Bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soils at Loring AFB, Maine

Bioventing has been selected as the treatment technology of choice for petroleum contaminated soils at Loring Air Force Base located in northern Maine. To date, 16 bioventing systems have been installed and all are currently operating under long-term operation and maintenance. These systems cover 17.6 acres and are treating over half a million cubic yards of in situ soil. Operational difficulties have been encountered due to soil heterogeneity, high or perched ground water conditions, and inability to collect soil gas samples. Oxygen utilization rates, from over 40 respiration tests, range from 0.01 to 7.5 %/hour, with the site median being 0.63%/hour.