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Home My WebLink About5.0 Environmental Services 09.30.2005CH2M HILL 303.771.0900 - CH2M HILL's Environmental Services Page 1 of 6 CH2MHILL Today's date is September 30, 2005 Home About Us■ Services., News and Information► Careers- Environmental Services Phytoremediation and Reuse - Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soil and Groundwater Plant -based remediation (phytoremediation) is the use of plants to treat or stabilize contaminated soils, sediments, or groundwater. Plants can support the process of remediation in many ways: • Rhizofiltration — the removal of contaminants by adsorption to plant roots • Rhizosphere Bioremediation — enhanced microbial degradation of contaminants near plant root surfaces • Phytostabilization — erosion control of contaminated soils or hydraulic control through management of the soil water balance - • Phytoextraction — removal and concentration of contaminants, generally metals, in plant tissues • Phytotransformation — plant uptake and transformation of contaminants to less toxic forms To be effective, phytoremediation projects must successfully integrate both the plant -based and engineering aspects of a system; this requires an interdisciplinary approach. CH2M HILL brings together the right team of agricultural and environmental engineers, plant and soil scientists (agronomy and soil physics, chemistry, management, and classification), hydrogeologists, and others with the skills to address each remediation project's specific problems. It is CH2M HILL's combined expertise and the ability to seamlessly integrate the technical disciplines that makes it unique among firms who use phytoremediation technologies. Remediation and Reuse of Nitrogen- Contaminated Groundwater Mill Creek Correctional Facility For decades, manure from the Mill Creek Correctional Facility dairy was placed in an area downslope from the barn. As a result, the soil, groundwater, and nearby Mill Creek were contaminated with nitrogen. Several years ago, a diversion structure and collection system were constructed to prevent further contamination. The existing soil and groundwater contamination, however, continued to migrate to Mill Creek. Technology To mitigate the problem, CH2M HILL developed a phytoremediation plan using poplar trees and Phytoremedial • Phytoremediatic Phytoremediation o. Soil and Groundwat Reuse of Municipal Biosolids • Reuse of Indust Wastewater and • Hybrid Poplar Al • Alternative Lam and Erosion Cor • Landfill Leachab • Irrigation and D Systems http: / /www.ch2m.com/corporate_ 2004 / Services /Sectors /Environmental /environment Phyt... 9/30/2005 CI-12M HILL 303.771 .0900 - CH2M HILL's Environmental Services Page 2 of 6 native hardwoods to take up excess nitrogen compounds associated with manure disposal. The trees are intended to remove nitrogen from the soil and shallow groundwater system to limit continued loading to an adjacent creek. A monitoring plan has been prepared so that removal rates can be quantified. The concept will be expanded to address other nonpoint pollution problems near the creek. Costs were kept to a minimum through the use of donations of labor and plants. The local watershed council donated labor to plant and maintain the site, prison laborers also helped plant trees, and both native cottonwood and hybrid poplar trees were donated by Howard James Corporation and Mt. Jefferson Farms, Rows of approximately 8,500 poplars and native black cottonwood were planted perpendicular to groundwater flow on 3.5 acres. Benefit • Thirsty tree roots will reduce recharge in the area and reduce groundwater flow from the area. • Water quality in the stream should improve over time because of reduced nitrogen loading. • This project provides a successful example of a low -cost cooperative remediation effort that can be replicated by confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) throughout the watershed. Decontamination of Soil at Decommissioned Oil Refinery Petroleum Company, Kansas CH2M HILL assisted with the remediation of a former oil refinery site. In lieu of continued investment in costly conventional petroleum hydrocarbon remedies, a plant -based treatment system was designed to make maximum use of natural systems and relatively passive, long- term remedial action. Hybrid poplar trees were established in test plots to aid the design of a full scale planting. Technology Remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons will be accomplished through rhizosphere bioremediation. Hybrid poplars will provide a rich environment for soil microorganisms that will, in turn, degrade petroleum hydrocarbons. The high transpiration rate of hybrid poplars also helps dewater the soil. This increases the soil volume available to support the remediation process. Benefits • This system will accelerate the degradation and minimize the offsite movement of petroleum hydrocarbons by providing hydraulic control. • The remediation costs of this system are dramatically less than those of conventional methods. • The hybrid poplar tree plantation will dramatically improve the aesthetics and wildlife habitat of this highly industrialized area. http: / /www. ch2m.com/ corporate_ 2004/ Services/ Sectors / Environmental /environment_Phyt... 