Letters
Experience
34 (15), 346A-352A) comprises a number of physical, chemical, and Dear Editor: I refer to the article biologic processes, including dilu"Green building's clean air could help tion, that tend to reduce the conset indoor standards", which appeared centration of soluble constituents in the May 1, 2000, issue of ES&T (Enduring groundwater flow. These viron. Sci. Technol. 2000, 34 (9), 217A) phenomena are present and occur and a correction to the article that with greater or lesser effect, deappeared in the August 1 issue. The pending on a number of specific correction clarifies the status of the geohydrologic and geochemical photovoltaic array but does not clarify factors. a misconception with respect to the Natural attenuation is not "a labuse of geothermal heat pumps and oratory research phenomenon" that introduces a misunderstanding with grew during the 1990s into a comregard to the building's prospects for monly used approach for the cleanbecoming a net energy producer. up of contaminated groundwater. Therefore, please note the following Natural attenuation is a natural information. phenomenon that has been recentOberlin College's Adam Joseph ly—and grudgingly—recognized by Lewis Center (AJLC) is partially regulators as an acceptable, or part heated, and entirely cooled, by of an acceptable, solution for mangeothermal heat pumps. Like all aging groundwater contaminants. heat pumps, these use electric enNatural attenuation processes have ergy to accomplish their task. A suboperated at all Superfund and Unstantial amount of building heat is derground Storage Tank sites—both supplied by three purely resistive before and after such programs electric heaters. The largest of these were created. is a 112,000 Btu/h (33 kW) electric Arguments against the use of natboiler that provides the primary heat ural attenuation as an appropriate for the atrium, which, with all its strategy for managing groundwater glazing, represents the single largest contamination by many environheat load in the winter for the AJLC. mental advocates lack credibility The AJLC electric bill for the last where the processes of natural atten12 months was nearly $18,000. uation are effective in preventing the AJLC used more than three times spread of contaminants to a receptor the amount of electricity expected to at levels of concern. [Their] charges be produced annually by the roof that "natural attenuation is little photovoltaic array that is just now more than an excuse for industry to being installed. Prospects for these avoid the high costs of building solar panels to make the AJLC a net cleanup systems" are in the realm of energy exporter are not good. morality, rather than science or Moreover, adding a fuel cell will not practicality. help make the AJLC a net energy The NRC characterization of exporter. the "likelihood of success given current level of understanding" as JOHN H. SCOFIELD "moderate" or "low" for all contamiDept. of Physics nants except BTEX, low-molecular Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074 weight alcohols, ketones and esters,
[email protected] and methylene chloride should baffle knowledgeable groundwater Natural attenuation shortpractitioners.
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shrifted? Dear Editor: Natural attenuation (see Environ. Sci. Technol. 2000, 4 4 8 A • NOVEMBER 1, 2000 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / NEWS
MICHAEL A. APGAR, PG Dover, DE
