""•*,
       ;'-j   United States
      /   Environmental Protection Agency
      IT
Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response (51 02G)
EPA542-F-09-005
December 2009
Green  Remediation Best  Management Practices:
Pump  and Treat Technologies
Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation
                                   Quick Reference Fact Sheet

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Principles for
  Greener Cleanups outlines the Agency's policy for evaluating
  and minimizing the environmental "footprint" of activities
  undertaken when cleaning up a contaminated site.1 Use of
  the best management practices (BMPs) recommended in
  EPA's series of green remediation fact sheets can help project
  managers  and other stakeholders apply the principles on a
  routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives,
  ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its
  environmental outcome.2
 Overview
Pump and treat (P&T) technology typically is selected  in a
cleanup  remedy to  hydraulically  contain  contamination
and/or restore an aquifer to beneficial use. Opportunities
to reduce the energy and environmental footprint of a  P&T
remedy,  which are  available during  site characterization
and  the  remedy  selection,  design, construction,  and
operation phases, rely on effective planning and continual
re-evaluation of P&T operations. Options for reducing the
footprint vary based on the site conditions and cleanup
objectives as well as the configuration and components of
a  planned  or  existing P&T system.  Effective footprint
reduction activities will complement the cleanup objectives
while aligning with  related guidelines such  as  Executive
Order   I35I4:  Federal  Leadership in  Environmental,
Energy,  and Economic Performance.3
P&T  remedies often  operate for  long  periods, in some
cases decades, due  to the nature of the technology  and
the nature of contaminant transport in the subsurface. As
a result, operation of a P&T system,  compared  to system
construction, can contribute significantly to the energy  and
environmental footprint  of a  P&T remedy.   The  best
opportunities typically  relate to  optimizing  efficiency of
long-term operations, particularly  in terms  of energy  and
other natural resource consumption.
  Continuous motor operation under load (for pumps, blowers,
  and other machinery) during a 30-year period of operation
  uses over 240,000 kWh of electrical energy per motor
  horsepower or over 2.7 billion BTUs of energy per motor
  horsepower (hp). This amount of energy is equivalent to the
  electricity used by more than 22 homes over one year.
Illustration of a P&J system with a fairly complex
treatment process indicates how a system relates to
each of the five core elements of green remediation.
Components in this example can be removed to focus
on how a simpler P&J system could affect the
environmental footprint during operations.
P&T Component
Groundwater
Extraction
Process Equalization
Metals Removal
(chemical addition,
precipitation,
settling, filtration,
and solids handling)
Air Stripping
Off-Gas Treatment
and Granular
Activated Carbon
Filtration
Effluent Tanks
Discharge to Surface
Water
Building Operations
Long-Term
Operation
Examples of Environmental Effects
During a Complex P&T Operation
• Energy use (and associated air
emissions) caused by generating
electricity from fossil fuels to power
extraction pumps
• Materials use for well construction,
maintenance, and rehabilitation
• Removal of contaminated water and
protection of other groundwater
• Potential dewatering of wetlands and
disrupting wetland ecosystems located
near extraction wells
• Energy use (and air emissions) for
pumps used to adjust pressures among
treatment components
• Energy use (and air emissions) for
electricity operating mixer motors and
filter feed or solids handling pumps
• Materials use from chemical addition
• Waste disposal from removed solids,
such as metals or biosolids
• Infringement on land and ecosystems
from landfill space for waste disposal
• Energy use (and air emissions) for
electricity to operate a blower
• Materials use for chemical cleaning of
a stripping system
• Energy (and air emissions) for electricity
to preheat off-gas prior to vapor
treatment
• Materials and potential waste disposal
for granular activated carbon
• Energy use (and air emissions) for
electricity to pump water across a
multi-step treatment process
• Net withdrawal of local groundwater
resources when extracted water is
discharged to surface water
• Energy use (and air emissions) for
electricity to power lights, ventilate a
building, and potentially provide heat
• Affects on land use and the local
community and long-term stewardship
of land and nearby ecosystems

