FRC/MGP 2021 Poster Presentations

Dry Cleaning Pilot Injection Well Project

Thomas Borchert, LEP, Universal Engineering Sciences

Abstract:

Universal Engineering Sciences staff are leading a pilot project through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection where they are utilizing the two-part self-activating  mixture KLOZER® SP, a proprietary disodium peroxodisulfate solution made by PeroxyChem, to induce in situ chemical oxidation through injection into eight groundwater wells at a depth of 30 feet to disintegrate and stop further spread of a 700 ft long chlorinated solvent plume within a residential neighborhood of Jacksonville, FL. Based on subsurface flow velocity, staff anticipate that the first traces of KLOZER® SP will appear at the closest groundwater monitoring wells within the next 2-3 months. Monitoring and injection of additional KLOZER® SP at the site will occur for the next 2 years as staff work to reduce contamination with the goal of site release with additional conditions.   Dry Cleaning Pilot Injection Well Project  Universal Engineering Sciences staff are leading a pilot project through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection where they are utilizing the two-part self-activating  mixture KLOZER® SP, a proprietary disodium peroxodisulfate solution made by PeroxyChem, to induce in situ chemical oxidation through injection into eight groundwater wells at a depth of 30 feet to disintegrate and stop further spread of a 700 ft long chlorinated solvent plume within a residential neighborhood of Jacksonville, FL. Based on subsurface flow velocity, staff anticipate that the first traces of KLOZER® SP will appear at the closest groundwater monitoring wells within the next 2-3 months. Monitoring and injection of additional KLOZER® SP at the site will occur for the next 2 years as staff work to reduce contamination with the goal of site release with additional conditions. 

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Bench Scale In-Situ Stabilization/Solidification Study For Site Impacted With Coal Tar

Tomecia Bradley, CHMM, Program Manager, KEMRON Environmental Services, Inc.

Abstract:

KEMRON Environmental Services, Inc. performed an in-situ solidification/stabilization treatability study on materials sampled from the Camden Gas Site located in Camden, New Jersey.  The test materials were impacted with volatile organic compounds, semi volatile organic compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons typically contained in coal tar waste samples.  KEMRON evaluated the effectiveness of pozzolanic additives including combinations of type I Portland cement and blast furnace slag cement.   Testing was performed on a “representative”” site material in two phases including preliminary and optimization mixture evaluations.  The study was designed to facilitate full-scale treatment using soil auger technologies.  Therefore, KEMRON evaluated the density and viscosity of each reagent grout mixture to ensure these parameters were within an acceptable range for soil auger delivery.    Testing of the treated samples included unconfined compressive strength testing, permeability testing, wet/dry durability testing, and leachable volatile organic compounds, semivolatile organic compounds and extractable petroleum hydrocarbons analyses as determined by the Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP).  Additional testing of selected candidate samples included leachable contaminants of concern as determined by the 1315 method of the Leaching Environment Assessment Framework (LEAF).   The treatability study identified mixtures capable of meeting the project goals and regulatory criteria. It was then determined that full-scale remediation would depend on cost and feasibility of each treatment option.  

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Dredging in a Flood Control Waterway

Abby Chin, PE, Engineer IV, Remediation Practices, AECOM

Abstract:

The Penn Yan former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) is located on the Keuka Lake Outlet in Penn Yan, New York. The outlet is a Class C flood control waterway controlled by six flow control gates located approximately 600 feet downstream of the site and provides the only drainage for Keuka Lake. The remedial design included dredging of the outlet over the length of the site and extending down to the flood control gates. The original design separated the outlet into six cells utilizing steel sheet piling to provide full hydraulic separation to prevent turbidity.

During the construction, two redesigns were required. The first was the result of additional stakeholders being identified during the permit application process. Full hydraulic separation would not be feasible due to the limitation it would put on the water flow capacity. The dredge cells were re-engineered to include the use of sheet pile only along the centerline of the outlet, and a dual turbidity curtain configuration on the upstream and downstream sides. The waterway was able to be opened to full capacity within hours by removing the turbidity curtains.

The second redesign occurred after contamination was identified deeper into the native soil formation along the Outlet bank adjacent to the Site and the former historic gas house. This section of the outlet channel was incorporated into the excavation of the bank proper. This set of excavations was completed as a series of 8 braced cells which extended as close as 5 feet from the then underpinned former gas house. These cells were excavated “in the wet” to counteract the artesian conditions present below the site. This approach allowed the remediation activities to occur along the bank without impacting the stability of the adjacent structure.

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Strategies and Case Studies  for Removing PFAS from Complex Wastewater

AnnieLu DeWitt, Water Filtration & PFAS Product Line Director for North America, Clean Harbors, Inc.

Abstract:

Removing PFAS from industrial sources requires treating complex wastewater with high concentrations of PFAS and co-contaminants. This presentation will discuss how proper initial water characterization aids in choosing the right combination of technologies to achieve strict discharge criteria. A review of current projects across the US will show the diversity of challenges encountered with treating industrial, remedial wastewaters and landfill leachates.

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Do's and Don'ts of PFAS Sampling and More

Michael Eger, Operations Manager, and Norman Farmer, PFAS Program Director, SGS North America, Inc.

