Message #45: November 2000
Since October 1, TechDirect gained 225 new subscribers for a total
of 9301. Welcome to everyone just joining TechDirect. We hope this
continues to be a useful resource.
Editor's Note. Our Internet Seminar series has become an
increasingly popular method for sharing new information on technical
approaches to site clean-up. More than 3500 people from 19
countries on five continents participate on these live events. If you
haven't participated on one to date, you might be surprised how easy
it is to do so.
Mention of non-EPA documents or presentations does not constitute
a U.S. EPA endorsement of their contents, only an acknowledgment
that they exist and may be relevant to the TechDirect audience.
Live Seminar Webcasts
Dynamic Data Collection Strategy Using Systematic Planning
and Innovative Field-Based Measurement Technologies. This live
FREE webcast is designed to introduce regulators, site cleanup
professionals, site owners, and community stakeholders to the
importance of using systematic planning to implement dynamic data
collection approaches using innovative field measurement
technologies. Using case studies, the seminar provides insight for
three distinct data collection efforts: site characterization,
removal/remedial action and treatment system optimization.
Systematic planning ensures that the project team collects the "right"
data about the matrix (i.e. groundwater, soils, sediments) under
investigation to support the critical project decisions. These tools
may be used at any project stage to accurately characterize,
optimize and effectively achieve site clean-up goals with minimal
mobilizations to the field. Seminars are scheduled for November 16,
December 6 and 19. To participate via phone line or simulcast port,
you must register at http://clu-in.org/conf/tio . To find out about other upcoming
web events or access archived presentations from past seminars,
S00 http://clu-in.org/studio .
Documents
Statistical Estimation and Visualization of Ground-Water
Contamination Data (EPA 600-R-00-034). This report was
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published by EPA's National Risk Management Research
Laboratory. This work presents methods of visualizing and animating
statistical estimates of ground water and/or soil contamination over a
region from observations of the contaminant for that region. The
primary statistical methods used to produce the regional estimates
are non-parametric regression and geostatistical modeling (kriging).
Nonparametric regression can be used as a more "rough and
ready"method to produce surface estimates with little outside
intervention, whereas geostatistical modeling produces prediction
errors. Finally, a method is proposed for estimating the total amount
of contaminant present in a region (August 2000, 59 pages). View or
download at http://www.epa.aov/ada/download/reports/epa 600 rOO 034.pdf . Hard copies will
be available in 2-3 weeks, contact Kay Cooper at (580) 436-8651 or
fax (580) 436-8503.
Results-Based Corrective Action - Draft Guidance Document for
Public Comment. The U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste (OSW) draft
Results-Based Approaches to Corrective Action Guidance is now
available for public comment. This guidance is part of the RCRA
Cleanup Reforms that EPA announced on July 8, 1999. Tim Fields,
in his July 1999 announcement of the Reforms highlighted this
guidance as one of the key elements in changing the culture of the
RCRA Corrective Action Program. EPA is writing this guidance so
that EPA and State regulators and owner/operators will begin to
understand and routinely incorporate results-based approaches
where appropriate into their cleanups. Results-based approaches
are intended to help project managers and owner/operators more
efficiently identify releases and risks, and increase the pace of
facility cleanup. These approaches encourage technical and
administrative innovation to achieve environmentally protective
cleanups on a facility-specific basis (July 2000, 21 pages). View or
download at http://www,epa,aov/correctiveaction .
No-Purge Groundwater Sampling: An Approach for Long-Term
Monitoring (API Bulletin No. 12). This report was prepared for the
American Petroleum Institute. It reviews data at six studies which
compared no-purge sampling to conventional sampling with purging.
