Standard Guide for Remediation of Ground Water by Natural Attenuation at Petroleum Release Sites

Importancia y uso:

4.1 The approach presented in this guide is a practical and streamlined process for determining the appropriateness of remediation by natural attenuation and implementing remediation by natural attenuation at a given petroleum release site. This information can be used to evaluate remediation by natural attenuation along with other remedial options for each site.

4.2 In general, remediation by natural attenuation may be used in the following instances:

4.2.1 As the sole remedial action at sites where immediate threats to human health, safety and the environment do not exist or have been mitigated, and constituents of concern are unlikely to impact a receptor;

4.2.2 As a subsequent phase of remediation after another remedial action has sufficiently reduced concentrations/mass in the source area so that plume impacts on receptors are unlikely; or

4.2.3 As a part of a multi-component remediation plan.

4.3 This guide is intended to be used by environmental consultants, industry, and state and federal regulators involved in response actions at petroleum release sites. Activities described in this guide should be performed by a person appropriately trained to conduct the corrective action process.

4.3.1 The user must determine if existing regulations, policies, or guidance has been issued by the regulatory authority (federal government, Tribe, state, municipal, provincial) having jurisdiction over the site. These regulations, policies, or guidance may include provisions for stakeholder engagement.

4.3.1.1 The user is referred to Guide E3356 for recommended practices for successful stakeholder engagement.

4.4 The implementation of remediation by natural attenuation requires that the user exercise the same care and professional judgement as with any other remedial alternative by:

4.4.1 Ensuring that site characterization activities focus on collecting information required to evaluate and implement remediation by natural attenuation;

4.4.2 Evaluating information to understand natural attenuation processes present at the site;

4.4.3 Determining whether remediation by natural attenuation is the most appropriate and cost-effective remedial alternative with a reasonable probability of achieving remedial goals; and

4.4.4 Monitoring remedial progress.

4.5 Application and implementation of remediation by natural attenuation is intended to be compatible with Guide E2081 or other risk-based corrective action programs.

4.6 This guide does not address specific technical details of remediation by natural attenuation implementation such as site characterization (see Guide E1912), sampling, data interpretation, or quantifying rates. For additional discussion and guidance concerning these technical issues for remediation by natural attenuation see Appendix X1 through Appendix X7 and Guide E3361.

4.6.1 Implementation of monitored natural attenuation may require technical policy decisions by the regulatory agency with authority over the site.

4.7 This guide does not specifically address considerations and concerns associated with natural attenuation of non-petroleum constituents, such as chlorinated solvents. Care must be taken to ensure that degradation by-products will not cause harm to human health or the environment. In addition, if constituents are present which do not readily attenuate, such as methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE), remediation by natural attenuation may not be a suitable remedial alternative or may need to be supplemented with other remedial technologies.

4.8 This guide is intended to be consistent with Guide E1599 and U.S. EPA guidance for implementation of remediation by natural attenuation (see Environmental Protection Agency. An Approach for Evaluating the Progress of Natural Attenuation in Groundwater, EPA 600/R-11/204 December 2011 and How to Evaluate Alternative Cleanup Technologies for Underground Storage Tank Sites: A Guide for Corrective Action Plan Reviewers. EPA-510-B-17-03, October 2017)

Subcomité:

E50.04

Referida por:

E2081-22, E3361-22, E2616-09R20, E2531-06R20

Volúmen:

11.05

Palabras clave:

attenuation; bioremediation; ground water; intrinsic remediation; natural attenuation; passive remediation; remediation; remedial action;