Society of. America NE Section Conf., March.
203. Hampton, D.R. and H.G. Heuvelhorst. 1990. Designing gravel packs to
improve separate-phase hydrocarbon recovery: laboratory experiments.
In Proc. NWWA/API Conf. on Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Organic Chemicals
in Ground Water, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Houston, TX, 195-209.
204. Hampton, D.R., M.M. Smith and S.J. Shank. 1991. Further Laboratory
Studies of Gravel Pack Design for Hydrocarbon Recovery Wells. In Proc.
NWWA/API Conf. on Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Organic Chemicals in Ground
Water, Nov. 20-22. Houston, TX, 615-629.
B-19
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EMSL-LV REFERENCES (Cont'd)
205. Guisto, R., J. Maurer, N.A. Schultz, J.D. Stuart, G.A. Robbins, J.
Jasiorkowski and G. Binkhorst. 1991. Field Analyses of Certain
Inorganic Attributes in Gasoline-Contaminated Groundwater Samples, Amer.
Chem. Soc., Pittsburgh Conf. Proceedings, March 4-8, Chicago, IL,
Abstract #554.
206. Guisto, R., J.D. Stuart, J. Maurer, N.A. Schultz, G.A. Robbins, R.D.
Bristol and J. Jasiorkowski. 1992. Use of Ion Specific Selective
Electrodes in the Field to Examine Inorganic Groundwater Quality in
Relation to Biological Activity at Gasoline Contaminated Sites
(currently in review).
207. Paillett, F.L., A. Green and J. Gurrieri. 1991. Identification of
Hydraulically Conductive Fractures Intersecting Boreholes in Fractured
Gneiss Near Ashford, Connecticut, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File
Report.
208. Dupont, R.R. 1990. Indicators of Bioremediation: Monitoring Scenarios
and Guidelines. Presentation to the API/EPA sponsored Field Monitoring
of Bioremediation Workshop (EMSL-LV invited speaker). September 6.
Oklahoma City, OK.
209. Johnson, R.J., R. Hinchee, P. Johnson, D. McWhorter, and I.A. Goodman.
1992. Tank Issue Paper, EMSL-LV (in preparation).
210. Dupont, R.R., W.J. Doucette, and R.E. Hinchee. 1991. Assessment of in
situ bioremediation potential and the application of bioventing at a
fuel-contaminated site. Proceedings, In Situ and On-Site
Bioreclamation: An International Symposium, San Diego, California.
March 19-21.
211. Hinchee, R.E., D.C. Downey, R.R. Dupont, P. Aggarwal, and R.E. Miller.
1991. Enhancing Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Through Soil
Venting. Journal of Hazardous Materials. In Press.
212. Golding, R.D. and T.A. Wichman. 1992. Use of Field Analytical Methods
in UST Site Assessments: A Summary of Results at 635 Sites, AST"M
Symposium on Leak Detection and Site Remediation, New Orleans, LA,
January 29.
213. Lacy, M.J. 1992. Evaluation of the Interrelationship of Soil-Gas and
Groundwater at a Gasoline Contaminated Site, Pittsburgh Conference on
Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, March 9-13, Abstract
#715.
214. Cohen, A.D., M.S. Rollins, W.M. Zunic, and J.R. Durig. 1991. Effects
of Chemical and Physical Differences in Peats on their Ability to
Extract Hydrocarbons from Water. Water Res.. 25 (9), 1047-1060.
B-20
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EMSL-LV REFERENCES (Cont'd)
215. Durig, J.R., G.D. Calvert and J.S. Esterle. 1989. Development of a
Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatographic-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic
Technique for the Study of Woody Peats. J. Analvt. Appl. Pvrol. 14,
295-308.
216. Freeze, R.A., P.A. Domenico, F.W. Schwarz and L. Smith. 1989.
Contaminant Hydrogeology: From Field Investigation to Remedial Design --
A Strategy for Decision-Making. Short Course.
217. Robbins, G.A., with Midwest Research Institute. 1990. Soil Vapor
Survey Boot Camp Training Manual and Course(s).
218. Robbins, G.A., with Midwest Research Institute. 1991. Lab-in-a-Bag
Training Manual and Course(s).
B-21
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APPENDIX C
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
-------
RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Identification of the State of the Art in Leak Prevention for Underground Storage
Tanks
DURATION: FY85
RESOURCES: $100K
OBJECTIVE:
To examine the structural design and operational practices associated with USTs in the context of leak
prevention and to identify research and development needs to advance leak prevention technology.
RATIONALE:
Many standards, guidelines, and recommended practices for the design and operation of UST systems
were promulgated by several professional and industrial organizations. Because many of these
procedures had overlapping requirements, a cohesive and coordinated approach was needed that applies
to all types of UST systems.
DESCRIPTION:
This project reviewed the current practices in UST structural design, corrosion protection, installation,
testing, and operation. It examined the available statistical information on the demographics of leaking
USTs and the most dominant failure mechanisms. The applicable codes and standards for the design,
installation, and operation of UST systems were investigated and deficiencies were identified.
Recommendations derived from this study include: (1) establishing a national data- base to provide
information on failure rates and mechanisms and their correlation to design, engineering, installation,
and operation practices and corrective actions; (2) assessing the effectiveness of cathodic protection
methods, their interaction with the environment, and the performance of retrofitting existing USTs; (3)
developing compatibility protocols for the selection of appropriate materials of construction and long-
term protection; and (4). developing methods to assess the life expectancy of both new and existing
systems and to extend their useful life.
OUTPUT:
Final report entitled "Leak Prevention in Underground Storage Tanks: A State of the Art Survey,"
EPA/600/2-87/018, March 1987.
C-l
-------
RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Identification of the State of the Art in Underground Tank Leak Detection Methods
DURATION:
FY85
RESOURCES:
$150K
OBJECTIVE:
To identify and assess the performance of existing and developing techniques to detect leaks in
underground fuel storage tanks.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act directed EPA to develop regulations for the prevention,
detection, and corrective action of releases from USTs containing petroleum and other hazardous
substances. Although release detection was a main focus of the regulation, a lack of information was
available on the identification and capabilities of existing leak detection methods.
Existing and developing leak detection methods were reviewed, and techniques for offsetting the effects
of variables that impact accuracy were evaluated. Volumetric, nonvolumetric, and other leak detection
methods were detailed in a final report that summarized general information, general operational
capabilities, and compensation for the effects of these variables.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) were contacted
for assistance in developing a comprehensive list of available detection methods. A limited patent search
was performed to identify methods currently being developed but not yet available commercially.
Fifteen volumetric leak testing methods, seven nonvolumetric leak testing methods, three inventory
monitoring methods, and eleven leak effects monitoring methods were identified.
The project identified the need for additional data on the performance of individual leak detection
methods to determine relative accuracy among methods. Performance claims up to this time were not
well documented and were entirely based on manufacturer's literature and practitioner's information.
Final report entitled "Underground Tank Leak Detection Methods: A State-of-the-Art Review,"
EPA/600/2-86/001, January 1986.
RATIONAL:
DESCRIPTION:
OUTPUT:
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
DURATION:
TITLE:
Construction of a Full-Scale Underground Storage Tank Test Apparatus
FY85 and FY86
RESOURCES:
S1.400K
OBJECTIVE:
To design and construct a full-scale equivalent of a commercial underground tank facility that can be
operated under the controlled conditions necessary to obtain reproducible test results.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act directed EPA to develop regulations for the prevention,
detection, and corrective action of releases from underground storage tanks containing petroleum and
other hazardous substances. Although release detection was a main focus of the regulation, information
was insufficient to specify either a performance standard or method of detecting leaks. Furthermore,
the basic experimental information necessary to develop accurate leak detection methods was not
available. To obtain the data necessary to support the development of the UST release detection
regulations, EPA needed a full-scale test apparatus.
The UST Test Apparatus was built specifically to evaluate the performance of volumetric leak detection
equipment. Before the Test Apparatus was designed, a detailed program plan showing how the
equipment would be evaluated was prepared. Preliminary field experiments were conducted to support
the development of the Test Apparatus design and instrumentation. During construction, the
instrumentation, calibration procedures, data acquisition and analysis software, and quality assurance
procedures were developed. Once construction was complete, the UST Test Apparatus underwent an
extensive check-out to verify its effectiveness for evaluating commercial leak detection methods.
The experimental setup consists of two 8,000-gal underground tanks (one made of coated steel, die other
of fiberglass); secondary containment (a synthetic membrane) for each underground tank; 3,000-gal and
6,000-gal aboveground tanks with heat exchange coils; a 154,000-Btu/h electric heater and a
60,000-Btu/h chiller; 400-gal-minimum transfer/circulation pumps; and monitoring wells (both inside
and outside the secondary containment). The apparatus was designed to provide maximum control over
the major factors that affect the performance of volumetric leak detection systems. Leaks of different
sizes can be simulated in the tanks. Control over the product temperature and other factors that affect
the accuracy (or performance) of leak detection methods is possible.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
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OUTPUTS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Internal EPA report entitled "A Program Plan to Evaluate Underground Storage Tank Test
Methods,* March 1985.
Internal EPA report entitled "Preliminary Experiments on the Ambient Noise Sources in
Underground Tank Testing," September 1985.
Internal EPA report entitled Test Plan for the EPA Tank Test Method Evaluation Program,"
May 1986.
Internal EPA report entitled "Protocol for Evaluating Volumetric Leak Detection Methods for
Underground Storage Tanks," June 1986.
PEA GRAVEL
' liner for SECONDARY CONTAMMENT
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of Leak Detection Methods for Underground Storage Tank Systems
DURATION:
FY 87 to FY89
RESOURCES:
$1835K
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the current performance of commercially available volumetric test methods and automatic
tank gauging systems for leak detection and inventory control in underground gasoline storage tanks.
Specific objectives were to: (1) produce the technical data necessaiy to support the development of
release detection regulations, (2) define the current practice of commercially available systems, (3) make
specific recommendations to improve the current practice, and (4) provide technical information that
would help users select suitable methods for testing the integrity of underground storage tanks.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act directed EPA to develop regulations for the prevention,
detection, and corrective action of releases from underground storage tanks (USTs) containing
petroleum and other hazardous substances. Although release detection was a main focus of the
regulation, information was insufficient to specify either a performance standard or methods of detecting
leaks. Furthermore, the basic experimental information necessaiy to develop accurate leak detection
methods was not available. With the completion of EPA's UST Test Apparatus in Edison, New Jersey,
these data needs could be addressed under controlled conditions.
Phase I - Evaluation of Volumetric Leak Detection Methods. Twenty-five commercially available
volumetric leak detection systems were evaluated at the UST Test Apparatus. The fundamentals of
testing tanks volumetrically were established and incorporated into a unique approach to determine and
resolve the technological and engineering issues associated with volumetric leak detection, as well as to
define the current practice of commercially available test methods. The approach uses experimentally
validated models of the important sources of ambient noise that effect volume changes in nonleaking
and leaking tanks, a large database of product-temperature changes that result from the delivery of
product to a tank at temperatures different from the extant product, and a mathematical model of each
test method to estimate the performance of that method. The test-method model includes the
instrumentation noise, the configuration of the sensors, the test protocol, the data analysis algorithms,
and the detection criterion. This study, along with the ambient noise experiments, contributed to a
better understanding of the environmental factors that inhibit detection (temperature, structural
deformation, trapped vapor, evaporation and condensation, and waves).
An estimate of the performance of each system was made in terms of the probability of detection and
probability of false alarm against a 038-L/h (0.10-gal/h) leak rate, using the detection threshold
employed by each system at the time of the evaluation. The measured performance was found to be
considerably poorer than the often claimed 0.19 L/h (0.05 gal/h) and limited by current protocol and
practice rather than by hardware design. Recommendations were made for each volumetric system
evaluated and for the technology in general. As part of this study, an estimate was made of the
potential performance that could be achieved by the systems evaluated. The results showed that, with
the recommended modifications, it was possible for over 60% of these systems to achieve a performance
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between 0.19 L/h (0.05 gal/h) and 0.56 L/h (0.15 gal/h), and for 100% to achieve a performance of
approximately 0.80 L/h (0.20 gal/h), given that a probability of detection of 99% and a probability of
fake alarm of 1% were to be achieved.
Phase II - Evaluation of Automatic Product Leaking Monitoring Devices. Among the methods of leak
detection that could be permanently installed in a tank system, the most commonly used was an
automatic tank gauge (ATG). These gauges had been developed for inventory control and were used
primarily for that purpose, not for leak detection. They had, however, an inherent capability to perform
accurate tests.
An evaluation of the performance of automatic tank gauges for both leak detection and inventory control
was performed. The leak detection evaluation was based on data collected at the UST Test Apparatus,
and the inventory control evaluation was based on a simulation model of important noise sources. The
analyses verified that the 02-gal/h regulatory standard could be met with automatic tank gauges.
Because of the expense involved, all of the commercial ATGs could not be evaluated. Instead, RREL
focused on the technical aspects needed for developing a regulatory standard, and OUST prepared
standard test procedures with which a manufacturer could evaluate its own equipment (or have it
evaluated by a third party).
The experiments were conducted at the UST Test Apparatus. Temperature and level measurements
were reduced into a database for evaluation of ATGs according to the same protocol that had been used
to evaluate volumetric tank tightness test methods. From this database, a preliminary estimate of the
performance of two ATGs was made. In addition, a preliminary assessment of the errors produced by
evaporation and condensation was made. RREL also developed a model of the sources of noise for
inventory analysis that could be used to predict the performance of a wide variety of test protocols.
Several important sources of noise that were not being compensated for (i.e., the temperature changes
that occur in the pipeline) were identified for the first time. The model was used to evaluate the most
common methods of doing inventory-control-based leak testing. The model results were found to be
in good agreement with those obtained with a large database of inventory records.
Phase III - Technology Transfer. Most of the technical information developed in EPA's R&D programs
in leak detection was initially directed toward the developers of the federal regulations (OUST) and the
developers of leak detection equipment. Once technically defensible standards had been developed, and
the leak detection industry had sufficient technical information to develop new methods (or adapt old
ones) that would be in compliance with the regulatory standard, an effort was made to effect technology
transfer to the regulated community. Information was needed by the tank owners and operators who
had to select test equipment that would comply with the regulations, by the state and local regulators
who had to implement the federal regulations, and by the engineering community that had to design
UST facilities.
