spr16 nesdi program launches eleven technology …...in sewers or treatment plants, a limited...

THE NAVY ENVIRONMENTALSustainability Development to Integra-tion (NESDI) program launched 11new initiatives in 2015 to addresssome of the most pressing environ-mental operational challenges facingthe Navy. These projects range fromefforts to better understand the poten-tial impacts of water conservationmeasures on installation drinkingwater infrastructure, address the safedisposal and remediation of muni-

tions constituents, and improve theefficiency and effectiveness ofstormwater monitoring systems.

Each year, the NESDI program collectsenvironmental needs from across theNavy’s shore community. Based onselected needs, project teams areformed to demonstrate, validate, andintegrate innovative technologies,processes, and materials into fleet

operations. In fiscal year 2015, after atotal of 53 needs were collected, and23 proposals were received andreviewed, the program gave the greenlight to the following 11 projects.

Project 524: Innovative HydrantFlushing Navy and Marine Corps installationsworldwide are required to maintain adisinfectant residual in their drinking

nitrification or trihalomethanes (THM)may also build up in the water distrib-ution system. (Nitrification increasesnitrite and nitrate levels, andpromotes bacterial regrowth.)

To maintain compliance, Naval basesflush hydrants with millions of gallonsof potable water to eradicate stagnantwater, clean the pipes, increase thedisinfection residual in the pipes, andflush out the nitrates and THMs.

The flushing process can require atremendous amount of water—over amillion gallons of water per year forone hydrant. Not only is this expendi-ture of potable water wasteful in asevere and ongoing drought, but atsome bases, the effective scouringvelocity cannot be achieved by tradi-tional hydrant flushing, even whendone weekly. This means that nitrifica-tion can continue to occur despite the

56 Currents spring 2016

NESDI Program Launches Eleven TechnologyInitiativesNotable Efforts Target Water Conservation Challenges & Enhanced Stormwater Monitoring

water systems. The chlorine or chlo-ramine residual prevents bacteriolog-ical growth in the drinking water andis required under the Safe DrinkingWater Act (SDWA) and associatedChief of Naval Operations Energy andEnvironmental Readiness Divisioninstructions. However, this chlorineresidue tends to be “consumed” by abuildup of biofilms and sediment inmost water systems. Additionally,

The flushing process wastes a tremendous amount of water—over a million gallons of water per year for one hydrant.

spring 2016 Currents 57

massive outlay of water. This NESDIproject was formed to find a solution toboth problems.

The project team, headed by TamiRelph of the Naval Facilities Engi-neering and Expeditionary WarfareCenter (EXWC), is demonstrating andevaluating a truck-mounted potablewater distribution system to effec-tively perform hydrant flushing withno waste of potable water.

For scouring to be effective, a velocityof five cubic feet per second must beachieved. While conventional flushingtypically produces a velocity of onlyone to three cubic feet per second, thehigh-velocity truck-mounted systemchosen for the demonstration reachesthe target five cubic foot velocity.Known as the Neutral OutputDischarge Elimination System (NO-DES), the system has been used effec-tively in over 50 municipalities to date.It connects between two standard firehydrants or between a fire hydrantand a fully open blow-off valve. The

strated to selected potential users.The team will also prepare a video ofthe system in use, so that Navypublic works directors can see theease with which the system is set upand utilized.

Project 518: Impacts of LowWater Flows on Sewer SystemsWidespread mandated water conser-vation measures have resulted inreduced and concentrated flowthrough wastewater collectionsystems. While this is in itself anaccomplishment, there is anunknown aspect of conservation thatrequires further study.

The NESDI program identified a needfor the Navy to understand, assess,and address the impacts of waterconservation measures on installationwater and wastewater infrastructure.Because installation collection anddistribution systems were designedfor much higher flow rates, little isknown about the impact of low

The NO-DES truck. Low Impact Development Center

water from the hydrant is run througha filter system mounted on the truckto remove biofilm and clean out theline. The truck system also disinfectsthe water and returns it to the watersystem, resulting in zero water waste.

To demonstrate the NO-DES system,the drinking water system at the NavyBase Ventura County (NBVC) PortHueneme base will be flushed. NBVCis a typical Navy installation whereconventional hydrant flushing hasshown to be ineffective. Water qualityparameters will be collected before,during and after flushing to determinethe system’s effectiveness. Additionally,the base will be monitored for nitrifica-tion and chloramines for one year. Atthe end of this period, an economicanalysis will be conducted to comparethe costs of purchasing the equipmentversus contracting for the flushingservice as a better option to conven-tional hydrant flushing.

