Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The North American electric grid is a complex, interconnected system. To protect it from growing cyber threats, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) enforces stringent Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards. A major challenge for NERC-registered entities is managing the shift of Bulk Power System (BES) Cyber Systems from low-impact to medium-impact status. This transition is not just an administrative change; it marks a move from broad cybersecurity policies to deploying specific, technical controls. 

As the electric grid evolves to accommodate distributed energy resources, advanced automation, and increased interconnectivity, registered entities are reevaluating their asset impact levels under the CIP standards.

If your organization is facing this change, here is what you need to know.

From Low To Medium Impact: The Shift in NERC Standards

A medium-impact classification significantly expands your compliance obligations, requiring stricter controls across multiple CIP standards, that covers CIP-002 to CIP-013.

Overcoming Common Compliance Challenges

The journey to medium-impact compliance is complex and fraught with common challenges. Knowing what to expect can help your team prepare and navigate the transition successfully.

1. Mastering Technical Complexity – Unlike low-impact rules, medium-impact compliance requires deep technical expertise. Teams must implement granular controls for access management, system hardening, and malware prevention.
2. Securing The Supply Chain – With the expanded scope of medium-impact assets, managing third-party vendor risks (as required by CIP-013) becomes crucial. Monitoring vendor compliance—especially when they use different security frameworks—presents a significant hurdle.
3. Handling Documentation And Audit Demands – The volume of documentation required for medium-impact compliance can quickly become overwhelming, forcing entities that once relied on manual processes to transition to a structured, evidence-based system to meet audit requirements.
4. Training And Culture Change – Effective training extends beyond policy updates—it requires a cultural shift where security is embedded in daily operations. Ensuring personnel are proficient in new protocols can be particularly challenging when employees balance multiple responsibilities.
5. Securing A Geographically Dispersed Infrastructure – Entities with many assets spread across a wide area face significant challenges in implementing and monitoring the physical security perimeters (PSPs) and access controls required by CIP-006.
6. Balancing Security And Operational Efficiency – Introducing stringent security measures into legacy OT environments can disrupt operations if not managed carefully. Entities must plan and coordinate thoroughly to ensure enhancements strengthen, rather than hinder, the reliable performance of BES equipment.
7. Mitigating Configuration And Change Management Risks – As the number of managed devices increases, maintaining an accurate, real-time inventory of cyber assets becomes increasingly complex—and poor configuration management can quickly create oversights and vulnerabilities.

How SigmaFlow Streamlines Your NERC CIP Transition

To navigate these challenges, automation and a centralized approach are key. Our SigmaFlow Compliance Platform is designed specifically to simplify the complexities of NERC CIP compliance.

Evidence Collection And Audit Readiness

• Centralized Evidence Repository: SigmaFlow automates the collection and management of compliance evidence in a real-time repository. This eliminates manual, spreadsheet-based tracking and ensures a single source of truth for all audit-related data.
• Automated Audit Reports: With its “1-Click RSAW” feature, the platform automatically generates audit packages and Reliability Standard Audit Worksheets, drastically reducing the time and effort needed for audit preparation.

Workflow And Process Management

• Process-Driven Compliance: SigmaFlow’s controls enforce compliance and streamline workflow. Tasks are correctly assigned and completed on schedule, minimizing delays and human error.
• Automated Tasks: The platform automates and schedules key tasks, helping prevent violations of the highest-risk standards.

Configuration And Change Management (CIP-010)

• Real-Time Monitoring: SigmaFlow Beacon uses lightweight agents to monitor configuration changes in real time, helping you quickly identify changes and avoid noncompliance.
• Seamless Workflow Integration: Beacon integrates natively with SigmaFlow’s compliance controls, allowing compliance teams to scan for, approve, or revoke changes in a single system—without relying on third-party tools or direct access to sensitive environments.

