Demonstration of On-site Innovative Technolegies: Case Studies in Soil and Groundwater Remediation

Abstract

The United States Department of Defense is responsible for restoring a significant number of domestic military sites contaminated by soil and groundwater pollutants. With the end of the Cold War, the Department is downsizing and remediation of formerly used defense sites and military bases that have been or are scheduled to be closed has become a priority. Many of the Defense Department’s pollution problems are not unique to the Federal government. For example, soil and groundwater contamination by fuels, solvents, metals, acids, chemicals and low-level radioactive waste are problems common both to military sites and industrial properties. A mechanism being executed by the Department of Defense to create jobs, as well as to clean up contaminated sites, is to «convert» uniquely military technologies to address the public and private sectors’ common environmental needs. Technologies that were developed and tested in conjunction with weapon systems’ acquisition during the Cold War are, today, being adapted and demonstrated by the Department to monitor, treat and/or prevent environmental pollution. Once these «dual use» technologies are implemented and commercialized, they are expected to be more effective than conventional remediation techniques and provide significant cost savings for the Department of Defense and industry.