RREL prepared and delivered four all-day presentations summarizing the results of EPA's research on
underground storage tank leak detection. In addition to the technical presentations on methods and
systems, presentations were given on how to select a method, how to assess the cost of the selection,
and how to evaluate the performance of the selection. RREL also prepared a variety of different types
of reports and papers to address all sectors of the regulated community.
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OUTPUTS:
The primary output of this study provided the technical framework for the development of the regulatory
standards and changed the way industry tested tanks. Selected products from this work include:
1. Technical paper entitled "U.S. EPA Evaluation of Volumetric UST Leak Detection Methods,"
Proceedings of the 13th Annual Research Symposium, May 1987; EPA/600/9-87/015, July 1987.
2. Technical report entitled "A Leak Detection Performance Evaluation of Automatic Tank
Gauging Systems and Product Line Leak Detectors at Retail Stations," American Petroleum
Institute, January 1988.
3. Technical report entitled "Inventory Analysis in Underground Storage Tank Leak Detection,"
March 1988.
4. Technical report entitled "Common Errors in Leak Detection Usage," March 1988.
5. Technical paper entitled "Discovery of a New Source of Error in Tightness Tests on Overfilled
Tanks," Proceedings of the 14th Annual Research Symposium, May 1988; CERI-88-20, May
1988.
6. Technology Transfer Seminars entitled "Leak Detection Methods for USTs," San Francisco,
CA - September 1988; King of Prussia, PA - September 1988; Atlanta, GA - October 1988;
Rosemont, IL - November, 1988.
7. Final, report entitled "Evaluation of Volumetric Leak Detection Methods for Underground Fuel
Storage Tanks," EPA/600/2-88/068a,b, November 1988.
8. Technical paper entitled "Evaluation of the Accuracy of Volumetric Leak Detection. Methods
for Underground Storage Tanks Containing Gasoline," Proceedings of the 1989 Oil Spill
Conference, San Antonio, Texas.
9. Final report entitled "Volumetric Tank Testing: An Overview," EPA/625/9-89/009, April 1989.
10. Technical paper entitled "Summary of the Results of EPA's Evaluation of Volumetric Leak
Detection Methods," Proceedings of the 15th Annual Research Symposium, April 1989;
EPA/600/9-90/006, February 1990.
11. Technical paper entitled 'Test Procedures for Evaluating the Performance of Underground
Storage Tank Leak Detection Methods," National Water Well Association, August 1990.
12. Peer review journal article entitled "Evaluation of Volumetric Leak Detection Methods Used
in Underground Storage Tanks," Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 26, 1991;
EPA/600/J-91/155.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of Pipeline Leak Detection Methodologies
DURATION:
FY87 and FY88
RESOURCES:
$310K
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the performance of methods that use pressure tests to determine the integrity of pressurized
underground pipelines containing petroleum products and to determine whether these pressure-based
detection systems could meet the same performance standards as leak detection systems for tanks.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act directed EPA to develop regulations for the prevention,
detection, and corrective action of releases from underground storage tanks and associated pipelines
containing petroleum and other hazardous substances. Although release detection was a main focus of
the regulation, information was insufficient to specify either a performance standard or method of
detecting pipeline leaks. Data were needed so that UST regulations for line tightness and line
monitoring could be established. Experiments were required to measure how leaks and temperature
changes affect pressure changes in the line. Furthermore, the basic theoretical and experimental
information necessary for the industry, as a whole, to conduct such tests was not available.
This project was particularly important because it was suspected that the majority of all leaks occurred
not in the tanks themselves, but in the associated piping. A pressurized pipeline system can remain
functional and dispense product even if it is leaking. Because of the high operational pressures, a large
release of product can occur in a very short period of time.
To support the development of pipeline release detection regulations, a full-scale pipeline test apparatus
was constructed and tied into the UST Test Apparatus. Two systems were designed to allow for the
development and assessment of both pipeline leak prevention and leak detection technologies. Both
systems are instrumented to allow for monitoring of the product in the line, the backfill, the operating
characteristics of the line, and all appurtenances on the line. Both systems can be pressurized, and leaks
can be simulated.
The pipeline test apparatus consists of two 200-ft, 2-in.-diameter pipelines filled with gasoline. One of
the lines is made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic and the other of steel. Temperature sensors were
placed in each line at 10-ft intervals, in the backfill surrounding the lines, and in the native soil. The
pressure in the lines was monitored with mechanical and electronic pressure sensors. The lines can be
divided, by means of valves, into 50-, 100-, 150- or 200-ft sections. The lines contain other
appurtenances normally found at retail sendee stations (e.g., a mechanical line leak detector).
RREL designed and conducted a set of experiments on both the fiberglass and steel pipelines to
determine performance of the mechanical line leak detector and pressure-sensing pipeline leak detection
systems. Tlie mechanical line leak detector experiments verified that a 3-gal/h standard was technically
defensible, but the device was sensitive to temperature changes and to the presence of vapor in the line.
Physical models were developed of the pressure changes due to a leak and due to product temperature
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changes that occur in a pressurized pipeline. A simulation was developed, validated experimentally, and
used to show that a waiting period of 4 to 12 hours was required for the temperature changes to decay
sufficiently to allow a line tightness or monitoring test and to permit an overnight line test. RREL
developed a finite-element model to estimate the rate of temperature change in the pipeline. This
model was validated experimentally, and the thermal diffusivity constants necessary to make predictions
were developed in a set of laboratory experiments. The output of this model was input to the
simulation.
OUTPUTS:
1. This project resulted in the establishment of technically defensible standards for pipeline
tightness testing and automatic line leak detectors. The project also demonstrated that it was
possible to reliably test the 2-in.-diameter pipelines normally used at retail service stations and
private storage facilities. All sectors of die UST community had a direct need for this
information; however, the primaiy audience was the EPA regulator.
2. Peer review journal article entitled "Pressure and Temperature Fluctuations in Underground
Storage Tank Pipelines Containing Gasoline," Journal of Oil and Chemical Pollution, Vol. 7
(1990).
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Development of a Protocol for Evaluating Pipeline Leak Detection Systems for
Petroleum USTs
DURATION:
FY89 and FY90
RESOURCES:
S140K
OBJECTIVE:
To develop and validate a protocol for evaluating the performance of pipeline leak detectors that
measure pressure or volume changes in the line.
EPA's UST regulations require that the owners of tank systems periodically test their tanks and
pipelines using leak detection systems that meet minimum performance standards. No leak detection
system can be used unless it can be certified as capable of meeting these Federal standards. In order
to support this certification program for demonstrable performance, the EPA Office of Underground
Storage Tanks required standardized test procedures to evaluate seven different types of leak detection
systems. This project addressed the development of a standardized certification procedure for pipeline
leak detection devices.
All approaches to quantifying the performance of line leak detectors involve the development of a
histogram of the noise and a histogram of the signal-plus-noise for the test conditions under which a
leak detection system will be used. The noise histogram is developed from the flow-rate output of many
leak detection tests on nonleaking pipelines. The signal-plus-noise histogram is estimated from the noise
histogram and the relationship between the signal and the noise. The calculations necessaiy to estimate
the probability of detection and probability of false alarm from the noise and signal-plus-noise
histograms are well defined. Approaches to characterizing the histogram of the noise were developed
and validated at the UST Test Apparatus.
Unlike the case of leak detection systems for underground tanks (volumetric tank tightness methods and
automatic tank gauging systems), no evaluation procedures existed for systems used on pipelines. A
general-purpose evaluation protocol was developed that allowed the data to be collected in five different
ways and that was applicable to tanks as well as pipelines. This protocol was designed for use with
pipeline leak detectors that measure pressure or volume changes in the line. The main technical issue
that needed to be addressed was the standardization of the test conditions under which the evaluation
was to be performed. Unlike tanks, most of the pipeline leak detection sjystems are coupled to the
characteristics of the pipeline. A number of novel devices were developed to make all pipelines have
the same characteristics. A numerical, finite-difference heat-conduction model was used to simulate the
product temperature conditions in the line so that the method used to generate the temperature
conditions in the evaluation could be standardized. The protocol that was developed addressed (1) the
3-gal/h automatic Leak monitors, (2) the 0.1-gal/b line tightness test methods, and (3) 0.2-gal/h
automatic monitoring methods. The protocol allowed for data to be collected on a hill-scale test
apparatus (e^ the UST Test Apparatus) or from operational retail stations. The statistical procedures
for analyzing the data were more realistic and were greatly simplified in comparison to previous
methods.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
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OUTPUTS:
1. Final report entitled "Standard Test Procedures for Evaluating Leak Detection Methods:
Pipeline Leak Detection Systems," EPA/600/S2-90/050, July 1990.
2. Journal article entitled "Test Procedures for Evaluating the Performance of Underground
Storage Tank Leak Detection Methods," National Water Well Association Conference, August
1990.
3. Final report entitled "Standard Test Procedures for Evaluating Leak Detection Methods:
Pipeline Leak Detection Systems," EPA/530/UST-90/010, September 1990.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Evaluation of the Technical Aspects of Underground Storage Tank Closure
DURATION: FY89 and FY90
RESOURCES: $135K
OBJECTIVE:
To obtain a thorough technical and scientific understanding of UST residuals at closure: their origins,
physical and chemical properties, and ease of removal by different cleaning methods.
RATIONALE:
Federal UST regulations address removing USTs from service. A key concern in UST closure activities
is the manner and extent of tank cleaning that is appropriate and feasible when removing a tank in order
to ensure that the surrounding area is not contaminated during tank cleaning and excavation efforts and
damage to the environment and resulting additional cost for site remediation may be avoided.
DESCRIPTION:
Initially, information was obtained via phone contacts with knowledgeable individuals associated with
tank cleaning companies from published and unpublished literature, from site visits, and from
worksheets completed by State representatives. This initial effort was followed by a field sampling and
analysis program at sites-of-opportunity where USTs were currently undergoing closure. The primary
objective of the field program was to obtain an independent assessment of cleaning effectiveness; a
secondary objective was to obtain additional information on the hazardous characteristics and
composition of the residuals generated from the closure activities. The investigation was limited to
underground storage tanks containing gasoline and diesel fuels.
Gasoline and diesel USTs were found to have significant quantities of residuals in them at closure,
typically tens to a few hundreds of gallons. Although little explicit guidance is available, however, tank
cleaning and removal companies are apparently capable of removing most of these residuals with fairly
simple cleaning techniques. Sludges from both gasoline and No. 2 fuel oil USTs were found to contain
significant concentrations of lead, barium, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic.
As expected, both fuel residuals also contained significant concentrations of benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). Aqueous rinse solutions generated from tank cleaning operations
were found to contain levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (up to 480 ppm) and BTEX (up to 70
ppm) that would require pretreatment prior to discharge.
OUTPUT:
1. Technical paper entitled "Consideration of Underground Storage Tank Residuals at Closure,"
Proceedings of the 15th Annual Research Symposium, April 1989; EPA/600/9-90/006, February
1990.
2. Final report entitled "Technical Aspects of UST Closure," EPA/600/R-92-057, May 1992.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
DURATION:
TITLE:
Evaluation of Procedures and Equipment for Internal Inspection of Underground
Storage Tanks
FY89 and FY90
RESOURCES:
$155K
OBJECTIVE:
To identify and evaluate easting procedures and equipment used for internal inspection of underground
storage tanks.
Internal inspection fulfills an important role in preventing leaks from tanks. Inspections can be
conducted during installation, repair, maintenance, and upgrading with methods ranging from simple
to complex. The UST regulations focused primarily on leak detection rather than tank inspection and
referred UST users to the many standards developed by nationally recognized associations. No data
were available, however, to evaluate the various methods and equipment available. A standard
identification and evaluation of the state of the art in internal inspection procedures and equipment was
needed by the regulated community.
Current techniques for inspecting USTs to identify weaknesses of tank walls, detect the presence of
corrosion, observe the quality of lining materia], and determine the suitability of cleaning techniques
prior to closure were identified and evaluated. Seventeen methods were identified based upon an
analysis of the literature and through discussions with standards-writing organizations, UST
manufacturers, trade and professional societies, and industry experts. The study examined the various
tools, techniques, and protocols for conducting internal inspections and documented the significant
factors that are addressed during UST inspections. Each method was evaluated based on its objective,
its procedural steps, the equipment and instrumentation needed, the circumstances under which it is
performed, and important considerations for its use in the field.
Final report entitled "State-of-the-Art Procedures and Equipment for Internal Inspection of
Underground Storage Tanks," EPA/600/2-90/061, January 1991.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
OUTPUT:
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of Leak Detection Methods for Large Underground Storage Tank Systems
DURATION:
FY89 to FY93
RESOURCES:
$460K
OBJECTIVE:
To provide the necessary experimental data for the leak detection industry to develop and evaluate
methods for accurately and reliably testing large tanks and large pipelines that are subject to state and
federal regulations.
EPA regulations require that underground tanks and pressurized pipelines containing petroleum and
other hazardous substances be tested for leaks on a regular basis.
The performances of existing state-of-the-art leak detection systems on tanks of a given size range
cannot be extrapolated to larger tanks without additional, supportive experimental data. Volumetric
testing protocols must be modified before they can be used on larger tanks, and rules must be developed
as a function of tank size. Similarly, information on large-diameter pipelines is needed for testing
pipelines found at truck stops, as part of airport hydrant systems, and in aboveground tank terminals,
which may be 3 to 12 in. in diameter and thousands of feet in length.
An ongoing project that RREL initiated in 1989 was designed to develop rules for volumetrically testing
tanks with capacities between 8,000 and 50,000. Although these rules were developed for testing 50,000-
gal tanks [1-4], methods based on these rules still need to be evaluated for performance. These rules
also need to be modified and evaluated to test tanks with capacities between 8,000 and 50,000 gal (e.g.,
20,000 gal). These rules specify the number of temperature sensors, duration of a test, precision of the
level and temperature sensors, and length of the waiting periods as a function of tank size needed to
test a tank of a given capacity.
