Incorporating sustainability: federal contaminated sites decision-making framework

• Previous page
• Table of contents
• Next page

Appendix A: incorporating sustainability in contaminated sites management

Table of Contents

• 1  Introduction
• 2  Principles of Sustainable Contaminated Site Management
• 3  Benefits of Sustainable Contaminated Site Management
• 4  Best Management Practices for Implementing Sustainable Approaches
• 5  Preliminary Project Planning (DMF Steps 1 and 2)
  • 5.1  Sustainable Best Management Practices
    • 5.1.1  Preliminary Sustainability Plan Development
    • 5.1.2  On-site / office waste reduction activities
    • 5.1.3  Transportation related activities
    • 5.1.4  On-site equipment activities
    • 5.1.5  Evaluate Sustainability Options for the Project
    • 5.1.6  Other sustainable site management considerations
  • 5.2  References
• 6  Initial / Detailed Testing Program and Site Assessment (DMF Steps 3 to 6)
• • 6.1  Sustainable Best Management Practices
  • • 6.1.1  Sustainable Site Assessment
    • 6.1.2  Sustainable Contracting Methods
  • 6.2  References
• 7  Remediation / Risk Management Strategy Development (DMF Step 7)
• • 7.1  Sustainable Best Management Practices
  • • 7.1.1  Sustainable Remediation / Risk Management Selection
    • 7.1.2  Update Sustainability Plan
    • 7.1.3  Sustainable Remediation Demonstration
    • 7.1.4  Sustainable Contracting Methods
  • 7.2  References
• 8  Remediation / Risk Management Strategy Implementation (FCSAP Steps 8)
• • 8.1  Sustainable Best Management Practices
  • • 8.1.1  Sustainability Plan Implementation
    • 8.1.2  Sustainable Remediation / Risk Management Implementation
    • 8.1.3  Soil Excavation
    • 8.1.4  In-situ Remediation Optimization
    • 8.1.5  Groundwater Pump and Treat Optimization
    • 8.1.6  Sustainable Contracting Methods
  • 8.2  References
• 9  Confirmatory Sampling and Final Reporting / Long-term Monitoring (FCSAP Steps 9 and 10)
• • 9.1  Sustainable Best Management Practices
  • • 9.1.1  Sustainable Site Confirmatory Sampling / Monitoring
    • 9.1.2  Sustainable Contracting Methods
    • 9.1.3  Sustainable Approaches Profiling

1   Introduction

The main objectives of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) are to reduce the human health and environmental risks and the financial liabilities associated with federal contaminated sites. One of the priorities under the program is to strengthen consideration of the environmental and socio-economic effects of contaminated sites management at these sites. Furthermore, the Treasury Board Policy on Management of Real Property, which outlines the requirements associated with federal contaminated site management, states that the objective of the policy is “to ensure real property is managed in a sustainable and financially responsible manner, throughout its life cycle, to support the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.”

The FCSAP Secretariat has developed tools, guidance and training to encourage the use of sustainable approaches when managing federal contaminated sites, including the addition of sustainability considerations into the FCSAP Decision-Making Framework (DMF). This appendix provides additional resources to help custodians implement sustainable practices listed in the steps of the DMF. The sections below present general information on sustainable contaminated site management, the benefits associated with incorporating sustainable approaches, the best management practices associated with implementing those approaches, as well as a number of references for guidance documents and case studies that further describe these approaches and best management practices.

2  Principles of Sustainable Contaminated Site Management

Sustainable contaminated site management includes the analysis of the “environmental, social and economic impacts of a project to ensure an optimal outcome, while being protective of human and environmental health, both at a local level and for the larger community” (extracted from Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) Canada, 2012 definition of sustainable remediation).

Sustainable contaminated site management considers implementing sustainable approaches throughout each of the following project phases:

• Preliminary Project Planning (DMF Steps 1 & 2)
• Initial and Detailed Testing Program and Site Assessment (DMF Steps 3 to 6)
• Remediation / Risk Management Strategy Development (DMF Step 7)
• Remediation / Risk Management Strategy Implementation (DMF Step 8)
• Confirmatory Sampling and Final Reporting / Long-term Monitoring (DMF Steps 9 and 10)

By integrating sustainable approaches and activities throughout the FCSAP 10-step approach (i.e., planning through monitoring as listed above), the environmental footprint for each stage can be reduced. Site managers can choose approaches that not only manage or eliminate the contamination risks but also maximize the overall environmental, social and economic benefits associated with those approaches.

3  Benefits of Sustainable Contaminated Site Management

Incorporating sustainability into contaminated sites management can have many benefits, including:

• Reduced:
  • Project costs
  • Energy consumption
  • Emissions
  • Material consumption
  • Water use
  • Waste generation
  • Dust
  • Noise
  • Vehicle congestion
• Increased:
  • Use of renewable energy
  • Ecosystem and habitat protection
  • Stakeholder / public involvement and confidence
  • Use of local services and service providers
  • Local employment
  • The use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, which will reduce energy consumption;
  • The use of on-site sampling and analytical techniques, which will reduce the need to transport large numbers of samples off-site;
  • The use of more passive in-situ remediation / risk management options, which will use less energy.

In many cases, site challenges can be overcome by, or be drivers for, the use of sustainable approaches. For example, sites with large areas of contamination or in sensitive ecosystems, remote and northern locations and/or with lack of access to electrical power can benefit from sustainable approaches such as:

• The use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, which will reduce energy consumption;
• The use of on-site sampling and analytical techniques, which will reduce the need to transport large numbers of samples off-site;
• The use of more passive in-situ remediation / risk management options, which will use less energy.

4  Best Management Practices for Implementing Sustainable Approaches

The sustainability approaches identified in the DMF flowcharts are described in more detail in the “Sustainability Summary Tables” presented in the sections below. Various best management practices (BMPs) are presented to assist site managers to implement the sustainability approaches into their projects.

Figure 4 1: Alignment of Sustainability Best Management Practice Sections with FCSAP 10-Step Process

Figure 4 1 shows the alignment between the FCSAP 10-Steps described in the DMF and the sections in this document with the best management practices for those steps.

The BMPs proposed have varying degrees of complexity. Some of them can be easily applied with minimal time and resources, while others take planning and require additional resources in order to make them more feasible for larger, more complex sites.  To assist with the selection of BMPs that are commensurate with the complexity of a site, in the tables below, each BMP is assigned a level as follows:

• Level 1 = Simple sustainable activities and qualitative analyses that can be applied at smaller, less complex sites.
• Level 2 = Multifaceted sustainable activities and more robust and defensible quantitative analyses that can be applied at larger or more complex sites.

Within each Sustainability Summary Table, there are links to the reference sections listing guidance documents and, where available, case studies related to the best management practices presented in the Tables.

5  Preliminary Project Planning (DMF Steps 1 and 2)

5.1  Sustainable Best Management Practices

*Notes

Level 1 = Simple sustainable activities and qualitative analyses that can be applied at smaller, less complex sites.

Level 2 = Multifaceted sustainable activities and more robust and defensible quantitative analyses that can be applied at larger or more complex sites.

5.2 References

Preliminary Project Sustainability Plan Development - References (Section 5.1.1, 7.1.2 & 8.1.1)

General Guidance

• Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials  (ASTSWMO). Remediation and Reuse Focus Group. Green Remediation at Federal Facility Cleanups - Final Report. (2011) (http://www.astswmo.org/Files/Policies_and_Publications/Federal_Facilities/2011.01_FINAL_Green_Remediation_at_FF.pdf)

  This document provides a summary of how various U.S. federal departments have integrated sustainable remediation into policies.  Though many do not have an official policy document directly concerning sustainable remediation, many relay back to the U.S Directive #EO 13423 to implement green initiatives such as renewable energy and green products.  Provides links to available documents and tools from U.S. EPA, Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army.

• ASTM International. ASTM E2876 - 13 - Standard Guide for Integrating Sustainable Objectives into Cleanup. (2013) (http://www.astm.org/Standards/E2876.htm) (fee for download)

  This guide presents a framework that allows and encourages the user to address sustainable aspects (environmental, economic and social) within cleanup projects. The user may implement this guide to integrate sustainable objectives into cleanup while working within applicable regulatory criteria.

• ASTM International. ASTM E2893 - 13e1 - Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups. (2013) (http://www.astm.org/Standards/E2893.htm) (fee for download)

  This guide provides a process for identifying, prioritizing, selecting, implementing, documenting, and reporting activities to reduce the environmental footprint of a cleanup.

• Australian Government Department of Defence. Guidelines for consideration of sustainability in remediation of contaminated sites. (2010) (http://www.defence.gov.au/estatemanagement/governance/policy/environment/contamination/docs/sustainabilityremediationguidelines.pdf)

  This guideline is intended for use by project development and environmental managers and their consultants who are responsible for making decisions regarding works and the remediation of Defence sites. It outlines the Defence framework for implementation of sustainability principles in contamination management including identification of the key property life cycle points at which to consider sustainability, and a framework for the consideration of sustainability in the broader contamination management options assessment process.

