Gulf Coast project where PNL manages all aspects of the OM&M, which includes a large phytoremediation component
Project Navigator, Ltd. is the Project Manager for the Combustion Inc. Superfund Site in Denham Springs, Louisiana. The Site is a 40-acre former waste oil recycling facility, and the groundwater contaminants include volatile organics and semi volatile organics. PNL manages all communications between the Responsible Parties; manages consultant and contractor costs, tasks and schedule controls; maintains and drives the site’s closure strategy and coordinates interactions between the PRPs and the regulatory agencies.
The site is the location of a former waste oil recycling facility which operated from the late 1960s until the early 1980s and consisted of a small processing plant (Process Area), a Pond Area, and a connecting pipeline. Two basic operational processes existed at the site: oil reclamation and wastewater treatment. There are ~1,000 residents that live within a 1-mile radius of the site. The immediate residential properties are located along the northern, eastern and western boundaries and consist of 36 homes. The groundwater contaminants include semi volatile aromatic amines and volatile chlorinated organics including 1, 2-dichloroethane.
The Record of Decision was signed in 2004 and included phytoremediation, ground water monitoring and Institutional controls.
Phytoremediation, as an enhancement to natural attenuation, provides additional controls to prevent further lateral migration of contaminants in the ground water. The phytoremediation is designed to inhibit movement of ground water contaminants toward the down gradient perimeter and to degrade contaminants within the plume. PNL initially completed a review of all contractor’s scope and budget, and annual costs have been reduced by approximately 33%. Recently, the EPA and LDEQ have approved a reduction in the frequency of groundwater monitoring, further reducing costs. PNL is currently leading evaluation of source removal/treatment to minimize long-term O&M costs.