National Academies Press: OpenBook
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

NATURAL ATTENUATION FOR GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION

Committee on Intrinsic Remediation

Water Science and Technology Board

Board on Radioactive Waste Management

Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources

NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20418

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

Support for this project was provided by the American Petroleum Institute under contract no. 97-0000-1957, the Chemical Manufacturers’ Association, Chevron, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the National Mining Association, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under contract no. NRC-04-97-068, the U.S. Army under contract no. DACA31-97-P-1191, the U.S. Department of Energy under contract no. DE-FC01-94EW54069, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under contract no. R-826445-01-0, the U.S. Geological Survey under contract no. 1434-HQ-97-AG-01775, and the U.S. Navy under contract no. N62467-97-M-1009.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Natural attenuation for groundwater remediation / Committee on Intrinsic Remediation, Water Science and Technology Board [and] Board on Radioactive Waste Management, Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-309-06932-7 (casebound)

1. Hazardous wastes—Natural attenuation—Evaluation. 2. In situ bioremediation—Evaluation. 3. Hazardous waste site remediation—Evaluation. 4. Groundwater—Purification. I. National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Intrinsic Remediation.

TD1060 .N37 2000

628.1′68—dc21 00-008896

Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation is available from the
National Academy Press,
2101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Box 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington mtropolitan area); Internet <http://www.nap.edu>.

Copyright 2000 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

National Academy of Sciences

National Academy of Engineering

Institute of Medicine

National Research Council

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

This page intentionally left blank.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

COMMITTEE ON INTRINSIC REMEDIATION

BRUCE E. RITTMANN, Chair,

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

MICHAEL J. BARDEN,

Geoscience Resources Ltd., Albuquerque, New Mexico

BARBARA A. BEKINS,

U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California

DAVID E. ELLIS,

DuPont Specialty Chemicals, Wilmington, Delaware

MARY K. FIRESTONE,

University of California, Berkeley (through June 1998)

STEPHEN LESTER,

Center for Health, Environment, and Justice, Falls Church, Virginia

DEREK LOVLEY,

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

RICHARD G. LUTHY,

Stanford University, Stanford, California

DOUGLAS M. MACKAY,

University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

EUGENE MADSEN,

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

PERRY L. MCCARTY,

Stanford University, Stanford, California

EILEEN POETER,

Colorado School of Mines, Golden

ROBERT SCOFIELD,

ENVIRON Corporation, Emeryville, California

ARTHUR W. WARRICK,

University of Arizona, Tucson

JOHN T. WILSON,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, Oklahoma

JOHN ZACHARA,

Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Richland, Washington

Staff

JACQUELINE A. MACDONALD, Study Director

ELLEN A. DE GUZMAN, Senior Project Assistant

KIMBERLY SWARTZ, Project Assistant (through June 1999)

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD

HENRY J. VAUX, Jr., Chair,

Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Oakland

CAROL A. JOHNSTON, Vice-Chair,

University of Minnesota, Duluth

RICHELLE M. ALLEN-KING,

Washington State University, Pullman

GREGORY B. BAECHER,

University of Maryland, College Park

JOHN S. BOYER,

University of Delaware, Lewes

JOHN BRISCOE,

The World Bank, Washington, D.C.

DENISE D. FORT,

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

STEVEN P. GLOSS,

University of Wyoming, Laramie

EVILLE GORHAM,

University of Minnesota, St. Paul (through January 2000)

WILLIAM A. JURY,

University of California, Riverside

GARY S. LOGSDON,

Black & Veatch, Cincinnati, Ohio

RICHARD G. LUTHY,

Stanford University, Stanford, California

JOHN W. MORRIS,

J. W. Morris Ltd., Arlington, Virginia

PHILIP A. PALMER, (Retired)

E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Delaware

REBECCA T. PARKIN,

The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

JOAN B. ROSE,

University of South Florida, St. Petersburg

R. RHODES TRUSSELL,

Montgomery Watson, Pasadena, California

ERIC F. WOOD,

Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

Staff

STEPHEN D. PARKER, Director

LAURA J. EHLERS, Senior Staff Officer

CHRIS ELFRING, Senior Staff Officer

JEFFREY W. JACOBS, Senior Staff Officer

WILLIAM S. LOGAN, Staff Officer

MARK C. GIBSON, Staff Officer

M. JEANNE AQUILINO, Administrative Associate

PATRICIA A. JONES, Study/Research Associate

ANITA A. HALL, Administrative Assistant

ELLEN A. DE GUZMAN, Senior Project Assistant

ANIKE L. JOHNSON, Project Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

BOARD ON RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

JOHN F. AHEARNE, Chair,

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, and Duke University, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

