oEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA/600/R-16/232 | September 2016 | www.epa.gov/research
Engineering
Technical
Support Center
Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
Office of Research and Development
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
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EPA/600/R-16/232
September 2016
Engineering Technical Support Center
Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
by
Katherine Bronstein
RTI International
and
John McKernan
Land Remediation and Pollution Control Division
Cincinnati, OH
Project Officer: John McKernan
Office of Research and Development
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
United States Environmental Protection Agency
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Notice/Disclaimer Statement
This report is intended to inform the public, Remedial Project Managers, On-Scene Coordinators, and
Superfund Technology Liaisons of progress at the Engineering Technical Support Center (ETSC)
involved sites, cutting-edge remedial technologies, and ETSC operations.
This document received Office of Research and Development (ORD) internal peer review preceding the
institutional clearance process.
Disclaimer: Mention of company trade names or products does not constitute endorsement by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and are provided as general information only.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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Abstract
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Office of Research and
Development (ORD) created the Engineering Technical Support Center (ETSC) in 1987, one of several
technical support centers created as part of the Technical Support Project (TSP). ETSC provides
engineering expertise to Agency program and regional offices and remediation teams working at
contaminated sites across the country. The ETSC is operated within ORD's Land Remediation and
Pollution Control Division (LRPCD) of the National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL)
in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The ETSC's mission is to provide site-specific scientific and engineering technical support to Remedial
Project Managers, On-Scene Coordinators, and other remediation personnel at contaminated sites. This
allows local, regional, or national authorities to work more quickly, efficiently, and cost effectively, while
also increasing the technical experience of the remediation team. Since its inception, the ETSC has
supported countless projects across all EPA Regions in almost all states and territories.
This report highlights significant projects the ETSC supported in fiscal year 2015 (FY15). These projects
addressed an array of environmental scenarios, such as remote mining contamination, expansive landfill
waste, cumulative impacts from multiple contamination sources, and persistent threats from abandoned
industrial sites. Constructing and testing new and innovative treatment technologies through pilot and
field research is a major component of meaningful remediation. The ETSC conducts such pilot and field
research. For example, ETSC teams spearhead field projects on the cutting edge of remediation research
in the areas of bioremediation and groundwater treatment, active sediment capping, in-situ stabilization,
and sustainable site cleanup. The ETSC organizes and reports on significant developments in
environmental engineering in the form of Engineering Issue Papers (EIPs) and peer-reviewed journal
publications. The ETSC has also undertaken newer initiatives that integrate sustainability into community
and land use plans.
While ETSC's central focus is to bolster technical expertise for site-specific remediation at contaminated
sites, ETSC teams are reaching out to support other efforts in pollution prevention, thereby reducing the
Agency's burden from legacy sites in the future.
NRMRL/LRPCD and the ETSC have continually evolved to meet the demand, as well as scientific and
engineering needs, of the EPA program offices and regional clients.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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Foreword
Congress charges the EPA with protecting the nation's land, air, and water resources. Under a mandate of
several national environmental laws, the Agency formulates and implements actions that balance human
activities and the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life. To meet this mandate, EPA's
research program provides data and technical support to solve current environmental problems while
building a science knowledge base necessary to manage our ecological resources, understand how
pollutants affect our health, and prevent or reduce environmental risks in the future.
The NRMRL within ORD is the Agency's center for investigating technological and management
approaches to prevent and reduce risks from pollution that threatens human health and the environment.
The focus of our research is on methods that cost effectively prevent and control pollution to air, land,
water, and subsurface resources; protect water quality in public water systems; remediate contaminated
soils, sediments and groundwater; prevent and control indoor air pollution; and restore damaged
ecosystems. We collaborate with both public and private sector partners to anticipate emerging problems
and to foster technologies that reduce the cost of compliance. Our research provides solutions to
environmental problems by developing and promoting innovative technologies; advancing scientific and
engineering information to support regulatory and policy decisions; and providing the technical support
and information transfer to help implement environmental regulations and strategies at the national, state,
and community levels.
This report highlights the activities and accomplishments of the ETSC in fiscal year 2015.
Cynthia Sonich-Mullin, Director
National Risk Management and Research Laboratory
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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Acknowledgements
The ETSC would like to acknowledge the contributions from ORD scientists for supporting ETSC's
mission. We extend thanks to our numerous partners in the Office of Science Policy, Office of Land and
Emergency Management, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, the EPA
Regions (particularly Region 5), the Superfund Technology Liaisons, On-Scene Coordinators. We also
thank the management of these partners for their patronage and financial support. The ETSC also
recognizes the exemplary support provided by our contractors, Battelle Memorial Institute and RTI
International. Finally, the ETSC extends special thanks to everyone that provides document reviews,
responds to technical request phone calls, and provides all other manner of assistance.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
IV
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction 1
2 Receiving Technical Support for Contaminated Sites 2
3 National and Global Impacts of the ETSC 3
4 Engineering Issue Papers 5
5 Lessons Learned Research Summary for Fiscal Year 2014 6
6 Selected Fiscal Year 2015 Technical Support Projects 6
6.1 ETSC Support at Mining Sites 7
6.1.1 Tri-State Mining District (Region 7) 7
6.1.2 Eastern Michaud Flats Contamination (Region 8) 8
6.1.3 Argonaut Mine (Region 9) 9
6.2 ETSC Impacts at Landfill Remediation Sites 11
6.2.1 Fort Devens (Region 1) 11
6.2.2 Lower Darby Creek Area (Region 3) 11
6.2.3 Malone Service Co. - Swan Lake Plant (Region 4) 12
6.3 ETSC Impacts at Materials Management Sites 13
6.3.1 American Cyanamid Co. (Region 2) 13
6.3.2 Allied Paper, Inc. / Portage Creek / Kalamazoo River (Region 5) 14
6.3.3 San Jacinto River Waste Pits (Region 6) 14
6.3.4 Ward Transformer (Region 4) 16
6.3.5 Commencement Bay - Nearshore Tideflats (Region 10) 16
7 Additional Reports and Publications Prepared in FY 15 17
8 International Endeavors 19
9 Summary 19
10 References 21
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015 v
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List of Figures
1. Engineering Technical Support Request Flow Chart 2
2. ETSC technical support requests by project category (a) and Region (b) in FY 15 3
