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NRMRL MONTHLY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2004
Stephen G. Schmelling, Division Director
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Solvents Recovery Service of New England Superfund Site,
Region 1: In a continuing technical assistance at the Solvents
Recovery Service of New England Superfund Site in Southington,
CT, Scott Huling (GWERD) and Bruce Pivetz (Dynamac)
provided RPM Karen Lumino with comments on a draft feasibility
study for the remediation of DNAPLs. The November 2 comments
discussed various alternatives including hydraulic displacement
with a follow-up of bioremediation, chemical oxidation, and
thermal remediation. Comments were also offered with respect to
efforts directed at estimating the volume of NAPLs at the site.
(S. Huling(GWERD)580-436-8610)
On November 9, Randall Ross (GWERD) and Milovan Beljin
(Dynamac) provided RPM Karen Lumino with comments
concerning the hydraulic displacement of DNAPL at the Solvents
Recovery Service of New England Superfund Site. It was pointed
out that the use of hydraulic displacement has the potential to
remove a significant fraction of mobile DNAPL but may also
immobilize a significant fraction of previously mobile DNAPL as
residual saturation. The number and location of injection and
extraction wells were discussed and it was suggested that the
existing model may not be appropriate for screening-level
purposes. It was recommended that a simple numerical model be
used which would have enough flexibility to take into account the
variable thickness of the saturated zone, boundary conditions in the
model area, and the unconfined nature of the aquifer.
(R. Ross(GWERD)580-436-8611)
ReSolve Superfund Site, Region 1: On November 2, Scott Huling
(GWERD) and Bruce Pivetz (Dynamac) provided RPM Joseph
Lemay with technical review comments on the first year
performance report for two bio-filter/phytobed (BFP) test plots at
the ReSolve Superfund Site in North Dartmouth, MA. The report
described the methods, activities, and results for the first of a three-
year field pilot-scale study. General comments were provided with
respect to treatment performance, mechanisms of contaminant
reduction, recommended improvements, and changes to improve
the next performance report. Specific comments were offered in a
number of areas including soil moisture, hydraulic performance,
temperature within the trenches, and soil core analyses.
S. Huling(GWERD)580-436-8610)
Arrowhead Plating Site, Region 3: On October 22, Steven Acree
(GWERD) and Bruce Pivetz (Dynamac) provided RPM Ron Davis
with review comments on monitoring results for documenting the
performance of a permeable reactive barrier at the Arrowhead
Plating Site in Montross, VA. In general, it appeared the PRB may
be meeting many, but not all of the performance expectations.
Although some monitoring wells located immediately
downgradient of the PRB showed declining contaminant trends,
others did not. This may indicate that the PRB does not encompass
all areas with continuing sources of ground-water contamination.
It was noted, however, that the data do not represent a sufficient
time period to draw reliable conclusions concerning seasonal
variations in flow direction, effects of a cap, and the expected
variation of contaminant concentrations. Other comments
concerned the hydrology of the system.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
Columbia Nitrogen Pilot PRB and Macalloy Pilot Redox Sites,
Region 4: During September 27 through October 14, GWERD
conducted performance monitoring at the Columbia Nitrogen pilot
PRB and Macalloy pilot redox barrier sites in Charleston, SC. Ann
Keeley and Frank Beck (GWERD) and Patrick Clark (NRMRL)
collected core samples from the Columbia Nitrogen Site to be used
for microbiological characterization. Kyle Jones and Frank Beck
(GWERD), Mark Paddock (Dynamac), Patrick Clark (NRMRL),
and David Smith (University of Waterloo) collected over 90
ground-water samples as part of the performance monitoring
program for the Columbia Nitrogen PRB. Also during this period,
Steven Acree and Randall Ross (GWERD) conducted
hydrogeological testing in the redox zone pilot test area at the
Macalloy Site to gain insight into ground-water flow patterns.
