Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): To analyze soil, plant and water samples from EPA-ARS cooperative field test plots in GA, AL, and MS for nutrients and trace elements to support collection of data to conduct risk evaluation for beneficial use of FGD- Gypsum in Agriculture, and when data are collected to cooperate with EPA in conducting Risk Assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. Approach (from AD-416): Using existing equipment in EMBUL (Atomic Absorption; ICP-AES; ICP-MS; spectrophotometer), analyze nutrients and trace elements in gypsum, soil, plant and water samples from ARS field test plots in GA, AL, and MS to provide information needed for risk assessment of beneficial use of FGD- gypsum. During project, cooperate with US-EPA to conduct risk evaluation and collect and evaluate other information relevant to risk assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. When data are collected, assist EPA in preparing Risk Assessment, responding to public review comments, and finalization of the Risk Assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. The cooperating researchers met at the Vermont greenhouse test site and at a seminar on ecological revitalization of contaminated soils held at EPA Region 9 in San Francisco. They met to review experiments in progress, discuss research plans and they maintained regular email communication about experiments in progress. Regular reports of progress were made to US-EPA. Success of the greenhouse test led to the cooperative installation of a field demonstration test in Vermont and the evaluation of methods to remediate soil Pb and other element risks at East Helena, MT near a smelter, and at the New Idria Hg mine site in CA. Visited new Idria mine and smelter site where soils contain mercury at 10,000 times higher than background U.S. soils and require remediation to limit emissions of Hg vapor. An additional topic was added to this cooperation during FY-2011, the risk assessment for beneficial use of FGD-Gypsum in agriculture. ARS and EPA have been conducting cooperative field tests of using FGD-gypsum and poultry litter on pastures, with simulated rainfall runoff to evaluate runoff risks. Large numbers of water, soil, amendment, and forage samples have been generated in these experiments which will be analyzed using required quality and detection limits in the analyses. Revegetation of barren asbestos emitting superfund site using compost and gypsum was discussed. The Vermont Asbestos Group Superfund site is 300 acres of barren ground serpentinite rock which has remained barren for over 50 years due to severe infertility and poor soil properties. Methods to achieve persistent revegetation of such sites are being tested in cooperation with the US-EPA and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Based on previous success, using composts and biosolids in remediation of metal toxic soils, revegetation mixtures were designed and tested in greenhouse pots to alleviate both infertility and toxicity of the site soils with grasses and legumes. Mixtures of manure composts with flue gas desulfurization(FGD)-gypsum and nitrogen phosphorus potassium (NPK) gave immediate and strong revegetation in a greenhouse pot trial with potential cover crops. Two available commercial composts (180 t/ha) in northern Vermont were mixed with gypsum (25 t/ha), NPK and limestone for a field test of revegetation during August 2010; extensive vegetative cover was obtained and has remained persistent. Plots were sampled in July, 2011, and plants analyzed. With gypsum and compost amendment, all plants had adequate Ca. Roots penetrated about 45 cm into the ground rock layer of amended plots, but plants did not survive on the chemical-fertilizer control plots. Concentrations of trace element in the clover and grasses (analyzed separately) were not high enough to comprise risk to wildlife, and adequate for plant growth. By July 2012, vegetated plots with compost plus gypsum amendments continued to thrive with even higher biomass than 2011, while control plots remained barren. Vegetation held plots in place despite extreme rainfall events in VT in 2012 showing the ability of these treatments to hold the hazardous asbestos mine waste in place. Alternative treatment by leveling and cover with 24 inches of topsoil was estimated to cost $220 million, while use of surface applied compost mixtures should cost no more than $1.5 million and use locally available resources without removing topsoil from other locations. Soil samples from July 2012 were analyzed to evaluate leaching of surface applied Ca from compost and gypsum into the extremely Ca deficient soils. Analyses showed significant movement of Ca into and Mg from the surface 10 cm, and some Ca accumulation in the 10-20 cm depth. Rooting extended even deeper than apparent Ca changes suggesting that Ca leached down channels in the soil and roots followed the Ca. During 2011, samples were collected from contaminated sites surrounding a smelter in East Helena, MT, where Pb remediation is sought to allow wider land use. Soils are contaminated with Pb, Zn, Cd, and As compared to background soils. Three bulk samples were collected for greenhouse pot testing of remediation methods to reduce soil Pb risk by reaction with composts or phosphate amendments. All materials and