Environmental Effects Monitoring in Sydney Harbor During Remediation of One of Canada's Most Polluted Sites: A Review and Lessons Learned

This article reviews a comprehensive marine environmental effects monitoring program (MEEMP) comprised of components capable of detecting changes in the marine environment over short or extended temporal scales during remediation of one of Canada's most polluted sites at the Sydney Tar Ponds. The monitoring components included: water and sediment quality, amphipod toxicity testing, mussel tissue, crab hepatopancreas tissue, and benthic community assessments. The MEEMP was designed to verify the impact predictions for the remediation project (i.e., no immediate damage to the marine ecosystem through remediation activities). Some components were capable of providing conclusive data (e.g., sediment and water quality), while others only yielded data that were inconclusive or difficult to attribute to remediation activities (e.g., intertidal community assessments and amphipod toxicity testing). Components that provided only inconclusive results or were difficult to attribute to remediation activities were discontinued, resulting in substantial cost savings during the project, but without compromising the overall objectives of the program, which was to monitor for potential adverse environmental effects of remediation on the marine environment in Sydney Harbor and to verify environmental effects predictions made in the Environmental Impact Statement for the project. The rationale for discontinuing certain MEEMP components and discussion of conclusive results are incorporated into “lessons learned” for environmental remediation practitioners and regulators working on similar large‐scale multiyear remediation projects. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Understanding the Causes of Spills From the Supply and Handling of Chemicals at Resource Construction Sites: A Case Study

An intermediate bulk container (IBC) was punctured during its handling, releasing a refined oil product onto land at a large construction site in an environmentally sensitive region of Australia. Understanding and controlling the risks from fuel, oil, and chemical spills on the current project was of critical importance as part of the project's overall approval, and ongoing compliance depended on the project committing to minimizing all chemical and petroleum hydrocarbon spills on the site. The telehandler (forklift) did not pierce the plastic of the IBC directly (as was expected to be the case) but rather one of the tynes caught on the underside of the metal base plate (pallet belly plate), despite numerous controls being in place at the time of spill (to limit the risks of damaging the IBC), revealing a previously unreported mechanism for a fluid spill from handling of petroleum hydrocarbons and related chemicals. The investigation team used a root cause analysis (RCA) technique, based on the fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram, which was undertaken with 12 expert contributors (from the project) to identify the underlying cause: The inspection process was inadequate. This study is a companion to the article published in Winter 2014 in Remediation (Guerin, 2014) covering multiple causes of spills from plant and equipment commonly used on construction and remediation projects. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Performance and Environmental Impact of Biodegradable Films in Agriculture: A Field Study on Protected Cultivation

The performance, the degradability in soil and the environmental impact of biodegradable starch-based soil mulching and low tunnel films were assessed by means of field and laboratory tests. The lifetime of the biodegradable mulches was 9 months and of the biodegradable low-tunnel films 6 months. The radiometric properties of the biodegradable films influenced positively the microclimate: air temperature under the biodegradable low tunnel films was 2 °C higher than under the low density polyethylene films, resulting in an up to 20% higher yield of strawberries. At the end of the cultivation period, the biodegradable mulches were broken up and buried in the field soil together with the plant residues. One year after burial, less than 4% of the initial weight of the biodegradable film was found in the soil. According to ecotoxicity tests, the kinetic luminescent bacteria test with Vibrio fischeri and the Enchytraeus albidus ISO/CD 16387 reproduction potential, there was no evidence of ecotoxicity in the soil during the biodegradation process. Furthermore, there was no change in the diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in the soil determined on the basis of the appearance of amoA gene diversity in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.     

Multi-Scale Characterization of Fractured Rocks Used as a Means for the Realistic Simulation of Pollutant Migration Pathways in Contaminated Sites: A Case Study

An integrated methodology is developed to quantify the geostatistical and transport properties of fractured media at multiple scales. Such information is helpful in developing numerical models and estimating the up-scaled transport coefficients of fractured formations. An oil-contaminated fractured site, overlying granite rock and situated in northern Spain, is investigated, and a macroscopic geological model that quantifies the regional distribution of faults and fractures over the entire area is established. The methodology is based on the measurement of fractured outcrops in the field (scale ～1-100 m), the collection of representative fractured samples and measurement of the fracture aperture (scale ～0.01-1 mm), and the analysis of macroscopic characteristics (scale ～1-5 km) of fracture/faults. The multi-scale fracture properties are utilized to construct a discrete fracture/fault network model which provides input data to a macroscopic simulator of contaminant transport in fractured porous media. The transient NAPL migration pathways are predicted for one scenario of pollution. Such information is helpful in the risk assessment of fractured contaminated sites.     

