Monitored Natural Attenuation of Explosives in Groundwater - Environmental Security Technology Certification Program Completion Report
Abstract
Natural attenuation as a remedial alternative may be appropriate where natural processes are sufficient to protect receptors of concern. The objectives of this project were to demonstrate natural attenuation of explosives at an Army site, optimize groundwater-monitoring procedures to generate reliable trends in explosives concentrations over time, evaluate the significance of site capacity on the ultimate fate and transport at the site, apply biomarkers as monitoring tools, use models for contaminant plume definition and predictions of future contaminant extent, and develop a protocol for selection and implementation of monitored natural attenuation of explosives. The field demonstration was conducted at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant and validated at Joliet Army Ammunition Plant. The demonstration included groundwater monitoring and modeling, a cone penetrometry sampling event to characterize site lithology and to obtain sample material for other parts of the study. Results confirmed a declining mass of explosives in groundwater over 2 years. The groundwater model predicted a shrinking plume over 20 years. Costs for monitored natural attenuation were significantly less than costs for pump-and-treat remediation and somewhat less than costs of in situ bioremediation with intervention. Results demonstrated that natural attenuation is a viable option that should be among the options considered for remediation of explosives-contaminated sites.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA369386
Entities
People
- Danny W. Harrelson
- Judith C. Pennington
- Mansour Zakikhani