The US Environmental Protection Agency, which has determined the Passaic River to be a Superfund site, has been advised by the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT), an advisory board established by the EPA, that the Cement-Lock process is suitable as a way to begin cleaning up the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay.
Cement-Lock, a hazardous material treatment process developed with funding from the Department of Energy, permanently removes both organic and inorganic hazardous materials from the ecosystem by converting them to non-hazardous cement and electricity.
The cement material produced through the Cement-Lock process is called Ecomelt. Ecomelt, when blended with Portland cement, produces non-hazardous cement products that exceed the strength of Portland cement.
The Passaic River has been studied for over 20 years. Now, NACEPT has told the EPA it is time to stop studying the river and start cleaning it up.
“The demonstration of the efficacy of the Cement-Lock technology in New Jersey would encourage clean-ups in several parts of the United States where toxic pollutants are challenging the nation” says NACEPT .
The Cement-Lock process is being commercialized by Volcano Partners LLC. Al Hendricks, Chairman , said: “ We are pleased with the recommendation by NACEPT. Toxic materials are polluting soil and groundwater across the country and Cement-Lock is a unique solution that permanently removes those hazardous materials from the ecosystem.”
“ No other treatment technology today can compete with Cement-Lock’s ability to be a permanent, sustainable, and cost-effective hazardous material treatment solution that converts contaminated soils and sediments into beneficial use products, cement additives and electricity, ” he claimed.
VColcano Partners LLC is currently in discussions to globally deploy the Cement-Lock technology.
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Dredging Today Staff, April 30, 2012; Image: passaicremovalaction