The State of the Practice: Characterizing and Remediating Contaminated Groundwater at Fractured Rock Sites

Characterizing and remediating contaminated groundwater in fractured rock are often the most difficult challenges facing environmental professionals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), other U.S. federal agencies, and the Ontario Ministry of Environment recently supported a workshop, held an international conference, and developed a Web site to promote the understanding of the state of the practice. Field practitioners and researchers were surveyed and questioned concerning their experiences. This article summarizes the results of these efforts and provides an overview of the use of characterization methods and remediation technologies at fractured rock sites. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Matrix Diffusion Modeling Applied to Long‐Term Pump‐and‐Treat Data: 2. Results From Three Sites

The data mining/groundwater modeling methodology developed in McDade et al. (2013) was performed to determine if matrix diffusion is a plausible explanation for the lower‐concentration but persistent chlorinated solvent plumes in the groundwater‐bearing units at three different pump‐and‐treat systems. Capture‐zone maps were evaluated, and eight wells were identified that did not draw water from any of the historical source areas but captured water from the sides of the plume. Two groundwater models were applied to study the persistence of the plumes in the absence of contributions from the historical source zones. In the wells modeled, the observed mass discharge generally decreased by about one order of magnitude or less over 4 to 10 years of pumping, and 1.8 to 17 pore volumes were extracted. In five of the eight wells, the matrix diffusion model fit the data much better than the advection dispersion retardation model, indicating that matrix diffusion better explains the persistent plume. In the three other wells, confounding factors, such as a changing capture zone over time (caused by changes in pumping rates in adjacent extraction wells); potential interference from a high‐concentration unremediated source zone; and limited number of pore volumes removed made it difficult to confirm that matrix diffusion processes were active in these areas. Overall, the results from the five wells indicate that mass discharge rates from the pumping wells will continue to show a characteristic “long tail'' of mass removal from zones affected by active matrix diffusion processes. Future site management activities should include matrix diffusion processes in the conceptual site models for these three sites. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Applicability of National Critical Loads Data in Assessing Designated Sites

Critical loads have been successfully used within Europe in the development of effects-based policies for pollution abatement, including the Second Sulphur Protocol and the Protocol to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone (CLRTAP, 1979). This success has encouraged the UK Environment Agency and Conservation Agencies to use the national critical load maps as a screening tool in assessing the threats from acidification and eutrophication to designated (Natura 2000) sites. The UK maps of critical loads are based on national-scale data sets appropriate for national-scale assessments, and were never intended for use at the site-specific level. Site-based assessments are often targeted at Special Areas of Conservation, a sub-set of the UK Natura 2000 sites. The spatial data available includes the boundaries of the sites but not the location of the designated features. Ancillary data is variable from one site to another; habitat types may be described in detail with cross-reference to classes of the National Vegetation Classification (NVC: Rodwell, 1991 et seq), but information available on soils and geology is generalised and has not been related to the habitats or species being protected. Hence it can be difficult to relate the individual sites to the national maps, even where appropriate to do so. This paper examines the underlying uncertainties in the national critical load maps showing how the maps could give misleading results if used for site-specific assessments. It also includes advice on how to determine when the national data may be appropriate as a policy-tool at the site-level.     

Successful Deployment of an Innovative Environmental Technology: The Terra-Kleen Experience

The National Research Council's report, Innovations in Ground Water and Soil Cleanup: From Concept to Commercialization, reviewed the implementation of innovative remediation technologies and portrayed a bleak outlook for them. Conversely, Terra-Kleen has invented, patented, permitted, and profited through the use of an innovative technology in the current market. Terra-Kleen has implemented a solvent extraction technology for the removal of PCBs, PAHs, and chlorinated pesticides from soil, sediment, and debris. To date, Terra-Kleen has successfully processed over 23 million pounds of PCB-contaminated soil in Alaska, California, Florida, Ohio, and Oklahoma. The company has been profitable each year since its inception, and has averaged a revenue growth rate of 94 percent per year for the last four years. Corporate growth has been financed entirely through profits and conventional bank loans at favorable interest rates. This article reviews the factors that have led to Terra-Kleen's success, overviews the solvent extraction technology, and details specific projects that have implemented the technology.     