At the conclusion of the project, theNO-DES system will be demon-

wastewater flow on these systems. Potential problemscould include increased corrosion in lines, elevated levelsof hydrogen sulfide (a threat to sanitation workers inconfined spaces), more frequent blockages, and increasedconcentrations of unhealthy contaminants.

This project, also headed by Tami Relph, was formed todetermine whether such impacts are occurring, and if so,to recommend measures to overcome them.

The first phase of the project will include data collectionfrom a significant portion of the Navy-operated systemsand a select number of similar municipal systems, along

with detailed investigations of problem systems. Theteam will ask for data on flow rates, total suspendedsolids, nitrogen, Biological Oxygen Demand, and sulfurconcentrations. These data are regularly collected forother purposes and therefore should be readily available.The project team will also collect data on Notices of Viola-tion (NOV) as well as qualitative information from installa-tion water program managers and the Water Media FieldTeam. This would include such data as increased odor, liftstation blockages, higher hydraulic detention times, andincreased grit loads after heavy rain due to low flowperiods. Once these data are collected, they will becompiled into a spreadsheet to help identify problemissues that correlate with low flow conditions.

If no significant problems are identified, a final report willbe prepared and the project will be terminated. If problemsare found, the project team will gather additional informa-tion on the issues (such as additional laboratory analysisnot normally performed by the Public Works staff) and willidentify potential Best Management Practices (BMP) toaddress those issues. If an appropriate technology is identi-fied that addresses a key problem with reduced flow ratesin sewers or treatment plants, a limited duration demon-stration may be recommended for future NESDI funding.


This wastewater treatment plant is designed for an average daily flow of 107,000 gallons per day. This image was taken during a time of

low flow into the plant and shows the incoming sewage flowing through two bar screens, and finally into a Parshall flume where

the flowmeter records the flowrate of the influent wastewater.Tami Relph

Outfall for the same wastewater treatment plant. The treated wastewatereffluent discharges into a combined sewer line after chlorination.

Tami Relph


tion system are becoming increas-ingly more rigorous.

Though this project will concentrateon the impacts of water conservationefforts, it will also identify operational,systemic or long-term policy changesthat would minimize complianceproblems. This will include an analysisof the current method for flushingand cleaning pipes discussed underthe “Innovative Hydrant Flushing”project previously discussed. Addition-ally, the project team will assesstrends in an attempt to more accu-rately evaluate future regulatory chal-lenges that should be considered bydrinking water system planners.

In the first phase of the program, theteam, headed by Prakash Temkar ofEXWC, will gather a representative

runs between the supply systemcomplex and the buildings it isdesigned to supply.

� Declining staffing levels can leadto reductions in total waterdemand.

� The capacity of aging watersystems that were originally over-sized to provide for fire flows canprovide space for water to stagnate.

� The roughness of existing pipingmaterials can allow for and evenencourage development ofbiofilms (biomass).

� Aggressive water conservationstrategies can reduce both facilityand irrigation consumption rates.

� Regulatory standards that addresswater quality within the distribu-

Project 528: Impacts of WaterConservation Measures onDrinking Water QualityAnother project is addressing theneed for the Navy to understand,assess, and address the impacts ofwater conservation measures onwater infrastructure—specifically ondrinking water systems.

Navy installations commonly struggleto maintain residual chlorine levelswithout exceeding the total THM stan-dard at the far reaches of distributionsystems. The levels of THMs andother byproducts of chlorination tendto increase with the amount of timewater remains in a system, and whenless water is used, this time periodtends to lengthen.

To date, there has been no comprehen-sive trend analysis that demon-strates how water conservationefforts may contribute to thedeterioration of drinking waterquality. It is the goal of theproject to assess a representa-tive sample of drinking watersystems to gain a better under-standing of the impact ofdeclining consumption onthese systems.

There are a number of funda-mental characteristics ofdrinking water supplysystems common to manyNavy facilities that mayimpact SDWA compliance:

� Low density land use plan-ning strategies can lead torelatively long distribution

Aggressive water conservation strategies can reduce both facility and irrigation consumption rates.

This project is studying the impact of declining consumption on drinking water systems.Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Bart A. Bauer

flow duration and magnitude), andcontaminant loading to the receivingwaters. The result is expensive datacollection efforts that provide littleinformation on the impact to thereceiving waters. Additionally, whenthese limits are exceeded, the viola-tions invariably require the implemen-tation of BMPs that may not beeffective or even appropriate.

