SBRP/EPA Combined Remedies Workshop

Goal Statement

Among contaminated sites, those containing DNAPLs represent some of the most recalcitrant and complex challenges to successful remediation. Such sites are typically characterized by extensive, heterogeneous, and persistent source zones of entrapped and pooled organic liquids that serve as reservoirs for continued aqueous contaminant plume development and migration. The complexity of conditions present at these sites frequently precludes the use of a single remediation technology to achieve site closure. Moreover, application of a single technology for site remediation is often more expensive and less effective than would be achieved using a combination of remedies. Thus, site management approaches that integrate and apply coupled remediation technologies may offer viable alternatives to current practices. The combination of technologies, however, offers its own design and implementation challenges and, to date, little research has been conducted to explore the potential synergies deriving from and barriers to the development of combined remedies. The intent of this workshop was to explore both the opportunities and the limitations, with a goal of identifying the types of research that are needed to facilitate the integration of existing technologies for improved remediation strategies. This included identifying technologies that are amenable to a combined technologies strategy, exploring ways to modify existing technologies to make them more amenable to such combination, identifying the characteristics of sites which are most likely to benefit from combined technologies, specifying the mechanics of engineering a combined technology approach, and developing design and validation protocols.

Contacts

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