Workshop #1: Evaluating Monitored Natural Attenuation of MTBE and TBA

Peter Zeeb, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., Acton, MA
Xiaomin Yang, Atlantic Richfield, Warrenville, IL
George DeVaull, Shell Global Solutions (US), Inc., Houston, TX

The American Petroleum Institute has developed a MNA protocol for MTBE and TBA. This workshop will provide participants with an overview of the new protocol and best practices for implementing monitored natural attenuation at sites where petroleum hydrocarbons and fuel oxygenates have impacted ground water. The latest findings on aerobic and anaerobic oxygenate biodegradation will also be addressed, as well as methods to assess biodegradation (e.g.
biobeads, stable carbon isotope fractionation).

Workshop #2: Getting to Closure at LNAPL Sites

G. D. Beckett, AQUI-VER, INC., Park City, UT

Discovering measurable petroleum product (aka light non-aqueous phase liquid or “LNAPL”) in a groundwater monitoring well can lead to uncertainty about the processes costs associated with a successful site cleanup.  Often, site owners, regulators and consultants struggle for answers to technically challenging questions about LNAPL including:

• Is the LNAPL plume migrating or will it migrate in the future?
• What is the potential for LNAPL recovery?
• What benefits can be ascribed to partial LNAPL source removal through pumping, skimming, bailing or methods that target volatile compounds of concern?
• What strategies are available if the benefits of partial source removal deemed minimal?
• What information and analysis is needed to develop an LNAPL remediation / management strategy that will result in satisfactory case closure?

This one-day workshop provides participants with an introduction to tools for answering these questions and others using the API Interactive LNAPL Guide.  The Guide is a comprehensive and easy-to-use electronic information system and screening utility designed to provide an overall approach for evaluating LNAPL at a site. The Guide features tools to set site goals and remediation objectives, quantify mobility and recoverability, and evaluate remedial strategies.

Following a review of LNAPL basics, workshop participants will use case examples to discover many aspects of the API Interactive LNAPL Guide, including: primers, LNAPL decision-making frameworks, and assessment tools (e.g., API-LNAST Version 2.0, API LNAPL Distribution and Recovery Model, and API LNAPL Parameter Database). LNAPL site conceptual model development and use of remediation metrics will be emphasized throughout the workshop.

Participants are encouraged to bring their laptop computers. Each participant will receive a copy of the latest version of the API Interactive LNAPL Guide on CD.

Workshop #3:  In-Situ Chemical Oxidation Workshop Distribution Means and Field Procedures

Phillip Block, FMC Corporation
William B. Kerfoot, Kerfoot Technologies, Inc., Mashpee, MA
Larry Rader, Richard Cartwright, David Rabold, MEC^X, LLC
Brenda Veronda, Carus Chemical Company

To provide up-to-date information on in-situ chemical oxidation, this workshop combines vendor presentations with professional consultant experience.  Major oxidants to be considered are:

• Permanganate – MnO₄¯
• Persulfate – S₂O₈² ¯
• Fenton’s Reagent
• Ozone – O₃

In-situ chemical oxidation using ozone, Fenton’s Reagent, persulfate, permanganate or combinations can be an effective innovative technology for destroying organic contaminants within the ground water aquifer where they occur.  Each oxidant requires certain design considerations for proper application.  This workshop concentrates on the following topics:

• Oxidant chemistry principles
• Available oxidants/compound stoichiometry
• Oxidant selection/site evaluation
• Laboratory bench-scale tests
• Field pilot tests
• Regulatory concerns
• Case histories and time to closure

Presentations will be made by vendors who supply equipment and consulting firms with specific site experience.  Case studies will be presented where design and operational issues will be discussed.

