GEOPHYSICAL AND IMMUNOASSAY TECHNIQUES TO ACCELERATE HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE REMEDIATION

Remediation of soil can be a long, difficult, and costly process. The combination of innovative technology, strong project management, close regulatory liaison, and the integration of a variety of remedial options turned an unexpected drum burial site into the successful completion of a highway access ramp. Buried drums containing hazardous polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste were encountered directly in the path of a proposed highway access ramp during construction activities. Geophysical techniques such as ground-penetrating radar and magnetometry were used to define the horizontal and vertical extents of buried drums and waste. Field-testing kits that exploit immunoassay techniques were used to screen and segregate the excavated PCB-contaminated soils quickly and inexpensively and minimize the number of required postexcavation samples. Analysis of duplicate soil samples confirmed the accuracy of the field-testing kits before and during the remedial activities. Buried waste and soils containing hazardous concentrations of PCBs were excavated, loaded into trucks, and transported to an approved Toxic Substance Control Act facility. Approximately 7256 Mg (8,000 tons) of the remaining nonhazardous soil was used on-site as fill during the ramp construction. Careful planning of the work and the establishment of an informal but highly effective partnering relationship among all participants resulted in a remedial project that proceeded expeditiously with significant cost savings for the client. Ultimately, the ramp was constructed and the highway was opened to the public on schedule.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1995/1475/1475-006.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=GEOPHYSICAL+AND+IMMUNOASSAY+TECHNIQUES+TO+ACCELERATE+HAZARDOUS+WASTE+SITE+REMEDIATION&author=S.+Ferrell&author=I.+Ivanciu&author=J.+Sweet&publication_year=1995
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/030906113X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1475, Environmental Issues: Energy, Water, Noise, Waste, and Natural Resources. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Ferrell, Susan L
  • Ivanciu, Ileana
  • Sweet, James
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 45-49
• Monograph Title: Environmental issues: energy, water, noise, waste, and natural resources
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1475
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Cost effectiveness; Field tests; Geophysical prospecting; Ground penetrating radar; Hazardous wastes; Partnerships; Right of way (Land); Soil remediation
• Old TRIS Terms: Geophysical explorations; Immunoassay techniques; Magnetometry
• Subject Areas: Environment; Finance; Highways; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00711761
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030906113X
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 18 1995 12:00AM