A number of leak-detection systems available commercially can be used to detect leaks in the small
pipelines (2-in.-diameter, 100-ft-long) found at retail service stations. In a previous project [C-4], RREL
developed and evaluated models of the pressure and volume changes that occur in small pressurized
pipelines, separating those changes that are due to a change in temperature from those due to a leak,
and developed and evaluated rules for performing a pressure test on these small pipelines.
This work has been divided into two tasks-one for tanks and one for pipelines. An experimental
program is being undertaken to address both tasks.
For tanks, the objective is to gather data for a range of tank sizes and, based on these data, to develop
a set of rules for conducting volumetric tests that meet the regulatory standards. Two or three tanks
will be instrumented with a vertical array of closely spaced, accurately calibrated thermistors. The
number of thermistors will greatly exceed the minimum number required for temperature compensation
in the largest tank used in the evaluation. Several sensors with different precisions will be used to
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measure liquid level. The EPA evaluation procedures for testing tanks will be followed, except that each
test data will be collected continuously for 24 to 48 hours.
In posttest analyses, performance estimates will be made for different waiting periods,
temperature-sensor spacings, test durations, and level/temperature sensor precisions. In addition, extra
thermistors will be used to determine the impact of horizontal and vertical gradients on a test At a
minimum, a 20,000- and a 50,000-gal tank will be used and possibly a third tank of 35,000-gal capacity
to allow extrapolation, as a function of tank diameter and length, of minimum waiting periods, number
of thermistors, test duration, and instrument precision. Existing tanks will be used for these
measurements, or one or more tanks of the required size could be installed at EPA's UST Test
Apparatus. The output of this effort will consist of (1) a set of evaluated test procedures as a function
of tank size and (2) guidelines by which a manufacturer could adopt these procedures.
Two types of pipeline experiments will be conducted: one to address leak detection in pipelines
associated with large underground or aboveground tanks and one to address leak detection in airport
hydrant systems and other veiy large pipelines. The former experiment will involve tests in a pipeline
between 2 and 4 in. in diameter and 200 to 1,000 ft in length at EPA's UST Test Apparatus. The latter
will involve tests on a pipeline 8 to 12 in. in diameter and approximately 1 mile in length; these tests
may have to be performed on an operational system. The objective in both sets of tests will be to
develop and validate models of the changes in volume and pressure that occur as a function of leak rate,
temperature change, and line compressibility (including the effects of trapped gas). The models will
then be used in developing pressure-based or volumetric methods of testing.
OUTPUTS:
1. Final report entitled "Volumetric Leak Detection in Lai^ge Underground Storage Tanks,"
EPA/600/2-91/044a and EPA/600/2-91/044b, August 1991.
2. Peer review journal article entitled "Evaluation of Leak Detection Methods for Large
Underground Storage Tanks," Journal of Hazardous Materials (in process).
3. Technical paper entitled "Evaluation of Internal Leak Detection Technology for Laige
Underground Storage Tanks," Proceedings of the 16th Annual RREL Hazardous Waste
Research Symposium, April 1990; EPA/600/9-90/037, August 1990.
4. EPA report pending, "Extrapolating the Performance Capability of Volumetric Leak Detection
System from Small to Large Storage Tanks," July 1992.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of Leak Detection in Underground Storage Tanks Containing Chemicals
DURATION:
FY90 and FY91
RESOURCES:
$120K
OBJECTIVE:
The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the chemicals being stored in underground storage tanks,
(2) identify the leak detection practices currently being used or which are potentially applicable, and (3)
assess the influence of the physical properties of these stored products on the performance of volumetric
measurement systems.
In addition to petroleum products, USTs are used to store a variety of chemical compounds. These
tanks come under the same leak detection requirements as USTs containing petroleum products.
Numerous leak detection technologies that have been developed for use on fuel storage tanks can be
applied to these tanks; however, detailed knowledge of the interaction of the contained product with
these systems is required for reliable performance results.
UST registration program databases from 14 states were tabulated and analyzed to determine the
characteristics of tank systems and the products they contain. The first use of this information was to
determine if existing volumetric and inventory control systems could be used to test the integrity of the
tanks. The second use of the information was to determine how these systems will be upgraded to meet
the 1998 regulations.
From the state information, RREL compiled a database of the tank systems containing chemicals and
analyzed their characteristics and their contents. Approximately 50 percent of the tanks containing
hazardous chemicals, as defined by CERCLA, consisted of organic solvents (acetone, toluene, xylene,
methanol, methyl-ethyl ketone). In general, the tanks were old (over 18 years) and large (with an
average size of 7,200 gal), and over 85 percent were made of steel. A survey of the tank owners and
providers of testing services revealed that most of the underground chemical tanks were being replaced
with aboveground tanks or with double-walled tanks. Also, none of the tank owners used inventory
control for leak detection. This method was apparently difficult to apply because of the inaccuracy of
metering devices being used.
The performance of volumetric leak detection systems in USTs containing chemicals was determined
to be similar to performance in USTs containing gasoline. Performance is directly related to the
coefficient of thermal expansion of the product. Since gasoline has a higher coefficient of thermal
expansion than most chemicals, a system that was evaluated for gasoline could be used with other
products and still maintain a similar level of performance assuming that the actual hardware is
compatible with the product
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Technical paper entitled "Underground Storage Tanks. Containing Hazardous Chemicals,"
Proceedings of the 17th Annual RREL Hazardous Waste Research Symposium, April 1991;
EPA/600/9-91/002, April 1991.
Technical paper entitled "Volumetric Leak Detection in Underground Storage Tanks Containing
Chemicals," Proceedings of the 84th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management
Association, June 1991.
Final report entitled "Chemicals Stored in USTs: Characteristics and Leak Detection,"
EPA/600/2-91/037, August 1991.
Peer review journal article entitled "Characteristics of Underground Storage Tanks Containing
Chemicals," American Society for Testing Materials, STP 1161, June 1992.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of Leak Detection in "Small" Underground Storage Tanks
DURATION:
FY94 and FY95
RESOURCES:
$100K
OBJECTIVE:
To develop and evaluate a simple and inexpensive method of testing for leaks in small underground
storage tanks such as home-heating-oil tanks and to make this method such that it can be used by the
tank owner.
There is a large population of small tanks such as home-heating-oil tanks, generally less than 500 gal
in capacity, that may be leaking. The EPA release detection regulation does not require that these tanks
be tested for leaks. Some states do regulate them, however, and a simple and inexpensive leak detection
method that could be used by the homeowner would greatly assist in identifying and controlling this
source of contamination.
A survey of home-heating-oil USTs will be made to determine the type of access generally available.
Once the means of access is known, one or more applicable volumetric leak detection methods will be
developed and then evaluated in terms of performance, cost, and ease of use. The performance
evaluation of the method(s) will be conducted on a 500-gal tank installed at the UST Test Apparatus,
and before being finalized, the method(s) will be field tested by 25 tank owners.
The output of this study will be directed toward the tank owner and the tank manufacturer. A simple,
easy-to-understand instructional brochure will be prepared for use by the tank owners. Additional
technical details will be summarized in an ORD Final Report and a technical paper for presentation at
EPA's annual RREL research symposium. As a means of further supporting technology transfer, an
instructional video will be developed that illustrates how to use the method in conducting a leak
detection test.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
OUTPUTS:
C-ll
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Cathodic Protection in Underground Storage Tanks
DURATION:
FY94 and FY95
RESOURCES:
$250K
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effectiveness of new and retrofitted cathodic protection methods for underground
storage tanks.
The EPA regulation for USTs requires that all existing single-walled steel tanks be cathodically
protected before 1998. Both impressed current and anode-cathode approaches are allowed, but the
effectiveness of these techniques has not been investigated. Moreover, most existing tank systems will
require retrofitting. If the retrofit is not done properly, it can, instead of prolonging the life of a tank,
accelerate corrosion and produce leaks. A systematic experimental investigation needs to be conducted
to determine the effectiveness of both new and retrofitted systems and to develop guidelines for their
implementation.
A field study will be conducted to determine what methods of cathodic protection are being used in the
field and the effectiveness of each method. A sample population consisting of 75 to 125 UST facilities
containing steel tanks will be selected for analysis. The sample population will include three types of
UST systems: (1) systems that have been cathodically protected when new, (2) systems that have been
retrofitted with cathodic protection after installation, and (3) systems that have not been protected.
Each of these categories must include at least 25 tanks, and 25 to 50 percent of the tanks in each
category should be over 20 years old. A history of each tank will be compiled and a detailed set of
measurements made. The data obtained from the field measurements and questionnaires will then be
tabulated and statistically analyzed. From the data, guidelines for implementation of cathodic protection
retrofits will be established.
The output of this study will be directed toward consulting engineers, regulators, tank installers, and tank
owners. The technical details will be summarized in an ORD Final Report. Two technical papers will
also be prepared: one for submittal to a peer-reviewed journal and one for presentation at EPA's
annual RREL research symposium.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
OUTPUTS:
C-12
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of Leak Detection in Underground Storage Tanks Containing Alternative
Fuels and Other Petroleum Products
DURATION:
FY95 and FY96
RESOURCES:
$250K
OBJECTIVE:
To adapt and evaluate volumetric methods of leak detection for testing tanks containing alternative fuels
Over the next several years, alternative fuels will begin to replace traditional gasoline and diesel fuels.
Some of these may not be compatible with storage tank systems designed for traditional motor fuels,
or with the methods of leak detection used to determine the integrity of tanks and their associated
pipelines.
A recently completed RREL study has indicated that volumetric methods can be used to test tanks
containing a wide range of chemicals, but some modifications to the methods may be required. In
particular, accurate estimates of the coefficient of thermal expansion, Ce, will be required because the
accuracy of volumetric methods of leak detection is directly proportional to the accuracy of the value
of Ce. Values of Ce have been tabulated for a wide range of petroleum fuels, but values for newer fuels
will now have to be determined, and/or a simple field method devised for estimating Ce in situ.
This project will consist of three tasks. The first task is to develop a method to estimate the value of
Ce for the newly introduced fuels. This will be done according to the procedures used by the National
Bureau of Standards in developing the currently used tables. The second task is to devise a
simple-to-use field method for estimating Ce from a sample of the product taken immediately before
or after a leak detection test. The third task will provide recommendations for leak detection in these
systems. The information obtained from the three tasks will provide a means for leak detection using
volumetric methods for tanks containing alternative fuels.
The main audience for this work will be the developers of leak detection systems and consulting
engineers who may use the technology. The results of this study will provide guidance for leak detection
in tanks containing alternative fuels, waste oils, jet fuel, etc. The reports will be presented in an ORD
Final Report and summarized in a paper for submittal to a peer-reviewed journal.
and other petroleum products.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
OUTPUTS:
C-13
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of Leak Detection in Double-Walled Underground Storage Tank Systems
DURATION:
FY95 and FY96
RESOURCES:
$250K
OBJECTIVE:
To develop and evaluate a set of standard test procedures for evaluating interstitial leak detection
systems used on double-walled tanks and pipelines.
Many tank owners are replacing their single-walled tanks and piping with double-walled systems. There
are many techniques spanning a wide range of technologies (e.g., hydrostatic tests, vapor detectors,
water/petroleum detectors, vacuum/pressure monitors, etc.) that detect leaks in the interstitial space
of double-walled tanks and piping. With some of these systems, the probabilities of detection and false
alarm can be higher than desired. Currently, there are no evaluation procedures for interstitial leak
detection systems, but a level of performance equal to 0.1 or 02 gal/h (depending on the frequency of
testing) must be achieved with a probability of detection of 95 percent and a probability of false alarm
of 5 percent.
RREL will develop and evaluate a set of standard test procedures for evaluating the most commonly
used methods of detecting leaks in the interstitial space between the inner and outer walls of a
double-walled tank or pipeline. Two double-walled tanks will be installed at the UST Test Apparatus:
one made of fiberglass and the other of steel. The two tanks will be connected by doubled-walled
fiberglass and double-walled steel piping. The product to be placed in the tanks will be water. A
special leak-maker will be developed to produce realistic leaks in the interstitial space. Results from
the study will provide a better understanding of interstitial leak detection techniques and will determine
those techniques which will achieve a 95 percent probability of detection arid a 5 percent probability of
false alarm.
All sectors of the tank and pipeline community (tanks owners, manufacturers and service providers,
regulators, and consulting engineers) will have a need for the information generated during this project.
A separate ORD Final Report will be prepared for the tank and the pipeline work. This work will also
be presented at EPA's annual RREL research symposium. As a means of further supporting technology
transfer, a number of technical presentations will be videotaped that will describe the work presented
in the reports.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
OUTPUTS:
C-14
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Development of Improved Acoustic Techniques for Locating Leaks in Underground
Pressurized Pipeline Systems
DURATION: FY91 to FY94
RESOURCES: S590K
OBJECTIVE:
To develop, evaluate, and demonstrate improved passive-acoustic methods for locating leaks in
underground pipelines.
RATIONALE:
Rapid and efficient remediation can occur if the source of an undeiground leak can be pinpointed
quickly and accurately and the material above and around a tank or its associated pipelines does not
require excavation. Passive-acoustic techniques are desirable over current volumetric- and pressure-
based techniques because they are noninvasive, nondestructive, and have untapped performance
potential. Development, evaluation, and implementation of rapid, near-real-time acoustic leak
detection/location systems can minimize damage to the environment and resulting costs for remediation.
DESCRIPTION:
In FY 1991, RREL initiated a research effort to investigate the use of passive-acoustic techniques for
locating leaks in underground pressurized pipelines containing gasoline (such as those found at retail
service stations). Acoustic techniques are based on measuring the acoustical signal emitted from a
leaking pressurized underground pipeline. The results of the initial effort suggest that with enhanced
signal processing (i.e., coherence processing as opposed to correlation processing), passive-acoustic
techniques will be able to locate leaks to within 5 cm (1.9 in.) over distances of 38.1 m (125 ft) when
the line is under pressures of 10 to 15 psi during the test In tests conducted as part of the initial
research project, the smallest hole had a diameter of 0.01 in. Determining the smallest locatable leaks
as a function of line length, fuel type, and pipeline material will require additional work.
