Sum16 SERDP & ESTCP Announce 2015 Projects of the Year · selected nine Projects of the Year in recognition of outstanding research and technology developments that will benefit the

THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL Research andDevelopment Program (SERDP) and the EnvironmentalSecurity Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) haveselected nine Projects of the Year in recognition ofoutstanding research and technology developments thatwill benefit the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Theseefforts are helping DoD enhance its mission capabilities,improve its environmental performance, and reduce costs.The following are recipients of this honor and descriptionsof their award winning projects. Addi-tional information is available atwww.serdp-estcp.org.

Energy and WaterESTCP Project of the YearDynamic Exterior Lighting forEnergy and Cost Savings in DoDInstallations

Dr. Satyen Mukherjee Philips Research, a division ofPhilips Electronics North AmericaCorporation

Exterior lighting accounts for nearlyten percent of the electricityconsumed at DoD military installa-tions. Many of the existing exteriorlighting systems use inefficient highpressure sodium or metal halide lightsthat are controlled with photosensors,which turn lights on regardless of

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SERDP & ESTCP Announce 2015 Projects of the YearNotable Efforts Include Research on Lighting Controls That Save Energy & Reduce Costs

Dynamic lighting controls have the potential to reduce DoD’s energy usage and provide significant cost savings.

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usage patterns. Dr. Satyen Mukherjee of Philips Researchand his team demonstrated that military installations canachieve significant electricity savings, by implementing effi-cient light emitting diode (LED) lighting sources and smartlighting controls.

The project evaluated three exterior lighting applications atU.S. Army Base Fort Sill, Oklahoma:

1. Dynadimmer for parking lots

2. Starsense for street lighting

3. Lighting on Demand for maintenance areas

Dynadimmer is a standalone fixture-by-fixture controlarchitecture that uses a preprogrammed dimming profileintegrated in the LED driver to reduce the light levelsduring periods of low occupancy. Starsense is a radiofrequency mesh-networked system in which each lightfixture is controlled independently using an outdoorlighting controller added to each LED fixture. The Lightingon Demand system couples the Starsense mesh networkwith motion detection sensors, allowing dynamic adaptivecontrol of the light levels in each fixture.

Advanced controls with LED light sources reduced energyconsumption for exterior lights by 60 to 90 percentdepending on the application. These energy savings wereachieved while also improving the quality of light in termsof color rendering and brightness. In all three systems, thelighting levels measured in the demonstrations exceededIlluminating Engineering Society of North America illumi-nance requirements.

The DoD could use efficient LED lighting sources andsmart controls to achieve significant energy savings andimprove illumination in exterior lighting applications attheir military installations across the country.

Environmental Restoration ESTCP Project of the YearDevelopment and Validation of a QuantitativeFramework and Management Expectation Tool for theSelection of Bioremediation Approaches at ChlorinatedSolvent Contaminated Sites

Ms. Carmen A. Lebrón, Private Consultant(formerly of the Naval Facilities Engineering andExpeditionary Warfare Center)

Chlorinated solvents are the most prevalent groundwatercontaminants, with an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 conta-

BioPIC provides an approach for determining the most appropriateremediation strategy based on a site’s specific conditions.

minated sites in the United States. Naturally-occurringbiological and abiotic processes contribute to contaminantattenuation in most hydrogeological systems, includingcontaminated aquifers. Over the years, monitored naturalattenuation (MNA) and enhanced bioremediation havebecome common remedial approaches. At sites wherenatural processes alone are sufficient to meet site-specificremediation goals, MNA is implemented as the most cost-effective remedy. At sites where MNA is not sufficient tomeet remediation goals, it may be necessary to enhancebiological and/or abiotic degradation processes to jumpstart natural attenuation.

Ms. Carmen Lebrón and her team developed BioPIC, asystematic approach and management expectation toolfor determining if MNA, biostimulation, and/or bioaug-mentation will be the most appropriate remedy, based onsite-specific conditions at contaminated groundwatersites. BioPIC uses the quantitative relationships amongbiotic and abiotic parameters that contribute to the degra-dation of chlorinated ethenes to assist a user in deter-mining the best pathway to selectively enhancedegradation. The tool allows the user to confirm degrada-tion and subsequently aid in the determination of therelevant degradation pathway(s) based on the assessmentof specific analytical parameters.

This pragmatic approach will generate comprehensive anddefensible remediation strategies, as well as reduce bothcapital and operation and maintenance costs for ground-water remediation. It can also minimize potential environ-

mental impacts of more invasive biore-mediation treatment options. Overall,BioPIC will aid remediation projectmanagers in evaluating and selectingthe most appropriate biologically-medi-ated remediation strategy for a givenchlorinated-solvent contaminated site.