This project, headed by GuntherRosen of the Space and Naval WarfareSystems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific),will evaluate the effectiveness of usingpassive sampling devices (PSD) toassess the impacts of stormwaterrunoff and improve stormwatermanagement. Passive sampling, aspart of an integrated monitoring plan,shows great potential to provide theneeded data.

Typically, stormwater monitoringconsists of many componentsincluding:

� Identifying representativesampling locations.

� Establishing telemetry and datasensors for flow,conductivity/salinity, and turbidity.

� Installing rain gauge stations.

� Collecting manual grab and auto-mated composite samples at spec-ified locations).

However, these data are unable toprovide information about pulsed(intermittent) inputs of contaminantsinto the receiving waters.

sample of drinking water systemcharacteristics, examine NOVs, iden-tify system problems, and define thecurrent state of the practice. Repre-sentative case studies will be devel-oped based on observed “real world”systems and problems.

Next, the project team will engage agroup of Navy drinking water systemexperts to analyze specific systemsand problems and recommend alter-native strategies to address theseproblems. The team will then conducta table top analysis of existing systemdesigns including current waterconsumption rates and associatedwater conservation efforts.

Finally, the team will analyze specificrecommended strategies based onanticipated benefit, cost, and potentialrisks. The team will also attempt toidentify and evaluate operationalBMPs, low-cost structural BMPs, andsystemic (long-term) BMPs.

Project 523: StormwaterMonitoring with PassiveSamplingA system for monitoring stormwaterrunoff is required by all Naval facilitiesas part of their National PollutantDischarge Elimination System permit.Currently, stormwater monitoring islabor intensive, expensive, and notoptimal for meeting regulatory require-ments. Regulatory agencies arecurrently requiring an arbitrary moni-toring schedule (monthly or seasonally)that ignores the driving forces withinthe watershed such as hydrology (e.g.,

Since the PSDs used in this projectconsistently sample over time, theyautomatically provide a time-inte-grated measure of contaminationwithout extensive sampling andanalysis costs. PSDs can providemeaningful data which are morerepresentative of the potential forbiological effects, because they willrecord time-varying exposure of cont-aminants released over time.

The project team will work with part-ners at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK), NavalFacilities Engineering Command(NAVFAC) Northwest, and the PugetSound Naval Shipyard & IntermediateMaintenance Facility (PSNS&IMF) tointegrate PSDs into their currentstormwater monitoring efforts. Repre-sentative drainage basins will beselected that cover the range of land-use/land-cover and industrial activitiespresent at NBK. Priority will be givento basins slated for installation of

BMPs or other stormwater improve-ment projects so that before/aftereffectiveness can be evaluated.

This project will demonstrate twodifferent types of passive samplers:

1. Diffusive Gradients in Thin Film(DGT) for metals

2. Polar Organic Chemical IntegrativeSamplers (POCIS) for contaminantsincluding compounds that occur inhuman waste and wastewater

Over 300 chemicals have been cali-brated for quantification by POCIS.This project will measure selected


PSDs can provide meaningful data which are more representative of the potential for biological effects.


organic marker chemicals found in humanwaste and wastewater including pharmaceuti-cals, hand sanitizers, fragrances, and others. Indi-cators of human waste to be sampled by POCISwill be selected based on site expectations toimprove detectability near expected wastesources and to decrease false positives due toalternative sources that may be present on site(i.e. bird fecal material).

The DGTs will be deployed for multiple timepoints (days, weeks, months) to characterize thepulsed nature of metal exposure during stormevents, and spatially to verify mixing of stormwater withthe receiving environment.

Performance will be evaluated based on the cost andability for the PSDs to provide meaningful data withwhich to quantify the effectiveness of BMPs andstormwater management programs.

This project will be conducted in coordination and collab-oration with the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring

Program (PSEMP) Stormwater Work Group which isworking with local, state and federal jurisdictions todevelop a regional stormwater monitoring program, andthe PSEMP Toxics Work Group which is assessing theimpact of toxics on the Puget Sound ecosystem. Thework will help expand the PSEMP’s effort to include Navyfacilities regulated by the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) and address monitoring and BMPs forindustrial sites.

