Track Chair: Dr. Timothy Strathmann, Colorado School of Mines John LaChance, TerraTherm, Inc., a Cascade Company
Due to the strong carbon-fluorine bonds, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly resistant to biological and chemical degradation, particularly perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). Since options for treatment are limited due to the recalcitrance of PFAAs, ex situ treatment with granular activated carbon (GAC) is common with thermal treatment processes used for destruction. As a result, management of PFAS sites is often very costly, and some of the PFAAs may break through GAC canisters more quickly than PFOA and PFOS, raising some concerns. Research efforts for treatment technologies have included treatment for in situ groundwater, ex situ groundwater, investigation-derived waste, and wastewater. Current research efforts aim to understand the degradation processes better and develop new remediation technologies to treat PFAS. The science and technologies surrounding the environmental characterization and remediation of PFAS are constantly developing. This session includes an evaluation of thermal treatment for impacted soil and the conditions for safe incineration from waste streams, a case study of a passive in situ remediation method for PFAS in water, and a demonstration of foam fractionation for removal of PFAS from source zones.
Learning Objectives
Identify thermal decomposition processes.
Identify site conditions where passive in situ remedies may be viable for the treatment of mobile, persistent compounds (e.g., PFAS, 1,4-dioxane) in groundwater and surface water.
Describe foam fractionation and how it harnesses the power of bubbles to remove PFAS.
Discuss some considerations for scaling up the process to treat large volumes of PFAS-laden soil piles.
Earn: 2.5 PDH; 2.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.2 IACET CEU
Track #2
Groundwater Remediation Using Abiotic and Biotic Processes: The Latest Results from the Lab to the Field
Chemical oxidation remediation involves the application of a chemical oxidant, commonly permanganate, persulfate, or hydrogen peroxide, to degrade a wide range of contaminants. Chemical reduction remedial approaches use reducing compounds such as zero-valent metals like iron or zinc, iron minerals, or other reductants such as polysulfides and may include the application of nanoparticles. Although generally considered as separate treatment methods, chemical reduction and oxidation can be used as complementary remedies for contaminants. This session will look at some of the biological and abiotic transformation processes that are occurring, including in low permeability matrices, and present a case study of the application of ISCO, S-ISCO, and enhanced reductive dechlorination technologies in rapid succession.
Learning Objectives
Discuss the importance of abiotic reactivity in natural systems for degradation.
Identify naturally occurring minerals that promote degradation in low permeability environments.
Identify key factors when applying chemical reduction and oxidation as complementary remedies.
Expore how and why surfactants might be used as part of in situ chemical oxidation remedies.
Earn: 2.5 PDH; 2.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.2 IACET CEU
Track #3
Managing Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water, Wastewater and Surface Water
Managing emerging contaminants (ECs) is a complex task as the framework to define, characterize, detect and regulate these compounds is not fixed. This session looks at the identification of new and emerging ECs with a review of current approaches and strategies to develop regulatory frameworks. This session includes presentations on some of the interactions between various ECs in the environment, tools to aid in the detection of ECs such as microplastics, as well as possible ways to remediate ECs or reduce the release of these compounds into the environment.
Learning Objectives
Identify three challenges in regulating contaminants of emerging concern.
Discuss some of the commonalities and uniqueness among frameworks for evaluating CEC.
Describe Bioretention cells and how they work.
Explain some of the key limitations to monitoring microplastics.
Earn: 2.5 PDH; 2.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.2 IACET CEU
10:35 AM – 11:15 AM
Track #1
Track Keynote Treatment Train Approach for Effective PFAS Remediation: Coupling Sequestration and Separation Treatment with Destructive Technologies
The session will discuss the latest insights linked to measuring various PFAS, either relying on active or passive sampling. While grab sampling has been the standard approach to site characterization, recent developments in passive sampling implies that some of these samplers are now ready to be used in the field. No matter the sampling approach, a more complete characterization of PFAS in the environment has emerged with suspect screening, and non-target approaches, aided by instrument and workflow improvements.
Learning Objectives
Discuss why a diffusion-based passive sampler is a good candidate for quantification of dissolved PFAS due to the characteristics of PFAS compounds.
Compare and contrast passive sampler results to those obtained from traditional grab sampling.
Explore how these analytical tools compare and work together to provide a more comprehensive picture of PFAS contamination.
Explain a non-target analysis for PFAS compounds and how it is helping to further the understanding of PFAS in the environment.
Earn: 1.5 PDH; 1.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.1 IACET CEU
Track #5 Vapor Intrusion: Lessons Learned Following Three Decades of Mitigation
Track Chair: Brent O'Dell, Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.