3. The technologies most used to address technical support requests in fiscal year 2015 and the COCs the
technical support requests considered 4
4. Location of sites where ETSC provided assistance in fiscal year 2015 4
5. Location of the Tri-State Mining District 7
6. A large chat pile in the Tri-State Mining District 8
7. Location of the Eastern Michaud Flats Contamination site 9
8. Layout of the Argonaut Mine site in California 10
9. Location of the Lower Darby Creek Area in Pennsylvania 11
10. Location of the Malone Service Co. - Swan Lake Plant site in Texas 12
11. Location of the American Cyanamid Co. site in New Jersey 13
12. Location of the Allied Paper Inc. / Portage Creek / Kalamazoo River Site in Michigan 14
13. Location of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits site in Texas 15
14. Location of the Ward Transformer site and PCB affected bodies of water in North Carolina 16
15. Location of the Puget Sound and Commencement Bay Nearshore Tideflats Superfund Site in
Washington 17
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
VI
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List of Acronyms
3PE
3 Point Estimator
As
arsenic
C02
carbon dioxide
coc
contaminants of concern
DMA
dimethylarsinic acid
DTS
distributed temperature systems
DTSC
Department of Toxic Substances Control
EIP
Engineering Issue Paper
ERASC
Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center
ET
evapotranspiration
ETSC
Engineering Technology Support Center
ETV
Engineering Technology Verification
FY
fiscal year
GWTSC
Groundwater Technical Support Center
IRODA
interim record of decision amendment
LRPCD
Land Remediation and Pollution Control Division
MOST
Ministry of Science and Technology
NERL
National Exposure Research Libraries
NPL
National Priorities List
NRMRL
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
OITA
Office of International and Tribal Affairs
ORD
Office of Research and Development
OSC
On-Scene Coordinator
OU
operable unit
P4
elemental phosphorus
PCBs
polychlorinated biphenyl
PFC
perfluorocarbon
PRP
potentially responsible party
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
ROD
record of decision
RPM
Remedial Project Manager
SCMTSC
Site Characterization and Monitoring Technical Support Center
SHC
Safe and Healthy Communities
s/s
solidification/stabilization
STARS
Site Technical Assistance Reporting System
STL
Superfund Technology Liaisons
STSC
Superfund Health Risk Assessment Technical Support Center
SWAT
Soil and Water Assessment Tool
TSC
Technical Support Center
TSMD
Tri-State Mining District
TSP
Technical Support Project
VOC
volatile organic compound
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
Vll
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1 Introduction
The LRPCD in NRMRL operates the ETSC in Cincinnati, Ohio. Created in 1987, ETSC is part of the
TSP, a partnership between ORD and the Office of Land and Emergency Management (formerly the
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response). The TSP consists of a network of Regional Forums, the
Environmental Response Team, and specialized Technical Support Centers (TSCs) that have evolved
over time as the Agency's needs have changed. There are currently five active TSCs in the TSP:
ETSC in Cincinnati, Ohio
Groundwater Technical Support Center (GWTSC) in Ada, Oklahoma
Site Characterization and Monitoring Technical Support Center (SCMTSC) in Atlanta, Georgia
Superfund Health Risk Assessment Technical Support Center (STSC) in Cincinnati, Ohio
Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center (ERASC) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Each TSC has a specific focus of expertise and has access to engineers and scientists that are eager to
assist on the most difficult matters encountered at contaminated sites. ETSC provides scientific and
engineering knowledge and expertise in remediation and technologies for soil, surface waters, sediment,
and mine-related contamination issues to program offices and regional clients to help with risk-
management decisions. The ETSC provides site-specific assistance, technical support, and targeted
research for EPA Regions and program offices. The ETSC also collaborates with international
governments to build capacity and share lessons learned in the greater effort of moving towards safe and
healthy communities.
The Center collaborates with EPA programs and other federal agencies to deliver the latest methods,
approaches, and technologies needed to characterize, remediate, and manage risk at contaminated sites.
Some examples of support provided across EPA Regions include developing, evaluating, and
demonstrating bioremediation and groundwater treatment technologies; evaluating capping and beneficial
waste reuse technologies; providing engineering review and design assistance; recommending proven,
viable technologies; conducting focused research on the sustainability of selected site remedies; and
providing on-call technical assistance. In the past several years, ETSC staff have assisted in Superfund
Five-year reviews and technology optimization studies, and have completed applied research projects that
support research for technical assistance requests.
The ETSC primarily accesses scientists and engineers from ORD/NRMRL/LRPCD. Additional assistance
is provided by other ORD Laboratory or Division personnel, Regional personnel, and external contractors
and consultants. In FY15, ETSC responded to approximately 357 requests at over 140 contaminated sites
in all 10 EPA Regions. Eighty-three percent of the Superfund site technical support requests were
National Priority List (NPL) sites.
This report provides an overview of how the ETSC provides technical support, a small selection of its
written outputs, a select list of high impact technical support projects, and a visual breakdown of technical
support provided in FY15.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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2 Receiving Technical Support for Contaminated Sites
ETSC typically addresses technical support requests through the process presented in Figure 1. The
process typically begins with a problem encountered at a contaminated site. A Remedial Project Manager
(RPM), On-Scene Coordinator (OSC), or other decision maker associated with the contaminated site,
contacts ETSC through their Regional ORD liaison, or will directly contact the ETSC Director. ETSC
logs the request into the ETSC Site Technical Assistance Reporting System (STARS) database and
simultaneously consults an EPA subject matter expert. Once ETSC identifies an EPA expert, that expert
services the request through three general channels of action: research, identification of a new or existing
technology, or the identification of a knowledge gap. Once the expert determines the site needs, he or she
undertakes the appropriate actions as indicated in the flow chart to address the contaminated site's needs
The subject matter expert then develops the deliverables related to the request, which are sent to the client
and the ETSC Director when completed. If the request is of a sensitive nature, needs peer review, or
requires a policy review by the Agency, the ETSC Director receives the product for review before
delivery to the client. The feedback arrows between the RPM, OSC, and Superfund Technology Liaisons
(STL) and the ETSC Director signify the timeliness and quality of the technical assistance to help the
Center evaluate and provide better service to its clients.
r>k
Engineering Issue
Paper
EPA Internal
Contract Vehicle
EPA Internal
Research
New Technology
Technology
Assessment On-Site or
in Laboratory
ORD
Other
Technology
Assessment On-Site or
in Laboratory
ETSC Director
RPM, OSC, STL
Identifies a
Contaminated Site
Issue
Contaminated Site
Need Determined
Contract Vehicle
Remediation Expert
Lack of Technology or Gap in
Knowledge
Figure 1. Engineering Technical Support Request Flow Chart
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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In FY14, ETSC began piloting the TSC's SharePoint site to log in, assign, and track technical support
requests for ETSC, GWTSC, and SCMTSC. The pilot period is designed as a tiered process. Initially,
ETSC will import into SharePoint technical support requests from the STARS database from past years.