A POCIS alongside a more traditional sampling method, oysters. Gunther Rosen

A POCIS. Gunther Rosen

The project will also leverage with arecent Environmental Security Tech-nology Certification Program (ESTCP)project conducted at SSC Pacific. Inthis effort, DGTs are being integratedinto a stormwater monitoring assess-ment strategy at Naval Base San Diego(ESTCP project #ER-201130) led byGunther Rosen and a newer StrategicEnvironmental Research and Develop-ment Program (SERDP) project (#ER-2428), led by Danny Reible and SSCPacific researchers, with a focus onstormwater contamination on sedi-ments at Naval Base San Diego.

Successful completion of this projectwill make a major contribution to thewatershed-based approach forstormwater management recom-mended by the National ResearchCouncil and assure that the Navy isadequately represented within thestakeholder groups.

Project 519: Analysis of the Long-Term Fate of MunitionsConstituents on Terrestrial SitesThe Navy has approximately 325terrestrial munition response siteswhere munitions or munitionsconstituents (MC) from unexplodedordnance and discarded militarymunitions are found and need to beremediated. While the fate and trans-port of the more common MCs suchas TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) andRDX (cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine)in the environment are relatively wellknown, there are many associateddegradation products andcompounds (e.g., picramic acid) thatform as the MCs degenerate. Thefate, transport, and toxicity charac-teristics for these products areunclear, which hampers the develop-ment of viable risk assessments atimpacted sites.


Discarded military munitions.

While site managers may be able tofind some of the necessary informa-tion through literature searches, thereis no one easy reference that capturesthis information in a concise format.This project was formed to identify,research, and summarize the currentknowledge about the fate, transport,and toxicity characteristics of MC andassociated degradation productsfound at terrestrial munition responsesites. Information developed underprevious SERDP and ESTCP effortswill be reviewed for applicability.

This project team, headed by JimAustreng of EXWC, will develop a list ofdegradation compounds associatedwith each targeted MC. Factors such asfate (degradation behavior), transport(chemical and physical properties), andtoxicity data for each compound willbe covered as well as regulatory limitsfor the MC and degradationcompounds, and a discussion of applic-able remediation technologies. Thesedata will be compiled into an InitiationDecision Report (IDR) that will identifygaps in the data as well as criticalassessments of those gaps to aid indeveloping a remediation strategy.

The IDR will be available to Navydecision makers including RemedialProject Managers (RPM) via variouschannels including postings onwebsites and webinars. The reportwill enable them to survey the currentstate of knowledge about the fate,transport, and toxicity of MCs and tounderstand how specific targetedinvestments could enhance capabili-ties to respond to the associated risks.The summaries and assessments inthe IDR may later be transferred toend users with similar responsibilitiesfor other armed service branches.

The data in the IDR appendix can beused by RPMs, contractors, and opera-


tional range personnel for addressingregulatory concerns about MCs andMC degradation products at terrestrialmunition response sites and opera-tional ranges.

Project 526: X-ray Inspection forDemilitarizing Boat TargetsThe Navy has significantly increasedtraining exercises that use small boattargets. Trainees fire tracer rounds at

(MDAS) before it can be disposed of.Currently, this is a time-consumingprocess, and boat targets are oftenstockpiled until they can be inspected,taking up valuable space and inter-fering with day-to-day operations.

The Naval Air System Command(NAVAIR) Seaborne Targets programhas an urgent need for a means toclear its targets as safe for repair anddisposal following live fire operations.

To serve this need, Principal Investi-gator Joey Trotsky (from EXWC) andhis team is demonstrating a hand-held X-ray device that would allowinspectors to determine whether ornot boat targets contain MPPEH.These machines have been recentlydeveloped for use in the dental andmedical fields as well as for lawenforcement to use on suspiciousbags and vehicles. These hand heldsystems produce an easy-to-readimage of the scanned object. If noprojectile is found, the target can beimmediately classified as MDAS. IfMPPEH is found, minimal cutting anddigging can be conducted to certifythe material as safe for disposal.

Two different machines will bedemonstrated at the NAVAIR SeaborneTargets Facility in Port Hueneme, Cali-fornia. Evaluation of the technologywill include determining if the X-rayimage will accurately show the loca-tions of projectiles, the amount of timeneeded for a complete scan of thetarget, and the ease of use.

The new technology will be immedi-ately available for use at the

these targets, some of which becomelodged in the targets themselves.When training is concluded, all targetsare regarded as Material PotentiallyPresenting an Explosive Hazard(MPPEH) and must be certified asinert before disposal. This means thetarget must be free from all projectilesand be visually inspected by an Unex-ploded Ordnance Technician to certifyit is Material Documented As Safe

Boat targets are often stockpiled until they can be inspected, taking up valuable space and interfering with day-to-day operations.

