Environmental Site Remediation

Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPLs) are materials that are generally immiscible with water meaning that they form a separate liquid phase. NAPLs are divided into two categories: Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) or Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPL). DNAPLs are usually the result of chlorinated solvents (Trichloroethylene and Perchloroethylene), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), creosote and coal tar. LNAPLs result from petroleum hydrocarbon liquids, such as gasoline (petrol),...

Green remediation describes the process of considering sustainable environmental practices during the remediation of contaminated sites. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Green Remediation Technology Primer in April 2008 to provide “topical introductory information” relating to Green Remediation. The EPA defines green remediation as “the practice of considering all environmental effects of remedy implementation and incorporating options to maximize net...

August Mack is exhibiting at the NSCC Expo in San Diego this week. Stop by our booth and introduce yourself.

August Mack Environmental specializes in environmental, health and safety compliance; environmental due diligence; environmental site remediation; and sustainable business strategies to the industrial, legal, financial, health care and government sectors throughout North America.

The in-situ remedial technology of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) utilizes natural attenuation processes and requires long-term performance monitoring. It an agency approved remediation technology but is considered to be a passive technology.

The advantages of Monitored Natural Attenuation are the following:

• Overall costs may be lower.
• Minimal disturbance to the site operations.
• Potential use below buildings and other areas that cannot be excavated.
• Does not generate remediation wastes.
• Reduced...

House Enrollment Act (HEA) 1162 requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to consider risk-based solutions while evaluating environmental closures. Risk-based closures can include several approaches for example:

• Applying pre-approved closure levels
• Determining site-specific closure levels
• Considering risk of exposure

Another in-situ remedial technology is enhanced bioremediation which is also known as enhanced aerobic bioremediation. Natural bioremediation (breakdown) requires the continued presence of bacteria, nutrients, oxygen and moisture whereas enhanced bioremediation is used to accelerate naturally occurring bioremediation of contaminants in the subsurface. Bioremediation provides a supplemental supply of oxygen to bacteria (normally limiting factor). It can increase the rate of contaminant breakdown...

At the beginning of the year, many people make a list of things they want to get done. Well the year is 3/4 of the way over and how are you doing on your list?  One way to reflect on the progress of your EH&S programs is to perform a compliance audit. Call us if you need help or want a third party to audit your EH&S systems.

One of the in-situ remedial technologies available is air sparging (AS). This remedial technology reduces the concentrations of volatile constituents in soils and groundwater by the injection of contaminant-free air into the subsurface saturated zone. It produces a phase transfer of hydrocarbons from a dissolved sate to a vapor phase. Then, the air is vented through the unsaturated zone. It is commonly used with soil vapor extraction (SVE).

The advantages of air sparging are the following:

• Proven...