United States Solid Waste and Environmental Protection Emergency Response EPA530-R-97-007 Agency (5303W) May 1997 Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Soils Treatment Technologies Suggested Operational Guidelines to Prevent Cross- Media Transfer of Contaminants During Cleanup Activities Reproduced on Paper that Contains at least 20% Post Consumer Fiber DISCLAIMER This document was prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to provide guidance in preventing cross-media transfer of contaminants during implementation of soils treatment technologies. EPA does not make any warranty or representation, express or implied with respect to the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information contained in this report. EPA does not assume any liability with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of, any information, apparatus, method or process disclosed in this report. Reference to trade names or specific commercial products, commodities, or services in this report does not represent or constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by EPA of the specific commercial product, commodity, or service. In addition, the policies set out in this document are not final agency action, but are intended solely as guidance. They are not intended, nor can they be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States. EPA officials may decide to follow the guidance provided in this document, or to act at variance with the guidance, based on an analysis of specific site circumstances. The Agency also reserves the right to change this guidance at any time without public notice. PREFACE This document has been prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste. To minimize the cross-media transfer of contaminants during Remedial Actions (RAs) or Corrective Measure Implementations (CMIs), this effort was undertaken to develop the Best Management Practices (BMPs) for various soils treatment technologies. This document was developed by a team effort led by EPA's Office of Solid Waste. The names of team members, their affiliation, and area of assistance are listed below: Team Members Ed Barth, P.E. EPA/ORD/NRMRL- Other Physical/Chemical Cincinnati Ray Cody EPA/Region 1 Vapor Extraction Subijoy Dutta, P.E. EPA/OSW/PSPD Team Leader Michael Forlini EPA/TIO Bioremediation Scott Frederick EPA/OERR Superfund Coordination Larry Gonzalez EPA/OSW/HWMMD Other Physical/Chemical Bob Hall EPA/OSW/PSPD Management Coordination Carolyn Hoskinson EPA/OSW/PSPD HWIR-Media Coordination José Labiosa EPA/OSW/HWMMD Soil Washing Shaun McGarvey EPA/OSW/HWMMD Thermal Treatment Bonnie Robinson EPA/OSW/PSPD Comments Coordination Larry Rosengrant EPA/OSW/EMRAD Universal Table David Sweeny New Jersey, DEP Field Applicability Debby Tremblay EPA/OUST Vapor Extraction A series of seven workshops on different technology groups was held by the team in developing the document. A list of outside experts who attended these workshops and provided input is furnished below: Outside Workshop Experts William Anderson, P.E. AAEE, Annapolis, MD Soil Washing/Thermal Brett Campbell Geosafe Corp., WA Insitu Vitrification David Carson EPA/ORD/NRMRL Containment Harry Compton EPA/OSWER/OERR- OPC Edison, NJ Harsh Dev, PhD IITRI, IL RF Heating Regina Dugan, PhD Institute for Defense Bioremediation Analyses, VA David Ellis, PhD Dupont Chemicals, DE Bioremediation Evan Fan EPA/ORD/NRMRL Vapor Extraction Uwe Frank EPA/ORD/NRMRL Vapor Extraction C.C. Lee EPA/ORD/NRMRL Incineration Mark Meckes EPA/ORD/NRMRL Thermal Treatment Rick Vickery Dupont Exp. Stn. Incineration Kenneth R. Weiss Delaware DNR Incineration John Wilson, PhD EPA/ORD/NRMRL Bioremediation EPA plans to update this document in the future, when new technologies and more effective management practices are developed. Any questions, clarifications, or suggestions on this document should be addressed to: Subijoy Dutta, P.E. U.S. EPA (5303W) Office of Solid Waste 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC 20460 email: [email protected] CONTENTS Chapter Page LIST OF TABLES ................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................. vi LIST OF ACRONYMS .............................................................. vii 1.0 Chapter One: INTRODUCTION ................................................. 1 1.1 Regulatory Background and Need for BMPs Guidance .......................... 1 1.2 Structure of BMPs Guidance .............................................. 2 1.3 Examples of BMPs ...................................................... 4 2.0 Chapter Two: GENERAL BMPs for REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES .................... 7 2.1 General Cross-Media Transfer Potentials for Various Treatment Technologies .......................................................... 