Application of the SOLVTM Process: A Total Systems Approach to Environmental Remediation

Commodore Solution Technologies, Inc. has developed an innovative total systems approach to environmental remediation that utilizes a patented chemistry called Solvated Electron Technology (SET^TM). Solvated electron solutions are some of the most powerful reducing agents know. Formed by dissolving alkali and alkaline-earth metals in anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce a solution of metal cations and free electrons, solvated electron solutions are capable of providing reductants of great activity and uniqueness. They provide a highly useful mechanism for the reductive destruction of many organic molecules and are extremely effective in the dehalogenation of halogenated organic compounds. Commodore has received a nation-wide EPA operating permit for the nonthermal destruction of PCBs using this process. The SoLV^TM process is a total solution approach that incorporates SET^TM with pre-and post-treatments, when necessary, for environmental cleanup. It is applicable to a broad range of substrates including liquids, solids, soils, and job materials. This article presents results from several pilot, field, and commercial validation studies utilizing the SoLV^TM process.     

Environmental and Socio-economic Aspects of the Operation of Industrial Regions: The Case Study of the Industrial Area of Alexandroupolis (Greece)

The paper summarizes the results of a study concerning the operation of industrial plants and their effects to the environment. It also addresses, shortly, the consequences to the quality of human life and proposes potential measures that may contribute to the reduction of the negative environmental impacts. The relatively small organized Industrial Area of Alexandroupolis (Greece) is examined as a case study. In particular, the activities of its major industrial facilities are presented and their emissions to the environment are examined. In addition, the socio-economic aspects of the operation of the Industrial Area are studied. The results of the study showed that the operation of the Industrial Area has specific negative effects in the natural environment of the region and in the quality of life of the residents. Methodological and legislative tools, such as control systems for the environmental pollution, the green chemistry, and the environmental management systems, may be employed to assist the prevention and confrontation of environmental problems.     

Resilience: A New Consideration for Environmental Remediation in an Era of Climate Change

There has been a growing movement within the environmental industry to develop more sustainable approaches in environmental remediation. These have generally included carbon footprint analysis, life cycle assessment, and best management practices to reduce the overall net environmental, social, and economic impacts of investigation and remediation activities. One of the foundational reasons net environmental impacts are currently evaluated is to identify and, subsequently, reduce contributions to climate change, primarily greenhouse gas emissions. While this trend toward sustainability and reduction in impact to the global environment is both important and admirable, the approach to remediation design and long‐term planning now needs to evolve further to better incorporate climate resilience into sustainable remediation design and implementation: designing remediation solutions that account for the projected impacts of climate change, as well as have the capacity to adapt to changing conditions. As a global population, we are now beyond the point of being able to prevent climate change and instead need to plan for adapting to it. In remediation, the effects of climate change create both risks and opportunities which should be considered during remedial design and long‐term planning. Responsible parties may see the push for—and management of—these considerations through their internal corporate risk management. The authors of this paper propose a simple framework for climate adaptation and resilience evaluations and plan development for remediation projects. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Sugarcane vinasse: Environmental implications of its use

The inadequate and indiscriminate disposal of sugarcane vinasse in soils and water bodies has received much attention since decades ago, due to environmental problems associated to this practice. Vinasse is the final by-product of the biomass distillation, mainly for the production of ethanol, from sugar crops (beet and sugarcane), starch crops (corn, wheat, rice, and cassava), or cellulosic material (harvesting crop residues, sugarcane bagasse, and wood). Because of the large quantities of vinasse produced, alternative treatments and uses have been developed, such as recycling of vinasse in fermentation, fertirrigation, concentration by evaporation, and yeast and energy production. This review was aimed at examining the available data on the subject as a contribution to update the information on sugarcane vinasse, from its characteristics and chemical composition to alternatives uses in Brazil: fertirrigation, concentration by evaporation, energy production; the effects on soil physical, chemical and biological properties; its influence on seed germination, its use as biostimulant and environmental contaminant. The low pH, electric conductivity, and chemical elements present in sugarcane vinasse may cause changes in the chemical and physical–chemical properties of soils, rivers, and lakes with frequent discharges over a long period of time, and also have adverse effects on agricultural soils and biota in general. Thus, new studies and green methods need to be developed aiming at sugarcane vinasse recycling and disposal.     

