Cost‐effective strategy for installation and operation of a bioventing system to remediate jet fuel contamination beneath the former refueling apron at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York

Abstract

AbstractA bioventing system was designed and installed beneath the former refueling apron, Apron 1, to enhance biodegradation of residual jet fuel‐contaminated soils at the former Griffiss Air Force Base (GAFB) located in Rome, New York. The innovative reuse of existing fuel supply lines for air injection has allowed for the continued use of the 29‐acre apron surface, while at the same time providing for aeration and remediation of approximately 60,000 cubic yards of petroleum‐contaminated soil beneath the apron. Additionally, use of the fuel supply lines eliminated the need for costly saw cutting and excavation of the 18‐inch concrete apron surface, or use of horizontal drilling techniques for installation of piping to the air injection wells, and resulted in a savings of approximately $150,000. Installation costs were further reduced by installing aboveground piping to air injection wells located at the former lateral control points in areas isolated from the biopile operations and maintenance activities. Total remediation costs for contaminated soil beneath the apron are approximately $10 per cubic yard of treated soil.The former refueling apron is currently used for the ex situ biopile treatment of contaminated soils collected from throughout the base. The arrangement of the existing biopiles, and the need for additional biopiles on the apron in the future, necessitated the use of underground piping to supply air to injection wells located at former refueling hydrants. In order to facilitate uninterrupted remediation of the biopiles, existing underground fuel supply pipelines that were cleaned and closed in place during the deactivation of the refueling apron in 1996 were utilized to supply air from the edge of the refueling apron to the air injection wells.This remediation strategy, which maximizes the use of available space by utilizing both in situ and ex situ treatment technologies, will significantly reduce the period of time required for remediation of contaminated soil at the former GAFB and provides a cost‐effective approach to attaining beneficial reuse of the site. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.