CHARLES MCCOMBIE, Vice-Chair, Consultant,

Gipf-Oberfrick, Switzerland

ROBERT M. BERNERO, Consultant,

Gaithersburg, Maryland

ROBERT J. BUDNITZ,

Future Resources Associates, Inc., Berkeley, California

GREGORY CHOPPIN,

Florida State University, Tallahassee

JAMES H. JOHNSON, JR.,

Howard University, Washington, D.C.

ROGER E. KASPERSON,

Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts

JAMES O. LECKIE,

Stanford University, Stanford, California

JANE C. S. LONG,

University of Nevada, Reno

ALEXANDER MACLACHLAN,

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (retired), Olney, Maryland

WILLIAM A. MILLS,

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (retired), Olney, Maryland

MARTIN J. STEINDLER,

Argonne National Laboratory (retired), Argonne, Illinois

ATSUYUKI SUZUKI,

University of Tokyo, Japan

JOHN J. TAYLOR,

Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California

VICTORIA J. TSCHINKEL,

Landers and Parsons, Tallahassee, Florida

MARY LOU ZOBACK,

U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California

Staff

KEVIN D. CROWLEY, Director

ROBERT S. ANDREWS, Senior Staff Officer

JOHN R. WILEY, Senior Staff Officer

BARBARA PASTINA, Staff Officer

SUSAN B. MOCKLER, Research Associate

TONI GREENLEAF, Administrative Associate

ANGELA R. TAYLOR, Senior Project Assistant

LATRICIA C. BAILEY, Project Assistant

LAURA D. LLANOS, Project Assistant

Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

COMMISSION ON GEOSCIENCES, ENVIRONMENT, AND RESOURCES

GEORGE M. HORNBERGER, Chair,

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

RICHARD A. CONWAY,

Union Carbide Corporation (retired), South Charleston, West Virginia

LYNN GOLDMAN,

Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland

THOMAS E. GRAEDEL,

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

THOMAS J. GRAFF,

Environmental Defense Fund, Oakland, California

EUGENIA KALNAY,

University of Maryland, College Park

DEBRA KNOPMAN,

Progressive Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.

BRAD MOONEY,

J. Brad Mooney Associates, Ltd., Arlington, Virginia

HUGH C. MORRIS,

El Dorado Gold Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia

H. RONALD PULLIAM,

University of Georgia, Athens

MILTON RUSSELL,

Joint Institute for Energy and Environment and University of Tennessee (emeritus), Knoxville

ROBERT J. SERAFIN,

National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado

ANDREW R. SOLOW,

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

E-AN ZEN,

University of Maryland, College Park

MARY LOU ZOBACK,

U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California

Staff

ROBERT M. HAMILTON, Executive Director

GREGORY H. SYMMES, Associate Executive Director

JEANETTE SPOON, Administrative and Financial Officer

SANDI FITZPATRICK, Administrative Associate

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

Preface

In 1992, when I chaired the National Research Council’s Committee on In Situ Bioremediation, the committee addressed whether or not microorganisms could clean up contamination of soil and groundwater. The committee’s 1993 report, In Situ Bioremediation: When Does It Work?, concluded that microorganisms are capable of destroying common groundwater contaminants. The report concluded that in situ bioremediation is scientifically valid and technically feasible. The report also stressed that possible biodegradation reactions must be documented clearly with several lines of evidence from the field.

One of the important distinctions made in the 1993 report is between engineered bioremediation and intrinsic bioremediation. Engineered bioremediation uses engineered technologies to enhance microbiological activity and increase the rate of biodegradation. Examples include sparging the subsurface with air to supply oxygen and adding nutrients to stimulate microbial growth. On the other hand, intrinsic remediation relies only on the natural supply rates of substances such as oxygen and nutrients that promote contaminant biodegradation. When these supply rates are sufficient, the intrinsic biodegradation capacity of the microorganisms at the site can prevent migration of the contaminants in groundwater and eventually lead to a site cleanup.

