A newsletter about soil, sediment, and groun
Technology
News & Trends
nologies
EPA542-N-14-007 I Issue No. 71
Fall 2015
Greener cleanup best management practices (BMPs) can reduce the
environmental footprint of activities involved in remediating
contaminated sites. Each feature article in this issue of Technology
News and Trends provides site-specific examples of footprint
reductions addressing one or more of the five core elements of a
greener cleanup as outlined in the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Principles for Greener Cleanups. The articles also
highlight quantitative and qualitative improvements in project
outcomes as a result of implementing the BMPs.
The core elements of greener cleanups involve:
Materials
& Waste
Energy
Core
Land/a Elements Air&
Ecosystems Atmosphere
Reducing total energy use and
increasing the percentage of
renewable energy.
Reducing air pollutants and
greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions.
Reducing water use and
negative impacts on water
resources.
Improving materials management and increasing waste
reduction.
Protecting ecosystem services.
EPA and partnering federal and state agencies have begun
integrating greener cleanup considerations into project
documentation such as remedial designs and work plans.
Additionally, the private sector increasingly reports that approaches
for greener cleanups are incorporated in their standard operating
procedures or corporate sustainability principles.
EPA offers a series of BMP fact sheets and the Methodology for
Understanding and Reducing a Project's Environmental Footprint
(EPA 542-R-12-002) to help plan and implement BMPs leading to a
greener cleanup. ASTM International's Standard Guide for Greener
Cleanups (E2893-13), which was developed through ASTM's
consensus process, provides a more systematic approach to
identifying environmental footprint contributions and identifying
appropriate BMPs. For large or complex sites, cleanup stakeholders
may opt to conduct a footprint analysis using the associated
Spreadsheets for Footprint Analysis. A footprint analysis can quantify
the footprint of potential, planned or implemented cleanup activities,
including BMP benefits.
Featured Articles
Energy & Air: Optimizing
Energy Use and Using
Renewable Energy
Water: Stormwater
Management Techniques for
Greener Cleanup and
Climate Change Resilience
Materials, Waste and
Ecosystems: Integrating
Materials and Waste
Management Plans with
Ecosystem Protection
Resources
EPA Website: Greener
Cleanups
CLU-IN Website: Green
Remediation Focus
Industry Standard: ASTM
Standard Guide for Greener
Cleanups
Updated Fact Sheet: Green
Remediation Best
Management Practices: An
Overview
Project Update: Greener
Cleanup Bulletin: Use of the
ASTM Standard Guide for
Greener Cleanups at the
North Ridge Estates
Superfund Site
Updated Planning Tool:
Greener Cleanups
Contracting and
Administrative Toolkit
New Analytical Tool: SEFA
Tutorial
Supporting Decision Tools:
Updated Models, Calculators
and Maps
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FEATURED ARTICLES
Energy & Air: Optimizing Energy Use and Using Renewable Energy
Contributed by Paul Peronard, U.S. EPA Region 8; LeeAnn Tomas-Foster, Public Building Commission of Chicago
Use of electricity and the burning of fossil fuel result in emission of pollutants such
as greenhouse gases (GHGs) and particulate matter. Consumption of each gallon
of diesel fuel (No. 1 or No. 2), for example, is estimated to emit approximately 22
pounds of carbon dioxide, and each kilowatt of electricity generated by a fossil fuel-
powered plant generally results in approximately 1.5 pounds of GHG equivalent.
Best management practices (BMPs) for reducing energy- and air-related footprints
of cleanup activities often involve techniques and technologies that apply renewable
energy or reduce the demand for energy, as illustrated at the Pennsylvania Mine
site in Summit County, Colorado, and the Whitney Young Branch Library in
Chicago, Illinois.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 office deployed a
mobile solar unit for Superfund removal actions at the Pennsylvania Mine site near
Keystone, Colorado, in 2014 and again in 2015. The unit was used to power
equipment for support activities during construction of two concrete bulkheads that
isolate contaminated water inside the mine. Isolation of the water reduces the
amount of oxygen available to metals and sulfides and associated acid mine
drainage to local surface water, such as the Snake River. In addition to reducing the
project's consumption of diesel fuel and associated onsite emissions, this approach significantly reduced offsite emissions
resulting from transport of greater volumes of fuel to this remote, mountainous site. Monitoring in October 2015, following
September completion of the second bulkhead, indicated a 90% reduction in water exiting the mine.
