Contact Conference Staff
Short courses will be offered on Sunday, May18, the day before the Conference begins. Courses are open to both Conference registrants and nonregistrants. As of May 13, the on-line short course registration option is no longer available. A few spaces remain in most courses. On-site registrations will be taken at the Conference Registration Desk (De Anza lobby of the Portola Hotel) on Sunday, May 18. For courses beginning at 8:00, go to the Registration Desk at 7:30 a.m. to register; for courses beginning at 1:00, be at the desk by 12:30.
Sunday, 8:00 A.M.– Noon
Sunday, 8:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. (1-hour break for lunch on own)
Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.
Certificates of completion will be distributed at the conclusion of each class. Courses are open to both Conference registrants and nonregistrants.
Questions on course registration should be directed to The Conference Group, at 800-783-6338 or 614-488-2030, or by e-mail to info@confgroupinc.com.
Course Descriptions
Geochemical Evaluations of Metals in Environmental Media: How to Distinguish Naturally Elevated Concentrations from Site-Related Contamination
(Sunday, 8:00 A.M.– Noon)
Instructors: Karen Thorbjornsen, P.G., and Jonathan Myers, Ph.D. (Shaw Environmental, Inc.)
Do you really have metals contamination at your site? When metals concentrations in environmental media exceed screening criteria, it is not always clear whether they represent site-related contamination or are naturally elevated. However, it is known that trace elements naturally associate with a limited number of minerals in the soil and sediment matrix, or with specific suspended particulates in groundwater and surface water, under a given set of environmental conditions. In most oxic soils, for example, arsenic and vanadium are associated almost exclusively with iron oxide minerals at fairly constant ratios. As long as no contamination is present, positive correlations exist between trace elements and specific major elements; these can be visualized with scatter plots. Because consistent ratios between trace and major elements are observed for uncontaminated samples, contaminated samples can be identified by anomalously high elemental ratios. For groundwater and surface water, additional factors to be considered include pH, redox effects, aqueous complexation, and salinity gradients.
This course presents geochemical evaluation techniques for distinguishing natural metals concentrations from potential contamination without performing geochemical modeling, acquiring additional analytical data beyond that typically obtained, or adding significantly to overall project cost. Unlike a purely statistical approach, geochemical evaluation (a) greatly reduces the probability of falsely identifying contamination; (b) does not require a statistically valid background data set; (c) identifies contaminated locations, thereby focusing remediation; and (d) provides mechanistic explanations for elevated concentrations. Selected case studies derived from the instructors’ application of these techniques at hundreds of sites will be presented.
Vapor Intrusion Pathway: ITRC’s Practical Guideline to Investigation and Mitigation
(Sunday, 8:00 A.M.– Noon)
Instructors: Bill Morris (Kansas Department of Health and Environment)
John E. Boyer (New Jersey Dept of Environmental Protection)
David Folkes, P.E. (EnviroGroup Limited)
Blayne Hartman, Ph.D. (H&P Mobile GeoChemistry)
Over the past ten years, vapor intrusion has become a significant environmental issue for regulators, industry leaders, and concerned residents alike. Vapor intrusion is characterized as the migration of volatile chemicals from the subsurface into overlying structures. The simplicity of this definition belies the magnitude of resources being expended to address this complex exposure pathway across the country. Chlorinated compounds signify the largest class of contaminants associated with the vapor intrusion pathway and present unique challenges to proper remediation. National guidance on the vapor intrusion pathway has been developed by the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) through the combined effort of more than 100 professionals from state and federal regulatory agencies, consultants, environmental vendors, industry, and community stakeholders. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is considering relying on the ITRC vapor intrusion guidance document as a framework for updates to its 2002 draft guidance.
The purpose of this short course is to provide a generalized framework for evaluating the vapor intrusion pathway and to describe the various tools available for investigation, data evaluation, and mitigation. Course materials will highlight key points from the ITRC’s Vapor Intrusion Pathway: A Practical Guideline (VI-1, January 2007). Case studies and scenarios from the ITRC companion document, Vapor Intrusion Pathway: Investigative Approaches for Typical Scenarios (VI-1A, January 2007) will be discussed. Exhibits will be included to reinforce the topics and ensure a practical understanding of this difficult pathway.