Enhanced Visibility

• Real-Time Dashboards: Proactively identify and address compliance gaps before they lead to violations. Instant visibility into your compliance posture keeps your organization audit-ready and secure.
• Historical Reporting: Easily access and format years of audit data with the built-in audit trail and reporting interface. This simplifies the creation of ERT reports, completion of RSAWs, and responses to information requests.

By leveraging the automation and centralized management provided by the SigmaFlow platform, entities can overcome the significant challenges of transitioning to medium-impact compliance. The result is a more efficient, consistent, and proactive approach to NERC CIP, freeing up resources and providing confidence in your audit readiness.

For registered entities embarking on this transition, SigmaFlow is more than a compliance solution. Our Professional Services team brings extensive experience implementing SigmaFlow for NERC-related processes, with guided, phased implementations designed to deliver rapid results and seamless integration into your compliance program. With SigmaFlow, registered entities can remain focused on their mission of delivering reliable, secure energy while meeting the highest standards of cybersecurity and compliance. For registered entities navigating this transition, SigmaFlow offers more than a compliance solution. Backed by a Professional Services team experienced in with implementation of SigmaFlow platform for NERC related processes. Our guided, phased implementations are purpose-built to provide a rapid return and smooth integration into your compliance program.  With SigmaFlow, registered entities can focus on their mission to deliver reliable and secure energy while meeting the highest standards of cybersecurity and compliance.

Visit our SigmaFlow page to learn more or request a demo.

The post Navigating Low To Medium Impact Transition Under NERC CIP appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Our team of PFAS experts are taking on a new challenge! Together with VEI Contracting, Inc. (VEI), a Canadian small-business remediation solutions provider, we are working to demonstrate technology that is capable of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) destruction in contaminated media.

The Environmental Challenge Of PFAS

PFAS are widely detected in soil, groundwater, and surface water, and have become one of today’s most significant environmental issues. Known as “forever chemicals” because they are highly resistant to breakdown and can be found in the environment for decades. Parsons has been working on technologies to destroy PFAS, rather than cleaning it up and storing the chemicals.

Government Support For PFAS Destruction Innovation

VEI has received advisory services and funding support from the Government of Canada to undertake this PFAS destruction testing as part of the “Destruction of PFAS compounds in contaminated media” challenge through the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program. The Phase 1 ISC funding will allow the VEI and Parsons team to develop a proof of concept to demonstrate the feasibility of Parsons’ proprietary PFAS destruction technology in the aqueous phase including water, wastewater and groundwater. 

Advancing PFAS Destruction Technology With Parsons’ Photochemical Solution

Parsons’ Photochemical PFAS destruction technology is patent-pending developed through internal research and development. This ISC project will allow Parsons and VEI to complete a desktop demonstration of the technology’s ability to destroy 99 percent of the PFAS in water or wastewater. Future phases of the challenge will look to demonstrate success in field applications.  

The post “Forever Chemicals” No More: Delivering Innovative PFAS Destruction Solutions appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Fixed fire suppression systems are designed to control or extinguish fires. They include water-based systems like sprinklers, deluge, water mist, and standpipe systems, gas-based and clean agent systems, and foam and dry chemical systems. To extinguish fires involving flammable liquids, the systems often contain aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). AFFF contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Unfortunately, these compounds persist in the environment, bioaccumulate, and are linked to potential health risks.

What Problems Are Caused By Aging AFFF?

Over time, AFFF can degrade, causing clogging, corrosion, or residue buildup in piping, pumps, and nozzles. A thorough cleanout ensures optimal system performance and longevity. When switching to fluorine-free foam (F3) or other alternatives, it is critical to clean out the system. This helps avoid cross-contamination, which could compromise fire suppression effectiveness or cause chemical incompatibility issues. Some AFFF formulations contain hazardous chemicals that could pose risks to firefighters and maintenance personnel during system use and servicing. Therefore, proper decontamination helps mitigate exposure risks.