Small boat targets such as this one are often used in training. NAVAIR Seaborne Targets

A boat target with mannequin. NAVAIR Seaborne Targets


Corals on Japanese Finger Pier,Apra Harbor, Guam.

Seaborne Targets Facilityonce it is successfullydemonstrated. The abilityfor onsite personnel to clas-sify a target as MPPEH-freewill allow the promptremoval of the object to theDefense Utilization andReissue Office, freeing upvaluable storage space.

Project 521: AutonomousBenthic Ecology SystemIn order to comply withenvironmental directives,such as the National Envi-ronmental Policy Act (NEPA),the Navy needs the ability toconduct close, high-resolution moni-toring of threatened and endangeredspecies within coral reef communitiesand other benthic (seabed) ecosys-tems. This need became even moreurgent in 2014 with the addition of 20coral species to the EndangeredSpecies List.

One way to effectively survey theseareas is to create a photomosaic, or acollection of individual high-resolutionimages of each ecosystem. This tech-nology was developed under anSERDP project, and demonstratedand validated under ESTCP funding.

The current approach to conductingphotomosaicing surveys is to hirecontract divers for months at a timeto assess these areas in small sectionsor to assess small random areas andoverestimate ecological metrics withstatistical analyses. This is very costlyand time consuming, and the datagenerated may not meet regulatorycompliance under NEPA. Additionally,these surveys are currently conductedby various methods and entities,making data usability and compara-bility difficult.

Conceptual image of the Autonomous Benthic Ecology System.


Utilizing a remotely operated vehicle(ROV) to conduct underwater surveyswould present a complete picture ofthe benthic community because thesevehicles can travel into areas that areinaccessible, such as vertical struc-tures, or dangerous for divers toaccess, such as areas with suspectedunexploded ordnance.

This project, led by Cheryl Cooke ofSSC Pacific, will develop and test anAutomated Benthic Ecology System(ABES) for the purpose of conductingsuch surveys at sea ranges, vesselhomeports and weapons test and eval-uation centers. The system willleverage a previously developedsensor-based stabilized ROV which hasbeen demonstrated for identificationof waterborne improvised explosivedevices. This ROV will be equippedwith photomosaicing cameras as wellas other sensors to capture parametersincluding pH, salinity, and tempera-ture. The ABES will be able to traversevertical structures such as piers andquay walls, and can safely surveyareas with known or suspected unex-ploded ordnance. The vehicle will alsoprove useful in examining underwatersurfaces for cracks or damage,including piers and ship’s hulls.

In the first year of the project, the ROVwill be equipped with the camerasand sensors. Next, the team willconduct tests to verify the vehicle’sstability and agility, the accuracy of theresults, and the kind of environmentaldisturbances the vehicle can handle. Inyear two, the team will test the inte-grated system in the ocean environ-ment at a pier on San ClementeIsland. This site offers a plethora ofbenthic environments to assess,including piers covered with fauna.

The final test will be a field study at Naval Air Station Key West.

This project team plans to apply its field testing resultsat pilot scale at a Navy harbor in Puget Sound. MC Seaman Apprentice William Blees

more if potential natural resourcedamages are factored in. The mostcommon current remediation tech-niques are dredging, capping andnatural recovery—but all threemethods have associated problems.

Dredging is very costly and mayresult in collateral impacts to aquaticbiota, along with resuspension andresettling of contaminants. Capping,which involves covering submergedcontaminated sediments with layersof sediment, gravel, and/or syntheticmaterials, is relatively less costly, butis not always possible in harbors withsubstantial ship traffic. Monitorednatural recovery, while cost effective,is not always acceptable to regulatorsand public stakeholders, largelybecause it takes a large amount oftime, and results can be unpre-dictable. Driven by a lack of suitableoptions and the increasingly apparentlimitations of existing technologiesover time, there is a need to developmore nuanced technologies and riskassessment methods.

Two seawalls and a coral reef will besurveyed, and photomosaics of thepier wall will be made in the SanDiego laboratory. This will determinewhether or not the ABES is effectivein extracting the data required by theFlorida Keys National Marine Sanc-tuary, and to a greater extent,whether the system will be viable forcompliance purposes at other sites.