9/30/2005 CH2M HILL 303.771.0900 - CH2M HILL's Environmental Services Page 3 of 6 Treatment of Oily Waste Through Land Application Texaco, Anacortes, Washington CH2M HILL assisted Texaco with design and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permitting for the upgrade and expansion of an oily wasteland farm at an operating oil refinery. The highly monitored site is being managed for biodegradation of oil sludges from refinery filters, tank bottoms, and other waste generating operations. The site receives greater than 50 inches per year of rainfall and, therefore, required runoff management and cropping for water consumption. CH2M HILL staff worked closely with site managers and Texaco technical staff to evaluate the site and historic operations and to develop designs and permit documents for the upgrades and continued operations. Technology The land farm management plan includes measures to monitor and adjust the soil rhizosphere so that optimal conditions for degradation of oily wastes are maintained. To keep contaminant concentrations within the target range for maintaining a thriving microbial population, the site is "loaded" with oily waste in doses that correspond to degradation rates. (Correct site loading matches the microbe's capacity to consume oily waste with the amount of oil in the soil.) Agronomy and soil sciences of soil fertility, tilth, aeration, and moisture content are also managed for optimal capacity. Rotations of grass, grains, and clover crops are planted on the site two times each year. The crops are managed to enhance rhizosphere microbial activity and soil moisture content. The crops are seasonally plowed into the soil with the applied waste to provide a stabilizing "green manure" nutrient source. Benefits • Because of proper management, bioremediation of the oily waste on this land farm is extremely cost effective and has low risk. • Monitoring data for permit compliance can be reused to make informed decisions for site operations. Remediation of Diesel - Contaminated Soil Through Cultivation of Grass and Clover Daishowa Paper Mill, Port Angeles, Washington The soil in the railroad engine refueling yard at this paper mill was contaminated from decades of fuel spills and engine servicing. To reduce contaminant concentration to the point where the soil could be managed as a bioremediation land farm , CH2M HILL excavated, moved to an adjacent area, and blended soil from the areas of greatest contamination with dredge spoils and livestock manure. The soil in areas with lower concentrations of fuel was remediated through the cultivation of plants onsite. The project included design, permitting, construction management, operations consulting, and monitoring over a period of several years. Technology httpJ /www.ch2m.comlcorporate_ 2004 / Services / Sectors /Environmental /environment Phyt... 9/30/2005 CH2M HILL 303.771.0900 - CH2M HILL's Environmental Services Page 4 of 6 Rhizosphere bioremediation and natural attenuation were applied in combination to clean up — at a relatively low cost — a site with a wide range of contaminant concentrations. The contaminated soil was amended to achieve fertility targets throughout the depth and area of the plume. A variety of grasses and clovers were grown on the plume to enhance rhizosphere bioremediation. The plant material, nutrients, and remediated soil of the surface layers were mixed with the contaminants in deeper layers of soil to enhance bioremediation at levels deeper than the root systems of the crops used for phytoremediation. The deepest level of contaminated soils had low concentrations of fuel and were monitored to track natural attenuation. Benefits • An innovative combination of land farming by removing the soil from the site and onsite remediation made it possible to treat a wide range of contaminants. • The mix of plants used for phytoremediation provided a robust crop with the added benefit of converting an eyesore — a railroad yard — into a beautiful field that blooms several times each year. • Operations and monitoring cost were lower than the costs of other alternatives. Remediation of Wood Preservative Wastes Through Plant Cultivation Union Pacific Railroad, Laramie, Wyoming This 140 -acre site had been used to treat railroad ties with wood preservatives for nearly 100 years. An innovative pump and treat system composed of horizontal drain lines was used to recover approximately 1.7 million gallons of mobile dense nonaqueous -phase liquid. As rates of recovery declined, a long -term system for continued remedlation of residual contamination was needed. Contaminants of concern included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pentachlorophenol (PCP). CH2M HILL and Its subsidiary OMI are assisting the client with permitting, planning, design, construction, and operation of a phytoremediation system for this site, including irrigation. Plants to be used at the site include native cottonwood, willow, alfalfa, and several grasses. Planting 50 acres of the site began in 1999, and will continue through 2001. Technology Rhizosphere bioremediation will be used to obtain continued reduction of contaminant concentrations in the soil. Rhiozosphere bioremediation is the use of plant roots to enhance microbiological degradation of