1986•OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information)Requires access
Groundwater contamination from refinery operations. Status report
H.H. Comstock, K.Q. Stirling
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Abstract
The focus of this project has been on examining all available sources for information on groundwater contamination from refining operations. Once the information was gathered, it was carefully researched with the following goals in mind. (1) To define the major problems associated with possible groundwater contamination from refining operations. (2) To determine which problems are being addressed and by whom. (3) To prioritize the remaining problems. In order to explore the major problems related to groundwater contamination by refining operations, we examined the laws and regulations relating to groundwater, conducted a thorough literature survey, and interviewed people in the refining industry, governmental agencies, and interested organizations. There are six broad categories which comprise the areas of research that are now being studied and which need further attention. These categories include: (1) Analytical procedures for determining the amounts and types of trace organic compounds found in groundwater. (2) Monitoring techniques and equipment which reflect the contents of an aquifer rather than contaminants introduced through monitoring. (3) Methods for detecting the existence of hydrocarbons in the environment which could contaminate groundwater. (4) The fate and transport of contaminants in the soil and groundwater which defines what will happen to a chemical whichmore » enters the subsurface environment. (5) Aquifer restoration. (6) Prevention of contamination by limiting the amount of contaminants (via processing changes or recycling waste streams) and by improving disposal techniques for the wastes. Research is being conducted in all of these categories, but further study is needed. The Environmental Protection Agency and American Petroleum Institute are both directing extensive research efforts in the field of groundwater contamination. Recently, DOE has also focused attention on how the groundwater is affected by various energy recovery methods. 44 refs.« less