United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
www.epa.gov
Superfund and Technology
Liaison (STL) Report
May 2009
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Inside front cover-blank
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STL Program Mission Statement 2
Message from Fred Hauchman 3
Introduction 4
Site-Specific Technical Support
Pine Street Canal Support 5
Environmental Photographic and Interpretation Center Coordination 6
Jackson Ceramix Site in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania 6
ReSolve Site in Massachusetts and SRS in Connecticut 6
General Technical Support
Conferences, Workshops
National Forum on Vapor Intrusion 7
The Central and Eastern European Conference on Health and the Environment:
The Environment, a Platform for Health 7
International Environmental Nanotechnology Conference: Applications and Implications 7
National Homeland Security Research Center Workshop 8
Environmental Sensing Symposium 8
Desert Remedial Action Technologies Workshop 9
Ohio River Valley Brownfields Conference 9
Clandestine Methamphetamine Training for Brownfields/Community Groups 9
NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Decision Support for Natural Disasters and
Intentional Threats to Water Security 10
Metals Fate and Transport Modeling Workshop 10
STL Technical Support Times Newsletter
Update from 2004-2006 Report 11
Other Outreach and Collaboration Activities
SMARTe/Brownfields Support 11
Technology Performance Evaluation: Stabilization/Solidification 11
Energy Calculator 12
The Region 2 Harbor Project 13
Costa Rica Underground Storage Tank Program Support 13
STL Involvement with Cross-Regional Groups 13
Site Characterization and Monitoring Technical Support Center Management
Short History and Accomplishments of theTSC 14
Fluidized-Bed Soil Segregator/Sampler for Asbestos in Mines 14
Hanlin-Allied-Olin Site — Statistical Sampling Plan Reviews 15
Barite Hill Mine Site — Remote Mine Monitoring System 15
DISCLAIMER
Notice
The information in this document has been subjected to review by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Research and Development, and has been approved for publication. Approval does
not signify that the contents reflect the views of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or
commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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he mission of the national Superfund and Technology Liaison Program
(STL Program) is to facilitate the sound use of science and technology in
decision-making for hazardous waste programs to enhance protection of
human health and the environment.
• Providing general and site-specific technical support to the Superfund, Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Brownfields Programs.
• Managing general and site-specific technical support through the Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Research and Development (ORD)
Technical Support Centers (TSCs) and other Agency sources of expertise.
• Working with regional staff and ORD to facilitate the planning and
implementation of ORD's research program to ensure support for the
highest priority hazardous waste issues.
• Facilitating technology and information transfer by:
- Planning and conducting training and conferences
- Publishing technical information
- Spearheading technical workshops and forums on emerging topics related to
hazardous waste.
• Bringing innovative technologies and enhanced, cost-effective methods to
hazardous waste cleanups.
• Serving as liaisons for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(OSWER)-related homeland security research.
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am pleased to present the ORD STL Program's latest report, covering activities
for 2007-2008. This report tells a compelling and important story of technical
support, collaboration, and partnership in science. Across EPA's 10 regional offices,
the STLs represent a dedicated group of individuals whose knowledge and experience is
as diverse as the geographic regions they serve.
Since 1990, the STL Program has played a critical role in assisting the regional
Superfund and RCRA programs with technical support from ORD labs and ensuring
the effective transfer of ORD research results to address high-priority, waste-related
regional science needs. The STLs are one of the important links between the regions
and the expertise of ORD labs. The STLs work to ensure that EPA science is applied
in regional waste cleanup projects through the connection of ORD researchers with
regional staff, and through the ORD TSCs. Having these ORD staff "on the ground"
also provides real-world input to ORD for future research needs. The STLs develop and
lead collaborative networks and partnerships not only within the Agency, but also with
non-EPA groups, including other Federal agencies, states, academia, and industry. These
collaborative research efforts are accomplished through such programs as the Federal
Remediation Technologies Roundtable, National Institute of Environmental Health
Science's (NIEHS's) Superfund Basic Research Program, the Interstate Technology
Regulatory Council, the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, the
Department of Defense, the Department of Energy (DOE), and universities.
One of the most important tasks of STLs is to assist Remedial Project Managers (RPMs)
in the regional Superfund programs with technical support that will help them make
scientifically defensible decisions during their site cleanup work. STLs also plan and
execute many national and international technical conferences covering waste-related
issues. This report highlights some of these important roles.
Science provides the foundation for credible decision-making. The STL Program
facilitates the use of ORD's scientific research in the regions. This report represents
ORD's commitment to reducing risks to human health and ecosystems through applied
science, technical support, knowledge sharing, and collaboration that the
STLs consistently provide to EPA regional offices.
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he STL Program is managed by ORD's Office of Science Policy (OSP). It
consists of one STL located in each region, and is supported by a small
headquarters staff in OSP. OSP's regional program emphasizes network
building and partnerships between regional and ORD scientists, the effective transfer
of research results on high-priority regional science issues, and outreach to states.
See www.epa.gov/osp/regions.htm for additional information about OSP's regional
program.
The STL Program began in the early 1990s in response to a growing need expressed
by EPA regional offices and OSWER for ORD technical expertise in the regions. A
reliable source of technical support was needed to deal with complex scientific and
technical problems encountered in remedial and removal activities for Superfund
sites. ORD TSCs and the STL Program were created to meet this need for the Agency,
which was greatly burdened by the growing number of new Superfund sites.
