The Beaver Dam Creek Landfill (BDRLF) is one of several operable units being addressed under the CERCLA (a.k.a. Superfund) program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland.
Groundwater downgradient of the closed landfill is contaminated with chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs), including parent compounds and degradation products. The record of decision for the Landfill specified a remediation approach consisting of a biowall to promote the enhanced, in-situ biodegradation of the CVOCs. The biowall media includes a mixture of sand, composted leaf mulch and wood chips.
SCS’s design/build services were utilized to design and construct the biowall. SCS Engineers prepared design plans, specifications and E&S plans, which were reviewed and approved by USDA and EPA. The design plans also addressed placement of the subsurface soil removed by the trencher.
Post-construction groundwater monitoring results have demonstrated that the biowall media has accelerated in-situ biodegradation of the chlorinated VOCs.