-------
  Designing a P&T System
Recommended green remediation  BMPs  for designing a
P&T system are  intended  to:  maximize  opportunities  to
address  different  portions  of  a contaminant  plume  in
unique ways; modify or reconfigure a system according to
changes  in   a   contaminant   plume  over  time;  and
supplement the system with other remediation or auxiliary
technologies  to  reduce the P&T burden  as groundwater
cleanup  progresses  and   new  products  or   processes
become  available.  P&T system design planning relies on
robust delineation of the contaminant plume and source
area. Early planning can also include a renewable energy
                               assessment to determine
                               whether  solar,  wind,  or
                               other   resources   could
                               meet all  or part of  the
                               electricity demand of P&T
                               opera-tions;   in    turn,
                               results of that assessment
                               could  influence the  P&T
                               design.
                             Cleanup at the former
                             Nebraska Ordnance Plant
                             involves use of a  10-kW
                             wind turbine to power
                             groundwater circulation
                             wells for air stripping and
                             ultraviolet treatment.
A P&T system's rate of groundwater extraction, anticipated
duration, and quality of influent and the site's  treatment
goals   typically  have   the  greatest  affect   on   the
environmental footprint of the system. Use of the BMPs for
technology selection and system design can address these
traditional  factors and  help project managers  evaluate
how the factors contribute  to  consumption of  energy,
water,  and  other   natural  resources  or  result  in  air
emissions and waste generation through  the  life of a
cleanup  project.  System designers should  also  consider
the  site's   anticipated   reuse,  to   identify  potential
approaches for combining the needed  infrastructures and
minimizing  long-term land disturbance.

Extraction Rates
The  rate of groundwater extraction  for  a P&T  system
directly impacts the  system's energy and materials use and
waste management options.  Optimization of extraction
rates  typically begins with a  thorough site investigation
that enables accurate well placement and  helps determine
the  suitable  number  of  extraction  wells.  [For  more
information, see: Green Remediofion  Besf A/lonogemenf
Practices: Site lnvesfigafion.4a]
Best  practices  for  determining  the  optimal  rate   of
groundwater extraction include:
• Establish  an  appropriate  target  capture  zone  and
  thoroughly evaluate the groundwater extraction  needed
  to provide complete capture
• Base  the  capture  zone  analyses  and  design  on
  parameters of actual aquifer test data and consider the
  use of modeling (with appropriate input information)  to
  design the extraction system
• Consider  designing a network of extraction piping that
  initially  provides  a conservative hydraulic capacity for
  the planned  treatment  system (perhaps  by increasing
  pipe size  or laying  additional pipe  when  a trench  is
  open), which  allows for  future modular  increases  or
  decreases   in  the  extraction  rate  and   treatment
  modifications, if needed;  for  example,  the footprint  of
  placing an  additional  extraction  pipe  that  ultimately
  may  be  unused  may  be significantly  smaller than
  remobilizing at a  later date or overpumping  a  smaller
  network for many years
• When continuous pumping is not needed to contain the
  plume, consider whether  pulsed rather than continuous
  rates of pumping can maintain the rate of groundwater
  transfer and  treatment  needed to ensure a  protective
  remedy; additional gains in energy conservation  may be
  possible by pumping during off-peak utility periods
• Consider  reinjecting  treated water downgradient of the
  extraction system  to flatten the hydraulic gradient in the
  vicinity of the extraction wells,  increase the capture zone
  width near the extraction  wells, and  potentially reduce
  the overall extraction rate; hydrogeologic consultation is
  recommended  to  ensure  that  reinjection  does not
  adversely  affect extraction  efficiency, and
• Consider    diverting    upgradient,   uncontaminated
  groundwater around the  contaminant plume to reduce
  the amount  of water  to be extracted;  feasibility  of
  groundwater diversion would likely involve evaluation  of
  environmental tradeoffs such  as  disturbance to  land,
  ecosystems, and subsurface hydraulic conditions.

Duration of Operations
BMPs to help reduce  duration  of full-scale P&T  systems
(and  reduce cumulative energy consumption, chemical
and  material use, and waste disposal) rely on  adequate
site  and  contaminant   plume  characterization.   This
information  also can help evaluate the  potential for using
other remedial technologies to remove all or  part of a
contaminant source, which  could reduce the P&T  load  as
well  as  duration.   Project   managers should consider
approaches that use supplemental  technologies  without
compromising cleanup progress, schedules,  and  goals.
Approaches could include:

-------
• Collecting information on appropriate use of monitored
  natural attenuation (MNA) for the diffuse portion of the
  plume, in conjunction with EPA's MNA guidance5
• Considering   technologies   that   can   operate   in
  conjunction   with   P&T,  such  as   in  situ  chemical
  oxidation, thermal remediation,  or  bioremediation  in
  the source area, and
• Planning  options  for  implementing  a  remediation
  "polishing"  technology at a  stage  when  contaminant
  concentrations are reduced to a target level.