The STL Program became part of the Superfund Program's Technical Support
Project (TSP), an effort sponsored by OSWER to ensure scientifically sound
remedial decision-making. In later years, through a split-funding arrangement,
the STL Program was able to apply the provision of technical support to hazardous
waste sites under the RCRA and the Brownfields programs. The STL Program
was re-named the Hazardous Substances Technical Liaison Program to reflect the
expanded role relative to hazardous waste sites, and in 2007 it was re-named again
as the STL Program to recognize an enhanced role in transferring information to
the regions concerning new and emerging environmental technologies.
This report provides snapshots of STL Program activities during the years of 2007-
2008, showcasing the variety of forms of assistance and ORD science products
transferred by the STLs to regional office waste programs.
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SITE-SPECIFIC
TECHNICAL
SUPPORT
Pine Street Canal Support
The Problem
The presence of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL)
at a site provides particular clean-up challenges,
because NAPL contaminates soil and groundwater
and is very difficult to remove. The characterization
and control of NAPL is one of the most difficult
challenges in Superfund clean-up work. At the
Pine Street Canal Superfund Site in Burlington,
Vermont, NAPL is found beneath the canal and
adjacent wetlands and is causing contamination
of sediments and surface water. ORD is assisting
in the characterization and evaluation of remedy
modifications at the site.
Background
Pine Street Canal is adjacent and hydraulically
connected to Lake Champlain. Around 1908, a
facility to manufacture gas from coal (known as a
manufactured gas plant, or MGP) began operating on
Pine Street, southeast of the canal. The Burlington
plant ceased operations in 1966. The MGP directly
discharged or disposed of residual oil (coal tar),
wastewater, and wood chips saturated with organic
compounds into the Pine Street Canal and associated
wetlands. Beginning in the 1960s, coal tar/NAPL
was detected seeping from the wetland into the
Pine Street Canal. In 1998, EPA issued a Record
of Decision specifying a remedy for the site. One
element of the selected remedy was the construction
of a sand cap on the contaminated sediments in
portions of the canal and the adjacent wetlands.
The canal was dewatered and a cap constructed
during the 2002-2003 winter season (Figure 1)
in order to isolate the contaminants from surface
water and benthic fauna. The cap has been generally
protective of human health and the environment;
however, there is a limited area where an ongoing
release of coal tar occurs through the cap into canal
water. These releases are known to occur as distinct
globules that accumulate on the cap and rise to the
surface creating "coal tar sheens." Gas-generated
bubbles facilitate transport of coal tar to the surface
(Figure 2).
Figure 1: Installation of isolation cap at the
Pine Street Canal Site.
Figure 2: Gases bubble through NAPL-contaminated
canal water.
Requested Support
Coal tar/NAPL movement through the sand cap
was not expected. NAPL advection and gas-
bubble ebullition were likely mechanisms for
contaminant migration and required additional
investigations at the site. The precise locations
and rate of releases became subjects of additional
field work. EPA Region 1, the State of Vermont,
and the parties performing the cleanup have been
working to determine the nature of the ongoing
releases and to evaluate potential NAPL controls.
Region 1 RPM Karen Lumino requested assistance
from ORD through the Region 1 STL and from
EPA's Groundwater TSC, the Robert S. Ken-
Environmental Research Laboratory in Ada,
Oklahoma. ORD scientists brought their knowledge
of characterization and remediation to support this
effort, which resulted in a better understanding of
the site stratigraphy, 3-dimensional distribution of
NAPL, NAPL release mechanisms, and behavior of
NAPL within sediments.
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The STL and TSC staff worked with Region 1 to
devise a comprehensive investigation work plan,
critically review the findings of the field work, revise
the site conceptual model, and evaluate methods
to address the ongoing NAPL releases. ORD staff
also provided the region with oversight during the
field investigations for a wide range of activities
such as sediment coring, diving work, and use
of an innovative tool that uses a laser to measure
the distribution of coal tar in the sub-surface. It is
expected that additional remedial measures will be
implemented in 2009.
Environmental Photographic
and Interpretation Center
Coordination
The Environmental Photographic Interpretation
Center (EPIC), an ORD TSC, provides a wide
range of remote sensing and aerial photographic
analyses to EPA staff in support of environmental
investigations. This includes aerial photo over
flights, collateral data acquisition, aerial film
processing, historical aerial photo search and
acquisition, and geographic information system
(GIS) database development. Also provided are
specialized analyses, such as wetlands classification
and delineation, photo-geology, fracture trace
analysis, and photogrammetric mapping.
Typically, regional waste program staff coordinate
with the STL in their region regarding technical
support services and products available through
EPIC for specific sites. After review and analysis,
STLs arrange for technical support from EPIC.
Below are examples of EPIC technical support that
STLs have coordinated.
Region 3 STL Bill Hagel reviews an EPIC report with
host supervisor Paul Leonard.
Example of an EPIC report photo with interpretation
(AMCO Chemical Site in Oakland, CA).
Jackson Ceramix Site in
Falls Creek, Pennsylvania
China was manufactured and painted at the Jackson
Ceramix Site in Pennsylvania for over 60 years.
Lead-contaminated wastewater was discharged into
an unlined drainage ditch and lagoon at the site,
which then drained into a wetland. EPIC conducted
an over flight of the site using a thermal infrared
scanner to help detect the pattern of surface water
flow through contaminated wetlands. The over flight
report also included a wetlands mapping assessment
to define the boundary of the wetlands.
ReSolve Site in Massachusetts
and SRS in Connecticut
The ReSolve Site in Massachusetts is a former
waste chemical reclamation facility, which handled
a variety of hazardous waste materials over several
decades. The Solvents Recovery Service Site in
Connecticut was a hazardous waste treatment and
storage facility. At these Superfund sites, historical
air photos provided by EPIC revealed what and
where past waste management activities had
occurred. These practices included drum storage
and surface impoundments, which were interpreted
as possible locations where free-phase solvents
(i.e., NAPL) could enter the sub-surface, resulting
in significant soil contamination and long-term
groundwater contamination. Such data are used
to focus more cost-effective characterization and
ultimately, remediation activities.