Utilization of Stable Isotopes in Environmental and Forensic Geochemistry Studies
(Sunday, 8:00 A.M.– Noon)
Instructors: Paul Philp, D.Sc., Ph.D. (University of Oklahoma)
Stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes have been used for many decades in the petroleum industry, but there has been a virtual explosion in applications for petroleum exploration and environmental and forensic geochemistry resulting from the development of combined gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCIRMS). This workshop will present an introduction to stable isotope geochemistry and discuss applications of stable isotopes to various environmental problems, including their potential for monitoring attenuation of volatile compounds (e.g., PCE, MTBE, BTEX).
The course will begin with an introduction to the concept of stable isotopes, with particular attention to carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine. Techniques for determination of isotope values will be described along with the advantages and disadvantages of the GCIRMS approach. The utilization of stable isotopes to solve problems related to monitoring natural attenuation of groundwater contaminants and to provide an additional fingerprinting tool will be discussed in detail. In these latter applications, the isotopes often are used to complement information obtained through the more commonly used GC and GCMS techniques. Fingerprinting using isotopes can be particularly useful for differentiating possible sources of single-component contaminants. Many refined products may be chromatographically similar but, if derived from different feedstocks, isotopically different. Novel applications of stable isotopes to problems involving the emerging area of biofuels and renewable fuels will also be discussed in detail.
Remediation Using Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron (nZVI): Fundamentals and Field Applications (Sunday, 8:00 A.M.– Noon)
Instructors: Wei-xian Zhang, Ph.D. (Lehigh University)
Daniel Elliott, Ph.D., and Neal Durant, Ph.D. (Geosyntec Consultants)
Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is a promising technology for rapid in situ remediation of halogenated organics, nitrate, perchlorate, nitroaromatics, and various heavy metals in groundwater. The technology achieves treatment rates that are significantly faster than microscale and granular zero-valent iron, and the small size offers the possibility of cost-effective subsurface dispersion and deployment.
This course will cover the fundamentals of using nZVI technology for in situ remediation of groundwater. It will provide detailed discussion of theoretical and scientific principles, as well as practical information for groundwater remediation practitioners and regulators. Alternative methods for synthesis of nZVI and bimetallic nanoparticles will be described, and the roles of nanoparticle surface area, composition, and properties on performance will be discussed. Topics will include contaminant treatment amenability; reactive longevity; mobility of nZVI in unconsolidated and fractured bedrock aquifers; surface charge modification architectures for enhancing nZVI mobility in porous media; and the fate of nZVI particles in the subsurface. Considerations in designing nZVI in situ remediation systems—delivery methods, cost, regulatory requirements—will be discussed, and detailed case studies of technology application in the field and “lessons learned” insights will be presented. Research efforts toward further development of the technology will be presented, along with a discussion of the need for technical guidance, more commercial manufacturers, and standardization in the makeup of the nZVI products currently in use. This is an update of the courses presented at the 2006 Chlorinated Conference and at the 2007 Bioremediation Symposium. In comparison with prior versions, the course in 2008 will reduce emphasis on theory and give greater emphasis to application, covering recent developments and enhancements and featuring recent case study datasets and experience.
Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Solvents: Recent Developments and Practical Tools
(Sunday, 8:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. - 1-hour break for lunch on own)
Instructors: Brian Looney, Ph.D. (Savannah River National Laboratory)
Dawn Kaback, Ph.D. (Geomatrix Consultants, Inc.)
Charles Newell, Ph.D., and Roopa Kamath, Ph.D., (GSI Environmental, Inc.)
Michael Truex (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Representing ITRC Enhanced Attenuation—Chlorinated Organics (EACO) Team):
Judie Kean (Florida Dept of Environmental Protection)
Richard Lewis, Ph.D. (HSA Engineers and Scientists)
Guy Sewell, Ph.D. (East Central University)
This course is a joint effort of the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council and the Department of Energy, presenting new regulatory and technical developments in implementing attenuation-based remedies for chlorinated solvents. The course grew out of a 4-hour course conducted at the 2007 Bioremediation Symposium. In response to requests by participants in that course, considerably more time will be provided for hands-on use of the tools, and an additional tool will be included.
The first 2 hours will be devoted to defining a new concept aimed at helping technologists transition from active treatments to monitored natural attenuation (MNA), or the reverse. The concept will provide the technical basis for regulators to scientifically evaluate and approve the use of attenuation-based remedies as part of the site cleanup. The process for implementing this new approach is described, and examples of how technologies can be applied under this concept will be presented. It is anticipated that one of the many advantages of this new approach is that it will work within existing regulations.
