ABSTRACT
Applicable contaminants and concentration ranges are identified, suitable site characteristics are discussed, and the technology is evaluated within the current US regulatory context. However, the results of recent studies, including the Craney Island field test, a recent work sponsored by the Petroleum Environmental Research Forum/Gas Research Institute, and others, suggest that phytoremediation may be applicable to a broad range of hydrocarbon mixtures. The important site characteristics to be taken into account when considering phytoremediation include temperature, latitude, precipitation, slope, soil characteristics, and depth of contamination. This chapter discusses the implementation of phytoremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils in the context of the current and emerging regulatory context. Regulatory performance requirements for sites with contaminated soils currently emphasize numerical cleanup standards. The operational compliance criterion that will have the most profound effect on the application of phytoremediation of hydrocarbons in soil is the protection of groundwater during the process.
