Vapour Emissions During Ex Situ Remediation Activities: Model Calibration, Evaluation of Biofilters, and Screening Tool Development

Ian Mitchell
GL 09-9190-50

Onsite ex-situ soil remedial technologies involve the excavation of contaminated material and treatment onsite, potentially resulting in the release of volatile chemicals to ambient air. The resulting volatile emissions may include greenhouse gasses as well as compounds that may impact ambient air quality for humans or ecological receptors. Meridian previously completed a comparative assessment of emissions during ex-situ remedial activities and land fill disposal (Meridian 2011) for the PTAC. A modelling approach was developed for use in comparing lifecycle emissions from alternative remediation scenarios, and their impacts to human health and the environment.

Policy Issue
Additional Science for the Refinement of Regulatory Guidelines/Directives/Policies/Criteria. The degree of conservatism current in some regulatory guidelines can be linked to some unnecessary remedial efforts throughout the petroleum industry. The development of accepted scientific studies to reduce these conservatisms would ultimately lead to a reduction in perceived waste going to landfill and a reduction in remedial costs.

Knowledge Gap
Evaluation of life cycle emissions of ex situ remediation with and without the use of biofilters, including consideration of the production and fate of the biofilters; and collection of emissions data from ex situ treatment of soils that would otherwise require treatment in a Class I landfill.

2012 Meridian_Vapour Emissions During Exsitu Remediation Activities
2012 Meridian_Vapour Emissions Spreadsheet Tool

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