EPA/600/R-18/277/December 2018 | www.epa.gov/research
ENGINEERING
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
CENTER
Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
nvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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EPA/600/R-18/277
December 2018
Engineering Technical Support Center Annual
Report Fiscal Year 2017
By
Katherine Bronstein
RTI International
Research Triangle Park, NC
and
John McKernan and Edwin Barth
Land and Materials Management 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 2017
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Foreword
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged by Congress with protecting the nation's land, air, and
water resources. Under a mandate of national environmental laws, the Agency strives to formulate and implement
actions leading to a compatible balance between human activities and the ability of natural systems to support and
nurture life. To meet this mandate, the EPA's research program is providing data and technical support for solving
environmental problems today and building a science knowledge base necessary to manage our ecological resources
wisely, understand how pollutants affect our health, and prevent or reduce environmental risks in the future.
The National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) within the Office of Research and Development
(QRD) is the Agency's center for investigation of technological and management approaches for preventing and
reducing risks from pollution that threatens human health and the environment. The focus of NRMRL's research
program is on methods and their cost effectiveness for prevention and control of pollution to air, land, water, and
subsurface resources; protection of water quality in public water systems; remediation of contaminated sites,
sediments and groundwater; prevention and control of indoor air pollution; and restoration of ecosystems. NRMRL,
collaborates with both public and private-sector partners to foster technologies that reduce the cost of compliance and
to anticipate emerging problems. NRMRL's research provides solutions to environmental problems by developing
and promoting technologies that protect and improve the environment; advancing scientific and engineering
information to support regulatory and policy decisions; and providing the technical support and information transfer
to ensure implementation of environmental regulations and strategies at the national, state, and community levels.
This report highlights the happenings and accomplishments of the Engineering Technical Support Center in fiscal
year 2017.
Cynthia Sonich-Mullin, Director
National Risk Management and Research Laboratory
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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Acknowledgments
The Engineering Technical Support Center (ETSC) would like to acknowledge the contributions from Office of
Research and Development scientists for their efforts in support of ETSC's mission. Special recognition goes to a
number of our colleagues that have recently retired—their dedication and commitment to the EPA mission has had a
positive impact on the health of our environment and nation. They will be missed. The ETSC extends thanks to our
numerous clients in the Office of Science Policy, Office of Land and Emergency Management, Office of Superfund
Remediation and Technology Innovation, the EPA Regions, the Superfund Technology Liaisons, On-Scene
Coordinators, and their management for their patronage and financial support. The ETSC would also like to recognize
the exemplary support provided by our contractors, Battelle Memorial Institute and RTI International, this year.
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 2017
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary 1
The National Impact of Our Work 4
International Partnerships 7
The Impact of Our Work at Select Sites 8
Mining Operations 8
Anaconda Copper Mine (Region 9) 8
Bonita Peak Mining District (Region 8) 10
Materials Management 11
San Jacinto River Waste Pits (Region 6) 11
West Lake Landfill (Region 7) 12
Highly Complex Site Investigations 13
American Cyanamid Co. (Region 2) 14
Mohawk Tannery (Region 1) 15
PCB Contamination 16
LCP Chemicals, Inc. Superfund Site (Region 2) 16
Allied Paper Inc. / Portage Creek / Kalamazoo River (Region 5) 17
Lead Contamination at the John T. Lewis / Anzon Factory Site (Region 3) 18
PFOA and PFOS Contamination at the Fairchild Air Force Base (Region 10) 19
Dissemination and Knowledge Sharing 21
References 24
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017 iv
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List of Acronyms
AFFF aqueous film-forming foam
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
BLM U. S. Bureau of Land Management
CDPHE Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
COC contaminants of concern
EIP Engineering Issue Paper
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ERP Air Force Environmental Restoration Program
ETSC Engineering Technical Support Center
EVOH ethylene vinyl alcohol
FS Feasibility Study
FY fiscal year
GKM Gold King Mine
LMMD Land and Materials Management Division
NERL National Exposure Research Laboratory
NHDES New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
NPL National Priorities List
NRMRL National Risk Management Research Laboratory
NRRB National Remedy Review Board
OITA Office of International and Tribal Affairs
ORD Office of Research and Development
OSC On-Scene Coordinator
OU operable unit
PCBs polyclilorinated biphenyl
PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid
PFOS perfluorooctane sulfonate
PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
PRP potentially responsible party
RARE Regional Applied Research Effort
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RI/FS Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
ROD record of decision
RPM Remedial Project Manager
SCMTSC Site Characterization and Monitoring Technical Support Center
SSE subsurface heat-generating event
SVE soil vapor extraction
TCE trichloroethylene
TSC Technical Support Center
TSP Technical Support Project
VOC volatile organic compound
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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Executive Summary
The Engineering Technical Support Center (ETSC) is
operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA or Agency) Office of Research and
Development's (ORD) National Risk Management
Research Laboratory (NRMRL), Land and Materials
Management Division (LMMD) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Created in 1987, ETSC is part of the Technical Support
Project (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 EPA Regional
Forums, the Environmental Response Team, and five
specialized Technical Support Centers (TSCs). ETSC is
one of five ORD TSCs.
ETSC s mission is to provide site-specific scientific and
engineering technical support to Remedial Project
Managers (RPMs), On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs), and
other remediation personnel at contaminated sites.
ETSC is primarily staffed with scientists and engineers
from ORD/NRMRL/LMMD, thereby covering a broad
range of skills and technical expertise. The ETSC
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. Additional assistance
is provided by other ORD Laboratory or Division
personnel, EPA Regional personnel, and external
contractors and consultants as needed. ETSC's
combined technical expertise supplements the work
performed by responsible local, EPA Regional, or
national authorities, allowing them to work more
quickly, efficiently, and cost effectively, while also
increasing the technical experience of the remediation
team.
IMPACTS OF ETSC IN 2017
ETSC provides technical support for soil,
sediment, groundwater, and mining-related
contamination.
In FY 17, the ETSC responded to over 600
requests for support at approximately 132
sites from all 10 EPA Regions, territories
(Puerto Rico) and internationally (China,
Romania, and Vietnam). Over 80 percent of
the site-specific requests were on the
Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).
The ETSC provided critical support to 12 of
21 Superfund sites targeted for immediate,
intense action. For two of these sites, West
Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri and the
San Jacinto River Waste Pits in Harris
County, Texas, EPA proposed final remedies.
Other requests ranged from characterization,
monitoring, and remediation of soil and water
contamination to ecological effects resulting
from chemical exposures. ETSC also
provided technical advice in the areas of
engineering and prototype testing,
environmental and human health risk
assessment, and groundwater modeling.