The Impact of Conifer Harvesting on Stream Water Quality: A Case Study in Mid-Wales

A 12-year record of water quality data for runoff from a spruce forested hillslope with podzolic soils shows the impacts of conifer harvesting and replanting in relation to nitrate generation and its influence on surface water acidification. With felling, nitrate increases from a background of 18 Eq/l to about 50 Eq/l after 1 to 2 years and then declines to background levels over the next 1 to 2 years and to lower concentrations thereafter. This change is mirrored by an acidification process as manifest by a change in Gran alkalinity, acid neutralization capacity (ANC) and aluminium concentrations as well as pH. For example, Gran alkalinity and ANC, which start at negative concentrations prior to felling (about –20 and –50 Eq/l, respectively), become more negative (–30 and –100 Eq/l, respectively) at high nitrate concentrations. Correspondingly, pH decreases from about 4.7 to 4.5 and aluminium concentrations increase from about 14 to 16 M. Subsequently, the acidification is reversed as nitrate concentrations decline and after five years post-felling the system has higher pH, Gran alkalinity and ANC together with lower aluminium concentrations than even before the felling took place (the post-felling values are about 4.9, -15 Eq/l, –20 Eq/l and 7 M/l, respectively).Other determinands show clear changes over time. For example, there is a marked increase in sodium and chloride prior to and around the time of felling (200 to 300 and 230 to 400 Eq/l, respectively), with a subsequent decline in concentration to pre-felling and to lower values of around 160 and 170 Eq/l, respectively, thereafter. This change is probably associated with abnormally high inputs of sea-salts from the atmosphere during the first quarter of the year of felling, and dilution thereafter, rather than a direct consequence of the felling activity itself: this change in sea salt loading has had an impact on stream acidity. Dissolved organic carbon and iron also change with concentrations increasing over time (60 to 200 and 1.0 to 1.5 M/l, respectively) and this mirrors a general pattern observed across the Plynlimon catchments irrespective of whether or not there has been felling activity.The implications of the findings are discussed in relations to environmental management and hydrochemical processes.     

Environmental Relevance of CL-20: Preliminary Findings

CL-20 is a recently synthesized component of energetic propellant formulations. Although energetic aspects of CL-20 have attracted considerable attention, its environmental behavior is unknown. A multi-disciplinary study covering a variety of fate, transport, and toxicity issues of CL-20 is currently under way in the Center for Environmental Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. Preliminary results on water solubility, biodegradability, hydrolytic reactivity, thermal decomposition and soil microbial and plant toxicity are reported in this article.     

Long-term Changes in Environmental Variables of Traunsee,an Oligotrophic Austrian Lake Impacted by the Salt Industry,and Two Reference Sites Hallstättersee and Attersee

Morphometric, hydrological and basic physico-chemicalcharacteristics of three deep Alpine lakes, Traunsee,Hallstättersee and Attersee as well as their long-termbahaviour are presented. The deep Alpine lakesHallstättersee and Traunsee have been influenced by saltmining and the traditional salt industry for over 100 years. Waste products from these activities, entering the lakes, have mainlyaffected the chemistry of these water bodies, especially bysubstantially increasing the chloride concentrations up to 170 mg L^-1. As a consequence of the increased density, mixing conditions of the lakes were altered. The resulting incomplete mixing led to oxygen depletionin deeper layers. In addition, increased nutrientload from the catchment rised the trophic level in the 70s and 80sof the last century in turn, affecting the oxygen content in thehypolimnion. Finally a situation developed where the risk becamehigh for these lakes to become meromictic induced by humanactivity. In fact, Hallstättersee became facultativelymeromictic. This process was interrupted by increased chlorideinput of more than 30 mg L^-1 due to accidental wash outfrom an upstream salt mine rendering Hallstätterseehomogenous in 1978 to 1980 resulting in complete over-turn. Conditions substantially improved in both lakes after miningpractices were altered and restoration measures againsteutrophication were initiated. Chloride and phosphorusconcentrations declined, while oxygen conditions substantiallyimproved in the following years. Conditions in Traunseesubstantially improved and chloride levels near the sedimentdecreased to less than 140 mg L^-1. The third lakeconsidered here, Attersee, always remained in a near-naturalstate although some signs of increased nutrient levels becamevisible in the late 1970s. Chloride concentrations of around 3 mgL^-1 in this lake can be considered as background levels.Attersee can now serve as a reference site for deep Alpine lakesbecause of its ultra-oligotrophic and pristine nature.     