amendments (manure and biosolids composts available in East Helena) have been analyzed. Greenhouse pot tests of compost and limestone application to reduce soil Pb bioaccessibility and aid growth of appropriate revegetation species for East Helena were conducted. Phosphate and compost treatments decreased soil Pb bioaccessibility, but high phosphate treatment increased As uptake by crops and in a few cases induced As phytotoxicity. Evaluation of the experiment continues. Soil samples at the New Idria Superfund Site in CA were collected by EPA cooperator and shipped to BARC. Samples were prepared for analysis. Mercury in mine and smelter disturbed soils and wastes have remained barren for decades allowing both erosion and volatilization of Hg from the mine wastes. Soils contain up to 10,000 times higher Hg than background U.S. soils, showing the extreme potential for Hg risks from these mine wastes. Some areas were rich in sulfides and have been extremely acidic and phytotoxic (pH <4.5), while others remain calcareous. Participated in two Webinars held by US-EPA to communicate approaches for using soil amendments to achieve revitalization/remediation of metal contaminated soils at Superfund sites. This inexpensive alternative is increasingly favored at Superfund sites in several Regions. In a related project, we are assisting EPA in conducting a risk assessment for beneficial use of FGD-Gypsum. Although previous gypsum products from exhaust desulfurization were contaminated by fly ash, in the last decade power plants have removed fly ash before desulfurization so that the new FGD-gypsum is very low in contaminants. Data were obtained from numerous FGD-gypsum and mined gypsum samples, and from soils and crops frm field tests in several states testing beneficial use. Samples of soils, amendments, forages, and runoff waters from simulated rainfall on the amended field plots at different periods post application are being analyzed as rapidly as possible considering the difficult processing needed to reach the needed detection limits. Separately, the methods to be used in the actual risk assessment (using collected data) are being developed and reviewed in cooperation with EPA and their contractors. Project monitoring of the FGD-gypsum risk assessment is achieved thru regular conference calls of assessment participants, site visits to EPA in DC, and of EPA to BARC to observe facilities. A site visit was also made to the Auburn, AL ARS cooperator sites to present analyses and discuss findings.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): To analyze soil, plant and water samples from EPA-ARS cooperative field test plots in GA, AL, and MS for nutrients and trace elements to support collection of data to conduct risk evaluation for beneficial use of FGD- Gypsum in Agriculture, and when data are collected to cooperate with EPA in conducting Risk Assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. Approach (from AD-416): Using existing equipment in EMBUL (Atomic Absorption; ICP-AES; ICP-MS; spectrophotometer), analyze nutrients and trace elements in gypsum, soil, plant and water samples from ARS field test plots in GA, AL, and MS to provide information needed for risk assessment of beneficial use of FGD- gypsum. During project, cooperate with US-EPA to conduct risk evaluation and collect and evaluate other information relevant to risk assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. When data are collected, assist EPA in preparing Risk Assessment, responding to public review comments, and finalization of the Risk Assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. The cooperating researchers met at Beltsville to review experiment progress and to discuss research plans and progress and maintained regular email communication about experiments in progress. EPA cooperators met at a field site to install test plots. Regular reports of progress were made to US-EPA. The success of the greenhouse tests led to the cooperative installation of a field demonstration test in Vermont and to the evaluation of methods to remediate soil Pb and other element risks at East Helena, MT near a smelter, and the New Idria mercury mine site in CA. An additional topic was added to this cooperation during FY-2011, the risk assessment for beneficial use of Fluidized Gas Desulfurization Gypsum in agriculture. ARS and EPA have been conducting cooperative field tests of using Fluidized Gas Desulfurization Gypsum and poultry litter on pastures, with simulated rainfall runoff to evaluate runoff risks. Large numbers of water, soil, amendment, and forage samples have been generated in these experiments which will be analyzed using required quality and detection limits in the analyses. The Vermont Asbestos Group Superfund site is 300 acres of barren ground serpentinite rock which has remained barren for over 50 years due to severe infertility and poor soil properties. Methods to achieve persistent revegetation of such sites are being tested in cooperation with the U.S.-Environmental Protection Agency and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Based on previous success, using composts and biosolids in remediation of metal toxic soils, revegetation mixtures were designed and tested in greenhouse pots to alleviate both infertility and toxicity of the site soils with grasses and legumes.
