July 2, 2009

Petroleum Brownfields Web Site

EPA's new petroleum brownfields web site is designed to make information more accessible for those working to foster the cleanup and reuse of petroleum-impacted properties. It provides easy access to information that both new users and those familiar with brownfields will find useful. For instance, the Web site provides access to: "how to" guides, ways to find petroleum brownfields sites, assessment and cleanup information, financial guides and EPA Brownfields program and grants information, public/private partnership information, and sustainability and petroleum brownfields. More information at http://www.epa.gov/oust/petroleumbrownfields/ .

July 1, 2009

Triad Month Seminar Series - August 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25.

A little over a year ago, over 260 individuals gathered from the U.S. and abroad at UMass-Amherst in Massachusetts to discuss the use of the Triad Approach to conduct investigations and remedial actions faster, better, and at a reduced cost. The Triad Community of Practice (CoP) has will redeliver updates of several of the same sessions to benefit the greater CLU-IN audience that either may not have been able to attend the conference, or were not able to attend a specific presentation while at the conference. By doing this, the Triad CoP hopes participants can learn more about some of the Triad tools and how they have been applied by the environmental industry. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/live .

May 21, 2009

EPA Releases $111.9 M in Brownfield Grants

From the National Brownfields Association and based on an EPA press release: U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has announced the release of an estimated $111.9 million in grants bolstered by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to help communities clean up brownfields. Communities in 46 states, four tribes and two U.S. Territories will share in these grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites. In total, 389 competitive grants were awarded. The grants include $37.3 million from the stimulus package and $74.6 million from the EPA Brownfields general program funding. President Obama's proposed fiscal 2010 budget would give EPA an additional $175 million for brownfields. 

May 20, 2009

National Forum on Vapor Intrusion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

U.S. EPA, Office of Science Policy, 2009

With attendance of about 350 people from across the United States, the meeting was structured on dual tracks with common sessions. The speakers gave technical presentations on sampling, assessment, risk, and engineering in addition to case studies illustrating a cross section of vapor intrusion issues. The meeting had two breakout sessions: the Community Stakeholder Breakout presented areas and issues of interest for community groups, residents, developers, and possibly local government; and the Government Stakeholder Breakout pertained to internal issues of program implementation, policy, and guidance. Summaries of the presentations and breakout sessions have been compiled in a final proceedings report. The final proceedings, presentations, and posters are available at http://www.epa.gov/osp/hstl/viforum09.htm

April 6, 2009

Natural Attenuation of the Lead Scavengers 1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB) and 1.2-Dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) at Motor Fuel Release Sites and Implications for Risk Management (EPA 600-R-08-107).

The lead scavengers 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB) and 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) were included along with lead in conventional leaded gasoline used for automobiles in the US prior to 1988. Old spills of leaded gasoline from underground storage tank systems (USTs) at gasoline service stations may contaminate ground water aquifers used to supply drinking water. This report is intended for regulators in the U.S. EPA Regions and in the state environmental agencies who manage the risk of EDB and 1,2-DCA contamination in ground water. The report reviews the previous use of EDB and 1,2-DCA in leaded motor fuel, provides information on the transport and fate of EDB and 1,2-DCA at motor fuel release sites, and presents results of a study of the current distribution of EDB and 1,2-DCA at motor fuel release sites and the associated chance of contaminating ground water (September 2008, 74 pages). View or download at http://www.epa.gov/ada/download/reports/600R08107/600r08107.pdf .

April 6, 2009

In Situ Chemical Oxidation for Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater: Summary Proceedings of an ISCO Technology Practices Workshop.

 The Colorado School of Mines (CSM), in collaboration with East Tennessee State University (ETSU), CH2M HILL, and the U.S. Navy, convened a 2-day In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) Technology Practices Workshop at the CSM in Golden, Colorado on March 7-8, 2007. The purpose of the Workshop was to provide a forum to share insights and perspectives gained regarding the application of ISCO for remediation of contaminated sites. There were 43 invited participants at the Workshop including SERDP/ESTCP program staff, ISCO project team leaders, and key ISCO stakeholders (chemical companies, technology vendors, environmental consultants, researchers, and remedial project managers). The Workshop program was designed to encourage participation and consisted of a series of technical presentations, four panel discussions, a contaminated site scenario exercise, three breakout group meetings, along with several periods of plenary discussions. This proceedings document summarizes the activities and outcomes of the workshop (June 2008, 74 pages). View or download at http://www.estcp.org/viewfile.cfm?Doc=ER-0623%20Summary%20Proceedings.pdf.

March 16, 2009

Voluntary Cleanup Program Introduced in Ga. State Senate

A bipartisan group of Georgia legislators has introduced a bill creating a voluntary remediation program in the state. Under SB-78, responsible parties would be allowed to enroll properties on the hazardous site inventory, as well as non-HIS sites, into the program.

 March 5, 2009

Celebrate National Ground Water Awareness Week

Beginning on March 8, until March 14, our nation will be celebrating one of our most important water supplies. Around half of the United States population relies on ground water as their main source of drinking water.

February 29, 2009

Principles of Soil and Groundwater Geochemistry

The AEG Carolinas Section is planning to offer a two-day course featuring speaker Mr. Bill Deutsch, who has worked for Battelle in applied research for 12 years, and as a consultant with Woodward-Clyde/URS (15 years) and Jacobs Engineering (2 years). Mr. Deutsch has presented this course numerous times in the past, including at National Ground Water Association seminars.

This event is taking place at Research Triangle Park, NC, on May 4-5, 2009. Contact Dave Duncklee for more information.