Summary of Toxicological Benchmarks and Soil Remediation Goals to be Protective of Environment
Chunhua Liu, Ph.D., Parsons, Canton, MA
Eliza Schacht, M.S., Parsons, Canton, MA
Dave Babcock, M.S., Parsons, Liverpool, NY
Beth Wasserman, B.S., Parsons,  Canton, MA
Jacqueline Travers, M.S., Parsons,  Canton, MA 
Todd Heino, B.S., Parsons, Canton, MA

Assessment of, and Risk Based Cleanup Approach for, a Large Volume Jet Fuel Spill
Kiran K. Srinivasan, ENTRIX, Inc., Houston, Texas
Christina Robinson, ENTRIX, Inc., Houston, Texas

Undertaking Risk-Based Remediations in Brazil
Manu Sharma, Gradient Corporation, Cambridge, MA 
Richard J. Blanchet, Gradient Corporation, Cambridge, MA  

Summary of Toxicological Benchmarks and Soil Remediation Goals to be Protective of Environment

Chunhua Liu, Ph.D. (Environmental Chemistry), Parsons, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809 Tel: 781-401-3200, Email: chunhua.liu@parsons.com
Eliza Schacht, M.S. (Geotechnical Engineering), Parsons, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809 Tel: 781-401-3200, Email: schacht.eliza@parsons.com
Dave Babcock, M.S. , Parsons, 290 Elwood Davis Road, Suite 312, Liverpool, NY 13088 Tel: 315-451-9560, Email: david.babcock@parsons.com
Beth Wasserman, B.S. (Chemical Engineering), Parsons, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809Tel: 781-401-3200, Email: beth.wasserman@parsons.com
Jacqueline Travers, M.S. (Environmental Engineering), Parsons, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809, Tel: 781-401-3200, Email: Jacqueline.travers@parsons.com
Todd Heino, B.S. (Civil Engineering), Parsons, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809Tel: 781-401-3200, Email: todd.heino@parsons.com

Establishing soil cleanup goals to protect human health and the environment is a key remediation issue.  However, because of the complex nature of soils and limited knowledge of the contaminant’s toxicological effects on the environment, there is no general consensus on the ecological soil remediation goals.  A series of toxicological benchmarks have been published by the Risk Assessment Program Oak Ridge Health Science Research Division (Oak Ridge) for wildlife, terrestrial plants, and soil and litter invertebrates, etc.  Oak Ridge, USEPA, Canada, Ontario, and the Netherlands have proposed soil screening/remediation goals for certain chemicals.  Although these published benchmark values and remediation goals can provide a readily available source of soil quality standards, the specific applicability of the benchmark values or remediation goals to a particular site is uncertain, due to differences in geography, ecological receptors, and pollutant bioavailability.  This presentation compares the published benchmark values with the soil remediation goals and reviews the approaches used to derive the remediation goals.  In addition, the presentation proposes consideration of affected populations in setting up soil remediation goals.  Finally, an example of site-specific soil remediation goals that are protective of the environment is presented and compared to the published benchmark values and remediation goals.

Assessment of, and Risk-Based Cleanup Approach for, a Large Volume Jet Fuel Spill

Kiran K. Srinivasan, ENTRIX, Inc., 5252 Westchester, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77005, Tel: 713-662-1920, Fax: 713-666-5227, Email: ksrinivasan@entrix.com
Christina Robinson, ENTRIX, Inc., 5252 Westchester, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77005, Tel: 713-662-1912, Fax: 713-666-5227, Email: crobinson@entrix.com

Due to corrosion, a large volume of Jet Fuel (JP-8) spilled from a 14-inch, high-pressure subsurface pipeline.  The spill was detected during routine overflight and reported to Federal, State, and Local authorities.  The product was initially contained in a small area, until a 10-inch rain carried it to surrounding wooded and swamp land, creeks, and roadside ditches, threatening nearby federal marshlands.  Government authorities were preparing to federalize the site and assume site oversight.  To prevent federalization and assist in cleanup, a professional spill management team was mobilized.  This team gained site control and enhanced ongoing product recovery.  Critical pathways were continuously monitored for product flow.  Permits were obtained in record time and structural controls were installed to inhibit migration.  These actions prevented federalization.  The authors developed a Data Quality Objectives- and risk-based assessment and closure plan, and negotiated regulatory approval.  Based on data from site visits, aerial photographs, and maps, a Conceptual Site Model identified media, release pathways and mechanisms, and receptors.  The authors developed an exposure-based sampling plan using a “weighted grid” pattern based on visible evidence of product.  The objectives were to delineate lateral and vertical extent of contamination to State risk-based standards, and obtain data for use in risk-based closure.  A separate plan was developed to sample landowner water wells, ponds and yards.  By fingerprinting the released product, BTEX, MTBE, Naphthalene, and TPH were identified as critical contaminants.  This plan was implemented and soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater samples were collected from approximately 20 acres of affected land.  Thiessen Polygons were drawn using preliminary analytical results to identify patterns of contaminant flow and evaluate the need for additional assessment.  Human health and ecological risk assessments are being conducted to evaluate potential residual risks and develop bases to support remedial decisions, regulatory closure and NRDA action.

Undertaking Risk-Based Remediations in Brazil

Manu Sharma, Gradient Corporation, 238 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, Tel: 617-395-5515, Fax: 617-395-5001
Richard J. Blanchet, Gradient Corporation, 238 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, Tel: 617-395-5520, Fax: 617-395-5001

Like a number of other countries in Latin America, Brazil is currently in the process of developing a formalized regulatory system (i.e. regulations, guidance documents, generic risk-based cleanup standards, etc.) to manage and remediate hazardous waste sites.  In the interim, responsible parties have some flexibility in making decisions from state to state using an informal system that currently exists.  In general, the Brazilian agencies are accepting risk-based cleanup plans developed either using the risk-based framework developed by the Dutch environmental agency or by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).  This presentation will discuss: 1) current risk-based remediation approaches being used in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro; 2) the similarities and differences between Dutch and US EPA risk-based remediation approaches (e.g. risk targets, toxicity factors, default exposure assumptions, etc.); and 3) the potential implications of selecting either the Dutch or the US EPA approach on cleanup levels and remediation.

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