321 Recent Advances in Environmental Geoscience (Posters)

Wednesday, 28 September 2016
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall E/F

LESSONS LEARNED AT THE ARGONNE PHYTOREMEDIATION SITE

Paper number: 321-18
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Past waste disposal practices at the 317 Area of Argonne National Laboratory resulted in VOC- and tritium-contaminated groundwater. Site characterization, monitoring, and remedial actions have led to an improved understanding of the dynamics of groundwater movement and contaminant transport. One component of the remedy is a phytoremediation system installed in 1999. Over 800 hybrid willow and poplar trees have comprised the system, with hundreds installed in 25-foot boreholes through fine-grained glacial till to target a contaminated sandy aquifer. Continuous water level data from many of the site monitoring wells have led to a modification of the initial conceptual site model. Altogether, site monitoring has indicated the degree of hydraulic control provided by the trees, a subsurface infrastructure issue, unexpected directions of movement of contaminants, and the effect of drought.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 7

doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-286320

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