The 2017 Superior Achievement Award was presented to the project team for "The Evolution of STAR from Laboratory Concept to Full-Scale In Situ Implementation" by The American Academy of Environmental Engineering and Scientists. The honor was given at the Awards Luncheon and Conference on April 13, 2017 at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Savron is a division of Geosyntec.

This award recognizes how a collaborative team of individuals from Savron, Geosyntec, the University of Western Ontario, Queensland University, and Strathclyde University successfully took an initial laboratory concept to a full-scale remedy to treat coal tar impacted soils up to 35 feet below the ground surface of a 35-acre former DuPont manufacturing site in Newark, New Jersey.   

STAR (Self-sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation) is based on patented technology – an energy-efficient self-sustaining smoldering combustion process that captures and recycles the energy released from hazardous materials to destroy them in an effective, controllable, and safe manner. A broad range of hazardous materials including petroleum hydrocarbons, coal tar, creosote, mineral oils, and solvents can be treated by this technology.

The team achieved success through laboratory studies, a series of  proof-of-concept field pilot studies, and designing and testing new specialized equipment. Savron and Geosyntec designed and/or procured the required equipment for the full-scale remedy as well as developed an innovative application strategy to minimize infrastructure costs associated with the 2,300 underground ignition events required to treat the targeted soil volume at the site. The full-scale remedy began in November 2014 and is anticipated to be complete in 2018. The work is being completed under the New Jersey Licensed State Remediation Program.

Savron received the award from The American Academy of Environmental Engineering and Scientists, a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization serving the Environmental Engineering and Environmental Science professions by providing Board Certification to those who qualify through experience and testing. The Academy also provides training through workshops and seminars, participates in accrediting universities, publishes a periodical and other reference material, interacts with students and young professionals, sponsors a university lecture series, and rewards outstanding achievements through its international awards program.

Members of the Savron and Geosyntec project team, along with John Vidumsky from DuPont were on hand to accept the award. Geosyntec team members were Len deVlaming, Scott Drew, Luana Jo, and Michaye McMaster. The Savron team was Gavin Grant, David Liefl, David Major, and Grant Scholes.

More Information

For more information about the project, read the project description or contact Michaye McMaster at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Len deVlaming at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Contact David Major at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Gavin Grant at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information about Savron products and solutions (http://www.savronsolutions.com).
About The American Academy of Environmental Engineering and Scientists: http://www.aaees.org