Resource Conservation andClimate ChangeESTCP Project of the YearAerial Application ofAcetaminophen-Treated Baits forControl of Brown Tree Snakes

Dr. Brian S. DorrU.S. Department of Agriculture’s(USDA) National Wildlife ResearchCenter

Infestations of the brown tree snake(Bioga irregularis) have led to the extir-pation of all but two of the 12 nativeforest birds on the island of Guam. Inaddition, the snakes have causedmillions of dollars in damage to theisland’s electrical power distributionsystem. An anticipated increase in theU.S. military presence on Guam willincrease the flow of outbound cargothat could overtax the present opera-tional control methods, such as trap-ping, hand capture, and canineinspection of outbound cargo; whichdeter the spread of snakes from Guamto other locations that are conducive tothe snake’s habitat, including Hawaii.

An ESTCP-funded project led by Dr.Brian Dorr from the USDA’s NationalWildlife Research Center demonstratedan aerial control method deployingdead neonatal mice baits treated withacetaminophen, which is toxic to thesnakes, in order to reduce snake popu-lations in forested sites on Guam. Thetreated mice were individually attachedto four-foot-long paper flag streamersand deployed by hand from heli-copters. The baits entangle the treated

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An ESTCP-funded project has developed a methodology to combat the brown tree snake infestation on the island of Guam.

USDA Wildlife Services

mice in vegetation above ground level,where they can be consumed bybrown tree snakes. Some of the micewere implanted with a radio trans-mitter for tracking purposes.

This demonstration resulted in asignificant and sustained reduction inthe indices of snake numbers at thedemonstration sites. The team is nowworking to develop an automated baitdelivery system, which will providefor rapid bait release and reduceoverall delivery costs.

Weapons Systems and PlatformsESTCP Project of the YearDemonstration/Validation of Zinc-Nickel as Replacement forCadmium/Cyanide Plating Processfor Air Force Landing Gears

Mr. David Frederick417th Supply Chain ManagementSquadron (SCMS),U. S. Air Force(USAF) Landing Gear Team

Replacement of cadmium plating inaircraft landing gear manufacturingand maintenance is a high priority for

the DoD. Military aircraft maintenancedepots use cadmium plating exten-sively to apply corrosion resistant coat-ings to various high-strength steelaircraft components during manufac-ture, repair, and overhaul. Wastesgenerated from these plating opera-tions must abide by strict U.S. Envi-ronmental Protection Agency (EPA)emissions standards and OccupationalSafety and Health Administrationpermissible exposure limits. The oper-ational costs to comply with theserules and the increased turnaroundtimes for processing of componentsrequire DoD to find an environmen-tally benign alternative to cadmium.

Mr. David Frederick of the 417thSCMS, USAF Landing Gear Team, andhis team demonstrated the use of lowhydrogen embrittlement (LHE) zinc-nickel (Zn-Ni) for a wide variety ofapplications. The LHE Zn-Ni meets orexceeds all acceptance criteria forcoating quality, adhesion, fatigue,corrosion, and hydrogen embrittle-ment. Based on test results and in-field performance tracking, LHE Zn-Ni

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has been implemented within the Air Force overhaulfacility and is being adopted by industry as an alternativeto cadmium plating. Under the ESTCP-funded project, HillAir Force Base has processed more than 1,000 landinggear components using LHE Zn-Ni. Some of these compo-nents have been flying on aircraft for the past three years.Numerous commercial entities have tested and acceptedLHE Zn-Ni, and installed LHE Zn-Ni plating lines followingthe USAF lead. In addition, several DoD maintenancedepots are exploring the utility of Zn-Ni plating based onthe success of this project.

The LHE Zn-Ni coatings for military aircraft landing gearthat were successfully demonstrated and transitioned bythis project will help eliminate environmental and workersafety concerns associated with cadmium used in DoDplating operations.

Environmental RestorationSERDP Project of the Year Lead and Antimony Speciation in Shooting Range Soils:Molecular Scale Analysis, Temporal Trends, and Mobility

Dr. Thomas TrainorUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks

Soil contamination is a concern at many firearms trainingfacilities. Lead is the primary metal of concern, as it makesup approximately 90 percent, by mass, of a typical bullet

and is a common constituent in rockets, mortars, grenades,and Howitzer rounds. In addition to lead, a number ofother potentially toxic trace metals and metalloids are ofconcern. Bullet alloys generally include antimony, arsenic,bismuth, and silver; copper or nickel jacket commonlyform bullet casings. Fragments of bullets and other muni-tions debris are highly susceptible to oxidation and weath-ering processes in soil systems, leading to the release ofaqueous metal or metalloid species into soils. The potentialfor metals or metalloids stored in soils to migrate fromranges into surface or subsurface aquatic systems is a

human health and environmental concern.