This session focuses on the lessons learned following decades of vapor intrusion mitigation. The topics covered include the regulatory inconsistencies and unscientific assumptions that are applied with respect to vapor intrusion and the implications this has on developing residential properties. There will be a presentation on using empirical data collected at vapor intrusion sites to improve risk-based decision making.
Learning Objectives
Discuss what type of arbitrary assumptions take ideal residential development sites off the market.
Describe how empirical data can help in making risk-based decisions.
Identify types of engineering controls that might be used to manage long-term liabilities.
Recognize concerns that developers face with respect to inconsistencies from regulatory agencies.
Earn: 1.5 PDH; 1.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.1 IACET CEU
Track #6 Risk Management and Remediation Approaches at Sites Impacted by LNAPL
Track Chair:
3:15 PM – 3:55 PM
Track #4
Track KeynoteActive vs Passive: PFAS Sampling Challenges and Opportunities
Environmental forensics is the application of scientific techniques to identify the source and historical reconstruction of contamination releases to develop defensible scientific and legal conclusions. Given the widespread use of PFAS-containing materials and the growing litigation over their presence in the environment, there is a clear and immediate need for PFAS source attribution. This session focuses on the evolving field of PFAS forensics, including the evaluation of new approaches such as machine learning techniques and converging lines of evidence used to differentiate PFAS sources.
Learning Objectives
Recognize the types of challenges that arise in applying forensic techniques to PFAS sites.
Explain the types of methods that could be involved in PFAS source tracking.
Express why pattern recognition is necessary for recognizing PFAS sources from composition in environmental samples.
Summarize some of the pitfalls that might arise from machine learning methods.
Earn: 1.5 PDH; 1.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.1 IACET CEU
Track #8 1,4-Dioxane Treatment: The Latest and Greatest
1,4-Dioxane is associated with chlorinated solvent sites and presents a significant remediation challenge due to its mobility and persistence. This session will provide an update on the current advances in 1,4 Dioxane treatments including a presentation on combined technologies for treating 1,4-dioxane and co-contaminants as well as implementation of bioaugmentation and cometabolism at portions of the site provides a feasible remedy for 1,4-dioxane source areas.
Learning Objectives
Identify some of the sources of 1,4-Dioxane in the environment and what its fate is.
Explore some of the challenges to remediation of 1.4-Dioxane.
Discuss some of the technologies that can be combined for treating 1,4-dioxane.
Describe how bioaugmentation and cometabolism can provide a feasible remedy for 1,4-dioxane source areas.
Earn: 1.5 PDH; 1.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.1 IACET CEU
Track #9 Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Status of Findings from ITRC's Project Team
Track Chair: Patricia Reyes, Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC)
The Interstate Technology Regulatory Council has a team working on Contaminants of Emerging Concern. The team is working to create a framework for anticipating and responding to emerging contaminants, built on lessons learned from the emergence of PFAS and coupled with proactive identification of potential future contaminants. The objectives of this team are to develop a series of fact sheets that 1) address how states can track and identify contaminants of emerging concern to better manage them, 2) address the properties and traits that lead to identification, and 3) provide guidance for evaluating these properties. This session will present update on the team’s progress with a focus on the status, findings and surveys conducted to date.
Learning Objectives
Discuss what is in a name – how the team defined the acronym of CECs for this guidance document.
Describe what mechanisms are being considered to identify and evaluate the thousands of contaminants worldwide for which there is still much uncertainty in their potential hazard.
Efforts at the federal level often generate data and findings that have ripple effects down to the states, but there is no clear guidance or consensus on how states should evaluate or manage this information – explore what the fact sheets are trying to do to help with this.
Recognize the focus of the fact sheets and how is the guidance document being structured.
Earn: 1.5 PDH; 1.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.1 IACET CEU
8:30 AM – 9:10 AM
Track #7
Track Keynote Identifying Diagnostic Chemical Fingerprints from Different PFAS Source Types by Integrating Broad Sample Characterization and Machine Learning Techniques
Luncheon Roundtable Discussion
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) What is it? What does it mean to us as Environmental professionals and to you personally? Did you know that 18% of environmental professions are racial and/or ethnic minorities and 32% of environmental professions are women, but only 13% of board members are women? How can we improve this as an industry, for your company, and for yourself personally?