  A broad remediation options assessment framework is presented that outlines the key requirements for contamination management to be met prior to evaluation of the sustainability of a remediation approach from an environmental, social and economic perspective. Three Defence case studies are presented that have evaluated remediation options, taking into consideration the environmental, social and economic benefits and dis-benefits that may ensue. The level of assessment required at this stage and the complexity of evaluation methods applied have to be commensurate with the size and nature of the project.

• Bardos, P. et al. Applying Sustainable Development Principles to Contaminated Land Management Using the SURF-UK Framework. Remediation. (2011) (https://www.claire.co.uk/component/phocadownload/category/8-initiatives?download=220:surf-uk-applying-sustainable-development-principles-march-2011)

  This paper suggests several mechanisms for increasing the use and efficacy of sustainable remediation, sustainable management and sustainability assessment in the remediation industry. The paper argues that setting out clearly defined steps for considering sustainability throughout the remediation process provides a net-benefit approach to management and whether the costs of sustainable remediation are greater than the benefits to society.

• Ellis, D.E. and Hadley P.W. Sustainable Remediation White Paper – Integrating Sustainable Principles, Practices, and Metrics into Remediation Projects. Remediation. (2009) (http://www.sustainableremediation.org/remediation-resources/)

  This white paper includes the history of the Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) and sustainable remediation as well as outlining major issues that might initially limit the efficacy of sustainable remediation implementation. The paper also outlines applicable legislation at both federal and state levels as well as internationally (including Canada).

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). FCM Incorporating Sustainability into Brownfield Remediation Web Page. (2014) (http://www.fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/get-started-today/revitalize-your-brownfields/sustainable-remediation/incorporating-sustainability-into-brownfield-remediation.htm)

  FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers funding and knowledge to municipal governments and their partners for brownfield planning, assessment and remediation activities. To assist in reaching this goal, this web page has a series of sustainable remediation information sheets that are accessible from this web page. (Individual sheets are listed in the applicable reference sections below.)

• Interagency Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). Green and Sustainable Remediation: A Practical Framework. Technical/Regulatory Guidance. (2011) (http://www.itrcweb.org/GuidanceDocuments/GSR-2.pdf)

  This ITRC document assists the remediation industry with the integration of green and sustainable practices into existing site investigation and remediation programs. It explains a Green and Sustainable Remediation (GSR) framework that can be incorporated into a site clean-up. The GSR framework builds three key aspects: environmental, social and economical into sustainable site remediation. The GSR framework is flexible and scalable to each phase of the remedial process and include aspects related to planning, performance metrics, and analytical tools.

• Interagency Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). Green and Sustainable Remediation: State of the Science and Practice (GSR-1). (2011) (http://www.itrcweb.org/GuidanceDocuments/GSR-1.pdf)

  In this technology overview document, the ITRC introduces the concept of "green and sustainable (GSR) remediation" and charts its current status. The document provides some basic definitions and describes some of the approaches of different agencies, states, and other entities. The document is intended to educate and inform state regulators and other stakeholders in the concepts and challenges of GSR.

• Interagency Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). Green and Sustainable Remediation Training Webinars. (no date) (http://www.itrcweb.org/Training/ListEvents?TopicID=9&SubTopicID=15)

  This site provides a series of webinars related to green and sustainable remediation.

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Greener Practices for Business, Site Development, and Site Cleanups: A Toolkit. (no date) (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/topics/preventing-waste-and-pollution/sustainability/greener-practices-toolkit/greener-practices-for-business-site-development-and-site-cleanups-a-toolkit.html)

  This website is a toolkit intended to expand the use of greener practices in Minnesota. The site showcases examples and best management practices that have been used in the state of Minnesota.

• Network for Industrially Contaminated Land in Europe (NICOLE). Road Map for Sustainable Remediation. (2010) (http://www.nicole.org/uploadedfiles/2010-wg-sustainable-remediation-roadmap.pdf)

  The NICOLE ‘Road Map’ is a single, structured process with a series of steps to ensure a consistent and collaborative approach to sustainability decision-making. It is intended to support robust and durable decisions, regardless of the project size. The roadmap breaks sustainable remediation into sustainability management (SM) and sustainability assessment (SA). SA is the process of understanding and measuring possible outcomes based on the economic, social and environmental elements of a project in cooperation with stakeholders. SM is the integration of SA into contaminated site management decision-making. The roadmap also presents the concept of a ‘sustainability gain’ (i.e, where net outcomes from the approaches applied are positive.

• New York Environmental Protection Agency. Green Remediation Program Policy. (2011) (http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/der31.pdf)

  This policy sets out the requirements associated with the application of green remediation techniques and consideration of sustainability objectives. The policy outlines easy-to-implement techniques as well as general concepts and methods of prioritizing/weighing applicable metrics when determining remedial action. The policy requires documentation of green remediation efforts during project evaluation and review.

• Reddy, K. and J. Adams. Sustainable Remediation of Contaminated Sites. Momentum Press. (2015) (http://www.momentumpress.net/books/sustainable-remediation-contaminated-sites) (fee)

  This book describes the key elements of sustainable remediation, including decision frameworks, qualitative and quantitative assessment tools, and multidisciplinary metrics. It also presents several case studies that include sustainable remediation solutions and highlight the challenges in promoting this practice. The case studies presented describe life cycle assessments comparing excavation and hauling with solidification and stabilization.

• Ryan, J. et al. Sustainable Remediation Panel – Screening and Selecting Green and Sustainable Best Management Practices. Remediation. (2011) (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/) (fee applies)

  This journal article describes the process taken by several remediation professionals from different firms (AECOM, CH2MHILL, and SCS Engineers) to rank and organize BMPs for their respective remediation projects.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) Australia. A Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Soil and Groundwater Remediation. (2011) (https://landandgroundwater.softlinkhosting.com.au/liberty3/libraryHome.do)

  This framework builds on the SuRF UK Framework for Incorporating Sustainable Development Criteria in Soil and Groundwater Remediation and applies it to the Australian context. The document describes sustainability assessment approaches that can be used during the two main stages where sustainable remediation decision making is applied: 1) project/plan design stage and 2) point of remediation selection and implementation.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) U.S. SURF US Website. (no date) (www.sustainableremediation.org)

  This is the web site for SURF U.S., which promotes the use of sustainable practices during implementation of remedial action activities with the objective of balancing economic viability, conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, and the enhancement of the quality of life in surrounding communities.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) U.S. Framework for Integrating Sustainability Into Remediation Projects. Remediation 7-38. (2011) (http://www.sustainableremediation.org/remediation-resources/)

  This journal article discusses the SURF US framework that integrates sustainability throughout the remediation project life cycle. The framework builds parameters based on environmental, social and economic impacts and helps form a structured planning strategy. Since remediation project phases are interconnected with the larger remediation system, the framework is built on a systematic process-based approach through performing tiered sustainability evaluation.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SuRF-UK Sustainable Management Practices for Management of Land Contamination. (2014) (http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=file&id=402:surf-uk-phase-3-bulletin&Itemid=230)

  This document describes a simple process and presents associated activities to encourage sustainable thinking, decision-making and action across all land contamination management activities by using Sustainable Management Practices even for activities (e.g., project planning) that would not normally have a formal sustainability assessment. The practices presented are relatively simple, common sense actions that can be implemented at any stage in a land contamination management project to improve its environmental, social and/or economic performance”. The document should be used in conjunction with the Sustainable Management Practices spreadsheet available from www.claire.co.uk/surfuk

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SuRF U.K. Website & Roadmap. (no date) (https://www.claire.co.uk/projects-and-initiatives/surf-uk)

  The SURF UK Website contains a wide range of information related to sustainable remediation. The site includes general information as well as summary of forum meetings, presentations, consultations as well as a series of framework and guidance documents developed by the group. The main page of the website provides a roadmap for navigating these materials.

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U.S.ACE). Decision Framework for Incorporation of Green and Sustainable Practices into Environmental Remediation Projects. Environmental Interim Guidance Document 10-01. (2010) (http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/361803/12807992/1308604751560/Footprint-LCA-20289_ftp.pdf?token=ELjDBw6BBjilmiIOck3mHQ%2Bkiyo%3D)

  The US Army Corps of Engineers Decision Framework explains the process of developing a tailored framework to the specific needs for site remediation. It builds on the EPA Green Remediation Primer document and incorporates the importance of including steps in the remediation process: air, water, land and ecosystems, materials and waste, energy and stewardship. This document, however, builds on those six components by adding worker safety as an element of green and sustainable remediation.

