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NRMRL MONTHLY REPORT FOR JUNE 2004
Stephen G. Schmelling, Division Director
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Field Brooks Superfund Site, Region V: On June 9, 2004, David
Burden (GWERD), and Dan Pope and Mark Paddack (Dynamac)
provided RPM Terese Van Donsel with review comments on
documents associated with the Field Brooks Superfund Site in
Ashtabula, OH. In general, suggestions were offered with respect
to proposed additional test extraction wells and the operation of a
vacuum enhanced DNAPL recovery system. Detailed comments
concerned operational problems that may be associated with silt
influx into the wells, freezing problems, the design and installation
of additional recovery wells, and well spacing. In addition, other
possible DNAPL remediation technologies were discussed
including six phase heating, steam injection, and in-situ chemical
oxidation.
(D. Burden(GWERD)580-436-8606)
Montrose Superfund Site, Region IX: In a continuing technical
assistance effort at the Montrose Superfund Site in Torrance, CA,
Steven Acree (GWERD) provided RPM Jeff Dhont with comments
concerning proposed changes in the locations of two wells to be
used for short-term tests of DNAPL extraction using conventional
pumping techniques. In the response of June 9, 2004, it was
pointed out that both of the new locations appear to be near the
lateral extent of DNAPL migration where little recovery may be
expected. Specific site locations were suggested where greater
accumulations of DNAPL are indicated.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS
An, Youn-Joo (ORISE) and D.H. Kampbell (GWERD). 2003.
"Monitoring Chlorophyll-a as a Measure of Algae in Lake Texoma
Marinas." Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 70:606-611.
EPA/600/J-03/126
NRMRL-ADA-02203
(J. Williams(GWERD)580-436-8608)
Su, Chunming and Robert W. Puls (GWERD). 2004. "Nitrate
Reduction by Zerovalent Iron: Effects of Formate, Oxalate, Citrate,
Chloride, Sulfate, Borate, and Phosphate." Environmental Science
and Technology, 38(9): 2715-2720.
EPA/600/J-04/165
NRMRL-ADA-03161
(C. Su(GWERD)580-436-8638)
http://pubs3.acs.org/acs/journals/toc.page?incoden=esthag&indecade=0&involume=38&inissue=9
Su, Chunming (GWERD) and Donald L. Suarez (USDA). 2004.
"Boron Release from Weathering of Illite, Serpentine, Shales, and
Illite/Palygorskitic Soils." Soil Science of America Journal.
68:96-105.
EPA/600/J-04/136
NRMRL-ADA-04131
(C. Su(GWERD)580-436-8638)
http://soil.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/68/1/96
ONGOING RESEARCH
Characterization of the hydraulic conductivity of stream bed and bank sediments. GWERD staff Elise Striz, Randall Ross and Steven Acree characterized the hydraulic conductivity of stream bed and bank sediments within the immediate zone of ground- water/surface water interaction at the Minebank Run stream study site in Baltimore, MD. The investigation was performed using both pneumatic and conventional slug testing methods in vertically clustered piezometers and monitoring wells. The information will be used to establish the ground water/surface water flow system around the stream using analytical and numerical models. This flow system will later be employed to quantify nutrient exchange between the ground water and stream to identify stream and flood plain features which support denitrification and other ecosystem services that improve water quality.
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
GWERD staff John Wilson, Phil Kaiser and Robert Fordattended the EPA Science Forum in Washington, D.C. June 1-3, 2004. Dr. Wilson presented a poster titled "Identifying the Cause of High Concentrations of TBA in Ground Water at Gasoline Spill Sites in Orange County, California." Dr. Ford presented a poster titled "Developing a Technical Basis for Reducing Risk from Arsenic Exposure in Water Resources Across the United States."
John Wilson (GWERD) chaired a session on Remediation of MTBE at the National Ground Water Association Conference in Costa Mesa, CA, June 3-4, 2004.
Robert Puls (GWERD) made a presentation to the Society of American Military Engineers in Midwest City, OK, on June 24, 2004. It was an overview of research performed by GWERD, with a focus on projects based in Oklahoma. There were about 50 attendees from around central Oklahoma.
TRAINING
Garmon Smith (GWERD) received Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Program (SHEMP) Training June 6- 11, 2004, in Las Vegas, NV.
Steve Vandegrift, GWERD QA Manager, presented a training seminar at GWERD offices on June 15, 2004, entitled "Basic Documentation for QA." This training is primarily intended for students and new employees.
GWERD staff received initial and refresher records management training at GWERD offices June 17-18, 2004, from Midge Rohman of ASRC Aerospace Corporation Records Management Office at NRMRL.