Decontaminating and reusing the fixed fire suppression system is often far less expensive than system replacement. Also, decontamination can reduce the liability associated with disposing of PFAS-impacted system components. Transitioning to F3 requires thorough cleaning of the system to remove AFFF and PFAS residues.

Many governmental agencies including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state and local regulatory organizations, and the European Union are enforcing restrictions or implementing outright bans of PFAS-containing foams and other products. As of January 1, 2022, with some exceptions, EPA has prohibited the manufacturing or distributing of AFFF in the United States.  

Testing And Certification

It is important to work with a licensed and experienced fire protection professional engineering firm when performing testing and certification of fixed fire suppression systems. There are regulatory compliance standards that must be adhered to during system testing and certification. Key agency standards include the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards, Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Regulations, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM) Approval, Local Fire Codes, and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) Requirements.

AFFF Removal And Rinsate Treatment

TRS Group (TRS), a Parsons company, uses specialized equipment and a decontamination solution, PerfluorAd, invented by Martin Cornelsen, the managing director of Cornelsen Umwelttechnologie GmbH.

PerfluorAd is a biodegradable, plant-based oleic acid that ionically binds to and removes PFAS from the wetted surfaces of fire suppression systems, including sprinklers, deluge valves, pipes, tanks, cannons, and proportioners. TRS’s approach uses concentration, sedimentation, and filtration to remove and separate PFAS compounds from the generated rinsate. This process allows discharge, with regulatory approval, to the sanitary sewer.

TRS’s method removes far more PFAS than rinsing with water. Typically, our approach achieves PFAS concentration reductions greater than 99%. Furthermore, we have conducted extensive testing more than two years after implementing our process with results demonstrating virtually no rebound.

The post A Breakthrough For AFFF Decontamination In Fire Suppression appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Firefighters have practiced extinguishing fuel-based fires at fire training areas (FTAs) by applying aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), which contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These compounds can persist in the environment for centuries. FTAs have become a significant source of PFAS to groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated some PFAS compounds as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Therefore, there is great interest in remediating PFAS-impacted soil and groundwater.

Remediating FTAs can be challenging, as they often are paved with concrete or asphalt. Besides contaminating those materials, PFAS usually impacts the surrounding soils and underlying vadose zone. Also, runoff may result in PFAS spreading to the surrounding areas, such as swales or lowlands.

The TRS Group Solution

TRS Group (TRS), a Parsons company, has patented a robust solution. The method allows TRS to treat all soil types, including clay, asphalt, concrete and other debris. These materials are often found at FTAs and construction sites. TRS heats the soil and debris, either in situ or ex situ, using thermal conduction heating (TCH). This process can achieve soil temperatures greater than 400 degrees Celsius (°C), volatilizing and desorbing PFAS off the impacted materials. Vapor treatment occurs at the surface.

Suggested Remediation Approach

After a consulting engineering firm determines the depths and areal extent of impacted soils, debris, concrete and asphalt requiring treatment, a contractor would excavate the nearby impacted areas. The contractor would then place the soil on top of the FTA, building a treatment cell. TRS then would install its TCH heaters and vapor extraction screens in the constructed cell. Additionally, it would insulate the cell to minimize heat losses. Thereafter, TRS would connect the heaters and vapor collection system to the power and surface treatment equipment.

TRS estimates that typical remediation duration to be three to six months. This duration includes the thermal desorption, capture and treatment of the PFAS.

PFAS Remediation Experience: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) In Anchorage, Alaska

Funded by the Department of War’s (DOW) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), TRS has applied its method at three sites. The first two were small demonstration projects. However, the third involved remediating a 2,000 cubic yard soil pile at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska.

At JBER, TRS heated the soil pile for 89 days and achieved an average temperature of 638°C. The independent laboratory, using EPA Method 1633, reported non-detects for all 40 method analytes in the composite sample.

