Designing Monitoring Programs to Effectively Evaluate the Performance of Natural Attenuation
Abstract
Natural attenuation processes affect the fate and transport of organic compounds in all hydrologic systems. Over the past several years regulatory agencies and environmental professionals have come to recognize the importance of these natural processes in affecting contaminant attenuation. When they are shown to be protective of human health and the environment, and when a well designed monitoring program is in place to document the efficiency of these processes, they can be a valuable component of site remediation strategies. In April 1999, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published its final policy on the use of natural attenuation, entitled Use of Monitored Natural Attenuation at Superfund, RCRA Corrective Action, and Underground Storage Tank Sites (USEPA, 1999). As implied by the title of this policy document, monitoring will be required to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of natural attenuation and to assure protection of human health and the environment. According to the USEPA (1999), the monitoring program designed for each site should specify the location, frequency, and types of samples and measurements necessary to evaluate if the remedy is performing as expected, and if it is capable of attaining remediation objectives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA419018
Entities
People
- Mary A. Lucas
- Patrick E. Haas
- Todd H. Wiedemeier