$EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research and
Development
Washington, DC 20460
EPA/600/F-99/008
April 1999
                       Program  Demonstration  Update
     Performance Verification of Sediment Sampling Technologies
Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies
new   technologies  for   hazardous   waste   sampling,
characterization, and cleanup through its Superfund Innovative
Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program.  Created in 1986, this
program has four primary objectives: (1) identify and remove
obstacles to development and commercial use of innovative
technologies, (2) support a development program that identifies
and nurtures emerging technologies, (3) demonstrate promising
innovative technologies to establish reliable performance and
cost information for site characterization and cleanup decision-
making, and (4) develop procedures and policies that encourage
selection of innovative technologies for Superfund sites as well
as other sites and commercial facilities.

Two sediment sampling technologies are to be demonstrated
under EPA's SITE Program: Art's Manufacturing & Supply,
Inc.' s (AMS), Split Core Sampler for Submerged Sediments and
Aquatic Research Instruments' (ARI) Russian Peat Borer. The
technology demonstration is a cooperative effort of the SITE
Program and EPA Regions 1 and 5.

The SITE Program

The SITE Program includes the following  elements:  the
Monitoring and Measurement Technology (MMT) Program, the
Remediation Technology Program, and the Technology Transfer
Program.  The innovative sediment sampler demonstration is
being conducted as part of the MMT Program, which is briefly
described below.

The  MMT Program  provides   developers  of  innovative
hazardous  waste measurement,  monitoring,  and sampling
technologies an opportunity to demonstrate the performance of
their technology  under  actual   field conditions.   These
technologies may be used to detect, monitor, sample, or
measure hazardous and toxic substances in soil, sediment, waste
material, and groundwater.
                                  The technologies include chemical sensors for in situ (in place)
                                  measurements,  groundwater samplers, soil  and sediment
                                  samplers, soil gas samplers,  laboratory and field-portable
                                  analytical equipment, and other systems that support  field
                                  sampling or data acquisition and analysis.

                                  The MMT Program strives to achieve the following objectives:

                                    •  Test field analytical technologies that enhance monitoring
                                      and site characterization capabilities

                                    •  Identify performance attributes of innovative technologies
                                      to address field characterization and monitoring problems
                                      in a cost-effective and efficient manner

                                    •  Prepare protocols, guidelines, methods, and other technical
                                      publications that enhance acceptance of these technologies

                                  The MMT Program is  administered by the Environmental
                                  Sciences Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory in
                                  Las Vegas, Nevada.

                                  Purpose and Scope of the Demonstration

                                  The demonstration of the AMS  Split Core Sampler for
                                  Submerged Sediments and the ARI Russian Peat Borer will be
                                  conducted under the MMT Program during the last week of
                                  April and the first week of May 1999 at sites in EPA Regions 1
                                  and 5.  The purpose of the demonstration is to obtain reliable
                                  performance and cost data on these innovative samplers in order
                                  to provide (1) a better understanding of innovative sediment
                                  samplers that may be more versatile, more cost-effective, and
                                  faster to use than conventional sediment samplers and (2) an
                                  opportunity for the innovative sediment samplers to enter the
                                  marketplace and compete with conventional samplers without
                                  long delays.

                                                                  (Continued on Page 4)

-------
AMS Split Core Sampler for Submerged
Sediments

The  AMS Split  Core Sampler for Submerged Sediments is
designed to  collect undisturbed, cylindrical core samples of
various types of sediment, including saturated sands and silts,
up to a maximum depth of 36 inches below the sediment surface
(bss).  The  sampler  is designed to collect sediment with a
paniculate diameter not exceeding 2/3 inch. The AMS Split
Core Sampler for Submerged Sediments is a modified version
of the AMS  Split Core Sampler, which is commonly used to
collect undisturbed soil samples.