Examples of Relevant BMPs
» Use onstte sources of renewable
energy such as solar or wind
resources lo power cleanup
equipment
* Establish a clearly defined
treatment zone to minimize use of
heavy machinery
* Implement an engine Idle reduction
pten
* LinK remediation activities with
redevelopment activities (rtat may
occur concurrently
« Use contractors, subcontractors
and other workers who are
available locally
» Mix chemical or biological reagents
in silu rather lhan exsliu
Electricity generated by the mobile solar unit, a 25-kilowatt (kW) SolaRover
Mojave 3 hybrid system (Figure 1), during both deployments powered a
generator that recharged hand-held or portable tools and sampling devices
and operated communication equipment, computers and heaters used by
EPA's onsite field laboratory. The solar equipment consisted of a 4.5 kW
solar array equipped with batteries capable of storing 80 kWh of electricity,
along with multiple inverters for 2-50 amp, 220-volt circuits and 2-20 amp,
110-volt circuits. As a hybrid unit, the system included a 30 kW diesel
generator. The unit was leased for $2,000 per month.
Use of the hybrid system in this off-grid setting provided continuous
availability of power. The system was configured to deliver power only
upon demand and to provide capability to handle variable loads during
equipment use as well as surges due to equipment startup. Additionally,
dedicated use of solar-generated electricity avoided harmonic distortion
that is typical in diesel generators and requires buffering in applications
'
Figure 1. Solar energy equipment
supporting remedy construction at
the Pennsylvania Mine.
involving sensitive electronics such as communication equipment and computers.
The vendor's analysis of energy data covering the 80 days of deployment in 2014 indicated that the solar component
generated 1,200 kWh, approximately 58% of the power used onsite, at an efficiency of 97%. This amount of electricity
otherwise produced by a fossil-fueled power plant would have resulted in an air-emission footprint estimated at 1,820
pounds of GHG equivalent. The analysis also suggested that the site's electricity demand (Figure 2) may have been met
by a smaller hybrid power system. EPA and the Colorado Department of Mining and Remediation Services plan to install
a third bulkhead in 2016.
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Power Used and Generated During Rental Period
-POWH u«d (kWh)
- Pow*r OrxH tied (kWh)
Figure 2. Daily rates of power used and power generated by the integrated solar-diesel power system at the
Pennsylvania Mine. (Note: The most recent date on the x-axis is to the left.)
At the Whitney Young Branch Library-Adjacent Site, a brownfield in Chicago, energy- and air-related footprints of site
cleanup were reduced through advanced planning to conserve fuel during remediation. This 0.34-acre municipally-owned
property, which sits adjacent to a public library, was contaminated by past site activities such as drycleaning and auto
repair. The remediation involved excavating and disposing of shallow soil, implementing in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO)
to address contaminant hot spots in deeper soil, and installing a site-wide engineered horizontal barrier consisting of a
three-foot-deep compacted clay cap.
The Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBCC) used EPA's Methodology for Understanding and Reducing a
Project's Environmental Footprint and companion Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis (SEFA) to quantify
the environmental footprint of the remedial action. To gain supplemental information, SEFA also was used to estimate the
footprint reduction achieved through ISCO and reduced excavation and disposal. Analytical results indicated that the
implemented remedial action reduced consumption of energy, primarily in the form of diesel fuel, by approximately 56%
and generated 52-61% less air emissions (Figure 3).
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Criteria
Energy
Hazardous
pollutants
Paniculate matter
Nitrogen oxides
GHGs
Sulfur oxides
Units
Million Btu'&
{British thermal units)
Pounds
Pou nds
Pounds
Tons
(carbon dioxide
equivalents^
Pounds
Baseline Approach:
Extensive
Excavat ion/Disposal
9,072
28
6,769
9,002
706
2,321
Implemented
Remedy; iSCOand
Reduced
Excavation/Disposal
3,968
11
2,734
3,657
319
1,104
Percent of
Potential
Footprint
Avoided
56%
61%
60%
59%
55%
52%
Figure 3. SEFA-based footprint estimates of energy consumption and air emissions associated with the implemented
remedy versus a baseline approach at the Whitney Young Branch Library; energy estimates include onsite and offsite
uses and air emission estimates include onsite and offsite sources.
SEFA results indicated that the largest footprint contributions of the remedial action were: (1) the raw materials (virgin
clay, sand and gravel) used to construct the engineered barrier; (2) fuel consumed while transporting these materials to
the site, excavating, backfilling and grading soil, and disposing waste soil offsite; and (3) air emissions attributed to the
onsite and offsite consumption of fuel. Through use of the ASTM Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups (E2893-13), best
management practices (BMPs) were screened, prioritized and selected for implementation during remedy design and
construction to address these footprint contributions.
High-priority BMPs concerning fuel consumption and associated air emissions included establishing clearly defined target
treatment zones to minimize the need for heavy fuel-intensive machinery such as excavators. The project design also
involved linking remediation with future site redevelopment activities to minimize fuel needed for installation of a
stormwater vault, import or export of materials, and personnel transportation. Additionally, the service contract negotiated
by the PBCC called for using local contractors and workers whenever possible, including subcontractors retained for
drilling or for using direct-push technology to conduct soil sampling and chemical oxidant injections. Approximately 21 % of
the project employees resided within a one-mile radius of the site and the average one-way commuting distance for
workers was 15 miles.
