CURRENT AND FUTURE IN SITU TREATMENT TECHNIQUES FOR THE REMEDIATION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN SOIL, SEDIMENTS, AND GROUNDWATER

摘要

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the scientific research arm of EPA. ORD conducts research on ways to prevent pollution, protect human health, and reduce risk. Much of the research related to demonstration and evaluation of innovative cleanup technologies is conducted in ORD's National Risk Management Research Laboratory. One of the mechanisms for the evaluation of innovative field -scale technologies for hazardous waste remediation is the Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. The SITE Program is currently investigating approaches for the in situ treatment of contaminated sites. The research includes innovative technologies for clean up of dense non-aqueous liquids (DNAPLs) in soils, groundwater, and fractured rock media; innovative approaches for contaminated sediment remediation; and innovative mine waste treatment technologies. Future research includes the evaluation of remediation of DNAPL source zones; treatment caps that simultaneously contain and remediate contaminated sediments; and investigation of ecological tools that serve a dual purpose of assessing the condition of sediment -contaminated water bodies and gauging the efficacy of mitigation efforts. These efforts are leading to a better understanding of soil, sediment and groundwater systems that may respond innovative treatment technologies, and more accurate information regarding the performance and cost of these innovative approaches.