![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
NRMRL MONTHLY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2003
Stephen G. Schmelling, Division Director
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Maine Yankee Nuclear Plant, Region 1: On September 30,
2003, David Jewett (GWERD) and Jin-Song Chen (Dynamac)
provided Environmental Scientist Mary Ballew with a modeling
study of radio nuclide fate and transport in the unsaturated and
saturated zones at the Maine Yankee Nuclear Plant in Wiscasset,
ME. The focus of the study was a comparison of results using
RESRAD, EPACMPT, and HYDRUS-2D models. A sensitivity
analysis also was conducted as part of the study to help interpret
differences in the results of the three models. The study indicated
that the models generally provided similar results with respect to
leaching from the contaminated zone, outlined differences in radio
nuclide concentrations in a receptor well, and determined that
effective porosity was a key parameter contributing to differences
in predicted radio nuclide concentrations.
(D. Jewett(GWERD)580-436-8560)
Region II: On September 30, 2003, Scott Huling (GWERD), and
Bruce Pivetz and Mark Paddack (Dynamac) provided RPM Kevin
Willis with review comments on a document discussing the
acceptability of ground-water samples, containing volatiles, being
collected at depth using a vacuum-pressurized Westbay sampler. It
was suggested that the overall conclusion of the report appeared to
be valid: that there would not be an adverse effect due to the
evacuation of the sample headspace to 0.1 atmosphere. The report
examined several aspects of the issue including headspace volume
and gas solubility.
(S. Huling(GWERD)580-436-8610)
Stanford Chlorine of Delaware Site, Region III: On September
24, 2003, Scott Huling (GWERD), and Bruce Pivetz and Mark
Paddack (Dynamac) provided RPM Hiliary Thornton with
technical review comments on proposed remediation technologies
at the Stanford Chlorine of Delaware Site in New Castle County,
DE. In general, the reviewed information suggested that in-situ
chemical oxidation may serve a useful purpose at this site while
providing the framework for a more detailed bench-scale work
plan. Although Fenton oxidation appeared to be the focus of the
proposal, permanganate oxidation and thermal remediation should
also be considered. It was also suggested that different remedial
technologies to treat different portions of the site may serve a
useful purpose.
(S. Huling(GWERD)580-436-8610)
Spectron Superfund Site, Region III: On September 30, 2003,
Scott Huling (GWERD), and Bruce Pivetz and Mark Paddack
(Dynamac) provided RPM Robert Sanchez with comments
concerning a proposed plan outlining alternatives for the
remediation of chlorinated solvents in soil and ground water at the
Spectron Superfund Site in Elkton, MD. In general, the type,
distribution, and concentration of DNAPLs did not appear to be
well defined. Despite these uncertainties, the in-situ treatment and
reduction of material and mass flux from the source area appeared
feasible although the selection of a treatment technology may be
improved by a better DNAPL delineation. It was recommended
that different in-situ treatment technologies such as a Hydrogen
Release Compound (HRC) or similar technologies conducive to
the biodegradation of chlorinated compounds be evaluated.
(S. Huling(580-436-8610)
Sauget Area 1 Superfund Site, Region V: In a continuing
technical assistance effort at the Sauget Area 1 Superfund Site in
Sauget, IL, Steven Acree (GWERD) and Dr. Daniel Pope
(Dynamac) provided RPM Nabil Fayoumi with review comments
on a DNAPL characterization and remediation study work plan.
The September 29, 2003, comments concerned the relationship
between changes in DNAPL mass and the concentration of
contaminants in solution. It was pointed out that dissolved
contaminant concentrations may reach an upper limit based on the
maximum solubility of a pure product or, for a DNAPL mixture,
based on the mole fraction of a given contaminant. It was
recommended that the work plan provide alternative approaches to
estimating DNAPL removal rates and times of remediation.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
Boomsnub/Airco Superfund Site, Region X: On October 6,
2003, Randall Ross, John Wilson, and Rick Wilkin (GWERD), and
Dr. Milovan Beljin (Dynamac) provided RPM Lee Marshall with
review comments on a natural attenuation work plan at the
Boomsnub/Airco Superfund Site in Hazel Dell, WA. A number of
issues were discussed in detail including mass contaminant
calculations, TCE mass reduction between 1995 and 2002, abiotic
transformations, the potential for biological degradation of TCE,
the use of dispersion as a viable attenuation mechanism for
inorganic contaminants, and processes affecting the mobility of
chromium.