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National Forum on Vapor Intrusion
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
January 12-13, 2009
Vapor intrusion (VI) is defined as vapor phase
migration of volatile organic and/or inorganic
compounds into occupied buildings from underlying
contaminated groundwater and/or soil. Until
recently, this transport pathway was not routinely
considered in RCRA, CERCLA, or underground
storage tank (UST) investigations. Therefore,
the number of buildings or homes where VI has
occurred or is occurring is unknown. However,
considering the vast number of current and former
industrial, commercial, and waste processing
facilities in the United States that are capable of
causing volatile organic or inorganic groundwater
or soil contamination, contaminant exposure via
VI could pose a significant risk to public health.
Also, consideration of this transport pathway may
necessitate a review of remedial decisions at RCRA
and CERCLA sites as well as implementation of
risk-reduction technologies at Brownfield sites
where future development and subsequent potential
exposure may occur.
Recognizing the importance of this issue, STLs
Bill Hagel (Region 3) and Michael Gill (Region 9)
developed a proposal for extramural funding to hold
a forum on VI science, technology, and policy, which
was held in Philadelphia on January 12-13, 2009,
covering a dual track that highlighted community
stakeholder and government issues. The VI Forum
agenda included a plenary session with four
speakers; technical sessions covering VI sampling
and assessment, risk assessment, and engineering
and site development; two breakout sessions (one
for community stakeholders and one for government
program issues); and a series of VI case studies.
The forum was the largest gathering of government
and community stakeholders brought together to
specifically present and discuss VI issues. The forum
resulted in a greater understanding of the state-of-
the-practice for dealing with VI problems throughout
the country. The information provided stakeholders
with better tools and a broader understanding of how
to address VI issues at the local level. Proceedings
of the forum are available at the following link:
http://www.epa.gov/OSP/presentations/viforum09/
vi_proceedings.pdf.
The Central and Eastern European
Conference on Health and the Environment:
The Environment, a Platform for Health
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
October 19-22, 2008
This conference represented the third biennial
series organized by STL John Barich, Texas A&M
University, and NIEHS. The conference series is
organized around having environmental health
scientists and risk management professionals
explore the application of their respective research
in solving health and environment problems of
common interest in North America and Europe.
The emphasis of the series is on integrative research
and translating science for environmental decision-
makers and the public. The conference emphasized
sustainable mining (including mine site remediation,
environmental protection for operating mines, and
mine closure), risk assessment and management, and
environmental health (including children's health,
environmental air pollution epidemiology, and
environmental genetics). Because mining remains
an integral part of our modern-day society's needs,
establishing more sustainable practices is critical to
ensuring that today's mining sites do not become
tomorrow's Superfund cleanup sites. Babes-Bolyai
University was the host institute for this conference,
which was attended by 230 scientists from 25
countries. Proceedings are scheduled for publica-
tion in 2009 and will be available at the following
website: http://www.ceeche.org.
International Environmental Nanotechnology
Conference: Applications and Implications
Chicago, Illinois
October 7-9, 2008
Nanoparticles are compounds whose size ranges
from 1 to 100 nanometers and which have large
surface areas relative to their size. The use of
nanoparticles has skyrocketed in recent years due
to their unique characteristics. Their use has been
advantageous in many sectors (e.g., medicine,
automotive, sporting equipment, etc.), yet there
also may be potentially negative impacts to human
health and the environment. Some studies show
that these impacts may involve inhalation effects
similar to those from asbestos-containing materials.
Presently, there is no regulation that specifically
addresses nanoparticles. In recent years, ORD has
invested in studying nanotechnology and in early
2007 published a Nanotechnology White Paper on
its potential uses and impacts.
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Also in 2007, the STLs were able to secure
extramural funding to hold an international
conference that provided a survey of both the
environmental applications and implications of
nanotechnology. The International Environmental
Nanotechnology Conference, co-sponsored by
OSP, was considered a huge success, as it drew
researchers from around the world to present the
latest in research and development in the field of
nanotechnology as it relates to environmental issues.
The conference was led by Region 5 STL Charles
Maurice, Warren Lane (Region 5), and Regions 2
and 9 STLs Jon Josephs and Michael Gill as session
co-chairs. This conference drew 185 people from
five continents. The speakers were from government,
non-governmental organizations, and private entities.
Being a truly collaborative effort, many agencies
played a part in the success of the conference,
including NIEHS, DOE, U.S. Navy, University of
Illinois School of Public Health, National Science
Foundation, U.S. Army, and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry. The sessions
included talks on soil, sediment, and groundwater
remediation, water pollution control, monitoring and
sensing, toxicity, air pollution control, and fate and
transport.
Environmental professionals, including a number
of RPMs who attended the conference, walked
away with a better appreciation for the potential
environmental applications of nanotechnology
that might assist with Superfund site cleanups,
and also learned about those issues that may drive
some of the next generation of Superfund sites as
a result of spills. The program and other related
materials, including speaker manuscripts and bios,
are currently available on the following website:
http://emsus.com/nanotechconf/index.htm. The
proceedings will be available in mid-2009.
National Homeland Security Research
Center Workshop
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 9-10,2008
Bill Hagel, the STL in Region 3, organized,
developed, and hosted a workshop for the ORD/
National Homeland Security Research Center
(NHSRC) entitled, "The Science and Technology
Behind Our Homeland Security Responsibilities."