Influent Wafer Quality
Typically, design  of  a P&T system's treatment process is
significantly driven by the quality of influent water. Loading
of a particular constituent affects the size or specifications
of given treatment  processes, such  as sizing of an air
stripper or the  adsorption medium  in an  air stripping
system.  In  addition,  treatment  of  different  types  of
constituents such  as  metals, ketones, and ammonia  often
need specific processes that may use significant quantities
of energy  and  materials  and  can generate  significant
quantities of waste.
Project  managers should  carefully evaluate "nuisance"
contaminant constituents such as  iron  and  manganese,
which can easily foul system components or lead to  more
complex treatment systems  that may  involve  additional
energy and resources. Depending on a number of factors
such  as concentrations  and  depth  intervals  of  these
constituents, portions of  the contaminant plume might be
more effectively treated with other technologies such as in
situ  chemical  oxidation  or  in situ  bioremediation.  If the
extracted water contains  iron, manganese, or other similar
metals,  a range of options could effectively address  these
constituents in ways that  produce  a  different footprint.
Options typically include:
• More frequent cleaning of components
• Use  of  downstream  equipment  that  is less  prone  to
  fouling
• Use of a  sequestering agent
• Metals removal via chemical addition and precipitation,
  and
• Use of alternate discharge options.
Concentrations of chemicals of concern  in system influent
may unexpectedly change over time. Frequent monitoring
and   use  of   real-time   methods   for  concentration
measurement  will  help  identify changes  quickly  and
prepare for treatment modifications throughout the project
life.  Continued  use of  an  unmodified system that has
become oversized over  time can  be a major cause  of
inefficiency.
Green remediation strategies for P&T design also involve
evaluation  of  the  options  for  discharging  treatment
effluent.  Discharge to  surface  water,  reinjection to  the
subsurface, and discharge to a  publicly owned treatment
works  (POTW) all  may  be  subject  to federal  or  state
regulatory requirements. One particular option may  allow
the overall remedy to have  a lower  footprint than  other
options;  for example,  discharge to a POTW will involve
additional energy,  materials, and waste before water is
finally discharged to surface water.

Primary Treatment Technology Alternatives
Project   managers  should  consider  life   cycles  (and
environmental tradeoffs)  of  feasible  treatment  processes
when designing an aboveground treatment  process  for
extracted groundwater.  Several different technologies exist
for  addressing   the   same   compounds  or  class   of
compounds,  and  each technology  will  present unique
advantages,  disadvantages,  and footprints at a  specific
site.  For  example, air  stripping, granular activated carbon
(GAC),   advanced  oxidation, and  bioreactors  can  all
remove  or   destroy  volatile organic  compounds.  Air
stripping  or GAC  may make the smallest environmental
footprint  for  a  majority  of sites,  but  in  some  cases
ultraviolet oxidation (UV/Ox)  may be more effective and
leave a smaller footprint despite its additional energy and
chemical use.
 In general, resource efficiencies  can be gained by:
 • Using  more than one treatment technology (from both
  the   effectiveness    and    environmental    footprint
  perspective) for each aspect of the treatment train
 • Planning for elimination of treatment train components
  that will become unnecessary as site conditions change,
  and
 • Using a form of renewable energy  or waste heat; solar
  thermal panels,  combined   heat and power,  or water-
  source  heat pumps can provide the  needed heat, and
  heat exchangers enable  reuse  of  heat   rather  than
  discharging it as part of the effluent.
                Applications for solar thermal energy
                (which generally incur lower capital
                costs than photovoltaic systems) include
                heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water
                heating, or process heating.