Medium-priority BMPs included mixing the ISCO reagents, which were procured from a local distributor, into soil in situ
rather than ex situ to minimize dust generation and air emissions and to avoid double-handling of materials. The trench
boxes needed for chemical reagent mixing were installed within rather than adjacent to areas undergoing treatment.
Removal of the trench frames after mixing allowed the mixture to be readily
combined with clean soil during backfilling and avoided the need for trench
shoring and sheet piling.
Other medium-priority BMPs involved implementing an engine idle reduction
plan for machinery and equipment operating during demolition and construction
(Figure 4) and using a local analytical laboratory to minimize offsite emissions
associated with transporting soil and water samples. The idle reduction plan
limited engine running in any standing diesel fuel-powered motor vehicle to no
more than a total of three minutes within any 60-minute period. The commercial
laboratory procured for analytical services was located only 12 miles from the
site.
Cleanup costs for this property totaled approximately $2.6 million, about half of
the estimated $4.9 million cost for site-wide excavation of contaminated soil
and offsite disposal of contaminated soil. Implementation of this greener
cleanup strategy, which was developed as part of the Sustainable Chicago
initiative, merited a 2014 Environmental Stewardship Award for Environmental
Figure 4. Diesel equipment such as a
250-horsepower excavator and 100-
horsepower soil compacting roller
operated under an idle restriction plan
at the Whitney Young Library site.
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Excellence from the National Association of Environmental Professionals and a 2015 Illinois Governor's Sustainability
Award.
Water: Stormwater Management Techniques for Greener Cleanup and Climate Change Resilience
Contributed by Karen Lumino, U.S. EPA Region 1; Lorraine LaFreniere, Argonne National Laboratory
Examples of Relevant BMPs
• Repticate a site's natural contents
during soil or sediment grading, to
preserve the site's natural
hydraulic gradients
• install vegetation on earthen
structures such as berms, to
promote gradual infiltration,
promote evapotranspiratton and
prevent soil erosion
» Segregate rocks and torjeoit from
other excavated material for
potential beneficial use such as
conslructmg drainage channels
• Choose maintenance-free native
plants speees that are flood- or
drougtil-lolerant to re-vegetate
disturbed or vulnerable areas
* Integrate local Infrastructure
aspects such as urban stormwater
management Into remedy design.
to minimize community-wide
resource consumption
Addressing water aspects of a greener cleanup often includes best management
practices (BMPs) aimed to establish or complement a green infrastructure, which
uses a site's natural hydrologic features to manage water and provide environmental
and community benefits. In addition to managing water as a valuable natural
resource, the BMPs may help efforts to increase remedy resilience to potential
climate change effects such as increased frequency or intensity of precipitation or
sustained drought. For example, an evapotranspiration cover in California may need
reassessment and possible modification if its original design reflected
evapotranspiration rates no longer occurring due to recent drought conditions that
increase susceptibility to plant and soil desiccation. Techniques for achieving a
greener cleanup while preparing for increased precipitation are illustrated in
stormwater management systems in place at the Pine Street Canal Superfund site
and Murdock Groundwater Plume site.
Cleanup at the Pine Street Canal Superfund site in Burlington, Vermont,
incorporates measures focused on water resource management and remedy
protectiveness in light of potential inundation, extreme storm events, or ice buildup at
and around the site's lengthy onsite canal. Remedial actions to address primarily
coal gasification wastes have involved capping eight acres of contaminated
sediments, installing a subsurface vertical barrier at the northwest corner of the site
to prevent potential migration of contaminants into Lake Champlain (Figure 1), and
restoring aquatic and wetland habitat. The site is hydraulically connected to Lake
Champlain and vulnerable to flooding from the lake.
Greener cleanup BMPs included installing two retention basins as a low-
impact development approach to regulating stormwater flow where municipal
storm sewers discharge to the canal. The basins are integral to the site's
wetlands, which cover approximately 21 acres, and are designed to
accommodate a flow equivalent to 150% of a 100-year storm event. Municipal
stormwater enters the site through a 48-inch pipe and is directed through a
series of engineered structures that begins with a channel that is lined with
stone in submerged portions to prevent scour due to high flow velocity and ice
buildup. The channel culminates at a distribution forebay where larger
sediment is deposited; a riprap level berm spreader in the forebay reduces
erosive energy of concentrated flow. Water passes from the forebay to a
relatively wide wetlands area from which it discharges via an outlet pipe to a
lower plunge pool. Water surface elevation in the outlet plunge pool is
maintained at 96 feet above mean sea level by use of a 6-foot-diameterdrop
inlet structure connected to a 48-inch culvert extending under an adjacent
street.
The street and surrounding neighborhood are additionally protected by
emergency overflow berms, which were constructed of sand and topsoil
removed during excavation of areas undergoing sediment cap installation.
Similarly, rocks of various sizes were stockpiled during excavation for later
use in lining the forebay channel and plunge-pool apron. Treatment efficiency
of the stormwater controls was evaluated by using a typical urban runoff
water quality and a 90th percentile annual rainfall event (0.9 inches).
