Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Optimal Utilization Of Field Generated Analytical Data For Site Characterization And Remedial Decision Making, Ronald J. Lester

Theses and Dissertations

This study developed data quality standards for assessing environmental analytical data quality and its use in remedial decision making, specifically in risk assessment calculations. The primary purpose was to increase the use of field generated data in environmental site investigations versus the continued reliance on costly and time consuming EPA Contract Lab Program data. Increased reliance on field lab data could significantly reduce remedial investigation costs. The standards developed are based on regulatory criteria for data useability, achievable quality in a CLP lab setting, and basic statistical methods. The standards were applied to sets of Volatile Organic Compound data in …

Economics Of Chlorofluorocarbon (Cfc) Machine Replacement, Geoffrey D. Rudderow

Theses and Dissertations

Continued use of chlorofluorocarbon CFC refrigerants may have a severe financial as well as operational impact on the users of air-conditioning and other refrigeration equipment as price increases continue and production is phased out. With production of CFCs coming to a halt on 31 December 1995, the two major refrigerants that have been used in commercial and industrial cooling applications will no longer be available. The phase out of production is a result of national and international agreement that these, as well as other CFCs, are a primary cause of the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. To help the …

An Analysis Of Alternative Methods Of Measuring Hazardous Waste Reduction Progress At The Air Force Materiel Command's Air Logistic Centers, Edward C. Finke

Theses and Dissertations

his study investigated the relationship between aircraft related maintenance activity and the amount of hazardous waste (HW) disposed of by Air Force Materiel Command's (AFMC) Air Logistic Centers (ALC). These ALCS, along with the Aircraft Guidance and Meteorology Center, generate approximately 76 percent of the HW generated by the Air Force. The activity indexing and least squares curve fitting methods were used to predict the amount of HW that would have been disposed of based on the relative level of aircraft related maintenance activity had no pollution prevention efforts been implemented. These predictions were then compared to what historically occurred …

Developing An Emission Factor For Hazardous Air Pollutants For An F-16 Using Jp-8 Fuel, Donald J. Van Schaack

Theses and Dissertations

The 1990 Clean Air Act amendments drastically changed the legislation of hazardous air pollutants HAPs or air toxics. Title 3 of the act which specifically addresses HAPs now lists 189 substances which may require regulation as air toxics. Consequently, the reporting of HAP emissions from all Air Force operations will be required in the future. However, the Department of Defense DoD does not have methods available to report this information. This thesis develops emission factors for selected HAPs from an F-16 CD aircraft F110 engine operating on JP-8 fuel. The methodology included determining which HAPs should be selected, using past …

A Quantitative Method For Screening Pollution Prevention Program Options At United States Air Force Installations, Wayne M. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

US Air Force installations worldwide are required to implement pollution prevention (PP) programs designed to reduce the release of pollutants to the environment, and the Air Force uses opportunity assessments (OAs) to identify and evaluate waste producing processes that could benefit from a PP project. The OA process guidance provides extensive details on how to identify potential projects and on how to economically evaluate a project selected for implementation. However, it provides only cursory information about how to decide which projects should be selected for this evaluation. This thesis bridges that gap by providing a quantitative model to be used …

Decision Support Model To Compare Hazardous Waste Site Remediation Process Alternatives, Christopher E. Findall

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on the development of a decision support model to identify the preferred methods of site characterization and treatment technology identification using the principles of decision analysis theory. The model provides an effective decision making tool to evaluate and compare the feasibility of using alternative methods of completing the RIFS process. Given a specific site remediation project, the users of this model can enter site- specific cost, duration and likelihood values to determine the expected value for various alternative processes. This thesis postulates that the alternative having the highest expected value is considered the preferred alternative. In calculating …

Volatile Organic Compound Emissions From Usaf Wastewater Treatment Plants In Ozone Nonattainment Areas, Brian A. Ouellette

Theses and Dissertations

In accordance with the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments CAAA, this research conducts an evaluation of the potential emission of volatile organic compounds VOCs from selected Air Force wastewater treatment plants. Using a conservative mass balance analysis and process specific simulation models, volatile organic emission estimates are calculated for four individual facilities--Edwards AFB, Luke AFB, McGuire AFB, and McClellan AFB--which represent a cross section of the current inventory of USAF wastewater plants in ozone nonattainment areas. From these calculations, maximum facility emissions are determined which represent the upper limit for the potential VOC emissions from these wastewater plants. Based on …