Come join Integral for lunch as we discuss these questions and more importantly how we can personally effect change, raise awareness of our unconscious biases and promote a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Roundtable Discussions during Lunch Facilitated and Sponsored By:
This session wil review the issues of evaluating the toxicity of PFAS and implications this has on regulations. It is becoming increasingly clear that PFAS are ubiquitous within the environment. Furthermore, fluorinated chemistry function was primarily focused on product retardant and water proofing, these functions carryover to environmental impacts which has resulted in legacy contaminants and significant environmental persistence. With this in mind, short-term ecotoxicity experiments are of limited value when assessing PFAS impacts to aquatic receptors. This session includes a study evaluating the reproducibility of findings from a previous investigation of multigenerational PFOS exposure in zebrafish which reported effects at exposure levels nearly two orders of magnitude lower for the species than observed in other published studies. In addition, a review of a full-life cycle test (~300 days) with fathead minnow exposed to PFOS and PFOS mixtures is presented to provide critical data for regulatory agencies.
Learning Objectives
Describe mechanisms for accumulation of PFAS in birds.
Examine the distribution of different PFAS classes in birds.
Identify the types of differences that there are in PFAS accumulation in inter-species.
Discuss some of the ecotoxicological effects of long-term PFOS and PFOS mixture exposure to the fathead minnow.
Earn: 2.5 PDH; 2.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.2 IACET CEU
Track #11 Advances in Site Characterization and Amendment Delivery Methodologies at Contaminated Sites
This session focuses on advances in site characterization and amendment delivery methodologies at contaminated sites including using tools such as the Waterloo Aquifer Profiling System and the Membrane Interface Probe/Hydraulic Profiling Tool (MiHPT), hydraulic fracturing to deliver amendments at low- permeability sites, using a solid sulfate source to achieve a stable, uniform sulfate concentration to enhance biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in groundwater and using an injectable controlled release oxidant designed to mitigate contaminant rebounding.
Learning Objectives
Although sulfate delivery to enhance biodegradation of hydrocarbons in groundwater is a viable remedial technology, explore some of the challenges in implementing and sustaining enhanced biodegradation over time.
Describe how hydraulic fracturing can help reduce uncertainty in remediating low permeability formations.
Explain how the injectable controlled release oxidant achieved the mitigation of rebounding.
Identify some of the advantages of using the Waterloo sampler to characterize a site.
Earn: 2.5 PDH; 2.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.2 IACET CEU
Track #12 Advances in Biological Treatment Approaches
Biological treatment for groundwater and wastewater has been around for a long time. In situ bioremediation is the biological treatment of contaminants in the environment. This session will look at some of the advances in biological treatment approaches. Aerobic cometabolism of organic pollutants has been studied for more than 50 years yet is rarely considered a primary remediation approach or a critical component of natural attenuation. This session will provide an overview of the fundamentals of cometabolic processes and examples of successful field applications of this approach for treating traditional and emerging contaminants. Electron donors are often added at sites to enhance bioremediation, and a study of novel electron donors, sourced from waste products will be presented. A case study of biosparging to treat novel substituted nitroaromatic compounds will be presented as well as a case studies using phytoforensics to indicate potential vapor intrusion and human health risks.
Learning Objectives
Describe some of the fundamentals of cometabolic processes.
Discuss some of the key components of an electron donor for increasing microbial activity.
Explain how real-time sensor measurements can be used to evaluate biodegradation zones.
Define phytoforensics.
Earn: 2.5 PDH; 2.5 AIA LU/Elective; 0.2 IACET CEU
1:45 PM – 2:25 PM
Track #10
Track KeynoteZebrafish Response to Low-Level PFOS Concentrations in a Multi-Generational Exposure
Dr. Kurt A. Gust, U.S. Army, Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
Track #11
Track KeynoteUsing the Waterloo Aquifer Profiling System and the Membrane Interface Probe/Hydraulic Profiling Tool (MiHPT) to Define Contaminant Flux and Support Automated Injection Approaches
Platform Increasing Treatment Certainty While Controlling Remediation Cost: Case Studies Using Hydraulic Fracturing to Deliver Amendments at Low- Permeability Sites
2. Complex LNAPL Site Characterization Using 3D Data Visualization and the New Ultra-Violet Optical Image Profiler and Hydraulic Profile Tool (OiHPT-UV)
Flash Poster Presentations
1. Bioremediation 4.0: What Procaryotic Microbes Can Really Accomplish and the Roll Quorum Sensing and Signaling (QSS) Plays
Track KeynoteCountdown to Closure: Strategy to Expedite Groundwater Remediation at DOE’s Sites
Dr. Carol Eddy-Dilek, U.S. Department of Energy (Savannah River National Laboratory)
Track #15
Track Keynote Assessment of PFAS in Collocated Soil and Porewater Samples at an AFFF-Impacted Source Zone: Field-Scale Validation of Suction Lysimeters