-------
Selection of Chemicals and Process Materials
Chemical and materials use can contribute significantly to
the  environmental  footprint  of  a  P&T  system.   BMPs
regarding  use  of chemicals  for ex  situ  groundwater
treatment focus  on selecting the optimal vendor, type of
chemicals, and dosage.
• Attempt to obtain needed chemicals and materials from
  local  manufacturers  in  order to  avoid  long-distance
  transport, or from manufacturers in regions where grid
  electricity has relatively low emission factors6
• Consider chemical  and   material   disposal   needs,
  including offsite disposal of hazardous waste
• Consider the resources consumed during manufacturing
  or processing of treatment chemicals
• Consider the potential for these chemicals or treatment
  byproducts to be  present in  treatment effluent and  the
  potential  effects of these chemicals  on human  health
  and the environment
• Conduct  sufficient bench-scale tests  to help  optimize
  chemical dosage,  which minimizes  chemical  use  during
  treatment, and
• Provide  containment  around  chemical  storage  and
  batching areas to contain leaks.
When  running  process  water or  air  through filters  or
adsorption media:
 • Use  liquid  filters  that  can  be  backwashed  to  avoid
  frequent disposal of disposable filters
 • Consider benefits  of pre-treatment  or pre-filtering prior
  to use of adsorption media such  as GAC so that media
  are replaced  based on chemical  loading  rather than
  fouling caused  by solids loading
 • Weigh the footprint advantages and  disadvantages of
  preheating vapors prior to treatment with  vapor-phase
  GAC;  for example, preheating can significantly  reduce
  relative humidity (an efficiency deterrent) but increases
  the system's energy demand, and
 • Consider the   source   materials  used  to  generate
  treatment media;  for  example,  GAC media  used in
  adsorption units can  consist of virgin or reactivated
  coal-based GAC or virgin coconut-based GAC.

Collection and Disposal of Treatment Waste
Green   remediation  strategies  for  P&T  remedies  also
consider the options  for waste management.
• Take advantage of opportunities  for chemical salvaging
  and  material reuse, including regenerating rather than
  disposing of  GAC,  identifying  uses  for precipitated
  metals solids, and identifying uses of recovered product
  (such as creosote recycling or energy generation)
  Reduce the frequency and tonnage of hauling process-
  derived solid waste by improving solids dewatering with
  a filter press or  other technologies, particularly  if the
  energy used for dewatering can be offset by renewable
  energy, and
  Use sequestering agents to keep a maximum amount of
  iron and manganese in solution, to prevent equipment
  fouling,  rather  than  removing them  and  generating
  additional process waste.
 Profile:   GCL Tie and Treating Superfund Site
          Sidney, NY
 * Conducted remedial system evaluation (RSE) of a P&T
   system extracting 78 gallons of groundwater per minute
   (gpm) and treating groundwater through green sand
   filtration (for manganese and iron removal), air stripping
   and liquid-phase GAC (for organic compounds), and
   vapor-phase GAC (for off-gas emissions)
 * Derived RSE results suggesting discontinued pumping from
   the intermediate zone (where the contaminant plume
   appeared to decrease independently), which could
   decrease the extraction rate by 23% and reduce  costs while
   continuing to meet cleanup goals and schedules
 • Estimated that implementation of the modified pumping
   plan could: avoid generating 1,000 gallons of liquid, listed
   hazardous waste needing offsite disposal; reduce annual
   electricity use by 8,000 kWh/year; and reduce carbon
   dioxide (CO2) emissions by 4.8 tons/year
 • Derived an additional RSE suggestion to bypass the
   existing air stripper that had become oversized as
   conditions changed, which could reduce electricity use by
   200,000 kWh/year and CO2 emissions by 120 tons/year
Effluent Management and Related Standards
Treatment processes are driven in part by relevant federal
or state standards for water quality discharge and off-gas
emissions. Project managers should consider:
• "Going  beyond" compliance with water and air quality
  standards  under  federal  or  state   mandates   and
  permitted  emission or discharge, to further reduce P&T
  footprints  on local water and air quality; the extra steps
  may or may not involve additional resources, and
• Establishing project goals for natural/materials resource
  consumption and conservation, using  Executive  Order
  13423  as a  guideline;7 for  example,  use renewable
  energy from  onsite resources to meet  at least 10% of
  the  treatment  system's  energy demand,  and recycle
  100% of  all  routine waste such as paper  or electronic
  equipment.
When  evaluating potential methods of effluent discharge
in light of environmental tradeoffs, options include:8
• Reinjection of  treated groundwater to  the subsurface,
  which can recharge an aquifer with valuable water and

