The Engineering Forum (EF), established in the late 1980s, is a group of engineers and scientists that supports the Superfund and RCRA programs in each of the ten EPA Regional Offices. As one of the EPA Technical Support Project’s (TSP) three technical forums, the EF is a medium for exchanging technical information regarding innovative site cleanup and characterization technologies. Monthly technical talks focus on site-specific engineering problems encountered, alternatives and solutions, and lessons learned. After each presentation, information regarding upcoming events and training are discussed and time for an Open Mic discussion is provided. If you are a Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Brownfields, state or federal environmental professional who is interested in solving technical issues, register for any technical talks listed below that interest you and join the discussion!

Presentations are specifically designed for EPA staff including RPMs, OSCs, Corrective Action Managers, Superfund and Technology Liaisons, Chemists, Biologists, Physical Scientists, and Engineers from within EPA regions, program offices, laboratory system, and headquarters personnel as well as environmental professionals from state agencies, tribes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Dept. of Energy, and other federal agencies of all experience levels. THIS TRAINING IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS OR OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES.

We will try to meet any special accommodations necessary for our participants as possible if given a minimum of two weeks notice. You will be prompted to indicate if you need any special accommodations upon registering for these events.

*This training is offered free of charge to all registrants who are confirmed to attend. One CLP will be issued for each session attended when you register and log on with the registration link provided to enable your attendance to be confirmed.*
 

In February 2017, the US EPA Region 4 Superfund and Emergency Management Division assumed responsibility for water treatment and site stability operations for an unlined and open 350-acre gypsum stack located in Pascagoula, MS. The gypsum stack contained approximately 15M cubic yards of phosphogypsum with elevated levels of nutrients and acid pH. Bayou Casotte is located west of the facility and to the east is the Grand Bay Estuarine Reserve, one of the most biologically productive ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico region. An uncontrolled and/or untreated release of contact water or leachate from the stack would have catastrophic effects on these natural resources. As a result of these potential risks, the Region 4 Superfund Program endeavored to close the gypsum stack quickly, cost effectively and with minimal impact to the surrounding environment. The two primary closure systems were evaluated and included a soil?protected geomembrane cover (Traditional Cap) and synthetic turf geomembrane cover (ClosureTurf®). A value engineering study was performed to assess construction costs, operation and maintenance (O&M), environmental impacts, and constructability and ultimately resulted in the selection and installation of ClosureTurf®. This presentation will provide the results of the VE study, and key lessons learned from design through construction and installation.