EA’s Commitment to Green Remediation Technologies

As a natural outgrowth to our commitment to sustainability, EA is promoting the use of green technologies and sustainable practices in the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites.  With sustainable or green remediation, our goals are to:  (1) develop and implement safe remedial solutions that are minimally disruptive to the environment, (2) realize energy savings through creative design and value engineering, (3) utilize renewable energy sources when practical, (4) embrace waste minimization and recycling concepts, and (5) emit the least amount of pollutants and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

Our green remediation practices begin during the site investigation phase when, following EPA’s TRIAD approach, we maximize our use of real-time field measurements—minimizing laboratory-derived wastes and the carbon footprint associated with invasive drilling activities or multiple field mobilizations.  During the feasibility study/design phase, we perform life-cycle analyses and compare remedial technologies based on sustainability metrics to consider short- and long-term energy and water consumption, air emissions, ecosystem impacts, material consumption, and waste minimization or recycling.  When implementing sustainable technologies, we promote the use of environmentally preferred products and clean construction techniques, including the use of non-diesel equipment.

Recent examples of Green Remediation approaches employed by EA include the following:

• Energy Savings—Solar-powered environmental monitoring stations and treatment systems
  (Click here to view the Fort Drum project capsule on solar-powered product recovery in a new tab)
• Waste Minimization/Recycling—Internal combustion engine for onsite vapor treatment
  (Click here to view the Texas project capsule on onsite contaminant vapor destruction in a new tab)
• Life Cycle Benefits—Use of a cryogenic-compression and condensation unit instead of a thermal oxidation/granular-activated carbon unit which increases the volume of recycled light non-aqueous phase liquid and will decrease the treatment life cycle by up to 15 years.

There is a way to make a difference on every project.  Harness your internal resources to find ways toward a more sustainable remedial effort, or contact us for assistance.

Related Links

• Sustainable Initiatives
• Click to View Our 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility Report[pdf opens in a new tab]
• Click to View Our 2019 Carbon Footprint Report[pdf opens in a new tab]
• Click to View Our 2018 Carbon Footprint Report [pdf opens in a new tab]
• Click to View Our 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report [pdf opens in a new tab]
• Click to View Our Federal Facility Sustainability Services Brochure [pdf opens in a new tab]

For additional information, please contact:

Email Dr. Frank Barranco, P.G.
Senior Vice President and Director of Quality Control