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U.S.ACE). Evaluation of Consideration and Incorporation of GSR Practices in Army Environmental Remediation. (2012) (https://www.fedcenter.gov/Documents/index.cfm?id=22322)

  This US Army Corps of Engineers study report presents a process for considering, incorporating, documenting, and evaluating the benefits of green and sustainable remediation practices

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Implementing Greener Cleanups through ASTM's Standard Guide (E2893-13). On-line version of webinar delivered on November 17, 2015. https://clu-in.org/conf/tio/gcsg_111715/

  The webinar provides an overview of the ASTM International Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups (E2893-13), which offers a step-wise approach for reducing the environmental footprint of site cleanup activities. Topics covered are: an overview of the Standard; how the Standard can guide project decisions; and a description of experiences in using the Standard at sites across the U.S. under state or federal cleanup programs.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Methodology for Understanding and Reducing a Project’s Environmental Footprint. (2012). (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-04/documents/methodology_enivro_footprint.pdf)

  This document provides an introduction to reducing negative environmental effects that might occur during site assessment, remediation, or non-time critical removal actions

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Superfund Green Remediation Strategy. Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation. (2010) (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/greenremediation/sf-gr-strategy.pdf)

  This document discusses the importance of developing a site remediation strategy that spans the life-cycle of the project and emphasizes that the strategy needs to take into consideration the concept of green remediation. The strategy focuses on cleanup activities and contains nine key actions that are categorized in three sections: policy and guidance development, resource development and program implementation and program evaluation. The nine key activities are: the role of remediation, compendium of protocols and tools, options that enable the use, address air pollutant emissions, develop pilot projects, establish opportunities in contracts, communicate and share success stories, roadmap for evaluating and evaluate.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation Focus, Contaminated Sites Clean-up Information. (2016) (http://www.clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA web portal for green contaminated site remediation is a resource base that contains information regarding contaminates, technologies, issues, strategies & initiatives, vendors & developers, online webinar training seminars & events, and additional resources.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation Primer, Incorporating Sustainable Environmental Practices into Remediation of Contaminated Sites. (2008) (http://www.clu-in.org/download/remed/green-remediation-primer.pdf)

  This document outlines the principles of green remediation and describes opportunities to reduce the footprint of cleanup activities throughout the life of a project. Best management practices outlined in this document help decision-makers identify new strategies in terms of sustainability.

• U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Sustainability Concepts in Decision-Making: Tools and Approaches for the US EPA. National Academies Press. (2014) (http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Sustainability-Concepts-Decision-Making-Tools/18949) (fee)

  This report on Scientific Tools and Approaches for Sustainability presents the application of sustainability tools through case studies from EPA and elsewhere and in public-private collaborations. The report concludes that EPA has many opportunities to further apply sustainability tools and approaches across the spectrum of its activities, and it should do so as rapidly as is practicable.

• U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). Green and Sustainable Remediation Fact Sheet, NAVFAC (version 7). (2014) (https://www.navfac.navy.mil/navfac_worldwide/specialty_centers/exwc/products_and_services/ev/erb/gsr.html#resources)

  This Fact Sheet provides an overview of green and sustainable remediation (GSR) metrics. The sheet covers "GSR Metrics and Remedy Footprint Assessment Methodology", footprint reduction methods and a list of applicable resources.

• U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). Naval Facilities Engineering Command Green and Sustainable Remediation. (no date) (https://www.navfac.navy.mil/navfac_worldwide/specialty_centers/exwc/products_and_services/ev/erb/gsr.html)

  This web portal provides a range of resources associated with the application of NAVFAC's green and sustainable remediation (GSR) metrics and the SiteWise™ GSR Tool.

• Wisonsin Environmental Protection Agency. Wisconsin Initiative for Sustainable Remediation and Redevelopment (WISRR) - Green & Sustainable Remediation Manual. (2012) (http://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/rr/rr911.pdf)

  This manual is a guide to sustainable remediation in the state of Wisconsin. It provides a detailed outline of drivers and metrics, sustainability considerations checklist, sustainability baseline development including the calculation of carbon footprint, categorization of sources, example case design, remedial process optimization, alternative energy considerations and sustainability matrix.

Case Studies

• Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Fort Nelson Airport Remediation Program Case Studies. (2014) (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/federal-contaminated-sites/making-progress.html#fornelson)

  This case study describes the remediation of several sites at the Fort Nelson airport, where approximately 153 000 cubic meters of soil is contaminated resulting from activities dating back to the Second World War. At this site, Transport Canada initiated a pilot project to identify and implement several best practices for sustainable remediation. Transport Canada implemented a Sustainability Management Plan that included: recycling and reuse of materials, prohibition on idling vehicles, alternative methods of transportation, such as carpooling and cycling, fuel-efficient heavy equipment, reporting of fuel consumption, and project-based accounting for greenhouse gas emissions.

On-site / Office Waste Reduction Activities - References (Section 5.1.2)

General Guidance

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Materials and Waste Management. (2013) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  These US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to material and waste reduction and management during remediation projects.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool. (2010) (http://www3.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/warm/ReCon_home.html)

  The ReCon Tool calculates GHG emissions and energy consumption related to purchasing and/or manufacturing activities using analyses of baseline and alternative recycled-content scenarios. Specifically, the tool can be used to calculate the tons of material reduced through purchase or use of items with recycled content

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Waste Reduction Model (WARM). (2012) (https://www.epa.gov/warm)

  The WARM model calculates GHG emissions of baseline and alternative waste management practices such as, source reduction, recycling, combustion, composting, and landfilling. The model calculates GHG emissions based on typical and alternative waste management strategies and includes 46 different material types as well as a variety of output units including MTCE, MTCO2E, and million BTU.

Case Studies

• Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Fort Nelson Airport Remediation Program Case Study. (no date) (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/federal-contaminated-sites/making-progress.html#fornelson)

  This case study describes the remediation of several sites at the Fort Nelson airport, where approximately 153 000 cubic meters of soil is contaminated resulting from activities dating back to the Second World War. At this site, Transport Canada initiated a pilot project to identify and implement several best practices for sustainable remediation. Transport Canada implemented a Sustainability Management Plan that included: recycling and reuse of materials, prohibition on idling vehicles, alternative methods of transportation, such as carpooling and cycling, fuel-efficient heavy equipment, reporting of fuel consumption, and project-based accounting for greenhouse gas emissions.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Profiles of Green Remediation (Materials and Waste). (no date) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/tab_d.cfm)

  This US EPA site provides a table of several sustainable remediation case studies and indicates best management practices. The table can be used to select profiles that highlight techniques for material and waste reduction. Included in the descriptions are innovative technologies and novel field methods.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Profiles of Green Remediation (Water). (no date) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/tab_d.cfm)

  This US EPA site provides a table of several sustainable remediation case studies and indicates best management practices. The table can be used to select profiles that highlight techniques for water use reduction. Included in the descriptions are innovative technologies and novel field methods.

Transportation Related Activities - References (Section 5.1.3)

General Guidance

• Natural Resources Canada. Welcome to the Idle-Free Zone – Website. (2014) (http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/communities-infrastructure/transportation/idling/4397)

  This web site contains graphic materials, articles, tools and templates to assist with the organization of a public education campaign related to anti-idling at a workplace or develop a larger-scale awareness and outreach campaign in a community.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Clean Fuel & Emission Technologies for Site Cleanup. (2010) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers the use of clean fuels and emission control technologies during remediation projects.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Diesel Emissions Quantifier. (2015) (http://www2.epa.gov/cleandiesel/diesel-emissions-quantifier-deq)

  This interactive tool can be used to evaluate clean diesel projects by estimating emission reductions, cost effectiveness, and health benefits.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Emission Facts - Idling Vehicle Emissions, Air and Radiation EPA420-F-98-014. (1998) (http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/f98014.pdf)

  In cases were detailed specific emission estimates tailored to local conditions are not required, this tool can provide general idling emission estimates. This summary of idle emission factors can be used to obtain first-order approximations of emissions under idle conditions.

Case Studies

• Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Fort Nelson Airport Remediation Program Case Study. (no date) (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/federal-contaminated-sites/making-progress.html#fornelson)

  This case study describes the remediation of several sites at the Fort Nelson airport, where approximately 153 000 cubic meters of soil is contaminated resulting from activities dating back to the Second World War. At this site, Transport Canada initiated a pilot project to identify and implement several best practices for sustainable remediation. Transport Canada implemented a Sustainability Management Plan that included: recycling and reuse of materials, prohibition on idling vehicles, alternative methods of transportation, such as carpooling and cycling, fuel-efficient heavy equipment, reporting of fuel consumption, and project-based accounting for greenhouse gas emissions.

