99 -- MISCELLANEOUS -- IDENTIFICATION OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE GROUTING MATERIALS

Notice Date

May 22, 2001

Contracting Office

MSE Technology Applications Inc, P.O. Box 4078, Butte, Montana 59702

ZIP Code

59702

Solicitation Number

A76460

Response Due

June 8, 2001

Point of Contact

Steve Dunstan -- 406-494-7427

Description

MSE Technology Applications, Inc. (MSE) under a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is participating in the planning of Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) remedial actions at the Oak Ridge (TN) Y-12 Plant; this facility is located within the Upper East Fork Poplar Creek watershed and is situated in the vicinity of the Oak Ridge town site. The baseline remediation approach includes excavation and on site disposal of soils and sediments contaminated with mercury (Hg), other heavy metals, and radionuclides. One of these contamination sources is associated with historic Hg retorting/recovery operations at the Y-12 Plant, Building 81-10 area. Mercury concentrations range from background (i.e., <1mg/kg, acid extractable) to droplets of elemental Hg at depth; during previous investigations total Hg concentrations up to 1,000 mg/kg has been detected in soils. About 30,000 cubic yards (cy) of soil, distributed over a few acres and down to 30 ft. below ground surface, would need to be excavated and an estimated 10,000 cy would require treatment prior to disposal. Seasonal high groundwater is within 10 feet of surface. The area includes compacted fill material within an historic creek channel; thus soil texture can range from native clay through construction debris (e.g., wood, concrete, rebar). It has been estimated that excavation, pretreatment using Low Temperature Thermal Desorption, and disposal of these soils could cost over $20 million dollars. The high cost of this remedial option has prompted the search for alternative approaches that are at least as protective of human health and the environment as the baseline approach. One candidate technology is in situ grouting of contaminated soils to stabilize/immobilize the Hg (and other inorganic contaminants). DOE has assigned MSE to conduct a CERCLA treatability study to determine whether commercially available in situ grout formulations can meet the following goals: (A) Reduce permeability of the Hg soil matrix by at least an order of magnitude, wherein baseline hydraulic conductivity is in the order of 1x10-5 cm/sec; and (B) Render extractable Hg levels to <0.200 mg/L as determined by the Toxicity Characteristic Leach Procedure. In all likelihood, the treated soils (located around and beneath buildings) could be left in place if these goals can be met. MSE's initial task is to identify commercially available grouting materials that exhibit the potential for meeting one or both of the above goals. Interested vendors are requested to provide the following written information about proposed products or materials: (1) Description of the general grouting and stabilization characteristics, chemical composition and mode of stabilizing such contaminants as Hg. (2) Description of the usual means of preparing and applying the given product preferably in situations similar to those described for the 81-10 site. Jet grouting of the soils is anticipated, given their generally high clay content. (3) Description of each product's physical properties, including: viscosity; resistance of the compacted soil-grout mixtures to freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles; resistance to biological attack; commonly achieved reductions in saturated hydraulic conductivity; unconfined compressive strength; and changes in volume (swell factor) that occur between time of placement and full curing of the grout. (4) Description of the environmental, safety and health information, as provided in each products Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). (5) Estimated range of application/treatment costs ($/cy) to stabilize vadose zone soils and saturated soils at the 81-10 site. (6) MSE is willing to sign a confidentiality agreement; proprietary information will be kept confidential as requested by the vendor. After evaluation, MSE may also procure 10-20 kg of selected grouting materials offered, for conducting bench scale screening and treatability testing. Responding firms also will have the option of requesting soils for performing preliminary tests to identify their best formulation for the proposed application. Prospective vendors are requested to respond by June 8, 2001. Note that this is a 7-day extension to sol A76459 published May 18, 2001. A brief letter that addresses the above issues, as supplemented by product-specific brochures and MSDSs, should be sufficient for MSE's initial evaluations. Interested parties should submit requested information to: Steve Dunstan, Project Engineer, MSE Technology Applications, Inc., 200 Technology Way, P.O. Box 4078, Butte, MT 59702 Phone: (406) 494-7427 Fax: (406) 494-7230 E-mail: sdunstan@mse-ta.com

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010524/99SOL009.HTM (W-142 SN50M849)