Dr. Thomas Trainor of the University ofAlaska Fairbanks and his team haveconducted an in-depth analysis of thechanges in lead and antimony speciationthat occur over time in range soils. Theyconstructed shooting range impact berms toobserve the progression of metal oxidationand track the evolution of mobile species thatform as a result of fragment weatheringprocesses, under field conditions. Throughthis effort, they determined the efficacy ofsoil amendments to reduce metal and metal-loid mobility and developed surface-specificanalytical tools to complement traditionalgeochemical analytical methods. The team isnow completing studies that will further theunderstanding of the factors that control themobility and speciation of lead and anti-mony in soils, that enhance the use ofpassive sensors and surface-specific specia-

tion methods, and that test promising remediation scenarios,based on cost-effective chemical amendments to the soils.

The results of this study have improved the understandingof lead and antimony mobility through range soils. Thiscomprehensive understanding of the processes controllingmobilization versus retention of species, associated withbullet fragment weathering in small arms training rangesoils, is essential for assessing long-term environmentalrisk, for understanding the efficacy of remediationscenarios, and for identifying what materials to incorpo-rate into future training range or impact area designs. Thiswork will lead to technical guidance for remediationprogram managers and regulators to monitor geochemicalconditions pertinent to weathering of munitionsconstituents in soils and surrounding environments.

This ESTCP project demonstrated the use of LHE Zn-Ni coatings as viable alternatives

to electroplated cadmium.

Munitions ResponseSERDP Project of the YearContinuous Monitoring of Mobility, Burial, and Re-Exposure of Underwater Munitions in Energetic Near-Shore Environments

Dr. Peter TraykovskiWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Long Time Series Measurements of Munitions Mobilityin the Wave-Current Boundary Layer

Dr. Joseph CalantoniNaval Research Laboratory

Assessing and predicting the burial, mobility, and re-expo-sure of underwater munitions is an important componentof the management and potential remediation of under-water munitions sites. Munitions from former or activeDoD installations may migrate underwater or to the near-shore environment and become re-exposed, which would

pose human safety concerns. Multiple DoD researchefforts are working to improve understanding of the hydro-dynamic mechanisms that drive munitions burial andmobility, and current research aims to quantify theseforces within parameterized models.

Dr. Traykovski and his team at Woods Hole OceanographicInstitution approached this problem by collecting fieldmeasurements on munitions in the highly energetic,sandy, near-shore environment of Long Point, Massachu-setts. Continuous measurements were obtained using in-situ rotary sidescan sonar and an ultra-short baselineacoustic tracking system. They found that the migration ofmunitions was highly dependent on sandwave migration,munitions density, and storm event strength. By collectinghigh quality data sets and developing foundational models,Dr. Traykovski has provided a baseline for understandingthe factors that influence munitions migration and set thestandard for future research.

Dr. Calantoni and his team at the Naval Research Laboratorydeployed equipment to record in-situ time-series measure-ments of boundary layer processes responsible for munitionsmobility while simultaneously monitoring the mobility ofsurrogate munitions. They obtained sector scanning sonarimagery measurements within a highly energetic, sandyenvironment at Duck, North Carolina, and Panama CityBeach, Florida. The project team observed munitions burialat multiple water depths (6 meters (m) and 8 m) and incor-porated these observations into analyses of horizontal andlateral munitions mobility. These datasets provide informa-tion that will be used to verify and validate existing mobilitymodels and develop new conceptual models for fate andtransport of munitions. The data collected for this study high-light the role of hydrodynamics, near-shore bathymetry, andmunition density in determining the mobility of munitions.

Resource Conservation and Climate Change SERDP Project of the YearHydroecology of Intermittent and Ephemeral Streams:Will Landscape Connectivity Sustain Aquatic Organismsin a Changing Climate?

Dr. Julian D. OldenUniversity of Washington

Dr. David A. LytleOregon State University

Intermittent and ephemeral streams play a significantrole in supporting the ecological diversity in the south-

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Dr. Calantoni and his team deployed their equipment to record in-situ time-series measurements of boundary layer

processes responsible for munitions mobility.

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western United States. Long-term use of military installa-tions and ranges in this region is, in part, dependent onthe ability to maintain the continued ecological func-tioning of the land base in this region, where drylandstreams provide critical habitat and population connec-tivity for obligatory aquatic species. Improvements in thefundamental understanding of the links between hydro-logic and ecological processes in arid and semi-arid envi-ronments will aid resource managers in the proactiveconservation of species at risk and their habitats on andaround DoD installations.