ETSC led or contributed to 68 disseminated
products, including conference presentations*
technical workshops, peer-reviewed journal
articles, and other technical reports and
products.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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In fiscal year 2017 (FY17), ETSC responded to 625
combined technical support requests from more than
130 sites across the 10 EPA Regions, and three
international sites: China, Romania, and Vietnam.
Twelve of these sites are on the 2017 Administrator's
list of Superfund sites requiring immediate and intense
action:
Allied Paper Inc. / Portage Creek / Kalamazoo
River (R5);
American Cyanamid Co. (R2);
Anaconda Co. Smelter (R8);
Anaconda Copper Mine (R9);
• Bonita Peak Mining District (R8);
Des Moines TCE (R7);
• Diamond Alkali Co. (R2);
L.A. Clarke & Son (R3);
• Mohawk Tannery (Rl);
San Jacinto Waste Pits (R6);
Tar Creek, Ottawa County (R6); and
West Lake Landfill and Bridgeton Landfill (R7).
In total, ETSC's efforts directly supported 37 states,
with approximately half of requests originating in
California, Idaho, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and
Washington state.
Through interdisciplinary backgrounds and expertise,
ETSC staff bring creative thinking to life by applying
innovative engineering research to real-world scenarios.
These innovations have the potential to produce long-
lasting dividends and ultimately safer, sustainable, and
healthier communities. The selected projects
highlighted in this report provide insight to the unique
role that ETSC plays as a bridge between environmental
remediation—as applied research—and innovative
engineering research in ORD. Several of these requests
have generated substantial results (i.e., cost savings,
effective/timely remediation results, patents, etc.), while
others are working toward that end.
INNOVATION
A major component of affecting meaningful
remediation lies in constructing and testing new,
innovative treatment technologies through pilot
and field research. ETSC teams spearhead cutting-
edge field research in many areas, including:
Biochemical reactors for potential treatment
options at metal-rich acid mine drainage
sites;
Evapotranspiration covers for landfills and
Superfund sites to assist in remediating
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
other compounds from soil;
Permeable reactive barrier technologies to
slow or stop groundwater contaminants
from escaping sites;
Groundwater pump and treat system design
and optimization;
Spatiotemporal fate and transport
groundwater modeling to evaluate existing
systems or guide remedy selection;
Beneficial use of waste materials; and
Engineering plan design reviews to ensure
efficacy of selected site treatment or
remedy, and cost efficiency.
ETSC implements proven technologies when
viable, including the application of in-situ
solidification, thermal desorption, and in-situ
chemical oxidation.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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The ETSC also organizes meetings and publishes reports on significant developments in environmental engineering
in the form of Engineering Issue Papers (EIPs), peer-reviewed journal publications, technical workshops, and
conference presentations and posters, hi FY17, ETSC contributed to 67 dissemination products and has one member
on EPA's Superfund National Remedy Review Board (NRRB).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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The National Impact of Our Work
In FY 17, the ETSC received 625 technical
support requests across the 10 EPA Regions.
Approximately 39 percent (245) of the
technical requests fulfilled were related to
directly supporting remediation efforts
through technology review, remediation
technology support, and feasibility studies at
specific sites.
Sixty-one percent of the technical support
requests involved the collection and
interpretation of data with samplings
modeling, and analytical support.
Technical support requests in FY 17 most
widely relied upon the provision of technical
advice, document reviews, engineering and
prototype testing, and the development of
knowledge products such as Engineering
Issue Papers.
ETSC has provided long-term, continuous
support to many high-priority Superfund
sites, including 12 of the 21 sites on the EPA
Administrator's 2017 list of sites requiring
immediate, intense action and four of the 31
sites on the EPA's list of sites with potential
for redevelopment.
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ETSC provided support to 12 sites requiring immediate, intense action in FY17:
Allied Paper Inc. / Portage Creek /
Kalamazoo River (R5):
American Cyanamid Co. (R2);
Anaconda Co. Smelter (R8);
Anaconda Copper Mine (R9);
Bonita Peak Mining District (R8);
Des Moines TCE (R7);
Diamond Alkali Co. (R2);
L.A. Clarke & Son (R3);
Mohawk Tannery (Rl);
San Jacinto Waste Pits (R6);
Tar Creek. Ottawa County (R6); and
West Lake Landfill and Bridgeton
Landfill (R7).
.Document
Review
42%
Other.
1%
Engineering
ind Prototype
Testing
4%
Environments*
Risk Assessment
1%
Technical Advice,
Education and .
Innovation
50%
In FY17, the ETSC provided significant support towards providing
teclmical advice, education and innovation products, and document
review. Examples of this type of support range from identifying
appropriate teclinology for COCs in various media to providing
feedback on potential remedial activities at specific sites.
ETSC provided support to four sites with potential for redevelopment in FY17:
Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River (R5);
• Bunker Hill Mining & Metallurgical Complex (RIO);
Mohawk Tannery (Rl); and
New Bedford (Rl).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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International Partnerships
ETSC developed international partnerships by providing technical assistance to three countries in FY 17: China,
Vietnam, and Romania. In China, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) officials and the U.S. EPA are
working on a collaborative effort to identify similar environmental issues impacting both countries to solve in parallel.
Six projects are ongoing under this effort, with one of the projects a collaboration with the ETSC focused on providing
additional information on metal uptake and bioavailability in sediments and soils.
In Vietnam, pesticide and dioxin contamination issues have been encountered at historic U.S. military installations.
In FY14, ETSC collaborated 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 QRD/National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) and the Office of International and Tribal Affairs
(OITA) to provide input on evaluating and selecting the best remedial solutions for these legacy military sites. In
FY 17. ETSC continued the collaboration meeting with representatives from the Vietnamese government and
colleagues in OITA to discuss solutions to ongoing issues and potential remedial solutions for affected sites.
In Romania, ETSC members have continued their collaborations with universities and environmental health
organizations on metals contamination in mining communities, and their impacts on soil and water. This collaboration
builds analytical capabilities in their country and allows open discussions regarding options for large-scale
decontamination and cleanup for impacted areas.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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The Impact of Our Work at Select Sites
In FY 17, the ETSC received 625 technical support requests from 132 contaminated sites across the United States.
The projects and technical support requests presented here highlight only a few of the many technical support requests
actioned. They are organized by mining operations, materials management, highly complex site investigations, and
contaminant-specific site support for polychlorinatcd biphenyls (PCBs), lead and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) that include PFOA and PFOS. Each site highlighted includes the EPA Region the request originated from, a
summary of the site, and a description of ETSC's contribution to the technical support request.