Kyle Jones and Mark Paddock collected ground-water samples at
the Macalloy Site as a part of the performance evaluation of the
ferrous iron based redox barrier. In addition, three additional wells
were installed at the Macalloy Site by Frank Beck and Patrick
Clark under the direction of Ralph Ludwig (GWERD) to expand
the pilot test performance evaluation. Additional wells were also
installed at the Columbia Nitrogen Site under the direction of
Steven Acree to gain greater insight into ground-water flow
behavior. In addition, one core was collected from within the pilot
test area at the Macalloy Site to be used for solid phase
characterization.
(R. Ludwig(GWERD)580-436-8603)
Nease Chemical Company, Region 5: On November 16, Ralph
Ludwig (GWERD) provided RPM Mary Logan with comments on
a draft feasibility study for Operable Unit 2 at the Nease Chemical
Company in Salem, OH. Although the feasibility study was well
prepared with a detailed discussion of alternatives for soil and
ground-water remediation, concerns were expressed concerning the
potential use of nanoscale zero valent iron (NZVI) and monitored
natural attenuation for ground water. A number of issues were
addressed including problems associated with the presence of
DNAPLs in fractured bedrock, the lack of treatability of NZVI with
respect to 1,2-DCA and BTEX, and the temporal behavior of
natural attenuation on the various plumes at the site. It was
suggested that additional details be provided with regard to the
successful implementation of NZVI and natural attenuation.
(R. Ludwig(GWERD)580-436-8603)
Yerington Mine Site, Region 9: During October 18-20, Steven
Acree and David Jewett (GWERD) participated in meetings to
discuss the status of site activities and characterization of ground-
water flow and contaminant transport at the Yerington Mine Site in
Yerrington, NV. The meetings were held at the Bureau of Land
Management in Reno and included representatives from the State
of Nevada, BLM, EPA Region 9, GWERD, and responsible
parties. Among the items discussed were available site data,
results of quarterly monitoring, and strategies for further
characterization. On November 2, Steven Acree, Robert Ford, and David Jewett
(GWERD) provided RPM James Sickles with review comments on
proposed ground-water investigations at the Yerington Mine Site.
In general, the proposed locations for the initial phase of ground-
water investigations appear to be appropriate. Although many of
the general concepts expressed in the document appear to be
appropriate, insufficient details were provided to adequately review
the methods or criteria for certain field decisions.
Recommendations were offered in a number of areas including the
location and construction of monitoring wells and piezometers,
required number of samples, sampling methods, suite of
parameters to be analyzed, and the use of borehold geophysics.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
Purity Oil Superfund Site, Region 9: On October 22, Ann
Keeley (GWERD) provided RPM Rose Marie Caraway with
comments on an improved alternatives-treatability study work plan
for the Purity Oil Superfund Site in Malaga, CA. The review
focused on the treatability portion of the report rather than the
pump-and-treat segment of the document. The review covered a
number of treatability issues in detail including electron-donor
requirements, changes in pH, the need to determine Koc values
rather than relying on literature information, determining the
quantity of dehalococcoides microbes in the liquid and solid
phases, and field versus laboratory analyses. Other comments
addressed sample collection, preservation, and handling.
(A. Keeley(GWERD)580-436-8890)
FY 2004 GWERD ACTIVITIES
During FY04, there were 65 Superfund Technical Assistanceactivities at 40 sites, 4 RCRA activities at 4 sites, and 0
Brownfields activities. During FY04, 21 Superfund and 4 RCRA
technical assistance requests were entered into the TSC tracking
system. Of these, 15 Superfund and 4 RCRA sites were at new
locations. No new Brownfields Sites were added to the tracking
system during this period. Two Miscellaneous Technical
Assistance activities were provided. Comments provided to the
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation involved a review of
"Strategies for Monitoring the Performance of DNAPL Source
Zone Remedies" prepared by the Interstate Technology and
Regulation Council (ITRC) DNAPLS Team. Headquarters
assistance provided to OSWER (OERR) involved the preparation
of a literature review on facilitated transport of PCBs in ground
water and a review of a draft PCB guidance document. The
Center for Subsurface Modeling Support (CSMoS) has
distributed about 11,579 models. In addition, about 353 technical
assistance responses have been provided to telephone and E-Mail
requests. The Subsurface Remediation Information Center(SRIC) has provided 881 GWERD publications in response to 288
requests to all levels of government, private consultants, industry,
educational institutions, and foreign countries. There were 22
Publications in scientific journals, EPA Research Reports, and
Issue Papers.