Evaluation Of Alternative Methods For Wastewater Disinfection, David C. Piech

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the alternative methods of wastewater disinfection. Areas of interest included methods of operation, ease of maintenance, and effectiveness for various types of wastewater. A literature search revealed three major disinfection options, which include chlorination dechlorination, ultraviolet light, and ozone. A questionnaire was sent to the active duty Air Force installations that operate wastewater treatment plants, requesting permit limitations and monthly averages for a variety of wastewater parameters. The majority of Air Force wastewater treatment plants use chlorine for disinfection. Using the data obtained from the questionnaire responses and established wastewater parameters from other research, the basic design …

Simulation Of Hydrologic Influences On Wetland Ecosystem Succession, Robert A. Pompilio

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on the development of a simulation model to determine the effects of hydrological influences on a wetland ecosystem. The model allows perturbations to the inputs of various wetland data which in turn, influences the successional development of the ecosystem. This research consisted of converting a grassland ecosystem model to one which simulates wetland conditions. The critical factor in determining the success of wetland creation is the hydrology of the system. There are four of the areas of the original model which are affected by the hydrology. The model measures the health or success of the ecosystem through …

Standardization Of Protocol For The Sampling, Testing And Abatement Of Asbestos Containing Joint Compound, Gary J. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the differing regulatory guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency concerning the abatement of Asbestos Containing Joint Compound (ACJC). The specific interest was whether or not adequate protection was being afforded demolition workers when exposed to working with ACJC materials that contain less than 1.0 percent asbestos. A spreadsheet was written to estimate the exposure scenario which might be experienced within a given room size on a demolition or renovation jobsite. Spreadsheets were calculated for ACJC with an asbestos content of 0.1 to 0.9 percent in 0.1 increments for rooms ranging …

A Preliminary System Dynamics Model Of A Constructed Wetland For The Mitigation Of Metals In Usaf Storm Water, Mark P. Smekrud

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis determines the potential removal and corresponding accumulation of trace metals from Air Force storm water in a constructed wetland through the use of a System Dynamics model. The goal is to determine whether constructed wetlands used as storm water best management practices provide efficient metal removal while creating only benign accumulations of such pollutants. Its purpose is to allow Base Civil Engineers and Environmental Managers a better tool to assess the long-term effects of a constructed wetland used as a storm water mitigation technique. The research is limited to the assessment of typical metal concentrations found in Air …

Solvent Substitution Methodology Using Multiattribute Utility Theory And The Analytical Hierarchical Process, Jaimie S. Tiley

Theses and Dissertations

This study developed a multicriteria decision making methodology for the ranking of solvent cleaning process alternatives. This includes development of univariate value functions and criteria and the incorporation or required alternative attributes. It also compares the Analytical Hierarchical Process and Multiattribute Utility Theory in reference to a cleaning substitution process. An actual Air Force cleaning process evaluation problem is considered to verify the research. The test problem ranks several cleaning alternatives for the replacement of a hazardous solvent used in the general cleaning of aircraft engine components.

Status Of Storm Water Pollution In The United States, Lynne A. Urquhart

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of storm water pollution in the United States Air Force. This is important since most AF bases are now required to have applied for a NPDES storm water permit. The objectives of the study were to: evaluate the sampling rates used at AF bases; determine the pollutants tested for by the AF bases; compare the pollutant concentrations of the AF bases to an EPA water quality standard; and determine if there were any trends in sampling or pollutant concentrations due to seasonal changes or across AF Commands or EPA Regions. …

Modeling Of Ground Water Aquifer Remediation By Pulsed Pumping When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Physical, Non-Equilibrium Sorption And Desorption, Jeffrey L. Caspers

Theses and Dissertations

This research postulates and demonstrates a modification incorporating rate-limited sorption effects in the USGS SUTRA code for cleanup of a hypothetical sandy aquifer by pump-and-treat remediation methods. Contaminant transport is assumed to be affected by advection, dispersion, and rate-limited sorption/desorption. Sorption is assumed to be either equilibrium or rate-limited, with the rate-limitation described by either a first-order law, or by Fickian diffusion of contaminant through a spherical immobile pore region. Solutions are arrived at by split operator methods for the transport and one-dimensional Galerkin solutions for the solute concentration equations. The resulting model is tested against an analytical Laplace transform …

Use Of Infrared Spectrometry To Determine The Effect Of Trichloroethylene Resident Time On Desorption Rates From Flint Clay, Peter T. Lapuma

Theses and Dissertations

This laboratory based thesis investigated the desorption rate of trichloroethylene (TCE) from flint clay while varying the resident time of TCE exposed to the clay. It is thought that in long contaminated soil, a majority of contaminant mass will become entrained within the interior of the soil particles to slowly desorb out of the soil over long periods of time. Recent studies suggest that the longer a contaminant is resident in soil, the longer the contaminant will take to desorb from the soil. To understand more about soil desorption, this experiment was developed using infrared spectroscopy to detect TCE vapor …

Effects Of Thickness And Curvature On The Natural Frequencies Of Cylindrical Composite Shells, Jose L. Monteverde E.

