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NRMRL MONTHLY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2005
Stephen G. Schmelling, Division Director
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Fort Devens Superfund Site, Region 1: Field sampling
and monitoring well installations were carried out during
the period of September 11-16, at the Fort Devens
Superfund Site in Devens, MA. This collaborative research
project includes the efforts of Kirk Scheckel, Thabet
Tolaymat, Aaron Williams, and Pat Clark (NRMRL),
Robert Ford, Steven Acree, and Brad Scroggins (GWERD),
and RPM Ginny Lombardo and Bill Brandon (EPA Region
1). The primary focus of the project will be to investigate
the migration of arsenic from suspected source areas into
the Red Cove Study Area of Plow Shop Pond adjacent to
Shepley's Hill Landfill. Three goals will be addressed as
part of this investigation: 1) identification of the mobile
form of arsenic in ground-water/landfill leachate, 2)
identification of the process(es) controlling arsenic uptake
onto Red Cove Study Area sediments and soils, and 3)
evaluation of the stability and bioavailability of arsenic
associated with these sediments. This information will be
used as a basis for identifying the effectiveness of natural
attenuation within the Red Cove Study Area to mitigate the
downgradient migration of arsenic, and for evaluation of a
potential remedial alternative(s).
(R. Ford(GWERD)580-436-8872)
Fike/Artel Superfund Site, Region 3: On October 14,
John Wilson (GWERD) provided RPM Katherine Lose
with review comments on two reports pertaining to in-situ
aerobic-based remedial technologies at the Fike/Artel
Superfund Site in Nitro, WV. Concerns were expressed
and interpretation presented for some of the results such as
bromide tracer studies. Problems were also cited with
monitoring well configurations, particularly with respect to
screens locations. Comments were offered with respect to
attempts to biodegrade the major contaminants of concern
and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to ground water
containing the contaminants. A case history and results of
a similar treatability study conducted by GWERD at
another location were provided.
(J. Wilson(GWERD)580-436-8534)
Helene Chemical Company, Region 4: On October 3,
Ann Keeley (GWERD) and Bruce Pivetz (Dynamac)
provided RPM Galo Jackson comments on a document
titled "Xylene Investigation Report" prepared for the
Helena Chemical Company Superfund Site in Tampa, FL.
The comments focused on whether the geochemical
environment is sufficiently hostile to make bioremediation
unfeasible, the effort and cost to change the environment,
and the identification of technologies for the remediation of
ground water contaminated with xylene and other BTEX
constituents. Although the report was limited in scope,
comments were offered with respect to the possible
presence and problems associated with NAPLs; correlation
of xylene concentrations with pH, ORP, conductivity, and
temperature; possible degradation processes; and the
behavior of different isomers of xylene. Suggestions were
offered as how to better characterize the site with respect to
the potential for bioremediation, NAPL removal, and
possible remedial alternatives.
(A. Keeley(GWERD)580-436-8890)
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS
Wilson, John T., Cherri Adair, and Philip M. Kaiser
(GWERD), and Ravi Kolhatkar (BP Exploration and
Production Technology). 2005. "Anaerobic
Biodegradation of MTBE at a Gasoline Spill Site." Ground
Water Monitoring & Remediation, v. 25, no. 3,
p. 1003-115.
(J. Wilson(GWERD)580-436-8534)
NRMRL-ADA-03139
Wilson, John T., Randall R. Ross, and Steven Acree
(GWERD). 2005 "Using Direct-Push Tools to Map
Hydrostratigraphy and Predict MTBE Plume Diving."
Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation, v. 25, no. 3, p.
93-102.
NRMRL-ADA-03147
(J. Wilson(GWERD)580-436-8534)
Groffman, P.M., A.M. Dorsey, and P.M. Mayer. 2005. N
processing within geomorphic structures in urban streams.
Journal of the North American Benthological Society
24:613-625.
