Technical Approach

To meet these objectives, eight interrelated activities will be completed that are linked through a single Department of Defense field site. Specific activities addressed include: (1) demonstrating the collection and use of high-density data to resolve the distribution of contaminants in low permeability and transmissive zones; (2) testing and validating modeling techniques that can be used to predict the presence and impact of contaminants in low permeability zones; (3) measuring critical diffusion and retardation coefficients in heterogeneous low permeability sediments; (4) collecting evidence of contaminant degradation in low permeability zones; (5) testing and validating the use of membrane interface probe systems to characterize the presence and distribution of contaminants in low permeability zones; (6) developing a set of “type site” scenarios representing contrasting realistic site conceptual models that can be used by practitioners who are managing real sites; (7) advancing current knowledge regarding standard approaches for treating contaminants in low permeability zones through a review of the state of the art and demonstrative laboratory sand tank studies; and (8) documenting results in guidance for contaminants in low permeability zones.