The remaining 6 hours will give participants hands-on experience with several new tools developed or enhanced through the Department of Energy-sponsored Monitored Natural Attenuation and Enhanced Attenuation for Chlorinated Solvents Project. These tools are intended for use in designing natural attenuation-based characterization and remediation plans. Course participants will be shown how to use the tools to support decisions related to MNA and enhanced attenuation remedies through a decision-framework developed by the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) and how to integrate these and other available tools to develop robust characterization and/or remediation decisions. Exercises will involve using the tools to evaluate site treatment options. Participants are asked to bring laptops, if possible, for use in exercises; however, exercises will be performed in teams so that laptops can be shared.
Introduction to Groundwater Remediation Geochemistry
(Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.)
Instructors: Bill Deutsch (Battelle Sequim Operations PNNL)
Remediation doesn’t always proceed as expected—more reagent needs to be added to reach a desired result; the concentration of an initial contaminant of concern decreases in response to treatment, but the concentration of a new contaminant increases to a level of concern; unanticipated reactions plug the aquifer, reduce the reactivity of a treatment compound, or affect the pH in a detrimental fashion. Many of the factors that cause remediation not to be effective are unforeseen or insufficiently accounted for geochemical processes that occur naturally in the aquifer or are produced by the introduction of treatment chemicals into the aquifer geochemical system. To properly design an effective remediation system, the basic geochemical processes must be understood and taken into account. Site-specific conditions must be determined by an adequate sampling program. Reactions that treat the contaminant of concern must be evaluated for their impact and interaction on the ambient geochemical system. The anticipated longevity of active remediation and the final environmental condition of the aquifer must also consider the natural system.
This course provides an introduction to these topics and will lead to a better understanding of subsurface geochemical processes (solution speciation, gas phase exchange, redox, adsorption/desorption, mineral equilibrium, and impact of metals on biodegradation) that can have a major impact on whether or not remediation is a success. The course will cover development and use of models to simulate processes and the influence of the byproducts that will be produced by various reactants. It will conclude with information on recent advances and future development of analytical tools and application methods.
Vapor Intrusion: Vapor Modeling, Mitigation Design, and Construction
(Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.)
Instructors: Blayne Hartman, Ph.D. (H&P Mobile GeoChemistry)
Robert Balas (Iris Environmental)
Jeffrey Ludlow, P.G. (Treadwell &Rollo)
Peter Grant (Land Science Technologies)
The threat of vapor intrusion into buildings constructed over contaminated groundwater or soil has quickly become a pressing human health issue. Scientists and engineers are being called upon to quantify and mitigate the risk presented by potential vapor intrusion on these sites and on Brownfield sites slated for future development. This course will outline the steps necessary to address vapor intrusion risk and will present current “best practices” vapor mitigation.
The first section will introduce regulatory guidelines for evaluating vapor migration from soil and groundwater and present the scientific basis and assumptions underlying models used to estimate risk from the vapor pathway. Protocols and detailed techniques for measuring soil vapor will be presented. The section on engineering controls will focus on the impact of engineering controls on risk assessment and will include a survey of ancillary topics, such as the impact of proposed building use on modeling assumptions and common misconceptions of vapor intrusion modeling. In the section on design and construction guidelines for vapor management systems, topics will include current “best practices” for vapor barrier design, vapor collection system layout and design, and venting system design. Post-construction monitoring and operation/maintenance will be described, as well as general permitting requirements and procedures. The concluding section will cover currently available commercial vapor barrier and ventilation systems, including details of material compatibility, barrier integration with planned or existing structures, and regulatory challenges. This course presents environmental professionals and regulators with an excellent overview of key topics related to vapor intrusion. It offers the student points of reference for “best practices” in vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation.
Horizontal Wells for Treatment and Control of Chlorinated Compounds in Groundwater
(Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.)
Instructors: Dawn S. Kaback, Ph.D. (Geomatrix Consultants, Inc.)
George Losonsky, Ph.D., P.G. (Losonsky & Associates)
James Doesburg, P.G. (Directed Technologies Drilling)
George Dugan (CETCO Drilling Products Group)
Paul W. Querna (PQ Products, Inc.)
Course attendees will learn about the potential cost savings and improved efficiency that horizontal wells can provide for environmental remediation systems, primarily focused on chlorinated solvents and other recalcitrant compounds. Although horizontal wells have been incorporated successfully into remedial systems at contaminated sites since 1988, many advances have occurred since that time. Horizontal wells as part of remedial systems have been most appropriately applied where (1) access is limited by buildings, roads, and airport runways; (2) off-site access is desired; (3) plume capture can be accomplished with fewer wells; and (4) aggressive cleanup methods are needed to meet cleanup guidelines in a short time, (e.g., Brownfields).