Mining Operations
Anaconda Copper Mine (Region 9)
The Anaconda Copper Mine site of Mason Valley,
Nevada covers more than 3,600 acres. The site is
bordered by the Singatse Range and the town of Weed
Heights to the west, agricultural fields and homes to
the north, U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-
managed public land to the south, and the Walker
River and the city of Yerington to the east. Portions of
the site are privately owned, while others are BLM-
managed public lands (US EPA, 2018a). Mining at the
site began in 1918. From the 1950s to late 1970s,
Anaconda conducted open-pit mining and milling
operations, as well as copper oxide and copper sulfide
ore processing. These activities created large amounts
of liquid and solid wastes, such as tailing piles, waste
rock areas, liquid waste ponds, leach vats, heap leach
pads, and evaporation ponds. In total, the mining
operations generated approximately 360 million tons
of ore and debris and 15 million tons of overburden,
resulting in 400 acres of waste rock, 900 acres of
contaminated tailings, and 300 acres of disposal
ponds. After Anaconda operations ceased in 1982 and
dewatering of the pit stopped, groundwater
accumulated to form the Pit Lake, a 1-mile long, 800-
foot deep lake with approximately 40,000 acre-feet of
water that continues to increase at a rate of 2.5 acre-
feet per year.
Between 1982 and 2000, some copper extraction from
tailings and waste rock as well as metal salvage and
transformer recycling occurred, followed by leaching
operations, and the construction of an electrowinning
plant and five heap leach pads to produce copper from
existing tailings and new ore. Approximately 250
acres of heap leach piles and 12 acres of heap leach
solution collection ponds resulted. All operations
ceased in 2000 (US EPA, 2018a).
Today, the main site contaminants of concern are
metals (arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium,
chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury,
molybdenum, nickel, selenium, uranium, zinc) and
radioisotopes (uranium-234, uranium-235, uranium-
238, thorium-230, thorium-232, radium-226, radium-
228) (US EPA, 2018a). EPA is in the process of
proposing the site for the National Priorities List
(NPL).
As early as the 1980s, an interception pumpback well
system was installed to control a contaminated
groundwater plume. Triggered by Yerington Paiute
Tribe groundwater sampling that indicated arsenic
levels exceeded EPA drinking water standards, the
Nevada Department of Environmental Protection and
EPA conducted an expanded site investigation in
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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2000. In the following years, several emergency
removals were conducted at the site (US EPA, 2018a).
Between 2005 and 2011, EPA conducted remedial
activities, including ordering an on- and off-site
radiation survey, continued operations of the
groundwater pumpback well system and heap leach
fluids management system, continuation of process
area investigations, domestic well sampling, and
implementation of a groundwater study. More than
6,000 tons of soil contaminated with radiological
materials were removed in 2010 after EPA conducted
a 2007 radiological removal assessment in the process
area. As a result of this assessment, several leaking
heap leach fluid management ponds were either
repaired or removed; kerosene-contaminated soil was
removed and treated via bioremediation; evaporation
ponds were capped; asbestos, radiological, and
hazardous waste materials were removed; and a
radiological screening assessment was conducted.
In 2017, the ETSC provided assistance to Region 9 on
performing a trends analysis of groundwater data and
preparing a proposal to evaluate the stability of the
contaminated groundwater plume. The ETSC also
addressed a request to review the Yerington Paiute
Tribe's technical position with respect to the
background conditions and groundwater plume
stability in the site area.
The Anaconda Copper Mine Site in Yerington. Nevada consists of more than 3,600 acres. The yellow areas are heap leach
pads that are undergoing cleanup. Water that drains from the mine tailings is funneled into evaporation ponds that are
expected to reach full capacity by 2019, which is why Anaconda needs to be on the fast track for cleanup funding. This site
is on the EPA Administrator's 2017 list for immediate action. (Figure source: UNR, 2016).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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Bonita Peak Mining District (Region 8)
The Bonita Peak Mining District in San Juan County,
Colorado consists of 48 historic mines or mining-related
sources that release metals from acid mine drainage into
the water and sediments of the Mineral Creek, Cement
Creek, and Upper Animas River drainage areas (US
EPA, 2018b). This site is on the EPA's list of Superfund
sites targeted for immediate, intense action.
Between 2005 and 2014 EPA evaluated whether the
upper Cement Creek area, which experienced a
significant decline in water quality, would qualify for
inclusion on the NPL. During this time, EPA's
Superfund Remedial Program contributed resources for
water quality sampling, ecological risk assessment, and
data analysis, as well as for the investigation and closure
(bulkheading) of the Red and Bonita Mine tunnel. In
addition, various reclamation activities in the Upper
Animas watershed were conducted by Sunnyside Gold
Corporation, the BLM, and the State of Colorado (US
EPA, 2018b).
In 2015, the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment (CDPHE) conducted a Superfund Site
Assessment of the area and asked EPA to postpone
listing the site on the NPL. In 2015-2016, the Superfund
Removal Program installed an engineered concrete
bulkhead in the adit of the Red and Bonita Mine, and
conducted an investigation and assessment of the Gold
King Mine (GKM). As part of an emergency removal
action after a 2015 accidental release of 3 million
gallons of mine tunnel water at GKM (US EPA, 2018c),
an interim water treatment plant was installed to treat
ongoing acid mine drainage being discharged from the
mine (US EPA, 2018b).
In 2017, EPA Region 8 requested technical assistance in
determining which contaminants need to be addressed
on site, to what levels, and how to use the information
in determining the appropriate technology to use. The
ETSC assisted with the development of a remedial
decision tree and in the design of the Remedial
Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS). ETSC also
supported Region 8 with the proper questions to ask
technology vendors, and the methods for selecting
appropriate remediation technologies at the site. ETSC
compiled technologies that were reviewed for the site
along with a description of the technology to assist with
knowledge management and later requests for support
at this site.
The Bonita Peak Mining District site consists of 48 historic
mines or mining-related sources where ongoing releases of
metal-laden water and sediments are occurring within the
Mineral Creek, Cement Creek, and Upper Animas River
drainages in San Juan County, Colorado. This figure
illustrates the size and complexity of the drainage area from
the ridgeline of the mountain peaks. (EPA. 2018b).