Secondly, ETSC will post a request form so RPlVTs, OSC's and STL's can submit requests directly to the
SharePoint site. After a client submits the form to the SharePoint site, ETSC will follow a similar process
to that shown in Figure 1. The TSC SharePoint site pilot will continue through FY 16. At the end of FY
16, ETSC will evaluate the SharePoint site for efficacy, and continue it in pilot form or finalize the site
and make it fully functional.
3 National and Global Impacts of the ETSC
In FY15, ETSC received 357 technical support requests across all 10 Regions and internationally. The
technical support requests vary greatly. Approximately 45 percent were expert reviews of feasibility
studies, remedy selection, technology reviews, technical document reviews, and the preparation of EIPs.
Most other requests involved the application of site-specific technologies; use of development of decision
support tools; modeling activities; and analytical support (see Figure 2). Approximately 39 percent (145)
of support requests fulfilled Superfund-related issues. Most of the Superfund requests (83 percent) were
for NPL sites. The ETSC also serviced 11 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) sites and 2
international requests (for the China Ministry of Science and Technology [MOST] project and a site visit
to the Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium facility in Quebec). The majority of requests originated from Region
5.
(a) (b)
Decision
Support/ Reg
Assistance LandfillDesign Outreach/
1% Meetings
_23%
BR/BCR Capping
4%_ 3%
Analytical
Suppo
Mode i
echnology
Review
Various
Remedial
Technology
Support
Document
Review
11%
Feasibiity
Study/Remedy
Selection
17%
International
Region 1
_4%
Region 10
Region 9. 12%
Region 2
8% Region 3
8%
Region 8
6% .
Region4
6%
Region
9%
Region 6
3%
Region 5
37%
Figure 2. ETSC technical support requests by project category (a) and Region (b) in FY15
Figure Notes: BR/BCR = bioreactor/biochemical reactor; EIP = Engineering Issue Paper.
The category of Various Remedial Technology Support combines numerous technologies that consist of less than 5 percent of the
total project requests (e.g., in-situ stabilization, soil vapor intrusion, soil vapor extraction). Outreach and meetings are included in
Figure 2b.
Word clouds presented in Figure 3 highlight the technologies (Figure 3a) that were used or investigated
in the technical support requests in FY 15 in addition to the contaminants of concern (COCs) the
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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technologies were intended to address (Figure 3b). The word cloud presented in Figure 3 a shows more
specificity on technologies addressed compared to Figure 2a. The most frequent types of technical
support requests in FY 15 were for modeling support and document reviews. The requests most often
related to metal, volatile organic compounds (VOC), or polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination.
(a)
RFID nanotechnology fingerprinting
removal , , , . .
decision tools pump and treat
EIP optimization document generation
discharge TCLP
site characterization
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4 Engineering Issue Papers
ETSC prepares EIPs when there are knowledge gaps on a technical subject. EIPs provide a state-of-the-
science review of technologies available for contaminated site cleanup. Once finalized, EIPs are used to
support office, RPM, OSC, or Regional decisions. ETSC conducts an extensive literature review on the
current understanding of the theory, design, and implementation of various remedial or treatment
technologies that forms the basis of the EIPs. ETSC may also seek input from leading engineers and
scientists inside the Agency, federal government community, academia, or the contracting community.
ETSC initiated or completed six EIPs in FY 15. Three of the EIPs completed in FY 15 are relevant to
technical support requests addressed in the past fiscal year:
Passive Samplers for Investigations of Air Quality: Method Description, Implementation, and
Comparison to Alternative Sampling Methods (Grosse and McKernan, 2014)
o Compares passive sampling techniques and devices to active sampling techniques and
devices. Presents the basic theory of how passive sampling devices work. Discusses
designing and implementing a passive sampling program. Covers data quality objectives
and interpreting passive sampling results.
o The key takeaways are that passive samplers are comparable in accuracy and precision to
conventional methods such as evacuated canister samples or pumped sorbent tube
samples. The adsorption rate, or 'sampling rate', is the most critical variable for accurately
determining air concentrations using passive samplers.
Biotransformation Pathways of Dimethylarsinic (Cacodylic) Acid in the Environment
(McKernan, 2014)
o Provides an overview of the chemical properties, toxicity, biotransformation, and fate and
transport in the environment of dimethylarsenic acid (or DMA(V)).
o The key takeaways are that maintaining an oxic environment may aid in reducing
transport of arsenic. However, under anoxic conditions, DMA(V) is demethylated to
inorganic arsenic and both inorganic As(V) and As(III) can be produced. Trivalent
arsenic species (both organic and inorganic) are generally more toxic and more mobile
than the pentavalent arsenic species (both organic and inorganic).
Challenges in Bulk Soil Sampling and Analysis for Vapor Intrusion Screening of Soil (Grosse et
al., 2015).
o Discusses using bulk soil samples to assess vapor intrusion risks from soil containing
VOCs.
o Analyses show that while bulk soil sampling and analysis may help delineate and
determine the gross mass of contamination present in a source area, they cannot
adequately assess potential vapor intrusion exposures for most VOCs in undisturbed soil
or in soil remaining after excavation. To address this information gap, ETSC provides
alternatives for monitoring soil VOCs and for enhancing remedies where soil excavation
is necessary to address VOC-contaminated soils.
Three other EIPs initiated in FY 15 are relevant to the projects highlighted in this report:
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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Perfluorocarbon (PFC) in Region 4 (being developed in collaboration with the Engineering
Forum)
Soil vapor extraction and vapor intrusion, and
Bioremediation techniques for dioxin.
5 Lessons Learned Research Summary for Fiscal Year 2014
EPA's TSCs, included in ORD's Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) Research Action Plan, fill
the need for supplying subject matter experts to continually assess state-of-the-science research and
practices, and channeling this information to users in both direct applications (i.e., site-specific technical
support) and general applications (i.e., technical transfer activities such as technical guidance documents,
conferences, or workshops). The user community for the TSCs is large and diverse. Their needs range
from basic explanations and demonstrations of concepts, tools, and approaches for characterization,
remedy implementation, and monitoring, to highly complex analyses and model development for guiding
remediation of heterogeneous sites and complex contaminant distributions.