Theses and Dissertations

An analytical study is performed to determine the dynamic response, natural frequencies and mode shapes, of deep composite cylindrical shells, including the effect of through the thickness shear strain. The DSHELL finite element program is used to predict the first four natural frequencies and the results are compared to a reference using the Galerkin technique. The program was extended to problems considering simply supported-free boundary conditions. As is well know, the free boundary is rather difficult to represent using the Galerkin technique approach. The mode shapes are created by plotting a surface-contour plot of the eigenvector output from DSHELL.

A …

The Application Of Nepa Requirements To Cercla Remedial Actions, Connie L. Strobbe

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the application of National Environmental Policy Act NEPA requirements to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act CERCLA actions. Similarities in the documentation and public participation requirements of NEPA and CERCLA include identification and evaluation of alternatives and public participation. Differences include document contents and timing of public participation. This study presented four options for ensuring NEPA compliance at CERCLA sites. Option one included a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement PEIS with subsequent combined FSEIS report for each subunit. Option two eliminated the PEIS, but retained a stand-alone NEPA document for each CERCLA subunit. Option three included a …

Comparison Of The Dynamic Behavior Of Composite Plates And Shells Incorporating Green's Strain Terms With The Von Karman And Donnell Models, Arthur E. Forral

Theses and Dissertations

The dynamic collapse behavior of thin, composite cylindrical shells subjected to transverse point loads is considered. The dynamic behavior of the undamped cylindrical shells of varying radii is analyzed with a finite element formulation that incorporates all nonlinear Green's strain terms in the in-plane directions; transverse strains are linear and vary parabolically through the shell thickness. This formulation is denoted as the simplified large displacement/rotation (SLR) theory. Graphical representations are used extensively to examine dynamic behaviors not noted in similar research that utilized the DSHELL finite element code. Composite plate behavior is also explored. Comparison of the higher-order formulations to …

The Effect Of Cutout Dimensionality On The Collapse Characteristics Of Cylindrical Composite Shells Of Varying Thickness, John C. Del Barga

Theses and Dissertations

This study involved a numerical and experimental investigation of the (geometric instability of graphite/epoxy cylindrical panels with free vertical edges undergoing axial compression. Symmetric quasi-isotropic laminates with five different size centralized cutouts, were investigated for two axial lengths of panels and three thicknesses. The study compared experimental data to results from SHELL, a geometrically nonlinear finite-element program which incorporates a parabolic transverse shear strain distribution through the thickness. The research verified that the SHELL program will provide good predictions of the collapse characteristics of a panel with large cutouts of varying dimensions undergoing large displacements and rotations. The best correlation …

Development Of Computer Software To Aid Environmental Decision Makers In The Education And Training Of Air Force Remedial Project Managers, Roger R. Ouellette, Bruce K. Lyman

Theses and Dissertations

By the end of Fiscal Year 1991, the Air Force had identified 4,354 contaminated sites. Much like the 177 toxic sites at McClellan AFB, bases across the country and throughput the world are filled with chrome, lead, paint solvents and many other toxics that are rendering water supplies unusable and endangering the health of millions of people living in and around these bases. Air Force officials continue to identify contaminated sites with no end in sight. Since the cleanup of these toxic materials involves diverse, complex activities, the Air Force created the duty position of Remedial Project Manager to manage …

Application Of The Simplified Dow Chemical Company Relative Ranking Hazard Assessment Method For Air Combat Command Bases, Raymond A. Sable

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the possibility of determining the hazard potential of chemicals on Air Force bases using a relative ranking hazard assessment method. Hazard assessment includes identification of hazards and evaluation of the hazards. Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 requires hazard assessments by all facilities with extremely hazardous substances to prepare release prevention plans. The purpose of the hazard assessments is to provide information to improve the spill prevention, control and countermeasures plans and to identify the substances with the highest hazard potential. Using the results from the hazard assessments, bases cam prepare plans …

A Decision Support Model Using Life Cycle Cost (Lcc) Analysis To Select Cost-Effective Alternatives For Hazardous Materials, Blaine F. Burley, Kirk A. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on the development of a decision support model to select cost-effective alternatives for hazardous materials using life cycle cost (LCC) analysis. The model provides an effective decision-making tool to evaluate the economic feasibility of using alternatives for hazardous materials. Given a specific operation, the users of this model can enter site-specific cost data to determine the total LCCs of using baseline hazardous materials (i.e., hazardous materials currently being used in an operation), as well as the total LCCs of using various alternatives. This thesis postulates that the material having the lowest total LCC is considered to be …