In 2017, the EPA, U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and
CDPHE conducted an RI/FS inclusive of a human
health risk assessment, ecological risk assessment and a
hydrologic study of the Bonita Peak groundwater
system. The results from the collaborative study will
assist in the decision on future cleanup options for the
site (US EPA, 2018b).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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Materials Management
San Jacinto River Waste Pits (Region 6}
The San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site in Channelview (Harris County), Texas consists of various
impoundments installed in the 1960s to accommodate the disposal of solid and liquid pulp and paper mill wastes.
The site includes surrounding areas with impacted soil and sediment from those impounded waste materials. The
northern set of impoundments is approximately 14 acres on a partially submerged 20-acre parcel on the western bank
of the San Jacinto River. The southern impoundment is less than 20 acres and located on a peninsula extending south
of 1-10 (US EPA, 2017a). Submergence is largely a result of land subsidence due to groundwater extraction, and
facilitates hazardous materials entering the San Jacinto River with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and
polychlorinated dibenzofurans (dioxins and furans) being the main constituents of concern. The site was placed on
the NPL in 2008 (US EPA, 2017a). This site is on the Administrator's list requiring immediate action.
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The San Jacinto Waste Pits site consists of impacted soil and sediment from waste impoundments. Advisories on the
dangers of eating crab and fish in the surrounding waters are in place because of dioxin and PCB contamination. (Figure
source: Davis, 2015).
In 2010 and 2011, a temporary cap was constructed over
the northern waste pits, which required repeated repairs
in subsequent years. Additional deterioration caused by
a 2016 spring flood, and flooding related to Hurricane
Harvey in September 2017, resulted in the complete
erosion of the armor stone and the underlying geotextile
of portions of berms and the cap; in total the cap was
compromised in 36 areas (US EPA, 2017a).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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In 2016, EPA announced their Proposed Plan for
Cleanup and issued a decision of a selected remedy for
addressing contamination at the site in 2017. The
remediation approach included partial removal of the
existing temporary armored cap, removal of
approximately 162,000 cubic yards of waste material
beneath the northern impoundment armored cap, and
excavation of approximately 50,000 cubic yards of
waste material from the southern impoundment to a
depth of 10 feet below grade in the peninsula south of I-
10 (US EPA, 2017a).
In FY 17, ETSC invited comments and received
feedback on a proposal to create a water quality
database. ETSC scientists prepared a journal article
describing the work done, suggested action levels for
dioxins in the river sediment, and completed a literature
review to assist with site modeling.
West Lake Landfill (Region 7)
The West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri is a
Superfimd site on the 2017 Administrator's list for
immediate action. The site consists of several inactive
and unlined landfill units containing radioactive waste
and covers approximately 52 acres. The area was
originally developed as a limestone quarry, which
opened in 1939. The pits, created from the quarry
operation, were used to dispose of municipal waste
beginning in the 1950s. In 1973, radioactive leached
barium sulfate from the Manhattan Project was mixed
with soil and placed in the landfill as daily cover or fill.
The site was added to the NPL in 1990. The site has
since been divided into three operable units dealing with
the radiologically impacted material (operable unit
| OUJ-1), the non-radiological impacted material (OU-
2), and the groundwater (OU-3) (US EPA, 2018d).
The EPA has conducted multiple investigations on the
site since its addition to the NPL, including recent site
characterization to refine previous estimates regarding
the extent of the radiologically impacted material on the
site. The EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) in
2008 to install a protective cap over the landfill to
prevent exposures and perform long-term monitoring.
This ROD was reevaluated by the Agency in 2010 and
additional site characterization and removal actions
were conducted. In 2012 and 2015, EPA Region 7
required additional data collection to support remedial
options for QU-1 (US EPA, 2017b). Additionally, the
EPA performed air monitoring from 2014 to 2015 in the
areas surrounding the site, and a pyrolysis study to better
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The West Lake Landfill in Missouri is one of the most
extensively supported Superfund site by the ETSC. This
closed, unlined mixed-waste landfill includes radioactive
waste. (Figure source: US EPA, 2017b).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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understand potential drivers for radon emanation at the
site. A subsurface smoldering reaction is occurring in
the non-radioactive portion of the site of OU-2 (US
EPA, 2018d).
West Lake Landfill is one of the most extensively
supported Superfund sites by the ETSC, including 23
separate requests initiated in FY17. The ETSC provides
resources to review documents, summarized critical
data sets, and routinely created monthly and annual
monitoring and analysis reports of various landfill data.
In 2017, ETSC staff drafted an annual report for this
complicated project.
Resources were also provided to support the creation of
a Quality Assurance Project Plan, review the work plan
for the ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) cover system,
and support a Freedom of Information Act request to
further support this project.
In FY 17, ETSC reviewed data and reports from the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Bridgeton
Landfill (OU-1) website regarding landfill gas
extraction wells, gas interceptor wells, temperature
monitoring points, and related infrastructure to assess
the presence and progression of any subsurface heat-
generating event (SSE). ETSC also responded to a
request for assistance with Bridgeton geochemistry
data, and fate and transport modeling. ETSC is also
collaborating with the Site Characterization and
Monitoring Technical Support Center (SCMTSC) who
developed a sampling plan for the outer area of the
landfill using spatial statistical methods to assist in
determining the extent of contamination outside the
landfill The ETSC will continue supporting this
complex project to analyze data sets and better
understand the real and potential effects of an SSE
occurring in OU-2, review various fire and heat
suppressant technologies such as inert gas injection and
fire break, and provide laboratory equipment and staff
expertise to further support the remediation activities
going forward.
SAMPLING ASSISTANCE & ANALYSIS
A well-designed sampling plan is a critical component in site characterization and assessment. ETSC staff
help design and review sampling plans to ensure the collected data are representative and sufficient to make
evidence-based decisions. ETSC also assists with selecting field methods and procedures and analysis of
sampling results.