Evaluation results indicated 94-98% efficiency in removal of stormwater
contaminants from the site's stormflow. [For comprehensive information about numeric performance or design standards
applying to municipal storm sewer systems under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, see the
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Post-Construction Performance Standards & Water Quality-Based
Requirements compendium.]
Figure 1. Aerial view of the 38-acre
Pine Street Canal site, more than half
of which is located in a 100-year-
floodplain (primarily in vegetated
areas).
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"Soft" engineered structures were constructed along the canal to increase site-wide resilience to climate change hazards
such as inundation and soil erosion. Gabions were installed at certain locations of the canal bed to stabilize banks where
emergent plants and willow were planted. Along the plantings, coir logs (made of flexible, biodegradable coconut husk
fiber) were emplaced for additional erosion protection. Overtime, the gabions additionally filled with silt serving as a
substrate for growing submergent vegetation.
A weir (Figure 2) was constructed at the canal's outlet to Lake Champlain to
maintain wetland water levels and prevent erosion of the cap due to storms as
well as potential failure in a resident beaver dam. The weir was designed to
maintain a minimum water depth of 96 feet, thereby protecting the emplaced
subaqueous cap from scour, wave action and erosion. The weir also was
designed to mirror the site's natural contours and withstand worst-case ice
forces and 100-year (magnitude 4.0) earthquakes. Other design aspects
included incorporation of removable stop logs and a six-foot-wide sluice
intended to accommodate long-term variation in the canal stage elevation and
to improve wetlands hydrology, optimize onsite wetlands functions, and
improve access conditions for cap maintenance activities. The weir also was
designed to accommodate the existing local infrastructure, which includes
railroad tracks and a municipal bike path.
Figure 2. 50-foot weir at the Pine
Street Canal outlet.
Restoration of the onsite wetlands to pre-remediation size, form and function
was critical due to their ability to filter stormwater inflow as well as outflow before reaching capped portions of the site, in
addition to their role in local stormwater management. BMPs for wetland and upland restoration included soil and
sediment grading to return the shoreline to a more gradual slope conducive to waterfowl habitat and passage of other
animals. Additionally, plant selection focused on choosing native species that could survive most readily; planted species
particularly tolerant of flood conditions include giant bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum), speckled alder shrubs (Alnus
rugosa), and black willow and green ash trees (Sa/;x nigra and Fraxinus pennsylvanica). As part of restoring the wetlands
wildlife habitat, a baffler (water bypass) was installed at the beaver dam existing near the canal outlet weir to support the
beaver community while preventing back-up of the municipal stormwater collection system or localized erosion due to
dam failure. EPA and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will continue to require biweekly
inspections during each field season (April through November) as part of long-term monitoring.
At the Murdock Groundwater Contamination site in eastern Nebraska, Superfund removal actions have involved
engineered wetlands and phytoremediation to treat surface water and groundwater contaminated with high concentrations
of carbon tetrachloride due to past fumigation practices at a nearby grain storage facility. The wetlands serve as a
remediation polishing step and enhance local wildlife habitat while moderating periodically heavy stormwater runoff.
Design of the wetlands included climate change adaptation measures
aimed to withstand a 100-year flood event rather than the 25-year event
typically specified for constructed wetlands. Associated features of the
wetland include a lengthy, meandering pond basin with a plunge pool
(trickle basin) as well as a low-flow stream channel to detain stormwater
and prevent it from damaging downstream areas. The pond was sized to
typically hold less than 3 acre-feet of water; its basin provides a normal
pool elevation of 1,210 feet above mean sea level and capability to
handle a flood pool elevation of 1,214 feet, the predicted level resulting
from a 100-year storm event.
Pool water elevations between 1,208 and 1,211 are managed through an
outlet structure constructed of concrete (Figure 3) to handle minor
flooding likely to occur in a 10-year period. The structure includes a
series of adjustable stop logs made of timber and equipped with a
tamper-proof locking system. These design criteria also minimize the
likelihood of onsite stormwater to negatively impact drainage tile at
adjoining agricultural properties.
Figure 3. 12-foot-wide drop structure
controlled by a 5-foot-wide stop-log system
at the Murdock Groundwater Plume site.
Data collection and integration prior to construction focused on delineating contours of the groundwater and surface water
elevations, generating profiles of the onsite stream at the anticipated wetland inlet and outlet, and identifying trees to be
protected during construction. The site grading plan included BMPs aimed at mirroring the site's natural conditions while
maximizing resilience to storm-related hazards. Post-construction grading was minimized by following existing contours
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and keeping the anticipated typical depth of the plunge pool relatively shallow.
Also, a 25-foot buffer strip (Figure 4) was established along the perimeter of
the anticipated wetland acreage to assure no offsite grading occurred during
construction and to provide long-term protection against erosion due to high
wind or stormwater. The buffer strip was seeded with native flood- and drought-
tolerant grasses expected to naturally volunteer; the necessary seed mixes
were obtained from a local producer operating less than two miles from the
site.