Analysis And Development Of An F-5 Pollution Prevention Management Program With Recommendations For Creation Of Similar Programs For Other Aircraft, Janice M. Gavern

Theses and Dissertations

This study developed a pollution prevention program for the F-5 aircraft, and described its utility and applicability as a generic framework for similar programs. A representative set of F-5 technical orders was analyzed by hand, and the identified chemicals, materials, and processes were loaded into a spreadsheet data base for additional analysis. The Environmental Protection Agency EPA 17 chemical list, and lists of ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs) were used as criteria to identify, for minimization, reduction, or elimination from use on the F-5, a hazardous material (hazmat) subset of those chemicals and materials which had already been identified. The identified …

A Study Of Investigation-Derived Waste Management Options, Barry C. Mountain

Theses and Dissertations

USAF is dedicated to the clean up of past releases of hazardous substances at its bases under the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) . Clean up decisions are based upon data produced from investigations. Large amounts of waste may be derived from investigations. Investigation-derived waste (IDW), especially that with a hazardous component, may pose significant health protection and regulatory compliance problems if neglected. This study identifies the status and the need for improvement of IDW management to avoid those problems. Information on the background of IDW management was collected through a review of environmental laws, waste management regulations, and existing guidance. …

A Feasibility Study Of Burning Waste Paper In Coal-Fired Boilers On Air Force Installations, Kenneth P. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the feasibility of using waste paper derived fuel in coal-fired boilers on Air Force installations in an attempt to help solve air pollution and solid waste disposal problems. The implementation of waste paper derived fuel was examined from both a technical acceptability and an economic feasibility viewpoint. The majority of data for this study was obtained through literature reviews and personal interviews. Waste paper was found to be technically acceptable for use as fuel. However, waste paper has certain characteristics that may create problems during combustion and therefore further research is required. These problems included the possibility …

An Analysis Of Site Parameters Affecting Natural Attenuation In Saturated Soil, William H. Potts

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the natural attenuation mechanisms and some of the parameters affecting those mechanisms in the saturated zone. A literature search revealed numerous studies of various attenuation and the associated parameters. Much of the literature emphasized biodegradation as the most promising attenuation mechanism. BIOPLUME II(TM), a fate and transport model, was used to simulate the fate and transport of contaminant plume. The effects of the model parameters were investigated by observing the distance a contaminant plume was expected to migrate over a fifty year period. The investigation was limited by the model which excludes chemical reactions and some physical …

Analysis Of Best Management Practices For Storm Water Compliance At Air Force Airfields, Peter A. Ridilla, Bradley T. Hoagland

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzed storm water best management practices (BMPs) that may a Base Civil Engineers/Environmental Managers in complying with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water discharge requirements for Air Force airfield pavements. As a result of recent storm water regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, increased emphasis has been placed on preventing and controlling the discharge of pollutants into surface waters of the United States. Based on the results of an American Association of Airport Executives' survey of civilian airports, the types and levels of airfield pollutants were identified. Typical NPDES storm water permit standards were then …

A Guide To Implementing Reclamation Processes At Department Of Defense Municipal Solid Waste And Construction Debris Landfills, Gregory L. Tures

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis serves as a guide for implementing landfill reclamation techniques on municipal solid waste or construction debris landfills owned, operated, or used by the DoD. The research describes historical and current methods for disposing of solid waste including open dumping, sanitary landfilling, and the development of state-of-the-art sanitary landfill cell technology. The thesis also identifies the factors which have led to the need for new methods of managing municipal solid waste. The vast majority of the study is devoted to identifying actions which should be taken before, during, and after implementation of a landfill reclamation project. These actions include …

Guidance For The Development Of Air Force Storm Water Sampling Programs, Jerry K. Weldon Iii, Roy T. Willis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop sampling guidance that will enable Air Force (AF) installations to conduct cost effective storm water sampling in accordance with current storm water regulations. Data on the techniques used by AF bases to obtain storm water samples for the AF group storm water permit application were collected and analyzed. This information was used to outline management and resource requirements associated with the implementation of NPDES storm water regulations. The use of in-house personnel, automatic sampling equipment, or a contractor to perform the field data collection was examined. An in-house manual approach to storm …

A Plan For Coordinating Department Of Defense Emissions Trading, Charles H. Weir

Theses and Dissertations

The original purpose of this research was to develop a plan to coordinate emissions trading between DoD installations. During the course of this research, findings indicated that restrictions on emissions trading would make such a plan of limited applicability. However, findings did indicate the need for a tool to assist managers with selecting the netting, offset, and banking emissions trading alternatives. Developing this tool became the objective of this research. This objective was fulfilled by developing a management guide to assist environmental managers with selecting the emissions trading alternatives netting, banking, and offsets. Background information was collected by examining literature …