10 Sep The Many Faces of Remediation

For those of us in the environmental industry, the word “remediation” has a very specific meaning and conjures images of long abandoned industrial properties or contaminated sites where we may have worked. In Colorado, the city of Arvada has an extensive trail network. The more urban sections of these trails are a gray collection of underpasses and retaining walls accented with occasional gang graffiti and ubiquitous owl poop. Recently, the city engaged a group (Babe Walls) to “remediate” a section of the Ralston Creek Trail. The result was approximately 100 yards of phenomenal street art. One of many images along this section of the creek is shown above. To learn more about this organization and their mission, go to www.babewalls.com. To view more of the Ralston Creek Remediation images, click here.

Speaking of remediation, at one time or another we have all been frustrated by the inability of DPT (direct-push drilling) to successfully complete injections. DPT refusal is a common problem and in certain parts of the country, DPT is virtually unusuable. For 5 or 6 years, RPI Group has been perfecting a process that facilitates efficient injection of Trap & Treat® BOS 100®, BOS 200® and CAT 100 in difficult lithologies. The working name for this highly successful injection technique has been simply “pre-drill”. Pre-drill has now become GeoTAP™ and, inspired by Babe Walls, we have created an image and animation to explain it.

In a nutshell, GeoTAP™ consists of:

1. Drilling a small diameter pilot hole using an appropriate technique.
2. Grouting the bore hole with bentonite and allowing it to cure overnight.
3. You now have a DPT friendly access point for injections.