On-site Equipment Activities - References (Section 5.1.4)

General Guidance

• Interagency Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). Remediation Process Optimization: Identifying Opportunities for Enhanced and More Efficient Site Remediation. (2004) (http://www.itrcweb.org/Guidance/GetDocument?documentID=78)

  This guidance document provides information related to remediation process optimization (RPO), which can help save money, energy and time during remediation project particularly for large, complex sites.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Integrating Renewable Energy into Site Cleanup. (2011) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to the use of renewable energy during remediation projects.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Re-Powering America's Land. (no date) (http://www2.epa.gov/re-powering)

  This web site provides a variety of resources related to the use of renewable energy approaches throughout a remediation project and integrating these approaches into the planning of the project. Institutional controls are discussed that may limit application of renewable energy projects including zoning, fish advisories, restrictive covenants, easements and deed notices.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Clean Fuel & Emission Technologies for Site Cleanup. (2010) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers the use of clean fuels and emission control technologies during remediation projects.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Diesel Emissions Quantifier. (2015) (http://www2.epa.gov/cleandiesel/diesel-emissions-quantifier-deq)

  This interactive tool can be used to evaluate clean diesel projects by estimating emission reductions, cost effectiveness, and health benefits associated with emission reductions.

Case Studies

• Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Wind-Powered Groundwater Sparging at Farnworth Lake Case Study. (2014) (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/federal-contaminated-sites/making-progress.html#farnworth)

  Remediation options at this site were limited due to the remoteness of the site: any equipment that could not be brought from nearby Churchill would be very expensive to transport. As well, because site was off the electrical grid, any remediation equipment would also have to be powered on site. Finally, the harsh subarctic weather conditions further limited the remediation options for the site. The solution for this site was a groundwater remedial system that used windmill-driven turbines to power a compressor to supply air for a groundwater sparging system that would remediate the petroleum hydrocarbons in the groundwater.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Profiles of Green Remediation (Air Emissions). (no date) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/tab_d.cfm)

  This US EPA web site provides a table of several sustainable remediation case studies and indicates the best management practices used in them. The table can be used to select profiles that highlight techniques for air emission reduction. Included in the descriptions are innovative technologies and novel field methods.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Profiles of Green Remediation (Energy Efficiency). (no date) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/tab_d.cfm)

  This US EPA site provides a table of several sustainable remediation case studies and indicates the best management practices used in them. The table can be used to select profiles that highlight techniques related to energy efficiency. Included in the descriptions are innovative technologies and novel field methods.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Profiles of Green Remediation (Energy - Renewable). (no date) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/tab_d.cfm)

  This US EPA site provides a table of several sustainable remediation case studies and indicates the best management practices used in them, including renewable energy. Included in the descriptions are innovative technologies and novel field methods.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Renewable Energy use on Contaminated Sites - Fact Sheets and Success Stories. (no date) (http://www2.epa.gov/re-powering/re-powering-your-community#factsheets_success)

  These fact sheets highlight renewable energy installations on current and formerly contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites.

Evaluate Sustainability Options for the Project - References (Section 5.1.5)

(Note: This section provides guidance and references specific to the evaluation of sustainability options for the project as a whole. Section 7.1.1 provides information and references related specifically to remediation technology sustainability evaluation.)

General Guidance

• Bleichera. A and M. Grossa. Sustainability assessment and the revitalization of contaminated sites: operationalizing sustainable development for local problems. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. Volume 17, Issue 1,. (2010) (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504500903488263) (fee applies)

  This paper describes how to develop sustainability indicators that can support users in establishing case-specific criteria for sustainable site remediation. The paper describes the different steps in the indicator development process and discusses areas that need to be improved in order to derive answers that reach beyond the field of contaminated site management.

• California Environmental Protection Agency. Interim Advisory for Green Remediation. State of California: Department of Toxic Substances Control. (2009) (http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/OMF/upload/GRT_Draft_-Advisory_-20091217_ac1.pdf)

  This procedural document discusses the concepts of sustainability and life-cycle management and incorporates them into all stages of the cleanup project. It also introduces the Green Remediation Evaluation Matrix (GREM) which highlights qualitative comparisons of treatment alternatives.

• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Greener Cleanups: How to Maximize the Environmental Benefits of Site Remediation. State of Illinois: Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land. (2008) (http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/greener-cleanups/matrix.pdf)

  This document presents a matrix for selecting sustainable practices for site assessment, planning and design, and cleanup. The matrix allows the user to analyze actions taken for site remediation by cost, schedule and technical complexity and shows how they benefit the environment. The article separates the environmental benefits into 4 different categories: air, water, land and energy.

• International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. Sustainability assessment and the revitalization of contaminated sites: operationalizing sustainable development for local problems. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. Volume 17, Issue 1. (2010) (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504500903488263) (fee applies)

  The paper describes how to develop sustainability indicators that can support users in establishing case-specific criteria for sustainable site remediation. The paper describes the different steps in the indicator development process and discusses areas that need to be improved in order to derive answers that reach beyond the field of contaminated site management.

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Toolkit for Greener Practices: Decision Tree. (2011) (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2274)

  This Decision Tree is intended to help determine options for more sustainable practices that are appropriate to a site. The fifteen options listed in the Decision Tree relate to business operations, site development and site cleanup. They are grouped according to three scenarios: Cleanup Remedy Selection; Business Practices; Development and Renovation.

• P.B. Butler et al. SURF Metrics for Integrating Sustainability Evaluations Into Remediation Projects. Remediation, 21(3), pp. 81-87. (2011) (http://www.sustainableremediation.org/library/guidance-tools-and-other-resources/Metrics-20290_ftp.pdf)

  This report summarizes a series of metrics that can be used to evaluate the sustainability of various aspects of a contaminated sites remediation project. Metrics are divided into the typical project stages: investigation, remedy selection, remedial design and construction and operation and maintenance.

• P.J. Favara et al. SURF Guidance for Performing Footprint Analyses and Life-Cycle Assessments for the Remediation Industry. Remediation, 21(3), pp. 39-79. (2011) (http://www.sustainableremediation.org/library/guidance-tools-and-other-resources/Footprint-LCA-20289_ftp.pdf)

  This paper considers the limitations of current life cycle analysis approaches. (no standardization across professions, metrics, scope and boundaries, lack definition etc.) and provides a standardized nine-step process for measuring the outputs of remediation activities. While it focuses on the ISO standards for LCA and ecological and human health risk assessment, it may be applied to both the social and economic issues. The paper also provides two case studies and tips for implementation.

• Regeneration of European Sites in Cities and Urban Environments (Rescue) Best practice guidance for sustainable brownfield regeneration. (2005) (http://www.eugris.info/DisplayResource.asp?ResourceID=5442&t=Manual: Best practice guidance for sustainable brownfield regeneration)

  This Manual describes the RESCUE Sustainability Assessment Tool (RESCUE-SAT) which provides a methodology for a site specific evaluation of intended brownfield projects in terms of sustainability. The manual covers: (1) Administrative Tools and Incentives for sustainable brownfield regeneration;. (2) End-user tools for sustainable brownfield regeneration; (3) A Virtual Training Centre which provides web based training resources for sustainable brownfield regeneration.

• Ryan, J. et al. Sustainable Remediation Panel – Screening and Selecting Green and Sustainable Best Management Practices. Remediation. (2011) (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/) (fee applies)

  This journal article describes the process taken by several remediation professionals from different firms (AECOM, CH2MHILL, and SCS Engineers) to rank and organize BMPs for their respective remediation projects.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) Australia. A Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Soil and Groundwater Remediation. (2011) (https://landandgroundwater.softlinkhosting.com.au/liberty3/libraryHome.do)

  This framework builds on the SuRF UK Framework for Incorporating Sustainable Development Criteria in Soil and Groundwater Remediation and applies it to the Australian context. The document describes sustainability assessment approaches that can be used during the two main stages where sustainable remediation decision-making is applied: 1) project/plan design stage and 2) point of remediation selection and implementation.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) U.S. SURF Metrics Toolbox. (2011) (http://www.sustainableremediation.org/library/guidance-tools-and-other-resources/metrics-toolbox/)

  This toolbox provides a compilation of information on evaluation tools, metrics, implementation guidance, challenges and benefits for a range of parameters associated with the following site remediation steps:

  • Remedial Design
  • Remedial Investigation
  • Remedy Selection
  • Remedial Construction

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) U.S. SURF Guidance for Performing Footprint Analyses and LCAs in the Remediation Industry. Remediation. (2011) http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/361803/12807992/1308604751560/Footprint-LCA-20289_ftp.pdf?token=ELjDBw6BBjilmiIOck3mHQ%2Bkiyo%3D

  This guide presents a nine-step process for conducting and documenting a footprint analysis and life-cycle assessment (LCA) for remediation projects.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SuRF UK Sustainable Management Practices spreadsheet. (2014) (http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=file&id=403:surf-uk-smps&Itemid=230)

  This spreadsheet has been produced in combination with the document "Sustainable management practices for management of land contamination" (CL:AIRE, 2014). This spreadsheet can be used to identify practices that, individually or collectively, may lead to project "sustainability gains".

