Anchor QEA is working at this private industrial facility in Oregon, which is the source of a groundwater plume of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that extends off site into an area of residential groundwater use. The groundwater is being cleaned up under a Remedial Design/Remedial Action plan under agreement with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
An Interim Remedial Action Measure (IRAM) consisting of an in situ permeable reactive barrier was installed on site for passive removal of VOCs from onsite groundwater. The system consists of a slurry wall that funnels the groundwater through a below-ground permeable reactive treatment wall before the groundwater migrates off site. The groundwater VOCs are oxidized within the reactive wall and the concentrations reduced below risk-based cleanup levels. The off-site portion of the VOC plume is being remediated through a combination of institutional controls, residential well head treatment, and monitored natural attenuation. The facility IRAM treatment barrier and off-site monitored natural attenuation are successfully protecting off-site groundwater beneficial uses.