Future activities will also involve an investigation of pipelines that contain a product too viscous to
produce a detectable signal under the normal operating pressure of the line. To address this problem,
the line will be emptied and then refilled with nitrogen or another gas compatible with acoustic location
techniques. Part of this effort will be devoted to better characterization of the leak signal, both single
and multiple leaks, and relevant background noise. Once the basic methodology has been developed
and its performance evaluated, field demonstrations will be conducted for the purpose of evaluating the
method's operational applicability over a range of pipeline configurations. These tests will be performed
with off-the-shelf acoustic sensors that can be attached to the line.
C-15a
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OUTPUTS:
The results of this program (1) can be applied to a wide diversity of underground pipelines associated
with both USTs and ASTs containing petroleum products, hazardous chemicals, and radioactive waste
and (2) can be used directly not only by EPA but by other government organizations with similar needs,
such as DOD and DOE, and by trade associations (such as the American Petroleum Institute) and
industry to develop equipment and services for application to the regulated community.
The annual output of this study will be a series of papers for submittal to peer-reviewed journals, and
presentations at EPA's annual RREL research symposium or other relevant professional conferences.
As a means of further supporting technology transfer, a number of well-rehearsed technical
presentations describing the work will be videotaped. A simple, easy-to-understand technical brochure
will be prepared for local regulators and tank owners who want a general understanding of the
technology, its application, and its performance. Standard ORD Final Reports will also be prepared.
1. Final report entitled "Location of Leaks in Pressurized Underground Petroleum Pipelines by
Means of Passive-Acoustic Sensing Methods," April 1992.
2. Peer review journal article, "Location of Leaks in Pressurized Petroleum Pipelines by Means
of Passive-Acoustic Sensing Methods," ASTM STP 1161,1992.
C-lSb
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Evaluation of Ullage Leak Detection Systems for Underground Storage Tanks
DURATION:
FY93 and FY94
RESOURCES:
$200K
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate several of the most commonly used or most promising ullage testing procedures and to
provide a set of rules that will ensure that ullage tests meet the performance standards in the regulation.
There is a trend to test USTs when they are only partially filled. This is a means of reducing the total
time it takes to conduct a leak detection test and to eliminate the added expense of delivering product
to overfill the system for the purpose of conducting a test. When a tank is only partially filled, two tests
are required in order to determine the integrity of the entire tank system: one of the liquid level and
a second of the ullage space above the liquid level. Many leak detection vendors are testing the ullage
space by means of a pressure-drop test when the ullage space is filled with a gas such as nitrogen or by
means of an acoustic listening system when the ullage space is either pressurized or placed under a
partial vacuum. Both procedures are fraught with technical problems, are applicable only under very
specific conditions and are being misused, and are unvalidated experimentally. Nevertheless, these
systems are being accepted by both regulators and tank owners without evaluation. Technical
information is urgently required so that it can be determined whether these techniques meet regulatory
standards. While many commercial testing firms are using the pressure-drop test, some of them state
that accurate results cannot be obtained with tanks containing gasoline. Of the two approaches, only
the acoustic methods have general applicability to tanks containing the most common fuels (e.g.,
gasoline, diesel). The short-term goal of this work is to facilitate compliance with the regulation, and
the long-term goal is to develop acoustic methods with general application to any type of tank system.
Both types of leak detection methods, pressure-drop and acoustic, will be evaluated experimentally.
Testing the ullage space is typically accomplished by means of a pressure-drop test when the ullage
space is filled with a gas such as nitrogen or by means of an acoustic listening system when the ullage
space is either pressurized or placed under a partial vacuum. The purpose of the first set of experiments
will be to determine the feasibility of performing pressure-drop tests in partially filled tanks. Both diesel
fuel and gasoline will be used, and the tank size will be either 8,000 or 10,000 gal. Models of the
sources of noise that affect the performance of pressure-drop tests will be developed and validated
during the initial experiments. If the pressure-drop testing method is feasible, additional tests will be
conducted to estimate the performance of the method. The data used in the performance evaluation
of the pressure-drop test will be collected over 24 24-hour periods. The pressure-drop test will be
evaluated as a function of test duration, waiting period, and number of temperature sensors
representative of what the industry is using, or might use in the future to test the ullage space.
The purpose of the second set of experiments will be to determine the feasibility of detecting leaks in
the vapor space by means of a three-dimensional array of sensors suspended in the vapor space. The
initial experiments will determine the characteristics of the acoustic signal as a function of leak rate and
distance from the sensor. Another set of experiments will characterize the magnitude of the important
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-16a
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sources of background noise. Based on these experiments, an array configuration will be selected and
one or more signal processing strategies will be developed and tested. An estimate of performance will
be made following a protocol similar to the ones used for volumetric tests.
OUTPUTS:
All sectors of the tank community (tank owners, manufacturers and providers of services, regulators,
and consulting engineers) will have a need for the information generated during this project. An ORD
Final Report will be prepared for each detection method (i.e., the pressure-drop test and the acoustic
test). For each successful testing approach, a paper will be prepared for submittal to a peer-reviewed
journal, and a technical presentation and proceedings paper summarizing all aspects of the work will
be delivered at EPA's annual RREL research symposium. As a means of further supporting technology
transfer, a number of technical presentations describing the work will be videotaped. A simple,
easy-to-understand technical brochure will be prepared for use by local regulators and tanks owners who
want a general understanding of the technology, its application, and its performance.
C-16b
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
DURATION:
TITLE:
Acoustic Techniques for Rapidly Detecting Leaks in Tanks and Pipelines
FY94 and FY95
RESOURCES:
$200K
OBJECTIVE:
To develop, evaluate, and demonstrate passive-acoustic methods that can test underground tanks or
pipelines for leaks in less than one hour, thereby minimizing interruptions to dispensing operations.
A leak detection test that can be done in less than one hour has long been the goal of the petroleum
industry. During the last five years, EPA, API, and the petroleum industry have made a significant
effort to develop leak detection systems that work (i.e., achieve a high performance). These systems,
if used correctly, take a long time to conduct a test, and therefore, seriously impact normal operations.
A retial station may have to close for one or more business days to have its tanks or lines tested. One
of the reiasons why testing takes so long is that waiting periods must be observed before a test is begun;
for tanks, this waiting period may be 12 to 18 h, and for pipelines, 2 to 12 h. Testing mistakes occur
when the required waiting periods are not observed. There is a significant need to minimize the down-
time that these waiting periods entail, so that the financial losses associated with a test can be
minimized. Frequent and regular testing of tank and pipeline systems, the primary goal and underlying
philosophy of EPA's UST regulation, would be a likely outcome of a successful acoustics project At
least one commercial company is using an acoustic method of testing. Industry welcomes this company's
approach not only because the whole tank system can be tested in less than an hour, but because the
acoustic sensor can be placed either above or below the liquid surface, and the expense and
inconvenience of a product delivery prior to a test is avoided. The technology is suspect, however,
because it is complex, is not well understood, and has not been experimentally validated. Furthermore,
the approach being used is old, and because the background noise is not spatially filtered, false alarms
are possible.
Passive-acoustic methods offer the most rapid and direct means of testing either a tank or pipeline for
a leak. A three-dimensional array of off-the-shelf acoustic sensors will be used; this array will be
mounted internally either above or below the surface of the liquid in the tank or mounted externally to
one or both ends of a pipeline. Unlike volumetric tests, the relationship between the leak signal and
the output of the measurement system is not well known for passive-acoustic tests. The first step in the
proposed research project, therefore, will be to characterize the acoustic signal in tanks and pipelines,
both under pressure and under static head. The second step will be to characterize the background
noise that tends to mask the leak signal. One or more generic testing protocols and signal processing
algorithms for conducting a leak detection test will be developed, and the performance of these generic
tests will be evaluated. The utility of these rapid leak detection tests will then be demonstrated in the
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
field.
C-17a
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OUTPUTS:
The main audience for this work will be developers of leak detection systems and consulting engineers
who may want to use the technology. The annual output of this study will be a series of papers for
submittal to peer-reviewed journals, and a technical presentation and proceedings paper for EPA's
annual RREL research symposium or other relevant professional conference. One or more ORD
Project Reports will also be prepared. As a means of further supporting technology transfer, a number
of technical presentations describing the work presented in the papers or reports will be videotaped.
A simple, easy-to-understand technical brochure will be prepared for local regulators and tanks owners
who want a general understanding of the technology, its application, and its performance.
C-17b
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Techniques for Estimating the Structural Integrity of UST Systems
DURATION:
FY96
RESOURCES:
$200K
OBJECTIVE:
To develop and evaluate acoustic emissions (AE) techniques that can test underground tanks or
pipelines, both steel and fiberglass, for structural flaws and defects.
A significant environmental benefit could be obtained if tank owners could directly assess the structural
integrity of a tank system. Cost-effective and environmentally safe decisions could be made to upgrade
or replace a system that was in danger of failing. All of the commonly used methods for measuring
thickness or material flaws and cracks require that a tank be taken out of service for the duration of the
measurements and that sensors be attached directly to the wall. These methods are typically used where
access to the tank walls and floor is possible. Because access to the outer walls of an underground tank
is generally not possible, a method is needed that does not require the attachment of sensors to the wall.
Many of the time-tested acoustic emissions techniques could be adapted for use on underground tanks
if it can be shown that a three-dimensional internal array of sensors suspended in either the vapor space
or the liquid is capable of detecting a signal emanating from a hole or fissure in the wall.
Initially a set of experiments will be conducted to determine the feasibility of using AE techniques to
test pressurized tanks for structural defects and flaws. These preliminary tests will be designed to
determine whether AE signals can be generated under the limited pressures that can be sustained by
underground tanks and whether these signals can be detected by an array of sensors mounted in the
tank and through the use of a beamforming signal processing algorithm. Two small tanks (1,000 to
2,000 gal in capacity), one steel and one fiberglass, will be instrumented, buried, and filled with water.
An array of sensors mounted directly to the outer walls of the tanks, as in traditional AE measurement
methods, will provide measurements that can be compared to those made by the internal arrays. If AE
signals can be generated and detected, a method for performing AE tests will be developed, and a set
of experiments will be conducted in one or both tanks to validate the method. In FY 1997, a similar
set of tests will be performed on both the steel and the fiberglass pipelines at the UST Test
Apparatus. The pipelines will be pressurized with water or a gas such as.nitrogen. If the AE method
appears to be a viable means of assessing the structural integrity of either the tanks or pipelines, a large
effort will be undertaken to develop the technology so that it can be transferred to industry.
The output of this study will be an ORD Final Report Two technical papers reporting on the tank
work and the pipeline work will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals. An additional technical paper
reporting the key results of this R&D effort will be presented at EPA's annual RREL research
symposium. To support technology transfer, several technical presentations covering the results of this
study will be videotaped and distributed.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
OUTPUTS:
C-18
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Development of Loci Conceptual Model for Selecting Corrective Actions at Leaking
Underground Storage Tank Sites
FY 87 to FY 91
DURATION:
RESOURCES:
$400K
OBJECTIVE:
To identify the most important factors or rules that govern the transport, retention, and transformation
of leaked motor fuels in the underground environment, and to develop effective decision-making tools
for assessing leaking underground storage tank sites and selecting appropriate cleanup technologies.
Information is both currently available and being developed on corrective action technologies that may
be applicable for cleaning up soils at leaking UST sites. To date, the selection and evaluation of the
performance of these technologies has not been based on a comprehensive and complete understanding
of the transport, retention, and transformation of the contaminant in the subsurface environment
Without this correlation, there is a danger that remediation technologies may be misapplied, and/or that
"complete" remediation may not be accomplished.
An intensive and comprehensive scientific literature research effort was initiated to increase the level
of understanding of the scientific principles and mechanisms governing the fate, transport, and
transformation of leaked motor fuels in the underground environment. A "loci" concept was developed
to identify and analyze the micro-scale location and phase, and transport, retention, and transformation
of motor fuels in the saturated and vadose zones. Thirteen physicochemical phase settings were defined
and the multiplicity of interactions between settings was described to obtain a better understanding of
larger scale contaminant behavior in the subsurface environment.
Based on this research, a new approach was developed for evaluating site conditions and for screening
and selecting effective corrective action technologies. This approach includes a methodology for
identifying the key site parameters necessary to provide a preliminary assessment of the likely
effectiveness of alternative corrective action technologies based on a conceptual understanding of site
conditions and the critical factors that favor or inhibit the success of specific technologies. The
methodology enables the user to develop a conceptual understanding of site conditions before the
completion of extensive field studies, to define remediation goals, to evaluate technologies capable of
meeting remediation goals, and to identify monitoring requirements during and after remediation.
Working with site assessment data, the methodology provides for a preliminary assessment of the
location and phases of contaminants present in the saturated and vadose zones, and for evaluating the
likelihood of contaminant migration within the soil matrix. Worksheets are provided to evaluate how
site-specific conditions pertain to the factors that favor or inhibit the success of specific corrective action
technologies.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-19a
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OUTPUTS:
1. Internal report entitled "Motor Fuel and Organic Chemicals Released in an Underground
Environment," February 1988.
2. Technical paper entitled The Role of Site Investigation in the Selection of Corrective Actions
for Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites;* Proceedings of the 15th Annual Research
Symposium, April 1989; EPA/600/9-90/006, February 1990.
3. Final report entitled "Assessing UST Corrective Action Technologies: Site Assessment and
Selection of Unsaturated Zone Treatment Technologies," EPA/600/2-90/011, March 1990.
4. Final report entitled "Assessing UST Corrective Action Technologies: Eariy Screening of
Cleanup Technologies for the Saturated Zone,"
EPA/600/2-90/027, June 1990.
5. technical paper entitled "Subsurface Fate and Transport of Petroleum Hydrocarbons from
Leaking USTs;" Proceedings of the 17th Annual RREL Hazardous Waste Research Symposium,
April 1991; EPA/600/9-91/002, April 1991.
6. Final report entitled "Assessing UST Corrective Action Technologies: A Scientific Evaluation
of the Mobility and Degradability of Organic Contaminants in Subsurface Environments," EPA
600/2-91/053, September 1991.
