United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory Research Abstract Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) Goal 3, Land Preservation and Restoration Annual Performance Measure #213 Significant Research Findings: Provide data for use in NRMRL's Annual Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program Progress Report The use of field analysis often provides a savings in time and cost over the usual 'sample and ship' to a conventional laboratory for analysis approach to site characterization and monitoring. With improvements in technology and appropriate quality assurance/quality control, field analysis has been shown to provide high quality data useful for most environmental monitoring or characterization projects. The objective of the SITE program is to promote the acceptance and use of innovative field technologies by providing well-documented performance and cost data obtained from field demonstrations. The Measurement and Monitoring Technology (MMT) Program, a part of the overall SITE program, is designed to conduct demonstrations that will generate high-quality data so that potential users have reliable information regarding the technology performance and cost. Four steps are inherent in the process: (1) needs identification and technology selection, (2) demonstration planning and implementation, (3) report preparation, and (4) information distribution. The first step of the technology verification process begins with identifying technology needs of the EPA and regulated community. The EPA Regional offices, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Defense, industry, and state environmental regulatory agencies are asked to identify technology needs for sampling, measurement, and monitoring of environmental media. The second step of the technology verification process is to plan and implement a demonstration that will generate representative, high-quality data to assist potential users in selecting a technology. The third step of the technology verification process is for EPA to publish a verification statement and a detailed evaluation of each technology in an innovative technology verification report (ITVR). Lastly, EPA distributes demonstration information through the use of fact sheets, newsletters, brochures, bulletins and ITVRs through direct mailings, at conferences, and on the Internet. Summary MMT input is provided to the Scientific Problem and Policy Issues Research Approach ------- National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) for inclusion in the annual SITE program progress report. Results and In FY03, the MMT program completed a demonstration of technologies for Impact the determination of mercury in soils and sediments with the final reports being published in FY04. Results from the demonstration are being used by the Office of Solid Waste to revise their SW-846 method for measuring mercury contamination. The SITE reports have also been used by the manufacturers of the technologies participating in the demonstration as indications of their technology's performance capabilities. The field element of a demonstration of assays for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds was completed in the spring of 2004 and the ITVRs are in preparation. When published, the results from this demonstration may be used by many programs including the EPA's National Dioxin program and the Superfund's Contract Laboratory program to change/modify their methodologies and regulations. Planning for an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrumentation demonstration is underway, and the field component is planned to start in 2005. Results from the demonstration may be used by the Office of Solid Waste to revise their SW-846 Method 6200 - Field Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry for the Determination of Elemental Concentrations in Soil and Sediment. SITE demonstrations are performed in collaboration with numerous federal and state agencies. For example, the mercury in soil and sediment demonstration was conducted at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory with contaminated samples being obtained from multiple sites and multiple Regions. The dioxin in soil and sediment demonstration was conducted at a State of Michigan park and was strongly supported by the State and Region V. Summary MMT input was provided to NRMRL for incorporation in the annual SITE program progress report to Congress. The results of each SITE demonstration are published as individual reports; one report per participant. The reports published in FY04 are: Billets, S.N. and A.B. Dindal. 2004. Demonstration and quality assurance project plan for the monitoring and measurement of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in soil and sediment. EPA/600/R-04/036. Billets, S.N., J. Nicklas, and J. Evans. 2004. Field measurement for mercury in soil and sediment. Metorex X-MET 2000 X-ray fluorescence technology. EPA/600/R-03/149. Billets, S.N., J. Nicklas, and J. Evans. 2004. Field measurement for mercury in soil and Research Collaboration and Research Products ------- sediment. Milestone Inc. Direct mercury analyzer (DMA) -80. EPA/600/R-04/012. Billets, S.N., J. Nicklas, and J. Evans. 2004. Field measurement for mercury in soil and sediment. MTI, Inc. PDV 6000 Anodic stripping voltammetry. EPA/600/R-04/028. Billets, S.N., J. Nicklas, and J. Evans. 2004. Field measurement for mercury in soil and sediment. NITON Xli/XLt 700 series X-ray fluorescence analyzer. EPA/600/R-03/148. Billets, S.N., J. Nicklas, and J. Evans. 2004. Field measurement for mercury in soil and sediment. Ohio Lumex RA-915+/RP-91C mercury analyzer. EPA/600/R-03/147. Future Research The XRF demonstration was initiated in FY04. This demonstration will include eleven technology developers and includes a partnership with NASA to host the demonstration at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The demonstration will take place in January 2005. The development of microelectronic devices, some of which incorporate biosensor technology, will be the focus of the next planned demonstration. This future demonstration will address the analysis of halogenated phenols in soil and sediment. The demonstration will be initiated in FY05. Questions and inquiries regarding NERL's SITE Program work can be directed to: Stephen Billets, Ph.D. U.S. EPA National Exposure Research Laboratory 944 East Harmon Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: 702-798-2232 E-mail: billets.stephen@epa.gov Federal funding for this research was administered under EPA contract numbers 68CO0179 (mercury), 68CO0185 (dioxins), and 68CO0181 (XRF). Contacts for Additional Information ------- |