The Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center
Provided by the U.S. EPA, Argonne National Laboratory, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Best Management Practices for Site Assessment, Remediation, and Greener Cleanups
EPA's Technology Innovation and Field Services Division (TIFSD) is offering training that is designed to build the technical capacity of small and disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) in the site assessment and remediation field. The training is part of an exciting new initiative designed to build the technical capacity of SDBs as they compete for environmental cleanup jobs in a greener workforce. This training is comprised of best management practices in the following three areas: Site Assessment, Site Remediation, and Green Remediation Footprint Reduction. The participant manual for the course is available (below) as well as a list of resources for small businesses within EPA Regions 1, 2, and 3 that are interested in remedial cleanup business with the Federal government. Additional information about this course can be found on the Best Management Practices for Site Assessment, Remediation, and Greener Cleanups webpage on Trainex.

View or download the participant manual (PDF, 10.3 MB)

Triad Training for Practitioners
EPA's TIFSD is offering training that is designed to build the technical capacity of small and disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) in the site assessment and remediation field. The training is part of an exciting new initiative designed to build the technical capacity of SDBs as they compete for environmental cleanup jobs in a greener workforce. Triad Training for Practitioners is based on best management practices implemented by EPA, partnership organizations, federal and state partners, and consultants. Participants will learn how the Triad Approach can be used to streamline projects in a legal, technically sound, and cost-effective manner. Additional information about this course can be found on the Triad Training for Practitioners webpage on Trainex.

There are currently no scheduled deliveries of these courses. To request the delivery of these courses in a specific city or state, populate the Request Training form available on the Trainex website.

US and EU Perspectives on Green and Sustainable Remediation, Part 4
This free internet seminar is a continuation in the internet series on international green and sustainable remediation efforts (additional information on prior internet seminars can be found at http://cluin.org/consoil/). This two-hour seminar will: (1) present the final case studies of the internet seminar series on how green and sustainable remediation efforts are being implemented in the US and Europe; (2) discuss Austria's new tool for performing a cost-effective analysis; (3) provide an update on EPA's draft environmental footprint methodology for estimating or quantifying a remediation site's footprint and on the ASTM International effort to develop a voluntary consensus-based standard for greener cleanups; (4) present updates on international green and sustainable remediation efforts; and (5) provide information on 2012 green and sustainable remediation internet seminars and conferences. An open forum will be held throughout the seminar to respond to participant questions. Click here to register.

The BTSC provided three training sessions on current best management practices (BMPs) in three Brownfields-related areas on Monday, April 4th, and Tuesday, April 5th at the Brownfields 2011 Conference. In addition, on April 6th, a Small and Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) Listening Session was held in the morning and a SDB and Large Businesses Networking Session was held in the afternoon.

Together, the trainings and stakeholder sessions support the goals of the Business Growth and Development Initiative for SDBs.

The three training courses included:

1. Best Management Practices for Targeted Brownfields Assessments
2. Best Management Practices for Brownfields Remediation
3. Best Management Practices for Green Remediation Footprint Reduction

Courses were taught by subject matter experts from EPA’s Technology Innovation and Field Services Division (TIFSD) and supporting organizations. For more information on the courses, contact the BTSC helpline.

The two SDB sessions that took place on Wednesday, April 6, were part of an initiative designed to build the technical capacity of SDBs as they compete for environmental cleanup jobs.

Brownfields 2011 Conference Training Course and Small Business Development Session Schedule

TRAINING SESSION 1: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR TARGETED BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENTS
Monday, April 4, 1:00-3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5, 1:45-4:30 p.m.

Best management practices (BMPs) encompass strategies, tools, and technologies that can be used at every phase of Brownfields site cleanup from initial planning to site reuse. These BMPs can reduce cost, schedule, and uncertainty by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of remedial strategies and monitoring activities that comprise Brownfields site cleanup.

The Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) phases of a Brownfields redevelopment project are subject to significant uncertainties and other influences that can effect the successful execution and results of the project. The U.S. EPA has developed BMPs to ensure TBAs are designed and performed effectively to support successful remedial decisions and outcomes.

TBAs are more effective if they are executed using a series of integrated BMPs, including: conceptual site models (CSM), systematic project planning (SPP), dynamic work strategies (DWS), and real-time measurement technologies. These BMPs draw on science and technology advancements and practitioner experience to develop strategies for making TBAs more scientifically-defensible, resource-effective, adaptive to changing project needs, and responsive to stakeholder concerns. Applied to new or active projects, the BMPs can be used to significantly reduce data collection costs, expedite project schedules, enhance stakeholder communication, and improve project and site decision quality.

TBA projects are framed in the context of a CSM life cycle which is linked to the major stages of environmental cleanup with expected levels of maturity defined to support specific Brownfields project decision needs. Well-constructed CSMs used in the context of robust SPP efforts are highly-effective in driving data gap identification; redevelopment strategies; characterization strategies; sampling plan design; data collection, analysis and management; risk assessment; remedial technology evaluation and selection; and design basis development.

DWS and real-time measurement technologies enable the use of innovative strategies and technologies to collect collaborative data sets and use of field-based decision logic to enable stakeholders to perform real-time decision-making.