7. Peer review journal article entitled "Understanding the Fate of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the
Subsurface Environment," Journal of Chemical Education, May 1992.
8. Peer review publication entitled "Screening Methodology for Assessing Leaking UST Site
Cleanup Technologies," American Society for Testing Materials STP 1161, June 1992.
C-19b
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Scientific Evaluation of Site Requirements for Selecting Corrective Actions at
Underground Storage Sites
DURATION:
FY94 to FY 96
RESOURCES:
$450K
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the kinetics of nonhomogeneous processes that govern the transport, retention, and
transformation of leaked motor fuels in the undeipound environment, and to develop improved
decision-making tools for more accurately assessing UST sites and selecting appropriate cleanup
technologies.
As stated in the previous project description [C-19], there are at least 13 phase locations for
contaminants in the subsurface, many of which contain significant contaminant mass and are not
considered in current corrective-action strategies.
Since then, a variety of scientific literature on soil-contaminant-phase transfer has been published and
new technologies have been developed on the cleanup of contaminants that occur as free product or
NAPL, vapor phase in the unsaturated zone, or partially adsorbed to the soil matrix in the unsaturated
zone. Therefore, an updated "Loci'-based technology handbook for the UST remediation is required.
In addition, new research is needed to determine nonhomogeneous processes governing contaminant
behavior in soil (e.g., sorption kinetics). Unless these phases and locations are also taken into
consideration, the corrective action technology may be misapplied or ineffective in completing a
remediation.
A "Loci" conceptual model was developed to identify and analyze the micro-scale location and phase,
and transport, retention, and transformation of gasoline in the vadose and saturated zones. Based on
this research [C-19], a new approach was developed for conducting site investigations to select
appropriate remediation technologies. The majority of this work was done in 1988 and 1989; since then
numerous research activities have been initiated in the area of nonhomogeneous kinetics in soil media.
This research examines controlling mechanisms for vaporization, solubility, and microbial degradation
of different contaminant phases and locations in soil media. Key research will be identified and
incorporated into an updated and refined "Loci" model. In addition, fundamental research studies will
address phases and locations that may contain significant contaminant mass and the limitations of
corrective action technologies used to remediate different motor fuels in various soil media.
The corrective action screening methodology developed from the earlier loci model will also be field
tested in conjunction with EPA Regions and states at leaking UST sites as part of the Regional technical
support. The two documents on screening UST corrective-action technologies for the unsaturated and
saturated zones will be integrated in one users' manual and updated and revised based on the field test
results as well as the results from the updating of the loci model.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-20a
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OUTPUTS:
1. Final report entitled "Field Evaluation of Technology Screening Methodology."
2. Revised edition, "Loci-Based Underground Storage Tank Corrective Action Technology
Handbook."
3. A series of peer review technical papers will be published on the studies conducted on the
behavior of different motor fuels in various porous media and on the limitation of corrective-
action technologies.
C-20b
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
DURATION:
TITLE:
Methodology for Evaluating Free-Product Recovery of Low-Density Nonaqueous Phase
Liquids (LNAPL)
FY91 to FY 94
RESOURCES:
$300K
OBJECTIVE:
To develop and test a methodology for quantifying hydrocarbon spill volume and for designing free
product recovery systems, and to implement these methodologies in an interactive PC-based program
that links the decision tool with a graphical database management system.
The absence of rigorous spill volume estimation procedures complicates the selection of appropriate free
product recovery systems. This absence also makes it difficult to determine if the decline in product
recovery over time actually represents effective mitigation or if an inappropriate recovery system has
been selected.
Practical tools will be developed to simplify and expedite the design of free product recoveiy systems
at petroleum product spill sites in order to maximize product recoveiy. The project will be conducted
in three phases with major tasks as follows:
Phase I - 1) develop a method for estimating LNAPL volume in the vadose and saturated zones, 2)
develop protocols for model calibration from two-phase well tests, grain size data for estimating soil
capillary parameters, total petroleum hydrocarbon measurements, and well fluid-level time series data,
3) develop procedures for evaluating plume control and product recovery with wells pumping both water
and/or product, and 4) develop PC-based program that links decision tools with a graphical database
system.
Phase II -1) develop an analytical model to determine well locations and to estimate product recoveiy
rate, 2) develop a simple method to calibrate the model from well tests, 3) compare a combined
analytical simple numerical model with laboratory data and rigorous numerical simulations, and 4)
incorporate recoveiy estimation and well test protocols in a computer program.
Phase III-1) evaluate methods of increasing recovery efficiency using time-vaiying two-phase pumping,
2) perform field evaluations of two-phase well test methods, 3) perform field evaluation of recoveiy
predictions, and 4) extend capabilities of computer program to interface with graphical software.
The results of this study can be used by UST regulatory staff, engineers, and consultants to estimate the
LNAPL volume to be removed, evaluate plume control, provide decision support to evaluate appropriate
product recovery systems, estimate product recovery rates, and evaluate methods for increasing recoveiy
efficiency.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-21a
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OUTPUTS:
1. Final report entitled "Methods for Estimation of LNAPL Volume in Saturated and Vadose
Zones and Evaluation of Recovery Technologies."
2. A PC-based program for use as a decision tool to evaluate product recovery systems.
3. Final report entitled "LNAPL Recovery Procedures-User's Handbook."
C-21b
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
DURATION:
TITUE:
Evaluation of the Performance of Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) Technology for
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites
FY88 to FY91
RESOURCES:
S900K
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate SVE technology performance in removing the major gasoline constituents in subsurface
zones, develop engineering design and operation parameters of a SVE process, determine the total
system construction and operation costs, and assess the cleanability of an SVE system.
A current emphasis has evolved on source control of volatile and semivolatile hydrocarbon constituents
using SVE. TTie engineering practices for designing, constructing, and operating an SVE system are not
consistent, however, and are primarily based on each developer's experiences. Although SVE may be
"simple" in design and operation, vapor behavior in the soil is complex. Consequently, a fundamental
understanding of critical design parameters and system performance is needed.
Early work on the evaluation of the performance of the SVE technology included the assessment of a
SVE system operation at an actual leaking UST site-of-opportunity. As a result of this work, a
methodology for the field evaluation of SVE was developed. In FY89 an expert workshop was held in
Edison, New Jersey, to discuss the various site-evaluation approaches, system design parameters,
operational experiences, costs, and research needs. Based on these efforts, a soil vapor extraction
technology reference handbook was prepared, including these topics as well as the principles of soil
vapor transport and selected workshop presentations.
In response to the EPA Office of Underground Storage Tanks request, activities in FY 1990 and 1991
involved the field evaluation of a SVE screening procedure developed by Shell Oil Company to assess
the applicability of SVE to leaking UST sites as part of a Federal Technology Transfer Agreement
(FTTA). Project activities also included the development of a number of field SVE system test-and-
evaluation methods including an air permeability test, a SVE quality assurance project plan, and decision
support SVE computer models to assess the application of SVE to UST sites.
A procedure to determine the extent of gasoline removal from soil by SVE and aqueous solute
leachability of residual gasoline components following SVE was developed and evaluated. Bench-scale
vapor extraction tests were conducted on various soil/contaminant mixtures to: 1) characterize the type
and quantity of residuals that remain after SVE using both the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching
Procedure and an experimental aqueous solute leachability method and 2) evaluate petroleum
hydrocarbons remaining in leachate generated from soils following SVE remediation. The results of this
study identified 1) transport mechanisms responsible for remobilizing contaminants, 2) controlling
factors to achieve maximum effectiveness, and 3) 99 percent of leachable gasoline constituents that may
be removed from a sandy soil matrix by SVE.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-22a
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OUTPUTS:
1. Internal EPA report entitled "Motor Fuel and Organic Chemicals Released in an Underground
Environment," February 1988.
2. Internal EPA report entitled "Assessment of Vacuum Extraction Technology Application:
Belleview, Florida LUST Site," September 1988.
3. Internal EPA report entitled "SVE Technology: Numerical Model Evaluation," September 1993.
4. Internal EPA report entitled "Soil Vapor Extraction Gasoline Component Remediation:
Laboratory Experiments," September 1992.
5. Final report entitled "Soil Vapor Extraction Technology Reference Handbook," EPA/540/2-
91/003, February 1991.
6. Technical paper entitled "Soil Vapor Extraction Technology Assessment," Proceedings of the
16th Annual RREL Hazardous Waste Research Symposium, April 1990; EPA/600/9-90/037,
August 1990.
7. Technical paper entitled "Soil Vapor Extraction Air Permeability Testing and Estimation
Methods," Proceedings of the 17th Annual RREL Hazardous Waste Research Symposium,
April 1991; EPA/600/9-91/002, April 1991.
8. Technical paper entitled "Column Vapor Extraction Experiments on Gasoline- Contaminated
Soil," Proceedings of Conference on Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils, University of
Massachusetts, Volume 5, Lewis Publications, September 1991.
9. Technical paper entitled "Review of SVE Microcomputer Models," Proceedings of the 18th
Annual Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory Research Symposium, April 1992; EPA/600/R-
92/028, April 1992.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Optimization of Soil Vapor Extraction for Remediation of Gasoline-Contaminated Soil
DURATION:
FY90 to FY95
RESOURCES:
$550K
OBJECTIVE:
To examine the complex process of soil vapor extraction, to identify the factors that limit its
effectiveness, and to develop procedures to optimize subsurface gasoline removal using SVE combined
with other techniques.
Soil vapor extraction is a widely used correction technology for removing volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) from contaminated soil. This in situ technology can treat lai^ge volumes of soil at reasonable
costs; however, overall removal efficiencies are limited by high carbon fraction of gasoline constituents
within the unsaturated zone and all constituents in the saturated zone. Practical techniques to overcome
these limitations and thereby increase the value of SVE technology are required.
A series of remediation experiments are currently being conducted to remove gasoUne from sand
aquifers in large experimental aquifers at the Oregon Graduate Institute (OGI). The first experiment
examined soil vapor extraction procedures as currently practiced in the field. Subsequent experiments
will seek to improve the efficiency of the SVE process by. 1) manipulation of the groundwater level to
increase the air-gasoline contact area, 2) pulsed pumping of the SVE system, 3) air sparging into the
saturated zone to enhance volatilization and possibly biodegradation, 4) heating the subsurface by
injecting hot air or hot water, and 5) otherwise adjusting subsurface conditions to optimize
biodegradation. Additional experiments will focus on improving air sparging techniques to further
enhance SVE by: 1) using an air disperser to produce microbubbles, 2) optimizing the
extraction/sparging ratio, 3) using horizontal sparging wells, and 4) varying system configuration and
spacing of extraction and sparging wells. These experiments will be conducted both in homogenous sand
and in heterogeneous soil media.
During each of these experiments, a detailed analysis of subsurface vapors will be made. By tracking
the spatial and temporal variations in the composition of the gasoline vapor, the overall effectiveness
of the remediation process will be evaluated.
Initial results from an early part of this study have shown SVE to be effective at removing hydrocarbons
from the unsaturated zone, but it is far less effective for contaminant mass at or below the water table.
The removal efficiency in those cases can be improved when SVE is used in conjunction with other
techniques including air injection, heating, and dewatering.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-23a
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OUTPUTS:
1. Technical article entitled "Optimization of the Vapor Extraction Process: Large Physical Model
Studies," Presented at the 2nd Symposium on Soil Venting, April 29-May 1,1991, Houston,
Texas.
2. Article entitled "Subsurface Remediation of Gasoline by SVE and Air Spargingi" Proceedings
of the 18th Annual Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory Research Symposium, April 1992;
EPA/600/R-92/028, April 1992.
3. Journal article entitled "Enhanced SVE for Removal of Gasoline From the Saturated Zone,"
will be submitted for publication, June 1992.
4. Article entitled "Experimental Examination, of Integrated Soil Vapor Extraction Techniques,"
will be presented at the Hydrocarbon Conference, November 1992, Houston, Texas.
5. Final report entitled "Optimization of Soil Vapor Extraction for Improved Remediation of
Subsurface Gasoline Releases," EPA Technologies Series, September 1993.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
DURATION:
RESOURCES:
OBJECTIVE:
To understand the physical, chemical, and biological principles of the system processes (i.e., SVE, air
sparging, and bioventing) and based on these principles to determine process control parameters and
limiting factors. This will include the development of a system design approach for the application of
soil vapor extraction, air spacing, and bioventing technologies at leaking UST sites, the documentation
of design and performance data for the application to actual leaking UST sites, and the development
of process control and monitoring strategies (in a joint research effort with EMSL) for system
optimization.
RATIONALE:
SVE has been shown to be effective at removing volatile and semivolatile contaminants in the
unsaturated zone. However, the transport of contaminants from the saturated zone to the vadose zone
is limited by diffusion and dispersion through the groundwater to the air-water interface. The rate of
contaminant transport from the groundwater to soil vapor in the unsaturated zone has been shown to
increase by coupling an air spacing system with an SVE system. In addition, air sparging SVE will
enhance biodegradation in soil in both the unsaturated and saturated zones. Performance factors for
system design and operation are still not well understood, however, and the actual effectiveness of this
technology is not known. Laboratory research in conjunction with a well-designed field evaluation of
these technologies will provide valuable information to determine performance factors and effectiveness.
DESCRIPTION:
Laboratory research and field evaluations will be used to develop a technical manual for the application
of SVE, air spaiging, and bioventing system for cleaning up both the vadose and saturated zones at
leaking underground storage tank sites. Activities in FY 92 that will be used to develop a technical
manual involve the development of a technology assessment report and field evaluation/demonstration
of the SVE, air sparging, and bioventing system at sites-of-opportunity in EPA Regions. The field
evaluations/demonstrations of SVE, air sparging, and bioventing systems will continue during FY 1993
to 1995. Field evaluations will include tracer studies to determine the pathways of injected air, the
efficiency of extraction wells for capturing the vapor from sparging system, and the effectiveness of
nutrient delivery in subsurface environment. Fundamental research will also be conducted during FY
1993 to 1995 to determine bio-kinetics for different petroleum-fuels-contaminated soils as well as the
effects of soil temperature, soil pH, moisture, nutrients, and oxygen.