Adopting such an approach, property owners can minimize groundwater impacts and reduce their long-term liability.

The post PFAS Removal In Fire Training Areas: A Guide appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

As we offer electrical resistance heating, steam enhanced extraction, and thermal conduction heating services, it is crucial that we provide our clients with the most cost-effective thermal solution that meets their goals and objectives. Central to this imperative, we have developed and continually improve our HeatWave® modeling service, which identifies the optimal thermal technology and design for our project sites. Calibrated with over 20 years of TRS project data, the model is the basis for our power, energy, and duration predictions. Key model components include:

• Conceptual site model
• Constituents of concern
• Remedial goals
• Treatment volume geometry
• Groundwater velocity
• Depth to water
• Stratigraphy

We have such confidence in our model, we have offered guarantees on more than 75% of our projects. Tellingly, we have met the concentration goals on 100% of our guaranteed projects.

For every site we remediate, we develop a detailed design based on the heating infrastructure requirements defined by the model. Throughout our operations, we collect, analyze, and store data for over 70 parameters. Once we complete the project, we compare the HeatWave model predictions to the field data, which includes:

• Contaminant percent reduction
• Mass removal
• Power density
• Energy density
• Duration

When we observe differences between the model predictions and field data, we calibrate the model accordingly. This process provides us with an ever-improving understanding of how to design and implement thermal remediations. Through our statistical analyses, model accuracy has improved substantially over the past 20 years. As a result, our duration estimates are far more precise than they had been, providing our clients cost certainty.

Moreover, confidence in our model has helped our clients improve remediation outcomes. For example, significantly higher energy input than the model prediction is often an indicator of unidentified contamination outside of the thermal treatment volume. Also, our modeling corroborates that the faster you heat the treatment volume, the lower the heat losses and energy usage. Therefore, identifying and implementing optimal power input is one of the most effective approaches to lowering thermal remediation costs.

The post Calibrating Thermal Remediation Models appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Our Drinking Water Is Under Attack

The United States’ critical infrastructures, such as our safe drinking water systems, are more vulnerable to cyberattacks than ever before. Water utilities have become an increased target for hackers, with the potential consequences extending far beyond the financial damage caused by ransomware attacks. A successful cyberattack can disrupt essential operations, steal sensitive information, and even endanger public health by manipulating the treatment processes to poison drinking water. This stark reality underscores the importance of safeguarding our water systems to protect not just infrastructure but also the lives of the people who depend on them.

Cyberattacks on water utilities can have catastrophic outcomes. For instance, hackers could remotely access systems to open and close valves, override alarms, disable pumps, or tamper with chemical dosing. Such actions can lead to untreated or improperly treated water being distributed to the public, posing serious health risks. These threats highlight the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to ensure the safety and reliability of our water supply.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been tracking these issues, and it’s not pretty. Inspections have identified significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities in water systems. Over 70% of the systems inspected since September 2023 were found to be in violation of basic Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. These violations included missing sections of the Risk and Resilience Assessments (RRAs) and Emergency Response Plans (ERPs). Inspectors discovered alarming deficiencies, such as failure to change default passwords, using single logins for all staff, and not curtailing access for former employees.

Our dedication to protecting vital systems has allowed us to assist over 600 utilities across the nation in maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses. With the introduction of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), we’re excited to continue expanding our support, helping even more utilities get ahead of cyber threats with enhanced cybersecurity measures.

Understanding The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)

Recognizing the increasing threat of cyberattacks, the EPA has implemented the CWSRF to bolster cybersecurity efforts across the country. The CWSRF operates much like a bank, offering low-interest loans to public, private, and non-profit entities for water quality projects, including cybersecurity enhancements. These funds are repaid and then recycled to fund additional projects, ensuring continuous improvement and protection of our water infrastructure.

The significance of the CWSRF cannot be overstated. By providing financial assistance, it enables utilities to implement crucial cybersecurity measures that might otherwise be out of reach. This not only helps in protecting the infrastructure but also in building resilience against potential cyber threats.