(R. Ross(GWERD)580-436-8611)
Hazardous Substances Technical Liaison, from Region 9 has
published a summary of Ann Keeley's (GWERD) publication
"Propane Biostimulation Barrier Demonstrated at MTBE Site -
Port Hueneme, CA" in the fall 2003, 25th edition. The project is
listed under Local News, the reader being referred to
www.epa.gov/ada/publications.html. This paper had originally
been published in Technology News and Trends, September 2003
issue. NRMRL-Ada-03174
(A. Azadpour-Keeley(GWERD)580-436-8890)
Methods and Models to Predict the Sustainability of Monitored
Attenuation of Chlorinated Solvents in Ground Water at
Hazardous Waste Sites: John Wilson (GWERD) participated as
a member of an expert panel October 1-2, 2003 at Virginia Tech
University. The panel reviewed plans for a new research program
to be conducted by the university. The research program, funded
by the Department of Defense under the Strategic Environmental
Research and Development Program, will develop methods and
models to predict the sustainability of monitored natural
attenuation of chlorinated solvents in ground water at hazardous
waste sites. Dr. Wilson reviewed earlier work done in this area at
the R.S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, and provided
recommendations for further research at Virginia Tech University.
(J. Wilson(GWERD)580-436-8534)
Minebank Run Stream Restoration Project: Paul Mayer
(GWERD) collected the final pre-restoration water samples from
the well network in Baltimore County, Maryland, in October 2003.
(P. Mayer(GWERD)580-436-8647)
Development of Essential Linkages Between CVI and ORD's
Restoration Plus Research Program: Joe Williams (GWERD)
has been assigned to a six month IPA to the Canaan Valley
Institute in Thomas, West Virginia. He is working with CVI to
develop essential linkages between CVI and ORD's Restoration
Plus (RePlus) research program, which investigates the
effectiveness and benefits of ecosystem restoration and
management techniques.
(J. Williams(GWERD)580-436-8608)
GWERD staff Robert Ford, Robert Puls and Dominic Digiulioattended the NIEHS Superfund Quad-University/EPA Region 9 Conference in Berkeley, California, October 8-10, 2003. Robert Ford was co-chair of the session "Emerging Issues in Transport and Detection" and presented a poster co-authored with Robert Puls and Richard Wilkin (GWERD) entitled "Assessing the Role of National Attenuation for Inorganic Contaminant Remediation in Ground Water." Robert Puls gave an Invited Presentation entitled "Permeable Reactive Barriers Research at the Environmental Protection Agency's National Risk Management Research Laboratory." Dominic Digiulio gave an Invited Presentation entitled "Development of Sub-Slab Air Sampling Protocol to Support Assessment of Vapor Intrusion."
Elise Striz (GWERD) attended the National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics Partner's Meeting at the University of Minnesota, October 14-15, 2003, and gave a presentation on stream restoration research at GWERD.
GWERD staff Ralph Ludwig, Chunming Su and Robert Pulsattended the Remediation Technologies Development Forum (RTDF) PRB Action Team Meeting in Niagara Falls, New York, October 15-16, 2003. Ralph Ludwig gave a presentation on the use of a ferrous sulfate/sodium hydrosulfite solution blend for the treatment of source zone and dissolved phase hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) at the Macalloy Corporation Superfund Site in Charleston, S.C. Chunming Su made a poster presentation entitled "Role of Iron (II, III) Hydroxycarbonate Green Rust in Arsenic Remediation Using Zerovalent Iron in Column Tests." Robert Puls gave a presentation on the Tri- Agency Long-Term Performance Evaluation Study, involving the USEPA, the U.S. DOE and the DOD.
GWERD hosted the annual ORD Quality Assurance (QA) Community Meeting October 21-23, 2003, in Ada, Oklahoma, with ORD Assistant Administrator Paul Gilman meeting with the council October 21. Dr. Gilman stressed that QA is necessary to enforce the integrity of our research both to our peers as well as our critics. The thirty-six attendees represented ORD's research laboratories and centers throughout the nation. The meeting focused on addressing the challenges currently facing those working in QA in ORD, such as new technologies for gene analysis, statistical issues, and methods to deal with the tidal wave of data and information inundating the Agency while ensuring quality.
GWERD hosted the ORD Science Council quarterly meetingOctober 21-22, 2003, in Ada, Oklahoma. ORD Assistant Administrator Paul Gilman met with the council members October 21 in conjunction with the ORD Quality Assurance Community Meeting attendees. A key discussion item for the Science Council was Sustainable Development, how to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Many states and hundreds of local governments and communities have developed action plans. Several GWERD staff made presentations about their research to the Council.