As an example of the variety of technical support requests, the EPA Technical Support Centers: FY 14
Lessons Learned document (Burden et al., 2015) presents six case studies, two from each of the three
TSCsGWTSC, ETSC, and SCTSCto illustrate the variety of TSC approaches. This research
summary is one of the few documents that groups the three TSCs together and in addition to summarizing
the type of support provided, may also introduce those in need of support to new concepts and products.
The document highlights the following case studies:
The GWTSC summarizes issues related to analyzing binary mixtures of groundwater samples
after in situ chemical oxidation treatment, that lead to the publishing of Groundwater Sample
Preservation at In-Situ Chemical Oxidation Sites - Recommended Guidelines (EPA/600/R-
12/049).
GWTSC also presented a groundwater flow spreadsheet tool, 3 Point Estimator (3PE). This tool
provides a simple and quick method to calculate groundwater flow directions and velocities,
groundwater
ETSC highlighted two EIPs: One on DMA (McKernan, 2014) and the other on passive samplers
for vapor intrusion (Grosse and McKernan, 2014). The key points of these EIPs are provided in
Section 4 of this report.
The SCMTSC presented an overview of the ProUCL software, a user friendly and free statistical
software model for data analysis to support site remediation decision making.
SCMTSC also discussed their investigation of Distributed Temperature Systems (DTS), which
has potential for surveying and monitoring relatively large areas of a streambed or lake bed to
determine when and where groundwater contaminants are transferred from groundwater to
surface water.
6 Selected Fiscal Year 2015 Technical Support Projects
In FY15, the ETSC received 357 technical support requests from over 140 contaminated sites across the
United States. With so many requests, not all of them can be highlighted in this report. The projects
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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presented are organized by three categories of support: mining, landfill remediation, and materials
management.
6.1 ETSC Support at Mining Sites
6,1.1 Tri-State Mining District (Region 7)
ETSC provided technical support on the Tar Creek Site in the Oklahoma region of the Tri-State Mining
District (TSMD). The TSMD consists of several distinct sites covering 1.6 million acres (2,500 square
miles) within Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma as shown in Figure 5. Historic operations in the TSMD
included a lead smelter in Galena, Kansas; a zinc smelter in Henryetta, Oklahoma; and a central mill in
Picher, Oklahoma. Processing activities began in the area in the 1850s and from the early 1900s to the
1970s, the northeastern region of Oklahoma was also extensively mined for lead and zinc ore (U.S. DOI
NRDAR Program, 2016; Isabella Indian Reservation, no date). These mining, milling, and smelting
activities generated large quantities of mining and milling wastes (referred to in the region as 'chat") that
were disposed of in above-ground piles, or in flotation or tailing ponds. Some of the chat piles are up to
200 feet tall and cover several acres. Figure 6 shows a large chat pile at TSMD
Metals (lead, cadmium, zinc) and acid mine drainage have contaminated soils, surface water,
groundwater, and biota in the 2,500-square mile site. Two major rivers, the Spring River and Neosho
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River, and their watersheds combine to form the Grand River, which drains the entire TSMD into Empire
Lake and the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees. The releases from the mine waste tailings, and acid mine
drainage, are a source of human, ecological, and environmental exposure that have impacted the natural
resources of eight separate Indian and Tribal allotted resources, including federally listed threatened and
endangered species, migratory birds, fish, and other treaty protected biota (U.S. DOI NRDAR Program,
2016).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
7
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The Oklahoma region of TSMD is the Tar Creek Superfund Site, which EPA added to the National
Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 groundwater (OK DEQ, 2016). Activities during the 1980s and 1990s
focused on surface water remediation of Tar Creek. In 2000, the governor of Oklahoma commissioned a
study to develop a comprehensive remediation plan for the area, and in 2002 the Oklahoma Department
of Environmental Quality issued fish consumption advisories after studying metals concentrations in fish
from waters impacted by TSMD (OK DEQ, 2016). In 2005, the State of Oklahoma restored 329 acres of
land for reuse. A year later, the state passed legislation allowing the voluntary buyout of citizens' homes
with children in highly impacted areas.
ETSC provided support to Operable Unit (OU) 5 where
EPA Regions 6 and 7 are working together to
characterize suspended sediment loads and surface
water throughout the Spring and Neosho River basins.
ETSC provided technical support for an engineering
review of remedial design documents focusing on
stream remediation in Cherokee County; compiled
information to inform a watershed model of surface
flow and metal and sediment transport; and calibrated
the watershed model to estimate deposition rates for the
Spring and Neosho River basins (Niazi and Hantush,
2015). ETSC staff also authored a research document on
the hydrologic modeling in the TSMD using the Soil
and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)1 (Niazi and Hantush, 2015).
6,1.2 Eastern Michaud Flats Contamination (Region 8)
ETSC scientists and engineers provided support to remedial activities at the Eastern Michaud Flats
Superfund site (FMC plant area) in FY15. The Eastern Michaud Flats Superfund site covers
approximately 2,530 acres northwest of Pocatello, Idaho and includes two adjacent phosphate ore
processing facilities. (US EPA, 2016b; see Figure 7). FMC Corporation manufactured elemental
phosphorus (called P4) from 1940 until December 2001 and the J.R. Simplot Company Don Plant still
actively produces phosphoric acid. In addition to the two plant areas, there are eight RCRA ponds, which
range from 3-13 acres in size, containing wastes from P4 production. In 2009, EPA found residual P4
from historical spills and process leaks at the FMC plant down to a depth of 85 feet below ground surface
and approximately 500 feet laterally on the FMC property (US EPA, 2009). Surface and groundwater at
the Simplot plant was investigated in the late 2000's. In 2015, the EPA conducted the first five-year
review to assess whether the soil and groundwater activities identified in the ROD and interim record of
decision amendments (IRODAs) will, when fully implemented, be protective of human health and the
environment. The IRODA was issued for the Simplot portion of the site in 2010 and the FMC potion in
2012. Remedial activities are ongoing at both portions (US EPA, 2015).
ETSC staff provided technical guidance for the evapotranspiration (ET) covers that will be placed over
the contaminated soils to minimize the percolation of rainfall and snowmelt into the soil that would
eventually contaminate groundwater. The caps are scheduled for completion in December 2015. The
1 See ;ittp://swat.tainu.edu/ for more information.
Figure 6. A large chat pile in the Tri-State
Mining District
(Isabella Indian Reservation, no date)
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
8
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cleanup plan also requires the groundwater to be treated to protect the local springs and the Portneuf
River. FMC performed treatability testing prior to EPA approval and required an in-depth review for
suitability. ETSC reviewed the treatability test results, and identified anion exchange resins and iron-
based media that can selectively remove phosphorus and arsenic in the groundwater. EPA expects
installation of the treatment system in 2016. ETSC staff also reviewed and provided comments on
excavation and treatment technologies, including a proposed mud still process to treat the 'phossy' sludge
in waste ponds at the FMC site (US EPA, 2015).