A SERDP-funded project led by Dr. Julian Olden of theUniversity of Washington and Dr. David Lytle of OregonState University examined how hydrology, hydrologicconnectivity, and other riverine characteristics influencethe community structure and population genetics ofamphibian and aquatic insect species on Fort Huachuca,

Arizona, and in the surrounding Sky Island mountainranges. By employing field studies, quantitative modelingin relation to hydrology, riparian vegetation, geomor-phology, and innovative molecular genetics, the projectteam quantified stream characteristics at multiple spatialscales and showed how aquatic species with different life-history strategies respond to dryland stream ecosystemsin the Southwest.

This project provided key ecological information onephemeral and intermittent stream ecosystems thatcontain most of the biodiversity in the southwesternUnited States and for which DoD has significant manage-ment responsibility. These results will not only help DoDmanagers better conserve this biodiversity today, but alsoin the future under a changing climate.

Weapons Systems and PlatformsSERDP Project of the YearNovel Coatings Systems for Use as High PerformanceChemical Agent Resistant Powder Topcoats

Mr. Mark J. WytiazThe Sherwin-Williams Company

Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARC) are used byDoD for the protection of military assets. Currentsolvent-borne and water-dispersible CARC topcoatscontribute approximately 2.3 million pounds of volatileorganic compounds (VOC) and hazardous air pollutantsto the environment each year. For decades, DoD hasrecognized the need to develop powder coatings, whichcontain no solvents, as a means to greatly reduce theseemissions. The key challenges to developing powdercoatings for CARC topcoats are achieving chemicalwarfare agent resistance, extremely low gloss, and supe-rior exterior durability.

Mr. Mark Wytiaz of Sherwin-Williams and his team estab-lished a fundamental understanding of coatings materialsand their interactions, which led to the successful develop-ment of a CARC powder topcoat technology. Theyproduced topcoats in Tan 686, Green 383, and Black37030, which together represent nearly 95 percent of themilitary’s needs. The new CARC coatings use blends ofincompatible resins, formulated with low loadings ofhighly efficient fillers and pigments that are key tomeeting the low-gloss requirement.

The three CARC powder topcoats have been or are beingqualified against the military specification requirements for

The ecological information on ephemeral and intermittent streamecosystems obtained by this project will help DoD managers

better conserve the biodiversity in this region.

listing on the Qualified Products Data-base. Field trials verified coatingperformance and validated thesuccess of the project. Coatings prod-ucts are currently in transition to orig-inal equipment manufacturers,maintenance depots, and the DefenseLogistics Agency.

These innovative powder coatingsoffer the benefits of a technologythat is absent of solvent, emitsnearly zero VOCs, can be recycled,and is compatible with existingCARC systems. In addition, testingto-date proves that the exterior dura-bility of this coating is superior toany liquid CARC system, supportingDoD’s initiative for corrosion preven-tion and mitigation.

About SERDP & ESTCPSERDP and ESTCP are DoD’s envi-ronmental research programs,harnessing the latest science andtechnology to improve DoD’s envi-ronmental performance, reducecosts, and enhance and sustain

executed in partnership with theDepartment of Energy and the EPA,with participation by numerous otherFederal and non-Federal organizations.The program focuses on cross-servicerequirements and pursues solutions tothe Department’s environmental chal-lenges while enhancing and sustainingmilitary readiness.

ESTCP is DoD’s environmental tech-nology demonstration and validationprogram. Project researchers conductformal demonstrations at DoD facili-ties and sites in operational settings todocument and validate improvedperformance and cost savings.Demonstration results are subject torigorous technical reviews to ensurethat the conclusions are accurate andwell supported by data.

For more information, visitwww.serdp-estcp.org. �

Jeffrey HouffSERDP and ESTCP Support [email protected]

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This micrograph shows the novel resins used to formulate new chemical agent resistant powder coatings.

mission capabilities. SERDP andESTCP respond to environmentaltechnology requirements common toall of the military Services, comple-menting the Services own researchprograms. The programs promotepartnerships and collaborationamong academia, industry, the mili-tary Services, and other Federal agen-cies. Investments are managed in fiveprogram areas:

1. Energy and Water

2. Environmental Restoration

3. Munitions Response

4. Resource Conservation andClimate Change

5. Weapons Systems and Platforms

SERDP and ESTCP are independentprograms managed from a joint officeto coordinate the full spectrum ofefforts, from basic and applied researchto field demonstration and validation.

SERDP is DoD’s environmental scienceand technology program, planned and