Mission -- The Restoration Systems and Strategies specialty area provides technical expertise to the Air Force in selection, design, implementation and optimization of restoration systems and strategies. The specialty area promotes efficient and effective restoration of contaminated sites throughout the remedy lifecycle and helps solve challenging remediation problems using sound science and engineering.

Overview -- The Restoration Systems and Strategies specialty area provides guidance for developing cleanup exit strategies, implementing effective remediation, and optimizing performance. Environmental Restoration Technical Support Branch, or CZTE, subject matter experts and specialists working in this specialty area collaborate with other Air Force personnel to assure that technical expertise in restoration is applied directly to Air Force cleanup responsibilities.

In recent years, Performance-Based Remediation, or PBR, has become a standard contracting approach for site restoration across the Air Force. Within the PBR paradigm, subject matter experts and specialists for the CZTE Restoration Systems and Strategies specialty area promote the use of performance models to optimize exit strategies and track progress toward cleanup goals. Independent assessments of remedial systems verify that remedial systems are operating properly and validate progress. Branch initiatives focused on complex sites and long-term financial liabilities provide a strong technical basis for exit strategies and performance objectives, and align overall contracting strategy with technical reality.

The Environmental Restoration Technical Support Branch, or CZTE, provides expertise in deployment of innovative remediation technologies. The branch has established guidance and protocols for remedial process optimization, monitored natural attenuation, performance based management and in situ bioremediation.

Full-scale deployment of these technologies and others across the Air Force resulted from past efforts of the branch Technology Transfer Program in collaboration with many remediation professionals and organizations.

In recent years, Performance-Based Remediation, or PBR, contractors have been asked to implement technological innovation with an emphasis on rapidly advancing toward site closure and minimizing long-term cost.

Branch technical expertise continues to be needed to set minimum performance expectations, evaluate proposed PBR approaches, and evaluate effectiveness of installed remediation systems.

Checklists are available upon request to assist in identifying appropriate standards for specific remedial technologies. Items within each checklist are referenced to more detailed information available in regulatory, Air Force and industry guidance.

The Environmental Restoration Technical Support Branch, or CZTE, focuses significant technical expertise and resources on complex sites where hydrogeological conditions or recalcitrant and persistent contaminants pose long-term and high-cost remediation challenges.

Remediation strategies, such as risk-based cleanup, long-term monitoring and natural attenuation, have been promoted to reduce Air Force environmental liability at many sites. The branch continues to provide support for innovative remedial actions based on risk management, alternative endpoints and, when appropriate, technical impracticability waivers.

Recently, the branch implemented a Complex Site Initiative, or CSI, to provide in-depth assessment of remediation strategies. A CSI evaluation determines feasibility of reaching remedial objectives based on existing technology and materially advancing toward site completion within 30 years.

Evaluations are tailored to the remedial status of a site and may include: identifying data gaps and needed characterization activities, evaluating success and failure of deployed remedial technologies, evaluating applicability of innovative technologies, and recommending remedial strategies, conceptual remediation designs and performance models.

A CSI evaluation can support contract acquisitions by developing sound technical rationales for performance objectives. Completed as part of Performance-Based Remediation surveillance, a CSI evaluation provides independent validation of a contractor's remedial strategy.