Eligibility For The CWSRF Program

Each state’s CWSRF program comes with its own set of criteria and priorities, but generally, it offers assistance to a wide range of entities involved in water infrastructure projects. Eligible projects might include:

• Risk and Resilience Assessments: Evaluating the security of electronic, computer, or other automated systems used by utilities.
• Cybersecurity Training: Workshops, seminars, and other training events aimed at enhancing cybersecurity awareness and response capabilities.
• Technology Upgrades: Updating outdated computers and software, enhancing the security of IT and OT systems, installing or updating SCADA systems, and more.
• Physical Security Enhancements: Implementing measures such as locking doors and cabinets, installing intrusion alarms, and protecting network cables.

The flexibility of the CWSRF allows states to strategically focus their programs using Intended Use Plans (IUPs). These plans outline the goals, operations, and compliance measures of each state’s CWSRF program, making it possible to prioritize cybersecurity projects that are most needed.

For instance, the CWSRF can fund the development of contingency and emergency response plans, ensuring that utilities are prepared to handle cyber incidents efficiently. Additionally, it supports the procurement of cybersecurity tools and technologies, such as advanced threat detection systems (like Cyberzcape), upgrading legacy control systems, and secure network backups, which are essential in mitigating cyber risks.

How We Can Help

At Parsons, we’re not just about identifying problems; we’re about providing solutions. We understand the complexities and challenges that utilities face in the realm of cybersecurity. That’s why we’re committed to helping you put together a comprehensive, long-term cybersecurity strategy that addresses your specific needs. We also are here to help any utility craft their Intended Use Plans for the CWSRF.

Our team of experts is here to guide you through every step of the process, from conducting initial risk assessments to implementing advanced cybersecurity measures. We’re dedicated to ensuring that your water systems are not only protected against current threats but also resilient against future ones. Our clients consistently praise our comprehensive approach and deep understanding of their unique challenges. By working closely with each utility, we’ve been able to tailor solutions that provide maximum protection and peace of mind.

Partner With Us For A Secure Future

As cyber threats continue to evolve, it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve. At Parsons, we’re ready to help you navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and ensure the safety and resilience of your water systems. Don’t wait for a cyber incident to occur—take proactive steps to protect your infrastructure today.

The post Enhancing Water Security With Parsons And EPA’s Low-Interest Loans appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Today, we are joined by two veterans of the electrification movement. Jim Valerio is VP of Business Development for North American Intelligent Infrastructure at Parsons and plays a key role in our Zero-Emission Bus initiatives and planning work. John Daly is a Senior Growth Operations Manager at Parsons, specializing in utility cybersecurity and assisting anyone who needs to manage their energy. Read along as they discuss electrification, Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), electrifying public transit fleets and what the future holds for these industries.

Electrification is a widely used term. How would you define it?

Jim: As we all work to decarbonize our everyday life, from transportation to our homes to our workplace and to the fulfillment of our basic needs, the generation, storage, and use of electricity will be essential. Therefore, I see this term as the embodiment of the work we are undertaking to create a single resource that is generated in a cleaner way, stored, distributed in an efficient manner, and, ultimately, delivered to us safely and sufficiently. So, electrification surrounds every industry as the shared goal to achieve this transformation.

John: There are lots of approaches happening simultaneously to combat climate change as we try and mitigate its effects. I see electrification as one of those approaches.

Flipping our reliance as a society from technologies that utilize carbon-based, non-renewable power resources, like coal, to electricity-powered resources (which can be renewable) is a simple way to think about the term electrification.

The movement has tons of variables, as Jim mentioned, as more things need more electricity than in the past, and with that, we get a greater power demand. But in order to save the planet and make Earth livable for future generations, we need to move to more renewable technologies rapidly.

How is Parsons involved in the electrification movement?