In FY 17, ETSC fielded more than 70 requests related to sampling assistance and analysis, including the
following:
• Reviewed the sampling and analysis plan proposed for sampling PFAS in wells at the Fairchild AFB
(Region 10) and later validated analytical results as part of a site investigation effort;
• Discussed sampling needs for VOC/SVOC analysis with the RPM at the GCL Tie and Treating,
Inc. site (Region 2);
• Provided technical advice on additional sampling points to develop a more comprehensive model to
evaluate groundwater contamination migration and evaluate performance of the current extract and
treat system at the Former AC Rochester Facility (Region 2); and
• Analyzed the Navy's sampling plan for PFAS sampling in groundwater and drinking water at the
Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island (Region 10).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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Highly Complex Site Investigations
American Cyanamid Co. (Region 2)
The 43 5-acre American Cyanamid Superfund Site is
in an industrial/commercial area of Bridgewater
Township, New Jersey. This site was added to the NPL
in 1983 and is currently on the EPA's list of Superfund
sites targeted for immediate, intense action. Over its
nearly 100-year history, the site was home to the
manufacturing of rubber, rubber chemicals, dyes,
pigments, fungicides, petroleum-based products, and
pharmaceuticals (NJ DEQ, 2011). All manufacturing
stopped at the site in 1999. The soil is contaminated
with VOCs, cyanide, PCBs, and metals, with the
shallow and deep aquifers contaminated with metals
and VOCs. Four hazardous waste lagoons and 16
surface storage impoundments containing tars,
wastewater sludge, iron oxide, and general plant debris
were on-site when remedial activities began in the
early 1980s. A 140-acre parcel of the site was
remediated and eventually approved for
redevelopment in 1998 for the Bridgewater
Promenade retail center, the Somerset Patriots TD
Bank Ballpark, and an NJ Transit parking lot. Wyeth
Holdings, a subsidiary of Pfizer Corporation, acquired
the site in 2009 and assumed responsibility for
remediating the remaining 435 acres.
Six impoundments and two of the lagoons have been
remediated by dewatering and solidifying the waste
materials, which were then placed in an on-site, state-
of-the-art RCRA Subtitle C containment cell (NJ
DEQ, 2011). As of 2015, two other impoundments (15
and 16) have been completed by excavation, and off-
site recycling of 81,000 cubic yards of iron oxide has
also been completed. Soils beneath the impoundment
areas have been used in revegetation efforts as part of
the site-wide remedy (US EPA, 2018e). Permanent
remedies for impoundments 1 and 2 that contain acid
tar sludge are being evaluated separately due to their
highly complex nature and proximity to the Raritan
River (US EPA, 2018e). A focused feasibility study is
currently being conducted and a remedy
recommendation is expected in early 2018 (US EPA,
2018e). Under a removal action, a groundwater
removal system consisting of a collection trench, a
containment wall, and an interim groundwater
treatment system has been addressing benzene seeps
into the Raritan River since 2012 (US EPA, 2018e). A
site-wide remedy is currently under design and will
address the remaining impoundments, contaminated
site soils, and groundwater issues (US EPA, 2018e).
ETSC evaluated the optimal treatment system for the
site, including mechanical dewatering and thermally
enhanced in-situ solidification. ETSC also assisted
with identifying response actions, developing an
evaluation protocol for each technology, and
interpreting data obtained from each method.
Remedial technologies were tested on a pilot scale for
a 9-month period in FY 16. ETSC members involved
in this project received an EPA National Honor Award
(Bronze medal) for the successful implementation of
these pilot-scale studies, hi FY17, ETSC met with the
site potentially responsible party (PRP) and reviewed
the FS Report for impoundments 1 and 2 (OU-8) and
provided comments regarding various in-situ thermal
technologies. ET'SC's effort contributed to the
development and implementation of a full-scale
system to treat waste and contamination, which is a
major step towards the total remediation.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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The 435-acre American Cyanamid Co. site outside of Newark, New Jersey contains soil contaminated with VOCs, cyanide.
PCBs, and metals from various industrial activities. (US EPA, 2014).
Impoundment 8 facility
Site Areas
Amencan Cyanamd Superfund Sice
Bndflewater. NJ
Mohawk Tannery (Region 1)
The former Mohawk Tannery facility (a.k.a. Granite
State Leathers) is located on 30 acres approximately 3.5
miles upstream from the confluence of the extensively
fished Nashua and the Merrimack Rivers and
surrounding wetlands in Nashua. New Hampshire. The
currently inactive facility produced leather tanned hides
between 1924 and 1984 (US EPA, 2018f). During its
operation, the facility discharged wastewater containing
hazardous substances such as chromium, zinc, and
phenol directly into the Nashua River and disposed of
sludge containing hazardous substances such as
chromium, pentachlorophenol, phenol, and 2,4,6-
trichloropehenol into several on-site, unlined disposal
areas (US EPA, 2018f). Approximately 5,000 people
obtain drinking water from groundwater wells within a
4-mile radius of the site. The site is on the EPA's list of
Superfund sites targeted for immediate and intense
action due to its redevelopment potential.
Only limited investigations have been undertaken at the
site since June 2005 (other than a 2009 treatability study
of the sludge lagoons) until a resolution of the funding
mechanism (e.g., private developer or finalization of the
site on the NPL) for site cleanup is reached (US EPA,
2018f). In June 2012, the City of Nashua funded the
complete demolition and asbestos abatement needed to
remove the remaining former tannery buildings
(excluding the slabs). These buildings had become a
visible nuisance and had been suspiciously burned on
several occasions prior to demolition in 2012. In
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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addition, EPA and the New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services (NHDES) did several field
investigations within the southernmost 15-acre parcel of
the overall 30-acre site. Hie purpose of these
investigations was to evaluate whether all or part of this
undeveloped area can be considered for delisting from
the rest of the NPL site.
The potential threat to groundwater from the estimated
60,000 cubic yards of sludge in the unlined disposal
areas remains. A local developer who is exploring the
option of acquiring the site for redevelopment
completed a bench-scale treatability study in 2009 to
evaluate Portland cement and various additives to
determine potential solidification/stabilization options
for the contaminated soils and sludges on-site. The
developer also submitted a draft remedial action plan to
EPA (ETSC) and NHDES. The agencies reviewed both
documents and are working with the developer and the
City of Nashua regarding cleanup strategies and
redevelopment potential at the site (NHDES, n.d,; US
EPA, 20181).
PCB Contamination
LCP Chemicals, Inc. Superfund Site (Region 2)
Various industrial operations occurred between 1919
and 1994 at the LCP Chemicals, Inc. site in Linden, New
Jersey, including a petroleum refinery, an electric power
generation facility, and a mercury cell chlor-alkali plant.
These activities led to widespread contamination of the
soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment with
mercury, PCBs, and other hazardous substances. The
site was placed on the NPL in 1996.
The 26-acre site is being addressed in one long-term
cleanup phase. Site investigations and a feasibility study
were completed in 2013 and EPA selected a remedy for
the site in February 2014. The cleanup remedy includes:
a capping system to prevent direct contact with soils and
exposure to mercury vapor; treatment of the soil
containing visible elemental mercury by mixing in
sulfur to convert the mercury to mercuric sulfide;
excavation and on-site disposal of sediments and marsh
soils from the Northern Off-Site Ditch and the
downstream portion of the South Branch Creek;
restoration of the excavated areas; controlled demolition
of the site's buildings; recycling of non-porous material;
placement of porous material under the cap;
containment and collection of the overburden
groundwater layer by a barrier wall and
collection/disposal system; and groundwater monitoring
(US EPA, 2018g). The remediation is estimated to take
30 years and cost $36.3 million.
