Utah Water Research Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-8200, 801-797-2932
Prepared bed land treatment is a specific bioremedial technology that is used to decontaminate soils under unsaturated conditions. A prepared bed is generally used to remove contaminants from soil to reach target remediation levels as well as to prepare for ultimate disposal of soils for protection of public health and the environment. A prepared bed is managed through nutrient and moisture addition; the bed consists of a soil supporting (foundation) layer, a liner, a leachate collection system, and a monitoring system. After soils have been decontaminated in a prepared bed, the bed may be closed in place by capping, or the cleaned soils may be removed for ultimate disposal.
Guidance concerning the application of the prepared bed bioremediation technology is required by decision-makers responsible for the clean-up of contaminated soils. Although there is considerable information available concerning soil bioremediation as a treatment approach, there is currently no technology transfer guidance specifically on the use of prepared bed systems. Personnel from Utah State University are providing the technology transfer by developing a guidance manual on the use of prepared beds (in the first year); developing an interactive computerized decision support system based on the guidance manual (in the second year); and then finalizing both the guidance manual and decision support software (during the third year) based on user input and review.
bioremediation, prepared bed, guidance manual
This paper is from the Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference on Hazardous Waste Research 1995, published in hard copy and on the Web by the Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center.