ARCADIS, an engineering and consulting firm, announced that the Kane and Lombard Superfund PRP Group has awarded the company a contract for the testing and design of an innovative, in-situ technology that will effectively remediate groundwater and potentially save an estimated $13 million at the Kane & Lombard Superfund site in Baltimore. The U.S. EPA approved the technology and incorporated it into the Record of Decision for the site. ARCADIS will perform the remedial design and a pilot test; the first phase of the contract has an estimated value of $850,000.
EPA selected ARCADIS’ technical strategy and evaluation to inject and circulate soluble organic carbon, such as sugars, into the areas of greatest contamination. This process, referred to as enhanced reductive dechlorination, is preferable to traditional methods because it promotes a natural biodegradation process that results in harmless byproducts such as water and carbon dioxide, and it is more cost effective.
“It’s a new way of thinking about how we can do things better and for less cost,” said Chris Corbett, EPA remedial project manager for the site being considered for soluble organic carbon treatment.
Corbett added that ARCADIS’ method is projected to cost about $7.3 million, compared to more than $20 million for a traditional remediation treatment, such as pump and treat. Pump and treat would have also required the installation of an elaborate system of pipes to pump contaminated groundwater to the surface and decontaminate it above ground. Additionally, the traditional method presents potential health and safety issues for the public, issues that do not exist for the preferred in-situ techniques.
“ARCADIS is pleased to have provided the feasibility study that led to EPA’s choice of this approach. This technique is one of many of ARCADIS’ innovative technologies designed to mitigate contamination better, faster and cheaper,” said Frank Lenzo, project director with ARCADIS. “We believe that all stakeholders benefit from this process,” added Lenzo.
This form of in-situ technology involves the underground circulation of readily degradable substrates to enhance natural processes that destroy chlorinated, volatile organic compounds. ARCADIS has applied the technique successfully at many sites across the U.S., and it has developed into a scientifically proven, reliable technology when applied correctly.
Source: ARCADIS