The workshop was held in the Region 3 Philadelphia
office on July 9-10, 2008.
The major goal of this workshop was to present the
latest research efforts, expertise, and technology
development within NHSRC. Another objective was
to strengthen the understanding and communication
between NHSRC and Region 3 and other interested
stakeholders (such as states, response organizations,
and water utilities). Close to 100 people participated
in the workshop—either attending in person at
the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia, via
videoconference at the Ft. Meade Science Center,
or through a webinar set up through the EPA portal.
The workshop focused on four major categories of
topics related to homeland security:
• Role of laboratories
• Emergency response
• Water security
• Risk assessment and clean-up goal.
The workshop successfully conveyed new and
updated EPA ORD information to regional
stakeholders and practitioners who have homeland
security responsibilities within their organizations.
Disseminating current information is essential for
these professionals to understand what tools and
products are available, or will be available, through
EPA that can help them to perform their duties at the
Federal, state, and local levels more effectively.
Environmental Sensing Symposium
Boise, Idaho
October 25-26, 2007
John Barich, the STL in Region 10, sponsored the
Environmental Sensing Symposium in Boise, Idaho,
on October 25-26, 2007. Other sponsors included
the Boise State Center for Environmental Sensing
and the Inland Northwest Research Alliance. The
focus of this meeting was on the development of
new sensor technology and the use of sensors and
sensor systems to acquire information about the
movement of nutrients, water, contaminants, and
chemical and biological threats in the environment.
The availability and use of these sensors makes site
characterization and monitoring considerably more
efficient and accurate. Such advances in technology
and the sharing of information about them allow
RPMs and researchers to save time and receive
more accurate readings on site conditions. Papers
submitted by presenters were published in peer-
reviewed proceedings and are available at: http://ces.
boisestate.edu/Attachments/INRA%20ESS%202007
%20Proceedings2.pdf.
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DESERT
REMEDIAL ACTION TECHNOLOGIES
Desert Remedial Action
Technologies Workshop
Phoenix, Arizona
October 2-4, 2007
Sub-surface conditions in the southwestern deserts
of the United States are different from most parts
of the country. Annual rainfall is very low and
groundwater may be hundreds of feet below the
surface, which makes the groundwater resources
more important to protect. Common remediation
processes may therefore not be as effective in this
type of environment. In response to these issues,
Region 9 and ORD put together a workshop to help
educate others on the cleanup challenges that exist in
this part of the country.
Region 9 STL Michael Gill sponsored the Desert
Remedial Action Technologies (D-RAT) Workshop,
held in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 2-4, 2007.
The 2-day workshop was co-sponsored by the
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
and corporate sponsors CH2MHill and Arcadis.
Approximately 115 people attended the workshop.
This was the first EPA-sponsored workshop to focus
on remedial technologies being successfully applied
in desert environments. The program emphasized
field applications and case studies for technologies
being applied to volatile organic compounds in the
sub-surface, specifically trichloroethylene, as well as
perchlorate and chromium in desert environments.
The focus was on in-situ technologies. Poster
presentations and a field trip to the PGA North
Superfund Site located in Goodyear, Arizona, were
also part of this workshop. The workshop resulted in
a better understanding of potential remedies for sites
in arid climates.
The D-RAT Workshop was a green workshop,
with no printed materials provided. Abstracts were
available on the website prior to the workshop, and
presentation materials and papers are now available
on line as well. The presentations and papers can be
found at the following link: http://www.epa.gov/osp/
presentations/drat/D-RAT_Workshop_Proceedings_
(Oct_2-4,_07).pdf.
Ohio River Valley Brownfields Conference
Louisville, Kentucky
October 1-3, 2007
The Ohio River Valley Brownfields Conference
was a joint effort between the Region 4 and 5
Brownfields programs to provide state, local, and
community groups along the Ohio River Valley
with information on remediation and re-use of
industrial areas. Felicia Barnett, the Region 4 STL,
and Ann Vega, Revitalization Research Program
Manager at the National Risk Management Research
Laboratory, ORD, gave a presentation on SMARTe,
the ORD Brownfields Support Tool. This tool
can be particularly useful to communities when
planning Brownfields re-development projects. The
conference was well attended with 300+ participants,
and feedback was positive. A summary report is
available for interested parties by contacting Matt
Robbins, Program Advisor, RCRA Division, Region
4, atrobbins.matt@epa.gov.
Clandestine Methamphetamine Training for
Brownfields/Community Groups
Atlanta, Georgia
April 24, 2007
In late 2005, the Brownfields Program announced
that Congress had made properties contaminated
by controlled substances such as methamphetamine
eligible for Brownfields funding. Brownfields
assessment grants can be used to post warnings,
assess the extent of contamination, and assure
proper cleanup. In FY07, Region 4 STL Felicia
Barnett assisted ORD in document reviews on
methamphetamine information, and she provided
training and information for communities on
clandestine methamphetamine labs at a number of
Brownfields grant meetings in FY08.
In cooperation with the Georgia Tech Research
Institute and Region 4, a training video for
environmental cleanup of methamphetamine sites
was developed, taped, and placed on EPA's internal
Region 4 website (only available within EPA):
http://r4intranet.epa.gov/waste/videos/methlabs.htm.
The video is linked on EPA's Pharmaceuticals and
Personal Care Products page.
The following links contain information on
clandestine methamphetamine labs. This list was
given to the local representatives and communities
during STL presentations on Brownfields technical
support.
