Demonstration and Evaluation of the Air Force Site Characterization and Analysis Penetrometer System in Support of Natural Attenuation Initiatives. Volume 1, System Development and Evaluation.

A second-generation tunable Laser-Induced Fluorescence-Cone Penetrometer Test (LIF-CPT) system has been developed and demonstrated at three different Air Force Bases as an alternative site characterization technology. This represents an innovative technology for delineating soil contamination resulting from fuel spills. Applied Research Associates, Inc. and Dakota Technologies, Inc. jointly conducted the system development and demonstration project. Demonstrations consisted of 2-week efforts at each of Air Force Bases: Plattsburgh Patrick/Cape Canaveral, and Dover. The data collected during these demonstration supported both evaluation of the LIF-CPT systems along with support for selecting a site for a natural attenuation experiment the Air Force is planning. Data analysis indicates that the second generation system is operationally improved over the first-generation system and has improved detection capabilities. The improved detection capability is related to a new optical module used to focus laser light and filter the return signal to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio. Although th system is improved in many ways, some questions still exist concerning the influence soil type has had on some of the system responses. Further analysis is required to resolve these discrepancies.