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1993 | Book

Introduction Read chapter Read first chapter

Geotechnical Practice for Waste Disposal

Editor: David E. Daniel

Publisher: Springer US

Included in: Professional Book Archive

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About this book

Earth scientists and geotechnical engineers are increasingly challenged to solve environmental problems related to waste disposal facilities and cleanup of contaminated sites. The effort has given rise to a new discipline of specialists in the field of environmental geotechnology. To be effective, environmental geotechnologists must not only be armed with the traditional knowledge of fields such as geology and civil engineering, but also be knowledgeable of principles of hydrogeology, chemistry, and biological processes. In addition, the environmental geotechnologist must be completely up to date on the often complex cadre of local and national regulations, must comprehend the often complex legal issues and sometimes mind-boggling financial impli­ cations of a project, and must be able to communicate effectively with a host of other technical specialists, regulatory officials, attorneys, local land owners, journalists, and others. The field of environmental geo­ technology will no doubt continue to offer unique challenges. The purpose of this book is to summarize the current state of practice in the field of environmental geotechnology. Part One covers broadly applicable principles such as hydrogeology, geochemistry, and con­ taminant transport in soil and rock. Part Two describes in detail the underlying principles for design and construction of new waste disposal facilities. Part Three covers techniques for site remediation. Finally, Part Four addresses the methodologies for monitoring. The topics of 'waste disposal' and 'site remediation' are extra­ ordinarily broad.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter

General Principles

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction
Abstract
In the 1940s to 1960s, the industrialized countries of the world underwent an enormous expansion in capacity for manufacturing goods, processing petroleum, and making new chemicals. Geotechnical engineers and earth scientists played an important role in that expansion by identifying mineral and petroleum resources, investigating subsurface stratigraphy and soil conditions, designing foundations for buildings and machinery, and developing earthwork specifications.
David E. Daniel
Chapter 2. Geochemistry
Abstract
Not so many years ago when the subject of geochemistry was mentioned, topics such as crustal abundance of the various elements, radiochemical age dating, or computer modeling of stable chemical states immediately came to mind. Most engineers in the geotechnical professions equated geochemistry with analytical services. However, there is a rapidly emerging side to the discipline of geochemistry which relates directly to geotechnical practices in waste disposal.
Jim V. Rouse, Roman Z. Pyrih
Chapter 3. Contaminant transport
Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to present the basic concepts for describing contaminant transport in and through porous materials. The presentation is based on the premise that the reader has little or no formal background in contaminant transport theory. As a result, the material covered is limited to one-dimensional transport of miscible contaminants (i.e., solutes) in saturated porous media. Several references are recommended for additional study.
Charles D. Shackelford
Chapter 4. Hydrogeology
Abstract
The basic theory and concepts of hydrogeology will be discussed in this chapter. Sections 4.2–4 will deal primarily with the definitions and equations of ground-water flow in the saturated and unsaturated zone. Section 4.5 will examine the geology of hydrogeology, and is especially important because the movement of fluid through the subsurface and the equations that describe this movement are dictated by the geology of the subsurface materials. Geologic characteristics such as permeability, porosity, anisotropy, and homogeneity, are functions not only of the type of rock or soil material, but also of the depositional environment, diagenesis, and tectonic processes such as folding and faulting that may have occurred after deposition. This information is needed to build a geologic framework in which hydrogeologic principles may be applied before ground-water flow and contaminant transport can be evaluated.
Keros Cartwright, Bruce R. Hensel

