Feasibility of using natural attenuation as a remedial alternative for explosives-contaminated groundwater at Site L1, Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, Joliet, Illinois. Final report for August 1998

Natural attenuation may be an attractive alternative to more expensive remediation technologies at sites that meet well-defined selection criteria, acceptable risk levels, and that satisfy specific regulatory concerns. Environmental remediation technology is necessarily evolving toward less expensive, less intrusive, long-term solutions. Natural attenuation may be a legitimate and sensible alternative to other remediation methods if appropriate evidence of protection for potential contaminant receptors is documented. A recent study by the US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES) verified a regulatory attitude of potential acceptance of natural attenuation for explosives-contaminated sites. This study confirmed that most regulatory agencies would accept natural attenuation given appropriate scientific, engineering, and risk assessment data.