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BOOK REVIEW-The Reuse
and Recycling of Contaminated Soils REVIEW BY JAMES A. JACOBS Stephen M. Testa’s book focuses on contaminated soil disposal issues and a new way of viewing contaminated soils - not as waste, but as a potentially recoverable resource. In the spirit of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, the author provides environmental professionals with a practical handbook for reusing and recycling contaminated soils. The urgency for this book can be understood when one realizes that in 1960, the annual amount of solid waste produced in the United States was about 90 million tons. By 1993, the amount was 4.5 billion tons and there are indications the amount will continue to increase. Contaminated soil has made up a continually increasing volume of solid waste. This situation is exacerbated by the physical, economic, and technical limitations associated with recycling technologies. With a better understanding of reuse and recycling techniques, environmental contractors and professionals might feel more qualified to consider and, if appropriate, recommend some of these less familiar technologies. The author has written a source book for professionals highlighting the analysis and costs of the recycling process and waste laws. Mr. Testa discusses field, laboratory, and engineering considerations while going into important details such as sampling strategies, hazardous waste characterization, and leachabilities. What is refreshing is that the examples are real world ones that most working in the field will recognize: petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil from underground storage tanks, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil from a former gas manufacturing site, geothermal plant lead-mine scale, lead-and zinc-contaminated soil from a brake shoes manufacturing plant, and lead-and hydrocarbon-contaminated soil from an auto wrecking site. The case examples show that even small projects might benefit from consideration of these technologies. Mr. Testa’s book is an excellent resource for professionals who need to understand the nuances associated with soil disposal and recycling. The author describes the most important and operational details of asphaltic emulsions and cementitious products. The book is easy to read and the bibliographies at the end of each chapter are useful. For the environmental professional or land owner who has to reduce transportation and disposal costs for soil stockpiles, this book provides several well researched alternatives. Author: Stephen M. Testa has authored more than 60 technical papers and four books. He is president and founder of Testa Environmental Corporation and is an active member in numerous professional organizations. He is national president of the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Book Reviewer: Land Subsidence Case Histories and Current Research: Proceedings of the Dr. Joseph F. Poland Symposium on Land Subsidence By Jim Borchers Special Pub. 8 is entitled ÒLand Subsidence Case Histories and Current Research: Proceedings of the Dr. Joseph F. Poland Symposium on Land SubsidenceÓ. The book, nicknamed the ÒPoland VolumeÓ, celebrates the career and scientific contributions of Dr. Joseph Fairchild Poland, an internationally renowned scientist with the U. S. Geological Survey, and a founding member of the California Association of Engineering Geologists, an organization that grew to become the Association of Engineering Geologists. This special publication of AEG comprises original papers that were presented at the Dr. Joseph F. Poland Symposium on Land Subsidence during the AEG/GRA Joint Annual Meeting, in Sacramento California on October 4 -5, 1995, by AEG members and other authors, or that were solicited subsequently by the editor from experts in the field. One hundred eleven authors from ten countries contributed 57 articles that are grouped in nine chapters. The hardback book measures 8.5 X 11 inches, and includes numerous photographs, maps, and charts on its 572 pages. The volume begins with retrospective articles (by Tom Holzer, Frank Riley, Bill Bull, Ben Lofgren, Bob Bean, Ivan Johnson, and by Joe’s family) describing early studies of land subsidence in the United States and the scientific contributions of Joe Poland. The final section of the first chapter presents anecdotal remembrances of Joe by his colleagues, and includes the here-to-for unpublished history of the beginnings of land subsidence research in California. Chapters 2 through 7 describe current research and case studies of land subsidence associated with: extraction of ground water, brine, and hydrocarbons; hydrocompaction of moisture deficient sediments such as debris flow deposits and artificial fill; oxidation of peat deposits; collapse of underground and solution mine voids; tunneling; carbonate and evaporite karst terrain; and tectonics. Topics include site exploration and characterization of subsidence potential, innovative techniques to detect subsidence and measure its magnitude, theoretical advances in understanding the physical processes responsible for deformation and fissuring of the land surface, predictive modeling, damage to infrastructure and the environment, and design of infrastructure in subsidence prone areas. The final chapter, ÔResource-Management, Legal, and Political Issues’, brings together scientific case studies of land subsidence and discussions of resource-management options that may minimize subsidence-related damage to infrastructure and the environment. Authors, including scientists, regulatory officials, and consultants and attorneys for developers and public agencies, frankly discuss subsidence-related issues of property rights, water and land-use law, politics, and liability. Management options for minimizing the oxidation of surficial peat deposits owing to water-level decline are discussed for the inland delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, California (Deverel and others) and for the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States (Bacchus). Stability of the land surface overlying dolomitic karst is evaluated as part of a risk-assessment procedure in rapidly urbanizing areas of South Africa (Calitz and Buttrick). The challenges presented to resource managers by a legacy of land subsidence is discussed for the urbanizing Antelope Valley of California (Galloway and others). Regulation of development (Kupferman) and the legal, political, and geotechnical aspects of such regulation (Shlemon and others) in areas subject to subsidence and fissuring are discussed in case studies in Southern California. Chapter 9 concludes with the transcript of a staged meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Moot County, California. Before voting to certify the Environmental Impact Report and approve a proposed development that will cause significant land subsidence, county supervisors (the symposium audience) must consider the sometimes conflicting testimony of technical consultants, the advice of the county geologist, and the substantially differing opinions of attorneys for the developer, Moot County, and People Against Land Subsidence (PALS). Because the book is an unusual blend of history, current research, project engineering geology, and timely resource-management/political/legal issues, it might appeal to a wider audience than some, strictly technical publications. Certainly the sponsors of the symposium, listed below, represent a varied group. Association of Engineering Geologists United States Geological Survey California Department of Water Bureau of Reclamation Association of California Water Agencies Water Education Foundation California State Association of Counties State Water Resources Control Board Groundwater Resources Association The editor’s goals were to produce a volume that would be used both as technical reference by geoscientists and as a tool to educate nongeoscientists who may be unaware of the insidious relation between resource-management decisions and the deleterious effects of land subsidence. The publisher has made the book available. A copy can be reserved by calling me at (916) 278-3005, or by e-mail to jborcher@usgs.gov For more information, or if you would like to see the table of contents (long), send me e-mail. Thank you for your consideration. Jim Borchers |