• http://www.gameth.com
• http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/meth/lab/
labcleanup.html#guidance
• http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/methlab.htm
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This is a methamphetamine lab on a dressing table
in a bedroom. The photo is from the South Dakota
Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
• http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/meth.htm
• http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/CDL/MethFS.htm
• http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/CDL/default.htm
• http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/CDL/
methhazards .htm
• http://state.tn.us/environment/dor/meth/
• http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/
meth-labs.htm
• http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/
meth-cleanup.htm
• http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/oii/pdf/
methguidelines042005.pdf
By sending training information out to a broad EPA
audience, the STL was able to assist in effectively
and efficiently addressing sites contaminated with
methamphetamine and its production. This type of
technical support on emerging contamination issues
is another critical role that STLs play when assisting
their regional offices with remediation projects.
NATO Advanced Research Workshop on
Decision Support for Natural Disasters and
Intentional Threats to Water Security
Dubrovnik, Croatia
April 22-25, 2007
STL John Barich coordinated a North Atlantic Treaty
Organization Advanced Research Workshop that
was attended by scientists from 17 countries. The
goal of the workshop was to explore the relationship
of decision support and environmental informatics
as complementary tools to improve water security.
Objectives included the evaluation of lessons learned
from recent natural disasters (hurricanes, tsunamis,
etc.) and the delineation of how the use of state-
of-the-science tools improves water security in
relation to natural disasters and intentional threats.
Technical and policy papers were presented on:
(1) catastrophic events such as the 2004 South
Asian tsunami, hurricane Katrina, and chronic
10
threats of floods; (2) anthropogenic threats to water
security—either intentional, such as a terrorist threat,
or unintended, such as an unwanted consequence
of economic or cultural activity; and (3) decision
support tools. Workshop proceedings are available
in a 280-page publication, Decision Support for
Natural Disasters and Intentional Threats to Water
Security, Illangasekare, T., Mahutova, K., and
Barich, J. (Eds.), Springer Academic Publishers
(ISBN: 978-90-481-2712-2).
Metals Fate and Transport
Modeling Workshop
Denver, Colorado
February 13-14, 2007
In February 2007, former Region 8 STL Brian
Caruso coordinated and hosted a 2-day workshop
entitled, "Metals Fate and Transport Modeling." The
workshop brought together experts from across the
country and abroad to discuss state-of-the-practice
methods for modeling metals fate and transport,
data gaps in knowledge, and future directions in
metals modeling. Because there are over 100,000
abandoned or inactive mining sites across the United
States encompassing over 500,000 acres of land,
metals leaching from these mines can create po-
tentially detrimental human health and ecological
situations. It is therefore critical to understand and
predict how metals behave in different environmen-
tal situations, so that we can better determine where
the problem areas will be and the impacts the metals
will have. This workshop focused on modeling met-
als in streams, rivers, and watersheds, with particular
interest paid to high-altitude watersheds impacted by
mining wastes. High-altitude watersheds contami-
nated by abandoned mine wastes are of significant
concern in the Rocky Mountain states of Region 8,
where historic metals mining contributed substan-
tially to the early economy.
Workshop participants included experts from
government, academia, and consulting. The
workshop was motivated by EPA's recognition of the
need for a review and synthesis of available metals
modeling tools that can be used to support efforts
on Superfund site investigation and remediation,
abandoned mine reclamation, total maximum
daily load analyses, and other projects involving
metals-impacted areas and watershed and stream
restoration. Outcomes from the workshop included a
paper by EPA and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
on hydrological processes and a follow-on project
to revise and enhance a model for predicting
water quality at mining sites after remedial action
occurs. This model is being revised by EPA and
USGS based upon discussions and comments from
workshop participants, and will be available with
user-friendly instructions upon completion.
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STL Technical Support
Times Newsletter
Update from 2004-2006 Report
The STL Program publishes the Technical Support Times
newsletter to highlight timely technical issues of interest
to EPA regions and OSWER. The periodic newsletter
is written by STLs based upon their expertise or on the
technical support they have provided or coordinated,
and incorporates information about ORD research in the
topical area. Since 2006, the Technical Support Times
has addressed optimization of Superfund pump and treat
sites in Region 3, nanotechnology for site remediation,
and evaluation of waste material for beneficial use.
This outreach tool is a valuable resource for regions
and OSWER on technical support and research being
conducted by ORD on issues related to hazardous
substance remediation. Issues of Technical Support Times
can be found on the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/
osp/hstl/techsupp.htm.
Other Outreach and Collaboration Activities
SMARTe/Brownfields Support
Several STLs have been the regional contacts for
ORD's Regional and Local Land Revitalization
Planning Team (previously the ORD Brownfields
Workgroup) and the U.S.-German Bilateral
Working Group. These groups have worked together
to develop, promote, and provide support for
SMARTe, the Sustainable Management Approaches
and Revitalization Tool-electronic. SMARTe is
a national support tool designed to assist land
revitalization stakeholders in their decision-making
process.
The STL Program provided regional input to
research activities related to Brownfields and in the
development of SMARTe. Region 5 STL Charles
Maurice provided his expertise to assist with
the development of risk assessment components
of SMARTe by providing multiple peer review
iterations, commenting on content, breadth of
coverage, presentation, and user friendliness.
Region 4 STL Felicia Barnett has been a liaison
for SMARTe beta test sites, and the STL Program
has also supported stakeholder training by giving
a number of SMARTe/Brownfields support
presentations at meetings that included community,
state, and local officials. These presentations and
exhibits included the National Association of
Development Organizations conferences in multiple
regions, the Wildlife Habitat Council's Restoring
Greenspace Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, EPA's
Region 4, 2007 Brownfields Grantee Workshop, the
Region 4/State/Tribal Brownfields Meeting, and
the Region 4 and 5 Ohio River Valley Brownfields
Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
SMARTe was used extensively by the Stella,
Missouri, community to assist them in planning
and implementing redevelopment of Brownfields
areas in their town. Their successful use of this tool
is just one example of the valuable resources that
SMARTe provides to local community planners.
