ASSESSING AEROBIC NATURAL ATTENUATION OF TRICHLOROETHENE AT FOUR DOE SITES

Conference · Thu Mar 03 04:00:00 EST 2005

OSTI ID:1333920

Koelsch, Michael C. ^[1]

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1. North Wind, Inc

A 3-year Department of Energy Environmental Science Management Program (EMSP) project is currently investigating natural attenuation of trichloroethene (TCE) in aerobic groundwater. Determining whether TCE degradation occurs at meaningful rates under aerobic conditions via biological cometabolism has important implications for the assessment of natural attenuation. This presentation summarizes the results of a screening process to identify TCE plumes at DOE facilities that are suitable for assessing the rate of TCE attenuation under aerobic conditions. In order to estimate aerobic degradation rates, plumes had to meet the following criteria: TCE must be present in aerobic groundwater, a conservative co-contaminant must be present and have approximately the same source as TCE, and the groundwater velocity must be known. A total of 127 TCE plumes were considered across 24 DOE sites. The four sites retained for the assessment were: 1) Brookhaven National Laboratory, OU III; 2) Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Northwest Plume; 3) Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site, Industrialized Area – Southwest Plume and 903 Pad South Plume; and 4) Savannah River Site, A/M Area Plume. The analysis indicates that TCE is being preferentially attenuated at environmentally significant rates under aerobic conditions with degradation half-lives ranging from 0.85 to 12 years in 8 of the 9 plumes evaluated.

• Research Organization: North WInd, Inc
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• DOE Contract Number: FG07-02ER63510
• OSTI ID: 1333920
• Report Number(s): ER63510
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English