New Disposal Facilities

Frontmatter
Chapter 5. Landfills and impoundments
Abstract
Landfills are the final repositories for unwanted or unusable wastes. Until the middle of this century, nearly all wastes were discarded in open, unengineered dumps. Waste was often burned to conserve space. Topographical anomalies that lended themselves naturally to dumping were typically selected for dump sites. The most common waste dumps were natural depressions (creeks, low-lying areas, and flood plains) that were otherwise of little use and mined-out areas, e.g., sand or gravel quarries. The practice of open dumping changed little, until a few decades ago.
David E. Daniel
Chapter 6. Leachate and gas generation
Abstract
The generation of leachate and gas from landfills is a well documented phenomenon which impacts landfill design and operation. Leachate and gas production are both influenced by the contents of the landfill, the local climate, and the manner in which the facility is operated. Gas composition and volume will be discussed in this chapter as will leachate composition. The quantity of leachate produced from a landfill is a function of site surface hydrology, which in turn is a function of climate, the presence of groundwater and the numerous factors affecting infiltration of surface water into the landfill. Leachate quantity is discussed in a later chapter.
Morton A. Barlaz, Robert K. Ham
Chapter 7. Clay liners
David E. Daniel
Chapter 8. Geomembrane liners
Abstract
As defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), geomembranes are ‘very low permeability synthetic membrane liners or barriers used with any geotechnical engineering related material so as to control fluid migration in a man-made project, structure or system’. They are used exclusively as liquid or vapor barriers and have wide application in broad areas of environmental and transportation engineering practice, as well as in geotechnical engineering. Within the environmental applications area is the containment of solid waste materials which is the focus of this book. Geomembranes, which are the focus of this particular chapter, form an essential part of the overall liner system.
Robert M. Koerner
Chapter 9. Collection and removal systems
Robert M. Koerner
Chapter 10. Water balance for landfills
Abstract
A key step in the design of a solid waste disposal facility is the execution of a ‘water balance’ or ‘water budget’ analysis. A water balance is an accounting of the final disposition of precipitation falling on a site. Water balance analysis can be used to estimate the potential leachate production and liner/drain system performance and to compare the relative effectiveness of alternative cover and liner/drain designs. Knowledge of the possible range of leachate production is important for sizing the leachate collection system (e.g., pipes) and in making decisions about how to manage treatment of the leachate. Similarly, prediction of liner leakage and the depth of leachate buildup in a drain layer is important in the selection of liner and drain materials and in the design of collection pipe spacing and liner slope.
R. Lee Peyton, Paul R. Schroeder
Chapter 11. Stability of landfills
Issa S. Oweis
Chapter 12. Mine waste disposal
Abstract
Mine wastes are a broad group of waste materials resulting from the extraction of metals and non-metals. The wastes include solid, as well as liquid waste, and can be inert or can contain hazardous constituents. In general, mine waste consists of high volume, low toxicity wastes (EPA, 1985).
Dirk Van Zyl