-------
  avoid  the  need to  treat background  constituents  (but
  may involve additional site  activities to prevent  well
  fouling or  installation  of additional  well  galleries);
  reinjection is commonly viewed as an  environmentally
  favorable option because it replenishes an aquifer
  Release to surface  water  or  storm water systems; this
  option typically involves stringent discharge standards
  and substantial monitoring requirements and  expedites
  transport of water out of the watershed
  Discharge to a POTW or other regional water treatment
  plant,  which  may  allow more efficient offsite treatment
  of certain contaminants such  as ketones and ammonia
  (but might  involve  additional  pre-treatment  steps or
  redundancy with the onsite treatment system);  for some
  complex treatment streams, treatment  by a  POTW or
  other  regional water treatment  plant  may be a more
  efficient use  of resources  than  building  and operating
  another onsite  treatment plant, and
  Beneficial onsite reuse  of treated  water (such as  for
  irrigation, dust control, and  constructed wetlands) to
  reduce the overall  capacity needed  by the local water
  supply network; treated water also may be used  as a
  substitute  for  potable water  in some  plant operations
  such as chemical batching, process cooling, and use of
  water-source heat pumps for heating and cooling.
  Profile:   Havertown PCP Site
           Havertown, PA
  *  Reassessed performance of an operating P&T system
    employing four recovery wells and an ex situ treatment
    process involving three 30-kW UV/Ox lamps, a peroxide
    destruction unit, and two GAC units
  *  Took two UV/Ox lamps offline, based on system
    assessment indicating changing contaminant parameters
  *  Reduced electricity consumption by at least 168,000 kWh
    per year, due to turning off two UV/Ox lamps
  •  Reduced emissions by approximately 105 tons of CO2,
    280 pounds of nitrogen oxides, and 1,500 pounds of
    sulfur oxides each year, based on eCRID (version  1.1 for
    Pennsylvania); smaller offsite footprints also can be
    attributed to  the avoided cooling water and fuel-harvesting
    resources needed for electricity generation and
    intermediate power loss on the electric transmission grid
Electricity Use

The  recommended BMPs for efficient use of electricity in
P&T systems are designed to closely examine the demands
of pump and fan motors and auxiliary equipment on a site
by site basis. Factors  that can significantly affect electricity
consumption (and  vary considerably in terms  of power
demands)  include the type of pump  needed for a given
application,  pump   efficiency,   motor  efficiency,  pump
loading, use of variable frequency drives (VFDs),  pump
and  pipe conditions, and the available fuel  blend.  The
needed power also ranges considerably (possibly from 0.5
hp  to  100  hp)  depending on other site-specific factors
such  as treatment  flow  rates,  contaminant  types,  and
treatment   processes.   Best   practices  for   electricity
conservation include:
• Sizing pumps, fans, and motors appropriately and using
  energy  efficient  motors  (such as  National  Electrical
  Manufacturers Association Premium® labeled motors)
• Using gravity flow where feasible  to reduce the number
  of pumps for water transfer after subsurface extraction
• Installing  VFDs  to set  constant or variable  flow  rates
  rather  than   throttling   flow  with  valves;   in  many
  applications VFDs can reduce a pump's energy demand
  up  to  50%  while  avoiding  damage  to mechanical
  equipment
• Considering  processing  via  batch  flows,  operating
  portions of the treatment process train  during  off-peak
  utility periods,  and  installing  amp  meters to  evaluate
  consumption rates on a real-time basis
• Using air- or water-source heat pumps and natural gas,
  propane,  or  other fuels  in  place of  electrical resistive
  heating  whenever  possible;  regardless  of  the  heat
  source, set thermostats  to temperatures needed  for
  freeze  protection,  especially  when   the   system  is
  operating unattended, and
• Routinely check for and correct leaks  in compressed air
  lines or inefficient use  of compressed air; air-operated
  pumps are often less efficient than electric  pumps.

Detailed  information   on  selecting   and   improving
performance of  motors,  pumps,  and  fans, as well as
guidelines for improving overall energy efficiency of plant
operations,  is  available  from the U.S.  Department of
Energy's Industrial Technologies Program.9
Annual Energy Consumption of a Common P&T System
Extraction system employing five 1 -hp pumps
Operation of a 1 ,500-squa re-foot P&T
building occupied three days per week, with
electrical resistive heating in winter
Aboveground process-water treatment by an
air stripper fitted with a 5-hp blower
Air stripper off-gas emission treatment with
vapor-phase GAC, and vapor preheating
with a 2kW in-line heater
Data monitoring/processing
Total annual slsctricity consumption
40,
25,
40,
16,
10,
000 kWh
000 kWh
000 kWh
000 kWh
000 kW
131,OOOkWh
Carbon footprint equivalency:10 94 metric tons
ofCO2

-------
 Constructing a P&T System
BMPs  being  developed  or  already  in  place  for the
construction business sector can apply to construction of a
P&T system.  The practices  focus on three categories of
activities  that  can significantly reduce  a  construction
project's footprint.

