November 17, 2015

Application of ASTM’s Greener Cleanup Guide to a

Superfund Site in OregonResults and Take-Home Lessons

Beth Sheldrake, Manager, Superfund Program, EPA Region 10.Michael E. Miller, Principal Environmental Chemist, CDM Smith.

Striving for Greener Cleanups

Policies (August 2009) OSWER Principles for Greener Cleanup National Superfund Green Remediation Strategy Region 10 Clean and Green Policy

Tools Best Management Practice (BMP) Fact Sheets (2008 – 2013) ASTM’s Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups (November 2013)

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EPA Leading by Example

Options for EPA-lead Sites: Include reference to Regional “Clean and Green” policy in bid

documents

EPA applies ASTM guide and identifies BMPs in bid documents

EPA asks bidders to identify BMPs

EPA asks bidders to apply ASTM guide BMPs after winning bid, before construction

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Application of ASTM Standard Guide

Applicability to the Site – Opportunity Assessment Rate of Return – BMP Prioritization

High Priority – High footprint reduction and high implementability

Medium Priority – High footprint reduction and low implementability or low footprint and high implementability

Low Priority – Low footprint reduction and low implementability

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North Ridge Estates Site: BMP Evaluation

North Ridge Estates Site

South-central Oregon, high desert Residential subdivision, 3 mi north of Klamath Falls

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Topography

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Site History

1940s military barracks Improper building demolition during residential

development Asbestos containing materials (ACM)

waste piles, burial pits, surface/sub-surface dispersal 1993: began building houses 1994-2002: properties sold to homeowners 2003-2011: emergency removals ACM

Re-exposure by frost heaving & erosion Not a permanent solution

~ 300,000 cubic yards asbestos contaminated soil remain

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Remedial Action Objectives Mitigate direct contact and inhalation of asbestos fibers. Control migration and spread of asbestos.

Selected Remedy Excavation & consolidation of ACM in on-site repositories Building interior cleaning Post-excavation capping

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Best Management Practice (BMP) Selection

Purpose: minimize impacts 160+ BMPs – complete list in ASTM Standard 30 BMPs applicable to asbestos dig & haul

Equipment and fuel Materials use

16 final BMPs for possible incorporation into remedial design

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Greatest Impacts from Remedy Implementation

Fuel consumption Earth moving Transportation

Material use Backfill Revegetation Equipment Residential houses Recovered materials

Site preparation

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BMPs: Diesel Emission Control Technology

EPA Off-Highway Emission Standards

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BMPs: Diesel Non-road Construction Equipment

Engines must meet at least EPA Tier 2 non-road emission standards

Year 1: ≥ 25% of the equipment Meet Tier 4, or Retro-fit for 85% reduction in PM emissions

Years 2 and 3: ≥ 50% of the equip. Meet Tier 4, or Retro-fit for 85% reduction in PM emissions

End of project

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Diesel On-road Vehicles

At least 90% of diesel on-road vehicles :

Engines that meet EPA 2007 on-road emissions stds., or

Emission control technology to reduce PM emissions by at least 85%

+ Idling reduction plan for all diesel vehicles

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BMPs: Materials

BMP Implementation Metrics

Use recycled content Crush concrete barracks foundations for use as marker barrier

Amount re-used vs. non re-used concrete

Biodegradable, recycled seed matting

Straw Track and report

Compost instead of chemical fertilizers

Plant material, manure, or biosolids

Tons of compost

Use equipment and products that can be re-used or recycled

Select equipment that can be re-used. Recycle waste.

Track waste streams

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BMPs: Site Preparation/Land Restoration

BMP Implementation Metrics

Revegetate quickly & with native species

Plant at the end of each field season

Track and report

Native, drought resistant plant cover. Preserve biodiversity/ecosystem services.

Native seed mixtures % planting with native seeds

On-site or nearby sources of backfill

Local borrow source Track and report

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More BMPs

BMP Implementation Metrics

Reuse existing buildings Use an abandoned house for office & storage. Redevelopment includes cleaning & reselling abandoned houses.

Built into design

Reuse/recycle recovered materials

Recycle scrap metal, fuel, lubricants & removed trees. Crushed concrete foundations for marker barrier.

Track and report

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BMP Evaluation: Conclusions

Recognize benefits of env. footprint reduction Review entire BMP list Identify most applicable & most effective Thereby shrink the remedy’s footprint One or two BMPs do not a green remediation make!

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