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SuRF UK-URS Tier 1 Sustainability Assessment. (no date) (http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&download=405:tier-1-sustainability-assessment-for-surf-uk-urs-final&id=16:surf-uk-bulletins&Itemid=230)

  This Tier 1 Sustainability Assessment spreadsheet is based on the SuRF-UK "briefcase" and should enable assessments to be carried out systematically according to SuRF-UK's guidance. The process is divided into three categories: 1. Preparation - describing the project, the purpose of the assessment, the stakeholders, the constraints and the reporting/dialogue plan; 2. Definition - defining the objectives, boundaries, scope, methodology and uncertainties; 3. Execution - tables to aid the execution of the assessment, including the SuRF-UK assessment criteria"

• United Nations Environment Program. Guidelines for Social Life-Cycle Assessment of Products. (2009) (http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx1164xPA-guidelines_sLCA.pdf)

  These guidelines provide a framework and best-practices for assessing the social and socio-economic impacts of product life cycles

• U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (U.S. EPA). Framework for Responsible Environmental Decision-Making (FRED): Using Life Cycle Assessment to Evaluate Preferability of Products.(2000) (http://www.gdrc.org/decision/fred.pdf)

  The Framework for Responsible Environmental Decision-Making (FRED) demonstrates how the life-cycle concept can be used to quantify competing products' environmental performance so that this information may be integrated with considerations of total ownership cost and technical performance. Specifically, this report describes how life cycle assessment (referred to as the "FRED LCA approach") can be applied to determine and compare the environmental and human health impacts of competing products.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis (SEFA). (no date) (http://www.cluin.org/greenremediation/methodology/index.cfm)

  These spreadsheets are intended to be used along with the EPA methodology for providing quantitative information about the footprint reductions gained by applying EPA’s green remediation best management practices (BMPs).

• U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). SiteWise™ GSR Tool. (no date) (https://www.navfac.navy.mil/navfac_worldwide/specialty_centers/exwc/products_and_services/ev/erb/gsr.html#resources)

  SiteWise is an Excel-based quantitative, calculation tool jointly developed by Battelle, US Navy, and USACE. It is designed to determine footprints of environmental restoration actions in terms of selected metrics such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy consumption, criteria air pollutant emissions, water consumption, and worker safety.

Case Studies

• Tajam, J.A et al. Small Scale In-Situ Bioremediation of Diesel Contaminated Soil – Screening Life-cycle Analysis (LCA) of Environmental Performance, in International Conference on Natural Sciences and Technologies for Waste and Wastewater Treatment, Remediation, Emissions Related to Climate, Environmental and Economic Effects. (2010) (http://swepub.kb.se/bib/swepub:oai:DiVA.org:miun-12255?tab2=abs&language=en)

  This paper provides a LCA for the use of enhanced bioremediation of diesel contaminants in soil using whey, a byproduct from cheese production. Using an actual diesel contamination site as a case study, a screening life cycle assessment model was used. The goal of the study was to investigate the environmental performance of the whey method, and compare it with excavation and composting. Results from the screening life cycle assessment indicate a good environmental performance of the whey method and concluded that the whey on-site treatment could be an interesting alternative for bioremediation especially at sites that would not otherwise be treated, due to small size or remote location.

Other Sustainable Site Management Considerations - References (Section 5.1.6)

General Guidance

• Interagency Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). Planning and Promoting Ecological Land Reuse of Remediated Sites. Technical and Regulatory Guidance. (2006) (www.itrcweb.org/Guidance/GetDocument?documentID=30)

  This document highlights the benefits and constraints of ecological land reuse.  Provides decision making criteria as well as cost benefit considerations.  Applies sustainability to outcomes with coverage of community stakeholders as well as economic and environmental benefits.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The Incorporation of an Ecosystem Services Assessment into the Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Sarah Slack, National Network for Environmental Management Studies Fellow, University of Connecticut. (2010) (https://clu-in.org/download/techdrct/sarah-slack-ecosystem-services.pdf)

  Based on literature research and personal communications, this report presents background information related to ecosystem protection and the steps that can be taken to mitigate or avoid impacts to ecosystems throughout the remediation process. The report outlines replicable practices that remedial project managers can utilize to mitigate adverse impacts on an ecosystem. This report also describes the current state of data collection methods and issues pertinent to the ecosystem service assessment process, with the ultimate aim of fostering production of a replicable methodology that can lead to greener cleanups.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Climate Change Adaptation Technical Fact Sheet: Contaminated Sediment Remedies. (2015) (http://lacf.ca/sites/default/files/documents/portfolio/Todd_Leila_042013_MLA-opt.pdf)

  This fact sheet examines how climate change may impact the US EPA's existing processes for planning and implementing contaminated sediment cleanup projects. It shows how climate change vulnerability analyses and adaptation planning may be integrated throughout the contaminated site management process. A site-specific strategy for considering climate change impacts and potential adaptation measures is encouraged due to wide variation in the location and hydrogeologic characteristics of contaminated sites, the nature of remedial actions at those sites, and local or regional climate and weather regimes.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Superfund Climate Change Adaptation - Webpage. (no date) (http://www2.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-climate-change-adaptation)

  This Web page shares information about approaches for adapting to climate change during the cleanup contaminated sites.

Case Studies

• Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Colomac Mine Remediation Project Case Study. (no date) (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/federal-contaminated-sites/making-progress.html#colomac)

  This case study describes the use of locally harvested materials, soil bioengineering techniques and natural processes, which have lead to sustainable revegetation of river and lake shorelines after contamination from the closed Colomac gold mine.

• Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Colwood Refuelling Facility Engineered Wetlands Case Study. (no date) (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/federal-contaminated-sites/making-progress.html#colwood)

Engineered wetlands were used at this military refueling facility as a low cost solution to manage the contamination at the site. Once the remediation was completed, the remaining wetlands were a visually pleasing habitat for waterfowl and vegetation. This study shows how many of the obstacles that make revegetation especially challenging in the north were overcome. Specifically, the remote location drives up the costs for both labour and transporting materials; and the establishment of a heavily seeded initial cover in a subarctic climate could easily out-compete native species and hinder natural succession of vegetation at the site.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Profiles of Green Remediation (Land and Ecosystem). (no date) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/tab_d.cfm)

  This US EPA site provides a table of several sustainable remediation case studies and indicates the best management practices used in them. The table can be used to select profiles that highlight techniques for land-use and ecosystem protection. Included in the descriptions are innovative technologies and novel field methods.

6 Initial / Detailed Testing Program and Site Assessment (DMF Steps 3 to 6)

6.1 Sustainable Best Management Practices

Initial / Detailed Testing Program - Site Assessment (FCSAP Steps 3 to 6) Sustainable Best Management Practices	LEVEL 1*	LEVEL 2*
6.1.1 Sustainable Site Assessment (References) Plan and implement sustainable site assessment methods that reduce energy and waste generation, where possible, while still providing the necessary due diligence. Examples include:	X	X
Use on-site analytical techniques to avoid long-distance transportation of samples to laboratories,	X	X
Use passive analytical devices that avoid the need for digging wells and bore holes,	X	X
If wells / boreholes are required, use drilling / digging techniques that reduce waste generation, such as low flow purge techniques for groundwater sampling,	X	X
If sampling is required, develop a strategic sampling plan and use statistical methods to avoid over sampling of the site,		X
Use telemetry or remote data collection.		X
6.1.2 On-site / office waste reduction activities (References) Develop and use sustainable contracting clauses as outlined in the Environmental Procedures in Section 01-35-43 of the Public Works and Government Services Canada’s National Master Specification.	X	X

*Note

Level 1 = Simple sustainable activities and qualitative analyses that can be applied at smaller, less complex sites.

Level 2 = Multifaceted sustainable activities and more robust and defensible quantitative analyses that can be applied at larger or more complex sites.

6.2 References

Sustainable Site Assessment and Monitoring Activities - References (Section 6.1.1 & 9.1.1)

General Guidance

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). FCM Sustainable Site Assessments Webpage. . (no date) (http://www.fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/get-started-today/revitalize-your-brownfields/sustainable-remediation/sustainable-site-assessments.htm)

  This web page presents information and examples of various sustainable site assessment techniques.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Site Investigation. (2009) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This fact sheet covers non-intrusive sampling techniques, using green-certified laboratories and minimizing in office use of non-‘green’ products

Sustainable Contracting Methods - References (Section 6.1.2, 7.1.4 & 9.1.2)

General Guidance

• Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). PWGSC Green Procurement Policy. (2006) (https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=32573)

  The objective of this document is to advance the protection of the environment and support sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision-making process. Departmental Deputies are required to ensure that the green procurement objectives outlined in the policy are realized while maintaining compliance with all legislative, regulatory and policy obligations.

