Soil Remediation and Reuse in the US Superfund Program

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1 Soil Remediation and Reuse in the US Superfund Program Bruce Means Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation September 16, th Meeting of the ICCL Helsinki, Finland

2 Estimated Number of Contaminated Sites in the U.S. Program to date (as of end-of-year 2008) Program Brownfields Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Superfund Removal/Emergency Response RCRA Corrective Action Superfund Remedial (long-term cleanup) Sites/Properties 450,000 properties 479,000 sites 10,134 actions/ 7,331 sites 3,746 facilities 1,596 sites

3 Estimated Cleanup Cost

4 What is Superfund? Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan. Statute charges EPA to clean up sites through responsible parties, or to perform cleanups itself. Emergency response, time-critical, or short term actions Remedial response (longer term): Identify worst sites (National Priorities List) Remedial investigation (nature & extent, risk assessment) Feasibility study (screen / develop alternatives) Select remedies (document in Records of Decision)

5 Superfund Soil Decisions Rough estimates: 27% of decisions include in situ component. 61% include on-site component. 41% include off-site component. 68% of excavated soil is managed in off-site landfills. 29% of excavated soil is treated (either on or off site). 15% to 30% of excavated soil is reused.

6 Remediation Methods for Contaminated Soils In situ methods Soil vapor extraction Bioremediation Multi-phase extraction Solidification/stabilization Containment Ex situ methods Solidification/stabilization Physical separation/recycling Incineration Thermal desorption Bioremediation Disposal

7 Source/Soil Control Treatment Projects 1982 through 2005 Ex Situ Technologies (515) 53% In Situ Technologies (462) 47% Other Ex Situ (43) Chemical Treatment - 9 Neutralization - 7 Soil Vapor Extraction - 7 Soil Washing - 6 Mechanical Soil Aeration - 4 Open Burn/Open Detonation - 4 Solvent Extraction - 4 Phytoremediation - 1 Vitrification - 1 Bioremediation (60) 6% Thermal Desorption (71) 7% Incineration (off-site) (105) 11% Incineration (on-site) (42) 4% Solidification/Stabilization (173) 18% Physical Separation (21) 2% Other Ex Situ (43) 4% Other In Situ (20) 2% Soil Vapor Extraction (248) 26% Bioremediation (53) 5% Multi-Phase Extraction (46) 5% Solidification/Stabilization (44) 5% Chemical Treatment (20) Flushing (17) 2% 2% In Situ Thermal Treatment (14) 1% Other In Situ (20) Neutralization - 8 Phytoremediation - 6 Mechanical Soil Aeration - 3 Vitrification - 2 Electrical Separation - 1

8 Typical Reuse of Treated Soil Backfill on site Sub-base base for roads, recreational areas Capping sub-layer Compacted soil cap Surface water control structures Berms Ditches Diversion structures

9 Superfund Redevelopment Initiative SRI facilitates return of waste sites to productive use as part of EPA s Land Revitalization Agenda Planning resources for communities Aligning public and private partnerships Making Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use determinations Providing written guides for communities Before cleanup After cleanup with environmental reuse

10 Case Study: Camilla Wood Preserving Site Superfund Revitalization Initiative Pilot project to provide resources to local entities for reuse planning Cleanup and reuse planning integrated Remediation considered reuse needs Reuse plan considered remediation options Transformed community threat / eyesore into resource

11 Site Background Creosote and PCP wood pressure treating operations from 1947 to 1991 Site on former cypress swamp in southern Georgia East side used for wood treatment West side used for treated wood storage Company bankrupt and site abandoned in 1991 U.S. EPA Superfund conducted emergency actions to address immediate threats from 1992 to 2006 Fencing, liquid waste stabilization and disposal, contaminated soil stabilization and disposal

12 West area High School Sports Field East area 12

13 Surrounding Land Use

14 Reuse Planning Process Community received funding from USEPA to implement reuse planning. Formed community-based Land Use Committee Obtained consulting services Conceptual plan focused on recreational use as community park and fire-training area. Plan revised to include soccer fields and community park. Both plans considered expediting remediation

15 Plan for West Area Dispose of previously stabilized and stockpiled contaminated soil in offsite facility Demolish, recycle, and dispose of structures and treated wood stockpiles Achieve cleanup levels in top one foot of contaminated soil in west area Risk-based criteria for CPAHs and PCP for industrial/recreational exposure scenarios Removal and offsite disposal of soil exceeding criteria Backfill and grade west area to accommodate soccer fields, park, parking lots, pedestrian trails, and surface water drainage East area to be addressed in future

16 Reuse Plan

17 East area West area Site Structures and wood stockpiles 17

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21 Timing, Marketing, Luck? Nobody wanted the poles until they were gone

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23 More Wildlife Management

24 Recycling Metals tons of scrap steel tons of tin

25 10,000 CYS Gone 10,000 left Behind

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29 Over 100 Adult Turtles Released ERT guidance and support in coordination with USFWS

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31 Native Grasses - Yes Invasive Plants - No

32 Award Winning Tri-County Complex 2008 National Notable Achievement Award for Cross Program Land Revitalization

33 Action completed in 10 months Wastes removed and recycled or disposed 280 tons of scrap steel 58 tons of tin 8,860 tons of Subtitle D soil 1,355 tons of Subtitle D railroad ties/poles Restoration materials 35,785 tons of backfill 3,070 tons of crusher run 365 tons of rip rap 21,320 tons of topsoil Site received National Land Initiative award 33

34 County Recreation Center moved to existing building on the property. Active soccer league serving three counties has been established. Seven acre meadow established south of soccer fields. 34

35 Questions?