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Soil Amendments for
Remediation, Revitalization,
and Reuse Tools: Fact Sheet
In August 2006, the U.S. EPA Office of Su-
perfund Remediation and Technology In-
novation brought together 18 federal and
local government, academic, and private
sector experts to answer questions about
using soil amendments in remediating,
revitalizing, and reusing contaminated
lands. Two new tools to encourage and
assist site cleanup managers to use soil
amendments for remediation, revitaliza-
tion, and reuse of their sites resulted from
this collaboration. The Use of Soil Amend-
ments for Remediation, Revitalization,
and Reuse is a white paper that describes
soil amendments, the advantages of us-
ing them, the types of environmental
problems and contaminants they can ad-
dress, the types of sites where they can
be used, and regulatory and other issues
related to using them. It focuses on the
use of amendments on sites dominated
by inorganic contaminants, although they
also can be used to address volatile and
semivolatile organic contaminants that
have left sites barren of vegetation. Soil
Remediation, Revitalization, and Reuse:
Technical Performance Measures is an
Internet-based tool that helps users de-
termine whether soil amendments are
functioning as designed to reduce risks to
human health and the environment.
So/7 amendments are residual materials
from other processes and include munic-
ipal biosolids, manures, litters, sugar
beet lime, wood ash, coal combustion
products, log yard waste, neutralizing
lime products, compost, and traditional
agricultural fertilizers.
The Use of Soil Amendments for
Remediation, Revitalization, and Reuse
provides information to assist regulators, consul-
tants, site owners, neighbors, and other stakeholders
in understanding the principles of soil amendment
application for remediating and revegetating con-
taminated sites and to encourage widespread use of
this alternative to revitalize and reuse contaminated
land. It focuses on amendments that are generally
residuals from other processes and have beneficial
properties when added to soil (see box at lower left).
When applied properly, soil amendments reduce
exposure by eliminating exposure pathways and
immobilizing contaminants to limit their bioavail-
ability. The addition of amendments restores soil
quality by balancing pH and organic matter, increas-
ing water holding capacity, re-establishing microbial
communities, and alleviating compaction.
Ellengowan Mine Site, Mahanoy Township, PA
View or download a copy of The Use of Soil Amendments for Remediation, Revitalization,
and Reuse (EPA 540-R-07-013) at www.clu-in.org/ 542R07013
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Each major section of the document contains a
quick-reference table that summarizes the text to
follow. For example, Table 1 lists the types of bio-
availability and phytoavailability problems (e.g.,
toxicity) and poor soil health and ecosystem func-
tion problems (e.g., high or low pH) addressed by
soil amendments and provides information on
exposure pathways, how various amendments
interact with contaminants, and the potential so-
lutions for each problem. Table 2, lists the types
of sites where soil amendments can be used. This
includes hard-rock and coal mining, smelting and
refining, and construction and mixed waste sites,
and the table provides information on potential
solutions for each site type. Table 3 lists the types
of soil amendments currently available, the ad-
vantages and disadvantaged of each, and the cost,
public acceptance, and availability issues that can
impact when and where each is used. The table
also provides links to sources and further infor-
mation about each type of amendment. Table 4
lists transportation, storage, and equipment needs
that may impact decisions to use soil amend-
ments. The quick-reference tables can be used
independently by readers, depending on the focus
West Page Swamp, Bunker Hill Superflmd Site, Kellogg, ID
at their particular sites. In combination, however,
the tables and text provide readers with a thor-
ough overview of how, when, and where to use
soil amendments as well as information on plan-
ning and implementing site revegetation efforts,
regulatory requirements and authorities that may
pertain to the use of soil amendments to reme-
diate and revitalize sites, and the environmental,
human health, economic, and other advantages of
soil amendments.
Soil Remediation,
Revitalization, and Reuse:
Technical Performance Measures
is built on a searchable database containing a
variety of potentially applicable technical perfor-
mance measures (TPMs) and provide site managers
with the flexibility to design the most appropriate
testing for their sites while providing consistency
and comparability between sites.
Access Soil Remediation,
Revitalization, and Reuse: Technical
Performance Measures at
www.clu-in.org/products/tpm.
The database includes a list of "core" TPMs
chosen for their availability, reasonable cost, and
level of standardization. The core TPMs are:
• Laboratory animal bioassay (ASTM 1976-07)
• Laboratory plant bioassay (ASTM 1963-02)
• Percent vegetative cover
• pH
• Plant nutrients
• Plant tissue residue (field)
• Pore water or in vitro extraction
• Salinity/sodicity
• Synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP)
U.S. EPA wishes to thank participants in the 2006 Soil Amendments for Ecological Revitalization Workshop:
Harry L. Allen, IV, U.S. EPA; Dr. Nick Basta, Ohio State University; Dr. Sally Brown, University of Washington;
Dr. RufusChaney, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Harry Compton, U.S. EPA; Dr. W. Lee Daniels, Virginia Tech;
Dr. Elizabeth Dayton, Ohio State University; Lakhwinder Hundal, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of
Greater Chicago; Susan Mooney, U.S. EPA; Dennis R. Neuman, Montana State University; Dane Pehrman,
Black and Veach; Bruce Pluta, U.S. EPA; David Reisman, U.S. EPA; Dr. Ellen Rubin, U.S. EPA; Jim Ryan, U.S.
