Site Remediation and Pollution Prevention Using Active Geocomposite Technology
Trevor Walker, HUESKER Inc., USA
Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 11:45am-1pm
Hybrid Format – In person and virtual
CEMS has received one (1) general CLE credit for this presentation
Our built environment – consisting of transport routes, industrial, commercial, storage and handling areas, etc. – satisfies a wide range of industrial and social needs. However, these sites throughout the years have become culprits of environmental damage and contamination. More than ever before, environmental protection is a widespread priority and has resulted in a more dedicated approach to remediating contaminated sites, and mitigating risk of potential contamination sources. An important goal is preventing the infiltration and spread of pollutants generated by these facilities into underlying soils, groundwater, surface water, and ultimately, eliminating any negative health impacts on biological organisms and the human population. The steadily growing requirements placed on contaminated site remediation, soil and groundwater protection, are fueling the demand for innovate designs and new technologies that provide eco-friendly solutions for site remediation and pollution prevention measures. Large-size, so-called active geocomposite mats made of two layers of geotextiles that sandwich a sorbent, provide a way to interrupt contaminant pathways by capturing the pollutants within the fabric. The use of different sorbents within the mat, such as activated carbon or other binders for oil, heavy metals, and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), allow for a variety of applications. The active geocomposites can be utilized for remedial purposes, and/or for reducing the risk associated with potential sources of contamination at current or future planned facilities. As large-area, permeable filters, these innovative products prevent the flow of pollutants, but not the flow of the carrier medium. The permeability of the material minimizes the disruption of the water’s natural flow paths, in contrast to an impermeable liner material. Several field applications for active geocomposites include sediment remediation, soil encapsulation, brownfield remediation, pre-treatment, spill prevention, waste/stockpile storage, among others. The mats can be customized to fit particular needs of a project such as targeting specific contaminant types for removal, configuring the sorbent mass/unit area to achieve required service life, and tailoring the mat dimensions to accommodate site constraints and installation techniques.
Trevor Walker is a professional engineer and is the Business Development Manager for Environmental Engineering Applications with HUESKER Inc.
Currently, Mr. Walker’s primary responsibilities include providing technical support to engineers throughout the design phase of environmental and geoenvironmental projects. Such projects include remediation of contaminated sediment, PFAS contaminated soils, and the containment of aggressive leachates from Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) impoundments. Mr. Walker also contributes to HUESKER’s development of new and existing products, and works with industry professionals to cultivate new environmental protection solutions that utilize active geocomposite technology.
Mr. Walker attended The University of Texas at Austin and completed his Bachelor’s degree while also playing on the Texas Longhorn Football team. During graduate school, he studied under Dr. Jorge Zornberg and focused his research on expansive soils. Mr. Walker currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado and is married with two wonderful children.
Education:
– Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin
– 2010 Master of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin
– 2012 Professional Engineer License in the State of Texas
In Person Location: Davis Graham and Stubbs, LLP will be hosting CEMS. DGS is located at 1550 17th Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202. Parking validation is not available.
Virtual Registration: Please use this Registration Link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing detailed information about joining the webinar. If you lose your registration or confirmation, or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact CEMS via email admin@coems.org.
In Person Registration: Members may either bring their own lunch and attend the meeting for no charge, or they may request that CEMS order a box lunch for them. The cost of the box lunch for members is $18.00; for non-members, $21.00. PLEASE give your name, company name and phone number via email to admin@coems.org. PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU ARE RESERVING A BOX LUNCH OR BRINGING YOUR OWN. Reservations must be received BEFORE Friday, October 6, 2023 at 5:00 PM. Payment will be accepted at the door with prior reservation. Please cancel your reservation by Friday, October 6, 2023 if you are unable to attend. It is the policy of the Society to bill for meals reserved but unclaimed. You may also pay with credit card via PAYPAL here:
Sponsorship: CEMS accepts sponsorships to defer expenses associated with its webinar series. Information about sponsorship can be found here: Sponsorship Program
Notice: CEMS would like to thank Davis Graham & Stubbs, LLP for the use of meeting space and would like to emphasize that the use of Davis Graham & Stubbs, LLP space does not constitute endorsement of CEMS, sponsors of CEMS functions, or the content of CEMS workshops or meetings.