The site's stomwater management plan includes an earthen berm and auxiliary
spillway that can accommodate moderate storm events. In addition, a site
access road was installed along a corridor least likely to be affected by
stormwater, which was downstream of drainage tile around the wetland outlets
but upstream of the wetland confluence with the tributary. These points of the
road are supported by twin culverts predicted to withstand up to a 25-year
storm event.
^^ Kit
Figure 4. Wetland pond with
protective buffer strip at the Murdock
Groundwater Plume site.
The plunge pool at the downstream end of the site is lined with native rock that increases volatilization of any remaining
carbon tetrachloride during typical stream flows and dissipates flow energy in the case of catastrophic failure of surface
water controls. Other techniques to enhance volatilization of the site's volatile
organic compounds include an upstream groundwater extraction and spray-
treatment system, which allows for beneficial use of the extracted water.
Groundwater extracted from a single well is sprayed via a linear-travel
irrigation unit onto adjacent municipal property where it irrigates recreational
fields. From 2005 start-up through 2012, the spray-irrigation system
discharged a cumulative total exceeding 1.2 million gallons of water at a flow
ranging from 30 to 35 gallons per minute. Since 2013, the irrigation need has
decreased but the well and spray system have remained in operational
condition to address any onsite or offsite needs in the future.
The perimeter of the site is lined with shrubs requiring little maintenance,
rather than engineered or wood fencing. Ongoing monitoring indicates a
thriving wetland system and successful creation of habitat for native wildlife
such as beavers, muskrats, and turtles (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Returning beaver population
and habitat at the Groundwater Plume
site wetlands.
Materials, Waste and Ecosystems: Integrating Materials and Waste Management Plans with Ecosystem
Protection
Contributed by Ed Hathaway, U.S. EPA Region 1; Shelby Johnston, U.S. EPA Region 4; Wallace Robertson, Air Force
Civil Engineer Center/CZOW, Barksdale 1ST
Biobased and recovered materials can effectively be integrated into site waste
reduction efforts that decrease the environmental footprint of a cleanup. Relevant
best management practices (BMPs) often involve using industrial byproducts for
remediation purposes and salvaging onsite waste for beneficial use on- or offsite.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently completed full or partial
cleanup at three sites where biobased and recovered materials were integrated into
the remediation strategy while also helping to restore natural ecosystems and
associated services: the Sanford Gasification Plant Superfund alternative site in
Seminole County, Florida; the Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB) in Bossier City,
Louisiana; and the Elizabeth Mine located in South Stratford, Vermont.
The Sanford Gasification Plant manufactured water gas and carbureted water gas
from the 1880s until 1951. An incinerator also operated onsite for over 20 years.
Plant processes generated tar and condensate, which were stored onsite in gas
holder tanks that frequently leaked, contaminating site soil, groundwater, and
sediments in the nearby Cloud Branch Creek and Lake Monroe delta via an
intermittently flowing tributary. Investigations in the 1990s and early 2000s indicated
the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals and total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons in soil,
groundwater and sediment. In addition, tar-saturated soil and sediment, as well as black-stained sediment with a strong
naphthalene odor, were observed onsite.
Examples of BMPs for Sustainable
Materials Management
• Use crushed concrete as a
construction aggregate for road
base, pipe bedding, or
landscaping.
» Salvage and sort clean materials
with potential value for Qnsite
reuse, recycling, resala, or
donation.
» Salvage uncontaminaied and pesl-
or disease-free organic debris (or
use as infill or mulch as needed.
• Maximize use of industrial
materials such as non-synthetic
compost tor soil amendmenls and
manufactured soils.
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Examples of BMPs for
Ecosystem protection
Structure daily routines such that
they minimize wildlife disturbance,
including noise and lights affecting
sensitive species.
Plant native vegetation to minimize
the need for Irrigation, mewing.
and fertilizer.
Develop an erosion and
sedimentation control plan to
pfevent soil loss, topsoll
compaction, sediment transport,
and dispersion of dusl and
paniculate matter.
Cleanup was conducted from 2009 to 2012 under EPA oversight and included
removal of the upper 2 feet of contaminated soil (total of 26,934 tons); solidification
and stabilization of contaminated soil from 2 to 30 feet below ground surface (total of
143,531 cubic yards) using granulated blast furnace slag; removal of 11,003 cubic
yards of Cloud Branch Creek sediment to a minimum depth of 2 feet and restoration
through installation of a culvert and backfill; and installation of a well network for
monitoring natural attenuation of groundwater after soil cleanup activities are
completed. Soil removed from contaminated areas was screened, and clean soil was
reused onsite, avoiding importation of 1,600 cubic yards of non-native soil for site
restoration. A stormwater retention pond (Figure 1) was built to limit runoff and soil
erosion along the restored area. Restoration of Cloud Branch Creek included
placement of riprap made from recycled
concrete to prevent erosion of the
streambanks.
