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Short introduction to new and developing rules and policies nationally and regionally for GSR. A 1-hour online version will be available in September, 2011.
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INTRODUCTION TO GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE REMEDIATION (GSR)
One-Hour Module
Online Learning
Copyright 2011
What’s in a Name?
The term “Green Remediation” has evolved into “Green and
Sustainable Remediation.”
This reflects ideas & practices that are effective in the short-term for cleanup, and offer long-term
solutions to some of the carbon footprint and sustainability issues
associated with cleanup itself.Photo source: Pixomar at freedigitalphotos.net
What is GSR (1)?
Definitions (1) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) “..Sustainability is considered in cleanups by establishing a preference for using strategies, practices and technologies that reduce the environmental footprint of Superfund and RCRA cleanups.”
Source: EPA. September 14, 2009. Greener Cleanups Policy – EPA Region 9.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) “Green Remediation involves employing technologies and cleanup approaches to reduce a project’s environmental footprint.”
Source: DTSC. December 2009. Interim Advisory For Green Remediation.
What are the Rules on GSR?
There are NO REGULATIONS …yet. But that does not mean there are none being developed.
Federal Policies - 2011 All 10 EPA Regions have
GSR policy statements. Military installations and
federal facilities apply GSR as part of the Sustainability requirements under Executive Order 13514 (Federal Register Vol. 74, No.194, Thursday October 8, 2009).
Photo source: Jeroen van Oostrom at freedigitalphotos.net
Are there Policies on GSR?
State Policies Several states have policies in
final or draft form that encourage GSR, e.g., California, Oregon and New York, but none have statewide regulations.
California DTSC – Interim Advisory, December 2009
Oregon DEQ – June 17, 2011 (Draft)
New York DEC – January 20, 2011
If remediation is State funded it may provide impetus for inclusion of sustainability in remedy review.
Photo source: Ohmega1982 at freedigitalphotos.net
No Rules – Why Consider GSR?
Achieve remedial action goals Support use and reuse of remediated
parcels Increase operational efficiencies Reduce total pollutant and waste burdens
on the environment Minimize degradation or enhance ecology
of the site and other affected areas Reduce air emissions and greenhouse
gas production Minimize impacts to water quality and
water cycles
Source: Green Remediation: Incorporating Sustainable Environmental Practices into Remediation of Contaminated Sites. U.S.EPA; Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. April 2008 EPA 542-R-08-002
renjith krishnan at freedigitalphotos.net
Are there many Sites for GSR?
Federal Facilities: Superfund Sites. By 2008, this program
undertook > 9,400 removal actions RCRA Sites. EPA estimated > 3,700 in 2008 Underground Storage Tank Sites. Through
September 2007, 365,000 cleanups were completed, and ~109,000 sites were yet to be remediated
Department of Defense Sites ~8,000 Department of Energy Sites ~ 4,000
contaminated or potentially contaminated areas
State, Brownfield, and Private Sites: EPA estimates that during 2006 and 2007
cleanups were completed at over 18,900 sitesSource: Green Remediation: Incorporating Sustainable Environmental Practices into Remediation of Contaminated Sites. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. April 2008 EPA 542-R-08-002
Xedos4 at freedigitalphotos.net
A Few GSR Myths…
1. It is an additional regulatory burden
2. It diverts resources from removing hazardous or harmful materials
3. It costs so much remediation is not feasible
4. It is too hard to define the benefits
5. It will force responsible parties to argue out of remediation
Source: ASTSWMO. August, 2009. Green Remediation: Getting Started by Debunking Some Myths.
photostock at freedigitalphotos.net
Nuts & Bolts – What Can be Included as GSR?
Clean diesel and idle-reduction strategies Reduce number of trips and amount of
transportation required Use renewable energy where possible
e.g., solar, wind, anaerobic digestion, geothermal
Use combined heat and power and energy efficient equipment
Use concrete where steel slag has been swapped out for carbon-intensive Portland cement
Use industrial byproducts rather than virgin materials
Recycle or reuse site materials from demolition
Minimize use of materials containing toxic substances
Reduce water use
Photo source: Danilo Rizzuti at freedigitalphotos.net
Nuts & Bolts – Tools
Publicly Available Tools Designed for Green and Sustainable Site Cleanup (listed September, 2010)
Decision Software Green Remediation Evaluation Matrix
(GREM) - California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Greener Cleanups Matrix - Illinois EPA Decision Matrix
SiteWise™ - US Navy Engineering Command, Army, Army Corps of Engineers, and Battelle (V2, 3/3/2011)
Sustainable Remediation Tool™ (SRT) - Air Force Center for Engineering and Environment
Tools offer different types of information, e.g., energy efficiency, renewable energy use, water use, air emissions, land & ecosystem, and materials & waste.
Photo source: kratuanoiy at freedigitalphotos.net
Example of GSR - Aerojet-General Corporation, Rancho Cordova, CA
6-MW Farm The fully operational Aerojet solar farm encompasses more than 29,000 individual solar cells.
Air Stripping TowersSince 1983, nine treatments plants have gone on line to treat ground water extracted from over 100 wells. This facility uses air stripping as well as ultraviolet/peroxide and biodegradation technologies to remove volatile organic compounds, NDMA, and perchlorate from ground water at a flow rate of 4,800 gallons per minute.
Aerojet-General Corporation: Green Remediation Strategy: “Capture solar energy in remote portions of the site to produce electricity that could offset air emissions associated with using utility-supplied electricity for extracting and treating more than 20 million gallons of ground water each day…”
http://www.clu-in.org/greenremediation/subtab_d31.cfm, accessed 7/25/11
Aerojet-General Corporation
Sample of GSR Results Avoiding an estimated 6,000 tons of
carbon dioxide, 4 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 5 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions
Offsetting approximately 30% of the total electricity used by the groundwater extraction and remediation equipment
Began fully operating the expanded (6-MW) solar farm in June 2010
http://www.clu-in.org/greenremediation/subtab_d31.cfm, accessed 7/25/11
Where is GSR Heading?
Emerging technologies to increase cleanup efficiency and reduce GHG emissions e.g., terrestrial carbon sequestration
New Standards to be issued by ASTM – possibly by early to mid-2012
Improved Risk Assessmentto inform the RiskManagement process EPA Superfund Landfill Methane-to-
Energy Pilot Project (December 2010).Jscreationzs at freedigitalphotos.net
CONTACT INFORMATIONGILLIAN I. MARKS, Ph.D.
Phone: 714.206.6149
Skype: gillian.marksphd
www.theclimateadvisor.com
