SUMMARY OF THE REMEDIATION TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT FORUM
PHYTOREMEDIATION ACTION TEAM
CHLORINATED SOLVENTS SUBGROUP
CONFERENCE CALL

March 2, 2000
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

On March 2, 2000, the following members of the Remediation Technologies Development Forum’s (RTDF’s) Phytoremediation Action Team, Chlorinated Solvents Subgroup, met in a conference call:

Milton Gordon, University of Washington (Subgroup Co-chair)
Keith Rose, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Subgroup Co-chair)
Bob Tossell, GeoSyntec Consultants (Subgroup Co-chair)
Linda Fiedler, EPA, Technology Innovation Office
Steve Rock, EPA

Also present was Christine Hartnett of Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG).

THE SUBGROUP’S FIELD STUDY PROGRAM

Creating a Protocol

Keith Rose said that the Subgroup had decided, during previous conference calls, to develop a protocol for a field study program. He asked Bob Tossell, who had agreed to generate the first draft, for an update on his progress. Tossell said that he will complete and distribute the draft before the Subgroup’s next conference call. Some portions will have more detail than others, he said. Some sections are about 80% complete, but others, which will be presented in an annotated outline format, are only about 20% complete.

Collaborating with Other Groups

Steve Rock said that Fred Beck, a representative from EPA’s laboratory in Ada, Oklahoma, would like to collaborate with the Subgroup on a phytoremediation field study. Beck is interested in using trees to remediate chlorinated solvents, Rock said, and proposes a four-part study program: (1) develop a protocol for a poplar-based remedial technology, (2) apply the technology to a military site that has burn pit areas (e.g., the Aberdeen Proving Grounds), (3) test the technology at several additional sites, and (4) publish a manual that describes how to design and install phytoremedial technologies. Rock said that Beck has identified potential funding sources—the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program—for his field study, and that he plans to submit a brief proposal to these organizations by March 9, 2000.

Rock said that Beck’s objectives are very similar to those identified by the Subgroup during previous conference calls. He asked conference call participants to decide if the Subgroup should collaborate with Beck. Tossell and Rock said that Beck’s proposal will be stronger if he lists the Subgroup as a partner and indicates who is currently involved with the Subgroup. Getting involved with Beck’s project, Tossell said, may give the Subgroup the push forward that it needs. Assuming that the proposal is accepted, Tossell continued, the Subgroup will have a funding vehicle established and have some sites to work on. If the groups collaborate, Rock said, he envisions Beck serving as the program lead, and protocol development and field work being divided between the EPA laboratory in Ada, the EPA laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio, and any other Subgroup members who want to participate.

Conference call participants decided that collaboration would benefit all involved parties. Tossell said that he would contact Beck to inform him of the Subgroup’s interest and to find out if he needs help writing his proposal.

ACTION ITEMS

• ERG agreed to set up the next conference call for March 15, 2000, between 1:30 and 3:00 Eastern Standard Time.

• Rock and Linda Fiedler said that they will attend a phytoremediation meeting in Toronto. This meeting, Fiedler said, is being held to discuss how to transfer phytoremediation technologies to third-world countries. Milt Gordon said that he has some information that is pertinent to this topic; he agreed to e-mail this to Fiedler before March 6, 2000. Bob Tossell invited Rock and Fiedler to visit his office while they are in Canada. Fielder agreed to check their agendas to determine whether such a visit can be arranged.

• Tossell said that he will complete and distribute a draft field protocol before the Subgroup’s next conference call.

• Tossell agreed to contact Beck to inform him of the Subgroup’s interest in collaboration and to find out if Beck needs help writing his proposal.