An Integrated Framework for Evaluating Subsurface Contamination Remediation Technologies

Reliable tools are needed to ensure efficient selection and deployment of conventional and innovative technologies to remediate trichloroethylene-contaminated soils and groundwater. This article describes a Technology Evaluation Framework (TEF) that integrates eight criteria (technical performance, life cycle cost, process residuals, regulatory feasibility, risk, future use, natural resource damages, and stakeholder concerns) relevant to site-specific technology selection and deployment for voluntary or regulatory agency–mandated cleanups. The TEF provides a basis for systematically comparing innovative and conventional technologies in terms of meeting remediation goals. The completed TEF provides a documented, reproducible evaluation summarized on a rollup sheet, which can be updated as new information becomes available. The results of a pilot application of the TEF at the 317 Area of Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois are reported.