Contaminated Site Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN): Upcoming Internet Seminars

ITRC's Vapor Intrusion Toolkit Resources – An Orientation, July 21, 2026

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:41:55 GMT

This orientation will provide a brief overview of vapor intrusion and introduce attendees to the 2026 ITRC Vapor Intrusion (VI) Toolkit and its many resources.

The VI Toolkit includes the Vapor Intrusion Technical and Regulatory Guidance and a suite of fact sheets, technology information sheets, and checklists, all of which are individually available for download and use. Also provided is a series of YouTube Playlists featuring ITRC-produced videos and content from other organizations. Key topic areas addressed in the toolkit include:

Vapor intrusion fundamentals and conceptual site models
Site screening and investigation strategies
Sampling and analysis
Data evaluation and risk assessment
Modeling
Vapor intrusion mitigation
Community engagement

The Toolkit provides a comprehensive overview of vapor intrusion concepts, recommended practices, and decision-making approaches across a wide range of site conditions. The Toolkit replaces, combines, and updates three previous ITRC vapor intrusion guidance documents: Vapor Intrusion Pathway: A Practical Guidance (VI-1, 2007), Petroleum Vapor Intrusion: Fundamentals of Screening, Investigation, and Management (PVI 1, 2014), and Technical Resources for Vapor Intrusion Mitigation (VIM-1, 2020). It reflects advances in science, policy, and field experience, and is designed to support regulators, practitioners, and stakeholders in conducting consistent and effective vapor intrusion assessments.

The course will provide connections to the 2026 ITRC VI Toolkit to help the audience understand how to find and use these new resources, and upcoming live ITRC training opportunities that will provide more in-depth education concepts provided in the Toolkit.

Phytoremediation in Practice: Design, Performance, and Case Studies for Sustainable Site Cleanup from EPA Phytotechnologies' 2025 Technology Profile, July 15, 2026

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:15:51 GMT

This session focuses on applying phytotechnologies to contaminated soil and groundwater, covering key mechanisms and how to align plant species, contaminants (e.g., petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, metals, emerging compounds), and site conditions for effective treatment. Participants will learn practical design considerations, including hydrogeology, climate, and long-term maintenance, along with realistic performance expectations. Lessons learned in monitoring, system performance, and sustainability co-benefits, such as habitat creation and climate resilience, are emphasized to help teams design defensible, effective phytoremediation projects.

Concepts are reinforced through real-world case studies demonstrating phytoremediation in practice. Attendees will explore applied case studies illustrating diverse uses of phytotechnology, including hybrid treatment systems for complex groundwater contamination, hydraulic plume control using deep-rooted trees, remediation of petroleum impacts in coastal environments, and large-scale natural treatment systems for nutrient management. These examples highlight both the opportunities and limitations of phytoremediation and provide actionable insights for determining when and how it can be effectively integrated into remediation strategies.

SRP Progress in Research Summer 2026 Webinar Series: Session II, July 16, 2026

Wed, 8 Apr 2026 15:47:28 GMT

This Progress in Research webinar series, hosted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP), showcases research from 6 schools funded by SRP in 2025. These awards were made as part of the P42 grant solicitation RFA-ES-20-014. In the two-part series, awardees will highlight their research projects, accomplishments, and next steps. The newly funded centers, including Baylor College of Medicine, University of Arizona, and University of Iowa, are bringing fresh ideas and approaches to tackle complex problems related to hazardous substances.

The Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) SRP Center investigates whether the maternal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emanating from superfund sites, as well as other environmental chemicals, increases the risk of preterm births (PTBs) and augments major neonatal morbidities such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The BCM SRP Center wants to determine the mechanisms by which PAHs contribute to PTBs and understand the factors that could be targets for interventions to prevent and reduce the health burden associated with PAHs present in Superfund sites.

The University of Arizona SRP Center works to address the unique human health risks encountered in the U.S. Southwest, a region with a rich history of metal mining and generation of mine wastes. Their overall goal is to construct a mechanistic model of how chronic exposure to mining-impacted dust that is co-contaminated with metal(loid)s and fungal spores contributes to the development of nonmalignant lung diseases. They aim to implement this model to predict exposures and associated health outcomes, to inform public health prevention in communities neighboring mine waste sites, and design remediation-based interventions to exposure.

The University of Iowa SRP Center focuses its research on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The center studies PCBs in the air, particularly in schools and those emitted from contaminated soils and water of Superfund sites. Researchers examine the health impacts of inhaled PCBs, particularly on adolescents, with a focus on neurodevelopmental and metabolic effects. The University of Iowa SRP Center's long-term goal is to develop recommendations to prevent and/or limit human exposure to airborne PCBs and to improve the health and well-being of the population.

To learn about and register for the other session in this webinar series, please see the SRP website.