Geomorphology for environmental remediation processes and systems including sediment survey

Abstract

The present invention uses one or more sediment survey techniques to map the sediment of a water course in three dimensions. The sediment survey techniques result in sediment definition that may be used to identify zones of sediment (whether areas or volumes) that are likely to contain contaminants. This may be based on the identity of the sediment, the location of the sediment in the water course, the depth of the sediment and/or the thickness of the sediment layer. In one embodiment, the sediment survey techniques, and the resulting sediment definition, may be used in combination with geomorphology techniques to calculate an adjusted contaminant concentration for sediment zones. Based on the adjusted contaminant concentrations for a site, selective sediment removal may be used to achieve the most effective removal of contaminant with the least of sediment removal or sediment testing.

1 . A method for investigating a site for possible selective removal of sediment containing a contaminant, comprising:
 conducting a sediment survey for one or more sediment zones containing sediment in a site containing a water course;   calculating an adjusted contaminant concentration for each of the one or more sediment zones in the site, by multiplying a known or estimated contaminant concentration by an erosion factor and by a risk attenuation factor; and   investigating the site for possible selective removal of sediment containing a contaminant based on said conducting step and said calculating step.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conducting step comprises applying energy to a sediment zone and monitoring energy reflected by the sediment zone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the energy is sonar, radar or lidar. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the conducting step further comprises identifying the type of sediment, the location of sediment, the volume of sediment and combinations thereof in each of the sediment zones. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the assigned risk attenuation factor is adjusted based on the type of sediment, the location of sediment, the volume of sediment and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising identifying whether the sediment zone is an erosion zone, a deposition zone or a stable zone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the one or more sediment zone is in need of remediation by comparison of the adjusted contaminant concentration to a standard. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the standard is a site requirement or a municipal, state or federal law, rule or regulation, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the starting concentration comprises estimating the starting concentration or testing the sediment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein determining the starting concentration comprises using a proxy sediment zone. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein assigning the erosion factor comprises identifying each of the one or more sediment zones as a deposition zone, an erosion zone or a stable zone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identifying sediments zones comprises comparing images of the site that are separated in time, analyzing topographical features of the site, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the identifying step further comprises applying electromagnetic energy to a sediment zone and monitoring energy reflected by the sediment zone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising designing a remediation plan based on the determination of which of the one or more sediment zones are in need of remediation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising remediating the site in view of the remediation plan. 
     
     
         16 . A method for selective removal of a sediment containing a contaminant, comprising:
 identifying one or more sediment zone of a water course in a site through a sediment survey and the application of geomorphological principals to determine the location of deposition, erosion and stable zones within the water course;   calculating an adjusted contaminant concentration for the one or more sediment zones in the site;   determining whether the one or more sediment zone is in need of remediation by comparison of the adjusted contaminant concentration to a standard; and   designing a remediation plan based on the determination of which of the one or more sediment zones are in need of remediation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising implementing the designed remediation plan. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising verifying the implementation of the remediation plan. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising calculating an area-concentration for one or more sediment zones in a section of the water course 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising calculating a surface weighted average concentration for the section of the water course before designing the remediation plan.