At the time the Committee on In Situ Bioremediation was deliberating, in situ bioremediation was carried out almost exclusively by engineered approaches. Soon after In Situ Bioremediation: When Does It Work? was published, the pendulum began to swing towards intrinsic bio-

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

remediation, which was accepted as a final cleanup remedy at more and more sites. Another important change was taking place in parallel. The term intrinsic bioremediation was slowly being superseded by natural attenuation, an approach having a much broader definition. Besides biodegradation, natural attenuation includes natural physical processes that can immobilize contaminants and natural chemical reactions that can destroy contaminants. It also includes dilution, dispersion, volatilization, adsorption, and other processes that do not destroy or immobilize the contaminants.

By 1998, many regulators were happy to “close the books” on sites by accepting a natural attenuation remedy. Responsible parties were relieved to have an approach that seemed to save them money and headaches. The types of sites and contaminants for which natural attenuation was being considered were growing steadily: petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, heavy metals, radionuclides, and more. Clearly the pendulum had swung toward using natural, in situ processes.

However, not everyone was so pleased with the rapidly expanding acceptance of natural attenuation as a remedy. Members of communities living near contaminated sites suspected that natural attenuation really meant “do nothing” and “walk away.” Scientists and engineers expert in bioremediation were concerned that natural attenuation was being accepted whether or not it was documented—or even likely—at a site. Perhaps the pendulum had swung too far.

The National Research Council (NRC) formed the committee that prepared this report—the Committee on Intrinsic Remediation—in 1997 in order to establish a proper basis for selecting remedies that rely on natural attenuation processes. The committee was charged with the following tasks:

  1. assess current knowledge about the natural subsurface processes that play critical roles in intrinsic remediation;

  2. outline what intrinsic remediation can and cannot achieve;

  3. assess risks associated with leaving contaminants in place;

  4. identify the measurements, observations, and monitoring needed when intrinsic remediation is chosen instead of engineered remediation; and

  5. evaluate the adequacy of existing protocols for determining whether intrinsic remediation is an appropriate strategy for contaminant management.

This report summarizes the findings of the committee, which was made up of 14 experts in the technical and decision-making aspects of natural attenuation. Committee members brought to the table state-of-

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

the-art expertise in environmental microbiology, geochemistry, environmental engineering, hydrogeology, soil science, and risk assessment. Academia, industry, government, and community-based institutions were represented. The committee also interviewed a wide range of community activists, researchers, regulators, practitioners, and protocol developers.

The findings presented in this report represent the unanimous consensus of the committee. Despite coming from disparate backgrounds and interest groups, all of the committee members agreed with the message that this report delivers. Clearly, the concept that natural attenuation processes can, under the proper conditions, cause the destruction or transformation of contaminants in the environment is valid. However, natural attenuation should never be a default choice. The cause-and-effect link between a decrease in contaminant concentration and the process or processes causing it must be documented before natural attenuation is accepted as a remedy. These processes must continue to occur for as long as is necessary to protect human health and the environment. Furthermore, affected communities need to be part of the decision to accept natural attenuation.

Chapter 1 outlines the factors that led the National Research Council to form this committee. Chapter 2 details why community groups have an especially strong stake in decisions involving natural attenuation, and it provides guidance on how community groups can be involved effectively. Chapter 3 reviews the scientific foundation for natural attenuation and summarizes the likelihood that natural attenuation will work for the major classes of contaminants. Chapter 4 describes the steps needed to evaluate whether or not natural attenuation is protecting human health and the environment for a given site; it stresses that many types of information must be integrated to assess natural attenuation potential and provides guidance on the relative level of effort needed to gather and interpret information. Finally, Chapter 5 provides a critical review of the protocols published as of the end of 1998 and offers guidance on topics that protocols developed in the future should address.

I want to thank the organizations that sponsored this project for having confidence in the National Research Council process and our committee. In particular, thanks are due to Ken Lovelace and Rich Steimle at the Environmental Protection Agency; Ira May at the Army Environmental Center; Cliff Casey at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southern Division; Herb Buxton and Frank Chapelle of the U.S. Geological Survey; Steve Golian of the Department of Energy; Tom Nicholson and Ralph Cady of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Bruce Bauman of the American Petroleum Institute; David Mentall of the Chemical Manufacturers’ Association; Katie Sweeney of the National Mining Association; K. C. Bishop and Tim Buscheck of Chevron USA, Inc.; and David Rice and

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

Ellen Raber of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The organizations that these individuals represent provided not only the financial support that made this study possible, but also valuable background information.

