Scientific Opportunities for Monitoring at Environmental Remediation Sites (SOMERS): Integrated Systems-Based Approaches to Monitoring

Bunn, Amoret L.; Wellman, Dawn M.; Deeb, Rula A.; Hawley, Elizabeth L.; Truex, Michael J.; Peterson, Mark J.; Freshley, Mark D.; Pierce, Eric M.; McCord, James T.; Young, Michael H.; Gilmore, Tyler J.; Miller, R.S.; Miracle, Ann L.; Kaback, D.S.; Eddy-Dilek, Carol A.; Rossabi, J.; Lee, Michelle H.; Bush, R. P.; Beam, Paul; Chamberlain, G. M.; Marble, Justin; Whitehurst, Latrincy; Gerdes, Kirk; Collazo, Yvette T.

doi:10.2172/1046328

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 1 publication

(1 reference statement)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Important components of remedy implementation are: (1) selecting an appropriate design for remedy implementation that enables adaptation and progression with respect to the identified endpoints, (2) defining the means of performance evaluation and remedy optimization, and (3) establishing metrics to support intermediate transition decisions and final long‐term management or closure decisions associated with final restoration objectives. A systems‐based management and monitoring approach can adapt to the progression of remedy implementation stages and provides suitable information to interpret performance and maintain compliance (Bunn et al., ). The systems‐based approach also links with the conceptual model to identify appropriate lines of evidence (monitored parameters) that can be used to verify that contaminant behavior over time remains within expected limits and will meet the site remediation goals.…”

Section: Remedy Implementation and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Idaho National Laboratory Test Area North: Application of Endpoints to Guide Adaptive Remediation at a Complex Site

Lee

Truex²,

Freshley³

et al. 2016

Remediation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Complex sites in the subsurface are defined as those with difficult access, deep, and/or thick zones of contamination, large areal extent, heterogeneities that limit the effectiveness of remediation, or where long‐term remedies are needed to address contamination (e.g., because of long‐term sources or large extent). The Test Area North at the Idaho National Laboratory, developed for nuclear fuel operations and heavy metal manufacturing, is a complex site that demonstrates the endpoints strategy for adaptive remediation. Liquid wastes and sludge from experimental facilities were disposed in an injection well, which contaminated the subsurface aquifer located deep within fractured basalt. The mixed wastes included organic, inorganic, and low‐level radioactive constituents, with the focus of this study on the remediation of trichloroethylene within a systems‐based, regulatory framework. The framework facilitates site, regulator, and stakeholder interactions during the remedial planning and implementation process by using a conceptual model description as a technical foundation for decisions identifying endpoints. Endpoints are defined as interim remediation targets or decision points on the path to an ultimate end, and maintaining protectiveness during the remediation process. Results demonstrate that the three‐component remedy used at Test Area North as an example of the structured framework is largely functioning as intended and is projected to meet remedial action objectives by 2095. The remedy approach is being adjusted as new data become available. The framework provides a structured process for evaluating and adjusting the remediation approach, allowing site owners, regulators, and stakeholders to manage contamination at complex sites where adaptive remedies are needed. ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

show abstract

Section: Remedy Implementation and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Idaho National Laboratory Test Area North: Application of Endpoints to Guide Adaptive Remediation at a Complex Site

Lee

Truex²,

Freshley³

et al. 2016

Remediation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A key approach is to monitor multiple elements identified in the conceptual site model as important to assessing contaminant fate and transport within the system. These "lines of evidence" can be used to verify remedy performance by providing near-term data on natural attenuation processes (capacity) and facilitate transitioning to long-term monitoring strategies that are focused on demonstrating continued compliance with remediation goals and longevity of attenuation (i.e., a progressive systems-based conceptual model approach [Bunn et al 2012]). For MNA, monitoring needs to address the objectives specified within the "Implementation" section of the EPA OSWER Directive 9200.4-17P, "Use of Monitored Natural Attenuation at Superfund, RCRA Corrective Action, and Underground Storage Tank Sites" (EPA 1999).…”

