Laurie
LaPat-Polasko
National Director of Remediation,
Matrix New World Engineering
As the National Director of Remediation, I develop and implement a wide variety of remedial technologies, especially in situ approaches, to treat contaminated soil, groundwater and surface water. Prior to Matrix New World Engineering and Ramboll, I served as the Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Ciris Energy, a startup company, and several environmental consulting firms, where I led highly skilled teams in developing innovative solutions to complex environmental and microbiological challenges. I provided environmental and regulatory solutions to Fortune 500 and military clients in the USA and worldwide. Worked with state legislators to develop environmental laws and permits for new microbial mediated technologies.
More than 75 published scientific articles and presentations.
Expertise in: bioremediation, microbiology, innovative treatment technologies, groundwater and soil remediation, treatment and pilot study design/implementation, remediation strategy development, biostimulation and bioaugmentation, chlorinated solvents, petroleum, pesticides/herbicides and aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation, coal bioconversion and environmental regulatory permitting,
Extensive experience with office management responsibilities including P&L, business development, team building and reorganization.
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Promoting Reductive Dechlorination
of Chlorinated Ethenes in Groundwater
via Biostimulation
The purpose of the In Situ Bioremediation (ISB) system was to promote reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes in groundwater via biostimulation in combination with bioaugmentation in the source areas. There are two distinct plumes at this site and both contain elevated concentrations (>10 mg/L) of various chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs): PCE, TCE, cis-1,2-DCE, and 1,1-DCE. In addition, the western plume contains elevated levels of 1,4-dioxane.
Approach/Activities. A pair of recirculation wells was installed in two different plumes to perform biostimulation with an emulsified oil substrate and bioaugmentation with Dehalococcoides microbial consortium and Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans. A monitoring program was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment system.
Results/Lessons Learned: Within two months after the carbon substrate injection, a significant decline in ORP levels to less than -150 millivolts was observed in downgradient wells. The Dehalococcoides population and key enzymes significantly increased in downgradient wells after the bioaugmentation event. The groundwater geochemistry indicated that competing electron acceptors were reduced and that conditions were suitable for reductive dechlorination. This was demonstrated by more than a one to three order of magnitude decrease in concentrations of PCE, TCE and cis-1,2-DCE in downgradient wells post-biostimulation and bioaugmentation, which has been sustained for more than two years. Likewise, concentrations of ethene were observed in downgradient wells. Dioxane levels are currently being evaluated post the bioaugmentation event. This presentation will discuss how the distribution of the various amendments significantly impacted the biodegradation of the chlorinated ethenes and 1,4-dioxane in groundwater, and how advanced molecular tools were applied to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the ISB system.