[CPEO-MEF] [mtpbases] groundwater cleanup

[joelf@cape.com]

This post comes from the Military Toxic Project listserve:
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I know that Steve was just sending along the news, not endorsing 
"new" technology. However, the report is highly problematic:

(1) Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) of TCE was actually tried on 
a large scale at the landfill plume at the Massachusetts Military 
Reservation (MMR) despite intense citizen opposition. In March, 2001, 
EEPA and Massachusetts regulators concluded that it was a complete 
failure. The MMR plume possessed ideal conditions (as advertised by 
the Air Force) for TCE degradation: Coming from a landfill, pollution 
included normal garbage containing a good deal of unoxidized carbon.

The degradation products of TCE include the highly toxic compounds 
like vinyl chloride and dichloroethene. Unfortunately, natural 
degradation of these species require opposite conditions: an 
environment rich in oxygen. You can't get both conditions where you 
need them in the plume without incredible good fortune.

(2) The idea of increasing the solubility of TCE in water seems 
pretty stupid since the problem is that TCE has a fair degree of 
solubility in the first place (or it wouldn't contaminate the 
water!). Much better to excavate soils and sludges laden with 
undissolved TCE and remediate using other methods.

Joel