1993 Update of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SITE Emerging Technology Program

Abstract

The Emerging Technology Program (ETP), part of the U.S. EPA’s Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program, is continuing to create an environment where technical innovation can accelerate into field and commercial applications for treatment of hazardous waste sites. The ETP was established under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 to research and develop innovative/alternative technologies. In addition, the SITE program was also mandated to demonstrate innovative/alternative technologies in the field. A primary goal of the ETP is to move developed technologies to the field demonstration stage, thus creating a full impact assessment of the life cycle of a technology, from research to field demonstration. Traditionally, the SITE Program has promoted the research, development and demonstration of innovative technologies for implementation at hazardous waste sites through four program components: the Demonstration Program; the Emerging Technology Program; the Measurement and Monitoring Technologies Development Program; and the Technology Transfer Program. Currently 29 of the 64 total ETP projects are being co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Defense, Air Force (AF). Combining the efforts of the EPA and other federal agencies promotes private sector development of innovative technologies and assists with their technical and funding support. This function follows the trend of accelerating economic growth for private industry. The purpose of this article is to provide: (1) information about understanding the SITE Emerging Technology Program and how it operates; (2) an account of the progress of the ETP’s first seven years (1987–1993) of operation (the ETP started one year later than the demonstration program); (3) a list of ETP technologies with research completed; (4) a description of those technologies selected from the 1993 selection; and (5) an awareness that the program has traditionally been providing funding and technical support to the private sector for the acceleration of research and development.