The results from the field evaluations and basic scientific research will be used to develop a technical
manual in a handbook to UST regulatory staff, engineers, and consultants. The results of this study will
also be used as part of an overall integrated systems approach for cleaning up leaking UST sites [C-29].
Evaluation of The Performance of Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) with Air Sparging and
Bioventing Technologies at Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites
FY92 to FY95
$800K
C-24a
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OUTPUTS:
1. In situ panel discussion "Review of Air Sparging Soil Vapor Extraction System Efficiencies and
Limitations," Proceedings of the 18th Annual Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory Research
Symposium, April 1992; EPA/600/R-92/028, April 1992.
2. Internal report entitled "Assessment of Soil Vapor Extraction-Air Sparging Technology."
3. Technical report entitled The Design, Operation, and Monitoring of Soil Vapor Extraction-Air
Sparging Systems at Actual Leaking UST Sites."
4. Technical report entitled "Soil Vapor Extraction-Air Sparging-Bioventing Technology
Handbook."
5. Peer reviewed technical paper, "Field Evaluation and Demonstration of Air Sparging-Soil Vapor
Extraction Systems," Presented at RREL Symposia and OUST National Conference.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Evaluation of Soil Washing Technology for Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites
DURATION: FY89 to FY96
RESOURCES: $710K
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the application of soil washing technology for treating contaminated soil at leaking
underground storage tank (UST) sites.
RATIONALE:
Soil washing is a physical process in which excavated soils undergo intimate contact with washing and
rinsing solutions to promote reductions in contaminant concentrations and volume through physical
separation. Under EPA's Best Demonstrated Available Technologies (BDAT) Research Program, soil
washing was evaluated using synthetic soil matrices spiked with varying concentrations of chemicals
representative of hazardous waste sites. This technology successfully treated many organic and inorganic
contaminants. However, the feasibility and effectiveness of soil washing for cleaning up petroleum-
contaminated soil at actual leaking UST sites is not fully known.
DESCRIPTION:
Early research efforts focused on bench-scale testing of synthetic soil matrix (SSM) formulations
contaminated with gasoline, diesel fuel, and waste oil. Testing was also conducted on soils from several
actual leaking UST sites. Results on treatment of the contaminated SSM indicated laige reductions in
contaminant concentration. However, the results on soils from UST sites actually were less successful,
which is indicative of the complexity associated with treating "weathered" leaking UST sites. This work
confirmed the need to conduct site-specific treatability studies before selecting soil washing technology
for a leaking UST site cleanup. Activities in FY 94 and beyond will be to reexamine the new
development of aqueous surfactant washing of residual oils from soil and applicability of the technology
for cleaning up petroleum-products-contaminated soil. Since petroleum hydrocarbons do not dissolve
in water, surfactants must be used to improve the washing process. Suitable surfactants will be
examined to determine their effectiveness for improving the performance of this technology.
OUTPUTS:
1. Technical report entitled "Evaluation of Soil Washing Technology: Results of Bench-Scale
Experiments on Petroleum Fuels-Contaminated Soils," 600/S2-91/023, September 1991."
2. Technical paper entitled "Evaluation of Soil Washing Technology for Remediation of LUST
Sites," Presented at the 10th National Superfund Conference, November 1989.
3. Technical paper entitled "Evaluation of Soil Washing Technology for Remediation of LUST
Sites," Presented at the 16th Annual RREL Hazardous Waste Research Symposium, April 1990;
EPA/600/9-90/037, August 1990.
4. Peer review technical papers on new development of the soil washing technology with aqueous
surfactant application.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Technical Assessment of the Application of Thermal Desorption to Petroleum-
Contaminated Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites
DURATION:
FY90 to FY94
RESOURCES:
$500K
OBJECTIVE:
To provide a methodology for assessing the use of thermal desorption for treating petroleum-
contaminated soil at LUST sites.
Thermal desorption systems are currently used at a limited number of sites for remediating petroleum-
contaminated soils and are capable of meeting soil cleanup criteria for a variety of petroleum products.
However, the relationships between organic contaminant removed efficiency, waste characteristics, soil
characteristics, process operating conditions, site characteristics, environmental factors, regulatory
requirements, and treatment costs are not well documented. Because these various factors are not well
known among the UST community, guidance is needed on evaluating the potential for evaluating the
use of thermal desorption technologies for treating petroleum-contaminated soil.
An extensive literature search was conducted on the application of thermal desorption to petroleum-
contaminated soil to determine factors that affect the successful use of this technology. Some of these
factors include contaminant characteristics, soil characteristics, regulatory requirements, process
equipment characteristics, project implementation requirements, and economics for the application of
thermal desorption. A research report was prepared which 1) identifies commercially available thermal
desoiption technologies and describes key process operating parameters, 2) describes contaminant, soil
characteristics, and regulatory requirements that are necessaiy to assess the effective application of
thermal desorption to a specific site, 3) describes procedures for selecting appropriate treatment
technologies and operating conditions and for evaluating the feasibility of on-site or off-site treatment,
and 4) identifies a list of requirements for either on-site or off-site use of thermal desorption services.
Procedures are also provided for estimating the cost of using either on-site or off-site thermal desorption
technologies.
A report on these findings is being completed and will provide UST Program Managers with an
understanding of the capabilities, limitations, and costs associated with the technology. It will also
provide guidance on applying the technology for treatment of petroleum-contaminated soils.
Future work in FY 1993 and 1994 will 1) ensure that information is available for maximum utilization
and for consistent application of regulatory requirements, 2) address treatment of side waste streams,
3) demonstrate the application of this technology for the treatment of nonpetroleum-contaminated soil,
and 4) disseminate information on thermal desorption to UST program managers and regulatory staff.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-26a
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OUTPUTS:
1. Chapter entitled "Thermal Desorption of Petroleum-Contaminated Soils," Proceedings of the
University of Massachusetts Sixth National Conference on Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils,
Volume 5, September 1991, Lewis Publications, Inc.
2. Final report entitled "Guidance Document for the Application of Thermal Desorption for
Treating Petroleum Contaminated Soils," EPA Technology Series, April 1992.
3. Peer review journal article entitled "Treatment of Contaminated Soils by Thermal Desorption
Technologies," Journal of Air and Waste Management, June 1992.
4. Technical paper entitled "Guidance Document for the Application of Thermal Desorption for
Treating Non-Petroleum Contaminated Soils."
5. A workshop will be presented on the feasibility, design, and performance evaluation of thermal
desorption.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Evaluation of Bio-oxidation Technology for Leaking Underground Storage Sites
DURATION: FY92 to FY96
RESOURCES: $850K
OBJECTIVE:
To understand the physicochemical and biological principles of the bio-oxidation process and based on
these principles to determine process control parameters and limiting factors. This will be accomplished
by developing process control and monitoring strategies for better process performance and operation
(joint research with EMSL), developing sound engineering design criteria and process operation
procedures, and evaluating the application of aboveground bio-oxidation technology for treating soil
contaminated with petroleum products.
RATIONALE:
In situ treatment system such as soil vapor extraction and/or bioventing technology is effective at
removing semivolatile and volatile petroleum constituents in porous soil media. However, reduction of
semivolatile and nonvolatile constituents occurs primarily from biodegradation. Petroleum-contaminated,
clay-rich soil is especially difficult to treat using in situ corrective action technologies due to limited
permeability and high Sorption capacity; it may be treated more effectively using ex situ processes. Ex
situ bio-oxidation (as a biopile) provides controlled, on-site, microbial degradation of petroleum products
by using indigenous microbial populations. This bioremediation technology has been applied successfully
for several years on petroleum-contaminated soils; however, specific engineering design and operation
of the biopile system have not been fully evaluated and documented. In addition, evaluation of this
technology in controlled environments and field applications can contribute to a better understanding
of the bioventing process
[C-24].
DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this project is to develop an engineering design and operation document for the
application of this technology at actual leaking UST sites.
Activities in FY 1992 and 1993 will consist of an assessment of the technology to determine the basic
engineering design criteria and control parameters of the bio-oxidation process. This assessment will
involve surveying published literature and site data to identify state-of-the-art processes currently in use.
Critical design and control parameters that will be examined include appropriate soil mound dimensions,
spacing of vent piping rate and method of introduction of air and nutrients, amendments needed in the
case of clay-rich soils, optimal temperature, relationship between soil permeability and rate of
hydrocarbon removal, and relative removal rates as a function of bio-oxidation vs. hydrocarbon removal
due to soil venting. Field evaluations/demonstrations of the bio-oxidation system will be conducted at
sites-of- opportunity in EPA Regions in FY 1993 through FY 1996. Assistance will be provided to the
participating company in preparing site-specific QAPjPs. The design, operation, and performance data
from the sites will be evaluated to determine the applicability of the technology for leaking UST sites,
and criteria and appropriate testing to validate "cleanness" of treated soils and guidance on when soils
can be returned to the site, sent to a Subtitle C landfill, or treated further (e.g., stabilization if metals
are present). In addition, basic scientific research will also be conducted to determine bio-kinetics for
C-27a
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different petroleum fuels-contaminated soils as well as the effects of soil temperature, soil pH, moisture,
nutrients, and oxygen.
OUTPUTS:
1. Internal report entitled "Soil Mound Bioremediation Technology Assessment"
2 Technical report entitled The Design, Operation, and Monitoring of Ex-situ Soil Mound Bio-
oxidation Systems at Actual Leaking UST Sites."
3. Technical report entitled "Ex-situ Soil Mound Bio-oxidation Technology Handbook.
4. Interim peer review journal articles on soil mound bioremediation system design and operation.
C-27b
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Potential Reuse of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: A Directory of Permitted Recycling
Facilities
DURATION: FY91 to FY95
RESOURCES: $140K
OBJECTIVE:
To identify and develop a comprehensive list of facilities that are permitted to receive and recycle soil
contaminated by petroleum products leaking from underground storage tanks and explore additional soil
reuse/recycling methods and improvements of the existing technologies.
RATIONALE:
Soil contaminated by petroleum products leaking from underground storage tanks is a pervasive problem
in the United States. Federal legislation makes the generator responsible for soil contaminated by
chemical materials, including petroleum products. Disposal of such soil is costly and will become even
more so as landfill resources become scarce. An economically feasible remedy for the excavated soil
contaminated by petroleum products will help the responsible party to solve the problems. This research
will provide detailed information about environmentally and financially advantageous recycling options.
DESCRIPTION:
Because of stringent regulatory requirements in many states regarding mobile on-site treatment systems,
lack of operational space at "neighborhood" gas stations, and relatively small amounts of feed material
across which to distribute fixed operating costs, alternatives are being sought for off-site treatment,
recycle, and reuse of treated soils. Various governmental and commercial organizations that may be
able to identify commercial companies that are permitted to both receive and recycle/reuse petroleum-
contaminated materials will be contacted to obtain detailed information regarding 1) identification of
permitted facilities, 2) description of waste materials that it can receive, 3) identification of regulatory
requirements, and 4) description of authorized recycle or reuse activities. A comprehensive Directory
has been compiled that describes the treatment processes involved, waste classifications identified, and.
other client's technical and administrative information. The information will be updated in FY93 and
FY95. Additional soil reuse/recycling methods arid improvements of the existing technologies will be
explored. Possible additional applications that may be examined include the following uses: 1) road
bed base, 2) landfill daily cover/cap, 3) concrete/cinder blocks, 4) glass, 5) backfill (with liner) for
industrial excavations, and 6) backfill (with liner) for abandonment of vaults, pits, or lagoons.
OUTPUTS:
1. Final report entitled "Potential Reuse of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: A Directory of
Permitted Recycling Facilities," August 1992.
2. Journal article entitled "Technologies and Facilities for Recycle and Reuse of Petroleum-
Contaminated Soils," September 1992.
3. Technical reports entitled "Potential Reuse of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: A Directoiy of
Permitted Recycling Facilities," 2nd and 3rd editions, March 1994 and 1996.
C-28
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Development of an Integrated Systems Approach for Cleanup of Leaking Underground
Storage Tank Sites
DURATION:
FY92 to FY96
RESOURCES:
$1,000K
OBJECTIVES:
To develop and evaluate an integrated strategy for the recovery of low-density non-aqueous-phase liquid
(LNAPL) and clean up of motor fuel hydrocarbon- contaminated soil in both the vadose and saturated
zones.
The general approach currently used to conduct corrective actions at leaking UST sites is to select and
implement a specific technology that is intended to reduce subsurface contaminant concentrations to a
predetermined level of cleanup while preventing the further spread of contaminants. This should be
achieved by using the most efficient and cost-effective technology or combination of technologies
available. No single corrective-action technology will address the entire problem (for example, pump-
and-treat will not reduce residual contamination in soils, and in fact, may increase the volume of soil
impacted by residual contamination). Under most situations, a combination of technologies or a
"systems" approach to corrective action will be required.
Development of an integrated corrective-action approach will require a better basic understanding of
how currently available technologies (LNAPL recovery, SVE, air sparging, and bioventing) affect
petroleum hydrocarbons in the subsurface environment, and the treatability limitations of these
technologies. This project will address these fundamental research needs and will be used to develop
the "systems" approach to corrective action. Research has already been conducted under the corrective-
action portion of the research program for specific technologies mentioned above. The results of
physical and mathematical models, pilot studies, and field evaluations will be used to determine the
development and use of technologies during different phases of corrective action. Several computer
models have already been developed to evaluate the feasibility of free product removal, SVE, and
biodegradation processes. Other models are available for groundwater and subsurface vapor flow, which
facilitate the design of product recovery and SVE systems. Development of the systems approach to
corrective action will involve the integration of the best of these models and new improved models that
are yet to be developed. The integrated model will be used to determine appropriate application of
specific technologies, to facilitate optimum remedial system design, and to interpret and analyze pilot
studies and field evaluations of the integrated system. After the integrated model is developed, it will
be field-validated to determine its applicability to different site conditions.
Case study data from numerous site remediations will also be used to validate software for determining
when a remedial technology has reached its technical limit at a given site and to develop a series of "type
curves" for rapid visual reference on various site conditions and likely endpoints of proposed
remediations.
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
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OUTPUTS:
1. Technical report entitled "Methods for Quantifying Mobile and Residual LNAPL and
Procedures for Removing Product."
