Green Remediation on a LEED Certified Brownfield Site

Green Remediation Efforts as Part of LEED Silver Brownfield Development Project David Winslow and Angela Altieri GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc.

Presentation Overview
Project Overview and Background
Why Sustainability was important to the Developer
What is Green Remediation and why is important to the public and the Developer
How we applied Green Remediation Principals to the Site
Conclusions

Background
15-acre riverfront property
Former industrial usage: chemical plants, edible oil, soaps and detergents, roofing pitch storage, hydrogen gas plant
Proposed redevelopment as new Borough Hall and Police Station and a mixed use residential/commercial property
Contaminated with arsenic, other metals, roofing tar/pitch material, benzene
Northern portion of site impacted by Quanta Superfund Site

Remedial Drivers
Both roofing pitch and arsenic were defined as industrial process waste under NJDEP regulations
Coal-Tar derived roofing pitch defined as separate-phase product by the NJDEP
Arsenic associated with arsenopyrite-rich slag from an adjacent sulfuric acid plant used as fill in the region
Roofing Pitch and Arsenic were impacting Groundwater (As 20,000 ppb, benzene 4,000 ppb)
Roofing Pitch and Arsenic impacting Hudson River Sediments
Direct Contact and Vapor Intrusion Exposure

Importance of Sustainability
End-User requirement
Environmental, economic, and social benefits for building owners, occupants, and general public
Improve energy efficiency via sustainable design and construction
Recycle land to reduce negative environmental impacts
Reduce O&M and energy costs, improve ROI and net operating income
Enhance building marketability, worker productivity and indoor air quality
Take advantage of market and financial incentives for LEED certification on new buildings

Why Green Remediation Reference High Price Low Price Projections History 2005 dollars per barrel

Why Green Remediation
EPA ADMINISTRATOR’S ACTION PLAN
… [Foster technological innovations to support the clean development of domestic energy resources (oil, gas, nuclear, coal, wind, and solar)
Restore contaminated properties, including brownfields, to environmental and economic vitality
Promote stewardship through increased resource conservation, including waste minimization and recycling
Expand the use of biofuels and promote diesel emissions reductions through retrofit and other technologies
OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (OSWER) ACTION PLAN
Promote the reduction, reuse, and recycling of both municipal and industrial wastes
Encourage the appropriate reuse and revitalization of brownfields, USTfields, Superfund sites, RCRA facilities, BRAC sites, and other federal properties
EPA STRATEGIC PLAN 2006-11 “ EPA’s Cleanup Programs have set a National Goal of returning formerly contaminated sites to long-term, sustainable and productive use.”

State, Local, NGO, business, international, community initiatives
35 states have renewable portfolio standards (RPS)
Specifies a percentage of total energy to be derived from renewable sources
19 states have public benefit funds (PBFs)
Supports energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; collected through small charge to electric customers or utility contributions 22 states have GHG inventories

23 states have energy efficiency standards
22 states have carbon sequestration programs
Regional Initiatives
6 Regional GHG Initiatives composed of states collaborating to create “cap and trade” systems and address GHG emissions across broad geographic areas
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) will cap carbon emissions in 11 northeastern states.

Social Benefits
Improve public health of work force and community.
Create more walkable, accessible, and livable neighborhoods by incorporating Smart Growth principles and ecological enhancements.
Improve aesthetics and public safety by cleaning up and reusing blighted areas.
Create jobs for the community and higher tax revenues for local government by creating new construction, commercial, and industrial opportunities and increasing property values.
Reduce construction traffic, noise, dust, and safety concerns by reusing existing buildings and by employing deconstruction and material recovery practices.
Environmental Benefits
Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by incorporating energy efficient processes, using renewable energy sources, recycling materials, and implementing activities that sequester carbon.
Improve air quality by employing Smart Growth principles, making ecological enhancements, and incorporating Green Design features.
Preserve greenspace and slow suburban sprawl by cleaning up and reusing contaminated properties and facilitating their reuse.
Conserve resources, reduce landfill disposal, and limit the environmental impact of waste hauling by recycling and reusing industrial materials.
Increase biodiversity and restore watersheds by incorporating ecological enhancements and preserving green infrastructure.
Reduce long-term impact of structures on the environment and resource use by incorporating green approaches in building and landscaping construction, including stormwater management.
Economic Benefits
Achieve lifecycle cost savings associated with green remediation and buildings.
Reduce energy footprint and save resources by using energy efficient equipment/processes and renewable energy.
Qualify for tax benefits associated with brownfield redevelopment and LEED certification.
Reduce construction costs, reduce disposal fees, and gain a new source of revenue by recycling materials onsite.
Increase property value by incorporating Green Design and Smart Growth principles, which can bring more business, people, and revenues into the community.
Improve employee satisfaction and productivity through green building design.
Some Benefits Achieved by Adopting Sustainable Approaches Optimal Sustainable Revitalization Social Economic Environmental

