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MONITORED NATURAL ATTENUATION FOR INORGANIC CONTAMINANT REMEDIATION IN GROUNDWATER
Citation:
Ford*, R G. MONITORED NATURAL ATTENUATION FOR INORGANIC CONTAMINANT REMEDIATION IN GROUNDWATER. Presented at Waste Technical Seminar Series, Office of Science Policy and Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, Ada, OK, August 19, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Monitored natural attenuation (MNA) has been applied as a knowledge-based remediation technology for organic contaminants in ground water. Development of a site-specific assessment of biotic and abiotic processes that lead to organic contaminant degradation provides the technical basis for this technology. The application of this technology is being considered for reduction of risk from inorganic contaminants in ground water at hazardous waste sites. In order to provide regulators and the regulated community with the appropriate information for assessing the viability of MNA, the USEPA Office of Research and Development through the Ground Water and Ecosystems Restoration Division (GWERD) has initiated an effort to develop an Agency Framework Document, in cooperation with the Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation and the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, to serve as a point of reference for assessing the viability of MNA for radiologic and non-radiologic inorganic contaminants. In conjunction with this effort, GWERD is conducting field assessments at selected Superfund sites to test the applicability of the Framework Document and to develop practical techniques for characterizing aquifer solids relative to defining system capacity for contaminant degradation or immobilization.