2. Technical report entitled "Evaluation of Site Data for Determination of Corrective Action
Technology Limitations."
3. Technical report entitled "Evaluation of Computer Models on Product Recovery, SVE, Air
Sparging, and Bioventing Systems."
4. Technical report entitled "Engineering Design Manual for Integrated Corrective Action
Systems."
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
DURATION:
TITLE:
Assessment of Newly Developed Technologies for Cleaning up Leaking Underground
Storage Tank Sites
FY91 to FY96
RESOURCES:
$700K
OBJECTIVE:
To identify and evaluate the applicability of newly developed technologies for treating contaminated soil
at leaking underground storage tank (UST) sites.
The magnitude of the large number of confirmed releases at leaking UST sites that need to be
addressed make continued improvement in corrective-action technologies and approach a high priority.
Few corrective-action technologies can be considered to be fully developed and routinely used (e.g., soil
excavation and ground-water pump and treat). Other technologies are inconsistently being applied and
are not necessarily readily acceptable to UST regulators (e.g., SVE air spaiging). Many other
corrective- action technologies may be potentially applicable to leaking UST sites; provide effective
alternatives to technologies routinely used; and could result in quicker, more cost-effective cleanups.
It is essential to assess and comprehend the potentially effective treatment technologies that are available
for use, as well as the applicability and limitations of each technology for cleanup of petroleum-
contaminated soils.
An overall approach to the technology evaluation will have two phases: Phase I - Preliminary screening
of technologies, and Phase II - Rigorous assessment of technologies passing in Phase I screening. Phase
I was initiated in FY91 and identified 11 technologies that could be potentially examined. Before
conducting a more rigorous examination and evaluation of the selected technologies under Phase II, a
technology-based prioritization system and evaluation criteria will be established. The factors that would
be evaluated in more detail are: 1) current stage of development and existence of any other research
program for that technology; 2) probable effectiveness for treating petroleum-contaminated soil; 3)
limitations of the technology; and 4) treatment costs, cleanup time, ease of operation, and reliability.
Based on the findings and recommendations of the Phase I study, an evaluation of the most promising
technologies will be performed from FY 1993 to FY 1996.
Once a technology has been determined to hold promise for expediting the UST corrective action
process, a focused literature review will be conducted and an expert work shop will be covered under
Phase II to determine the state of the art and research needs for specific technologies. The technologies
that will be examined and evaluated include: in situ steam stripping, radio frequency heating, soil
flushing, ozone oxidation, and solvent extraction.
Findings from the initial part of Phase II will be summarized in a technology-specific reference
handbook. Selected technologies will be further evaluated in field/pilot demonstrations at actual leaking
UST sites. During the technology evaluation, the results will be reported to the UST community
through technical papers and peer-reviewed journal articles. Upon completion of the Phase II
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-30a
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evaluation, an engineering design handbook will be developed for UST regulators, engineers, and
consultants.
OUTPUTS:
1. Internal EPA report entitled "Selection of Innovative Treatment Technologies for LUST Sites,
Phase I: Preliminary Screening of Technologies," July 1991.
2. Technical reports, papers, and peer reviewed journal articles on evaluation of selected
corrective-action technologies.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Remediation Approaches for Petroleum Contamination in Fractured Rock Media at
Underground Storage Tank Sites
DURATION:
FY92 to FY96
RESOURCES:
$950K
OBJECTIVE:
To develop a methodology for selecting cleanup technologies and to identify and evaluate new and
improved approaches for remediating petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in fractured rock in either
the vadose or saturated zone at LUST sites.
The remediation of leaking USTs at sites underlain by fractured rock involves a number of complications
that do not arise, or are much less severe, in nonfractured media. Because of laige permeability
differences between fractured and nonfractured zones, fractured media commonly exhibit strong
anisotropy that can lead to separate phase and dissolved plume movement in unanticipated directions
at larger than expected velocities. Uncertainty in rates of free product plume migration and on the
effects of pumping on flow gradients makes free product control and recovery much more difficult to
achieve. Recovery of residual product by using pump and treat, bioremediation, soil vapor extraction,
or air sparging will also be substantially complicated as a result of difficulties in predicting mean flow
and mass transfer limitations between fractured and nonfractured zones, which will reduce the efficiency
of remediation measures. Practical methods are needed to characterize fractured media and to assess
contaminant migration and remediation options at such sites.
In addition to the need for technology screening and selection methodologies, more effective
remediation techniques must be developed and evaluated for the removal of contaminants in fractured
rock media. Successful field application of in situ technologies in this media is inhibited by adverse
permeability conditions. Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling are two methods that create
permeable zones of known dimension and location. Hydraulic fracturing is a method of creating tabular
lenses filled with granular media in soil or rock. Long recognized as a method of increasing the
production rate of oil wells, hydraulic fracturing has been adapted for use in the subsurface as a method
to enhance environmental remediation. Unto itself, hydraulic fracturing provides little remedial effect,
however it offers the potential to greatly enhance in situ technologies by creating subsurface chiannelways
for delivery/recovery during vapor extraction, bioremediation, steam stripping, soil flushing, etc.
The proposed research will provide a better understanding of contaminant transport in heterogeneous
and anisotropic media. Based on this information, a methodology will be developed to identify, evaluate,
and select appropriate corrective action technologies for mitigating petroleum releases, in fractured
media. In addition, enhanced remediation techniques will be evaluated for improved contaminant
removal at these sites. The project will be conducted in three phases with major tasks as follows:
Phase I - Initial work will include 1) an expert workshop, 2) an overview and analysis of the current
practices for evaluating and mitigating petroleum releases in fractured bedrock through review of
published literature and studies, 3) literature reviews and experimental investigations of effects of
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
C-31a
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fracture geometry; surface wettability, fluid interfacial tensions; and capillary, gravitational, and viscous
forces on flow in fractured media, and 4) investigations of mass transfer kinetics between fractured and
nonfractured regions.
Phase II - Information from the initial phase will be used to focus and prioritize the research activities
under Phase II. Activities will include the development of practical approaches for evaluating the
contaminant behavior in fractured porous media and identification of critical factors that favor or inhibit
the success of specific corrective action technologies. Field experiments will also be developed to
determine how best to combine and apply various in situ treatment technologies with hydraulic
fracturing and/or horizontal drilling.
Phase III - The approaches developed under Phase II will be evaluated and validated through field
demonstrations/verifications at actual UST sites-of-opportunity. The field evaluations will be conducted
in conjunction with EPA Regions and States. Assistance will be provided in preparing site-specific
QAPjPs for the field evaluations. Results will be used to refine the methodology for identifying the key
site parameters necessary to assess the likely effectiveness of alternative corrective action technologies.
As part of the Phase III effort, the application of hydraulic fracturing and/or horizontal drilling in
combination with selected in situ treatment processes will be evaluated to determine the combined
remedial effectiveness at actual LUST sites. Performance of the process (including economic
advantages) will be monitored by collection of appropriate data according to established QA/QC
procedures.
OUTPUTS:
Technical reports, peer reviewed journal articles, and conference presentations will be prepared for the
tasks under each phase. A guidance document/user's manual will also be developed for the remediation
approach developed under this project.
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Evaluation of Technologies for Cleaning Up Soils Contaminated with Alternative Fuels
DURATION: FY94 to FY96
RESOURCES: $550K
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the available technologies and study the new technologies for the remediation of alternative
fuel contaminated soils.
RATIONALE:
In recent years, the United States has emphasized an interest in the development of alternative fuels to
replace traditional petroleum products due to concerns over oil embargoes of oil producing countries
and the deterioration of air quality. Most of the alternative fuels under consideration contain
oxygenated organic compounds. Their properties are different from those of hydrocarbons as are the
mechanisms of their transport and transformation in the subsurface environment Consequently, the
treatment of soils contaminated by these products must be evaluated in terms of their differences from
traditional fuels stored in USTs.
DESCRIPTION:
Laboratory and pilot studies of existing technologies such as soil washing, low- temperature thermal
desorption, soil vapor extraction, and biodegradation will be conducted to assess their applicability for
treating soils contaminated with alternative fuels. New technologies such as solvent extraction and
ozonation will be studied that may be effective for these soils.
OUTPUTS:
1. Technical report entitled "Evaluation of the Feasibility of Remediating Alternative Fuels-
Contaminated Soils with SVE, LTTD, Soil Washing, and Biodegradation."
2. Technical report entitled "Assessment of Ozonation and Solvent Extraction Technologies on the
Remediation of Alternative Fuel Contaminated Soils."
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Development, Demonstration, and Maintenance of a Computerized On-Line
Information System for Underground Storage Tank Technology Transfer
DURATION: FY87 to FY96
RESOURCES: $50K (annually)
OBJECTIVE:
To design, develop, and maintain a computerized on-line technical information system for UST
technology transfer; collect and incorporate UST case histories information into the computerized
system; and provide technical documentation for accessing this information.
RATIONALE:
The experiences of UST Program Managers at all levels of government and the consulting community
vaiy widely. Information that would allow these personnel to obtain the immediate benefit of the
experiences of others involved in UST cleanup actions is extremely useful. This information needs to
be available throughout the user community.
DESCRIPTION:
A computerized on-line information system containing case history information from UST Program
Managers has been designed and developed. The system is organized into two sections, a database
section and a narrative section. The database section allows file searches by 27 criteria (e.g., type of
incident, geographic location, hydrogeologic conditions, cleanup technology etc.) to select incidents of
interest. The narrative section is composed of ten subsections in text format which contain detailed
information on various UST incidents (e.g., chemical, site characteristics, effectiveness of
immediate/long-term corrective actions, etc.) The system has been fully operational since 1989 and
currently contains approximately 150 case histories, many describing the application of innovative
technologies. A modified system has also been developed for in-house use by UST Program Managers
. in tracking and monitoring LUST Trust Fund cleanup actions.
OUTPUTS:
1. On-line system developed for UST case histories (11/88)
2. UST case histories user's guide (4/89)
3. Fully operational system for UST technology transfer (8/89)
.4. Demonstration of LUST Trust Fund Management System (11/90)
5. Expanded/Updated system with multi-user capability (8/91)
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RREL - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Development and Evaluation of Methods for Detection and Prevention of Leaks in
Aboveground Storage Tanks
DURATION:
FY93 to FY 96
RESOURCES:
($350,000 estimated annually)
OBJECTIVE:
The objective is to develop, evaluate and demonstrate methods for the detection and prevention of leaks
in small and large aboveground storage tanks (ASTs).
Leak detection and prevention measures for ASTs are deferred under the present EPA regulations. At
the current time, the Spills Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Act (SPCC), which covers
releases from ASTs, is undergoing modifications in several phases. Research in underground liners is
presently being done by EPA, but the problem of leak detection has not been addressed. The American
Petroleum Institute (API) is in the third phase of a three-phase program to assess the state of the art
in leak detection for ASTs; the first phase was a survey of existing technology, performed in 1990 [1,2],
and the second was a set of field experiments to assess the applicability of volumetric and acoustic
methods [3-7]. During the third phase, additional field experiments are being done to evaluate the
testing recommendations made during the second phase. The results suggest that both passive-acoustics
aind mass-measurement systems, when properly implemented, will be able to detect small leaks in the
floors of ASTs. In these tanks a leak of 1 gal/h or more might be considered small. This value is
consistent with the leak detection standards required of USTs (0.1 gal/h for tank tightness tests and 02
gal/h for monthly monitoring tests), because in an aboveground tank the hydrostatic head of the liquid
may be 5 to 10 times greater than it is in an underground tank. The API work is being done on large
tanks, typically 100 ft in diameter, containing petroleum fuels. No experimental work is being done on
small tanks 10 to 50 ft in diameter, or on veiy large tanks, for example, those that are 150 to 200 ft in
diameter.
The current SPCC calls for internal inspection of an AST every 10 years. Periodic leak
testing/monitoring is not presently required, but is under consideration for inclusion in the rule changes
proposed for Fall 1992. In order for the tank to be inspected, it must be taken out of service, emptied,
and cleaned. This process takes several weeks to several months to complete. The regulatoiy standards
for testing ASTs are quite inconsistent with those for testing USTs (the latter being 0.2 gal/h for tests
that are conducted monthly). This inconsistency is more pronounced because the area of the bottom
(or buried) surface of a moderately sized AST is larger than the total buried area of the largest UST,
and the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the product is 5 to 10 times greater in ASTs than in USTs.
The most pressing problem is to evaluate the capability of the technologies that can be used for leak
detection. The API work has been done on 100-ft-diameter tanks containing a light-end fuel. There
is a wide spread in the size of ASTs, which range in diameter from 10 to 200 ft, and leak detection
system that work on the smaller tanks will not work on the larger ones. Also, methods that work on
the lai^er tanks may constitute a case of "overkill" for the smaller tanks. Finally, some of the techniques
that will work with the light-end products may not work with the heavier ones. A multi-year program
RATIONALE:
DESCRIPTION:
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is necessary to evaluate mass-measurement and passive-acoustic detection techniques for small and laige
tanks containing both light and heavy fuels. Two types of experiments will be conducted. The first type
will be controlled tests in a captive tank that are designed to evaluate each technology; leaks will be
simulated by means of a leak-maker device developed and validated in the API program. The second
type of experiment will evaluate each technology on,a variety of tanks for the purpose of assessing the
ambient noise characteristics. For each viable technique, a standard test procedure for evaluating
performance will be developed and demonstrated.
At the present time RREL has no funds to undertake any AST research, but it is the EPA laboratory
that has the functional responsibility for performing this work. The API research shows that it is
possible to test ASTs for leaks and that additional work is required before standards and general
methods of testing can be developed.
OUTPUTS:
1. Final report entitled, "Leak Detection Technologies for Aboveground Storage Tanks When In
Service." American Petroleum Institute, August 1989.
2. Final report entitled, "An Engineering Assessment of Volumetric Methods of Leak Detection
System for Aboveground Storage Tanks," API Publication Number 306, October 1991.
3. Final report entitled, "An Engineering Assessment of Acoustic Methods of Leak Detection in
Aboveground Storage Tanks." API Publication Number 307, Januaiy 1992.