Abstract:

PFAS are a class of synthetic fluorinated chemicals used in many industrial applications and consumer products. They are persistent, found at low levels in the environment, and bio-accumulate.  Human exposure to PFAS is mainly by ingestion. These compounds bind to proteins, they are not metabolized, and are mainly detected in blood, liver and kidneys.  Elimination of long chain PFAS (such as PFOS, PFHxS and PFOA) from the human body takes years, whereas elimination of shorter chain PFAS is in the range of days, which is why EPA is primarily concerned with long chain PFAS compounds.  The sources that can release significant quantities of PFAS to the environment include AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) applications, industrial and manufacturing discharges, landfill leachate treatment plant discharges, municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges, and more.  Liquid chromatography / tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) is used to analyze PFAS compounds. Because of the potential presence of PFAS in common consumer products and in equipment typically used to collect soil, sediment, groundwater, surface water, and drinking water samples as well as the need for very low reporting limits, special handling and care must be taken when collecting samples for PFAS analysis. PFAS adsorbs strongly to glass and Teflon-containing materials can contribute to increased background level. This presentation summarizes some techniques and procedures that should be followed when sampling for these compounds.   

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Enhancing the Performance of In-Situ Reactive Barriers Using a Synergistic Mixture of Colloidal Activated Carbon and Zero Valent Iron

Dr. John Freim, Regenesis Bioremediation

Abstract: 

Activated carbon has a strong affinity for many groundwater contaminants including chlorinated hydrocarbons and petroleum hydrocarbons.  When incorporated into sub-surface barriers that intercept groundwater plumes, activated carbon can accomplish the immobilization of aqueous phase contaminants within the barrier, preventing downgradient migration. Because activated carbon does not actively degrade these substances, it is often advantageous to incorporate a destructive mechanism to compliment the activated carbon within the barrier.  Sulfidated zero valent iron (SZVI) accomplishes the rapid abiotic reduction of many chlorinated hydrocarbon while producing relatively few partially dechlorinated daughter products. Thus, reactive barriers that incorporate a mixture of activated carbon and SZVI provide a synergistic combination of contaminant sorption and degradation.We will provide the results of models that predict the performance of activated carbon barriers with and without SZVI and organic bioremediation amendments that are co-applied to promote contaminant destruction.  We will then present the results of a remediation program where a sub-surface barrier containing a mixture of colloidal activated carbon colloidal sulfidated iron.

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Using Electrical Hydrogeology to Rapidly Remediate a Karst Diesel Site

Dr. Todd Halihan, Professor, Oklahoma State University and Chief Technical Officer, Aestus, LLC.    

Abstract:

Using GeoTrax CSM+™ process to image the subsurface from the surface, a robust 3D conceptual site model (CSM) was developed to guide subsequent confirmation drilling and remediation work. The site was imaged again using our time-lapse (temporal) GeoTrax Survey LTM™ technology to verify remediation effectiveness. Both the temporal imaging and the site monitoring wells indicated clean conditions following remediation in less than 2 years from the time of the diesel release.

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Coal Tar Viscosity Reduction, Emulsion Breaking and Bio-control at MGP Sites 

Brad Horn, PE, President, Redux Technology

Co-Author: Gary Richards, WRT Services, Inc.

Abstract:

The authors specialize in developing chemical formulations to enhance contaminant recovery and treatment at groundwater remediation sites. Since 1990 these various formulations have been applied for control of fouling, oil-water separation and recovery enhancement at several thousand remedial sites in the US. This paper will provide a review of patented and proprietary chemistries that have been applied at MGP sites by the authors.  Recent developments using nontoxic solvents to adjust coal tar viscosity in situ will be highlighted, along with a secondary focus on deposit control and emulsion breaking.  A handful of illustrative case studies are presented as well.

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Cutler Bay Commercial Site

Bryan Lucas CEM, CRS, CES, Department Manager - Environmental, Health & Safety Services, Universal Engineering Sciences

Abstract:

UES completed a Phase I/II ESAs on the subject property which consisted of 13 acres of agricultural land where it was determined that the historical use of the subject property as agricultural land caused impacts to soil and groundwater with metals and herbicides above regulatory standard.  Based on the Phase II findings, Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) required a Site Assessment Report (SAR) be completed following the new DERM guidance document “Interim Site Assessment Guidance for Former Agricultural Sites in Miami-Dade County” issued September 2020. This would be one of the first commercial developments to be required to follow this guidance. Universal Engineering Sciences staff worked with regulatory officials to develop an appropriate solution to address onsite contamination through source removal of impacted soil along with soil management and dust monitoring plans. The site is currently in the last quarter of natural attenuation monitoring. UES will discuss closure options with the client pending the results of the last sampling event prior to submission of the submission of the final monitoring report to DERM.

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Horizontal Directional Drilling and Well Installation for Substrate Injection

Dan Ombalski, P.G., P.E., General Manager, Ellingson-DTD

Abstract: 

Horizontal wells are an effective tool for emplacement of substrates for remediation activities.  However, the most frequent concern among injection experts is “won’t all the injectate come out in the beginning of the well screen?”  Each horizontal injection well has a project-specific screen design based on common fluid dynamics calculations to ensure proper injectate delivery.  This presentation will detail proper drilling and well installation techniques along with a screen design case study.  

