Remedial Optimization

USING INNOVATIVE OPTIMIZATION APPROACHES FOR SUCCESSFUL SITE REMEDIATION AND LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP

**Groundwater Treatment System Sparge Manifold at the Bog Creek Superfund Site, NJ**

Optimizing an environmental site cleanup achieves the ideal balance of protectiveness, cost reduction, remedy duration, and other objectives identified by stakeholders. Remedial optimization is a comprehensive process that provides viable results at the management and remedial strategy level, as well as specific improvements and efficiencies at the system level.

HGL’s Optimization Experts

HGL’s remedial optimization subject matter experts (SMEs) have optimized site cleanup activities at hundreds of sites nationwide, improving protectiveness of the environment and saving over $100 million in operations costs. Our nationally prominent SMEs include a lead co-author of the Monitoring and Remediation Optimization System (MAROS) tool, which can be used to assess remedy performance and develop/implement an efficient long-term monitoring strategy by eliminating redundancies of well sampling. Our SMEs also include the lead author for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) document entitled A Systematic Approach for Evaluation of Capture Zones at Pump and Treat Systems. For over 15 years, HGL’s SMEs have been integral to the EPA’s nationwide optimization strategy for Superfund and National Priorities List (NPL) sites.

HGL’s Decision-Support Optimization Tools

HGL brings the following innovative decision-support optimization technologies:

PlumeSeeker^TM – optimizes monitoring well networks to efficiently and accurately delineate contaminant plumes in groundwater and identifies the plume compliance boundary within a quantified confidence level.
Physics-Based Management Optimization (PBMO^TM) – develops/optimizes pump-and-treat remedial design and operational approaches that lead to timely and cost-effective cleanups and successful long-term management strategies.

HGL’s Integrated Remedial Optimization Methodology

HGL has developed an integrated remedial optimization methodology that addresses sites from the initial investigation stage through long-term stewardship (LTS), remedy termination, property redevelopment, or anywhere in between.

The HGL optimization approach relies on a thorough understanding of a site or its “conceptual site model” (CSM). HGL places the CSM at the core of its optimization process and incorporates broad ranging experience, specific technical expertise, fresh perspectives, high-level data analysis, and effective use of traditional and innovative tools. HGL’s approach is flexible and is modified as necessary to suit the needs of site stakeholders.

HGL’s Site Optimization Review Service

Whether applying optimization at a site managed by HGL or conducting third-party optimization reviews at the sites, HGL’s optimization experts complete the following steps:

Review and identify data gaps in the existing CSM, and work with site managers to update the CSM;
Assess the condition and functionality of site infrastructure (e.g., existing monitoring wells, treatment systems) and current or forecasted cleanup costs;
Evaluate project objectives to determine if they are still valid and work with stakeholders to prioritize between competing objectives;
Identify key needs and constraints associated with meeting remedial objectives and evaluate potential options and technologies to satisfy those needs and address the constraints;
Evaluate remedy performance and make technical recommendations to improve remedy efficacy and cost efficiency;
Recommend efficiency improvements in energy and materials use;
Potentially use PBMO^TM computational optimization technology to develop/optimize remedial design and operational approaches that will lead to timely and cost-effective cleanups and optimal long-term management strategies;
Develop a cost-effective site-specific strategy with short- and long-term recommendations; and
Develop/implement optimal strategies for attaining accelerated site closures (end-states) or property reuse and redevelopment.

HGL’s Multi-Level Remedial Optimization Review Services

This review process is typically conducted through the three steps above. Among the benefits provided by this approach are the following:

Benefits from Optimization Review:
✔	An updated CSM or recommendations for obtaining information needed to update the CSM;
✔	A determination of whether the existing remedial strategy is appropriate for the site based on the CSM and stakeholder objectives or a whether a modified remedial strategy is required;
✔	Specific technical recommendations to improve remedy efficiency and effectiveness;
✔	An opportunity to bring stakeholders together and form a consensus;
✔	A team of experts familiar with the site who can be a resource on an as-needed basis; and
✔	A starting point for preparing a Five-Year Review or for implementing Five-Year Review action items.

Project Examples:

For additional information email:

Contact@hgl.com