Stormwater Discharge Controls

The  areal footprint of  a  P&T  system  with respect to
stormwater runoff is typically small. Although impervious
services are commonly limited to building roofs, parking
areas,  and   access   roads,   stormwater  runoff   and
associated  erosion   and   sedimentation  should   be
minimized. EPA's  proposed effluent limitation  guidelines
and standards for construction  activities provide examples
of strategies  for preventing or controlling  sediment (and
pollutant)  movement at a site.11  Efforts should be made to
minimize continuous impervious surfaces unless they serve
as a cap  as  part of a soil remedy;  gravel roads,  porous
pavement, and separated  impervious  surfaces  can  be
used for this purpose. Maximum vegetative  cover across
the site will also reduce stormwater runoff and soil erosion
and provide wildlife habitat.

Green Structures and Housing for Aboveground
Treatment Processes

P&T  systems  typically  need  a   building   to   protect
groundwater   pumping   equipment  and  house  the
aboveground components. Although the sizing of needed
buildings  varies  considerably,  construction  of   every
building offers  opportunities for resource efficiencies. Life
cycle  construction strategies   for  buildings   generally
account for factors such as deconstruction and  materials
reuse as well as anticipated use and  maintenance. The
recommended   practices   also  relate  to  housing  of
individual components of the treatment equipment. Project
managers should:

 •Adapt  practices and goals  addressed in  the Federal
  Green  Construction  Guide  for  Specifiers,12   which
  addresses  provisions   relevant  to   Executive   Order
  13423, environmentally preferable purchasing,  energy
  efficient  products,   and  industry standards  of  other
  organizations such as ASTM International
 • Borrow   practices  from  the U.S.   Green  Building
  Council's   LEED®   rating   system for  new  building
  construction;13 related  checklists and  guidelines  outline
  specific   parameters  and    a   range    of  tangible
  performance goals   that apply to building siting, site
  preparation,  water  efficiency, energy  efficiency  and
  renewable energy, air protection,  other natural resource
  protection, materials resources, and indoor air quality,
  and
 •Attempt to locate treatment equipment in  an existing
  building  with  existing  utilities/infrastructure  wherever
  feasible,  but  evaluate these  buildings  for  potential
  efficiency   upgrades;  the  footprint  associated  with
  operations  could outweigh the footprint of construction.

Examples  of  green  building  methods  for  industrial
purposes such as water treatment include:

• Consider using water-source heat pumps on treatment
  plant effluent,  ground-source  heat  pumps,  mobile
  waste-to-heat generators, or  furnaces/air conditioners
  operating  with recycled oil,  to  provide  space heating
  and cooling
• Seal  all process tanks and  air duct systems to ensure
  adequate building ventilation for workers and to reduce
  energy loss,  and  install energy  recovery ventilators to
  allow incoming fresh air  while  capturing energy from
  outgoing, conditioned air
• Insulate all  pipes  and  equipment tied  to treatment
  processes needing heat
• Maximize use of skylights for direct or indirect natural
  lighting of work areas
• Consider using high  efficiency sprayers when equipment
  needs rinsing with fresh water
• Prevent  damage  to  equipment  through  use  of surge
  protection  devices,  and  program  the  equipment  to
  restart in phases to avoid additional power surges that
  trip circuit breakers, and
• Maintain all  leak  detection  equipment and repair any
  leaking equipment in a timely fashion.

Fuel Consumption and Alternatives

Recommended  practices  for fuel conservation  and related
GHG  reductions during construction of  a P&T system
focus on:

• Retrofitting  engines  to accommodate diesel  emission
  controls or replacing  obsolete  engines;  catalysts and
  filters should  be verified by EPA or organizations such as
  the California Air Resources  Board
• Conducting full and appropriate  engine maintenance as
  recommended by manufacturers
• Limiting idling of fuel-powered vehicles, equipment, and
  machinery  to  a maximum of three minutes whenever
  possible; certain equipment such as drill rigs,  however,
  commonly  need longer idling times to  maintain efficient
  work flow, and
• Switching to ultralow-sulfur diesel or biofuel  meeting the
  ASTM D6751  standard, to reduce engine wear.

