Hazardous and Toxic Waste Remediation

The toxic and hazardous waste remediation group focuses on complex issues of toxic and hazardous waste management, including site characterization and monitoring, site remediation system design, remediation system performance evaluation, and environmental impact assessment.

Key research focus areas include:

  • Natural Attenuation - The monitoring and modeling of the transformation of fuel hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvents in contaminated groundwater and soil systems.
  • Phytoremediation - Evaluation of the use of plants for the detection and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination.
  • Enhanced Bioremediation – The development of microbial cultures and design and testing of field-scale bioaugmentation systems for the acceleration of soil and groundwater restoration.
  • Molecular Biology Tools for Site Evaluation – The development of molecular biology-based tools for assessing microbial community composition and site remediation potential.

The group combines expertise in environmental chemistry, soil microbiology, soil chemistry, and environmental engineering to develop interdisciplinary solutions to soil and groundwater remediation problems.

Field studies investigating the uptake of groundwater contaminants by plants in

Field studies investigating the uptake of groundwater contaminants by plants in

Field studies investigating the uptake of groundwater contaminants by plants in
communities near Hill Air Force Base

Benefits to the State of Utah

The UWRL toxic and hazardous waste remediation group has provided over two decades of site monitoring, risk assessment, and remediation technical support to state regulatory agencies, local entities, and governmental and private organizations within the State of Utah. These support activities have included:

  • Providing technical support for site monitoring, risk assessment, natural attenuation, and liability determinations at underground storage tank sites to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Environmental Response and Remediation.
  • Assessment and performance monitoring of soil remediation systems for use at petroleum and chlorinated solvent release sites at Hill Air Force Base (AFB) and privately owned facilities.
  • Testing of remediation systems, monitoring of contaminant movement and destruction in plant and soil systems, and risk assessment of groundwater contamination to residences adjacent to Hill AFB.
  • Developing a data management and display system for evaluating the risk of chlorinated solvent groundwater contamination to drinking water supplies in Utah.

The toxic and hazardous waste remediation group also maintains an active research program focused on collaboration with various governmental, academic, research, and private organizations throughout the United States, Canada, and Western Europe.

Field studies near Hill Air Force Base, Utah

Field studies near Hill Air Force Base, Utah