The report authors found that samples collected without prior
purging of the monitoring well are not statistically different or provide
conservative results compared to samples from wells which were
purged using conventional techniques. The report defines no- purge
sampling, presents data from each of the comparative studies and
provides suggestions on when and how no-purge sampling should
be used. The regulatory status of no-purge sampling in the US is
summarized (October 2000, 10 pages). View or download
http://www.api,ora/ehs/saresbul.htrn A website has been established for discussion
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of no-purge sampling at: http://communities.msn.com/NoPuraeGroundwaterSamplina
XRF Analysis of PCBs and Inorganics (OST/TMS ID 2398). This
report was published by the U.S. Department of Energy
Decontamination and Decommissioning Focus Area. This
demonstration investigated the feasibility of using the SPECTRO
XEPOS X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer to measure
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and RCRA metals in paint and
soil. This report compares the cost and performance of the baseline
laboratory analysis to the cost and performance of the SPECTRO
XEPOS Analyzer (September 2000, 35 pages). View or download at
http://tms.em.doe.gov/ . [This is an updated URL from the mailing]
Compact High Resolution Spectrometer (DOE/EM-0548). This
report was published by the U.S. Department of Energy
Characterization, Monitoring, and Sensor Technology Crosscutting
Program. This report describes the cost, performance, and other key
characteristics of the Compact High Resolution Spectrometer. The
capabilities of the CHRS were documented in a number of separate
demonstrations described in the report. Because the CHRS is a
technology component, it was appropriate that most of the
demonstrations were in a laboratory environment, culminating in
pilot-scale field demonstrations of the CHRS as part of a complete
multi-element CEM system (September 2000, 39 Pages). View or
download at http://tms.em.doe.aov/ .
Innovative Technology Summary Report: Spectral Gamma
Probe (DOE EM-0542). This report was published by the U.S.
Department of Energy. The spectral Gamma Probe was evaluated at
the R-Reactor Seepage Basins at the Savannah River Site in South
Carolina during 1997 for its ability to provide quantitative
measurements of gamma radiation in situ in the subsurface. The
Spectral Gamma Probe was tested for its ability to measure cesium-
137 (Cs-137) in the presence of other subsurface radioactive
contaminants. A total of nine CPT pushes were conducted in
seepage basins near the R-reactor. The data from these nine holes
were from three different basins and were compared to laboratory
measurements on core material collected from each of the same
three basins (September 2000, 26 pages). View or download at
http://apps.em.doe.gov/ost/ .
Grant Opportunity
JOINT PROGRAM ON PHYTOREMEDIATION (2001-STAR- C1).
This solicitation is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval
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Research, and the DOD/DOE/EPA Strategic Environmental
Research and Development Program. The solicitation opened
September 5 and closes January 22, 2001. This Announcement of
Opportunity is to solicit applications for research projects that
address the fundamental mechanisms of interactions between
microorganisms, plants, and contaminant chemicals in soils and
sediments (which might include marine, estuarine, or freshwater
systems) which result in the degradation, extraction, volatilization, or
stabilization of the waste chemical. Academic and not-for-profit
institutions located in the U.S., and state or local governments, are
eligible under all existing authorizations. Approximately $ 2.8 million
will be available for this program during the first year, depending on
the availability of funds and the programmatic relevance of
recommended projects to the participating agencies. The upper limit
for awards is $150,000 per year, total costs, for up to three years.
For complete information, see http://es.epa.qov/ncerqa/rfa/phvtoreOO.html#PROG RAM DESCRIPTION
Conferences and Symposia
ITRC Training: Accelerated ISB of Chlorinated Solvents, Tampa,
FL, December 5-6. The Interstate Technology Regulatory
Cooperation (ITRC) workgroup's In Situ Bioremediation Team, in
conjunction with the Remediation Technologies Development
Forum, developed the classroom training course Accelerated In Situ
Bioremediation of Chlorinated Solvents, a follow-on to the team's
successful natural attenuation course. This course focuses on the
use of enhancements to the subsurface environment to accelerate
the biodegradation of chlorinated solvents and is designed to provide
sufficient technical and regulatory information for making informed
decisions about the feasibility of enhanced in situ bioremediation
projects. A brochure for for future events may be seen at
http://www.itrcweb.org/ .
Partners in Environmental Technology Workshop, Arlington,
VA, November 28-30. This event is sponsored by the Strategic
Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and
the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program
(ESTCP). This DOD conference hopes to nurture public/ private
collaboration to develop promising new technologies to address
DOD environmental issues. For agenda and logistics information,
See httEV/wwWjSerdEifilfl OT htteV/wwWjestcEiOra.
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