7 2.2 General Best Management Practices for Soils Treatment Technologies ............. 9 2.2.1 Site Preparation and Staging ........................................ 9 2.2.2 Pre-Treatment Activities .......................................... 10 2.2.3 Treatment Activities ............................................. 11 2.2.4 Post-Treatment Activities/Residuals Management ...................... 11 2.3 References ........................................................... 13 3.0 Chapter Three: CROSS-MEDIA TRANSFER CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES14 and MONITORING 3.1 Available Control Technologies ........................................... 14 3.2 Relative Costs of Implementing BMPs ..................................... 28 3.3 References ........................................................... 29 4.0 Chapter Four: BMPs for CONTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES ........................ 31 4.1 Definition and Scope of Containment Technologies (for BMPs) ................. 31 4.1.1 Key Features of Containment Technologies for the Purpose of BMPs ....... 31 4.2 Containment Technology Description ...................................... 33 4.3 Cross-Media Transfer Potential of Containment Technologies ................... 34 4.4 Best Management Options to Avoid Potential Cross-Media Transfers for Containment Technologies .................................... 34 4.5 Waste Characteristics that May Increase the Likelihood of Cross-Media Contamination for Containment Technologies ..................... 36 4.6 References ........................................................... 36 5.0 Chapter Five: BMPs for SOIL WASHING ........................................ 38 5.1 Definition and Scope of Soil Washing (for BMPs) ............................ 38 5.1.1 Key Features of Soil Washing Technology for the Purpose of BMPs ....... 38 5.2 Soil Washing Technology Description ...................................... 39 5.3 Cross-Media Transfer Potential of Soil Washing Technologies .................. 40 5.4 Best Management Options to Avoid Potential Cross-Media Transfers for Soil Washing Technologies ................................... 41 i 5.5 Waste Characteristics that May Increase the Likelihood of Cross-Media Contamination for Soil Washing Technologies .................... 44 5.6 References ........................................................... 45 6.0 Chapter Six: BMPs for THERMAL TREATMENT ................................. 47 6.1 Definition and Scope of Thermal Treatment (for BMPs) ....................... 47 6.1.1 Key Features of Thermal Treatment for the Purpose of BMPs ............. 47 6.2 Thermal Treatment Technology Description ................................. 49 6.3 Cross-Media Transfer Potential of Thermal Treatment Technologies .............. 49 6.4 Best Management Options to Avoid Potential Cross-Media Transfers for Thermal Treatment Technologies ............................... 50 6.5 Waste Characteristics that May Increase the Likelihood of Cross-Media Contamination for Thermal Treatment Technologies ................ 52 6.6 References ........................................................... 52 7.0 Chapter Seven: BMPs for VAPOR EXTRACTION ................................. 54 7.1 Definition and Scope of Vapor Extraction (for BMPs) ......................... 54 7.1.1 Key Features of Vapor Extraction Technology for the Purpose of BMPs .... 54 7.2 Vapor Extraction Technology Description ................................... 56 7.3 Cross-Media Transfer Potential of Vapor Extraction Technologies ............... 56 7.4 Best Management Options to Avoid Potential Cross-Media Transfers for Vapor Extraction Technologies ................................ 57 7.5 Waste Characteristics that May Increase the Likelihood of Cross-Media Contamination for Vapor Extraction Technologies ................. 59 7.6 References ........................................................... 60 8.0 Chapter Eight: BMPs for BIOREMEDIATION .................................... 62 8.1 Definition and Scope of Bioremediation (for BMPs) ........................... 62 8.1.1 Key Features of Bioremediation for the Purpose of BMPs ................ 64 8.2 Bioremediation Technology Description .................................... 64 8.3 Cross-Media Transfer Potential of Bioremediation Technologies ................. 66 8.4 Best Management Options to Avoid Potential Cross-Media Transfers for Bioremediation Technologies .................................. 67 8.5 Waste Characteristics that May Increase the Likelihood of Cross-Media Contamination for Bioremediation Technologies ................... 68 8.6 References ..........................................................