Environmental effects of heavy metals derived from the e-waste recycling activities in China: A systematic review

As the world’s leading manufacturing country, China has become the largest dumping ground for e-waste, resulting in serious pollution of heavy metals in China. This study reviews recent studies on environmental effects of heavy metals from the e-waste recycling sites in China, especially Taizhou, Guiyu, and Longtang. The intensive uncontrolled processing of e-waste in China has resulted in the release of large amounts of heavy metals in the local environment, and caused high concentrations of metals to be present in the surrounding air, dust, soils, sediments and plants. Though the pollution of many heavy metals was investigated in the relevant researches, the four kinds of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr) from e-waste recycling processes attracted more attention. The exceedance of various national and international standards imposed negative effects to the environment, which made the local residents face with the serious heavy metal exposure. In order to protect the environment and human health, there is an urgent need to control and monitor the informal e-waste recycling operations.     

试论清洁生产对环境标准体系的影响

探讨了推行清洁生产对环境标准体系的影响，认为我国在工业污染防治战略由“末端治理”转向“生产全过程控制”的过程中，环境标准体系的建立必须与先进的生产工艺、企业的经济效益、企业的环境管理、产品的环境指标、商品流通领域的环境标志相结合，才能适合环境管理的需要。     

In Situ Solidification (ISS) of River Sediments: Pilot Demonstration and Discussion of ISS as a Remedial Alternative to Dredging and Capping

In situ solidification (ISS) is a proven technology for remediation of upland site soils, but has not been thoroughly demonstrated for use in impacted underwater sediments. This article describes the first successful use of ISS techniques to solidify underwater sediments containing manufactured gas plant non‐aqueous‐phase liquid (NAPL). The techniques consisted of mixing cementitious grout with the sediments in situ to create a monolith that immobilized the contaminants, significantly decreased the hydraulic conductivity, and also vastly decreased contaminant leaching potential of the sediments. The success of this pilot demonstration project suggests that ISS may be a viable alternative for: sites requiring deep dredging; large volume projects on urban waterways where staging and amending areas are limited; sites with NAPL impacts that cannot be controlled during dredging; and sites where eventual NAPL breakthrough is anticipated if reactive caps are employed. The potential economic, environmental, and operational benefits of this technology will be discussed. This article focuses on the primary objectives of the pilot demonstration: to meet quantitative performance criteria for strength and hydraulic conductivity; to assess the leach performance of the solidified sediments; and to satisfy water quality parameters for turbidity, pH, and sheen. Approach/activities: The pilot study utilized a customized marine platform (modular floats, tug boats, etc.) and full‐scale ISS equipment (auger rig, silos, etc.) and varied operational parameters to provide a range of data to assist in evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of the technology for use in similar environments and in planning future ISS projects on the water. Water quality controls and monitoring were implemented during the operation, and the study documented and evaluated the environmental disruption (short‐term impacts) and costs of the application of the ISS process to contaminated aquatic sediments. ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Environmental legislative accomplishments: The 104th congress in review and a look at what's ahead

Contrary to many's expectations, the Republican-led 104th Congress passed a substantial amount of environmental legislation. In addition to a variety of bills that received limited public attention, two major environmental laws—the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments and the Food Quality Protection Act—were passed and signed into law. Still, many important legislative efforts were left unfinished at the end of the second session and will resurface in the 105th Congress. This article discusses the environmental legislation that passed in the 104th Congress and explores what environmental legislative initiatives will be addressed in the 105th Congress. (While not intended to be all-inclusive, the article mentions most major environmental legislation, with a particular focus on waste issues.)     

Easing the Pain for Disputants: Fundamentals of Environmental Mediation

“If we don't change the way we are going, we will end up where we are headed,” the saying goes. Well, with respect to environmental disputes, we are changing the way we are going, and we are doing it primarily through mediation. We are reaching for and finding cooperative, collaborative, and less expensive ways of solving problems. We are using mediation to eliminate or minimize the side effects of environmental issues and problematic sites. We are avoiding or dramatically reducing the “transactional” costs that have devastated so many persons and businesses involved in environmental problems. And we are finding ways to utilize collective intelligence and minimize collective damage through mediation. It's definitely good business.