Grantee Research Project Results

2003 Progress Report: New Methods in Environmental Remediation and Life Cycle Assessment

EPA Grant Number: R829423E01
Title: New Methods in Environmental Remediation and Life Cycle Assessment
Investigators: Focht, Will , Regens, James L. , Nairn, Robert W. , Settle, Chad , Anex, Rob
Institution: Oklahoma State University , University of Tulsa , University of Oklahoma
Current Institution: Oklahoma State University , University of Oklahoma , University of Tulsa
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: July 15, 2002 through July 14, 2004
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 15, 2002 through July 14, 2003
Project Amount: $220,001
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (2001) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

Objective:

The objective of this research project is to develop and demonstrate an enhanced life cycle assessment (ELCA) methodology that combines LCA inventory and impact analyses, human health risk assessment, and dynamic cost-benefit analysis within a stakeholder-based analytic-deliberative process. The ELCA framework will be demonstrated through application to the treatment of metal-rich waters through enhanced wetland technologies at a site near the Tar Creek Superfund in northeast Oklahoma.

Progress Summary:

Year 1 of the project involved gathering data and defining the systems to be studied. Dr. Anex worked with Dr. Nairn to develop a clear definition of the pollution treatment technology of passive treatment systems applicable at a site near north Miami, OK. Dr. Anex and his team gathered data describing the construction, placement, operation, and retirement of the treatment wetlands. Dr. Anex and his team developed a set of influence diagrams depicting the relationships among the treatment wetland technology life cycle impacts (physical, biological, and economic) and their causes and effects. This expert-based mental model will be used by Dr. Anex in performing risk assessment studies and by Dr. Focht in assessing stakeholders' knowledge of remediation technology life cycle impacts. Dr. Focht's team conducted interviews of stakeholders in the region to ascertain their general concerns about the wetland treatment of mine wastes. Five perspectives on the risks posed by mine wastes were revealed using Q methodology.

Future Activities:

We will complete the explanation of the influence diagram to include a qualitative description of the health risks that would be posed by the engineered wetlands technology and the assessment of the reduction of relative risks that would result from its treatment of contaminated water. Dr. Anex moved to Iowa State University in August 2003, and was replaced by Dr. Regens. His team will conduct a baseline health risk assessment to be followed with a residual health risk assessment that will estimate the risks that will be posed if the engineered wetland technology was implemented, including risks posed by the construction and operation of the technology. Dr. Settle's team will complete his dynamic economic valuation of wetlands and benefit categories for use in benefit transfer as an option to determine the value of the engineered wetland technology. Dr. Nairn's team will complete his technical assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of the engineered wetlands technology in treating contaminated mine waters. Dr. Focht's team will conduct a second round of interviews to assess stakeholders’ knowledge of the engineered wetlands technology, and to explore their concerns about its deployment.

The research team will request a no-cost extension for 1 year to complete the research project activities. A number of reasons motivate the request for an extension. First, the Principal Investigator left the project (the second to do so in the first 15 months of the grant). Second, the leader of the Strategic Improvement Plan portion of the grant also left at the beginning of Year 2 of the project. Third, the research project did not begin until 4 months had elapsed because the award letter had not been delivered to the research team. Fourth, the Tar Creek site has been the subject of several lawsuits and the attention of legislators, which has delayed the ability of the research team

Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views

Other project views:	All 10 publications	2 publications in selected types	All 2 journal articles

Publications

Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Focht W, Hull JG. Framing policy solutions in a conflicted policy environment: an application of Q methodology to a Superfund cleanup. Oklahoma Policy Studies Review 2004;5(1):30-36.	R829423E01 (2003) R829423E01 (Final)	not available

Supplemental Keywords:

exposure, risk assessment, water, chemical transport, passive treatment, modeling, bioremediation, economic analysis, stakeholder participation, benefit transfer, engineered wetlands, water, ecological effects, metals, restoration, remediation, life cycle analysis, environmental chemistry, biology, ecology, hydrology, geology, analytical, mining, Oklahoma, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, EPA Region 6, Tar Creek., Health, Scientific Discipline, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Waste, Ecology, Remediation, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Risk Assessment, aquatic ecosystem, decision making process, const benefit analysis, human healthe risk assessment, wetland sediment, LCA inventory, decisions analysis, remediation technologies, metal extraction, human exposure, water quality, life cycle assessment, cost benefit analysis, water management options, stakeholders, water treatment, exposure assessment, metal remediation, stakeholder feedback, human health risk

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Final Report