• Public Works and Government Services Canada. Environmental Procedures in Section 01-35-43 of the Public Works and Government Services Canada’s National Master Specification. (no date) (Not publically available, copies are available from regional PWGSC procurement officers.)

  This document includes a series of specifications related to environmental protection and sustainable remediation. The intent is that these specification be added to remediation contracts to provide bidders with clear requirements related to protecting the environment and performing their work in a sustainable manner.

Case Study

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SURF UK Bulletin Case Study -Upper Heyford - Remediation Options Appraisal. (2013) (http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&download=366:surf-case-study-2&id=16:surf-uk-bulletins&Itemid=230)

  The case study involved the decommissioning of the petroleum dispensing system at a former cold war military airbase. A remediation options and sustainability analysis was undertaken as part of a competitive tendering process. The objective of this analysis was to act as a commercial tool at tender stage to show understanding of the issues and inform the decision making process. It was also used to demonstrate to regulators that the selected remedial option was the most sustainable.

7 Remediation / Risk Management Strategy Development (DMF Step 7)

7.1 Sustainable Best Management Practices

*Notes

Level 1 = Simple sustainable activities and qualitative analyses that can be applied at smaller, less complex sites.

Level 2 = Multifaceted sustainable activities and more robust and defensible quantitative analyses that can be applied at larger or more complex sites.

7.2 References

Sustainable Remediation / Risk Management Selection - References (Section 7.1.1)

General Guidance

(Note: This section provides guidance and references specific to remediation technology sustainability evaluation. Section 5.1.5 provides information and references related specifically to the evaluation of sustainability options for the project as a whole.)

• Australian Government Department of Defence. Guidelines for consideration of sustainability in remediation of contaminated sites. (2010) (http://www.defence.gov.au/estatemanagement/governance/policy/environment/contamination/docs/sustainabilityremediationguidelines.pdf)

  This guideline is intended for use by project development and environmental managers and their consultants who are responsible for making decisions regarding works and the remediation of Defence sites. It outlines the Defence framework for implementation of sustainability principles in contamination management including identification of the key property life cycle points at which to consider sustainability, and a framework for the consideration of sustainability in the broader contamination management options assessment process.

  A broad remediation options assessment framework is presented that outlines the key requirements for contamination management to be met prior to evaluation of the sustainability of a remediation approach from an environmental, social and economic perspective. Three Defence case studies are presented that have evaluated remediation options, taking into consideration the environmental, social and economic benefits and dis-benefits that may ensue. The level of assessment required at this stage and the complexity of evaluation methods applied have to be commensurate with the size and nature of the project.

• Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC). Sustainable Remediation Tool (SRT). (no date) (No longer available from web site but available by e-mailing AFCEC (afcec.czte.rss@us.af.mil))

  AFCEC and its partners have developed the Sustainable Remediation Tool (SRT) to serve two general purposes: 1) planning for future implementation of remediation technologies at a particular site, as well as 2) a means to evaluate optimization of remediation technology systems already in place or to compare remediation approaches based on sustainability metrics.

• California Environmental Protection Agency. Interim Advisory for Green Remediation. State of California: Department of Toxic Substances Control. (2009) (http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/OMF/upload/GRT_Draft_-Advisory_-20091217_ac1.pdf)

  This procedural document discusses the concepts of sustainability and life-cycle management and incorporates them into all stages of the cleanup project. It also introduces the Green Remediation Evaluation Matrix (GREM) which performs qualitative comparisons of treatment alternatives.

• California Environmental Protection Agency. Leaking UST Footprint Calculator. (no date) (http://ustcalc.org/)

  This calculator estimates and compares the greenhouse gas emissions for the five most common remediation technologies used at contaminated underground storage tank sites in California.

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). FCM Sustainable Remediation and Risk Management Options Web page. (no date) (http://www.fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/get-started-today/revitalize-your-brownfields/sustainable-remediation/sustainable-remediation-and-risk-management-options.htm)

This web page presents information and examples of various sustainable site remediation and risk assessment techniques.

• Harre et al. Quantifying Life Cycle Environmental Footprints of Soil and Groundwater Remedies. (2013) (http://www.serdp.org/content/download/22250/229137/file/ER-201127-FR.pdf)

  This article provides a comparison of various green and sustainable remediation tools, such as SiteWise and SRT and benchmarks them against SimaPro LCA software

• Illinios Environmental Protection Agency. Greener Cleanups: How to Maximize the Environmental Benefits of Site Remediation. State of Illinois: Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land. (2008) (http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/greener-cleanups/matrix.pdf)

  This document presents a matrix for selecting sustainable practices for site assessment, planning and design, and cleanup. The matrix allows the user to analyze actions taken for site remediation by cost, schedule and technical complexity and shows how they benefit the environment. The article separates the environmental benefits into 4 different categories: air, water, land and energy.

• Interagency Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). Life Cycle Cost Analysis - First in a Series of Remediation Process Optimization Advanced Topics. (2006) (www.itrcweb.org/GuidanceDocuments/RPO-2.pdf)

  This report provides information on the basic concepts of Life-Cycle Cost Analysis and its potential application to site remediation projects. Two hypothetical sites have been created and are used to “walk” the practitioner through the life-cycle analysis process as examples. Each example has an existing remedial operation that is not achieving the site’s exit strategy on schedule or budget. The examples present the site’s remedial objectives, the current remediation status, the life-cycle cost of the current operation, alternative remediation processes for both cost and schedule, and then compares the life-cycle cost of all the options. The benefits and returns are evaluated and summarized for each site. The document provides an example calculation of a current project costs compared to an alternative method. It requires a single cost figure for each alternative, which should last the duration of the project.

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Toolkit for Greener Practices: Decision Tree. (2011) (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2274)

  This Decision Tree is intended to help determine options for more sustainable practices that are appropriate to a site. The fifteen options listed in the Decision Tree relate to business operations, site development and site cleanup. They are grouped according to three scenarios: Cleanup Remedy Selection; Business Practices; Development and Renovation.

• P.B. Butler et al. SURF Metrics for Integrating Sustainability Evaluations Into Remediation Projects. Remediation, 21(3), pp. 81-87. (2011) (http://www.sustainableremediation.org/library/guidance-tools-and-other-resources/Metrics-20290_ftp.pdf)

  This report summarizes a series of metrics that can be used to evaluate the sustainability of various aspects of a contaminated sites remediation project. Metrics are divided into the typical project stages: investigation, remedy selection, remedial design and construction and operation and maintenance.

• Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). Quantifying Life Cycle Environmental Footprints of Soil and Groundwater Remedies. (2011) (https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Program-Areas/Environmental-Restoration/Contaminated-Groundwater/Monitoring/ER-201127/ER-201127/%28language%29/eng-US)

  This report describes a project to demonstrate and validate two currently used, publicly available Department of Defense (DoD) green and sustainable remediation (GSR) spreadsheet tools (SiteWise™ and SRT™) and benchmark these tools against an industry accepted Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) software package (SimaPro®).

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SuRF UK-URS Tier 1 Sustainability Assessment. (no date) (http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&download=405:tier-1-sustainability-assessment-for-surf-uk-urs-final&id=16:surf-uk-bulletins&Itemid=230)

  This Tier 1 Sustainability Assessment spreadsheet is based on the SuRF-UK "briefcase" and should enable assessments to be carried out systematically according to SuRF-UK's guidance. The process is divided into three categories: 1. Preparation - describing the project, the purpose of the assessment, the stakeholders, the constraints and the reporting/dialogue plan; 2. Definition - defining the objectives, boundaries, scope, methodology and uncertainties; 3. Execution - tables to aid the execution of the assessment, including the SuRF-UK assessment criteria"

Case Studies

• Australian Government Department of Defence. Guidelines for consideration of sustainability in remediation of contaminated sites. (2010) (http://www.defence.gov.au/estatemanagement/governance/policy/environment/contamination/docs/sustainabilityremediationguidelines.pdf)

  This guideline is intended for use by project development and environmental managers and their consultants who are responsible for making decisions regarding works and the remediation of Defence sites. It outlines the Defence framework for implementation of sustainability principles in contamination management including identification of the key property life cycle points at which to consider sustainability, and a framework for the consideration of sustainability in the broader contamination management options assessment process.

  A broad remediation options assessment framework is presented that outlines the key requirements for contamination management to be met prior to evaluation of the sustainability of a remediation approach from an environmental, social and economic perspective. Three Defence case studies are presented that have evaluated remediation options, taking into consideration the environmental, social and economic benefits and dis-benefits that may ensue. The level of assessment required at this stage and the complexity of evaluation methods applied have to be commensurate with the size and nature of the project.