A report will be generated docu-menting the suitability of the photo-mosaicing technology for compliancedocumentation. The report willcontain the results of the field testingalong with Graphical InformationSystems maps for easy incorporationinto environmental compliance docu-ments of all types.

Project 522: Enhanced MonitoredNatural Recovery for SedimentRemediationContaminated sediment in the Navy’sharbors is anticipated to become aone billion dollar problem over time;

One of these methods is EnhancedMonitored Natural Recovery (EMNR).In this approach, thin caps (10-30centimeters) of clean sediment areplaced atop contaminated sedimentto enhance ongoing natural recoveryprocesses. In contrast to the thickerlayers of sediment used in traditionalisolation capping, thin caps used forEMNR are not intended to provide acomplete seal over the contaminatedsediment. Instead, they simulate anaccelerated natural deposition ofclean sediment, resulting in a surfacelayer of cleaner sediment and animmediate reduction in surface conta-minant concentrations. This facilitatesthe reestablishment of benthic(bottom dwelling) organisms, andaccelerates the processes of naturalbinding and physical isolation thatwould occur over time. True EMNR

also lends itself well to beneficialreuse of clean dredge materials, and itis cost-effective. However there arefew examples of true EMNR imple-mentation in the U.S.

Previous EMNR efforts have beenreviewed and summarized in anESTCP project (#ER-201368)conducted by this project’s PrincipalInvestigator, Victoria Kirtay of SSCPacific. These efforts utilized sand asthe capping layer instead of local sedi-ments or sediments with an appre-ciable organic content, and thereforehave little or no binding capability.

The key focus of this project is thedevelopment of standardized proce-dures for applying EMNR usingnatural sediments at moderately cont-aminated Department of Defense(DoD) and Navy sites.

Currently, the project team isdefining key EMNR parameters andprotocols, to ensure that themethodology can be replicated else-where. Then a range of natural sedi-ments will be field tested using aRemedy And RecontaminationAssessment (RARA) array that theproject team is developing underESTCP and SERDP funding. Next,the team plans to take the fieldtesting results to application at pilotscale at a Puget Sound Navy site.This effort, leveraged with ESTCPfunding, will include application ofthe protocols developed under thisproject, and potentially, integrationwith opportunistic beneficial reuseof clean dredged sediments. Thescale of the demonstration will betailored to the specific conditionsand requirements of the chosen site,and constrained by the availablefunding. Performance and costmetrics will be captured for compar-ison to current capping methods andother sediment remedies.

EMNR technology, when implementedwith natural sediments, promises tobe both more successful and morecost effective than current approaches.Cost effectiveness could also be signifi-cantly enhanced by integrating EMNRwith opportunistic beneficial reuse ofclean dredge sediments.

Project 527: Structure-functionRelationship of Perfluorochemicalsfrom AFFFPerfluorchemicals and polyfluorinatedalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicalsthat have been widely used for


Sediments will be tested using a RARA array that is being developed for a SERDP project. This diagram shows an isometric view of the RARA with sediment trays and instruments installed.

Cost effectiveness could also be significantly enhanced by integrating EMNRwith opportunistic beneficial reuse of clean dredge sediments.


decades, both in consumer productsand industrial processes. PFASs areunique in that they possess bothhydrophobic (water-repelling) andoleophobic (oil-repelling) properties,making them especially useful infighting fuel fires. The Navy and theother DoD services have used signifi-cant quantities of PFASs in the formof aqueous film-forming foams(AFFF) for fighting petroleum firessince the 1960s.

Despite their effectiveness, PFASs aredefined as an emerging contaminantby the DoD. PFASs have been shownto cause developmental problems,have been implicated as immune-suppressants, endocrine disruptors,and some are classified as probablecarcinogens. In addition, they are

environmentally persistent due totheir strong fluorine-carbon bond, arebioaccumulative, and have beendetected in environmental sampleslong after a release was reported.

AFFFs are stockpiled and used inregular training exercises and emer-gency responses by fire departmentsthroughout the DoD. AFFFs and theirPFAS components represent one ofthe greatest emerging contaminantchallenges facing the Navy’s environ-mental restoration program, partlybecause the current understanding oftheir fate and transport in soil andgroundwater is limited.

This project, headed by John Kornuc ofEXWC, was formed to gather moreinformation about these contaminants,and to develop a conceptual site modelfor Navy sites impacted by PFASs fromvarious sources, especially AFFF.