Scott Huling (GWERD) gave a presentation at the University Consortium Solvents-in-Groundwater Research Program, In- Situ Chemical Oxidation Focus Meeting held in Denver, Colorado October 23-24, 2003. His presentation entitled "In-Situ Fenton and Permanganate Oxidation: Advantages and Disadvantages" was made in a symposium whose focus was to discuss the state of the science and practice of in-situ chemical oxidation involving various oxidants.
Garmon Smith (GWERD) attended the U.S. EPA, Region 6 13th Annual Quality Assurance Conference October 23-24, 2003 at the regional office in Dallas, Texas. Presentations on new innovations in analytical chemistry were presented by invited speakers from industry, academia, and government, much of which will have application for improving GWERD's analytical capabilities. David Kovacs of Shaw Environmental presented some of his latest method development work on the automatic extraction of low-level organics from water for EPA Method 8270. This method will provide for the quick analysis of low concentrations (ppb) of organic constituents in a 10-ml water sample by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
GWERD staff Robert Ford and Richard Wilkin attended the American Chemical Society, Southwest Regional Meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 27, 2003. Robert Ford, an invited speaker, gave a presentation entitled "Assessing the Mobility of Arsenic in Contaminated Sediments."
GWERD staff Eric Jorgensen and Paul Mayer attended the First Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds held in Benson, Arizona, October 27-30, 2003. Eric Jorgensen gave a presentation entitled "Sources and Estimated Load of Bioavailable Nitrogen Attributable to Chronic Nitrogen Exposure and Changed Ecosystem Structure and Function." Paul Mayer presented a poster, "The Minebank Run Restoration Project", Proceedings of the conference were published.
GWERD staff Don Kampbell and Randall Ross attended the Oklahoma Water Symposium 2003 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, October 29-30, 2003. Randall Ross made a presentation entitled "Challenges of the Arbuckle-Simpson Study."
FY 2003 GWERD ACTIVITIESDuring FY03, there were 77 Superfund Technical Assistance activities at 42 sites and 10 RCRA activities at 9 sites. There were 28 Superfund and 3 RCRA requests for assistance entered into the Technical Support Center tracking system during FY03. Of these, 15 Superfund and 3 RCRA sites were at new locations. No new Brownfields Sites were added to the tracking system. Two Miscellaneous Technical Assistance activities were provided to the State of Vermont and Concurrent Technologies Corporation. These involved review comments on a document discussing the characterization of sites contaminated with DNAPLs, and a document discussing long-term management of sites contaminated with LNAPL petroleum hydrocarbons. The Center for Subsurface Modeling Support (CSMoS) distributed about 12,000 models. In addition, about 378 technical assistance responses were provided in response to telephone and E-Mail requests. The Subsurface Remediation Information Center (SRIC) provided 885 SPRD publications in response to 298 requests to all levels of government, private consultants, industry, educational institutions, and foreign countries. There were 46 Publications in scientific journals, EPA research reports, briefing documents, and issue papers.
COMMUNITY OUTREACHKen Jewell (GWERD) was invited to speak to the Environmental Science Department and students at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, on October 10, 2003. He explained the structure of the EPA, the mission of ORD, and his duties at Kerr Research Center, including his work on restoration projects, natural attenuation research, permeable reactive barriers, Brownfields and constructed wetlands. His presentation informed the students of the work being performed in the environmental world and the opportunities available to them after graduation.
As members of the Ada Recycling Coalition, GWERD staff Frank Beck, Jr., Garmon Smith, Robert Ford and Phil Kaiser processed 25 gallons of latex paint on October 25, 2003. The paint was supplied to Habitat for Humanity. This project was part of the City of Ada's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day event.
As a culmination of the 2003 McNair Scholars Program Summer Internship, the McNair Scholars Program presented a poster display at East Central University October 30, 2003 to highlight the students' research at GWERD. The commitment of the McNair Scholars and the GWERD mentors is evident in the high-quality projects that were shown in these displays. The McNair Scholars Program is highly valued at ECU because of the opportunities it creates for the undergraduates to enhance their study skills, build their confidence and conduct research in a "real world" setting. The goal of the program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is to encourage and assist undergraduates who are members of under-represented groups, to pursue careers in the scientific and/or engineering arena.