• Bayer, P. and Finkel, M. Life Cycle Assessment of Active and Passive Groundwater Remediation Technologies. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. (2006) (http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter_Bayer3/publication/7392008_Life_Cycle_Assessment_of_Active_and_Passive_Groundwater_Remediation_Technologies/links/00b495204d17ac2d20000000.pdf)

  This article presents a case study where the use of a permeable reactive barrier and a pump and treat technology are compared at manufactured gas plant site in Germany. A life cycle assessment is used to compare these two technologies.

• Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Brevoort Island Remedial Options Analysis Case Study. (no date) (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/federal-contaminated-sites/making-progress.html#brevoort)

  A pipe failure at a Department of National Defence (DND) Long Range Radar Facility on Brevoort Island, located just off the coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut, led to the accidental release of about 150 000 litres of Jet A-1 aviation turbine fuel. This work involved performing a remedial options analysis that incorporated sustainability elements, including “green” remediation and reuse of waste materials. The analysis used a weighted scoring system based on the principles of multi-criteria decision analysis, which allowed for weighting of sustainability indicators, such as social and economic impacts, as part of an overall life cycle approach.

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Case Studies. Remediation and Redevelopment of the former WC Wood Company Site I Facility, City of Guelph. (2012) (http://www.fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/funded-initiatives.htm?lang=en&project=9e45e11d-d16e-e211-820e-005056bc2614&srch=brownfield)

  This case study describes the use of a risk management approach at a brownfield site in Guelph, Ontario. The Remedial Action Plan for the site involves a combination of site-specific risk-based standards, active on-site remediation, and the implementation of risk management measures. Soil management is an important component of the plan, allowing certain soils to be reused on-site rather than transported and dumped.

• Higgins, M.R. and T.M. Olson. Life-Cycle Case Study Comparison of Permeable Reactive Barrier versus Pump-and-Treat Remediation in Environmental Science and Technology. (2009) (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es9015537)

  In this article permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology is compared with a conventional pump-and-treat system using a life-cycle assessment (LCA). This assessment is used to determine if the greater material production requirements to install PRBs may offset the expected reductions in operational phase impacts. The life-cycle environmental impacts of a zerovalent iron (ZVI) containing PRB with a funnel and gate configuration and pump and treat are compared in a case study. This study showed that, even at conservatively low estimates of longevity, the PRB offers significant environmental advantages in impact categories of human health and ozone depletion. Suggested PRB design innovations to reduce environmental impacts include the development of alternative reactive media and construction methods.

• Higgins, M.R. and T.M. Olson. Life-Cycle Case Study Comparison of Permeable Reactive Barrier versus Pump-and-Treat Remediation in Environmental Science and Technology. (2009) (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es9015537)

  In this article permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology is compared with a conventional pump-and-treat system using a life-cycle assessment (LCA). This assessment is used to determine if the greater material production requirements to install PRBs may offset the expected reductions in operational phase impacts. The life-cycle environmental impacts of a zerovalent iron (ZVI) containing PRB with a funnel and gate configuration and pump and treat are compared in a case study. This study showed that, even at conservatively low estimates of longevity, the PRB offers significant environmental advantages in impact categories of human health and ozone depletion. Suggested PRB design innovations to reduce environmental impacts include the development of alternative reactive media and construction methods.

• Monica R. Higgins and Terese M. Olson. Life-Cycle Case Study Comparison of Permeable Reactive Barrier versus Pump-and-Treat Remediation in Environmental Science and Technology. (2009) (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es9015537)

  In this article permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology is compared with a conventional pump-and-treat system using a life-cycle assessment (LCA). This assessment is used to determine if the greater material production requirements to install PRBs may offset the expected reductions in operational phase impacts. The life-cycle environmental impacts of a zerovalent iron (ZVI) containing PRB with a funnel and gate configuration and pump and treat are compared in a case study. This study showed that, even at conservatively low estimates of longevity, the PRB offers significant environmental advantages in impact categories of human health and ozone depletion. Suggested PRB design innovations to reduce environmental impacts include the development of alternative reactive media and construction methods.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SURF UK Bulletin - Helpston Contaminated Land Project. (2013) (http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&download=367:surf-case-study-3&id=16:surf-uk-bulletins&Itemid=230)

  This case study examines the use of a sustainability options analysis at two former waste disposal sites with significant groundwater contamination. This is a retrospective review of a previous remediation options analysis, to examine how it would have differed had the SuRF-UK framework been used and also explores the benefits SuRF-UK framework can bring.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SURF UK Bulletin -Upper Heyford - Remediation Options Appraisal. (2013) http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&download=366:surf-case-study-2&id=16:surf-uk-bulletins&Itemid=230

  The case study involved the decommissioning of the petroleum dispensing system at a former cold war military airbase. A remediation options and sustainability analysis was undertaken as part of a competitive tendering process. The objective of this analysis was to act as a commercial tool at tender stage to show understanding of the issues and inform the decision making process. It was also used to demonstrate to regulators that the selected remedial option was the most sustainable.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SuRF UK Bulletin - Sustainability Assessment: Shell Terminal Facility, Madeira. (2013) (http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&download=365:surf-case-study-1&id=16:surf-uk-bulletins&Itemid=230)

  A sustainable remediation assessment was applied in this project. This assessment compared ex-situ thermal desorption process to in-situ enhanced bioremediation. The bioremediation option was chosen based on the following sustainability benefits:

  • A reduction in CO2 emissions due to less intensive energy use;
  • A reduction in costs;
  • A reduction in fuel use;
  • A reduction in neighbourhood disturbance caused by noise, which would have arisen from the operation of the thermal desorption plant; and
  • Potential for local employment.

• Tajam, J.A. et al. Small Scale In-Situ Bioremediation of Diesel Contaminated Soil – Screening LCA of Environmental Performance, in International Conference on Natural Sciences and Technologies for Waste and Wastewater Treatment, Remediation, Emissions Related to Climate, Environmental and Economic Effects. (2010) (http://swepub.kb.se/bib/swepub:oai:DiVA.org:miun-12255?tab2=abs&language=en)

  This paper provides a LCA for the use of enhanced bioremediation of diesel contaminants in soil using whey, a byproduct from cheese production. Using an actual diesel contamination site as a case study, a screening life cycle assessment model was used. The goal of the study was to investigate the environmental performance of the whey method, and compare it with excavation and composting. Results from the screening life cycle assessment indicate a good environmental performance of the whey method and concluded that the whey on-site treatment could be an interesting alternative for bioremediation especially at sites that would not otherwise be treated, due to small size or remote location.

Sustainable Remediation Demonstration - References (Section 7.1.3)

General Guidance

• UK Contaminated Land: Applications in Real Environments (CL:AIRE). CL:AIRE - Technology Demonstration Projects Web Page. (no date) (https://www.claire.co.uk/cl-aire-projects)

  One of CL:AIRE’s core objectives is to demonstrate the application of technologies which may offer improved site investigation techniques, monitoring or remediation solutions. As outlined in this web page, in order to meet this objective, CL:AIRE has developed a process in which demonstration projects are submitted, evaluated by a team of independent experts (CL:AIRE’s Technology and Research Group), and – if approved – monitored and reported so that the industry as a whole can benefit from the results.

8 Remediation / Risk Management Strategy Implementation (FCSAP Steps 8)

8.1 Sustainable Best Management Practices

* Notes

Level 1 = Simple sustainable activities and qualitative analyses that can be applied at smaller, less complex sites.

Level 2 = Multifaceted sustainable activities and more robust and defensible quantitative analyses that can be applied at larger or more complex sites.

8.2 References

Soil Excavation - References (Section 8.1.3)

General Guidance

• Contaminated Land: Applications in the Real Environments (CL:AIRE). Use of the Definition of Waste: Development Industry – Code of Practice in London & the South East. (2013) (https://www.claire.co.uk/projects-and-initiatives/dow-cop)

  This code of practice details a process for the re-use of materials on site or their movement between sites with a significantly reduced UK regulatory burden. It also creates the conditions to support the establishment and operation of fixed soil treatment facilities, which have a key role to play in the future of sustainable materials management. The process covers the reuse of both contaminated and uncontaminated materials on the site of production, and between sites within defined “Cluster” projects.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Excavation and Surface Restoration. (2008) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to excavation and surface restoration.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Materials and Waste Management. (2013) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  These US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to material and waste reduction at management during remediation projects.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Mining Sites. (2012) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches at mine site remediation projects.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Sites with Leaking Underground Storage Tank Systems. (2011) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to leaking underground storage tank systems.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool. (2010) (http://www3.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/warm/ReCon_home.html)

  The ReCon Tool calculates GHG emissions and energy consumption related to purchasing and/or manufacturing activities using analyses of baseline and alternative recycled-content scenarios. Specifically, the tool can be used to calculate the tons of material reduced through purchase or use of items with recycled content

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Waste Reduction Model (WARM). (2012) (https://www.epa.gov/warm)

  The WARM model calculates GHG emissions of baseline and alternative waste management practices such as, source reduction, recycling, combustion, composting, and landfilling. The model calculates GHG emissions based on typical and alternative waste management strategies and includes 46 different material types as well as a variety of output units including MTCE, MTCO2E, and million BTU.