The LCP Chemicals. Inc. site borders the Elizabeth
River in New Jersey and an environmentally sensitive
area of high quality wetlands, marshlands, and river
shallows. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
worked on a design for the selected remedy in FY 17.
EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are
currently preparing a design for the selected remedy. In
FY 17, the ETSC proposed off-site sampling of PCBs
near the LCP Chemicals Superfund site to test a new
remediation technology researched by Louisiana State
University and to create a Regional Applied Research
Effort (RARE) proposal. ETSC staff also fielded several
requests to review technical documents related to site
remedial design activities. After the design is finalized,
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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EPA will seek to have the site's PRPs implement the
remedy.
Allied Paper inc. / Portage Creek / Kalamazoo River
(Region 5)
The Allied Paper Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River
Superfimd site covers portions of three counties in
southwestern Michigan. The site includes five disposal
areas, six paper mill properties, an 80-rmle 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 were conducted at the site until the
early 1980s. The primary contaminants of concern are
PCBs resulting from accidental introduction of
carbonless copy paper in the recycled paper stream.
Carbonless copy paper waste was mixed into the
residuals during the paper-recyclmg process. The
residuals from this process consisted of chlorinated
waste (including the carbonless copy paper), clay, and
wood/paper pulp. These residuals were fluidized,
pumped, and dewatered in large on-site retention cells
on the Allied Paper property.
Cleanup started upstream on the Kalamazoo River with
the removal of PCB sources. In 2017, cleanup focused
on three OUs: Allied Paper Landfill, Plainwell Paper
Mill, and Kalamazoo River areas 2, 4 and 5. For the
Allied Paper Landfill, ETSC has been working with the
bankruptcy Trastee for the Landfill to implement the
cleanup plan, including consolidation and capping of the
waste into a 27-acre area and conducting long-term
groundwater monitoring. Eventually, the City of
Kalamazoo hopes to retain a portion of the site for future
reuse and redevelopment. For the Kalamazoo River
Area 2 (between the former Plainwell Dam and the
Otsego City Dam), the approved cleanup activities
included removal of the Otsego City Dam, realignment
of the river to create a single stable channel, bank soil
and PCB "hot spot"' excavation, capping of the
anabranch areas where streams break away from the
main river and rejoin further downstream, and long-term
monitoring. So far, more than 11,000 feet of riverbank
have been cleaned up by removing more than 30,000
tons of PCB-contaminated soils and sediments.
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Operations from seven paper mills at the Allied
Paper Inc. / Portage Creek / Kalamazoo River Site
led to PCB contamination along 77 miles of the
Kalamazoo River and a 3-mile stretch of the Portage
Creek in Southwestern Michigan. ETSC reviewed a
biorc mediation technology for the site inFY17.
(Figure source: US EPA, 2015).
For the Kalamazoo River Area 4 (between the Otsego
Township Dam and Trowbridge Dam), a draft
investigation report was submitted and is under EPA
review. At the Kalamazoo River Area 5 (between the
Trowbridge Dam and Allegan City Dam), field
investigations have begun. At the Plainwell Mill OU,
the cleanup plan required the excavation and off-site
disposal of contaminated soil. The cleanup work plans
were finalized in September 2016, and Pre-Design
Investigation work was completed in 2017 with cleanup
work anticipated to begin in Summer 2018 (EPA,
2018h).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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ETSC members met with a vendor, Biopath Solutions,
and representatives for Region 5 for context and
reviewed the vendor's bioremediation technology to
determine its appropriateness for remediating PCBs at
the site. The support team that worked on this project
was nominated for a national Superfund program award.
Lead Contamination at the John T. Lewis /
Anzon Factory Site (Region 3)
The John T. Lewis facility is in the Kensington and Port
Richmond area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From
1849 to 1996, lead products including lead paint were
produced at the John T. Lewis facility. These operations
contaminated the on-site and nearby off-site soils with
lead and other metals. The area currently consists of
residential homes mixed with industrial, commercial,
and educational/service facilities. The community
expressed concerns about lead in the soils of residential
areas, eating home-grown vegetables grown in
potentially contaminated soils, and potential cancer
effects of lead exposure. The City of Philadelphia, the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
EPA, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) have conducted numerous environmental and
public health investigations around the site since the
1970s.
WOP/CTMSj
The abandoned John T. Lewis factory is in a densely populated area of Philadelphia. Lead contamination has been found
on-site and at surrounding areas, posing health risks to the nearby community. (Figure source: City of Philadelphia as
Dublished in Ruderman et al.. 2017).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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In 2014, the ATSDR evaluated 2009 and 2011 EPA
soil sampling data for a few residential properties near
the former John T. Lewis site, and evaluated exposure
to lead and arsenic from residential soils (ATSDR,
2014). One important finding from this study was that
more than 75 percent of children (age 6 months to 7
years) who regularly play in the yards that were
sampled could be exposed to lead in soil at levels high
enough to raise their average blood lead levels above
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention current
childhood blood lead reference level of 5 pg/dL.
ATSDR also concluded that soil levels were 'high"
throughout the Kensington and Port Richmond area,
and could adversely affect children (ATSDR, 2014).
The ETSC, through a Region 3 request, is currently
working on a research project within NRMRL and the
National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) to
investigate residential lead contamination. The ETSC
is also conducting a lead isotopic source attribution
effort to determine the extent, if any, of off-site lead
transport.
PFOA and PFOS Contamination at the
Fairchild Air Force Base (Region 10)
The Fairchild Air Force Base site in Spokane County,
Washington consists of 5,823 acres and 1,259
buildings. The base primarily maintains and repairs
large bombers and tankers. During past base activities,
more than 4,000 drum equivalents of carbon
tetrachloride and other solvents, paint wastes, plating
sludges containing cadmium and lead, and related
industrial wastes were disposed at four main waste
areas including two landfills and waste lagoons,
encompassing a total of 85 acres. EPA placed the site
on the NPL in 1989.
Under the Air Force Environmental Restoration
Program (ERP), 37 ERP sites and two areas of concern
have been identified at the site since the early 1980s.
