Technologies for cleaning up hazardous wastes are often expensive, inappropriate for the site, or ineffective in handling complex mixtures of pollutants. Some of the most promising of the new technologies for solving hazardous waste problems involve the use of biological treatment systems. Because biological treatments appear to offer solutions to problems associated with conventional technologies, EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) initiated the Biosystems Technology Development Program, which is designed to anticipate rapidly increasing research needs that can be applied to our nation's enormous waste management problems. In February 1990, ORD hosted a Conference on Bioremediation of Hazardous Wastes in Arlington, Virginia, to discuss recent achievements of the Biosystems Technology Development Program and research necessary to bring biosystem technology into more widespread use. The document outlines the program, its objectives, and accomplishments. Extended abstracts are included to provide information on existing research projects.

"Dec. 1990." Includes bibliographical references.

Treatment of aqueous wastes in a reactor -- Use of a white-rot fungus in a rotating biological contactor -- Treatment of CERCLA leachates in POTWs: Biodegradation of volatile organics in a biofilter -- Ground-water treatment -- In situ biorestoration of a fuel spill -- Enhanced In situ biotransformation of carbon tetrachloride under anoxic conditions -- Soil/sediment treatment -- Aerobic biodegradation of PAHs -- Anaerobic degradation of PCP and other chlorinated compounds -- Aerobic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls: biochemistry -- Aerobic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls: genetics -- Anaerobic degradation of phenolic priority pollutants: effects of different reducing conditions -- Surfactant/sorption effects upon biodegradation -- Use of flourinated analogues to show anaerobic transformation of phenol to benzoate via para-carboxylation -- Use of KPEG and anaerobic biodegradation for PCB-contaminated soils: enrichments for anaerobic capable of degrading KPEG-treated PCB -- Use of KPEG and composting for treatment of contaminated soils -- Combined KPEG and biological treatment of soils contaminated with chlorinated dioxins and phenoxyacetates -- Anaerobic biodegradation of creosote contaminants in natural and simulated ground-water ecosystems -- Anaerobic treatment of dioxins and dibenzofurans -- Metabolic process characterization.