4. Technical paper entitled, "Aboveground Tank Leak Detection Technologies." Proceedings of
the 10th Annual ILTA Operating Conference, June 1990.
5. Technical paper entitled, "Detection of Leaks in the Floor of Aboveground Storage Tanks by
Means of a Passive Acoustic Sensing System." Proceedings of the 84th Annual Meeting and
Exposition of the Air and Waste Management Association, June 1991.
6. Technical paper entitled, "Field Tests of Passive-Acoustic Leak Detection Systems for
Aboveground Storage Tanks." Proceedings of the 85th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the
Air and Waste Management Association, 1992.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
BSA/PPA: D109/R62 DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR STORAGE TANK LEAK
MONITORING
Project 01 Monitoring Methods, for Characterizing and Remediating Releases at Underground
Storage Tank Sites
Tasks: FY 1991 and FY 1992
I. Leak Detection Monitoring
01 A. Evaluation of External Vapor Monitoring Sensors
02 B. Laboratory Model of Gasoline Leakage
II. Real-lime Site Assessment
03 A. Improved Field Methods for UST Investigations and Monitoring
04 B. Improved Free Product Monitoring and Recovery
III. Remediation Monitoring
05 A. BTEX Monitoring Methods for Active Bioremediation
06 B. Field Monitoring and Decision Support for Assessing In-Situ Biocontainment of Plumes
07 C. Design and Monitoring of Permeable Remediation Barrier
08 D. Monitoring Review of Field Data for In-Situ Air Sparging
IV. Technology Transfer
09 A. ASTM -- UST Subcommittees for Leak Detection, Site Assessment and Remediation
10 B. UST Issue Papers
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
RESEARCH CATEGORIES and TASKS DESCRIPTIONS
I. Leak Detection Monitoring
01 I. A. Evaluation of External Vapor Monitoring Sensors
Cooperative Agreement: Carnegie Mellon University
Principal Investigator: Mark Portnoff
Goal:. To evaluate sensors used for external monitoring of petroleum hydrocarbon vapors in order to: (1)
develop a classification system based on individual sensor types (eg., adsistors, Figaro, metal oxide
sensors, and catalytic bead sensors), and (2) to develop a scale of comparative usefulness for
purchasers and users of external vapor monitors.
Rationale:
There are a variety of sensors capable of measuring hydrocarbon vapors. These sensors
operate according to different physical principles and are subject to different kinds of
environmental interferences. The effects of these interferences on instrument sensitivity,
specificity and drift is not well known. This lack of information impedes proper selection of
existing monitors as well as development of improved sensing devices.
Approach:
This study will evaluate various sensors to determine their sensitivity and specificity to
petroleum hydrocarbons. The study will be carried out using specially prepared laboratory
chambers that control for temperature, humidity and methane interferences. The study will
provide quantitative data on: 1) precision and accuracy, 2) detection limits, 3) false
positive and false negatives and 4) the effects of potential interferences.
Deliverables:
Report quantifying the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the sensors in order to
inform purchasers.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
I. Leak Detection Monitoring
02 I. B. Laboratory Model of Gasoline Leakage
Cooperative Agreement: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Principal Investigator: David Kreamer
Goal: To provide time-lapse videos and computer graphics on results of physical model testing. The tests
will quantitatively characterize hydrocarbon liquid and vapor movement in the vadose zone and
across the water table in small- and moderate-size physical models.
Rationale:
The assessment and characterization of UST sites can be improved by examining how
variables such as fuel type, leak rate, moisture content, temperature, and backfill affects the
distribution of contaminants. This project will also provide video records to enhance
transfer of this information as stand-alone videos or video segments for inclusion in other
videos.
Approach:
This work is being transferred from Arizona State University to UNLV in FY 1991. The
project uses controlled laboratory experiments where petroleum fuel is leaked into glass-
walled tanks filled with various backfill materials. Parameters that are varied in the sand-
tank apparatus include: fuel type, leak rate, moisture, soil distribution and permeability.
Time-lapse video photography will record liquid movements in the tanks. Gas samples will
be periodically withdrawn from a network of sampling ports throughout the tank and be
analyzed by gas chromatography. Computer graphics will be developed based on the
findings.
Deliverables:
'92 Videos and computer graphics of spill movement.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
II. Real-Time Site Assessment
03 II. A. Improved Field Methods for UST Investigations and Monitoring
Cooperative Agreement : University of Connecticut
Principal Investigators: Gary Robbins and James Stuart
Goal:
Continue expanded use of field methods for site investigation and remediation monitoring.
Deliverables:
'92 - '94 Protocols for profiling the vertical distribution of contaminants; conducting air
permeability tests; conducting slug tests for UST sites; delineating fracture zones.
Developing course content for training courses for Regions and State UST programs.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT descriptions
II. Real-Ume Site Assessment
04 II. B. Improved Free Product Monitoring and Recovery
Cooperative Agreement: Western Michigan University
Principal Investigator: Duane Hampton
Goal: To develop and field test the "aquifer dipstick" for real-time measurement of free product
thicknesses in shallow aquifers and to develop and test innovative hydrophobic well packs to improve
the recovery of free product.
Rationale:
Many UST release sites require delineation of the free product plume and the design of a
product recovery system, yet current methods for carrying out these activities are inaccurate
and ineffective.
Approach:
Prior work conducted under this cooperative agreement resulted in development of a
prototype aquifer dipstick and hydrophobic well pack. Ongoing work is focused on refining
and improving both prototypes to improve their ability to be deployed in the field. The
devices will be tested both in the laboratoiy and at a field site in Michigan. The results will
be compared to other approaches, including ground penetrating radar.
The aquifer dipstick consists of two tubes, one inside the other. The inner tube rotates to
expose the detectors (dye material or electric sensors) that indicate fuel thickness. Studies
will also be conducted to evaluate the influence of hydrophobic well-construction materials
in free-product monitoring and in improved recovery of free product by skimming. Field
tests will also be conducted to evaluate various tracers for free product and their value in
site characterization studies.
Deliverables:
'92 - '93. New prototype devices, such as the aquifer dipstick, for real-time measurement of
actual product thicknesses on the capillary fringe; use of gasoline compounds or added
tracers to monitor recovery of product; new well packs constructed of hydrophobic materials
to increase recovery of free product from the subsurface.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
III. Remediation Monitoring
05 III. A. BTEX Monitoring Methods for Active Bioremediation
Interagency Agreement: Air Force and RJS. Kerr Laboratory
Principal Investigator: Neil Amick
Goal: To develop methods for monitoring benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) in soil, soil
gas, and ground water. The study will test and use field methods to identify the occurrence and
concentration of BTEX. The study will assist in the development and design of protocols to monitor
the bioremediation of BTEX compounds through field tests and pilot studies.
Rationale:
Currently, many state UST regulations include standards for total petroleum hydrocarbons
(TPH) in soil. Although TPH standards often conflict with standards for BTEX, the TPH
measurements are still widely used because states are familiar with methods for TPH
analysis and because they have few viable alternative measurement methods. In contrast,
BTEX is the most water soluble fraction of petroleum hydrocarbons and includes known
carcinogens. Thus, there is interest in using BTEX to supplement or possibly replace TPH
measurements in UST regulations in order to target scarce monitoring and regulatory
resources on the most mobile and toxic fractions of UST releases.
Approach:
This study will test available techniques for measuring BTEX in the laboratory and in the
field. Methods to be tested include: 1) immunoassay test, 2) disc techniques, using a
modified luminoscope, 3) BTEX sensor systems, and 4) a filter fluorometer or modified
luminoscope. Special emphasis will be placed on assessing how these techniques can be
used to characterize sites and to monitor the progress of bioremediation of BTEX
compounds. The first year efforts will focus on evaluating and improving the field
deployability of the test methods. In conjunction with the Kerr Laboratory, the second year
efforts will focus on using these techniques to monitor a site undergoing active
bioremediation. Results from this project will be used to assist in developing protocols for
ASTM standards for use of these BTEX measurement techniques.
Deliverables:
'93. Report evaluating the field deployability of BTEX measurement methods based on
field tests; specific recommendations for modification of devices for improved field
performance.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Ili. Remediation Monitoring
06 III. B. Field Monitoring and Decision Support for Assessing In-Situ Biocontainment of Plumes
Cooperative Agreement: Utah State University
Principal Investigator Ryan Dupont
Goal: The objectives of this study are: 1) to assess natural biodegradation reactions at a well defined fuel
spill site; 2) to assess and select practical field sampling and analytical methods that best quantify
the observed biodegradation reactions based on a comparison with rigorous laboratory analysis
methods; 3) to assess the effectiveness of simple, low cost biostimulation techniques; 4) to use field
generated biodegradation monitoring data as input to a fate and transport model for plume
containment and remediation; and 5) to produce a decision support system to enable UST site
managers to assess the feasibility of biodegradation on a site-by-site basis using field monitoring
methods.
Rationale:
As the number of UST release sites continues to grow, the regulatory community is under
increasing pressure to determine which sites will require full-scale corrective action in order
to protect environmental quality and human health. This project will identify and validate
field monitoring techniques and decision criteria to enable rapid and conclusive
determination of whether naturally occurring or easily stimulated biodegradation may be a
feasible remediation option on a site-by-site basis.
Approach:
This study will be conducted in four phases: 1) the use of field characterization methods to
determine the distribution of contaminants and the hydraulic characteristics of the site; 2)
the use of field techniques to monitor in-situ biodegradation processes, as manifested in
groundwater and soil gas chemistry; 3) the evaluation of the ability of simple soil aeration
techniques to stimulate natural biodegradation; and 4) the integration of the field data into
a decision support system to verify in-situ biodegradation processes and to assess the long-
term effects on the plume as it is attenuated by natural biodegradation processes.
Deliverables:
late '93. Field monitoring protocols and complementary decision support system for
interpreting field data in order to make site management decisions. The decision support
system is designed for conversion to computer software.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
III. Remediation Monitoring
07 III. C. Design and Monitoring of Permeable Remediation Barriers
Cooperative Agreement : University of South Carolina and
University of North Carolina
Principal Investigators: Bob Borden and Art Cohen
Goal:
This study will conduct ground water monitoring around permeable barriers designed to
remove dissolved petroleum contaminants from the ground water.
Rationale:
Conventional pump and treat methods for remediating dissolved hydrocarbon contamination
is increasingly viewed as an inefficient long-term process with high operation and
maintenance costs for pumping large volumes of water above ground for treatment and
subsequent dischaige. As an alternative to treating the groundwater contaminants above
ground, this study is investigating the use of innovative permeable barriers which could be
installed at UST release sites to treat the dissolved contamination in-situ.
Approach:
This study focuses on the materials to be placed within the permeable barrier and on
monitoring the effects of the barrier on water quality. An initial study defining the physical
and chemical characteristics of several peats and determining their capacity to adsorb
petroleum hydrocarbons has been completed. Ongoing studies will investigate the ability of
specially prepared "briquets" to release the proper amount of nutrients over time, as well as
the ability of peat to denitrify any excess nitrogen.
Deliverables:
'92 - '93. Report evaluating the ability of peat and "fertilizer briquettes" in permeable
trenches to treat groundwater contamination in-situ; evaluation trench effect on local
groundwater flow patterns.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
III. Remediation Monitoring
08 III. D. Monitoring Review of Field Data for In-Situ Air Sparging
Cooperative Agreement : Environmental Research Center, UNLV
Principal Investigators: Rich Johnson, Paul Johnson, Robert
Hinchee, and David McWhorter
Goal:
Deliverables:
Determine the relative contributions of physical and biological processes (e.g., immiscible
fluid displacement, volatilization, biodegradation) in reducing subsurface contaminant levels
of hydrocarbons through in-situ air sparging.
'92 Issue paper on potential use of air sparging at UST sites and strategic areas for
additional research.
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
IV. Technology Transfer
09 IV. A. ASTM -- UST Subcommittees for Leak Detection, Site Assessment and Remediation
Goal:
To accelerate the development of ASTM standards related to underground storage tanks.
The goal is for ASTM to generate consensus standards that can be referred to by state
regulations. The standards will be primarily related to leak detection monitoring, site
assessment, and remediation.
Rationale:
The responsibly for carrying out the UST program is primarily in the hands of state
programs. EPA can provide assistance by working on guidance that is based on the
consensus of interested parties. ASTM provides an ideal opportunity to bring together
regulators, vendors, and researchers to develop standards. By supporting this project, EPA
can help set the agenda for standards development, but not have to take on the full burdens
of cost and effort to produce this guidance.
Approach:
The Underground Storage Tank Subcommittee of ASTM has produced a Standard Guide
and Standard Practice for leak detection monitoring. Future efforts by Subcommittee task
groups will support development of standards for site assessment and remediation
monitoring. State UST programs face many common questions, such as procedures for
streamlining and improving their remediation efforts. The ASTM Task Groups will reach a
consensus and publish such procedures. OUST is also participating in this work effort.
Deliverables:
ASTM standard for leak detection, site assessment and remediation (Deliverables are of
continuing nature, drafts for site assessment to be completed late '92).
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EMSL-LV-PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
IV. Technology Transfer
10 IV. B. UST Issue Papers
Cooperative Agreement: Environmental Research Center, UNLV
Principal Investigator: Doug Bedinger
Goal:
To transfer the research findings of EMSL-LV regarding UST problems by intermittently
publishing issue papers that focus on the practical information needs of regulators and
practitioners.
Rationale:
There is a strong need in the UST program to provide timely information to a wide range
of people involved with underground storage tanks. A tremendous number of
owner/operators, consultants and regulators have an interest in USTs. Most of these
people are new to the field and they would find "nuggets" of information obtained from UST
research extremely helpful in their daily work.
Approach:
A series of papers will be produced through the Environmental Research Center in
cooperation with OUST and other ORD laboratories. They will be published and
distributed by CERI. These issue papers will be based on both research and field
experience and will represent the "state-of-the-knowledge" on relevant UST topics. Papers
may be developed and written by one person or a group of experts and each paper will be
reviewed.
Deliverables:
Series of issue papers to be delivered to UST programs, the regulated community, and leak
detection and remediation consultants. Current mailing list is over 4,000. (Continuing
through '95. Four issues complete; others will be developed as research findings unfold).
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