More information can be found at: http://www.epa.
gov/ord/NRMRL/news/news072008.html.
Technology Performance Evaluation:
Stabilization/Solidification
The Superfund Program has over 1,000 construction
completions and a substantial amount of post-
construction monitoring and results from 5-year
reviews. The performances of individual remedy
components, such as soil treatment, are not well-
documented outside the administrative record for
individual sites because collective reviews have not
been performed on many older, commonly used
technologies. It was therefore determined that a
comprehensive evaluation of soil treatment would
be of great use to the regions and ORD. Since
the STLs and the Engineering Technical Support
Center (ETSC) provide technical assistance to the
regions on soil remediation treatment processes
and technologies, both groups have an overall
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perspective on technology evaluation. They agreed
to collaborate on developing an evaluation of the
frequently implemented soil treatment remediation
of stabilization/solidification.
In 2007, the STL Program and ETSC jointly
funded a technology review paper on stabilization/
solidification. The purpose of this review was to
compare analyses completed prior to remediation,
with site and soil characterization and post-
remediation data. This information, along with
actual cost data, allows regional managers to
determine which technologies are most appropriate
for use at their sites. As an additional resource, this
performance document provides contact information
for personnel who have applied given technologies
at their sites, thereby providing another valuable
tool for knowledge transfer. In FY08, material was
extracted from the above resources and developed
into a publication and web-based technology review
for quick and easy viewing. The finalized document
will be available in 2009 at the following link: http://
www. epa. gov/nrmrl/lrpcd/rr/etsc/index.html.
Energy Calculator
Green remediation—the cleanup of Superfund sites
in a more sustainable manner—is currently a hot
topic. However, the process of more sustainable site
cleanups was practiced long before it was considered
"green remediation." Energy has long been a
consideration in the cost-benefit analysis of site
cleanup, and now, with constantly fluctuating energy
costs and the popularity of carbon counting, the use
of energy calculators has become prevalent.
In 2003-2004, EPA and the Northwest Pollution
Prevention Resource Center developed a web-
based calculator to evaluate energy requirements
for a limited number of soil remedies that are
commonly used at Superfund and RCRA sites. The
eight models present energy requirements in both
traditional terms and as environmental/sustainability
equivalents (e.g., global warming potential, acres of
trees/carbon sequestration potential, autos off road,
and home energy). The calculator provides a link
between Superfund/Brownfields and sustainability/
energy issues.
One of ORD's partners who assisted with the
development of the original calculator is Masaryk
University in the Czech Republic, which has 40,000
students and is the second largest university in the
Czech Republic (http://www.muni.cz/general/about).
In the summer of 2008, STLs Mike Gill and John
Barich assisted the Office of Superfund Remediation
and Technology Innovation in a review and expan-
sion of the original calculator. The STL Program,
through its extramural projects funding, provided
partial financial support. Final products from this
work and recommendations for future actions will
be available by mid-2009.
Although not yet released for public use due to
incomplete quality assurance (QA) efforts, the
current version of the calculator can be found
at http://iris.fi.muni.cz/calculator. The plan is to
complete the QA effort and expand the calculator to
include some groundwater remediation technologies
before its public release. The technologies will
CALCULATOR
Welcome
Example screenshot
from unreleased energy
calculator.
12
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be chosen by an advisory group, which includes
members of the TSP forums and others. Students
from Masaryk University will also be involved
in contributing informatics. The work is being
funded by OSWER and ORD. When completed, the
calculator will be a simple online tool that Superfund
decision-makers can use to determine whether
energy use is a critical factor in selecting a remedy at
their sites.
The Region 2 Harbor Project
Region 2 STL Jon Josephs participated in a unique
project initiated by Region 2 entitled, "Industrial
Ecology, Pollution Prevention and the New York/
New Jersey Harbor" (or "Harbor Project"). Region
2 proposed the Harbor Project to the New York
Academy of Sciences (NYAS), which agreed to
manage it. NYAS was viewed as being scientifically
objective and therefore, was able to bring diverse
stakeholders together. In addition to EPA, many
other stakeholders signed on as co-sponsors of the
Harbor Project.
STL Josephs was asked to assist with the
development of a draft Harbor Project report on
"Pollution Prevention and Management Strategies
for Dioxins in the New York/New Jersey Harbor."
He met with NYAS staff and consortium members
and assisted Professor Donna Fennell of Rutgers
University, who was compiling data for a mass
balance report on dioxins entering and leaving the
harbor. The STL also served as a liaison to obtain
input from Region 2 Superfund representatives and
facilitated input from ORD staff members active in
EPA's dioxin re-assessment efforts. STL Josephs'
expertise was a valuable addition to the report on
dioxins, as were his coordination efforts to engage
EPA's involvement in the process.
In addition to the dioxin report, the Harbor Project
prepared similar reports for other harbor pollutants.
The Harbor Project successfully concluded its work
on April 3, 2008, with a workshop at NYAS. Among
the speakers at the workshop were New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the EPA Regional
Administrator, Alan J. Steinberg, and EPA Deputy
Regional Administrator, Kathy Callahan.
Extensive information about the Harbor Project is
available from the following website: http://www.
nyas.org/programs/harbor.asp. Harbor Project reports
can be downloaded or ordered from the following
link, free of charge: http://www.nyas.org/programs/
harbor_materials.asp. The most recent of the reports,
the Safe Harbor Report, released in January 2008,
describes the methodology applied by the Harbor
Project and provides a summary of the major
findings, recommendations, and accomplishments.