Workshop #4: The Role of Anaerobic Biodegradation Processes in Passive and Enhanced Monitored Natural Attenuation Programs

Eric C. Hince, P.G., RSM, Geovation Technologies, Inc., Florida NY
Aaron Peacock, Microbial Insights, Inc., Rockford TN

 Anaerobic microbial processes are now thought to play an important if not dominant role in the catabolism and natural attenuation of chemical contaminants present in soils, sediments and aquifer media at many sites.  The intent of the proposed workshop is to provide participants with a working knowledge of anaerobic biodegradation processes within the context of passive and enhanced monitored natural attenuation (MNA) programs.  The workshop will provide participants with an overview of the following topics:

• biogeochemical reactions and fundamental scientific concepts associated with the major anaerobic respiration pathways;
• the state-of-the-science concerning anaerobic biodegradation and transformation processes for halogenated organic contaminants and reducible metals;
• data requirements and sampling considerations for the evaluation of anaerobic biodegradation processes;
• analytical tools and methods to investigate quantitative and qualitative aspects of microbial ecology;
• the utility and limitations of using MNA scoring/ranking systems to evaluate environmental data and site conditions;
• a survey of current knowledge and research concerning the microbial ecology of anaerobic microorganisms

Participants will be encouraged to bring site characterization and ground-water sampling data from their own projects/sites into the workshop to facilitate an interactive case study / data-review session with the presenters and other participants.

Workshop #5: The 2006 MCP Audit – A Case Study Approach

Thomas M. Potter, Section Chief, Audit Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Boston, MA
Maria Pinaud, Section Chief, Compliance and Enforcement Coordinator, MassDEP, One Winter Boston, MA

Using case studies in a small-group environment, participants will run through the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) audit process from MassDEP’s perspective, from review of submittals to development of a Notice of Audit Finding (NOAF).  The class will spend the first two hours reviewing and discussing the case studies (redacted submittals from MassDEP files) while answering a list of questions and filling out a Level 1 Audit Form.  This review will familiarize attendees with the details and technical issues of the case studies and will examine issues regarding MCP compliance. 

In the final two hours, the class will be divided into small groups (10 – 15 people) giving all attendees the opportunity to participate in the discussion and development of a hypothetical audit finding.  Each group will then conduct an “audit” of their site.  At the conclusion, a discussion of lessons learned will be summarized and the actual NOAF issued by MassDEP will be distributed and reviewed.

Workshop #6: Integrating the Remediation Strategy into the Lifecycle of a Contaminated Sediments Project

Chris Leuteritz, PE, LSP, Anchor Environmental LLC, Andover, MA
David Templeton, Anchor Environmental LLC, Seattle, WA
David Haury, PhD, Anchor Environmental LLC, Springfield, PA
Michael Palermo, PhD, PE, Mike Palermo Consulting, Vicksburg, MS

Contaminated sediments are becoming more of a focus for regulatory scrutiny and remedial action.  This workshop will integrate the presenters’ collective experience at contaminated sediment sites into technical approaches and site management strategies that the workshop participants can apply to a variety of situations.  The workshop will provide participants with an integrated discussion of the following topics:

• Specific remedial investigation evaluation strategies that are used to determine the nature and extent of contamination; contaminant sources, pathways, and controls; contaminant fate and transport; and hydrologic effects on sediment stability and contaminant distribution.  In addition, we will summarize the information that should be gathered during remedial investigations for feasibility study engineering design considerations.

• Ecological and Human Health risk assessment approaches  that consider the incremental risks posed to a variety of potential receptors by a variety of contaminants; typical habitat features, potential exposure pathways; and guidelines for the design and completion of screening-level and site-specific baseline risk assessments. 

• Remedial technologies and technical approaches that can be used to mitigate risk associated with contaminated sediments will be discussed, including descriptions of the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, opportunities for including habitat enhancement projects, techniques for addressing residual contamination issues, and understanding how different technologies can be blended into different site management approaches. 

Case studies will be presented that demonstrate the importance of developing an overall remediation strategy early in the remediation process to ensure the proper steps are taken for efficient and cost-effective site closure.   

Workshop #10: Environmental Fate of Hydrocarbons in Soils and Groundwater  

James Dragun, Ph.D., The Dragun Corporation, Farmington Hills, MI

This course will cover predicting  bulk hydrocarbon migration, the extent of absorption of organic chemicals, chemical volatility in soil, organic chemical reaction rates and rates of organic chemicals in soils.   The information will be presented in the context of site remediation, site disposal facilities, and analyzing chemical releases, as well as auditing closures of industrial facilities. 

Top