PFASs are based on hydrocarbonchemicals where the hydrogen atomsin the carbon-hydrogen bond havebeen completely (perfluorinated) orpartly (polyfluorinated) replaced byfluorine atoms. There are hundreds ofPFASs, and analytical methods haveonly recently become available toaccurately measure the major PFAScompounds of AFFF formulationsused by the DoD. As a result, it hasonly recently become possible toconduct a full characterization ofPFASs associated with AFFF use, andidentify the various compounds andtheir behaviors/presence across a site.

The project team will begin byreviewing available data from 15

Sailors test an AFFF hose during a Board of Inspection and Survey. Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Robert M. Schalk

Navy and Base Realignment andClosure (BRAC) sites impacted byPFASs. The PFAS data will be closelyinspected to identify preliminarytrends and behavioral indicators.Factors such as nature of sources,distance of plume migration from itssource, hydrogeology, and potentialreceptors will be compiled. Thisinformation will be combined with aliterature review to develop prelimi-nary indicators of fate and transportof the chemicals.

In the second phase of the project,three sites will be selected that havelikely source zone areas and/or aplume that has migrated to potentialsurface water receptors. The authorswill perform multi-level sampling atthese sites, including sampling ofsurface sediment and benthic inverte-brates. Utilizing this information, theproject team will develop a decisiontool with the ability to inform sitemanagers and RPMs and enablethem to make effective site manage-ment decisions when PFASs arepresent at their sites.

Project 525: Finding a Safe,Effective Alternative to Isocyanate Aircraft CoatingsFor many years, polyurethanetopcoat materials have been usedfor maintenance of military aircraftbecause of their superior abrasion-,stain-, and chemical-resistant proper-ties. However, these productscontain isocyanate compounds,which are regulated by the EPA as ahazardous air pollutant and a

AFFFs and their PFAS components represent one of the greatest emerging contaminant challenges facing

the Navy’s environmental restoration program.

two Navy surface ships and both arecurrently outperforming all qualifiedship topside coatings. A concurrentESTCP project is developing aircrafttopcoats based on polymers used inthe NRL coating formulations.

The focus of this project, led byJennifer Nunez of the Fleet ReadinessCenter (FRC) Southeast, is to validatemature products for both touch-up(single component) and full aircraftapplication (two-component). Productswill be tested for compatibility withexisting aircraft finishing materials andnon-chromate containing primersystems. Following compatibilitytesting, the coatings will be perfor-mance tested for adhesion, gloss,weatherability, flexibility, fluid resis-tance and heat resistance. Strippability


hazardous waste. Because they posea threat to human health, paintersare required to wear personalprotective equipment (PPE) andundergo medical monitoring whenapplying these formulations. Addi-tionally, regulations require that theentire aircraft be roped off duringspray applications of polyurethanes,thereby preventing concurrent workin nearby areas.

This project was formed to find a non-isocyanate formulation so that theNavy can minimize or eliminate theenvironmental hazards and healthrisks associated with currently usedpolyurethane products.

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)has recently developed two siloxane-based topcoats for Navy surface ships.

Siloxane (also referred to as poly-siloxane) polymers offer severaladvantages over organic-basedisocyanate compounds, such as thoseused in polyurethane topcoats, due tothe inherent chemistry of the mate-rials. Siloxane materials have greaterexterior durability (e.g., color stability)and thermal stability due to anincreased resistance to UV/sunlightand heat. And because siloxane-basedpolymers are lower in viscosity, lesssolvent is needed to formulate acoating product. Siloxane is used inmany consumer products and is rela-tively non-toxic and non-flammable.

The novel one-component and two-component siloxane products devel-oped by the NRL are undergoingdemonstration and qualification on

The focus of this project is to validate mature products for both touch-up and full aircraft application.

Worker applying polyurethane coating to an F/A-18 aircraft. Jennifer Nunez


studies will also be performed toensure siloxane systems can be fullyintegrated into FRC overhaul cycles.These tests will be performed at labo-ratory scale utilizing materials, equip-ment and facilities representative ofindustrial environments at NAVAIRFRCs. The criterion for success will beperformance equal to or better thantraditional polyurethane coatings quali-fied to military specifications MIL-PRF-81352 and MIL-PRF-85285. Due to thelevel of maturity, single componentvalidation will occur first. Two-compo-nent systems will be validated withinthree years of project start.

