Soil Vapor Extraction System Optimization, Transition, and Closure Guidance (PNNL-21843)
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PNNL-21843 RPT-DVZ-AFRI-006 Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830 Soil Vapor Extraction System Optimization, Transition, and Closure Guidance MJ Truex DJ Becker MA Simon M Oostrom AK Rice CD Johnson February 2013 PNNL-21843 RPT-DVZ-AFRI-006 Soil Vapor Extraction System Optimization, Transition, and Closure Guidance MJ Truex1 DJ Becker2 MA Simon3 M Oostrom1 AK Rice1 CD Johnson1 February 2013 1Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 2U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 3Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, Washington 99352 Summary Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is a prevalent remediation approach for volatile contaminants in the vadose zone. A diminishing rate of contaminant extraction over time is typically observed due to 1) diminishing contaminant mass, and/or 2) slow rates of removal for contamination in low-permeability zones. After a SVE system begins to show indications of diminishing contaminant removal rate, SVE performance needs to be evaluated to determine whether the system should be optimized, terminated, or transitioned to another technology to replace or augment SVE. This guidance specifically addresses the elements of this type of performance assessment. While not specifically presented, the approach and analyses in this guidance could also be applied at the onset of remediation selection for a site as a way to evaluate current or future impacts to groundwater from vadose zone contamination. The guidance presented here builds from existing guidance for SVE design, operation, optimization, and closure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment. The purpose of the material herein is to clarify and focus on the specific actions and decisions related to SVE optimization, transition, and/or closure. The process of gathering information and performing evaluations to support SVE remedy decisions is presented in this guidance document in a stepwise approach. Steps start with revisiting the conceptual site model after SVE has operated for a period of time. The guidance also describes information that needs to be considered in terms of the environmental impact and compliance context for optimization, transition, and closure decisions. While these elements of the remediation goal may have been considered at the onset of remediation, they should also be revisited at the time of key remediation decisions. Quantitative approaches are provided to evaluate the impact or remaining vadose zone contaminant sources on groundwater in support of optimization, transition, and closure decisions. This material highlights relatively recent advances in use of mass flux/discharge approaches and includes a calculation tool to facilitate the evaluation process. The material in these initial steps is then synthesized using a decision logic approach to optimization, transition, and closure decisions. iii Acknowledgments This document was prepared by the Deep Vadose Zone-Applied Field Research Initiative at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Funding for this work was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle Memorial Institute for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830. v Acronyms and Abbreviations AFCEE Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment CSM conceptual site model DNAPL dense non-aqueous phase liquid EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ROD record of decision SVE soil vapor extraction USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers VOC volatile organic compounds vii Contents Summary ............................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................. v Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... vii 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1.1 2.0 Revisiting the Conceptual Model ................................................................................................. 2.1 2.1 Aspects of the Conceptual Site Model ................................................................................. 2.1 2.2 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................... 2.2 2.3 Site Categorization ............................................................................................................... 2.5 3.0 Identifying the Environmental Impact and Compliance Context ................................................. 3.1 3.1 Environmental Impact Pathways .......................................................................................... 3.1 3.1.1 Ground Surface Exposure ......................................................................................... 3.1 3.1.2 Vapor Intrusion ......................................................................................................... 3.1 3.1.3 Groundwater .............................................................................................................. 3.2 3.2 Cumulative Risk ................................................................................................................... 3.2 3.3 Identify Site Remediation Goal(s) ........................................................................................ 3.2 4.0 Quantifying Remaining Sources and Impacts .............................................................................. 4.1 4.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 4.1 4.2 Recommended Analysis Approach ...................................................................................... 4.1 4.2.1 Step 1: Quantify the Vadose Zone Contaminant Source .......................................... 4.3 4.2.2 Step 2: Estimate Impact to Groundwater (Type I and II Sites) ................................ 4.5 4.2.3 Step 3: Estimate Impact to Vapor Intrusion ............................................................. 4.6 4.2.4 Step 4: Estimate Impact of Source Decay, Sorption, and Attenuation Processes .... 4.6 5.0 Decision Approach for Soil Vapor Extraction Optimization, Transition, or Closure .................. 5.1 5.1 Decision Logic ..................................................................................................................... 5.1 5.1.1 Step 1 ......................................................................................................................... 5.1 5.1.2 Step 2 ......................................................................................................................... 5.2 5.1.3 Step 3 ......................................................................................................................... 5.3 5.2 Enhancements to Soil Vapor Extraction and Alternative Technologies .............................. 5.4 5.2.1 SVE Enhancements ................................................................................................... 5.4 5.2.2 Alternative/Transitional Technologies to SVE ......................................................... 5.5 6.0 References .................................................................................................................................... 6.1 Appendix A Vadose Zone Source Characterization Approaches for Input to Appendix C Analyses .. A.1 Appendix B Methods for High Recharge Sites ..................................................................................... B.1 Appendix C Estimating Groundwater Contaminant Concentrations as a Function of Vadose Zone Source Characteristics .................................................................................................................. C.1 Appendix D Spreadsheet Tool .............................................................................................................. D.1 Appendix E Technical Basis for Estimating Groundwater Contaminant Concentrations as a Function of Vadose Zone Source Characteristics ......................................................................... E.1 ix Figures 4.1 Categories of conceptual site models for persistent vadose zone contamination ......................... 4.2 4.2 Conceptual model framework for impact to groundwater or for vapor intrusion ......................... 4.3 x 1.0 Introduction Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is a prevalent remediation approach for volatile contaminants in the vadose zone. SVE is generally effective for removal of contaminants from higher permeability portions of the vadose zone. Contamination in low-permeability zones, however, can persist as a result of mass transfer processes that limit removal effectiveness from these zones by SVE. A diminishing rate of contaminant extraction over time is typically observed due to 1) diminishing contaminant mass, and/or 2) slow rates of removal for contamination in low-permeability zones. After a SVE system begins to show indications of diminishing contaminant removal rate, SVE performance