The instructors, who have many years of experience in applying innovative designs that utilize horizontal wells to improve remedial performance, will discuss the basics of horizontal well design, installation, and operation and will summarize issues to be taken into account when the use of horizontal wells is being considered. New developments in horizontal well materials will be described; regulatory acceptance and requirements will be discussed. Case studies will be presented to demonstrate how horizontal wells have provided significant cost and performance benefits. The case studies will include horizontal wells installed for soil sampling, air sparging, in situ remediation (e.g., bioremediation, chemical oxidation), product/groundwater recovery, and hydraulic control. The performance of these innovative horizontal well remedial designs will demonstrate the effective application of improved delivery/recovery systems to treat or control migration of contaminated groundwater.
Two-Phase Extraction Methods: Applications for Remediation of Soil and Groundwater
(Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.)
Instructors: Mehmet Pehlivan, PG, CHG (Leighton Consulting, Inc.)
James A. Jacobs, PG, CHG (Environmental Bio Systems)
This course is designed to provide attendees with a clear understanding of how vacuum-assisted extraction methods work in the subsurface, how two-phase and multiphase extraction can be applied in the field, and how to select remediation alternatives related to two-phase extraction. Attendees are encouraged to bring information on their own projects to discuss whether two-phase extraction may be a viable alternative.
The course will begin with a fundamental description of two-phase flow and its application in the field of groundwater remediation, followed by an evaluation of existing two-phase extraction technologies. The differences among two-phase, multiphase, and dual-phase extraction will be discussed. Efficient design and implementation of pilot tests, methods for overcoming friction losses, and remediation system design parameters will be described. Subsequent topics will include VOC stripping during two-phase extraction; use of two-phase extraction to supplement chemical oxidation, bioremediation, cosolvent flushing, heating, and other in situ methods; biosolvent flushing of free product (LNAPL or DNAPL) using high-vacuum dual-phase extraction (HVDPE); aerobic and anaerobic enhanced bioremediation using the “Zone” concept of remedial planning; and LNAPL recovery using two-phase extraction. A display of two-phase extraction wells with clear PVC piping and a vacuum pump will be used to illustrate a discussion on well head air/water separation, dual entry knockout tank and different flow regimes in vertical circular pipes. Water and vapor flow characteristics in the well during two-phase extraction will be discussed, and case studies will be presented on a wide variety of sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, chlorinated hydrocarbons and/or LNAPL/DNAPL. A discussion on costs related to two-phase extraction as a stand-alone application and/or in combination with other technologies will be presented.
A Hands-On Introduction to Databases and Geographic Information Systems for Remediation Projects
(Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.)
Instructors: Jamey Rosen, P.G. and Peter de Haven, P.E. (Geosyntec Consultants)
Remediation projects often have significant and intimidating data management requirements. This course is designed to provide participants with an understanding of available data management tools and how they can be appropriately used to compile, verify, analyze, and present data in an efficient manner. The course is designed for regulators, scientists, engineers, and project managers who have little or no experience with databases and/or geographical information systems (GIS). Through this course, participants will gain the concepts and vocabulary required to pursue more advanced training on the subject matter, or to appropriately scope and manage work in these areas.
This four-hour course will cover a range of topics pertinent to data management with relational database management systems (RDBMSs) and geographic information systems (GIS). The topics will include an introduction to the concepts of relational database structure and usage, the proper development of a database for field data and laboratory electronic data deliverables (EDDs), the creation of a database “dashboard” to support real-time operational decisions, and the application of GIS to location-based data in remediation projects. ArcMap™ Software will be used by the instructors to demonstrate GIS applications. A hands-on exercise will provide the opportunity to work with adapting remediation system operating parameters based on data in an EDD. Each participant will receive an EDD and a copy of the database constructed during the lecture portion of the course and will have the opportunity to append the EDD to the database, address quality concerns with the data, and query the data for use in analyzing the performance of the remediation system. Participants will be expected to bring laptop computers with Microsoft Access™ software (any version) installed; expertise in Access is not required. GIS software is not required to be installed on laptops. Those who prefer to rent laptops should send an e-mail to info@confgroupinc.com no later than April 14 to inquire about costs.
For information about short courses, contact: The Conference Group (phone: 800-783-6338 or 614-488-2030; fax: 614-488-5747; e-mail: info@confgroupinc.com .