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GUIDE FOR CONDUCTING TREATABILITY STUDIES UNDER CERCLA: THERMAL DESORPTION - INTERIM GUIDANCE
Citation:
Rawe, J. GUIDE FOR CONDUCTING TREATABILITY STUDIES UNDER CERCLA: THERMAL DESORPTION - INTERIM GUIDANCE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/540/R-92/074a (NTIS 93-126597), 1992.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
Systematically conducted, well-documented treatability studies are an important component of the remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) process and the remedial design remedial action (RD/RA) process under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). These studies provide valuable site-specific data necessary to aid in the selection and implementation of the remedy. This manual focuses on thermal desorption treatability studies conducted in support of remedy selection prior to developing the Record of Decision.
This manual presents a standard guide for designing and implementing a thermal desorption remedy selection treatability study. The manual presents a description of and discusses the applicability and limitations of thermal desorption technologies and defines the prescreening and field measurement needed to determine if treatability testing is required. It also presents an overview of the process of conducting treatabiity tests and the applicability of tiered treatability testing for evaluating thermal desorption technologies. The specific goals for each tier of testing are defined and performance levels are presented that define which levels should be met before additional tests are conducted at the next tier. The elements of a treatability study work plan are also defined with detailed discussions on the design and execution of the remedy screening and remedy selection treatability studies. The manual is not intended to serve as a substitute for communication with experts or regulators nor as the sole basis for the selection of thermal desorption as a particular remediation technology. Thermal desorption must be used in conjunction with other treatment technologies since it generates residuals. This manual is designed to be used in conjunction with the Guide for Conducting Treatability Studies Under CERCLA (Interim Final). The intended audience for this guide comprises Remedial Project Managers (RPMs), On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs), Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs), consultants, contractors, and technology vendors.