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ENGINEERING FORUM TELECONFERENCE
April 1, 2009
- Technical Topic
- Draft Superfund Green Remediation Strategy
- Green Remediation Subcommittee Update
- 2009 NARPM Conference
- Co-Chair Election
- Next Engineering Forum Conference Call
- Participants
TECHNICAL TOPIC
Roger Gaskins and Mike Marsolek (Environmental Management, Inc. (EM)) described EM’s nano-xothermal technology (NXT) treatment process. NXT is a proprietary oxidation technology that uses an NXT fluid reactor to create free hydrogen radicals through a cavitation and metals process. Cavitation causes very high localized temperatures and pressures which are then used to drive chemical reactions that reduce pollutant concentrations. The NXT process supercharges fluids, converting the contaminants and leaving the byproducts carbon dioxide, water, and elemental salts. The NXT technology has the ability to destroy double-bond organics (such as PCE, TCE, and DCE), petroleum hydrocarbons (including gasoline, MTBE, jet fuel, kerosene, and heating oil), PAHs, volatile organics, orthophosphoric pesticides, arsenic, cyanide, PCBs, explosives, and dioxin. The NXT reactor's effectiveness lies in the supercharged fluids and the chemical formulas that are uniquely tailored to sites based on the characteristics of the soil matrix, contaminants, and local conditions and requirements. EM provides both ex situ and in sutu remedial services. For more information on this technology, please visit www.em-nxt.com.
DRAFT SUPERFUND GREEN REMEDIATION STRATEGY
Suzanne Wells (OSRTI) explained that the Superfund green remediation (GR) workgroup was formed in September 2008 at the request of Jim Woolford (OSRTI Director). The workgroup was tasked to develop a strategy to advance and address GR in the Superfund program by providing 1) recommendations for guidance and the resources necessary to accommodate GR goals for the Superfund program; 2) a forum to discuss policy issues and needs; and 3) response to growing efforts to address climate change and make greater use of renewable energies. To advance GR management practices across cleanup programs, OSWER seeks to benchmark and document GR BMPs, assemble a toolkit of enablers, build networks of practitioners, and develop performance metrics and tracking mechanisms.
The strategy currently focuses on reducing energy use and greater use of renewable energy. The next steps involve sharing the draft strategy widely to gather comments and ideas and finalizing the strategy by June 30, 2009. The workgroup has identified priority projects to begin work in FY09 and will develop an implementation plan assigning responsibilities and setting a schedule. Future developments will include an interagency agreement with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and another with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognizing and fostering GR BMPs at Superfund cleanups; GR analyses and methodology development by Region 9; a contracts toolkit for Emergency and Rapid Response Services; remedy-specific GR "cheat sheets"; a site cleanup energy audit tool; "Who's Who in Green Remediation" on the EPA Intranet; training for on-scene coordinators; a "GR review and technical support" capability for the Engineering Forum (EF); and development of green cleanup voluntary standards. The draft strategy will be posted for review on an internal EPA site, and access information will be sent to the Regions.
GREEN REMEDIATION SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE
Raji Josiam (Region 6) will distribute the draft Superfund GR Strategy to all GR subcommittee members for review and comment. Questions or comments should be sent to Suzanne Wells, Dan Powell (OSRTI), or Carlos Pachon (OSRTI) by April 18. If EF members need more time to review the draft, they should let Raji know. The draft green cleanup standards framework has been posted to http://www.clu-in.org/greenremediation/subtab_b5.cfm. Comments can be left at the Clu-In Website and are due by April 30. Raji also reported that Carlos would like the EF’s help in developing guidance and training that focuses on energy use and other sustainability issues for different cleanup processes.
2009 NARPM CONFERENCE
Gary Miller (Region 6) reported that there have been changes to state travel reimbursement policies for the spring 2009 NARPM conference. Gary will email the changes to all state representatives.
The EF business sessions are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. On Monday, the Ground Water Forum (GWF) is planning a field trip Lawrenceville, GA, to learn about the fractured bedrock setting and discuss how the conceptual site model applies to contaminant hydrogeology. There is a potential for EF members to join this field trip, but transportation to and from Lawrenceville will not be provided. EF members should email Gary if they are interested in participating in the Monday field trip. Gary will provide an update on the field trip during next month’s teleconference. Gary would like to finalize the EF business session agenda before the next EF call, so EF members should send him any comments on the draft agenda. He still is looking for an EF member to lead a 20-30 minute site-specific presentation on a relevant topic of their choosing.
CO-CHAIR ELECTION
Gary’s co-chair term expires at the spring meeting. EF members and friends should send their nominations to Keith Arnold (EMS) (keith.arnold@emsus.com) by noon on May 8, 2009. Before nominating someone, EF members should check with that person to make sure they are interested in serving. Self nominations are acceptable and encouraged.
NEXT ENGINEERING FORUM TELECONFERENCE CALL
The next EF teleconference is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2009, from 12:30-2:00 pm EDT. Agenda items should be sent to the co-chairs prior to the call.
PARTICIPANTS
Stephanie Vaughn, Region 2
Fred MacMillan, Region 3
Hilary Thornton, Region 3
Jon Bornholm, Region 4
Andy Palestini, Region 4
Julie Santiago, Region 4
Bernie Schorle, Region 5
Raji Josiam, Region 6
Gary Miller, Region 6
Sai Appaji, Region 6
Don Bahnke, Region 7
Bill Rothenmeyer, Region 8
Mike Gill, Region 9 STL
Kira Lynch, Region 10
Suzanne Wells, OSRTI
Mike Bailey, USACE
Chuck Coil, USACE
Lindsey Lien, USACE
Jim Harrington, NYSDEC
Susanne Davis, CA DTSC
John Muegge, CA DTSC
Mike Marsolek, EM, Inc.
Roger Gaskins, EM, Inc.
Keith Arnold, EMS, Inc.
In an effort to foster scientific and technical advances in characterization, monitoring and remediation of contaminated sites, the EPA Technical Support Project encourages full and frank discussion of all technical matters and related issues that come before it.Information presented in these minutes represents the views of the participants and has not received formal EPA peer review. Therefore, this information does not necessarily reflect the views of EPA or other participating organizations, and no official endorsement should be inferred. The information is not intended, nor can it be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States or any other party. Use or mention of trade names does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use. Errors and omissions in the information will be corrected as they are found and time permits.