Case Studies

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Profiles of Green Remediation (Materials and Waste). (no date) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/tab_d.cfm)

  This US EPA site provides a table of several sustainable remediation case studies and indicates the best management practices used in them. The table can be used to select profiles that highlight techniques for material and waste reduction. Included in the descriptions are innovative technologies and novel field methods.

In-situ Remediation Optimization - References (Section 8.1.4)

General Guidance

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Bioremediation. (2010) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to bioremediation.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Implementing In Situ Thermal Technologies. (2012) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to in-situ thermal remediation.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Soil Vapor Extraction and Air Sparging. (2010) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to the use of soil vapour extraction and air sparging.

Case Studies

• Bayer, P. and M. Finkel. Life Cycle Assessment of Active and Passive Groundwater Remediation Technologies. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. (2006) (http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter_Bayer3/publication/7392008_Life_Cycle_Assessment_of_Active_and_Passive_Groundwater_Remediation_Technologies/links/00b495204d17ac2d20000000.pdf)

  This article presents a case study where the use of a permeable reactive barrier and a pump and treat technology are compared at manufactured gas plant site in Germany. A life cycle assessment is used to compare these two technologies.

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Case Studies. Brantford Soil Remediation Demonstration Project - Greenwich Mohawk Brownfield Site. (2012) (http://www.fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/funded-initiatives.htm?lang=en&project=e7eb026d-c590-e111-9d21-005056bc2614&srch=brownfield)

  The City of Brantford is testing an in situ, heat-enhanced soil remediation technology on a portion of its 52-acre Greenwich Mohawk brownfield site. The field test will target the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from a 300 m2 area that is the source of an important groundwater contamination plume. The treatment process injects hot steam into the soil through injection wells. The mobilized contaminants are extracted with a vacuum system; then condensed, separated and disposed of as chemical waste. This process can be conducted without demolishing existing infrastructure, which would allow the city to preserve heritage buildings on site during the eventual full-scale remediation. The test results will be compared to ex situ remediation methods using a triple-bottom line approach.

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Case Studies. Photoremediation Field Test in an Urban Setting at the Monsabré Community Garden in Montréal. (2013) (http://www.fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/funded-initiatives.htm?lang=en&project=2c1de87a-da6e-e211-820e-005056bc2614&srch=brownfield)

  The Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV), in partnership with the Montréal Botanical Garden, is conducting experiments on phytoremediation to prove the viability and profitability of this technique on both an environmental and economic level. Several plant species are being evaluated to determine their ability to remediate the site. The biomass is being harvested and converted to biofuels and bioproducts. In addition to reducing operation and maintenance costs when compared to other treatment methods, phytoremediation also has numerous environmental benefits: capturing greenhouse gases, reducing heat islands, reducing transportation-related emissions associated with shipping contaminated soils to landfills, etc.

• Higgins. M.R. and T.M. Olson. Life-Cycle Case Study Comparison of Permeable Reactive Barrier versus Pump-and-Treat Remediation in Environmental Science and Technology. (2009) (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es9015537)

  In this article permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology is compared with a conventional pump-and-treat system using a life-cycle assessment (LCA). This assessment is used to determine if the greater material production requirements to install PRBs may offset the expected reductions in operational phase impacts. The life-cycle environmental impacts of a zerovalent iron (ZVI) containing PRB with a funnel and gate configuration and pump and treat are compared in a case study. This study showed that, even at conservatively low estimates of longevity, the PRB offers significant environmental advantages in impact categories of human health and ozone depletion. Suggested PRB design innovations to reduce environmental impacts include the development of alternative reactive media and construction methods.

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Toolkit for Greener Practices - Showcase of Ideas - Option 1-1: In -Situ Treatment - Reagent Injection - Source Area. (no date) (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=11803)

  Contamination at this site resulted from a major release of chlorinated solvents to ground water from a former plating shop. Impacts (primarily trichloroethene (TCE)) in the source area extended below the water table. A pilot project for in-situ treatment of TCE was performed and found that the injection of a potassium permanganate reagent would break down the TCE into non-hazardous byproducts. From a sustainability point of view, reagent injection is a low-energy alternative that shows promise for addressing high groundwater concentrations at the source.

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Toolkit for Greener Practices - Showcase of Ideas - Option 1-2: Innovative and More Efficient Remedies - Ground Water Treatment Through a Restored Wetland. (no date) (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=11804)

  At this site, ground water was contaminated with chlorinated solvents from a degreasing operation at a former manufacturing plant. The preferred remedy involved restoring a former lakeshore wetland that had been channelized to accommodate residential development in the early 1900s. Natural attributes of the restored wetland would treat the groundwater plume that discharged into the channelized area formerly occupied by the wetland. The sustainability benefits of this approach were that the selected remedy enhanced the natural environment, the pre-1900s wetland was restored, minimal mechanical/equipment disruptions, low energy requirements and no chemical injected into the ground water.

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Toolkit for Greener Practices - Showcase of Ideas - Option 1-3: Constructed Wetland - Anoka Closed Landfill Groundwater Treatment. (no date) (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=11805)

  This site is a former municipal sanitary landfill with a large groundwater plume contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at depths of up to 100 feet below the surface. In 1991, two air-stripping towers were installed that discharges up to 300 million gallons of treated water into the Mississippi River annually, lowering the groundwater table and destroying wetlands on site. Additionally, the air-stripping towers were underperforming, calling for additional remedial action, which resulted in the development of a constructed cascade and wetland system. The sustainability benefits of this system are that the water is conserved thus protecting the groundwater and the wetlands and enhancing the habitat. As well, the potential lifetime energy savings are very large.

• Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF) UK. SuRF UK Bulletin - Sustainability Assessment: Shell Terminal Facility, Madeira. (2013) (http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&download=365:surf-case-study-1&id=16:surf-uk-bulletins&Itemid=230)

  A sustainable remediation assessment was applied in this project. This assessment compared ex-situ thermal desorption process to in-situ enhanced bioremediation. The bioremediation option was chosen based on the following sustainability benefits:

  • A reduction in CO2 emissions due to less intensive energy use;
  • A reduction in costs;
  • A reduction in fuel use;
  • A reduction in neighbourhood disturbance caused by noise, which would have arisen from the operation of the thermal desorption plant; and
  • Potential for local employment.

• Tajam, J.A. et al. Small Scale In-Situ Bioremediation of Diesel Contaminated Soil – Screening LCA of Environmental Performance, in International Conference on Natural Sciences and Technologies for Waste and Wastewater Treatment, Remediation, Emissions Related to Climate, Environmental and Economic Effects. (2010) (http://swepub.kb.se/bib/swepub:oai:DiVA.org:miun-12255?tab2=abs&language=en)

  This paper provides a LCA for the use of enhanced bioremediation of diesel contaminants in soil using whey, a byproduct from cheese production. Using an actual diesel contamination site as a case study, a screening life cycle assessment model was used. The goal of the study was to investigate the environmental performance of the whey method, and compare it with excavation and composting. Results from the screening life cycle assessment indicate a good environmental performance of the whey method and concluded that the whey on-site treatment could be an interesting alternative for bioremediation especially at sites that would not otherwise be treated, due to small size or remote location.

Groundwater Pump and Treat Optimization - References (Section 8.1.5)

General Guidance

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Green Remediation BMPs: Pump and Treat Technologies. (2009) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/)

  The US EPA best management practice (BMP) fact sheets are intended to help project managers and other stakeholders apply the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy, and improving its environmental outcome. This factsheet covers sustainability approaches related to the use of pump and treat during remediation projects.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Profiles of Green Remediation (Water). (no date) (https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/tab_d.cfm)

  This US EPA site provides a table of several sustainable remediation case studies and indicates the best management practices used in them. This profile highlights techniques for water use reduction. Included in the descriptions are innovative technologies and novel field methods.

9 Confirmatory Sampling and Final Reporting / Long-term Monitoring (FCSAP Steps 9 and 10)

9.1 Sustainable Best Management Practices

* Notes

Level 1 = Simple sustainable activities and qualitative analyses that can be applied at smaller, less complex sites

Level 2 = Multifaceted sustainable activities and more robust and defensible quantitative analyses that can be applied at larger or more complex sites.