TechDirect, December 1, 2008 Welcome to TechDirect! Since the November 1 message, TechDirect gained 295 new subscribers for a total of 32,246. If you feel the service is valuable, please share TechDirect with your colleagues. Anyone interested in subscribing may do so on CLU-IN at http://ciu-in.org . All previous issues of TechDirect are archived there. The TechDirect messages of the past can be searched by keyword or can be viewed as individual issues. TechDirect's purpose is to identify new technical, policy and guidance resources related to the assessment and remediation of contaminated soil, sediments and ground water. 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. > Open Solicitations AFCEE Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Open for FY 2009. The Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE) released its annual Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for FY 2009 on November 4. This announcement seeks out technologies to reduce environmental impacts from current and past USAF operations and apply to USAF installations worldwide. The key focus of this effort is to further develop field-tested remediation, contaminated site characterization and monitoring, and pollution prevention technologies and methodologies that serve as an innovative means to save money and time while achieving compliance with all air, soil, and water regulatory requirements and USAF policies and technical guidance. The goal is to identify more technically advanced, efficient, effective, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective solutions than are currently available. Such technologies and methodologies should aid the US Air Force in reaching the remedy-in-place (RIP) goal of 2012 or optimizing current remediation or monitoring systems already in place. Phase I submittals are due by December 8, 2008. Detailed instructions and the BAA form are available at httEV/wwWjatceejDraokSjatjiTN/Ekv/baa/ . SERDP Core Solicitation. The DoD Strategic Environmental Research and Demonstration Program (SERDP) released its annual Core solicitation for FY 2010 on November 6. Both federal and non-federal organizations may participate. The Core Solicitation provides funding opportunities for projects that vary in cost and duration. SERDP has four areas in its Statements of Need (SON), which include: environmental restoration, munitions management, sustainable infrastructure, and weapons systems and platforms. For the CORE solicitation, pre-proposals from the non-federal sector are due by January 8, 2009. Proposals from the federal sector are due by March 12, 2009. SONs and detailed instructions for federal and non-federal sector proposers are available at httEV/wwwjsei^iaiaZItiiidiiifli ¦ SERDP SEED Solicitation. SERDP released its annual SERDP Exploratory Development (SEED) solicitation for FY 2010 on November 6. Both federal and non-federal organizations may participate. The SEED Solicitation is designed to provide limited funding for high technical risk and/or high payoff projects. SEED proposals are, by definition, limited to a maximum of $150K and a period of TechDirect: December 1, 2008 1 of 5 clu-in.ora/newsletters ------- performance of one year. SERDP has three areas in its SON, which include: munitions management, sustainable infrastructure, and weapons systems and platforms. All SEED proposals are due by March 12, 2008. SONs and detailed instructions for federal and non-federal sector proposers are available at http://www.serdp.ora/fundina/. > Upcoming Live Internet Seminars ITRC Performance-based Environmental Management - December 2, 2:00PM-4:15PM EST (19:00-21:15 GMT). Performance-based environmental management (PBEM) is a strategic, goal-oriented methodology that is implemented through effective planning and decision logic to reach a desired end state of site cleanup. The goal of PBEM is to be protective of human health and the environment while efficiently implementing appropriate streamlined cleanup processes. This ITRC training presents an overview of what PBEM is, explains how and when to implement it, and describes the issues that regulators are concerned about throughout PBEM's implementation. Case studies will be presented to illustrate successful PBEM projects. The course is valuable not only because PBEM is being proposed and implemented at many federal and private sites throughout the country, but also because PBEM provides an opportunity to enhance all site remediation. For more information and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.ora Or http://clu-in.ora/studio . USEPA-ILEPA Green Remediation Update - December 3,11:00AM-1:00PM EST (16:00-18:00 GMT). As part of the U.S. EPA's goal of improved environmental stewardship across its programs, the Agency has begun examining opportunities to integrate sustainable practices into the strategies used to remediate and manage contaminated lands. Four related topics will be discussed in this seminar; 1) The broader concept of sustainability in our cleanup programs, 2) placing renewable energy on contaminated lands, 3) reducing the environmental footprint of implementing site cleanups thru green remediation and 4) the evolving concept for a national voluntary green remediation standards program. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/studio . ITRC An Overview of Direct-push Well Technology for Long-term Groundwater Monitoring - December 11,11:00AM-1:15PM EST (16:00-18:15 GMT). Direct-push wells have been used for temporary groundwater monitoring purposes for many years but are generally prohibited for use as long-term groundwater monitoring wells. Recent research indicates that direct-push wells are as well suited for long-term environmental groundwater monitoring purposes as conventionally constructed wells. This training introduces ITRC's The Use of Direct-push Well Technology for Long-term Environmental Monitoring in Groundwater Investigations (SCM-2, 2006), provides a background in the principles of direct-push wells, and presents the state of the art regarding recent research. For more information and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.ora or http://clu-in.ora/studio . ITRC Use of Risk Assessment in Management of Contaminated Sites - January 6, 2:00PM-4:15PM EST (19:00-21:15 GMT). This training course identifies how various risk-based approaches and criteria are applied throughout the processes of screening, characterization, and management of contaminated sites. The training course and associated overview document, Use of Risk Assessment in Management of Contaminated Sites (RISK-2, 2008), are intended for risk assessors and project managers involved with the characterization, remediation, and/or re-use of sites. The training and overview document provide a valuable tool for federal and state regulatory agencies to demonstrate how site data collection, risk assessment, and risk management may be better integrated. For more information and to register, see TechDirect: December 1, 2008 2 of 5 clu-in.ora/newsletters ------- http://www.itrcweb.ora OP http://clu-in.ora/studio . Green Remediation: Opening the Door to Field Use Session C (Green Remediation Tools and Examples) - January 13,1:00PM-3:00PM EST (18:00-20:00 GMT). In July, EPA held its annual National Association of Remedial Project Managers meeting in Portland, OR and one of our most attended sessions was on Green Remediation (GR). Because of its success, members of EPA's Technical Support Project, led by the Engineering Forum, have taken this full-day session and are bringing back a number of the same talks as online seminars this fall and winter. There will be three sessions, each 1.5 hours long. EPA's definition of GR includes the practice of considering the environmental effects of a remediation strategy (i.e., the remedy selected and the implementation approach) early in the process, and incorporating options to maximize the net environmental benefit of the cleanup action. Some practices are quite "mature," such as construction site best management practices including stormwater runoff management and construction and demolition (C&D) debris recycling. Others are still emerging, including the use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar to power remedial systems. Over the three sessions, the online training will introduce you to the key technical, policy, and application aspects of GR. For more information and to register, see http://ciu-in.ora/studio . > New Documents and Web Resources ECO Update/Ground Water Forum Issue Paper: Evaluating Ground-Water/Surface-Water Transition Zones in Ecological Risk Assessments (EPA 540-R-06-072). This document highlights the need to treat the discharge of groundwater to surface-water not as a two-dimensional area with static boundary conditions, but as three-dimensional volumes with dynamic transition zones. This ECO Update applies equally to recharge zones and can be used to evaluate advancing plumes that have not yet reached the transition zone. This document encourages project managers, ecological risk assessors, and hydrogeologists to expand their focus beyond shoreline wells and surface sediments and define and characterize the actual fate of contaminants as they move from a strictly ground-water environment (i.e., the commonly used "upland monitoring well nearest the shoreline") through the transition zone and into a wholly surface-water environment. The approach is presented to help users identify and evaluate potential exposures and effects to relevant ecological receptors within the zone where ground-water and surface-water mix. The transition zone data collected for the ERA may also supplement data collected for the evaluation of potential human health risks associated with the discharge of contaminated ground-water. Should ground-water remediation be warranted (as a result of the risk assessment), the locational, geochemical, and biological aspects of the transition zone can be considered when identifying and evaluating remedial options (July 2008, 30 pages). View or download at http://www.epa.aov/oswer/riskassessment/ecoup/pdf/eco update 08.pdf . Engineering Issue: Indoor Air Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Approaches (EPA 600-R-08-115).The purpose of this document is to present the state of the science regarding management and treatment of vapor intrusion into building structures. Wherever feasible, this information relies on independently reviewed mitigation performance information. In an effort to keep this Engineering Issue paper concise, important information is summarized, while references and Web links are provided for readers interested in additional information; these Web links, verified as accurate at the time of publication, are subject to change. Although we have endeavored to make these links fully functional with a mouse click, if they do not function on your system, you may need to copy them into your browser or reenter them. As science and technology associated with this route of exposure continues to develop, other TechDirect: December 1, 2008 3 of 5 clu-in.ora/newsletters ------- mitigation measures may become available (October 2008, 49 pages). View or download at