Remediation activities included removal of 12,000
tons of contaminated soil and concrete, and treatment
of 310,300 gallons of contaminated groundwater at
former underground storage tank sites in the airfield
area (Secretary of Defense, 2012). One of the ERP
sites, the Craig Road Landfill, was considered the
source of a large trichloroethylene (TCE) plume (Bell
Legal Group, 2010) with concentrations at more than
three times the cleanup level, which extends to 200
feet below ground surface (Secretary of Defense,
2012). Remedial activities included a solar-powered
in-situ bioreactor that pumps groundwater through a
mulch bed with an added carbon source (recycled
cheese whey) to degrade the TCE. This was
supplemented by a phytorcmediation study to quantify
the annual amount of TCE that was removed by a
poplar tree stand.
Cheese whey being applied during the construction of the
sustainable bioreactor demonstration project. Fairchild
AFB worked cooperatively with a local creamery to
enable the reuse of cheese whey , a by product from
creamery processes. The cheese whey served as a
necessary carbon source within the construction of the
solar-operated bioreactor and promotes the breakdown of
contaminants in groundwater and using natural processes.
(Figure source: Secretary of Defense, 2012).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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The study concluded that measured removal rates were
substantial, and calculated that the TCE mass in
groundwater below the poplar tree stand decreased 10
percent m a 5-year span. Based on a 2011 ROD
between the Air Force, EPA, and State of Washington,
efforts were made to further delineate the nature and
extent of the plume and address vapor intrusion issues.
Remedies consisted of optimization of the existing
groundwater extraction and treatment system,
operating in conjunction with dual-purpose
remediation wells for soil vapor extraction and in-situ
chemical oxidation injections. These measures
improved TCE removal from groundwater by 600
percent (Secretary of Defense, 2012).
In 2017, PFOS and PFOA concentrations above EPA
lifetime health advisory levels were detected in two
groundwater wells used to supply the city of Airway
Heights (City of Airway Heights and Fairchild Air
Force Base, 2017). The contamination is from the on-
site fire-fighting training exercise and aircraft accident
response sites where aqueous film-forming foam
(AFFF), a fire-fighting agent, has been in use. To-date
responses to the contamination included transition to
an alternative PFOS-free AFFF, testing of all drinking
water sources used by the base, and testing of
potentially affected private wells along the base
perimeter (Liapis, 2017).
In FY17, ETSC reviewed the Air Force's proposed
sampling and analysis plan for PFOS for the base.
Upon review, ETSC requested additional sampling
metrics and information to better evaluate the presence
and concentrations of PFOS. ETSC personnel then
reviewed and validated analytical results from the on-
base PFOS/PFOA groundwater sampling that was
performed at as part of the AFFF Release Areas Site
Investigation.
RISK ASSESSMENT & DECISION ANALYSIS
ETSC routinely provides guidance on site-specific information to assess risks and support decision making.
ETSC staff develops decision trees, assists with remedy selection, develops cleanup plans, and uses models
and decision support tools to recommend next steps. ETSC also develops general guidance documents and
procedures to disseminate knowledge to others in the environmental field.
In FY17, ETSC provided risk assessment and decision analysis support to more than 13 unique sites. Some
examples of this support include the following:
• Provided expertise to evaluate metals, specifically arsenic and mercury in fish tissue, for a site-specific
biological evaluation;
• Developed a generalized approach and analytical method to screen and assess risks from total petroleum
hydrocarbons contamination;
• Assisted with identifying which contaminants need to be addressed on site, to what levels, and how to
use that information to determine potential treatment technologies for the Bonita Peak Mining District
(Region 8); and
• Delivered a presentation on risk-reduction strategies for dioxin in soils to representatives of the
Vietnamese government.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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Dissemination and Knowledge Sharing
ETSC disseminates its important work in a variety of formats to broaden its reach. In FY 17. 67 scientific
communication products, of the types noted in the figure below, were produced.
DATASET
SUMMARY
INTERNAL REPORT
TECHNICAL FACT SHEET
REPORT
PEER REVIEWED
ABSTRACT
PRESENTATION
POSTER
10
15
20
25
In collaboration with researchers from EPA Regions, other government agencies, states and universities, ETSC-
assigned staff published 20 peer-reviewed journal articles in FY 17, including the following:
1. Butler, B.. and R. Ford. Evaluating relationships between total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS)
in a mining-influenced watershed. Mine Water and the Environment (2017)
2. Kama. R., T. Luxton, K. Bronstcin. J. Redmon and K. Scheckel. State of the science review: Potential for beneficial
use of waste by-products for in-situ remediation of metal-contaminated soil and sediment. Critical Reviews in
Environmental Science and Technology. 47:65-129 (2016).
3. Kama. R., M. Noerpel, A. Betts, and k. Scheckel. Lead and arsenic bioaccessibility and speciation as a function of soil
particle size. Submitted to Journal of Enviromnental Quality.
4. Huling, S,, R. Ross. K. Prestbo. In-situ chemical oxidation: Permanganate oxidant volume design considerations.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation. 37(2):78-86 (2017).
5. Al-Abed, S., P. Pinto, J. McKernan. E. Feld. and S. Lomnicki. Mechanisms and effectivity of sulfate reducing
bioreactors using a chitinous substrate in treating mining influenced water. Chemical Engineering Journal. 323: 270-
277.
6. Pinto, P., S. Al-Abed. Assessing metal mobilization from industrially lead-contaminated soils located at an urban site.
Applied Geochemistry. 87:31-40 (2017).
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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7. Eckley, C., T. Luxton, J. Goetz, and J. McKernan.
Water-level fluctuations influence sediment
porewater chemistry and methylmercurv production
in a flood-control reservoir. Environmental
Pollution. 222: 32-41 (2017).
8. Gitipour. A., S. Al-Abed, S. Tliiel, K. Scheckel, and
T. Tolaymat. Nanosilver as a disinfectant in dental
unit waterlines: Assessment of the physiochemical
transformations of the AgNPs. Chemosphere. 173:
245-252 (2017).
9. Griggs. J.L., K.R. Rogers, C. Nelson, T. Luxton,
W.E. Flatten and K.D. Bradham. In vitro
bioaccessibilitv of copper azole following simulated
dermal transfer from pressure-treated wood. Science
of The Total Enviromnent. 598: 413-420 (2017).
10. He, Y, S. Al-Abed and D. Dionysiou. Quantification
of carbon nanotubes in different environmental
matrices by a microwave induced heating method.
Science of the Total Environment. 580: 509-517
(2017).