Jim: Our contribution has been focused on supporting the conversion of electrifying public transit fleets to zero-emission (ZE) alternatives, such as battery-electric buses and vehicles. Additionally, we are helping to design the electric vehicle charging equipment necessary to keep vehicles operating smoothly and without any interruption to the service they provide workers and riders. Integrating solar technology into new infrastructure at bus depots is another innovation we deliver, creating natural and clean electricity generation. For our clients, we must consider resiliency as we design and implement these transitions, understanding that emergency responsiveness is necessary when natural disasters may cause utility systems to fail. The battery electric storage systems (BESS) we design provide this resiliency.

John: Energy management is another angle Parsons is taking to help address climate change. Our Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) and Meter and Operational Data Management (MODM) technologies are designed specifically to help utilities manage demand loads as increases in power demand strain the electrical grid. Our DERMS solution helps utilities smoothly integrate and manage renewable energy sources, keeping the grid running efficiently even as power demands rise. By smartly balancing supply and demand, DERMS makes energy distribution more efficient and reduces carbon emissions, pushing us towards a greener future. Our MODM technology complements this by effectively managing meter and operational data, enhancing the reliability and performance of the grid. We’re advancing these technologies for microgrids and working with a range of utilities, from resource-strapped rural providers to large power utilities.

What are the benefits of electrification?

Jim: Too many to list here! The most important benefits are sustainability through the clean generation of energy. With this comes reduced air pollution. Electric vehicles are typically quieter while operating and have fewer moving mechanical parts, thus reducing long-term repair and maintenance costs.

John: Climate change will continue to damage our planet and many of its effects are already irreversible in parts of the world. We are working to mitigate the impacts of climate change by adopting as many decarbonizing technologies as possible. Short term, electrification allows people to live without the worry of blackouts affecting their lives as we can establish uninterrupted and renewable energy solutions for the grid. Long term, we can make the planet hospitable for future generations. There is no greater mission than that.

What are the challenges you’ve seen in this space?

Jim: Wide adoption continues to meet with resistance (see the electricity pun I infused there?), largely because this type of large-scale transformation requires collective action, support, and significant new funding. Electrification is also not a simple solution. The mining, manufacturing, and recycling of materials used in lithium-ion and cobalt batteries required for electrification is arguably worse for the environment in the long term. Additional innovation – beyond the type of power – is needed to improve how the power is stored and used in a sustainable way. Also, I hope Parsons can participate in the pursuit of recycling efforts for all lithium-ion and cobalt batteries, as this will decrease costs/expenses while improving the sustainability of electrification for all users.

John: Power distribution technology is extremely old and inefficient to handle the uptick in power needs. The more things that flip to electric, like transportation and mobility, the more infrastructure is needed to handle the demand. The United States is focused on upgrading the grid to handle this rising power demand we’re facing. The biggest challenge with this is the time it takes to do so. There’s an exponential growth of power demand in our country, and the sooner we upgrade components of the aging grid, from transmission lines all the way to neighborhood transformers, the better. This prevents power outages due to overloads. Much of the U.S. power grid is decades old and wasn’t designed to even handle the current load demands. For example, 70 percent of transmission lines are over 25 years old. We’re also strapped for time on how long it takes for distributed energy resources like utility-scale solar projects and wind energy projects to build out. That’s why platforms like Parsons’ DERMS solutions are critical bridges in load management as the grid gets its upgrade.

What do you think the future holds for electrification?

Jim: We must continue to push and strive for better but remain cautious about how fast we get there. For now, finding places where innovative technology meets with the ideas of passionate people is exactly where I want to be!

John: The future of electrification is incredibly promising and essential for our planet’s sustainability. We’re going to see rapid advancements in renewable energy technologies and grid infrastructure upgrades. This means continued investment in smart grid technologies, like our DERMS and MODM solutions, to efficiently manage and distribute power. Electrification will also drive innovation in sustainable energy storage and microgrid systems. My guess is that we will see more decentralized energy production, with communities generating their own renewable energy and contributing to the grid.