GWERD staff Mary Sue McNeil and Stephen Kovash attended "Federal Grants Update 2004" training in Fort Worth, TX, on June 25, 2004.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Justin Thompson, McNair scholar, presented a poster, edited by Robert Ford (GWERD), mentor, titled "Method Development for Detecting Low Concentrations of Iron Oxide Minerals in Sediments" on June 10, 2004, at East Central University in Ada, OK.
The 2004 McNair Scholars Program Annual Poster Session was held June 10, 2004, at East Central University. Eight students presented the research they carried out during the 2003-2004 semesters:
Kevin Arthur - Environmental Health Science Major - Mentor:
Garmon Smith
Project: Determination of Potential Hazardous Substance
Exposures In A Research Laboratory Using Passive Sampling
Techniques
Katie Bryant - Biology Major - Mentor: David Walters
Project: Effect of Competing Woody Vegetation on Long-Term
Growth of Forest Species
Lisa Costantino - Biology Major - Mentor: Tim Canfield
Project:
Evaluating the Effect of Natural Materials to Reduce the Amounts of Nitrogen,
Phosphorous and Total Suspended Solids
Coming Off A Watershed
Beverly Medcalf - Biology Major - Mentor: Richard
Wilkin
Project: Evaluation of Iron Mineralogy Using Energy Dispersive
Spectroscopy
Mahate Parker - Biology Major - Mentor: Ann Keeley
Project: A Compost-Based Subsurface Microbial Community
Dominated By Sulphate Reducing Bacteria
AnnaMae Stringer - Biology Major - Mentor: Scott
Holub
Project: Carbon and Nitrogen Effects On Net and Gross N
Mineralization
Justin Thompson - Physics Major - Mentor: Robert
Ford
Project: Method Development For Detecting Low Concentrations
Of Iron Oxide Minerals In Sediments
Jamie White - Biology - Mentor: Cynthia Paul
Project: Evaluation Of Holding Times For Certain Organic
Compounds Using Tedlar Bags
A special thanks goes out to the mentors and GWERD staff who helped those students with their projects.
More than 60 Mayors and vice-Mayors from across Oklahoma visited GWERD on June 18, 2004, as part of the annual summer meeting of the Oklahoma Conference of Mayors. This visit gave GWERD the opportunity to illustrate some of the ways in which its research has direct application to environmental issues that confront mayors on a regular basis. Stephen Schmelling, GWERD Division Director, gave an overview of the division's research and its application to Oklahoma. GWERD researchers and staff members gave presentations on their research activities and demonstrated some of the field equipment. Susan Mravikdescribed the CPT (cone penetrometer truck), which uses hydraulic pressure to install wells and take core samples. Ken Jewelldescribed the geoprobe track machine, used primarily for taking core samples and installing small-diameter wells. John Hoggatt (SEEP) described the function and capability of CME (Central Mining Equipment), a drilling apparatus to install wells and take core samples. Robert Ford gave a presentation titled "Arsenic in Water Supplies: An Issue for Oklahoma and the Nation." John Wilson talked briefly on the history of gasoline spills from underground storage tanks, and the Federal UST program. Robert Puls made an oral presentation titled "Restoration and Siting of Water Supply Wells in Aquifers Impacted by Arsenic." The presentation provided an overview of a current project between NRMRL/GWERD, the USGS and the city of Norman, OK.
Students from the Upward Bound Math and Sciences Programvisited GWERD June 28-30, 2004. On Monday, June 28, thirty- two students and three sponsors watched the video "Exploring Ada", which showed the research that is done at GWERD. Following this, Ken Jewell (GWERD) showed the students the drilling equipment and discussed the fundamentals of collecting cores and groundwater samples. He explained the differences in using direct push techniques and traditional augering to install wells, showed them an actual soil core and some of the normally used supplies. Michael Brooks (GWERD), and Mustafa Bob (NRC), demonstrated the uses of photography and how it can be used to determine in-lab concentration of DNAPLs. The students also toured the general parameters lab. Matthew Smith, an ERAP student, demonstrated various bench-top chemical reactions. The students returned Tuesday and Wednesday to shadow ERAP students Zayne Walters, Mahate Parker, Lisa Constantino, Brent Williams, Jennifer Rowsey, and Kevin Arthur while they conducted their day-to-day laboratory functions.
MISCELLANEOUS
Elise Striz acted as a guest editor for a ReVA/MAIA conference special edition of the Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, which was published in June 2004. She was a member of the steering committee for the ReVA/MAIA conference held in May 2003 and managed the peer review of five papers from the conference for the journal.