Award Date

Spring 1996

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Environmental Science

Advisor 1

Dr. Dennis L. Soden, Associate Professor Environmental Studies, University of Nevada Las Vegas

Number of Pages

60

Abstract

An analyses, of six (6) soil remediation alternatives was completed in attempt to establish an effective hydrocarbon-contaminated soils remediation program at the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Program (YMP). The remediation alternatives analyzed included: no remediation, on-site incineration, off-site incineration, in-situ .bioremediation, ex-situ bioremediation, and excavation and disposal. Variables considered in the evaluation process included cost of contaminated soil transportation, treatment costs, future liability, and success of remediating the contaminated soils to below regulatory thresholds. The analysis concluded in the recommendation of an on-site ex-situ bioremediation treatment facility (BTF) to remediate hydrocarbon-contaminated soils at the YMP. The selection was based on the low treatment costs provided by the technology, the ability to treat the contaminated soils on-site, and the success of the technology to treat contaminated soils to below regulatory thresholds. The BTF will be established to treat YMP hydrocarbon-contaminated soils that originated from operational, historical, and abandoned hydrocarbon releases. Prior to submission for treatment, the contaminated soils must be qualified either through process knowledge or analytical sampling. Through this qualification process, hazardous wastes will entirely be excluded from the contaminated soils wastestream. In addition, the BTF will initially be operated in test mode in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment technology and to develop a baseline remediation schedule. To that end, the BTF is expected to be expanded as site characterization continues at the YMP and ultimately fuction as an effective hydrocarbon contaminated soils remediation program.

Keywords

Nevada; Oil pollution of soils; Soil pollution; Soil remediation economic aspects; Yucca mountain

Disciplines

Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Sciences | Natural Resources and Conservation

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/


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