Description:

Contaminated sediment poses difficult assessment and remediation challenges but recent improvements in methodologies offer much promise. New assessment methods and improved remediation technologies that directly address contaminant mobility and bioavailability have enhanced our ability to effectively manage sediments. Advantages include reduced cost and improved effectiveness over conventional methods.

In this two-day class, we will address both conventional and emerging technologies for remediating contaminated sediments including removal followed by treatment and disposal; in situ isolation of the sediments from the environment by covering the sediment with neutral materials (i.e., passive capping); active capping technologies, and monitored natural recovery, which involves monitoring processes that isolate, degrade, transform, and immobilize sediment contaminants under natural conditions. The course will address solutions to contaminants in both marine and freshwater sediments including the effects of remediation on the benthic environment. Emerging technologies that address contaminant toxicity, biogeochemistry and transport mechanisms will also be highlighted.

The class will incorporate new approaches for including bioavailability in risk assessments and the evaluation of remedial effectiveness. Bioavailability controls the transfer of contaminants from sediments to ecological receptors and humans and can rarely be predicted from total contaminant concentrations alone. Successful evaluation of bioavailability involves the selection of analytical methods that are suitable for the organisms and sediment environments under consideration and often involves a weight-of-evidence that incorporates multiple lines of evidence.

Although problems remain, contaminated sediment management/remediation is improving due to the control and elimination of contaminant sources, development of new remedial technologies, and selection of analytical methods to evaluate metal bioavailability.

After completing this class, participants will be able to:

Distinguish sources and types of contaminants at the sites
Determine fate and transport of contaminants
Understand current remediation strategies and new approaches
Identify remediation effectiveness: defining, monitoring, and demonstrating success
Apply chemical/toxicological/biological measurements to characterize the site before/after the remediation
Understand the selection of remedial technology
Determine bioavailability of contaminants before and after remediation actions
Understand the method of remedial technology deployment
Apply novel, improved tools and techniques for site-specific assessment of contaminant before/after remedial

Intended Audience:

This class is designed for students seeking a greater understanding of the effects of contaminated sediments on the benthic environment and remediation technologies for contaminated sediments.

Past attendees have included environmental professionals, consultants, researchers, students, industrial site owners and operators, and government agencies such as DOD and DOE.

Continuing Education Units: 1.30 CEUs

Previous Events (click to view/hide)

Sacramento, CA View details    August 2, 2017 - August 3, 2017