NCDEQ Secretary and NHDES Commissioner pay visit to Clean Earth’s Loudon site
Clean Earth hosted Secretary Elizabeth Biser from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and Commissioner Robert Scott from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) at its Loudon, New Hampshire facility. Biser and Scott visited to learn about Clean Earth’s thermal desorption technology and its effectiveness for the remediation of soil contaminated with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
This issue of PFAS is particularly important in New Hampshire and North Carolina where contamination poses significant challenges. New Hampshire has seen contamination at sites like Pease Air Force Base, while North Carolina's Cape Fear River Basin has been impacted by discharges from a Fayetteville facility.
Studies indicate that soil is a significant reservoir for PFAS. This accumulation is problematic because PFAS can persist for a long time and may eventually move into other environmental media, including water sources. As PFAS are prevalent in soils across the globe, it’s vital we continue to refine advanced solutions to address the contamination.
Thermal desorption technology is a critical component of ReSolve’s PFAS remediation toolbox, offering effective treatment for contaminated soils. The process involves heating the soil in a rotating dryer to separate and remove PFAS contaminants, which are subsequently destroyed in a thermal oxidation unit.
A recent test by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) at Clean Earth's Fort Edward facility treated 22.6 tons of contaminated soil. The thermal desorption process removed over 99% of PFOS and PFOA, with other PFAS compounds reduced to below detectable limits.
During the tour, the Secretary and Commissioner also saw one of Clean Earth’s mobile thermal desorption units, which is being prepared for a future DoD project deployment. Mobile thermal desorption units are technically the same as fixed units, such as the one at our Clean Earth facility in Loudon, New Hampshire, but can be transported to almost anywhere in the world to help with remediation efforts.
The mobile unit is revolutionary as it allows the Company to conduct remediation at the contaminated site, saving time and money while eliminating frequent heavy truck traffic associated with moving large quantities of material. This minimizes roadway safety hazards, greenhouse gas emissions, and overall inconvenience for local communities.
Both mobile and fixed desorption units support the beneficial reuse of the remediated soil, which contributes to a sustainable environment and economy. Beneficial reuse strengthens the economy by reducing remediation costs, providing tax incentives, and supporting community development. It also minimizes environmental impact and promotes a more sustainable business model. This is important because the EPA has set advisory regional screening levels for six PFAS substances to guide the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites.
Learn more about ReSolve’s toolbox to develop PFAS solutions for a cleaner world: https://www.resolvepfas.com/solutions-toolbox.