Simplot
SITE AREA
Figure 7. Location of the Eastern Michaud Flats Contamination site
(US EPA, 2009)
6.1.3 Argonaut Mine (Region 9)
ETSC evaluated the environmental and public health impact that a potential dam failure would have on
the community living near the Argonaut Mine site in Jackson, California. The Argonaut Mine site is a
historic hard rock gold mine that operated from the 1850s to 1942 (see Figure 8). Soil throughout the
northwest side of present-day Jackson, California is contaminated with arsenic, lead and mercury from
disposal of mine tailings. The contamination at this site is an acute hazard, and is time sensitive because
an estimated 1 million cubic yards of contaminated materials are being held back by the 46 feet tall 100-
year-old concrete Eastwood Multiple Arch Dam. (US EPA, 2016c). In 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers determined the dam to be structurally unsound and at risk of failure. The concrete dam was
constructed to retain mine tailings and waste, and is at greatest risk of failure during heavy rainfall events.
Using accepted modeling techniques for debris flow, the ETSC found that if the concrete dam fails in wet
conditions, the contamination would quickly spread downstream and pose a significant public health
threat to nearby communities. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is
evaluating options to stabilize the dam and has built a storm water diversion system to prevent water from
collecting in the tailings behind the dam. hi concert, ETSC has been reviewing sample results and
assisting in the dam safety investigation by modeling a potential dam failure using the FLO-2D debris
model.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
9
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(estimated location)
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40-Stamp Mill
(former)
Argonaut Mine
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ARGONAUT MINE LAYOUT
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Legend
Argonaut Investigation Area
Argonaut Historical Boundary
Parcels
Former Mill
Wetland
Surface Water
Underground Culvert
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PREPARED FOR:
EPA Region 9
Pacific Southwest
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6.2 ETSC Impacts at Landfill Remediation Sites
6.2.1 Fort Devens (Region 1)
ETSC can provide modeling to evaluate cleanup rates for pump and treat systems to determine if a
technology will meet cleanup levels or if the system needs to be optimized. The former Fort Devens
Army Base is 35 miles west of Boston in the towns of Ayer, Shirley, Lancaster and Harvard,
Massachusetts.
Investigation and cleanup are active at five sites on the former base. At one of these sites, the Shepley's
Hill Landfill, ETSC provided assistance related to arsenic contamination in the groundwater. This 84-acre
landfill operated from 1917 to 1992. During cleanup, a pump-and-treat system was installed to extract and
treat the arsenic-contaminated groundwater. Long-term monitoring and five-year site review findings
recommended further evaluation of the groundwater contamination. ETSC scientists reviewed the
groundwater sampling plan and modeled the cleanup rate for arsenic. The sampling plan provided for a
range of background arsenic concentrations in groundwater for the aquifer impacted by plume migration
from the landfill. The Army and EPA continue with long-term monitoring efforts to properly manage the
groundwater contamination at this site.
6.2.2 Lower Darby Creek Area (Region 3)
ETSC provides expertise for innovative cover systems at landfills, such as an ET cover at the Lower
Darby Creek Area Superfund site. The LDCA site expands over two counties in southeast Pennsylvania
(Delaware County and Philadelphia County - see Figure 9). The site consists of two separate landfills,
(Clearview and Folcroft). Portions of the Lower Darby Creek Area site are within the John Heinz
National Wildlife Refuge near the Philadelphia International Airport. Both landfills operated from the
1950s to the 1970s and closed in the mid-1970s. Poor waste disposal practices contaminated the soil,
groundwater, surface waters and fish tissue with hazardous chemicals such as PCBs.
The EPA selected the
final cleanup plan for
Clearview Landfill
(US EPA, 2014a). The
Clearview plan
consists of
constructing an ET
cover for about 50
acres to contain the
landfill waste and
contaminants,
excavating
contaminated soils
currently outside the
planned cover area,
and placing them
under the ET cover,
Lower Darby Creek Area
Sharon Hill
times
Glenolden Folcroft
Norwood
>spect Park
Darby
Creek
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Figure 9. Location of the Lower Darby Creek Area in Pennsylvania
(US EPA, 2016f)
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015 11
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and collecting and treating the leachate (US EPA, 2016f). In the summer of 2015, EPA began the cleanup
plan and site design for the contaminated waste and soils. ETSC has provided technical input on the ET
cover, tree selection, climate mitigation, and ecological functions. ETSC is also providing hydrologic
modeling support for the Clearview watershed (specifically on the HED-HMS model).
6.2.3 Malone Service Co. - Swari Lake Plant (Region 4)
ETSC can assist regions with design specifications and requirements for landfill construction. For
example at the Malone Service Co. Swan Lake Plant in Texas City, Texas (see Figure 10), ETSC
provided Region 6 with landfill design specifications and requirements for a geosynthetic clay liner in the
Subtitle C landfill cell shortly after remedial construction activities began in 2015. From 1964 to 1997, a
reclamation, storage and disposal facility for waste oils and chemicals operated at the Swan Lake Plant.
Galveston Bay is a National Estuary and a major fishery for the area.
During active operations, the facility handled waste from acid and caustic compounds, solvents, gasoline,
and crude oil tank bottoms, resulting in surface water, groundwater and soil contamination. The selected
remedy for soil and sediment sludges includes solidification of the sludge and placement of the solidified
waste and unsolidified contaminated soil into an on-site RCRA Subtitle C equivalent landfill cell.
Approximately 215,000 cubic yards of sludge and 16,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil are targeted
for remediation. In FY15, ETSC provided landfill design specifications and requirements for the
geosynthetic clay liner of the Subtitle C landfill cell shortly after remedial construction activities began in
2015. All remedial activities should be completed by December 2017, after which, the land may be
transferred to an environmental nonprofit organization for natural preservation or conservation.