(J. Jones(GWERD)580-436-8593)
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS
Mayer, Paul M.., (GWERD), Megard, R. O, and Galatowitsch,
S.M. (Univ. Of Minn.). 2004. "Plankton Respiration and Biomass
As Functional Indicators of Recovery In Restored Prairie
Wetlands." Ecological Indicators, 4:245-253.
(P. Mayer(GWERD)580-436-8647)
EPA/600/J-04/311
NRMRL-ADA-03214
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=IssueURL&
Su, Chunming and Puls, R.W. (GWERD). 2004. "Significance of
Iron(II, III) Hydroxycarbonate Green Rust in Arsenic Remediation
Using Zerovalent in Laboratory Column Tests." Environmental
Science and Technology, 33: 5224-5231.
(C. Su(GWERD)580-8638)
EPA/600/J-04/310
NRMRL-ADA-04127
http://pubs3.acs.org/acs/journals/toc.page?incoden=esthag&indecade=0&involume=38&inissue=19
Horncastle, V. J., E. C. Hellgren, P. M. Mayer, D. M. Engle, and D. M. Leslie, Jr. 2004. "Differential Frugivory of Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) by Avian and Mammalian Guilds: Implications for Tree Invasion." American Midland Naturalist152:255-267.
TRAINING
Dominic DiGiulio (GWERD) provided training to EPA Region 5 and states (IL, OH, MI, WI, and IN) at the Vapor Intrusion Assessment Workshop, U.S. EPA and ATSDR, in Chicago, September 22-24.
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
John Wilson (GWERD) made three technical presentations at the EPA Region 3 States LUST Technical Conference in Rocky Gap, Maryland, on November 4. The presentations were titled "MTBE Biodegradation and Bioremediation", Ethanol: Environmental Issues and Research", and "Using EPA's Optimal Well Locator Program to Evaluate Monitoring Well Network." These presentations are on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/2004LUSTtechnicalconf.htm. Approximately 200 staff were present from the state agencies in U.S. EPA Region 3 that implement the Underground Storage Tank Program.
John Wilson (GWERD) attended the NGWA Remediation Conference in New Orleans, November 15-16. Barbara Wilson (B.H. Wilson & Associates) made an oral presentation titled "Costs and Issues Related to Remediation of Petroleum- Contaminated Sites." The presentation was authored by John Wilson, Jeff Kuhn (DEQ Petroleum Release Section), Greg Hattan (Kansas DHE), Barbara Wilson, and Richard Mackay (Univ. Of California at Davis).
David Jewett (GWERD) participated in the NRMRL Mining Pit Lake 2004 Conference held in Reno, NV, November 16-18. He was a member of the conference steering committee, and with Lauri Balistrieri of the United States Geological Service (USGS), moderated two sessions on environmental modeling of pit lakes.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
GWERD staff Cynthia Paul and Garmon Smith were invited facilitators at the 2004 East Central University Ethics Seminar held November 10. The purpose of the seminar was to discuss scenarios where employers or employees face ethical situations in the workplace and how to deal with them. More than 450 students attended the seminar.
Cynthia Paul was one of 25 area professionals who participated in the Latta School Career Fair on November 16. The Career Fair was held during morning school hours and consisted of six 30- minute sessions.
Kathy Taylor, Oklahoma state Director of Commerce and Tourism, visited GWERD on October 23. She met with division director Stephen Schmelling and Roger Cosby, who briefed her on the mission of the laboratory and some of its active research.