EPA; Ashfaq Sajjad, U.S. EPA; Mark Sprenger, U.S. EPA; William Toffey, Philadelphia Water Department
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The core TPMs evaluate the toxicity, bioavailabil-
ity, and/or mobility of the contaminants present
as well as assist in determining if remediation is
protective of human health and the environment.
The database also includes supplemental TPMs
that could be useful and/or important depending
on site-specific conditions.
The intended users of the TPM
database and search engine are site
project managers and their
technical support teams.
The range of TPM options in the database cur-
rently focuses on metals, and the list is not ex-
haustive. The matrix is intended to be a "living"
document, and users are encouraged to suggest
other appropriate tests that should be included
through the "Comment" feature on this site.
Over time, the database also may be expanded
to include other types of contaminants.
There are protocols established for many
aspects of TPMs and specific QA/QC require-
ments are associated with these protocols (e.g.,
QA/QC requirements for chemical determina-
tion and toxicity testing). These protocols use
a combination of reference (background) and
control samples to validate results and ensure
that they meet project needs. For more spe-
cific information on data quality objectives, see
EPA's "Guidance on Systematic Planning using
the Data Quality Objectives Process (QA/G-
4; EPA/240/B-06/001)" and the other general
guidance to help users ensure the quality and
usefulness of their environmental data at http://
www. epa.gov/QUALITY/qa_docs.html.
When should this database
and search engine be used?
The TPM website is designed for use in evalu-
ating the performance of soil amendments used
for remediation, revitalization, and reuse of
sites for nonresidential purposes. However, it
also can be used during the evaluation and se-
lection of remedial alternatives. For example,
the database and search engine can be used to
assess bench- and pilot-scale tests of a range of
soil amendments being considered for potential
use at a site; evaluate the performance of any
in situ technology that leaves contaminants in
place; or ensure that soil quality is appropriate
for a revitalization and reuse scenario.
Aerial, Ellengowan Mine Site, Mahanoy Township, PA
Consideration of this database and search
engine in the development of the remedial
investigation (RI) and feasibility study (FS)
and any site-specific treatability studies can
result in significant cost and time savings to
the site. Some of the TPMs used at the end
of the cleanup process are the same tests that
are used to evaluate the nature and extent of
contamination and the risks posed by the site
during the RI. Such consistency in test usage
can provide data for comparative analysis
and an early indication of the benefits from
remediation by soil amendment. Therefore,
the careful selection of specific tests can (1)
reduce analytical costs while increasing the
number of samples analyzed, (2) establish a
solid database for pre-/post remediation com-
parisons, and (3) provide a more thorough
characterization of the site.
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How Can One Use
the TPM Search Engine?
When you access the TPM website, click on the
"TPM Search" button on the left of the page to
determine the specific test methods appropri-
ate for your particular case. The search process
is iterative and based on three primary criteria:
your project goal, the exposure pathway, and
the performance measurement to be used. Once
you select a goal from a pull-down menu (Box
A), the pull-down menus for boxes B (exposure
pathway) and C (performance measurement), in
turn, provide you with options that are appropriate
based on the criteria selected from menus in the
previous boxes. Search results provide informa-
tion about each method that matches the criteria,
including whether the method is a "core" TPM,
comments on issues to consider when using the
etionAgeney Technology Innovation Program
Soil Remediation, Revitalization, and Reuse:
Technical Performance Measures {TPMs)
Each step in the search process below is iterative. The pull-down menus
for boxes B and C will provide you with options that are appropriate
You may view oil TPMs available through the search engine, along with
in the TPM Overview Table,
Begin your search by selecting a characterization, remediation.
What Is the characterization, remediation, revitallzatlon,
reuse goal?
A. Reduce contaminant bioavailability
What is the exposure pathway?
B, | Direct exposure from soil
How will you test it (performance measurement)?
--'Ian! bioaccun-'ulat c,n
method, and references for additional informa-
tion. When search results indicate that multiple
TPMs are appropriate for your site, the methods
are interchangeable as long as the same test is used
consistently at the site to ensure that data will be
comparable. In some cases, however, site-specific
conditions (e.g., a particular soil constituent's tol-
erance limit) could further limit the list of TPMs
shown through the search.
>EPA"
Technology Innovation Program
;
CLU-IN
Soil Remediation, Revitalization, and Reuse:
Technical Performance Measures (TPMs)
Search Summary
Goal of the Soil Amendment
Application:
Exposure Pathway of Concern:
Performance Measurement:
2 specific methods matched your search
criteria
Reduce contaminant bioavailabflity
Direct exposure from soil
Plant bioaccumulation
Modify Search Criteria
• Laboratory plant bioassav (ASTM 1963-021
* Plant tissue residue (field)
If you would like to suggest additional tests, let us know by using the
"Comments" button on the left side of this page.
Page Last Modified: May 30. 2008
Once you have completed your search and have
a list of specific TPMs, click on each TPM listed
to access information to support a comparative
analysis of the selected method. This includes 1)
whether the method is a core TPM, 2) availability
of the method, 3) cost magnitude, and 4) degree
of standardization, plus "Comments" and "More
Information," if appropriate, to provide additional
relevant details and references that resulted from
the critical review of each method. The Search
procedure should be completed for each goal, if
there are multiple goals for the site. You also have
the option to view a TPM Overview Table that
presents all TPMs available through the search
engine, along with the comparative analysis, com-
ments, and other information about each.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5203P)
EPA (542-F-07-012)
November 2007
www.epa.sov
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