The recent authorization of the New York City Office of Environmental Remediation's (NYCOER) Brownfields program will highlight the benefits of using BMPs at Brownfields sites.

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TRAINING SESSION 2: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR BROWNFIELDS REMEDIATION
Tuesday, April 5, 9:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Best management practices (BMPs) encompass strategies, tools, and technologies that can be used at every phase of Brownfields site cleanup from initial planning to site reuse. These BMPs can reduce cost, schedule, and uncertainty by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of remedial strategies and monitoring activities that comprise Brownfields site cleanup.

The remediation phase of a Brownfields redevelopment project is subject to significant uncertainties and other influences that can effect successful execution and results. Cleanup of Brownfields sites are typically more costly and can be longer-lasting than the site assessment phases. The U.S. EPA has developed BMPs to ensure Brownfields remediation efforts are designed and performed effectively to ensure successful remedial decisions and outcomes.

This training will present specific remedial approaches and BMPs for the following common Brownfield redevelopment scenarios, including:

• Gasoline Stations
• Dry Cleaners in Urban Renewal Areas
• Former Manufacturing Facilities Redeveloped into Shopping Centers
• Metal Recycling and Auto Salvage Yards
• Mining (Mine Scarred Lands or MSL)
• Railroad Yards
• Waterfront Development on Historic Fill

In addition, the EPA has instituted systematic processes for evaluating cleanup and monitoring systems with the goals of improving effectiveness and reducing and controlling overall site cleanup costs without increasing risks. Optimization can include removing redundant treatment processes, streamlining a monitoring program, downsizing system elements or developing a framework for an exit strategy to assist with reaching site cleanup and reuse.

The training will present optimization concepts that EPA has been applied to over 150 sites at Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Leaking Underground Storage Tank (UST) sites nationwide.

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TRAINING SESSION 3: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR GREEN REMEDIATION FOOTPRINT REDUCTION
Monday, April 4, 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Green Remediation is the practice of considering all environmental effects of remedy implementation and incorporating options to minimize the environmental footprint of cleanup actions. The U.S. EPA advocates applying five core elements for environmental footprint assessments as BMPs during the cleanup process:

• Minimizing total energy use and maximizing the use of renewable energy
• Minimizing emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases
• Minimizing water use and impacts to water resources
• Protecting land and ecosystems
• Reducing, reusing and recycling material and waste

Green Remediation can be incorporated into all phases of a Brownfields cleanup effort. For example, during Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs) the use of innovative field analytics and direct sensing tools can reduce the environmental footprint by increasing the density of analytical data, thus limiting the total number of field mobilizations required to assess a Brownfield site. Green concepts can also be incorporated into remedy design, implementation and operations and maintenance (O&M).

Examples of Green Remediation BMPs include:

Energy Requirements

• Selecting the optimal size and type of equipment for each task to avoid unnecessary energy consumption while achieving comparable outcome.
• Using "smart grid" meters for electricity consumption monitoring and control, enabling treatment processes to operate heavily during off-peak utility periods.

Air Emissions

• Covering excavated areas with single-use biodegradable fabric to suppress dust while providing a substrate for favorable ecosystems.
• Retrofitting equipment engines with high-performance features such as multi-stage filters for cleaner exhaust.

Water Requirements and Resources

• Designing a closed-loop engineered system to maximize use of grey water during an ex situ treatment process.
• Incorporating low-impact development concepts for stormwater treatment such as substituting traditional, non-porous concrete with newer forms of pervious concrete.

Land & Ecosystems

• Using geophysical methods to identify subsurface anomalies (such as underground storage tanks and buried drums) without disturbing land.
• Conducting an inventory of ecological species, land contours, and drainage patterns prior to remedy construction to facilitate restoration to original conditions.

Material Consumption and Waste Generation

• Salvaging uncontaminated objects with potential recycle, resale, donation, or onsite infrastructure value such as steel, concrete, granite, and storage containers.
• Reusing durable goods throughout remedy construction and maintenance.

This session will discuss EPA's Principles for Greener Cleanups as well as how environmental footprints are being evaluated and addressed. The training will present how project managers and other stakeholders can apply green remediation principles to small and large Brownfields sites, while maintaining the cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of the remedy, and improving site reuse outcomes.

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Building the Technical Capacity of Small and Disadvantaged Businesses
Listening Session: Wednesday, April 6, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Networking Session: Wednesday, April 6, 1:00 P.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Listening Session is part of an exciting new initiative designed to build the technical capacity of SDBs as they compete for environmental cleanup jobs in a greener workforce. EPA believes that a critical part of its community engagement and workforce development commitment can be met through helping SDBs improve their capacity in innovative technical approaches and thus more fully participate in the "green-cleanup" movement.

The purpose of this event is for EPA to hear from SDBs about challenges, barriers, and issues of concern that would assist it in providing more meaningful and relevant technical support so that local SDBs can be more competitive in pursuing environmental remediation business. It is important to note that EPA will be gathering information to better achieve its technical transfer goals. In strict compliance with Federal contracting regulations, EPA will not be issuing contracts through this effort.

In addition to the listening session, the event includes a two hour session where SDB owners have an opportunity to speak one-on-one with the EPA staff organizing the listening session, as well to network with major Superfund Contractors invited to the meeting.

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