Additional material recovery activities at the site involved chipping, mulching,
and sending to local landscape companies about 5,000 cubic yards (800 tons)
of trees and stumps that were removed for heavy equipment operation, and
reusing 3.7 million gallons of water obtained from dewatering operations in the
soil stabilization process. Groundwater at the site will be treated by monitored
natural attenuation, which is expected to achieve cleanup criteria in 2035.
At Barksdale AFB, biobased and recycled onsite materials were incorporated
into a cover upgrade and revegetation effort at three landfills: LF002, LF003,
and LF004. The covers at LF002 and LF003 had deteriorated such that
groundwater recharge was occurring from accumulated stormwater runoff in
low topographic areas, while the LF004 cover had been damaged by vehicle
traffic during a brief period of concrete recycling operations conducted nearby.
Figure 1. A stormwater retention pond
at the Sanford site for mitigating soil
erosion.
Remedial activities at all three landfills included constructing 18
waste, grading to promote runoff and natural drainage patterns,
and minimize sedimentation in the
adjacent Flat River. At LF003,
uncontaminated spoil from previous
dredging operations was used as the cover
material. Recycled fill, such as previously
dredged materials from the Flat River, was
reused as subgrade fill for the caps at all
three landfills, as well as fortopsoil at
LF003 and LF004 (Figure 2), which
avoided importation of 110,000 cubic yards
of material. In addition, crushed concrete
was recycled as base fill for access roads
at all three landfills, as riprap at LF003 and
LF0044 to prevent stream bank erosion,
and for a wetland buffer at LF004, which
avoided importation of 2,000 tons of
concrete.
-24 inch covers to prevent water infiltration into the buried
and installation of a vegetative cover to protect the cap
VEGETATIVE COVER
TEMP BERMUOA'BAHIA OR KXJW
LONG TE RM NATIVE WILDFLOWEHS
S-75 NAG STRAW BLANKET
EROSION CONTROL MATTP*G
LANDFILL COVER OR CAP MATERIAL
CLEAN AMI COMPACTED FILL MATERIAL
SUBGRADE FILL MATERIAL
CLEAN AND COMPACTED FILL MATERIAL
UNDISTURBED SUBSTRATE
WASTE MATERIALS
Figure 2. Cross section of the landfill cover installed at LF-03 and 04 at
Barksdale AFB.
Fast germinating grass species were planted immediately at LF003 and 004 as
a BMP to minimize landfill cap erosion during the fall rainy season. Once the
cover was established, wildflowers were seeded as a BMP to protect
ecosystems and associated services by providing a climate-stress and disease
resistant cover that also served as a food source for local wildlife. Native
wildflowers, including Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed-susan, Figure 3), Gaillardia
pulchella (Indian blanketflower), Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), and
Papaver rhoeas (shirley poppies), were selected due to their drought-resistant
nature, to reduce mowing frequency, restore nutrient cycles, promote seed
dispersal, and restore habitat for native wildlife, including pollinator species.
Additional wildflower seeding is planned for the near future. An additional BMP
implemented at LF003 during the cover replacement included retaining an
Figure 3. Black-eyed-susans planted
at the Barksdale AFB.
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existing natural levee that served as a wildlife corridor. Keeping the levee also minimized disturbance to the riparian zone
and added a layer of protection against erosion and sedimentation. Ecosystem service protection activities at LF003 also
included development of hiking trails for the public. The trails were lined with wood mulch (770 cubic yards) derived from
selectively cut trees on the AFB, rather than importing mulch from offsite sources. More information about greener
cleanup BMPs and associated footprint reductions can be found in the Barksdale Air Force Base green remediation
profile.
At the 250-acre Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site, biobased materials, land
conservation, and ecosystem services protection BMPs were integrated into
cleanup of the tailing piles and waste rock as part of a non time-critical removal
action (NTCRA) conducted from 2011 to 2014. The site is a former copper mine
that operated from the early 1800s until closure in 1958. Cleanup goals for the
site were to restore water quality of Copperas Brook, the West Branch of the
Ompompanoosuc River, and water resources further downstream that have
been negatively impacted by acid rock drainage from waste rock and tailing
piles. The entire length of Copperas Brook and several miles of the West Branch
of the Ompompanoosuc River failed to meet Vermont Water Quality Standards
prior to the cleanup action.
Cleanup as part of the NTCRA consisted of excavation and consolidation of
over 500,0000 cubic yards of waste rock, installation of a 45-acre cap over the
tailings impoundment and consolidated waste rock (completed in 2012), and
channel modification in Copperas Brook as a BMP for erosion control. The
nearly 174,400 cubic yards of earthen fill (including 165,000 cubic yards of
till/soil and 9,400 cubic yards of boulders) needed for site preparation, cap
construction and site restoration were obtained onsite. An additional BMP
included creating the approximately 29,900 cubic yards of topsoil needed for the cap using onsite soil, woodchips
generated from clearing activities, and manure from local farms, eliminating the hauling and disturbance associated with
importing topsoil from an offsite source (Figure 4). In addition, riprap initially used to stabilize an area of waste rock
excavation was removed and reused onsite. The area of riprap removal was subsequently stabilized with native
vegetation. Shredded stump grindings were salvaged and used to stabilize steep slopes.