Overall, electrification will mitigate climate change impacts, improve energy security, and create a more resilient energy system. Like Jim, I’m excited that we get to be a part of this for a living.

The post Electrifying Our Future: A Q&A With Parsons’ Electrification Experts appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

TRS Group (TRS), a Parsons company, performs cleanouts of mobile and fixed fire suppression systems that have used aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to extinguish fuel and oil fires. AFFF can contain up to 6% per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Because state and federal agencies are limiting the allowable PFAS concentrations in the environment to extraordinarily low levels, the firefighting community is replacing AFFF with fluorine-free foams (F3), which requires not only draining the AFFF from fire suppression systems, but also cleaning the wetted surfaces.

Unfortunately, PFAS form coatings that are resistant to removal and do not dissolve readily in water. Studies have shown that rinsing with water leaves large quantities of PFAS behind (Lang et al. 2022).

Triple Rinse Versus The TRS Method

The generic steps of AFFF removal and cleanout follow:

• Removal of AFFF concentrate
• Physical rinsing of foam tanks, pipes, pumps, etc.
• Rinsing of the wetted surfaces using a suitable liquid
• Treatment or disposal of the rinsate and other generated waste

TRS compared the effectiveness of a triple water rinse (3x Rinse) to our approach. We cleaned an aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle at a major international airport using established 3x Rinse methodology and then treated the same vehicle using our method. After each cleaning, we filled the foam tank with water, circulated it throughout the system, let it equilibrate, took samples, and then analyzed for specific PFAS compounds. The graphs below show PFAS concentrations after the 3x Rinse and TRS’s approach.

The 3x Rinse reduced the concentration of PFOA in the ARFF’s AFFF storage tank (bottom graph); however, there was no reduction in total PFAS concentrations (upper graph). The dominant compound in the 3x Rinse water was 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS), with its concentration actually increasing.

The TRS approach reduced total PFAS concentration by more than 99%. Furthermore, we saw 6:2 FTS concentration reductions of 99.3% and we achieved non-detect levels for PFOA and PFOS.

References

Johnsie R. Lang, Jeffery McDonough, T.C. Guillette, Peter Storch, John Anderson, David Liles, Robert Prigge, Jonathan A.L. Miles, Craig Divine (2022): Characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on fire suppression system piping and optimization of removal methods. Chemosphere 308, 136254.idues inside the vehicles cannot be removed effectively using water alone.

The post Cleaning AFFF-impacted Fire Suppression Systems: Comparing Triple Water Rinse Versus TRS Group Method appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

We completed the first electrical resistance heating (ERH) project in Germany in May 2021. The site at US Army Garrison (USAG) Wiesbaden was a former maintenance area near the airport runway. The constituents of concern (COCs) were chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily trichloroethene (TCE).

ERH involves injecting electricity into the subsurface, which acts as a resistor and heats up to the boiling point of water in about two months. The generated steam acts as a carrier gas, transporting the volatilized COCs to the vadose zone, where TRS captures the contaminants and treats them conventionally at the surface. ERH works equally well in the vadose and saturated zones, even in tight matrices such as clay and sedimentary bedrock. Expected VOC concentration reductions are 99% or more.

The goal of the thermal remediation at USAG Wiesbaden was to reduce TCE groundwater concentrations in the source area where concentrations exceeded 10,000 micrograms per liter (µg/L). The treatment area was approximately 1,110 square meters and extended from 2 to 12 meters below ground surface for a treatment volume of 11,100 cubic meters.

Our OptiFlux® ERH services included 57 electrodes with co-located vapor recovery points. A 2,700-kilowatt power control unit provided electricity to the dual-element electrodes and the above ground vapor treatment equipment, which included two steam condenser and chiller units, and vapor granular activated carbon vessels.