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Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)

Frank Ramos, Save the Water

Abstract: 

Contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), which include such harmful chemicals as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, flame retardants, etc. have been known to be hazardous to human and aquatic life, causing such issues as endocrine disruption, reproductive harm, carcinogenic effects, and acute toxicity. These contaminants have become an increasingly studied topic, with numerous research papers and studies available to the public on the harm and widespread occurrence of CECs in surface and drinking water. Despite this breadth of research, public awareness and effective solutions to the prevalence of CECs in water supplies have been severely lacking. While the number of CECs is currently in the thousands and increasing over time with more research, most water treatment facilities and water quality monitoring organizations only focus on the 90 drinking water contaminants regulated by the EPA. There is thus a vast knowledge gap in what contaminants are present in the water supply as well as their relative concentrations and quantities. It is therefore the goal of Save the WaterTM to conduct research on these CECs, specifically regarding (1) the known quantities of CECs in surface and drinking water throughout the United States, (2) the known and potential health impacts of these contaminants on human and aquatic life, (3) effective solutions to remove CECs from the water supply, and (4) the disseminating of information to the public on the prevalence and harmful impacts of CECs. Save the WaterTM has begun this arduous process by providing information on domestic water contamination and CECs through an online social media presence as well as by educating students on water issues through the Day in the Life of a Scientist (DILOS) program. Additionally, STWTM has been developing a vast database on emerging contaminants and their harmful effects, established maximum contaminant levels, and identified methods of detection/analysis. Although there is still considerable literature available regarding the occurrence and detrimental impacts of CECs, more work needs to be done to characterize and study these contaminants as well as regulate their concentrations in domestic water supplies. Save the Water’sTM proposed water quality analysis laboratory will pioneer this research, with the goal of providing the resources to quantify and remove CECs from drinking water, providing clean, safe, and accessible water for all.

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Directional TarGOST: Innovative Site Characterization for Integrated Remediation
Brad Rucker, Senior Geologist, AECOM 

Abstract: 

Background/ Objectives:  

The Hillsboro, IL Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) began operation in 1913.  The plant was a carbureted water gas plant owned by Southern Illinois Power and Light Company (now part of Ameren).  The small creek valley on the edge of town that held the power plant and MGP also became the location for the drinking water treatment plant in 1926, and the City’s 36-inch primary sewer main runs down the valley as well.    The water gas tar present at the Hillsboro MGP has has migrated onto the water treatment plant property, beneath a 6” high pressure natural gas main, beneath the creek, and below the sewer main.   

Approach / Activities:    

AECOM has taken an innovative approach to the site characterization.  Modern tools used were: Geophysics to locate below grade structures, Tar-Specific Green Optic Scanning Tool (TarGOST) technology to detect tar, and Earth Volumetric Studio (EVS) modeling to illustrate the subsurface conditions.  TarGOST results are correlated to observations and traditional sampling and soil attenuation factor exceedances to define and delineate potential source areas.  Data is utilized to construct a thorough conceptual site model (CSM) that will assist in planning remediation.   Access to delineate impacts were limited below the sewer, gas main, and creek. Horizontal borings and TarGOST technologies were combined to improve source delineation.  This site is believed to be the second use of TarGOST in horizontal boreholes.  Cross Sections of planned locations showing geology, modeled TarGOST responses, and utility and boring locations were generated from EVS.  The Cross Sections were used to log observations and depths.  Limitations of Directional TarGOST were identified, and some potential improvements identified. Challenges in tracking data and the path in 3 dimensions were overcome.  The new data improved the existing models and confirmed the CSM.  

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Mettawee Metamorphosis – Transforming a River Through Remediation and Restoration

Mr. Matthew T. Thorpe, P.E., Senior Geotechnical Engineer, AECOM

Abstract:

Operations of a former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) located on the bank of the Mettawee River in Granville, New York, released coal tar/Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL) into the subsurface which migrated under the adjacent river and to properties beyond. In the reach adjacent to the site, fill placement on both sides of the river resulted in an area with few habitat features.  A remedial construction approach minimizing discharge of coal tar/NAPL into the river was a priority. A purpose-built bypass channel constructed outside the limits of contamination was selected. The remedial efforts and associated bypass would result in disturbance to 700 linear feet of river channel, banks and flood plain. This construction was an opportunity to provide improvements to river habitat, flood surge capacity and sediment transport stability, benefiting wildlife, and property owners up and downstream.  Conceptual discussions with stakeholders evolved into a design partnership. This partnership included site owners, state and federal agencies, and a river design expert. New river geometry and features were developed and incorporated into the site restoration plan. Design work also included enhanced flood energy dissipation through hydraulic and hydrology modeling.  The restoration, completed in early June 2020, transformed the affected Mettawee River reach into a vibrant riffle-pool morphology. New features include wetland benches to increase connectivity with the flood plain, several types of grade control, and habitat structures to increase ecological and recreational value.