organics such as PAH. Both trees and grasses will be established and maintained in a state of vigorous growth through irrigation and soil amendments. Benefits • For a low cost, this system will provide tong -term continued reduction of soil contamination. • The aesthetics of the site will be greatly improved by establishment of this plant -based system. • Rhizosphere bioremediation will accelerate the natural breakdown of contaminants. http: / /www.ch2m.com/corporate 2004 /Services/ Sectors /Environmentailenvironment Phyt... 9/30/2005 CH2M HILL 303.771.0900 - CH2M HILL's Environmental Services Page 5 of 6 • Educational and recreational opportunities will be enhanced because the phytoremediation system will incorporate the extension of a planned bike path system for the city. Residual Petroleum Waste Remediation Through Tree Cultivation Weyerhaeuser CH2M HILL worked with Weyerhaeuser to establish vegetation on the site of a former truck maintenance facility. The soils at this site have elevated levels of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) and TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons) and have been compacted from heavy truck traffic. Following extensive site preparation and addition of soil amendments to ameliorate problems with soil compaction, acidity, and low fertility, alder trees were established. Technology Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization amendments were added to the soil to Improve tree growth and to enhance natural attenuation and phytoremediation through rhizosphere bioremediation. Benefits • The tree system will transform a highly disturbed site into a stable site beautified by plant growth and supported by a natural ecosystem. • The root system of hybrid poplars will enhance the ability of microorganisms in the soil to degrade residual BTEX and TPH. • Increased evapotranspiration will reduce the potential for contaminants to migrate beyond the boundaries of the site. Phytoremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Pacific Islands CH2M HILL Is leading a three -year research and demonstration project investigating phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons using native plants in the Hawaiian Islands for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Partners in the study will include the University of Hawaii, University of Iowa, USDA -ARS, and a Hawaiian botanical consulting firm. A greenhouse study will be used to screen a variety of plant candidates, and the site of a former tank farm will be used to establish replicated field plots. Protocols used In the field study will be similar to that developed by the Remediation Technologies Development Forum (RTDF) subgroup on phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils. http:Uwww.ch2m. corn /corporate_2004 /Services/ Sectors /Environmental /environment Phyt... 9/30/2005 CI -12M HILL 303.771.0900 - CH2M HILL's Environmental Services Page 6 of 6 Report: Phytoremediation in Oregon as a Pollution Control Tool, prepared for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality CH2M HILL assisted the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in the development and preparation of a report that synthesizes information about the features, feasibility, and usability of phytoremediation In Oregon as a pollution control tool. The research was performed in conjunction with a similar effort being conducted by EPA Region 10. The purpose of the report is to document the design and performance parameters currently used for plant -based pollution treatment and remediation processes and make it available to Oregon communities and industries, wastewater treatment engineers and designers, and DEQ staff. To accomplish this CH2M HILL compiled a database of existing projects and evaluated the approaches used for different types of waste, the lessons learned from the projects, benefits of phytoremediation, and future data collection needs. The project data were also integrated Into the national phytoremediation database developed by EPA headquarters. Report: Guidance for Successful Phytoremediation Center for Waste Reduction Technologies Guidance for Successful Phytoremediation is a report designed to assist industrial site managers in the evaluation of phytoremediation. The report focuses on the practical application of phytoremediation technology, addressing the following topics: • Definitions of technologies, typical applications, and fundamental processes involved • Preliminary evaluation of phytoremediation as a site strategy • Potential application by contaminant group • Ecological risk and ecosystem modification • Modeling approaches to predict performance • Operations, maintenance, monitoring, and long -term site management • Potential failure modes and contingencies • Reid studies • Economic considerations The report was sponsored by the Center for Waste Reduction Technologies (CWRT), which is a not -for -profit arm of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. CH2M HILL prepared the report with the assistance of representatives from participating chemical companies and contributors and reviewers from several universities. back to top Copyright 0 2005 CH2M HILL and its licensors. All rights reserved. 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