FY 2018 STATEMENT OF NEED

Environmental Restoration (ER) Program Area 

The objective of this limited-scope Statement of Need (SON) is to develop innovative approaches for treatment of investigation-derived waste (IDW) from investigations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination in the subsurface. This IDW largely consists of excess soil cuttings, purge water from groundwater sampling, and fluid from decontamination of drilling equipment that are contaminated at varying levels with PFASs as well as potentially many other traditional CERCLA and RCRA contaminants. The preference is for destructive technologies that treat the IDW rather than rely on landfilling so as to avoid potential future environmental liability given that disposal requirements for PFASs are evolving. Specifically, the goal was to address the following objectives:

  • Systems that permit unrestricted disposal, discharge, and/or reuse of IDW on-site.
  • Mobile or temporary treatment systems that can be deployed easily, minimizing the spatial footprint and mobilization time and effort.
  • Cost effective treatment compared to current disposal methods.

The projects listed below were selected to address the objectives of this SON. Additional information on individual projects can be found by clicking the project title.

Research should lead to improved management of PFAS sites, specifically for residual contamination characteristic of aged source zones with particular emphasis on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)-containing AFFF agents. Products should provide tools and guidance to users (i.e., Remedial Program Managers) on effective management options for such sites. Further, this information will be used to support cost-benefit analyses of treatment methods and management strategies. The resulting tools and understanding should improve the ability to implement effective remedial strategies at DoD sites.