Figure 4. Organic-rich topsoil for the
45-acre cap at Elizabeth Mine
Superfund Site was manufactured
onsite.
Ecosystem services protection measures undertaken at the site during the
NTCRA cleanup efforts included stabilizing topsoil and revegetating the cap,
and constructing wetlands. Biodegradable, wood fiber-based material
(Flexterra®) was used to stabilize the topsoil surface throughout the entire 45-
acre cap and areas of steep slopes in the borrow source areas to prevent
erosion and promote vegetative growth. Tubular sediment control devices and
blown compost blankets were also used to prevent erosion and promote
vegetative growth outside the cap (Figure 5). These materials allowed the area
to naturally revegetate and minimized hazards to wildlife synthetic mesh
blankets can pose. Weed-free pelletized mulch (EZ Mulch®) made from
recycled newsprint and corn fiber was used to supplement seed establishment,
where needed. A variety of seed mixes used for revegetation contained native
plant species that could thrive in the exposed cap, wet meadow and forest
areas, provide erosion control, create habitat and food sources for insects,
birds, and other wildlife, and offer grass and wildflower diversity. By the end of
2013, more than 10 acres of wetland were created with a diverse selection of
native trees, shrubs, emergent plugs, tublings, and live stakes (totaling
approximately 1,500 plants) planted to create a native habitat for wetland and
pollinator species. In addition, ecological habitat for the region's endangered
bats was preserved by installing bat grates at the mine openings before
beginning construction work.
Figure 5. Slope stabilization and
erosion control at the Elizabeth Mine
Superfund Site was achieved using a
compost blanket combined with
tubular sediment control devices.
Implementation of these and other greener cleanup BMPs, and resulting footprint reductions at Elizabeth Mine merited the
project's receipt of a 2014 Green Dream Team Award under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sustainability Award
Program (Figure 6).
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BMPs
Footprint Reductions
• Maximize use of onsite rather than
offsite earthen materials for site
preparation, remedy construction and
site restoration
174,400 cubic yards of imported till/soil and boulders
29,900 cubic yards of imported topsail
Minimal purchase of engineered products for stabilizing slopes
Sequence field activities in ways that
enable reuse of materials needed in a
single or multiple areas of a site
1,000 cubic yards of additional soil for backfill or capping
Minimal purchase of manufactured riprap
Recycle single-use construction
materials, construction waste, and
assorted consumable-product
containers
• 30 cubic yards of HOPE geomembrane
* 100 cubic yards of HOPE liner cores
* 170 cubic yards of scrap metal (2012)
* 130 cubic feet of paper (2011-2012}
* 100 cubic feet of cans (2011-2012)
• 2,000 cubic feet of plastics (2011-2012)
* 60 cubic feet of glass (2011-2012)
* Use biobased materials for remedy
construction or general site operations
• Minimal purchase of products with petroleum or synthetic
content
* Maximum purchase of environmentally preferred products
* Reduced hazards to wildlife potentially sensitive to petroleum-
based or synthetic products
* Reduced waste burden due to natural bicdegradation capability
of the materials
» Increased organic content of soil in areas where materials were
emplaced
* Choose restoration or soil capping
plants that are native to the region and
foster biodiversity
* Increased likelihood of plant survival
* Restored or improved habitat and additional food sources for
wildlife and insect pollinators
Figure 6. Examples of BMPs used at the Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site to reduce material, waste, land, and ecosystem
contributions to the project's environmental footprint, and associated quantitative or qualitative reductions to the footprint.
For more information, visit the Elizabeth Mine green remediation profile.
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EPA Website: Greener Cleanups
EPA's Greener Cleanups website supports EPA's Principles for Greener Cleanups, which provide a foundation for
improving the cleanup decision-making process in a way that ensures protection of human health and the environment
while minimizing the environmental footprint of cleanup activities. The principles may be applied to cleanups under any
regulatory program, including those involving Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substances
Control Act, federal facility, brownfield, state and voluntary actions. In addition to the principles, this website provides
basic information about greener cleanups, describes the Agency's related Superfund Green Remediation Strategy, and
provides links to decision tools.
CLU-IN Website: Green Remediation Focus
The Green Remediation Focus area of CLU-IN provides news about strategies to minimize the environmental footprint of
activities involved in contaminated site cleanup. This website also holds key documents such as EPA's series of BMP fact
sheets, project profiles and links to other information such as greener policies tailored by EPA regions and related state
initiatives. Technical materials accessible through Green Remediation Focus address topics such as the application of
renewable energy at sites undergoing cleanup and the integration of BMPs into site investigation and remedy design,
construction or operation.