More information about fuel consumption and alternatives
is  available  in:  Green  Remediation  Best  Management
Practices: Using  Clean  Fuel Technology in Site Cleanup*

-------
 Operating and Monitoring a P&T System
Opportunities  for resource efficiencies and conservation
that  are identified  and  planned  during  remedy  design
should be thoroughly documented to ensure that decision
makers   and   operations   contractors  have   sufficient
information  supporting  decisions  during  operation and
maintenance   (O&M)   and   long-term   groundwater
monitoring.   Potential   documents  for   recording   this
information  include cleanup  contracts, feasibility studies,
site management  plans,  and  quality  assurance  project
plans; for example, contracts could specify:
    The contractor shall evaluate all reasonably feasible
  renewable  energy  sources  when  conducting  work
  related to  selecting a  cleanup remedy,  constructing a
  cleanup remedy, and when optimizing an  existing
  cleanup remedy. Sources of renewable energy include
  solar,  wind, and biomass and biogas.
Other examples of contract  language and procurement
information  are available in  EPA's Green  Response and
Remedial Action Contracting and Administrative Toolkit.^4
Best  management practices for ongoing P&T operations
address  relatively  routine  activities  as  well  as  those
promoting    continuous   improvements    to    system
performance - the  "check-do,  recheck-redo" process. In
particular, continual reassessment  is needed to  identify
opportunities for downsizing  the  existing  equipment or
taking any equipment offline.  Important activities for O&M
and associated practices include:
• Periodically bench-scale testing  alternative chemicals to
  determine whether changing groundwater parameters
  warrant different  chemicals or  when   new  products
  become available, and
• Re-evaluating potential for renewable energy sources as
  new   technologies  or  financial  incentives  become
  available;  one alternative may be purchasing renewable
  energy certificates that could extend to site reuse.
     A photovoltaic system added to P&T operations at the
     Pemaco Superfund Site in Maywood, CA, contributes
     5,900 kWh of electricity each year to high-vacuum
     dual-phase extraction of groundwater.
Equipment Maintenance
• Conduct   manufacturer-recommended    preventative
  maintenance of all processing and building equipment
  on schedule and conduct any needed repair in a timely
  fashion
• Automate mechanical  and  electronic equipment  as
  much as possible and implement a telemetry system to
  reduce  frequency  of  site visits  and  reduce extra  late-
  night or weekend trips responding to alarms
• Employ an  electronics  stewardship  plan  that ensures
  purchases of EPEAT® and EnergyStar® products, power
  management for data centers, and recycling or reuse of
  expended electronic equipment or media
• Strive for fewer,  longer days for O&M labor rather than
  more frequent, shorter days to reduce  transportation to
  and from the site
• Identify suitable  reuse for equipment no longer needed,
  and
• Check for any equipment that could be removed  from
  continuous operation  in the treatment train but retained
  for potential reintegration if needed.

Sampling and Analysis of Process Water
* Collect and  analyze  representative samples to ensure
  good process-related decisions, to avoid  unnecessary
  resource  consumption   associated   with   unneeded
  sampling
• Maximize  use of real-time  measurement technologies
  such  as  sensors,  probes,  and  meters  to  monitor
  processing conditions,  and  use  program  alarms  to
  notify operators  of any system or component failure
• Retain  local  laboratories or use an  onsite laboratory
  program if possible to  reduce the footprint associated
  with transportation of samples, and
• Request electronic  deliverables  to minimize  materials
  and  fuel consumption associated  with hard-copy  data
  reports, which also facilitates data sharing across team
  members.

Sampling   and  Analysis  of  Groundwater  in
Monitoring Wells
 * Use  long-term  monitoring  optimization approaches to
  eliminate redundant or otherwise unnecessary sampling;
  decision   support   tools  such   as  monitoring  and
  remediation  optimization system  (MAROS) software can
  be  used  to  perform   statistical   trend  analysis  for
  optimizing sample  locations, sampling frequency, and
  analytical parameters, and
 • Minimize traffic  and land disturbance  during  sampling
  through BMPs  such  as restricting traffic to  confined
  corridors   and   protecting  ground   surfaces  with
  biodegradable covers.