Green Remediation Practices
Commitment to optimal solutions
Costs of fuel and electricity
Remediation footprint
Remediation optimization
Remediation options selection criteria
Boulevard Sewage Treatment Plant and Proposed Aquaculture Regional Center

How ?
Use a systems approach
Look for environmental opportunities
Identify and balance tradeoffs
Cleanup, Remediation, and Waste Management Deconstruction, Demolition, and Removal Design and Construction for Reuse Sustainable Use & Long-Term Stewardship

Cleanup, Remediation, and Waste Management Deconstruction, Demolition, and Removal Design and Construction for Reuse Sustainable Use and Long Term Stewardship
Reuse/recycle deconstruction and demolition materials
Reuse materials on site whenever possible
Consider future site use and reuse existing infrastructure
Preserve/Reuse Historic Buildings
Use clean diesel and low sulfur fuels in equipment and noise controls for power generation
Retain native vegetation and soils, wherever possible
Protect water resources from runoff and contamination
Power machinery and equipment using clean fuels
Use renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and methane to power remediation activities
Improve energy efficiency of chosen remediation strategies
Select remediation approaches, such as phytoremediation, that reduce resource use and impact on air, water, adjacent lands, and public health
Employ remediation practices that can restore soil health and ecosystems and, in some cases, sequester carbon through soil amendments and vegetation
Use Energy Star, LEED, and GreenScapes principles in both new and existing buildings
Reduce environmental impact by reusing existing structures and recycling industrial materials
Incorporate natural systems to manage stormwater, like green roofs, landscaped swales, and wetlands
Incorporate Smart Growth principles that promote more balanced land uses, walkable neighborhoods, and open space
Create ecological enhancements to promote biodiversity and provide wildlife habitat and recreation
Reduce use of toxic materials in manufacturing, maintenance, and use of buildings and land
Minimize waste generation, manage waste properly, and recycle materials used/generated
Maintain engineering and institutional controls on site where waste is left in place
Reduce water use by incorporating water efficient systems and use native vegetation to limit irrigation
Maximize energy efficiency and increase use of renewable energy
Take appropriate steps to prevent (recontamination)

Some Examples
Reuse/recycle deconstruction and demolition materials
Reuse materials on site whenever possible
Consider future site use and reuse existing infrastructure
Preserve/Reuse Historic Buildings
Use clean diesel and low sulfur fuels in equipment and noise controls for power generation
Retain native vegetation and soils, wherever possible
Protect water resources from runoff and contamination
Sawyer Passway Asbestos Abatement Project Cleanup, Remediation, & Waste Management Design and Construction for Reuse Sustainable Use & Long Term Stewardship Deconstruction, Demolition, and Removal

Some Examples
Power machinery and equipment using clean fuels
Use renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and methane to power remediation activities
Improve energy efficiency of chosen remediation strategies
Select remediation approaches, such as phytoremediation, that reduce resource use and impact on air, water, adjacent lands, and public health
Employ remediation practices that can restore soil health and ecosystems and, in some cases, sequester carbon through soil amendments and vegetation
Sawyer Passway Asbestos Abatement Project Cleanup, Remediation,& Waste Management Design and Construction for Reuse Deconstruction, Demolition, and Removal Sustainable Use & Long Term Stewardship

Risk Based Cleanups, Vapor Intrusion and Residential Use
Assess ecological and human health risks to evaluate risk –based cleanup criteria for exposure to soil, groundwater and volatilization
Assess contaminant fate and transport mechanisms through establishing and verifying a conceptual site model
Design engineering and institutional controls on site where waste is left in place
Analyze risks due to dewatering, excavation, transport and disposal
Take appropriate steps to remove sources of contamination or isolate contamination to mitigate risks and reduce energy
Cleanup, Remediation, & Waste Management Deconstruction, Demolition, and Removal Sustainable Use & Long Term Stewardship Design & Construction for Reuse

Some Examples
Reduce use of toxic materials in manufacturing, maintenance, and use of buildings and land
Minimize waste generation, manage waste properly, and recycle materials used/generated
Maintain engineering and institutional controls on site where waste is left in place
Reduce water use by incorporating water efficient systems and use native vegetation to limit irrigation
Maximize energy efficiency and increase use of renewable energy
Take appropriate steps to evaluate insurance for financial, legal, regulatory risks due to unknowns (cost cap policy, guaranteed remediation contracts)
Plan to prevent re-contamination
Cleanup, Remediation, & Waste Management Deconstruction, Demolition, and Removal Sustainable Use & Long Term Stewardship Design & Construction for Reuse