Malone Service Co. - Swan Lake Plant
(it)
Loop
19t
La Marque
Texas City
Junction
Hit
Bayou Vista
Tiki Island
J
Figure 10. Location of the Malone Service Co. - Swan Lake Plant site in Texas
(US EPA, 2016g)
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
12
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6.3 ETSC Impacts at Materials Management Sites
6,3.1 American Cyanamid Co, (Region 2)
ETSC can conduct treatability tests to evaluate treatment technologies before, during or after remedy-
implementation. At the 435-acre American Cyanamid Superfund Site in Bridgewater Township, New
Jersey (see Figure 11), the facility manufactured rubber, rubber chemicals, dyes, pigments, fungicides,
petroleum-based products, and pharmaceuticals for nearly 100 years, until all manufacturing stopped at
the site in 1999 (NJ DEQ, 2011). Over that time, the soil became contaminated with VOCs, cyanide,
PCBs, and metals, while the shallow and deep groundwater aquifers became contaminated with metals
and VOCs. Four hazardous waste lagoons and 16 surface storage impoundments containing tars,
wastewater sludges, iron oxide and general plant debris were on-site when remedial activities began in the
early 1980s. EPA is selecting final remedies to address six impoundments (numbers 3, 4, 5, 13, 17, and
24). In FY 15, ETSC provided technical support for the remedial activities of three of these impoundments
(3, 4, and 5), specifically for the evaluation of solidification/stabilization (S/S) treatability test results
being carried out for site soils and sludges.
Impoundmont 8 Facility /
North Area
¦j* j-
South Area
West Area
Site Areas
American Cyanamid Superfund Site
Bridgewater, NJ
Figure 11. Location of the American Cyanamid Co. site in New Jersey
(US EPA, 2014b)
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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6.3.2 Allied Paper, Inc. / Portage Creek / Kalamazoo River (Region 5)
Sometimes RPMs need an objective
review of treatment technologies to
fairly assess the capabilities and
limitations of the technology. ETSC
can perform those reviews. For
example, at the Allied Paper Inc./
Portage Creek / Kalamazoo River
Superfund site in southwestern
Michigan (see Figure 12), ETSC
provided the RPM with technical
guidance on the use of two
proprietary technologies
(PulverDryer and Biotech
Restorations) being considered for
PCB remediation.
The site includes five disposal areas,
six paper mill properties, an 80-mile
stretch of the Kalamazoo River (a
tributary of Lake Michigan) and a 3-
mile stretch of Portage Creek (a
tributary of the Kalamazoo River). Various paper manufacturing and disposal operations occurred at the
site until all paper manufacturing operations ceased in the early 1980s. The primary COCs are PCBs
resulting from accidental introduction of carbonless copy paper in the recycled paper stream.
Cleanup started upstream on the Kalamazoo River with the removal of PCB sources. Cleanup focus is
currently on three OUs: Allied Paper Landfill, Plainwell Paper Mill, and Kalamazoo River as identified in
Figure 12. As part of the EPA's outreach efforts, ETSC staff participated with follow-up discussions with
the mayor's staff on cleanup technologies and conducted a thorough review of vendor claims for the
PulverDryer and Biotech Restoration technologies.
6.3.3 San Jacinto River Waste Pits (Region 6)
The 14-acre San Jacinto River Waste Pits site consists of a set of impoundments on the western bank of
the San Jacinto River in Harris County, Texas (see Figure 13). The pits were constructed in the 1960s to
dispose of pulp and paper mill wastes. The site contains contaminated soil, sediment and fish tissue.
During operation, chlorine was used as a bleaching agent and sampling events indicate the presence of
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated furans (dioxins and furans) and some metals in the
impoundments. Hie principal constituents of concern are dioxins, although PCBs and arsenic are also
present. EPA placed the site on the NPL in 2008 because of the dioxin contamination, and its high
presence in fish and shellfish in the San Jacinto River.
In 2011, an armored cap consisting of three layers of protective geotextile and geomembrane and covered
with rocks was installed over the waste pits to isolate the dioxin. In FY15, ETSC conducted a technical
OU5: KALAMAZOO RIVER
BARRY
COUNTY
OU7(: PLAINWELL
PAPER MILL
AREA 1
VAN SURCN
COUNTY
OUT: ALLIED
PAPER LANDFILL
Figure 12. Location of the Allied Paper Inc. / Portage Creek /
Kalamazoo River Site in Michigan
(US EPA, 2016i)
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
14
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review for dioxin/polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon relative bioavailability values reported through
sampling events at the site. Sample results found that the waste material containing dioxins were exposed
because of the cap damage , but that surrounding undisturbed areas around the cap did not show elevated
levels of waste materials containing dioxins (US EPA, 2016j). An EPA inspection team discovered a 25-
foot by 22-foot area of possible damage to the cap in FY 15. As a preventive measure, the Region required
the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to add 24-hour/7-day-a-week surveillance and warning buoys
around the perimeter of the site (US EPA, 2016j) to prevent watercraft and swimmers from getting too
close to the cap. The lighted warning buoys and barrier floats are in place and EPA has conducted several
rounds of inspections. Several small areas (approximately a few square feet) of missing or deficient cap
thickness on both the eastern and western cell were identified, and later repaired.
A sampling event in the spring of 2016 tested pore water samplers at 14 locations within the cap, wells in
the area, and dioxin screening for the first time in surface water, ground water, sediments, and fish tissue
(US EPA, 2016k). EPA will evaluate data from this sampling event to determine whether the cap
continues to isolate the dioxin in the impoundments and will recommend improvements as needed.
Highlands
< Houston
Figure 13. Location of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits site in Texas
(Galveston Bay Foundation, 2016)
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
15
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6.3.4 Ward Transformer (Region 4)
In FY 15, ETSC reviewed PCB remedial technologies and cleanup activities proposed by the site PRPs at
the Ward Transformer Company. From 1964 to 2006, Ward Transformer operated a facility that handled
transformers, switchgear and other types of electrical equipment near the Raleigh-Durham International
Airport in North Carolina (see Figure 14). EPA placed the 11-acre site on the NPL in 2003 because of
PCB-contaminated fish tissue, sediment and soil resulting from the company's operations. The site itself
does not contain any creeks or streams, but the contamination has affected several bodies of water
southwest of the site, including creeks, streams, and Lake Crabtree where subsistence fishing occurs.
Current activities focus on two areas. Operable unit 1 (OU-1) consists of contaminated surface water and
sediment downstream from the site, while OU-2 consists of contamination at the site, surrounding
properties, and nearby drainage paths uphill from one of the reaches (US EPA, 20161). The cleanup will
involve conducting streambed tests that will dictate either leaving portions of soil and sediment
undisturbed, or excavating and treating the contaminated sediment between the Ward site and Lake
Crabtree.