http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r08115/600r08115.htm . EUGRIS Corner. New Documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information. More than 46 resources, events projects and news items were added to EUGRIS 1 - 24 November, 2008. These can be viewed at http://www.euaris.info/whatsnew.asp. Then select the appropriate month and year for the updates in which you are interested. The following reports were featured on EUGRIS: Assigning Groundwater Assessment Criteria for Pollutant Inputs (2008). This guidance describes how prevent and limit requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC should be applied to assess potentially polluting high risk point source inputs to groundwater. For example: large discharges to soakaway of sewage or trade effluents; the percolation of leachate from land contamination or through the basal liner of landfills; where a quantitative assessment is being carried out. Use of this guidance to regulate inputs to groundwater will enable most of the groundwater quality objectives of both the Groundwater and the Water Framework Directives to be achieved. View or download at http://www.sepa,ora.uk/about Us/idoc,ashx?docid=5a0b6e42-1f7a-42ea-a2b2-c173d2ff842d&version=-1. Institution of Civil Engineers Demolition Protocol (2008). The 2008 Demolition Protocol has been developed to provide an overarching framework which enables the waste hierarchy to inform approaches for managing buildings and structures at the end of their lives. There is more emphasis on the need to assess the reuse of buildings, structures, elements and products prior to demolition and recycling activities, recognising the carbon benefits of doing so. The 2008 Protocol also provides an integrated approach to the development of Site Waste Management Plans, with indicative targets described and approaches which deliver major benefits to clients. View or download at http://www.ice.ora.Uk/downioads//Demoiition%20protocoi%202008.pdf. > Conferences and Symposia Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop, Washington, DC, December 2-4, 2008. This event is sponsored by the Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program (SERDP), DoD's environmental science and technology program, and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), DoD's environmental technology demonstration and validation program.This year's Symposium & Workshop has been expanded to a full three-day format that will offer a more comprehensive technical program featuring 13 technical sessions and five short courses. Technical sessions will highlight research and innovative technologies that assist the Department of Defense (DoD) in addressing increasingly complex environmental and mission sustainability challenges. Over the course of the three days, short courses on select technologies in the environmental restoration and munitions management areas will offer unique training opportunities on recent advancements in science and technologyFor more information and to register, SG6 http://www.serdp-estcp.ora/svmposium2008/ . EPA's Environmental Information Symposium, Phoenix, AZ, December 10-12, 2008. The theme for this year's symposium is "Transforming Information Into Solutions." The Symposium will highlight how next-generation information technologies are being used to assist organizations and empower communities. Representatives from State, local, Tribal, and federal government; NGOs; academia; and the private sector have been invited to participate and learn about our new Environmental Information Access Strategy; engage in the latest technology innovations; discover the TechDirect: December 1, 2008 4 of 5 clu-in.ora/newsletters ------- power of collaborative problem-solving; share ideas to enhance the integrity, speed, and agility of decision-making; and network and partner with like-minded colleagues. For more information and to register, see http://www.epa.aov/oei/svmposium/2008/. National Forum on Vapor Intrusion: Science, Technology and Policy, Philadelphia, PA, January 12-13, 2009. This forum will be structured on dual tracks with common sessions. Technical presentations on sampling, assessment, risk, and engineering are being planned, and case studies illustrating a cross section of vapor intrusion issues from the perspective of community stakeholders, Brownfields, EPA, and states will be presented. There will be two breakout sessions: one on community issues and one on government programs. Although all speakers are by invitation only, poster presentations are welcome. For more information on poster presentations and tO register, see http://www.epa.aov/osp/stlworkshops.htm . NOTE: For TechDirect, we prefer to concentrate mainly on new documents and the Internet live events. However, we do support an area on CLU-IN where announcement of conferences and courses can be regularly posted. Currently there are 160 conferences and courses featured. We invite sponsors to input information on their events at http://ciu-in.ora/courses. Likewise, readers may visit this area for news of upcoming events that might be of interest. It allows users to search events by location, topic, time period, etc. If you have any questions regarding TechDirect, contact Jeff Heimerman at (703) 603-7191 or heimerman.ieff@epa.gov. Remember, you may subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription address at http://ciu-in.ora/techdrct at any time night or day. Unsubscribe | Modify Your Subscription | Questions & Comments | Technical Problems Privacy and Security Notice TechDirect Archives TechDirect: December 1, 2008 5 of 5 clu-in .ora/newsletters ------- |