Application to The Site
Remedial Footprint
Negotiate Site Specific Cleanup Standards and Remedial Objectives
ARSR for Arsenic 600 ppm
Remediate Pitch Areas Impacting Groundwater
Protect Hudson River from residual dissolved contamination and Pitch

Arsenic and Groundwater Geochemistry
Groundwater geochemistry was causing arsenic dissolution
Evaluated Eh (ORP)
Evaluated pH
Found different geochemical zones corresponding with dissolved arsenic
Low Eh / High pH (Zone 1)
High Eh / Low pH (Zone 2)

Eh > 100 mV pH < 5.5 Eh < 0 mV pH > 8.0

Range of arsenic speciation
Eh/pH range indicated groundwater zones straddled the arsenite (As[III]) stability field
As(III) is more soluble than As(V)

Eh/pH range indicated groundwater in two zones fell outside iron oxyhydroxide stability field
Eh/pH conditions promote mineral formation that occurs in the iron oxyhydroxide stability field
Highest concentration of arsenic is found in the dissolved ferrous iron stability field where there are no iron oxyhydroxides to which arsenic can bond

Dissolved As > 1,000 ppb Zone 2 Zone 1 Dissolved As > 1,000 ppb

Arsenic Cleanup Standard
NJDEP sets direct contact SCC
Recently issued guidance for calculating Impact to Groundwater ARS
Analyze soils for SPLP compare to LS (3 ppb)
ARS = Highest C T for which C L ≤ LS = 22 ppm
ARS using site specific Kd
Kd ranged from 22 to 17,000 L/kg. ARS using 22 = 0.8 ppm
Regression analysis of C T vs C L = Failed

Arsenic Cleanup Standard
Arsenic cleanup standard is very dependent on site geochemistry
No clear correlations with SPLP results or Coefficient of Distribution
Argued that arsenic solubility was dependent on Eh, pH and iron oxyhydroxide stability
Look at correlations between soil and groundwater hot spots

Arsenic in Unsaturated Soil

Arsenic in Saturated Soil

Arsenic > 1,000 ppb in groundwater Arsenic > 600 ppm in soil

Carbon Footprint
Remedial Alternatives Screening and Selection
During the Feasibility Process Evaluate Alternatives for Sustainability
Carbon Footprint
Energy Usage
Reuse/Recycling of Material

Option A Option D Option B Option C Transportation Air releases Treatment Water use Off-site transfers Greenhouse gases Energy consumed Soil/Solid material Water use Land use volume matrix material depth mobility contaminants 2 Remedial Options 3 Calculation Modules 4 Sustainability Factors 1 Project Data Option E Conceptual Framework for Sustainability Analysis

Step 3 – Identify Components ISS + MNA Task Item Quantities Mobilization and Site Prep Time Staff Equipment 10 days 11 - 1 Super, 1 Eng’r, 9 Operators & Laborers Man lift, forklifts (2), crane, mix head, others Crane and Mix Head Assembly Time 5 day Soil Mixing Time Staff Equipment Materials 14 days 11 - 1 Super, 1 Eng’r, 9 Operators & Laborers Mix head/crane, fork lifts, excavator 1200 tons Cement, 240 tons ferric sulfate 130,000 gal water Demob, including grading Time Staff Equipment 4 days 11 - 1 Super, 1 Eng’r, 9 Operators & Laborers Excavator, man lift, forklifts (2), crane, mix head

Step 3 - Quantify Components ISS + MNA
Fuel for remedy
Mobilization/demob
Soil mixing
Regrading
Sub-base installation
Delivery of Concrete
Delivery of Ferric Sulfate
Sampling events
Consumables
Concrete
Ferric Sulfate
Gasoline (gallons) Diesel (gallons)

Total CO2 Tons T&D = 1989 Total CO2 Tons ISS = 537 Activity Excavation, Transportation and Disposal In-situ ISS and T&D Arsenic Pitch T&D 1339 Tons - Arsenic T&D 161 Tons 161 Earthwork 166 Tons 166 Import Fill 157 Tons 62 Place Fill 166 Tons 66 Import Concrete - 82

Other Sustainable Measures
Selected AirLogics Perimeter Air Monitoring System
Re-used Concrete and Cinderblock from Building Demolition as Fill Above the Water Table
Evaluating Permeable Reactive Barrier or Solar Powered Groundwater Control System to Protect Hudson River
Passive Venting Systems and Vapor Barriers Beneath all Buildings.

Conclusions
Portions of Site Were LEED Silver
Developer wanted Green Remediation in order to fit his Development Model
Used Sustainable Development Principals to help select and “sell” remedial options
ISS resulted in decreased Carbon Footprint
Used alternative energy systems as well as low energy remedial options when possible

Green Remediation on a LEED Certified Brownfield Site

by davidwinslow on Nov 19, 2009

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Green Remediation on a LEED Certified Brownfield Site Presentation Transcript