Industry Standard: ASTM Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups
EPA and some states encourage use of the ASTM Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups (E2893-13), an industry
consensus standard that provides a systematic protocol for identifying, prioritizing, selecting, implementing and reporting
on the use of BMPs to reduce the environmental footprint of a cleanup project. The standard also provides uniform
expectations for projects applying to different, or in some cases multiple, cleanup programs administered by federal, state
or local authorities in the U.S. Release of an updated standard is anticipated in early 2016.
Updated Fact Sheet: Green Remediation Best Management Practices: An Overview
As one in a series of BMP fact sheets, Green Remediation Best Management Practices: An Overview summarizes the
benefits of greener cleanups and describes where and when to use greener cleanup BMPs. It also provides links to the
additional (13) BMP fact sheets, which address specific topics such as pump-and-treat systems or other common
remediation technologies, site types such as mining sites, or particular core elements such as materials management and
waste reduction, [this abstract is subject to revision pending OSRTI release of the updated fact sheet]
Project Update: Greener Cleanup Bulletin: Application of the ASTM Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups at
the North Ridge Estates Superfund Site
EPA has launched a "greener cleanup bulletin" series to disseminate news about environmental footprint reductions at
specific sites undergoing cleanup. As the first in the series, Application of the ASTM Standard Guide for Greener
Cleanups at the North Ridge Estates Superfund Site summarizes EPA's application of the ASTM Standard Guide for
Greener Cleanups to plan remediation at operable unit 1 of the North Ridge Estates site near Klamath Falls, Oregon. Use
of the standard helped project staff screen, prioritize and select BMPs for incorporation in remedy design and construction
contracts. The remedy involves extensive excavation and soil cap construction.
Updated Planning Tool: Greener Cleanups Contracting and Administration Toolkit
EPA, other federal agencies and some states are adding greener cleanup considerations to formal agreements such as
remediation service contracts, grant terms or conditions, and cleanup approval plans. For example, EPA Regions 1 and
10 now recommend or require adherence to the ASTM Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups as a condition of approving
plans for cleaning up sites contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls. EPA's Greener Cleanups Contracting and
Administration Toolkit outlines contracting language and describes similar provisions in administrative documents such as
interagency agreements or state guidance.
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New Analytical Tool: SEFA Tutorial
EPA's Excel-based Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis (SEFA) may be used to prepare an environmental
footprint analysis as described in the Methodology for Understanding and Reducing a Project's Environmental Footprint. A
SEFA tutorial is now available to help new users learn more about the SEFA input process and understand the SEFA
outputs. Footprint analyses can identify and document contributions to the environmental footprint of a cleanup, thereby
directing stakeholders' attention to opportunities for reducing the footprint.
Supporting Decision Tools: Updated Models, Calculators and Maps
Industrial Waste Management Evaluation Model (IWEM). IWEM is a screening-level groundwater model that simulates
contaminant fate and transport. The latest version of the IWEM software (V3.1), released in August 2015, includes
additional tools to evaluate beneficial use of industrial materials, including byproducts such as silica-based spent sands
generated by iron, steel and aluminum foundries. IWEM now contains six modules intended to help determine the most
appropriate liner design for waste management units (landfills, land application units, surface impoundments and waste
piles) and to help evaluate appropriateness of reusing an industrial material in roadway construction and structural fill.
National Stormwater Calculator (SWC). The SWC is a desktop application that estimates the annual amount of rainwater
and frequency of runoff from a site anywhere in the U.S. This tool accesses several national databases providing soil,
topography, rainfall and evaporation information. SWC input supplied by the user includes information about the site's
land cover and the preferred types of low-impact development controls involving green infrastructure practices such as
harvesting rain water and constructing infiltration basins.
RE-Powering Mapper. As a Google Earth-based tool, RE-Powering Mapper enables users to view maps and supporting
information concerning renewable energy potential on contaminated lands, landfills and mine sites. As of August 2015,
EPA had screened the solar, wind, biomass and geothermal energy potential at more than 80,000 sites. The latest round
of screening, which uses criteria developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable
Energy Laboratory, includes information provided by state agencies in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Waste Reduction Model (WARM). WARM is an online worksheet designed to help solid waste planners and organizations
track and voluntarily report GHG emissions reductions and energy savings achievable through different waste
management practices. It also allows users to compare baseline and alternative scenarios for factors such as the tonnage
of waste that is recycled, landfilled or combusted and the distance over which waste is transported foroffsite disposal.
The most recent update (Version 13, 2015) of WARM addresses nearly 50 waste materials such as high-density
polyethylene, concrete and fly ash.
EPA is publishing this newsletter as a means of disseminating useful information regarding innovative and alternative treatment
technologies and techniques. The Agency does not endorse specific technology vendors.
Contact Us:
Suggestions for articles in upcoming issues of Technology News and Trends may be submitted to
John Quander via email at quander.iohn@.epa.qov.
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