11. Ivask, A., K. Scheckel, P. Kapruwan, V. Stone, H.
Yin, N. Voelcker, and E. Lombi. Complete
transformation of ZnO and CuO nanoparticles in
culture medium and lymphocyte cells during toxicity
testing. Nanotoxicity, 11(2): 150-156 (2017).
12. Koralegedara, N„ H. Nadeesha, S. Al-Abed, S.
Rodrigo, R. Kama, K, Scheckel, and D. Dionysiou.
Alterations of lead speciation by sulfate from
addition of flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG)
in two contaminated soils. Science of the Total
Enviromnent. 575: 1522-1529 (2017).
WORKSHOPS
The ETSC staff frequently leads and participates
in workshops. In FY 17, Steve Rock presented
"Introduction to Phytoremediation" in San
Francisco, CA, July 18-19. Case studies were
discussed during the EPA/Inter-Agency
Phytoremediation Workshop: Phytoremediation
Applications for Contaminated Site Cleanup,
which was sponsored by ORD and Region 9.
The purpose of this workshop was to provide
participants with an opportunity to learn, examine,
and discuss current and emerging approaches
related to phytoremediation to control sources,
plumes, and vapor inhalation threats at
contaminated sites.
Workshop participants included contaminated site
RPMs, OSCs, remediation researchers and
practitioners, and federal, state, local and tribal
decision makers, including NASA, USGS, and
DOD. The ETSC Director, John McKernan, was
also involved with this training.
13. Koralegedara, N. H., S.R. Al-Abed, M.K.J. Arambewela, and D.D. Dionysiou. Impact of leaching conditions on
constituents release from Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum (FGDG) and FGDG-soil mixture. Journal of Hazardous
Materials. 324 (Special Issue): 83-93 (2017) DOI: 10.i016/j.jhazmat.2016.01.019 SHC 3.63.3.
14. Neamtiu, I., S. Al-Abed, J. McKernan, C. Baciu, E. Gurzau, A. Pogacean and S. Bessler. Metals contamination in
enviromnental media in residential areas around Romanian mining sites. Reviews on Enviromnental Health. 32(1-2)
(2017) DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2016-0033.
15. Punshon, T.. B. Jackson A. Meliarg, T. Warczak, K. Scheckel and M. Guerinot. Understanding arsenic dynamics in
agronomic systems to predict and prevent uptake by crop plants. Science of the Total Enviromnent. 581-2: 209-220
(2017) DOI:'10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.111 SHC 2.62.3
16. Tolaymat, T., A. Genaidy, W. Abdelraheem D. Dionysiou and C. Andersen. The effects of metallic engineered
nanoparticles upon plant systems. Science of the Total Enviromnent. 579: 93-106 (2017) DOI:
10.1016/j.scilolenv.2016.10.229 CSS 18.02.01
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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17. Tolaymat, T., A. El Badawy, A. Genaidy, and W. Abdelralieem. Analysis of metallic and metal oxide nano material
enviromnental emission. Journal of Cleaner Production. 143: 401-412 (2017) DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.094
18. Wang, P., E. Lombi, S. Sun, K. Scheckel, A. Malvsheva, B. McKenna, N. Menzies, F. Zhao, and P. Kopittke.
Characterizing the uptake, accumulation and toxicity of silver sulfide nanoparticles in plants. Environmental Science:
Nano 4:448-460 (2017) DOI: 10.1039/c6en00489j CSS18.02.01
19. Whitacre, S., N. Basta. B. Stevens, V. Hanley, R. Anderson, and k. Scheckel. Modification of an existing in vitro
method to predict relative bioavailable arsenic in soils. Chemosphere. 180: 545-552 (2017) DOI:
10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.134 SHC 2.62.3
20. Wohlleben. W., C. Kingston, J. Carter, E. Sahle-Demessie, S. Vazquez-Campos, B. Acrey, C.Y. Chen, E. Walton, H.
Egenolf, P. Muller, and R. Zepp. NanoRelease: Pilot interlaboratoiy comparison of a weathering protocol applied to
resilient and labile polymers with and without embedded carbon nanotubes. Carbon, 113: 346-360. (2017)
DOI:10.1016/j. carbon. 2016.11.011.
Engineering Issue Papers (EIPs) are prepared when knowledge gaps on a technical subject are identified. 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 EPA 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. Leading engineers and scientists inside the Agency, federal government community,
academia, or the contracting community may also be consulted for input.
ENGINEERING ISSUE PAPER: SOIL VAPOR EXTRACTION
ETSC drafted an E1P on soil vapor extraction (SVE) in FY 17 that summarizes the state-of-the-science
regarding the widespread use of SVE as a major treatment technology for removing VOCs from soil. SVE
can be applied alone or as an integral component of more complex remedial technologies that volatilize
subsurface contaminants (e.g., thermal remediation, air sparging). This EIP also provides information
describing SVE and its applicability and limitations; site characterization; design and construction;
performance monitoring, evaluation, optimization, and shutdown; complementary technologies; costs; case
studies; and references for further information.
Other key reports published in FY 17 include the following:
Adsorption-based Treatment Systems for Removing Chemical Vapors from Indoor Air;
Pre-Dredge Sediment Characterization of the Ottawa River;
Methods and Metrics for Evaluating Environmental Dredging at the Ashtabula River Area of Concern
(AOC);
Pilot-Scale Demonstration of In-Situ Chemical Oxidation Involving Chlorinated Volatile Organic
Compounds—Design and Deployment Guidelines (Parris Island, SC, U.S. Marine Corp Recruit Depot, Site
45 Pilot Study); and
Organic Waste Diversion in Columbia, South Carolina, Feasibility Study.
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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References
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). 2014. Health Consultation: Soil Data Review for Properties near
the Former John T. Lewis and Brothers Site. June 3, 2014. Available at:
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/IiAC/pha/FormerJohnTLewisandBrothersSite/JT%20Lewis%20and%20Brothers%20Site%20
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2016.
Ruderman W., Laker, B„ Purcell, D. 2017. In booming Philadelphia neighborhoods, lead-poisoned soil is resurfacing. The
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lead-soil-fishtown-constructioii-dust.html cf. Accessed January 18, 2018.
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content/uploads/2014/08/americancvanamid fourth five year review.pd , Accessed February 18, 2018.
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US EPA. 2018a. Anaconda Copper Mine. Yerington, NV. Available at
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2018.
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Contact Information
John McKernan
Edwin Barth
Co-Directors, ORD Engineering Technical Support Center
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Mail Stop 190
Cincinnati, OH 45268
ETSC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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v>EPA
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
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