-------
  Profile:   British Petroleum Site
            Paulsboro, NJ
  * Uses an ons/fe 275-kW solar field consisting of 5,800
    photovoltaic modules to generate electricity for operating
    six recovery wells, including pump motors, aerators, and
    blowers
  • Transfers extracted groundwater into a biologically
    activated carbon  treatment system
  • Generates 350,000 kWh of electricity each year through
    use of the solar field, which meets 20-25% of the P&T
    system's energy demand
  * Eliminates emission of 571,000 pounds of CO2, 1,600
    pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 1,100 pounds of nitrogen
    dioxide each year through avoided consumption of fossil
    fuel-generated grid electricity
  • Integrates ongoing groundwater cleanup with site reuse as
    a new port facility along the Delaware River, in partnership
    with state and local agencies; Port of Paulsboro operations
    are expected to generate $100 million annually in  revenue
    and taxes
Routine Checks and Balances

Making  a P&T system more  effective  and  efficient over
time relies on  awareness that site conditions,  regulations,
and technology options may  change during  the operating
period and may differ significantly from those  considered
at the time  of design.15  As  a result,  one  of the  most
significant BMPs for reducing the environmental footprints
of  a  P&T system  is  to  monitor these  changes and
periodically revisit these practices,  perhaps on an annual
basis,   to  identify   appropriate   system  modifications.
Standard operating procedures should  include tracking of
all  electricity,  natural  gas,  water,  and  materials  con-
sumption on  a regular  basis to identify any trends that
may lead to increases in efficiency.
   Green Remediation: A Sampling of Success Measures
                   for P&T Operations16
  • Reduced electricity consumption and CHC emissions
    through use of energy efficient pumps and auxiliary
    equipment
  * Increased percentage of electricity for groundwater
    extraction or aboveground treatment supplied by ons/fe
    renewable energy resources
  • Reduced consumption of potable water due to substitution
    by treated water in chemical batching and cooling
    processes
  * Reduced waste streams as a result of regenerating rather
    than disposing spent GAC and salvaging precipitated
    metals solids for offsite industrial use
  * Beneficial reuse of treated water for restoration of ons/fe
    wetlands and ecosystems
  * Reduced P&T loads due to integration of polishing
    technologies as contaminant concentrations decrease over
    time
                                                                References [Web accessed: 2009, November 30]
 U.S. EPA;  Principles for Greener Cleanups; August 27, 2009;
 http://www.epa.gov/oswer/greencleanups

 U.S. EPA; Green Remediation: Incorporating Sustainable
 Environmental Practices into Remediation of Contaminated
 Sites; EPA 542-R-08-002, April 2008;
 http://www.cluin.org/greenremediation

 Executive Order 1 3514: Federal Leadership in Environmental,
 Energy, and Economic Performance; October 5, 2009

 U.S. EPA; Green Remediation Best Management Practices:
 aS/fe Investigation;  EPA 542-F-09-004, December 2009
 b Using Clean Fuel Technology for Site Cleanup; EPA 542-F-
  09-008, January 2010
 U.S. EPA; CLU-IN;  multiple references at:
 http://www.cluin.org/techfocus/default.focus/sec/Natural  Att
 enuation/cat/Guidance/

 U.S. EPA; eGRID; http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-
 resources/egrid/i ndex.html

 Executive Order 1 3423: Strengthening Federal Environmental,
 Energy, and Transportation Management; January 24, 2007

 U.S. EPA; Options for Discharging Treated Water from Pump
 and Treat Systems;  EPA 542-R-07-006, 2007

 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency &
 Renewable Energy; Industrial Technologies Program, Best
 Practices; http://wwwl .eere.energy.gov/industry/
 bestpractices/techpubs  motors.html

1 U.S. EPA; Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator;
 http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-resources/calculator.html

 U.S. EPA; Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the
 Construction and Development Point Source Category;
 proposed rule, November 28,  2008; 73 CFR 72561-7261 4

' U.S. EPA; Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers;
 http://www.wbdg.org/design/greenspec.php

' U.S. Green Building Council; LEED for New Construction;
 Version 3, April  2009; http://www.usgbc.org

' U.S. EPA OSWER/OSRTI;  Green Response and Remedial
 Action Contracting and Administrative Toolkit;
 http://www.cluin.org/greenremediation/subtab_b2.cfm

1 U.S. EPA; Elements for Effective Management of Operating
 Pump and Treat Systems; EPA 542-R-02-009,  December
 2002; http://www.cluin.org/rse

1 U.S. EPA; CLU-IN;  Remediation Optimization; P&T
 application descriptions, guidance, and remedial system
 evaluations at: http://www.cluin.org/rse
          Visit Green Remediation Focus online:
        http://www.cluin.org/greenremediation
                For more information, contact:
     Carlos Pachon, OSWER/OSRTI (pachon.carlos@epa.gov)
             U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

-------