Underground Storage Tanks

Site characterization (also referred to as site assessment) is a crucial early stage in understanding what has happened at the UST site. This stage needs to find answers to such questions as how far has the release traveled, what is the hydrogeology of the site, etc. The overall efficiency and effectiveness of site characterization can be improved by using expedited site assessment process. The links below provide access to additional information.

NOTE: QA documents referred to in some of the following publications may be outdated. Visit The EPA Quality System web site for the latest version of EPA's QA documents.

• Expedited Site Assessment Tools For Underground Storage Tank Sites: A Guide For Regulators (EPA 510-B-97-001)
• Characterization and Monitoring: The Triad
  "Triad" is a three-pronged approach that integrates systematic planning, dynamic workplans, and on-site measurement technologies.
• Expedited Site Assessment: The CD
  Developed by Gary A. Robbins, Professor of Hydrogeology, in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Connecticut, in cooperation with the LUST Program group at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Department of Public Works, the CD provides technical guidance on conducting three-dimensional investigations at underground storage tank (UST) sites using direct push tools and field screening methods. Whether you are a novice or experienced professional, or whether your field of expertise is geology, hydrogeology, engineering, soil science or environmental science, you will find a wealth of information to help you conduct state-of-the-art site investigations at gasoline service stations, brown fields and other industrial sites.
  • More Information on Expedited Site Assessment: The CD
• MONITORING WELL COMPARISON STUDY: AN EVALUATION OF DIRECT-PUSH Versus CONVENTIONAL MONITORING WELLS (PDF) (80 pp, 932K, About PDF) A Study Conducted By BP Corporation North America Inc., And The Underground Storage Tank (UST) Programs of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regions 4, Atlanta GA And Region 5, Chicago, IL. May 1, 2002
• Ames National Laboratory
  • Expedited Site Characterization project.
• "Downward Solute Plume Migration: Assessment, Significance and Implications for Characterization and Monitoring of 'Diving Plumes'." (PDF) (38 pp, 2.6MB, About PDF) (This document was produced by the American Petroleum Institute (API) Soil and Groundwater Technical Task Force. The report's purpose is to promote a common understanding of the phenomenon of diving plumes. The term "diving plume" refers to the gradual downward vertical migration of a dissolved-phase contaminant plume to greater depths in the subsurface with increasing distance along the flow path, resulting in the existence of a region of uncontaminated water overlying portions of the plume.  An unrecognized diving plume could result in an inadequate evaluation of risk to receptors, erroneous interpretation of the significance of natural attenuation, under-design of a remediation system or inadequate assessment of remedial performance.)
• "Site Characterization and Monitoring Technology Bibliography" (List of EPA resources available on CLU-IN)
• "Site Characterization for Subsurface Remediation" (PDF) (268 pp, 4.6MB, About PDF) (EPA/625/4-91/026)
• Field Analytical and Site Characterization Technologies -Summary of Applications (EPA-542-R-97-011)
  • Report (PDF) (40 pp, 186K, About PDF)
  • Tables (PDF) (43 pp, 320K, About PDF)
• Consortium for Site Characterization Technology (PDF) - Innovative Technology Verification Reports Fact Sheet (EPA-542-F-97-020) (4 pp, 57K, About PDF)
• Sources of Modeling Software/Information
  • "OnSite" OnLine Tools for Site Assessment
    a set of online tools for site assessment that contains calculators for: formulas, models, unit conversion factors, and scientific demonstrations to assess the impacts from ground water contaminants.
  • The USEPA's Center for Subsurface Modeling Support (CSMoS) Ada, Oklahoma http://www.epa.gov/ada/csmos.html The Center for Subsurface Modeling Support, or CSMoS, provides a source for publicly available ground-water and vadose zone modeling software and services. CSMoS was established in 1989 to provide a focal point for the distribution of models and databases developed through in-house and extramural research activities, to provide technical support for these models and databases, and to provide review of model applications at hazardous waste sites.
  • National Technical Information Service environment related computer products:http://www.ntis.gov/products/types/computer.asp?loc=4-4-2 This site lists environmental related computer data files and software created by Federal agencies and distributed by the Federal Computer Product Center of the National Technical Information Service. The list is arranged by topic.
    
  • Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Software Directory main index: http://www.ggsd.com/
    The Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Software Directory catalogues 1037 programs in the fields of Geotechnical Engineering, Soil Mechanics, Rock Mechanics, Engineering Geology, Foundation Engineering , Hydrogeology, Geoenvironmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Data Analysis and Data Visualisation and lists 644 public and private worldwide suppliers and publishers of these programs. Programs are indexed by program name, program category, operating system and program status, and the Directory entries are listed by category. Program publishers and suppliers are indexed by organisation name and by country, and the Directory entries are listed in alphabetical order. The Directories of programs, publishers and suppliers are cross-referenced. The Directory also gives 28 links to other WWW sites featuring geotechnical, geoenvironmental or related software. There is a free GGSD Newsletter to keep you informed of new software.
    
  • The United States Geological Service (USGS) USGS Water Resources Applications Software
    http://water.usgs.gov/software/
    Publically available software for Groundwater, Surface Water, Geochemical, Water Quality and General applications from the USGS.
    
  • The International Ground Water Modeling Center (IGWMC) Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
    http://www.mines.edu/igwmc/
    The International Ground Water Modeling Center is an internationally oriented information, education and research center for ground-water modeling. IGWMC advises on ground-water modeling problems, distributes ground-water modeling software, organizes short courses and workshops, conducts research in practical, applied areas of ground-water hydrology and modeling, and provides technical assistance on problems related to ground-water modeling. As a focal point for ground-water professionals, the Center supports and advances the appropriate use of quality-assured models in ground-water resources protection and management. IGWMC distributes a large number of practical, public domain and proprietary ground-water programs, ranging from codes based on simple analytical solutions to those incorporating advanced and complex numerical techniques. Many of the programs include user-friendly pre- and postprocessors to set up input files and review results. Some of the programs specifically handle geostatistics, data bases, and other ground-water related topics.

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