Technology Description

Components of the AMS Split Core Sampler for Submerged
Sediments include (1) up to three  12-inch-long pairs of 300-
series, stainless-steel split core cups with interlocking, recessed
channels and male, square-threaded  ends; (2) a 400-series,
stainless-steel coring tip; (3) a rigid plastic basket retainer; (4) a
ball check valve-vented top cap; (5) a female, square-threaded
coupling for attachment to additional stainless-steel split core
cups; and (6) stainless-steel or 4130  Alloy AMS extensions
available in  3-, 4-, and 5-foot lengths  (see Figure 1).  The
sampler can be operated with the  AMS Slide-Hammer,  the
stainless-steel or rubber-coated AMS Cross Handle, or the AMS
Electric Hammer Drill. Also, the sampler may be used with a
core tube liner  available  in plastic,  stainless  steel, brass,
aluminum, and Teflon® to facilitate removal of an intact sample
from the split core cups. Ancillary components for operation of
the sampler  include  crescent wrenches and slip wrenches for
assembly of the sampler, core caps for enclosing a sediment core
within the core tube liner, the AMS Sample Preparation Station
for splitting  core tube liners and examining samples, and the
AMS  Tripod Winch  for recovering  the sampler during
sampling.

The  assembled  AMS  Split  Core  Sampler for  Submerged
Sediments has an inside diameter of 2 inches and is designed to
collect sample volumes of 620; 1,240; and 1,860 milliliters
(mL) using one, two, and three pairs of interlocking split core
cups, respectively. The fully equipped sampler, including one
pair of 2-inch-diameter split core cups, the top cap with the ball
check  valve, the coring tip, the  coupling, and the basket
retainer, weighs about 7.5 pounds.  The AMS  Slide-Hammer
weighs about 10.2 pounds.

The AMS Split Core Sampler for Submerged Sediments can be
either manually pushed into  sediment using the AMS  Cross
Handle or hammered into sediment  using the  AMS Slide-
Hammer or Electric Hammer Drill. The ball check valve in the
sampler's  top cap allows water to exit the sampler during
deployment and creates a vacuum to help retain a sediment core
during sampler retrieval. Also, the basket retainer is designed
to help retain sediment within the interlocked split core cups.
The sampler can be retrieved manually, by reverse hammering
using the  AMS  Slide-Hammer, or using the  AMS Tripod
Winch.
                      Cross handle

                        Extension

                     Top cap coupling
                        Ball check
                      valve- vented
                         top cap
                     ,Split core cups
                      Basket retainer

                        Coring tip
                                          Not to scale
Figure 1. AMS Split Core Sampler for Submerged Sediments.

According to AMS, the Split Core  Sampler for  Submerged
Sediments is innovative  because it incorporates a ball  check
valve in the top cap to allow water to escape as the sampler is
deployed and to prevent water from entering the sampler as it is
retrieved. Also, the coring tip of the sampler has been modified
from earlier versions of the sampler to accommodate a basket
retainer designed to help prevent sample loss as the sampler is
retrieved.

Operating Procedures

The AMS Split Core Sampler for Submerged  Sediments can be
operated by one person from a platform, from a boat, or while
wading in  shallow water.   Depending on sampler decon-
tamination requirements and sampling conditions such as water
depth and sediment type, the stainless-steel AMS extensions or
the stronger, more widely used 4130 Alloy AMS extensions can
be attached to the sampler before its deployment. The fully
assembled sampler is manually lowered into the water in such
a way that the coring tip is placed on the sediment surface. The
sampler can then be either manually pushed with the  AMS
Cross Handle or driven with the AMS  Slide-Hammer to the
desired sediment depth.   The sampler is removed  from the
sediment either manually or by  reverse hammering using the
AMS Slide-Hammer.  The sampler is raised out of the  water
manually or using the AMS Tripod Winch. Once  the sampler
has been retrieved, the interlocking split core cups are separated
from the extensions and carefully opened. The sediment core
enclosed in the core tube liner, if used,  can be either sealed in
the core tube using two  core caps or removed.   The core is
removed by splitting the liner with a knife or using the AMS
Sample Preparation Station.

