Lessons learned from classroom training on natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents

Technology and information transfer are critical functions within the remediation industry. Researchers in the private sector, academia, and government all struggle to have their findings accepted and put to good use by the remediation industry at large but must work even harder to have their findings accepted and put into practice by state and federal regulators in the environmental agencies overseeing cleanups. Unfortunately, many technology and information transfer efforts fail to reach state and federal regulators, and even fewer achieve regulatory acceptance. A two‐year‐long campaign to deliver a training class on the natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents in groundwater is one prominent example of very effective technology and information transfer. Several of the elements and aspects of that successful training class are presented and discussed in order to provide others with a proven and workable template. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Land Use for Military Training in the UK: The Current Situation,Likely Developments and Possible Alternatives

This paper describes the current pattern of land ownership for military training in the UK. The main component-armytraining areas-is considered in detail. Recent historical trends are reviewed in the context of changes in force size and weapons systems.Problems and benefits arising from the primary use of land for military training are defined. Relevant literature is reviewed. Comparisons are made with training systems in other countries, in particular the USA, the Netherlands,Switzerland, France and Australia. Recent developments in government policy are described and analysed. Possible future requirements are explored. This information is used to construct an argument that the current training system in the UK is outmoded and unsustainable. The authors contend that there is a need for a strategic review of military training, encompassing a thorough assessment of alternatives to traditional live firing on dedicated training areas.     

Facilities and Techniques for Maintaining a Controlled Fluoride Environment in Vegetation Studies

The principle of fabric filtration has only recently been accepted for fossil fuel fired boiler particulate emissions control. Information on design criteria is, therefore, limited. The paper provides data on the few installations where baghouses have been installed and successfully operated. The general conclusion is that a strong relationship exists between air to cloth ratio and bag life.     

Acid-base status in the sea urchins Psammechinus miliaris and Echinus esculentus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) during emersion

The acid-base status of two sea urchins, Psammechinus miliaris (Gmelin) and Echinus esculentus (L.) during experimental emersion has been investigated. Sea urchins were collected from the Firth of Clyde between August and September 1987. The carbon dioxide capacity of the coelomic fluid of P. miliaris was greater than that of E. esculentus, although both were low and only marginally greater than that of sea water. The pH of the coelonic fluid was also low (7.05 to 7.17) and was influenced mainly by the internal partial pressure of CO₂ (P_{CO 2}). Acid-base disturbance in the coelomic fluid of both species during emersion, although minimal, was more pronounced in E. esculentus than in P. miliaris and was due primarily to an increase in the internal P_{CO 2}, although there was an increase in the concentration of L-lactate in the coelomic fluid of E. esculentus. The coelomic fluid of both species was in a state of perfectly compensated respiratory acidosis. An increase in the concentration of divalent ions (Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) may be related to the dissolution of the test as a source of carbonate buffer.     

When is a soil remediated? Comparison of biopiled and windrowed soils contaminated with bunker-fuel in a full-scale trial

A six month field scale study was carried out to compare windrow turning and biopile techniques for the remediation of soil contaminated with bunker C fuel oil. End-point clean-up targets were defined by human risk assessment and ecotoxicological hazard assessment approaches. Replicate windrows and biopiles were amended with either nutrients and inocula, nutrients alone or no amendment. In addition to fractionated hydrocarbon analysis, culturable microbial characterisation and soil ecotoxicological assays were performed. This particular soil, heavy in texture and historically contaminated with bunker fuel was more effectively remediated by windrowing, but coarser textures may be more amendable to biopiling. This trial reveals the benefit of developing risk and hazard based approaches in defining end-point bioremediation of heavy hydrocarbons when engineered biopile or windrow are proposed as treatment option.     

Vegetation: A Sink for Atmospheric Pollutants

The possibility of vegetation being an important sink for gaseous air pollutants was investigated. Plant pollutant uptake measurements were made utilizing a typical vegetation canopy and chambers that were designed specifically for gaseous exchange studies. The data indicate that an alfalfa canopy removed gases from the atmosphere in the following order: hydrogen fluoride (HF) > sulfur dioxide (SO₂) > chlorine (Cl₂) > nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) > ozone (O₃) > peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) > nitric oxide (NO) > carbon monoxide (CO). The absorption rate of NO was low, and no absorption of CO could be detected with the methods used. In the typical ambient concentration range uptake increased linearly with increasing concentration except for O₃ and Cl₂ which caused partial stomatal closure at the higher concentrations. Wind velocity above the plants, height of the canopy, and light intensity were shown to affect the pollutant removal rate. A relationship between the absorption rate and solubility of the pollutant in water was also shown. It was concluded that vegetation may be an important sink for many gaseous air pollutants.     

Making resources work more efficiently – the importance of supply chain partnerships

State and federal governments in Australia have implemented a range of assistance programs for manufacturing industries to become more resource efficient and reduce waste. While many of these programs focus on Cleaner Production at single sites, an increasing number of assistance programs are offered across supply chains. Sustainability Victoria, a Victorian government authority, supports projects that focus on resource efficiencies across supply chains in key industry sectors.In this study, tools were adapted and utilised to identify efficiency potentials and losses across supply chains in the timber furniture manufacturing and the food industry sector. In this respect, waste generation and value loss due to inefficient use of critical materials within the processes were estimated from purchase and waste handling data. Primary companies were chosen to undertake efficiency trials that could demonstrate value gain across the supply chain.This study describes the realisation of greater efficiencies in material usage when engaging proactively with supply chain partners immediately adjacent to the primary company. Demonstration trials confirmed that through a more integrated approach among supply chain partners the potential in using materials more efficiently and design processes can lead to enhanced productivity without compromising environmental burden. Hence, the study describes targeted resource efficiency, recycling and process optimisation opportunities as identified in the supply chain trials on timber furniture manufacturing and food industries.