Projects: Demonstration Site in North Carolina- Using Mixed Trees to Contain Fuel-Contaminated Groundwater

Project Site

Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States

Organization

North Carolina State University  

Contact Person

Elizabeth Nichols, Ph.D., elizabeth_nichols@ncsu.edu

Purpose of Project

N/A

A mixed hybrid poplar, willow, and loblolly pine system of 3,100 trees was planted at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Facility in Elizabeth City, NC, USA. This is a demonstration site for the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources as part of the US EPA 319 Program. The main objective is to prevent the groundwater migration of fuels from former storage areas to the Pasquotank River. Soil gas analyses show an 85% reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbons from February 2007 to July 2010; groundwater concentrations of BTEX are below regulatory levels at key groundwater wells.

Project Durarion

In progress since March 2006

Project Status

Continuing

Project Media

Groundwater: other

Contaminant categories

PAH’s and TPH - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Health/exposure concerns

Fuel-contaminated groundwater may migrate to the Pasquotank River, which may be used for irrigation or drinking water sources.

Phytotechnology mechanism

phytodegradation, phytoextraction, phytohydraulics

Plant Species

Hybrid Poplars, Willows, Loblolly Pine

Remediation Enhancing Additives

none

Project Scale

Full Scale

Remediation Location

In Situ

Remediation volumn/area

20,234 m

Project Costs

$ 1.84 per m2

Secondary Value/Uses for Project Land and Plants

none