Sediment contamination is a significant liability for the Department of Defense (DoD), with overall liabilities estimated to approach $2 billion. Historic releases at current and former DoD facilities resulted in source to environmental receptors. Contaminants include PCBs, PAHs, metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl f substances (PFASs), and military-unique munitions constituents. Environmental restoration and closure of these contaminated sediment sites is a top priority for DoD. These on-going closure activities include completing feasibility studies, designing and implementing remedies, or engaging in the long-term monitoring of implemented alternatives at sediment sites. Developing cleanup levels that consider point and non-point contaminant loading remains a significant challenge.
Some groundwater contamination remains difficult to remove, residing as DNAPLs or in difficult-to-treat areas such as fractured geologic media and low permeable zones. SERDP and ESTCP efforts seek to better understand what causes persistent contamination and which methods are most effective in remediating and monitoring such sites. The Department of Defense is responsible for remediating and protecting the groundwater associated with military installations. Contaminated groundwater is the largest liability in the Defense Environmental Restoration Program. In many cases, groundwater resources have been contaminated with various organic contaminants as a result of a legacy of past usage and disposal. Chemicals used at the ground surface, over time, migrate into groundwater. Once there, such chemicals are difficult to measure and remove.
Thousands of military sites (both in current use and in sites once used over the past 200 years, have been identified as contaminated with chlorinated solvents, energetic materials, perchlorate, and other hazardous compounds used in the past. All such sites require characterization, remediation and monitoring. SERDP and ESTCP efforts are leading to improved cleanup practices and reduced life-cycle costs. Since their inception, SERDP and ESTCP have funded research and demonstrations for treatment of contaminated groundwater. Early efforts focused on the development of new technologies for treating contaminated groundwater. Many of these technologies are now used throughout DoD. Recent efforts include the following:
Persistent Contamination
Despite the best treatment approaches, some contamination remains difficult to remove, residing as dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) or in difficult-to-treat areas, such as fractured geologic media and low permeable zones. SERDP and ESTCP efforts seek to better understand what causes persistent contamination and which methods are most effective in remediating and monitoring such sites. The aim is to improve how existing technologies are used to treat challenging sites and to establish remediation goals based on science, especially for areas of potential ecological impact.
Our understanding of the risks posed by groundwater contaminants continuously evolves. As technologies for monitoring contaminants improve, the ability to detect previously unknown threats to groundwater resources improves. As the state of science for toxicology and exposure changes, new pathways, chemicals, and levels of exposures must be assessed. SERDP and ESTCP efforts focus on the fate, transport, and treatment of emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), perchlorate, NDMA, 1,4-dioxane and others. Studies also examine new pathways for human exposure from contaminated groundwater, such as vapor intrusion, with the goal of preventing or mitigating such exposure. Investment in studying emerging issues enables DoD remediation program managers to be prepared to deal with such issues in cost-effective ways by applying all appropriate risk-assessment methods.
Monitoring remains the foundation of groundwater cleanup efforts. Ineffective monitoring results in poor decisions on treatment options and design. Costly and ineffective groundwater compliance monitoring approaches can lead to large long term liabilities for DoD. SERDP and ESTCP efforts focus on improving performance and compliance monitoring needed to design, optimize, and operate treatment systems. Operations on training and bombing ranges are carefully monitored and remediated on a regular basis.
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