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To analyze soil, plant and water samples from EPA-ARS cooperative field test plots in GA, AL, and MS for nutrients and trace elements to support collection of data to conduct risk evaluation for beneficial use of FGD- Gypsum in Agriculture, and when data are collected to cooperate with EPA in conducting Risk Assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. Approach (from AD-416) Using existing equipment in EMBUL (Atomic Absorption; ICP-AES; ICP-MS; spectrophotometer), analyze nutrients and trace elements in gypsum, soil, plant and water samples from ARS field test plots in GA, AL, and MS to provide information needed for risk assessment of beneficial use of FGD- gypsum. During project, cooperate with US-EPA to conduct risk evaluation and collect and evaluate other information relevant to risk assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. When data are collected, assist EPA in preparing Risk Assessment, responding to public review comments, and finalization of the Risk Assessment for Beneficial Use of FGD-Gypsum. The goal of this cooperative project was the revegetation of a barren asbestos emitting Superfund Site using compost and gypsum. The Vermont Asbestos Group Superfund site is 300 acres of barren ground serpentinite rock which has remained barren for over 50 years due to severe infertility and poor soil properties. Methods to achieve persistent revegetation of such sites are being tested in cooperation with U.S.- Environmental Protection Agency and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Based on previous success using composts and biosolids in remediation of metal toxic soils, revegetation mixtures were designed and tested to alleviate both infertility and toxicity of the site soils with grasses and legumes. Mixtures of manure composts with Fluidized Gas Desulfurization-Gypsum and Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium fertilizers gave immediate and strong revegetation in a greenhouse pot trial with potential cover crops. Two available commercial composts in northern Vermont were mixed with gypsum, fertilizers and limestone for a field test of revegetation during August, 2010, and extensive vegetative cover was obtained before winter and is persistent during 2011. Alternative treatment by leveling and cover with 24 inches of topsoil was estimated to cost $200 million, while use of surface applied compost mixtures should cost no more than $1.5 million (plus cost of leveling steep slopes) and use locally available resources without removing topsoil from other locations. Monitoring activities were accomplished by meetings with cooperators to plan and review progress, email discussions and planning, and working together to install and evaluate field plot performance.
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To identify appropriate soil amendments and plant species for revitalization of degraded infertile or phytotoxic soils at remediation sites; to collaborate on fact sheets on urban gardening, revitalization and phytoremediation; to collaborate on papers and presentations on ecological revitalization and on technology transfer for soil risk assessment and remediation technologies including phytoremediation. Approach (from AD-416) Initial remediation test will examine soil amendments and plant species to achieve revegetation of severely infertile serpentine asbestos mine waste from site in Vermont. Composts, gypsum and NPK fertilizers will be used in combinations to correct Ca and P deficiency by surface amendment of highly sloping barren mine waste site. Promising plant species will be grown on different treatments to identify species which can grow well on amended mine waste and root into the mine waste if calcium and essential nutrients are supplied. Best adapted plant species for the northern Vermont site will be identified. Plants will be analyzed to evaluate remediation of infertility. Will advise on EPA field test of revegetation of site using methods developed in this experiment. On other projects, will collaborate with EPA in preparing fact sheets and manuscripts on soil remediation, urban and brownfield gardening and farming, and phytoremediation. US-EPA and the State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation sought to identify methods to reduce the cost of remediation of a site where about 400 acres of crushed serpentine rock remains from mining for asbestos near Eden and Lowell, Vermont. This research group had considerable experience in infertility of serpentine derived soils, and in use of composts and biosolids to achieve revegetation of infertile or metal toxic sites. Although the mine waste contains high levels of nickel, chromium, manganese, iron and cobalt, the pH of the mine waste is 8-10 which keeps these elements from becoming soluble. The key problem was severe infertility. Application of ordinary fertilizers cannot provide adequate P or Ca for plant growth. And the mine waste is essentially devoid of organic matter and soil microbes which are necessary for a stable ecosystem. The estimated cost for remediation of the site using engineering methods was $240 million, using grading to reduce slopes, and cover with 24 inches of topsoil. The plan would have been to purchase a farm and to remove all topsoil to provide the cover soil. A greenhouse pot test with 9 plant species was undertaken with unamended and NPK amended mine waste, 2 inches of compost over the mine waste without and with added gypsum, all compared to a local fertile topsoil. Perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and alsike cover which are recommended for soil revegetation in northern Vermont performed very well when compost was applied. Further, especially with the added gypsum, roots of these species grew densely into the mine waste layer because of nutrients leached from the compost layer to the mine waste layer, while roots in the mine waste from the control mine waste treatment were weak, few, and brown. Analysis confirmed the lack of metal toxicity to any species studied. Based on the success of the greenhouse test of mine waste remediation, the cooperators decided to install replicated field tests of the best treatment for establishment of vegetative cover on the mine waste, that is the combination of compost, gypsum, limestone and NPK fertilizer. A two inch layer of the mixed compost plus amendments was applied to different slope areas of the site, and seeded. Plant cover will be evaluated before frost in 2010, and growth and plant composition evaluated during 2011. EPA was also provided assistance with explanation that Pb in soils cannot be practically phytoextracted, but can be inactivated by incorporation of phosphate, composts, or biosolids. Discussion of urban soil and gardening assisted EPA with development of programs regarding urban gardening and agriculture. The cooperating researchers met at BARC to review experimental progress, discuss research plans and maintained regular email communication about experiments in progress. Regular reports of progress were made to US-EPA and the success of the greenhouse test led to the cooperative installation of a field demonstration test in Vermont.
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