Costa Rica Underground Storage Tank
Program Support
In the spring of 2007, Region 4 sent a small group
of UST representatives to Costa Rica to aid its
government in understanding issues associated with
USTs. Region 4 STL Felicia Barnett provided UST
representatives with advice, assistance, and guidance
documents regarding the chemistry and toxicity of
gasoline and gasoline additives. This information
was used in presentations at the National University
of Costa Rica and in writing the final report to the
International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC)
regarding groundwater pollution that threatens the
population in San Jose, Costa Rica. It was shared
with the scientists and engineers in Costa Rica and
members of the IAEC in Vienna, Austria. Following
this effort to investigate and share information about
USTs, the Government of Costa Rica closed 22
gasoline stations that posed a threat to human health
and the environment. This type of international
information exchange is a critical process for
expediting cleanup projects around the globe.
STL Involvement with
Cross-Regional Groups
The STLs' involvement with cross-regional
technical groups is an essential part of their
role to assist regional staff in obtaining the best
scientific and technical information and to support
decisions relative to waste site cleanup. STLs
participate in a wide variety of technical and risk
assessment forums. These include OSRTI-sponsored
groundwater, engineering, Federal facilities, national
sediment, ecological risk assessment, and risk
assessment teleconferences for Superfund forums as
well as the Office of the Science Advisor-sponsored
risk assessment forum. Further, STLs work on group
projects, particularly technical issue papers, with
members of these forums.
STLs are often on the local regional science council
of their respective regions and participate in special
technical workgroups looking for solutions to
difficult issues of concern to the region. STLs
also serve on committees to review and approve
proposals for funding from the Regional Applied
Research Effort (RARE) Program and Regional
Methods Program (http://www.epa.gov/osp/regions/
rm.htm).
Currently, STLs are involved with technical
workgroups and networks of regional and
headquarters staff on such issues as nanotechnology,
contaminated sediments, landfill covers, energy
usage relative to remediation, phytoremediation, VI,
and biofuels.
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On October 1, 2007, the Site Characterization and
Monitoring Technical Support Center (SCMTSC)
changed operations from the National Exposure
Research Laboratory (NERL), Environmental
Sciences Division (ESD) in Las Vegas to the STL
Program of ORD's OSP. The SCMTSC is supported
by a contract with Lockheed Martin, an Interagency
Agreement (IAG) with DOE's Idaho National
Laboratory (INL), and NERL-ESD technical staff.
Felicia Barnett, STL in Region 4, is the new
SCMTSC Director and Task Order Manager (TOM)
for the Lockheed-Martin support contract, and
Region 3 STL Bill Hagel is the Alternate TOM.
Region 10 STL John Barich and Region 8 STL
Kathleen Graham have served as the Project Officers
for the INL IAG.
The SCMTSC provides support on sampling
and monitoring-related issues. Specifically, the
technical focus of the SCMTSC includes soil-
gas measurements, special analytical services,
GIS and data interpretation, site characterization
technologies (e.g., field portable X-ray fluorescence),
fingerprinting of wastes, geophysics, quality
assurance, geostatistics, and statistical design/
analysis. The SCMTSC is also responsible for the
development, management, and support of ProUCL,
a statistical software program available to Federal,
state, and public project managers at http://www.epa.
gov/nerlesdl/tsc/software.htm. ProUCL addresses
statistical issues arising in exposure and risk
assessment studies, background evaluations, and
background versus site comparison applications. It
includes statistical methods to estimate exposure
point concentration terms, not-to-exceed, and
background threshold values for data sets with non-
detect and without non-detect observations.
The SCMTSC Director receives requests for
technical support from individual STLs on behalf
of their regional waste program staff. Each STL
works with their regional staff to determine to what
extent ORD can best handle their technical support
needs, including individual support, laboratory staff,
contracts, or other agency agreements. The requests
can be long- or short-term, depending on need.
In FY08, the SCMTSC received over 100 short-term
requests, including requests for phone consultations
with experts on statistics or sampling/analysis issues
and over 60 requests for usage support for ProUCL.
The SCMTSC also performed 49 long-term tasks
for 26 sites in seven regions and EPA headquarters.
These tasks included statistical reviews/plans,
asbestos sampler training, and development of
complex site sampling and monitoring plans. Three
examples are given below.
Fluidized-Bed Soil Segregator/Samplerfor
Asbestos in Mines
Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous, silicate
mineral mined for its useful properties, including
thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability,
and high-tensile strength. Asbestos is commonly
used as an acoustics insulator, and in thermal
insulation, fire proofing, and other building
materials. Many products in use today contain
asbestos. Asbestos is made up of microscopic
bundles of fibers that may become airborne when
asbestos-containing materials are damaged or
disturbed. When these fibers get into the air, they
may be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause
significant health problems.
EPA currently assesses risk for asbestos remaining in
soil at remediated sites by performing activity-based
sampling. This method employs workers wearing
protective gear and air sampling equipment while
performing various tasks. The potential for asbestos
liberation (and subsequent risk) is then evaluated by
the amount of asbestos captured by the air sampling
filters. While this method provides a realistic basis
for evaluating potential risk, it is time-consuming
and expensive. The goal of this project was to
develop a device that could simulate different types
of activity and provide a means to evaluate risk
without the expense of activity-based sampling.
Researchers at the INL have developed a field-
deployable fluidized-bed segregator/sampler
for separation and collection of releasable fine
particulate and asbestos fibers from soil samples.
