Integrated enhanced natural attenuation approach for risk-based closure of a toluene contaminated site

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A partnership and multidisciplinary collaboration between microbiologists, hydrogeologists, environmental engineers, hydrochemists, geophysical scientists, and industrial partners, BP and Ecometrix has been established with the goal of integrating, at the field-scale, several Enhanced Attenuation approaches in order to assess the viability of these approaches for remediating petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contamination in fractured, sedimentary rock. The field site for the proposed work is located in Southern Ontario. The contaminant of concern is toluene. Residual toluene impacts, sourced from historical use of the property for manufacturing purposes, occurs in a fractured dolostone aquifer encountered at depths < 2 metres below ground surface (mbgs). In the next five years, an integrated and novel approach will be taken to augment the rate of mass removal of residual toluene in the rock matrix and plume. The research program will integrate:(1) chemical addition for both oxidation of toluene and biostimulation of toluene-degrading microbial communities;(2) in-situ heating that moderately raises subsurface temperatures for biostimulation; and (3)phytoremediation. This project will be precedent setting in Canada in terms of establishing a framework for remediation of contaminants in fractured rock and the efficacy of Enhanced Attenuation where attenuation rates using natural attenuation alone do not meet regulatory and/or sustainability criteria. The scale of Canadian sites impacted with petroleum hydrocarbon compounds (PHCs) is immense, with the federal Government alone retaining liability for nearly 23,000 contaminated sites. As such, development of new remediation methods is necessary to promote redevelopment of these underutilized lands across Canada.