The purpose of this document is to present the 'state of the science' regarding management and treatment of vapor intrusion into building structures. Wherever feasible, this information relies on independently reviewed mitigation performance information. In an effort to keep this Engineering Issue paper concise, important information is summarized, while references and Web links are provided for readers interested in additional information; these Web links, verified as accurate at the time of publication, are subject to change. Although we have endeavored to make these links fully functional with a mouse click, if they do not function on your system, you may need to copy them into your browser or reenter them. As science and technology associated with this route of exposure continues to develop, other mitigation measures may become available.

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This document highlights the need to treat the discharge of groundwater to surface-water not as a two-dimensional area with static boundary conditions, but as three-dimensional volumes with dynamic transition zones. This ECO Update applies equally to recharge zones and can be used to evaluate advancing plumes that have not yet reached the transition zone. This document encourages project managers, ecological risk assessors, and hydrogeologists to expand their focus beyond shoreline wells and surface sediments and define and characterize the actual fate of contaminants as they move from a strictly ground-water environment (i.e., the commonly used "upland monitoring well nearest the shoreline") through the transition zone and into a wholly surface-water environment. The approach is presented to help users identify and evaluate potential exposures and effects to relevant ecological receptors within the zone where ground-water and surface-water mix. The transition zone data collected for the ERA may also supplement data collected for the evaluation of potential human health risks associated with the discharge of contaminated ground-water. Should ground-water remediation be warranted (as a result of the risk assessment), the locational, geochemical, and biological aspects of the transition zone can be considered when identifying and evaluating remedial options.

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The Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE) released its annual Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for FY 2009 on November 4. This announcement seeks out technologies to reduce environmental impacts from current and past USAF operations and apply to USAF installations worldwide. The key focus of this effort is to further develop field-tested remediation, contaminated site characterization and monitoring, and pollution prevention technologies and methodologies that serve as an innovative means to save money and time while achieving compliance with all air, soil, and water regulatory requirements and USAF policies and technical guidance. The goal is to identify more technically advanced, efficient, effective, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective solutions than are currently available. Such technologies and methodologies should aid the US Air Force in reaching the remedy-in-place (RIP) goal of 2012 or optimizing current remediation or monitoring systems already in place. Phase I submittals are due by December 8, 2008.

Detailed Instructions and BAA Form

The DoD Strategic Environmental Research and Demonstration Program (SERDP) released its annual SERDP Exploratory Development (SEED) solicitation for FY 2010 on November 6. Both federal and non-federal organizations may participate. The SEED Solicitation is designed to provide limited funding for high technical risk and/or high payoff projects. SEED proposals are, by definition, limited to a maximum of $150K and a period of performance of one year. SERDP has three areas in its Statements of Need (SON), which include: munitions management, sustainable infrastructure, and weapons systems and platforms. All SEED proposals are due by March 12, 2008.

View SONs and Detailed Instructions for Federal and Non-Federal Sector Proposers

The DoD Strategic Environmental Research and Demonstration Program (SERDP) released its annual Core solicitation for FY 2010 on November 6. Both federal and non-federal organizations may participate. The Core Solicitation provides funding opportunities for projects that vary in cost and duration. SERDP has four areas in its Statements of Need (SON), which include: environmental restoration, munitions management, sustainable infrastructure, and weapons systems and platforms. For the CORE solicitation, pre-proposals from the non-federal sector are due by January 8, 2009. Proposals from the federal sector are due by March 12, 2009.

View SONs and Detailed Instructions for Federal and Non-Federal Sector Proposers