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The segregator is also capable of simulating different
activity levels for comparison with activity-based
sampling data. Developmental work on the sampler
continued throughout 2007 and was completed
in September 2008. Multi-regional and national
training on use of the sampler occurred during the
spring and summer of 2008.
Region 10 STL John Barich managed the
development of this asbestos sampler from a number
of EPA entities. The funded work included related
training, development of a standard operating
procedure, plus confirmation sample preparation
for the asbestos sampler. The funding was obtained
through the SCMTSC, as well as from the RARE
Program (http://www.epa.gov/osp/regions/rare.htm),
OSWER, and a Region 10 IAG.
Hanlin-Allied-Olin Site
Region 3
Statistical Sampling Plan Reviews
Region 3 needed a review of the Bayesian statistical
analysis plan submitted to the RPM for soil
sampling at the Hanlin-Allied-Olin Superfund
Site to determine if the use of Bayesian statistics
was a reasonable approach. In December 2007,
the SCMTSC utilized Lockheed-Martin support to
evaluate the sampling plan, which concluded that
the proposed Bayesian approach was an acceptable
approach, but there were concerns with the accuracy
and adequacy of the prior information that could
affect the use of statistical analysis. Those concerns
would need to be addressed to meet the region's
standards before the final analysis.
There were uncertainties associated with the
estimates of the sample sizes. It was further
recommended that simulation experiments be
performed to demonstrate the appropriateness
of the proposed Bayesian approach based upon
regression models on estimated statistics. It was also
recommended that alternative approaches such as
kriging be evaluated.
After the evaluations, the remediation contractor
developed a Bayesian statistical approach. In
mid-2008, the SCMTSC provided the RPM with
an evaluation of the report and comments to be
addressed. The SCMTSC has been available
throughout the reviews and responses to discuss
issues and clarify comments.
Barite Hill Mine Site
Region 4
Remote Mine Monitoring System
The Barite Hill Mine Site is currently undergoing
a removal action that includes the installation of an
evaporative cap over an approximate 250,000 cubic
yard waste-rock dump that extends into an adjacent
10-acre acid mine drainage-filled pit lake. The
pit lake is being treated using lime neutralization
and carbon loading. Region 4 staff members are
currently monitoring the pit lake reservoir at the
site. Due to the dynamic nature of the Barite Hill
Mine remediation effort (where there are dramatic
changes in water pH and oxidation reduction
potential), the change in reservoir water chemistry
and precipitation of crystallites have caused many of
the present sensor probes to give erroneous readings.
These probes have been cleaned and replaced on
Barite Mine Site. Acid drainage pit prior to remediation efforts. The pit is now used as a treatment area for acid
drainage of the site.
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Barite Mine Site. Acid removal and waste-rock
cap construction.
several occasions but continue to malfunction when
used over an extended period of time. The region
also needed to develop a monitoring system for the
adjacent mine waste-rock fill, which will be capped.
Region 4 requested that the SCMTSC provide a
remote monitoring system for the acid mine drainage
and for the waste-rock cap monitoring. The design
needed to incorporate the level of monitoring that
would be required to evaluate the effectiveness of the
cap's role in preventing the re-acidification of the pit
lake over time.
The SCMTSC, through its agreement with DOE's
INL, provided a design approach predicated on
developing an integrated, autonomous, low-cost
system that includes geophysical, hydrological, and
a self-calibrating general chemical sensor network
backed by a secure integrated web-based data
storage and retrieval software system. The system
enables remote control and access to accessible and
remote-inaccessible monitoring systems. A similar
system was designed and implemented at the Gilt
Edge Mine Site in South Dakota.
The new monitoring design has been reviewed and
accepted by the region, and the SCMTSC will be
aiding in its implementation in 2009. The SCMTSC
also will be assisting with sensor modifications,
which are necessary for ensuring system reliability
under the harsh conditions, but that are not currently
available from private sources.
V
.'
Barite Mine Site. Preparing the drainage area.
Barite Mine Site. Post-remediation with new cap, retaining wall, and lime-neutralized treatment pit. The remote
monitoring system that SCMTSC/INL designed ensures that this treatment pit and cap are working properly
and, if necessary, will detect issues so changes can be made, especially in this early stage while the vegetation
on the cap takes hold.
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Regional Chief-Acting
Ron Landy
Phone: 410-307-2757
E-mail: landy.ronald@epa.gov
Regional Coordinator
Maggie Lavay
Phone: 202-564-5364
E-mail: lavay.maggie@epa.gov
Region 1
Steve Mangion
Phone: 617-918-1452
E-mail: mangion.stephen@epa.gov
Region 2
Jon Josephs
Phone:212-637-4317
E-mail: josephs.jon@epa.gov
Region 3
Bill Hagel
Phone: 215-814-3053
E-mail: hagel.bill@epa.gov
Region 4
Felicia Barnett
Phone: 404-562-8659
E-mail: barnett.felicia@epa.gov
Region 5
Charles Maurice
Phone: 312-866-6635
E-mail: maurice.charles@epa.gov
Region 6
Terry Burton
Phone: 214-665-7139
E-mail: burton.terry@epa.gov
Region 7
Robert Weber
Phone: 913-551-7918
E-mail: weber.robert@epa.gov
Region 8
Kathleen Graham
Phone: 303-312-6137
E-mail: graham.kathleen@epa.gov
Region 9
Michael Gill
Phone: 415-972-3054
E-mail: gill.michael@epa.gov
Region 10
John Barich
Phone: 206-553-8562
E-mail: barich.john@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/osp/regions.htm
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United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development (8101R)
Washington, DC 20460
www.epa.gov
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