-------
ARI Russian Peat Borer

The ARI Russian Peat Borer is a manually driven core sampler
designed to consistently collect uncompressed samples of bog
and marsh sediment.   The sampler is designed to operate in
shallow water (a depth of up to 15 feet) and to achieve complete
sediment profile collection to a maximum depth of 65 feet bss,
depending on the sediment thickness.

Technology Description

Components of the ARI Russian Peat Borer include a stainless-
steel core tube; 1-inch-diameter, aluminum extension rods with
a stainless-steel coupling nut; a stainless-steel turning handle;
and  a Delrin®  core head and bottom point that support a
stainless-steel cover plate.   The cover plate is curved and
sharpened to minimize disturbance when the sampler is inserted
into  sediment (see Figure 2).  The core tube is  hinged to the
cover plate by  two stainless-steel pivot pins at the top and
bottom of the plate.  Support equipment for operation of the
sampler may include a slide-hammer mechanism or 10-foot-
long, magnesium-zirconium rods that are each 1.3  inches in
diameter.

The ARI Russian Peat Borer is available in two separate models
with 20- and 40-inch core tube lengths. The two models are
designed  to collect maximum sample  volumes of 500 and
1,000 mL, respectively.  The fully assembled samplers without
extension rods weigh about 5.5 and 15 pounds, respectively.
Each additional 40-inch-long extension  rod weighs about
2 pounds.

The ARI Russian Peat Borer is manually inserted into sediment
in the beginning position and turned 180 degrees clockwise.
This procedure allows the sharp edge of the core tube to rotate
and  longitudinally cut through the sediment, collecting a
semicylindrical sediment core 2 inches in diameter. While the
core tube is manually  turned, the stainless-steel cover plate
provides support so that the collected material is retained within
the core tube.

According to ARI, the Russian Peat Borer is innovative because
the core  head and  bottom point  are made  of Delrin®,  a
thermoplastic polymer that has a high modulus of elasticity as
well as strength, stiffness, and resistance to abrasion and the
degrading effects of moisture. Earlier sediment samplers with
a similar design were typically made entirely of stainless steel.
ARI has also installed a rubber strip on the cover plate of its
sampler to create a seal that prevents loss of collected material
from the core tube when it is in the closed position.  In addition,
ARI limited the thickness of the cover plate and the core tube to
2 millimeters in order to minimize the resistance created by the
sediment during sampler deployment and  core tube rotation.
Finally,  according  to  ARI,  the  optional,  10-foot-long,
magnesium-zirconium rods available for sampler deployment to
depths greater than 50 feet bss are durable, light in weight, and
easily coupled and uncoupled in cold weather.
   Sharp edge
             Pivot pin
    Empty
  core tube •
       Beginning position
                 Sediment
              Turning handle
           IN
              Extension rods
             with coupling nut
               Core head
               Pivot pin
         Coring position

                -Sediment

         Closed position

          -'"- '<*:—Sediment
        Extruding position

   Cross-sectional top views
                            Core tube
Sediment
                  Sharp
                •-edge

                Pivot pin
          •4)— Bottom point
Cross-sectional side view
                 Not to scale
Figure 2. ARI Russian Peat Borer.

Operating Procedures

The ARI Russian Peat Borer can be operated by one person from
a platform, from a boat, or while wading in shallow water.
Figure 2  includes a four-stage depiction  of the  sampler
operating  procedures.  The sampler is operated by manually
inserting the bottom point into sediment with the blunt edge of
the core tube turned against the cover plate to  prevent sediment
from entering the core tube during penetration. A slide-hammer
mechanism can be used to drive the sampler to a depth of up to
65 feet bss. Once the sampler is driven into the sediment to the
desired depth,  the  turning  handle  is  manually  turned
180 degrees clockwise, allowing the sharp edge of the core tube
to longitudinally cut through the sediment.  During rotation of
the core tube, the cover plate stabilizes the collected material.
The sampler reaches the closed position when the sharp edge of
the core tube is in contact with the cover plate.

