Wednesday, April 2, 2008 : 8:40 a.m.
Advanced Diagnostic Tools and Applications to Site Design, Management and Accelerated Closure
Site remediation has evolved from energy intensive, mechanically driven processes to more effective and cost efficient in situ processes. In many cases, in-situ remediation is best served if integrated with advanced diagnostics that employ molecular biological tools (MBTs) and compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA). We have applied advanced diagnostics in ten remedial operations since March, 2006 and are planning applications at seven more projects at the time of this writing. Regarding what has already been accomplished, in eight cases the diagnostics were used to help site assessment and/or remedy selection and these results will be summarized. In two cases, which will be discussed in detail, there was movement directly to an MNA status based on the use of MBTs.
The larger of the two sites that received and MNA ruling had soil and groundwater concentrations of chlorinated solvents greater than the Georgia Risk Reduction Standards (RRS). Applications of phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) and nucleic acid diagnostics were employed to assess the status of natural attenuation prepare a petition for MNA. With the results of these analyses the site was put into an MNA status. This ruling was in concert with excavation of the source and an ozone treatment of source groundwater. The MBT data was used to successfully establish that downgradient bioremediation barriers could be held in abeyance subject to the impacts of the source treatments and if permanently avoided an average cost savings of $1.2 MM will be realized. The lesser of the two sites that received an MNA ruling was in Tennessee at an industrial facility contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. By showing the regulatory agency that the plume is decreasing in concentration and that natural attenuation is an active process, hydraulic containment was not required leading to an overall cost savings of approximately $.45 MM.
Stephen S. Koenigsberg, Ph.D., WSP Environmental Strategies LLC Dr. Koenigsberg joined WSP Environmental Strategies in 2006 where he is a company-wide resource in bioremediation and chemical oxidation. He also initiated the Advanced Site Closure Program, a timely specialty services area involving the use of proprietary and non-proprietary advanced site characterization technologies for optimizing the design, management and closure of sites. In 1994, Dr. Koenigsberg became a founding principal of Regenesis, where as VP R&D he co-invented and developed the Company’s products that have been used on over 14,000 sites worldwide. He is author or co-author on over 150 publications. He received his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1979.