Construction of the OptiFlux® system began on July 6, 2020, and operations extended from November 24, 2020, to May 4, 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic. TRS, with the help of our client Wood E&IS GmbH, USAG base personnel, US Army Corps of Engineers, and TRS European partners Cornelsen, Ltd. and HMVT, navigated the many travel and logistical challenges to construct and operate the OptiFlux® system as designed. Over 50 Covid tests were taken over the course of the project.

Baseline TCE groundwater concentrations ranged from 116 to 9,980 µg/L and post remediation concentrations ranged from 7.0 to 79 µg/L, resulting in an average reduction of 99%. Completion of the complex project during a pandemic is a testament to the team’s commitment to meet client project goals despite unexpected adversity.

The post Electrical Resistance Heating Remediation In Europe During Covid-19 Pandemic appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

The mobility electrification of America is happening right now and accelerating faster than utilities may have expected. Every day, more EVs are driving around our communities and becoming less of a novelty than a few years ago. Electric vehicles have become more cost-effective to operate and better for the environment than gas or diesel vehicles; the switch was an easy one to make. The obligation for a proper way to manage the increased demand for power is critical to every utility with more EVs on the streets. The energy demand is here and only getting bigger. It’s time to get a solid distributed energy resource system in place to meet end users’ demands and ensure the approach to doing so is cost-effective.

How Big Is This Demand?

When you look at the facts on the energy supply impact for charging stations, it might keep a grid operator up at night. Let’s look at an example: DirectCharge Fast Current (DCFC) charge stations have a 350 kW capacity in each pump. A mall that has 10 DCFC stations has 3.5 MW of load capacity required at one store. Yes, only one store. As EV infrastructure scales and a utility has 10’s or 100’s of stores, these DERMS may reach 35 TO 350 MW of capacity within a utility. Now think about all the EV fleets coming to town needing a place to charge – be it school buses or delivery trucks.

In the last 10 years, the domestic EV marketplace has grown from 16,000 to more than 2 million vehicles, and automotive executives predict that more than 50% of vehicles on our roads will be all-electric by 2030. Americans will have to charge these vehicles and there’s a plan to meet that need. The bipartisan National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding bill plans for the installation of 500,000 DCFC charge points. The US grid capacity in 2021 was 1.14 billion kW and adding 500K charge points is going to bring an additional load capacity required by the grid between 75 million kW and 225 million kW when they all come online.

DERMS To The Rescue

This is not an unsolvable problem; just one utilities have to get organized around. Grid operators are currently pulling various resources across the power generation spectrum to meet these demands. This is done using Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and not looking to a single generation type for power. DER includes wind, solar, backup storage, barriers, and flexible loan management resources combined with legacy supplies and the current grid infrastructure. The challenge we see is the need to manage capacity within a utility with proper planning and scheduling. This is where DERMS comes in. DERMS provides a robust, comprehensive, cyber-secure solution for integrating, distributing, and consuming a grid’s available resources with an easy-to-use web portal.

The DERMS modular approach provides utilities with flexibility that encourages grid operators to select what they need as they need it. Since each modular element can operate independently, this method makes it easy to scale up from pilot to full program and to integrate a wide range of device partners selected by the utility. We provide a turn-key pilot program of our solution that makes it possible to easily balance/switch/schedule when to use a particular DER with legacy fuels based on pricing and availability to meet the growing needs of EVs.

Why DERMS?

• Capital savings and/or deferred capital expenditures
• Savings from introduced operational efficiencies
• Improved grid reliability
• Address evolving supply gaps (nuclear plant reductions, coal plant shutdowns, solar and wind intermittency) with reliable DR
• Reduction in environmental emissions to satisfy more stringent EPA and CO2 rules and regulations
• Enhanced collaborative customer relationships

The post How Can The Grid Possibly Manage All The Demand From EVs? appeared first on Parsons Corporation.