September 29, 2009
AMEC Geomatrix Wins AFCEE Projects for Innovative Technology
OAKLAND, CA – AMEC Geomatrix has been awarded two innovative technology demonstration projects by the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE). The projects were awarded under AFCEE’s Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and are intended to explore new technologies that promise to reduce environmental impacts from current or past U.S. Air Force operations. The effort is focused on the further development of field-tested remediation, contaminated site characterization and monitoring, and pollution prevention technologies. The Air Force is seeking innovative new technologies that save money and time while achieving compliance with air, soil and water regulatory requirements and Air Force policies.
AFCEE selected only 12 projects out of more than 100 submittals for the BAA program. “Having one firm selected for two, as AMEC Geomatrix was, is highly unusual and serves as testimony to the expertise and reputation of our people,” stated Scott Streifert, SVP, Air Force Program Sector lead. Briefly, the two awarded projects are:
Bioremediation Monitoring Tool. Under this $170,000 project, AMEC will evaluate the use of Bio-Trap® microbial samplers at Air Force Plant 4 (AFP4) near Fort Worth, Texas, where groundwater is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and other chlorinated solvents. The samplers, which capture naturally present bacteria in order to evaluate their biodegradation potential, will be evaluated on site for their ability to determine the best bioremediation techniques for treating AFP4 contamination. The project is led by Vice President Laurie LaPat-Polasko, PhD, a senior scientist in AMEC’s Scottsdale, Ariz. Office.
Stabilized Nano-scale Groundwater Remediation. Under this $349,000 project, AMEC will test the effectiveness of stabilized nano-scale iron for treatment of chlorinated solvents in groundwater, focused particularly on source-zone remediation. Nanoparticles have shown great promise as a groundwater remediation technology, but issues with agglomeration impacts effective delivery to the aquifer. The AMEC research team will demonstrate an environmentally friendly cellulose stabilizer coating on the particles that prevents agglomeration, improving their delivery to the aquifer and maintaining their high reactivity with the contaminants. The project team consists of Principal Geochemist Dawn Kaback, PhD, of Denver, Colo., Staff Engineer Zhong Xiong, PhD, of Newport Beach, Calif., and Senior Hydrogeologist Peter Bennett, PG, of Oakland, Calif.
In addition to the two BAA awards, AMEC Geomatrix was instrumental in helping win a $443,000 slope stabilization project at Fort MacArthur, a geographically separated unit of the Los Angeles Air Force Base located in San Pedro, Calif. The comprehensive services will include geotechnical engineering led by Principal Geotechnical Engineer Tim Keuscher, PE, GE, from AMEC Geomatrix’s Newport Beach office and civil engineering and environmental/natural resources services from AMEC Earth & Environmental. In essence, previous, independent work experience at the base by Geomatrix and E&E was brought together into one beautifully bundled package. Vice President Aaron Goldschmidt of E&E’s Santa Barbara, Calif. office is the task order manager. Besides Tim Keuscher, Senior Program Manager Tom Rasmussen of AMEC’s Air Force program management team also helped put the winning proposal together.
For more information, please contact:
Marion T. Thatch, FSMPS, CPSM
510.663.4128
marion.thatch@amec.com