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Figure 14. Location of the Ward Transformer site and PCB affected bodies of water in North Carolina
(UNC. 2016)
6.3.5 Commencement Bay - Nearshore Tideflats (Region 10)
ETSC provided valuable input for technology evaluations in the Feasibility Study phase of the remedial
process at the Commencement Bay Nearshore Tideflats site located in the city of Tacoma and the town of
Ruston at the southern end of the Puget Sound in Washington. The Puyallup River, which starts at Mt.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
16
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Rainier, flows into Commencement Bay and creates a large delta area, or tideflats. The nearby area is
heavily developed (as shown 111 Figure 15) and includes a commercial seaport, shoreline and many-
industrial facilities. Cleanup activities have been ongoing for decades. Two sites where cleanup is
beginning include those owned by Occidental Chemical Corp. and Rhone-Poulenc Inc.
The Occidental site is situated off an inlet of Commencement Bay. Toxic plumes of dry cleaning solvents,
chlorine, and other wastes from the chemical manufacturing facility contaminated the soil, sediment and,
surface waters (WA DoE, 2016a, b). Because of the uncertainty surrounding this particular site, Region
10 asked ETSC to develop an optimization of remedial techniques for the feasibility study, and
specifically reviewed site-specific documentation to provide a high-level evaluation of site-specific
considerations and limitations to apply in situ chemical oxidation and in situ thermal remediation at the
site. ETSC also evaluated other
possible chemical technologies that
may be applicable at the site. EPA
expects actual cleanup activities at the
Occidental site to begin in 2018.
The Rhone-Poulenc site is
approximately 14 acres and consists of
a paved upland area, a shoreline, and a
tidal flat that extends into the
Duwamish Waterway. The complex
nature of the COCs at the site will
likely require a treatment train
approach consisting of multiple
technologies to achieve remedial goals.
Carbon dioxide (CO:) sparging
appears to be a promising technology
to neutralize the pH plume and
potentially reduce the concentrations
of various metals in groundwater by
reducing the solubility of the metal
ions. Other technologies, such as biologically mediated stabilization also may be effective. In FY15,
ETSC reviewed the draft corrective measures study work plan, which provides the framework for
selecting a suitable remedy for the site in accordance with RCRA. A pilot test, consisting of sparging CO2
into a portion of the aquifer, was proposed by ETSC to evaluate the ability of CO2 to treat high pH
groundwater at the Rhone-Poulenc site. ETSC later provided a review of the CO2 injection pilot study
implementation and results.
7 Additional Reports and Publications Prepared in FY15
In addition to the EIPs and the Lessons Learned research document highlighted in earlier sections of this
report, ETSC also published two ASTM methods (one for water and one for sediment), the ETSC annual
report for FY 14, and several other reports and publications.
HMneanni
Legend
Figure 15. Location of the Puget Sound and Commencement Bay
Nearshore Tideflats Superfund Site in Washington
(WA DoE, 2016a)
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
17
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ETSC provided support to the development of the following ASTM methods led by Region 5's
Laboratory in Chicago, IL:
ASTM International, 2015. ASTM D7968-14, Standard Test Method for Determination of
Perfluorinated Compounds in Soil by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
(LC/MS/MS). ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA. Available at
http://www.astm.org/Standards/D7968.htm.
ASTM International, 2015. ASTM D7979-15-el, Standard Test Method for Determination of
Perfluorinated Compounds in Water, Sludge, Influent, Effluent and Wastewater by Liquid
Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). ASTM International, West
Conshohocken, PA. Available at http://www.astm.org/Standards/D7979.htm.
Two documents were also prepared in collaboration with the EPA's Engineering Technology Verification
(ETV) Program, one on black carbon and the other on leak detection:
McKernan, J., J. Enriquez, A. Dindal, and S. Bessler. Report: Suitability of Leak Detection
Technology for Use In Ethanol-Blended Fuel Service. EPA/600/R-15/254. September 2015.
Grosse, D., J. Enriquez, J. McKernan, S. Bessler, and A. Dindal. Environmental Technology
Verification Program Advanced Monitoring Systems Center, Quality Assurance Project Plan
for Verification of Black Carbon Monitors. EPA/600/R-16/032. April 2016.
Full references for the additional reports and publications are provided (in alphabetical order) below:
Bessler, S. and J. L. McKernan, 2015. Engineering Technical Support Center Annual Report for
Fiscal Year 2014. EPA/600/R-15/132. August, 2015.
Bless, D. and D. Grosse, 2015. Abstracts from the 2014 National Conference on Mining-Influenced
Waters: Approaches for Characterization, Source Control and Treatment. Presentation at the
2014 National Conference on Mining-Influenced Waters, Albuquerque, NM, August 2014.
EPA/600/R-15/088. August, 2015.
Eckley, C. S., T. P. Luxton, J. L. McKernan, J. Goetz and J. Goulet, 2015. Influence of reservoir
water level fluctuations on sediment methylmercury concentrations downstream of the
historical Black Butte Mercury Mine, OR, Applied Geochemistry, Volume 61, October 2015,
Pages 284-293, ISSN 0883-2927.
McKernan, J., J. Enriquez, A. Dindal and S. Bessler, 2015. Quality Assurance Project Plan and
Report for Biofuel Properties and Behavior Relevant to Underground Storage Tank Leak
Detection System Performance. EPA/600/R-15/254. September, 2015.
Patricio, P., S. Al-Abed, C. Holder, R. Warner, J. McKernan, S. Fulton and E. Somerville, 2015.
Assessing the Impact of Overburden Materials Selection from an Appalachian Region Coal
Mine in Mine Water Quality Using a Standard Columns Leaching Test. Journal Submission.
September, 2015.
Truesdale, R., M. Eom and J. McKernan, 2015. Flow Modeling and Damage Estimated forthe
Argonaut Mine Dam Failure Study Report. EPA/600/X-15/167. July, 2015.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
18
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8 International Endeavors
In addition to the invaluable national support that ETSC provides, they also engage with international
governments to build capacity and share lessons learned. ETSC provided technical assistance to three
countries in FY15: China, Vietnam, and Romania.
For the China MOST, EPA and Chinese officials are working on a collaborative effort to identify and
solve parallel environmental issues in both countries. The ETSC collaboration for this effort will provide
the latest research on metal uptake and bioavailability in sediment and soil.
In Vietnam, historic U.S. military installations have encountered pesticide and dioxin contamination. In
FY14, ETSC provided valuable input on evaluating and selecting the best remedial solutions for these
military sites. In FY 15, ETSC is helping to evaluate remedial solutions is providing the Office of
International and Tribal Affairs (OITA) support with presentations and documents. For this effort, ETSC
collaborates with the Joint Advisory Committee for Vietnam, U.S. State Department, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and internal EPA entities,
including ORD/National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) and OITA.
