Bioventing pilot test results at the low point drain area at Offutt AFB, Nebraska

Bioventing is a relatively new technology that uses forced air movement to deliver supplemental oxygen to contaminated soils to stimulate the biodegradation of contaminants by indigenous microorganisms. A bioventing pilot test was initiated at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, in August 1992, at a site contaminated with jet fuel. Air was injected into the subsurface over a period of 15 months, and tests were conducted at 6 months, and again at 15 months, to determine the effectiveness of the system. This article describes the bioventing process and its application at this test site. The results of the pilot test are discussed to illustrate the extent of the remediation accomplished through bioventing.