Battelle is providing a range of technical services to evaluate monitored natural attenuation as a potential remedial alternative at the Scenic site in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  The RT3D reactive transport code is being used to predict contaminant fate and transport as part of this evaluation.   The bioremediation team, following U.S. EPA guidelines, is evaluating the lines of evidence that are required to support a decision to use monitored natural attenuation at the site.  Battelle provides natural attenuation analyses and other bioremediation services to clients around the country.

Aerial view of the Scenic site.

The Scenic site is located north of the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and approximately four miles away from the Mississippi River.  The Scenic site is located in Pleistocene sedimentary deposits (clay material with occasional silt/sand lenses) with a high-conductivity Paleo channel intersecting part of the site.  The remediation goal for the dissolved groundwater plume is to ensure that contaminants do not migrate into a regional aquifer located below the site.

A large volume of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) contaminants were disposed at the Scenic site.  NPC Services, Inc. is currently applying source recovery at the site.  Previous efforts of NPC Services Inc. concluded that monitored natural attenuation (MNA) is a viable option for addressing the dissolved chlorinated solvent plume.  However, a more detailed evaluation of MNA is needed at this time to meet regulatory requirements.

Battelle was contracted to evaluate lines of evidence for MNA and support the client in the use of the RT3D code to develop a numerical reactive transport model for the site.  Several tasks are required for this effort:

• Microcosm Tests:  Evaluate the degradation sequence and reaction rates for chlorinated ethane biodegradation at the site under natural attenuation conditions.
• Modeling Support:  Develop the necessary reaction routines and provide technical support in setting up and calibrating the site model.
• Groundwater Monitoring Guidance:  Provide input to monitoring plans with respect to meeting U.S. EPA guidelines for MNA.

The project was initiated in August, 2001 and is currently ongoing.

Battelle's Chlorinated Solvent Bioremediation Design Service integrates geological, biological, and environmental data to design, simulate, and optimize bioremediation systems.  The service provides a design framework based on the RT3D reactive transport code to evaluate in situ bioremediation treatment.

 

For more information, contact:
Michael Truex Program Manager Field Hydrology and Chemistry Group	Battelle 902 Battelle Blvd., K6-96 Richland, WA 99352 USA	509-376-5461 509-372-1704 FAX mj.truex@pnl.gov