Remediation Technologies

Frontmatter
Chapter 13. Strategies for remediation
Abstract
Within the last several years, waste remediation has become a significant area for the application of geotechnical engineering. In particular, waste remediation efforts at ‘uncontrolled’ waste sites have drawn increasing attention from the technical, regulatory, legal, and public communities. Recognition of potential human health and environmental risks has heightened the efforts on national and international agendas.
Larry A. Holm
Chapter 14. Geophysical techniques for subsurface site characterization
Abstract
Geophysical methods encompass a wide range of surface and down-hole measurement techniques which provide a means of investigating subsurface hydrogeologic and geologic conditions. These methods have also been applied to detecting contaminant plumes and locating buried waste materials.
Richard C. Benson
Chapter 15. Soil exploration at contaminated sites
Abstract
Most of the drilling methods currently used for subsurface environmental exploration are used on a day-to-day basis for geotechnical or mineral exploration or for groundwater development and are readily available. It is important to understand that the most economical or the most readily available drilling method that would be used at a site for geotechnical sampling or testing, or for mineral exploration, or for water well drilling may not be the most technically appropriate method for exploration of contaminated sites. As an example, a particular site might be most economically drilled and sampled using the straight hydraulic (mud) rotary method to obtain geotechnical design data or to install a production water well; however, it might be better to use hollow-stem augers or casing advancement to sample contaminated materials, even if auger or casing advancement installation would be more time-consuming and more expensive.
Charles O. Riggs
Chapter 16. Vapor analysis/extraction
Abstract
Interest in the fate, behavior, and remediation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in unsaturated soil, or the vadose zone, has increased rapidly over the past five years. The US Congress’ Office of Technology Assessment (OTA, 1984) identified VOCs as being one of the more ubiquitous groups of hazardous chemicals present in contaminated ground water nationwide. A major reason for this is the widespread use of VOCs in the manufacture of pesticides, plastics, paints, pharmaceuticals, solvents, and textiles. Since volatile constituents of petroleum, as well as a variety of synthetic solvents, comprise a significant portion of the contamination cases encountered today, it is no wonder that such interest has been born.
Lyle R. Silka, David L. Jordan
Chapter 17. Vertical cutoff walls
Abstract
Vertical cutoff walls are installed in the subsurface to control horizontal movement of groundwater and contaminants. This chapter presents the objectives and applications for vertical cutoff walls, describes the types of cutoffs available and presents detailed information to choose, design and construct the appropriate cutoff wall.
Jeffrey C. Evans
Chapter 18. Cover systems
Abstract
Final cover systems serve a variety of functions for both new waste disposal units as well as site remediation projects. The general principles of design of cover systems are the same for new disposal units as well as old waste disposal areas under going remediation.
David E. Daniel, Robert M. Koerner
Chapter 19. Recovery well systems
Abstract
Plato (c.427–347 bc) developed a sophisticated set of groundwater laws. In addition to laws on water conservation and water rights, Plato developed water pollution regulations, as quoted below.
If anyone deliberately spoil someone else’s water supply, whether spring or reservoir, by poisons or excavations or theft, the injured party should take his case to the City Wardens and submit his estimate of the damage in writing. Anyone convicted of fouling water by magic poisons should, in addition to his fine, purify the spring or reservoir using whatever methods of purification the regulations of the expounders prescribe as appropriate to the circumstances and the individual involved.
(Sauders, 1970)
Bob Kent, Perry Mann
Chapter 20. Bioremediation of soils
Abstract
Complex mixtures of chemicals, many defined as hazardous and toxic, increasingly enter surface soils through spills and unregulated land disposal. The regulatory and technical challenge is to use cost-effective control technologies that can treat complex chemical mixtures in contaminated soils and thereby reduce the resultant threat to human health and the environment. Bioremediation can be such a technology.
Raymond C. Loehr
Chapter 21. In situ bioremediation of groundwater
Gaylen R. Brubaker
Chapter 22. Soil washing
Abstract
Increasing costs, long-term liabilities, and bans on land disposal makes disposal in hazardous waste landfills increasingly unattractive. The high cost per tonne of incineration is further stimulating the rapid development and application of new and innovative on-site detoxification/volume reduction techniques.
Paul B. Trost

Monitoring

Frontmatter
Chapter 23. Monitoring wells
Abstract
The installation of ground-water monitoring wells has developed over the past decade into a highly specialized activity, quite distinct from the fields of water supply well and geotechnical drilling from which it was derived. Stringent regulatory demands, sensitive analytical techniques, and exotic construction materials all require the monitoring well designer to comprehend a broad spectrum of technologies and practices.
Bob Kent, Mark P. Hemingway
Chapter 24. Vadose zone monitoring
Abstract
Dr. Oscar E. Meinzer, in his tome entitled, Hydrology, which was first presented by the National Research Council in 1942, referred to the vadose zone as ‘no man’s land’. From 1942 through the formation of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, the vadose zone was fundamentally ignored. The first major national groundwater monitoring contract was awarded by EPA in 1972, on a sole-source basis, to General Electric’s ‘TEMPO’ in Santa Barbara, California. In the years 1974–76, it became clear to the research team that groundwater investigations could not ‘black box’ the vadose zone. This initial effort resulted in a 15-step groundwater monitoring methodology published by Todd et al. (1976) and Everett (1980). Fundamental to this national strategy was an appreciation of contaminant transport through various parts of the vadose zone.
Lorne G. Everett
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Geotechnical Practice for Waste Disposal
Editor
David E. Daniel
Copyright Year
1993
Publisher
Springer US
Electronic ISBN
978-1-4615-3070-1
Print ISBN
978-1-4613-6340-8
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3070-1