Section: Tier Iv: Design a Monitoring Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Initial conceptual models should be refined through the framework presented in this document (illustrated in Figure 6) to support contaminant fate and transport modeling, baseline risk assessment, and remedy evaluation and selection. The framework and integration of characterization and monitoring are intended to be consistent with the approach for monitoring in the recently published Scientific Opportunities for Monitoring at Environmental Remediation Sites (SOMERS): Integrated Systems-Based Approaches to Monitoring (Bunn et al 2012). …”

Section: Characterization and Monitoring Approaches Supporting Remedymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some cases, measurement of groundwater contaminant concentrations may be a viable part of a monitoring strategy. Continued efforts to improve contaminant monitoring in the vadose zone, for instance as described by Bunn et al (2012), may provide improved methods in the future. Because of the difficulty in direct measurement of contaminant flux, developing a technically defensible conceptual model and associated fate and transport evaluation is of critical for the vadose zone and is the basis of the structured approach for the framework presented in this report.…”

Section: Relationship Between Contaminant and Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Remedy Evaluation Framework for Inorganic, Non-Volatile Contaminants in the Vadose Zone

Truex¹,

Carroll²

2013

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Contaminants in the vadose zone may be a long-term source of groundwater contamination and need to be considered in remedy evaluations. In many cases, remediation decisions for the vadose zone will need to be made all or in part based on projected impacts to groundwater. There are significant natural attenuation processes inherent in vadose zone contaminant transport. Attenuation processes include both hydrobiogeochemical processes that serve to retain contaminants within porous media and physical processes that slow the vertical rate of movement for disposed water and waste solutions. In particular, the physical processes controlling fluid flow in the vadose zone are quite different and generally have a more significant attenuation impact on contaminant transport relative to those within the groundwater system. A remedy evaluation framework is presented herein that uses an adaptation of the established EPA Monitored Natural Attenuation evaluation approach integrated into an approach based on a conceptual model focused on identifying and quantifying features and processes that control contaminant flux through the vadose zone. This report presents a framework to support evaluation of contaminant fate and transport in the vadose zone and bridges this analysis to refinement of the site conceptual model, assessment of risk, and support for baseline risk assessment and remedy selection.v

show abstract

“…Flux reduction methods thus require development of technologies, approaches, and strategies to demonstrate that groundwater will remain uncontaminated or that contamination will remain below levels of concern in the future. Moreover, monitoring methods for complex subsurface environments, such as deep vadose zones, are currently not well developed and are a critical component of remediation strategies, including those for flux‐based methods (Bunn et al, 2012). Demonstrating compliance with groundwater concentration limits is straightforward, but it is difficult to monitor the vadose zone and demonstrate that the flux of contaminants will decline or remain sufficiently low, such that groundwater resources are protected over the long term.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contaminants in Vadose Zone Environments

Wellman

Freshley

Johnson

et al. 2012

Vadose Zone Journal

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Contaminants in vadose zone environments pose a long‐term source and threat to groundwater resources, human health, and the environment. A number of technical, regulatory, and policy challenges and opportunities are associated with contamination in vadose zone environments, particularly in remediation. In this special section, 12 papers present novel approaches to characterize, monitor, remediate, and predict the transport and fate of contaminants in vadose zone environments.

show abstract

Scientific Opportunities for Monitoring at Environmental Remediation Sites (SOMERS): Integrated Systems-Based Approaches to Monitoring

Cited by 12 publications

References 1 publication

Idaho National Laboratory Test Area North: Application of Endpoints to Guide Adaptive Remediation at a Complex Site

Idaho National Laboratory Test Area North: Application of Endpoints to Guide Adaptive Remediation at a Complex Site

Remedy Evaluation Framework for Inorganic, Non-Volatile Contaminants in the Vadose Zone

Contaminants in Vadose Zone Environments

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About