I sincerely thank each committee member for his or her unique contributions and for being fully invested in the common goal. Being the chair of such a hard-working committee—a true team—has been a most satisfying experience. Finally, I thank our study director, Jacqueline MacDonald, who made the committee’s work go smoothly and who really helped us figure out what “we meant to say,” whether or not we actually had said it.

This report has been reviewed, in accordance with NRC procedures, by individuals chosen for their expertise and broad perspectives on natural attenuation issues. This independent review provided candid and critical comments that assisted the authors and the NRC in making the published report as sound as possible and ensured that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The content of the review comments and the draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. The committee wishes to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report and their many instructive comments:

Charles Andrews, S. S. Papadopulous and Associates

Michael Aitken, University of North Carolina

Isabelle Cozzarelli, U.S. Geological Survey

Paul Hadley, California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Michael Kavanaugh, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.

Debra Knopman, Progressive Policy Institute

Rebecca Parkin, The George Washington University Medical Center

Leonard Siegel, Pacific Studies Center

Donald Sparks, University of Delaware

Susan Wiltshire, J. K. Associates

While the individuals listed above have provided constructive comments and suggestions, it must be emphasized that responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

BRUCE E. RITTMANN

Chair

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×

3

 

SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR NATURAL ATTENUATION

 

65

   

 Contaminants and Hydrogeologic Settings,

 

66

   

 Removal of Contaminant Sources,

 

69

   

 Movement of Contaminants in the Subsurface,

 

78

   

 Transformation of Contaminants in the Subsurface,

 

82

   

 Transformation by Microorganisms,

 

82

   

 Transformation by Chemical Reactions,

 

106

   

 Integration of the Mechanisms That Affect Subsurface Contaminants,

 

113

   

 Case Studies of Natural Attenuation,

 

115

   

 Summary: Appropriate Circumstances for Considering Natural Attenuation,

 

135

   

 Conclusions,

 

140

   

 References,

 

141

4

 

APPROACHES FOR EVALUATING NATURAL ATTENUATION

 

150

   

 Footprints of Natural Attenuation Processes,

 

151

   

 Creating a Conceptual Model,

 

154

   

 Analyzing Site Data,

 

172

   

 Monitoring the Site,

 

203

   

 Conclusions,

 

204

   

 Recommendations,

 

207

   

 References,

 

209

5

 

PROTOCOLS FOR DOCUMENTING NATURAL ATTENUATION

 

212

   

 Criteria for a Good Protocol,

 

213

   

 Overview of Protocols,

 

219

   

 Adequacy of Protocols,

 

231

   

 Adequacy of Decision-Making Tools,

 

241

   

 Adequacy of Training,

 

244

   

 Adequacy of Policies Concerning Use of Protocols,

 

248

   

 Conclusions,

 

250

   

 Recommendations,

 

252

   

 References,

 

253

 

 

APPENDIXES

 

 

A

 

ACRONYMS

 

255

B

 

PRESENTERS AT THE COMMITTEE’S INFORMATION-GATHERING MEETINGS

 

257

C

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF

 

259

 

 

INDEX

 

265

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R1
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R2
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R3
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R4
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R5
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R6
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R7
Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R8
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R9
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R10
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R11
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R12
Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R13
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2000. Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9792.
×
Page R14
Next: Executive Summary »
Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation Get This Book
×
Buy Hardback | $60.00 Buy Ebook | $47.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

In the past decade, officials responsible for clean-up of contaminated groundwater have increasingly turned to natural attenuation-essentially allowing naturally occurring processes to reduce the toxic potential of contaminants-versus engineered solutions. This saves both money and headaches. To the people in surrounding communities, though, it can appear that clean-up officials are simply walking away from contaminated sites.

When is natural attenuation the appropriate approach to a clean-up? This book presents the consensus of a diverse committee, informed by the views of researchers, regulators, and community activists. The committee reviews the likely effectiveness of natural attenuation with different classes of contaminants-and describes how to evaluate the "footprints" of natural attenuation at a site to determine whether natural processes will provide adequate clean-up. Included are recommendations for regulatory change.

The committee emphasizes the importance of the public's belief and attitudes toward remediation and provides guidance on involving community stakeholders throughout the clean-up process.

The book explores how contamination occurs, explaining concepts and terms, and includes case studies from the Hanford nuclear site, military bases, as well as other sites. It provides historical background and important data on clean-up processes and goes on to offer critical reviews of 14 published protocols for evaluating natural attenuation.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!