Implementation of the new product(s)will occur through development ofengineering documents to include useof siloxane coating for aircraft andcomponents. Demonstration resultswill enable adoption of the technologythroughout Level III FRCs throughNAVAIR authorization and the develop-ment of Local Process Speci-fications that controlprocessing requirements,materials utilized and qualityconformance inspection. Inaddition, the siloxanecoating technology will beadded to the Authorized UseList at each paint shop in thedesired application. FRCartisan training will also beprovided based on the appli-cation optimization results.

Project 520:Quantification of PCBPaint VolatilizationThe use and manufactureof paint containing poly-chlorinated biphenyls(PCB) has been prohibitedfor decades. Some Navyships however, still have

Additionally, the risk of safety issuesfor employees as well as injuries fromchronic exposure to noise and vibra-tion is elevated.

Currently, this problem is of greatimportance at PSNS&IMF due to thelarge volume of current and plannedinactivation and recycling of Navyvessels. Other shipyards and mainte-nance facilities performing work onships with legacy paint systems couldalso be impacted.

This project will investigate thevolatilization rate of paint containingPCBs in order to generate a defen-sible, environmentally and fiscallyresponsible work process for theremoval of paints containing thesecompounds.

The team, led by Patrick Morrow ofthe Naval Surface Warfare CenterCarderock Division, will perform athorough quantification study to

This NESDI project will investigate the volatilization rate ofPCB-containing legacy paints on Navy ships.

MC Seaman Apprentice Robert Robbins

PCB-containing paint that wasapplied before use of this type ofpaint was prohibited. Because PCBsare known to become volatile(airborne) when heated, specialmeasures must be taken when theseships arrive at the shipyard forwelding and cutting operations.Current procedure requires theremoval of PCB-containing paint upto a radius of 24 inches whenperforming work that has the poten-tial to heat the steel in excess of 200degrees Fahrenheit. However, there isa lack of data showing the quantityof specific PCB componentsvolatilized as a function of tempera-ture, and these controls may well beoverly conservative.

This 24-inch removal requirementresults in increases in time and cost toperform the required work, andgenerates a large volume of wastethat needs to be safely disposed of.

relate steel temperature to volatilization of PCBs withinvarious paint systems. The study is based on standardEPA test methods, and will be carried out by accreditedlaboratory facilities. Samples of PCB-containing paintwill be taken from a ship at PSNS&IMF and heated to arange of temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit in acontrolled environment. The vapor phase during thisheating process will be collected on low-volumepolyurethane foam (PUF). This vapor phase testing willbe conducted by scientists at the Naval Air WarfareCenter China Lake, and the resulting PCB-bearing PUFsamples will be sent to an outside laboratory competentin PCB extraction and analysis. The results of thisanalysis will show the total loading of PCBs resultingfrom exposure at different temperature levels. Thesedata can then be correlated to available steel heatingprofiles developed at PSNS, enabling informed decisionmaking, and the appropriate modification of currentwork processes.

The final product of this demonstration will be a workprocess that relates the paint removal requirements with

paint type, thickness, and task to be completed. Thisprocess will be based on a statistically valid correlation ofthe loading of PCBs released into the atmosphere as aresult of heating the paint to various temperatures corre-sponding with cutting and welding operations.

For More InformationOne-page fact sheet summaries of all NESDI projects areavailable on the program’s web site. No username or pass-word is required to access them. Visit www.nesdi.navy.milthen select “Projects.” You’ll see a list of projects with themost recent efforts at the top of the list. Click on the “FactSheet” link in the “More Information” column for moredetails. Browse the “More Information” column to findadditional links to project-related final reports, videos andCurrents articles. �

Ken KaempffeNaval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center805-982-4893DSN: [email protected]


The Basics About the NESDI Program

THE NESDI PROGRAM seeks to provide solutions by demonstrating, validating and integrating innovative technologies,processes, materials, and filling knowledge gaps to minimize operational environmental risks, constraints and costs whileensuring Fleet readiness. The program accomplishesthis mission through the evaluation of cost-effectivetechnologies, processes, materials and knowledge thatenhance environmental readiness of naval shore activi-ties and ensure they can be integrated into weaponssystem acquisition programs.

The NESDI program is the Navy’s environmental shore-side (6.4) Research, Development, Test and Evaluationprogram. The program is sponsored by the Chief ofNaval Operations Energy and Environmental ReadinessDivision and managed by NAVFAC out of the NavalFacilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Centerin Port Hueneme, California. The program is the Navy’scomplement to ESTCP which conducts demonstrationand validation of technologies important to the tri-Services, EPA, and the Department of Energy.

For more information, visit the NESDI program web siteat www.nesdi.navy.mil.

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