STEP: Model for Technology Screening for Hazardous‐Waste‐Site Cleanup

Abstract

The motivation for this study was the need of transportation agencies to quickly evaluate the appropriateness of a wide variety of hazardous‐waste‐remediation technologies for a specific waste at a specific site. The strategy was to develop a user‐friendly computerized methodology for screening the most inappropriate treatment technologies for remediation of hazardous‐waste‐contaminated soil. The Soil Treatment Evaluation Program (STEP) model was developed using object‐oriented programming techniques to interface with multiple rule bases and data bases and to allow easy modification and expansion. The model was applied to a case study and the recommendation of the model was consistent with that of the findings of the case study. The technology‐screening guidelines utilized by the model are based on published literature. Based on this study it was found that the screening guidelines have to be modified. The model could be easily enhanced for use with proper modified guidelines.