Once it is in the closed position, the ARI Russian Peat Borer can
be manually retrieved. As the sampler is retrieved, a constant,
clockwise pressure on the sampler is required  to ensure that the
core tube  remains in the closed position. After retrieval, the
turning handle and extension rods are removed, and the core
tube is manually  turned  counterclockwise to  expose  the
semicylindrical core sample on the cover plate.

To allow consecutive,  complete  reconstruction  of a  long
sediment  profile,  two ARI Russian Peat Borers should be
alternately deployed side-by-side to alternating depths.  This
procedure is designed to minimize disturbance to the sediment
while a complete, continuous sediment core is collected.

-------
(Continued from Page 1)
The demonstration has both primary and secondary objectives.
The primary objectives are critical to the technology evaluations
and require use of  quantitative results to  draw conclusions
regarding technology performance.  The secondary objectives
pertain to information that is useful but do not necessarily
require use of quantitative results to draw  conclusions.  The
demonstration has the following primary objectives:

  • Evaluate whether the samplers can consistently collect a
    specified volume of sediment

  • Determine whether the samplers can consistently collect
    samples at a specified depth interval

  • Assess the  samplers' ability to collect multiple  samples
    with consistent physical or chemical  characteristics,  or
    both, from a homogenous layer of sediment

  • Evaluate whether the samplers can collect a representative
    sample from a  "clean"  sediment  layer that is below a
    contaminated sediment layer

  • Assess   the  samplers'   ability   to   be   adequately
    decontaminated between sampling areas

  • Measure the time required for each activity associated with
    sample  collection (sampler  setup, sample collection,
    sampler disassembly, and sampler decontamination)

  • Estimate costs associated with sample collection activities
    (capital, labor, supply, investigation-derived waste disposal,
    and support equipment costs)

The secondary objectives of the demonstration are as follows:

  • Document the skills and training  required to properly
    operate the samplers

  • Evaluate the samplers' ability to collect samples under a
    variety of site conditions

  • Assess the samplers' ability to collect an undisturbed
    sample

  • Evaluate the samplers' durability based on their materials
    of construction and engineering designs

  • Document the availability of the samplers and spare parts

The performance and cost of each innovative sampler will  be
compared only to those  of  a  reference sampler (that  is, a
conventional sediment sampler); innovative samplers will not
be compared to other innovative samplers. A Hand Corer will
be used as the reference sampler in EPA Region 1, and a
Vibrocorer will  be  used as the reference  sampler  in  EPA
Region 5.
After the  demonstration  is  complete,  EPA  will  publish
innovative technology verification reports for the innovative
sediment samplers. The reports will be completed by the end of
1999.

Site Descriptions

The two innovative sediment samplers will be demonstrated at
sites in EPA Regions  1  and  5.   At the  Region 1  site,
demonstration sampling activities will be conducted in two
areas.  One area represents open-water conditions; water flow
is low, and water depth is about 10 feet.  The other area is in a
low-lying wetland; water flow in this area is low to moderate,
and water depths range from 0.2 to 2 feet.

At the Region 5 site, demonstration sampling activities will be
conducted in two river environments.  One sampling area
represents open-water conditions: the water flow is low to
moderate, and its depth is about 5 feet. The second sampling
area has a very slow-moving current and a water depth of about
2.5 feet.

Contacts

For information regarding the innovative sediment samplers,
please contact the following individuals:

Mr. Brian Anderson
Art's Manufacturing & Supply, Inc.
7353 Cedar Crest Drive
Sauk City, WI 53583
Telephone: (608) 643-4913

Mr. Will Young
Aquatic Research Instruments
1 Hayden Creek Road
Lemhi, ID 83465
Telephone: (208) 756-8433

For  information  regarding the MMT Program  and  the
demonstration, please contact the following individuals:

Dr. Stephen Billets
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Exposure Research Laboratory
944 East Harmon Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Telephone: (702) 798-2232

Dr. Brian Schumacher
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Exposure Research Laboratory
944 East Harmon Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Telephone: (702) 798-2242

-------