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DNAPL SITE EVALUATION - Project Summary
Citation:
Cohen, R. M. AND J. W. Mercer. DNAPL SITE EVALUATION - Project Summary. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-93/022, 1993.
Impact/Purpose:
present information
Description:
Dense nonaqueous-phase liquids (DNAPLs), especially chlorinated solvents, are among the most prevalent subsurface contaminants identified in ground-water supplies and at waste disposal sites. There are several site-characterization issues specific to DNAPL sites including (a) the risk of inducing DNAPL migration by drilling, pumping or other field activities; (b) the use of special sampling and measurement methods to assess DNAPL presence and migration potential; and (c) development of a cost-effective characterization strategy that accounts for DNAPL chemical transport processes, the risk of inducing DNAPL movement during field work, and the data required to select and implement a realistic remedy. This manual provides information to address these issues and describes and evaluates activities that can be used to determine the presence, fate, and transport of subsurface DNAPL contamination. The manual discusses the scope of the DNAPL problem, the properties of DNAPLs and subsurface media affecting DNAPL transport and fate, objectives and strategies for DNAPL site characterization, invasive and non-invasive methods of site characterization, and laboratory methods for characterizing fluid and media properties. The manual concludes with several case histories illustrating problems specific to DNAPL sites and priority research needs for improving DNAPL site characterization.