ETSC is also collaborating with the Environmental Health Center and the Romanian government to build
analytical capabilities for soil, water, and indoor dust to assess the impacts on metals contamination in
mining communities in Romania. ETSC is also discussing options for large-scale decontamination and
cleanup.
9 Summary
The technical support requests summarized in this report are a selected sample of those undertaken by the
ETSC. Several of these investigations have generated substantial results, while others are working toward
that end. The selected investigations provide insight into the unique role that ETSC plays as a bridge
between environmental remediation conducted by our program and regional customers, and innovative
engineering research performed in ORD. Examples of the impact and contributions the ETSC provides to
clients in EPA Programs and the Regions are described below.
1) ETSC developed, evaluated and demonstrated bioremediation technologies, including
Technologies such as biochemical reactors for potential treatment options at metal-rich
acid mine drainage sites, and the
Design and implementation of ET covers for landfills and Superfund sites to assist in
remediating VOCs and other compounds from soil.
2) ETSC developed, evaluated and demonstrated groundwater treatment technologies, including
Permeable reactive barrier technologies to slow or stop groundwater contaminants from
escaping sites
State-of-the-art spatiotemporal fate and transport groundwater modeling to evaluate
existing systems or guide remedy selection, and
Groundwater pump and treat system design and optimization
3) ETSC evaluated sediment capping efficacy, environmental impacts, and long-term sustainability.
4) ETSC determined potential for reuse of waste materials.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
19
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5) ETSC completed engineering plan design reviews to
Ensure efficacy of site treatment or remedy, and cost efficiency, and
Implement proven technologies (when viable), including application of in situ
solidification, thermal desorption, and in situ chemical oxidation.
6) ETSC provided timely and relevant technical support to contaminated sites through
Research, evaluation, or demonstration of new and innovative treatment technologies,
and
By providing expert assistance in a broad range of topics including life-cycle analyses.
ETSC's interdisciplinary staff use creative thinking to apply innovative engineering research in real-world
scenarios with the potential to produce long-lasting dividends, and ultimately safer and healthier
communities.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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10 References
Burden D. S., J. L. McKernan and F. Barnett, 2015. Research Summary: EPA Technical Support Centers (TSC),
Lessons Learned for FY14. EPA/600/X-15/206. September, 2015.
CA DTSC (California Department of Toxic Substances Control), 2011. June 2011 Fact Sheet for Argonaut Mine
Tailings Site. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
Grosse, D., J. McKernan and S. Bessler, 2015. Engineering Issue Paper: Challenges in Bulk Soil Sampling and
Analysis for Vapor Intrusion Screening of Soil. EPA/600/R-14/277. April, 2015.
Grosse, D. and J. McKernan, 2014. Engineering Issue Paper: Passive Samplers for Investigations of Air Quality:
Method Description, Implementation, and Comparison to Alternative Sampling Methods. EPA/600/R-
14/434. December, 2014.
Isabella Indian Reservation, no date. Tri-State Mining District Superfund Site (presentation). Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
McKernan, J., 2014. Engineering Issue Paper: Biotransformation Pathways of Dimethylarsinic (Cacodylic) Acid in
the Environment. EPA/600/R-14/219. December, 2014.
Niazi, M. and M. Hantush, 2015. Hydrologic Modeling in the Tri-State Mining District Using SWAT. EPA/600/X-
15/206, September, 2015.
NJ DEQ, 2011. American Cyanamid Superfund Site Fact Sheet. December 2011. Available at
.
Accessed on April 25, 2016.
U.S. DOINRDAR Program (U.S. Department of Interior's Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration
Program), 2016. Tri-State Mining District - Cherokee Count. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
USGS, 2015. Tri-State Mining District. Available at . Accessed on April
25, 2016.
US EPA, 2016a. Site Information for Tar Creek (Ottawa County), EPA's Involvement at this Site. Available at
. Accessed on
April 25,2016.
US EPA 2016b. Eastern Michaud Flats Contamination, Region 10: the Pacific Northwest. SEMS-RM DOCID
#2400292. Available at . Accessed on June 20, 2016.
US EPA 2016c. HRS Documentation Record for Argonaut Mine. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
US EPA, 2016d. "U.S. EPA Proposes to Add California Mine Site to Superfund's National Priorities List." EPA
Press 04/06/2016. Available at
. Accessed on April
25, 2016.
US EPA, 2016e. Fort Devens - Sudbury Training Annex, Sudbury, MA. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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US EPA, 2016f. Site Information for Lower Darby Creek Area. Available at
. Accessed on
April 25,2016.
US EPA, 2016g. Site Information for Malone Service Co - Swan Lake Plant, Texas City, TX. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
US EPA, 2016h. Site Information for American Cyanamid Co. Available at
. Accessed on
April 25,2016.
US EPA, 2016i. Kalamazoo River Superfund Project. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
US EPA, 2016j. "EPA Directs Additional Safety Measures for San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site."
Published on 02/17/2016. Available at
. Accessed on
April 25,2016.
US EPA, 2016k. EPA Superfund Program: San Jacinto River Waste Pits, Channelview, TX. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
US EPA, 20161. Superfund Program: Ward Transformer, Raleigh, NC. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
US EPA, 2016m. Commencement Bay-Nearshore Tideflats. Available at
. Accessed
on April 25, 2016.
US EPA, 2015. Eastern Michaud Flats Superfund Site: Update on Current and Future Work. March 2015. Available
at . Accessed on April
25, 2016.
US EPA, 2014a. Record of Decision for Lower Darby Creek Area Superfund Site Operable Unit 1 - Clearview
Landfill Soils & Waste. US EPA Region 3, Philadelphia, PA. September 2014. Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
US EPA, 2014b. Five-Year Review Report American Cyanamid Superfund Site Somerset County, New Jersey.
Prepared by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regency 2 New York, New York. Available at
. Accessed on June 20, 2016.
US EPA, 2009. Eastern Michaud Flats Informational Briefing (presentation). Available at
. Accessed on April 25, 2016.
UNC, 2016. Map of the Ward Transformer site. Available at
. Accessed on April
25, 2016.
WA DoE (Washington State Department of Ecology), 2016b.Occidental Chemical Corp. Draft Remedial
Investigation Documents for Review. Available at
. Accessed on June 3, 2016.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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Contact Information
John McKernan
Director, GRD Engineering Technical Support Center
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Mail Stop 489A
Cincinnati, OH 45268
513.569.7415 (office)
513.569.7676 (fax)
McKernan.John@epa.gov
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
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Office of Research and Development
(8ioiR) Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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