(P. Mayer(GWERD)580-436-8647)
NRMRL-ADA-05212
www.benthos.org
ONGOING RESEARCH
Field Sampling at U.S. Coast Guard Site in Elizabeth City, NC. : Cynthia Paul, Chunming Su, and Rick Wilkin (GWERD) conducted a field sampling trip to the U.S. Coast Guard Site in Elizabeth City, NC, September 18-23. The purpose of the trip was to collect ground water samples and conduct field geochemistry tests to evaluate long-term performance of the permeable reactive barrier installed at the site in 1996.
Field Sampling at Altus Air Force Base: During October 17-20, Cherri Adair (GWERD and Hai Shen (National Research Council) conducted a field trip to Altus AFB, OK, to collect ground water samples from monitoring wells in the full-scale perimeter mulch biowall.
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
Robert Puls and Chunming Su (GWERD) attended the U.S. EPA Workshop on Nanotechnology for Site Remediation October 20-21 in Washington, D.C.
David Jewett (GWERD) co-convened a technical session at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT, October 16-19. The session was titled "Riparian corridors in semi-arid and arid environments: results and approaches of integrative studies in support of scientifically based management and restoration, with emphasis on the Great Basin." The EPA/USDA Forest project on ecologic, hydrologic, and geomorphic factors affecting Great Basin riparian ecosystem management and restoration was highlighted in several oral and poster presentations. Dave Jewett presented a platform presentation on "An integrated, science-based approach to managing and restoring upland riparian meadows in the Great Basin of central Nevada" and co-authored a poster presentation with Frank Beck (GWERD) and Pat Clark (LRPCD) titled "Subsurface characterization of upland riparian meadows in central Nevada using an innovative direct- push exploration rig." The session also included oral and poster presentations from other government and university researchers conducting ecosystem restoration research in the western United States. Following the GSA meeting, the EPA/USDA Forest Service research team held a project meeting October 20 in Salt Lake City. The team discussed the future of the project, better defined research products and assigned authors, identified remaining data gaps and the process for closing those gaps, and a project exit strategy.
Roger Cosby (GWERD) attended the Laboratories for the 21st Century Conference and Exposition, in Portland, OR, October 18-20. The conference was jointly hosted by the DOE and the EPA for the purpose to improve the energy efficiencies and environmental performance of laboratories from a holistic perspective.
The 11th International Conference on Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Treatment of Water, Air, and Soil was held in Chicago October 23-27. Four sub- conferences were held simultaneously including Challenges in Site Remediation, Oxidation/Reduction Technologies, Oxidation by Titanium Dioxide, and Advanced Oxidation Technologies. Three technical presentations were made at the conference by EPA GWERD staff.
S.G. Huling (GWERD), R.G. Arnold, W.P. Ela and C. De Las Casas (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson AZ). "Fenton-Driven Regenerati88on of Granular Activated Carbon: A Technology Overview." (Scott G. Huling, (580) 436-8610)
Luhrs, R. (Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA), Lewis R. (ERM, Boston, MA) and S.G. Huling (EPA GWERD, Ada, OK). "In-Situ Chemical Oxidation's Long Term Impact on Aquifer Conditions and Microbial Activity." (Scott G. Huling, (580) 436-8610)
Davis, E.L. and C. Adair (EPA GWERD, Ada, OK). "Laboratory Scale Steam Injection Treatability Studies." (Eva Davis, (580) 436-8548)
Stephen Kovash and Dale Pflaum (GWERD) attended the ORD IT Conference in Las Vegas October 24-26. It was an opportunity for ORD extramural managers to interact with IT coordinators and provide input regarding the new FAIR contract.
Randall Ross (GWERD) gave a presentation and discussion titled "Implications of New Arsenic Standards on Oklahoma Water Resources" to the Rural Economic Development Initiative Task Force in Elk City, OK, October 25. (NRMRL-Ada-06307)
On October 25-26, Roger Cosby (GWERD) represented GWERD at a NRMRL retreat in Loveland, OH, to address the issue of an integrated Immediate Office-Resource Operations Staff/Technology Transfer and Support Division (IO-ROS/TTSD) research support. The purpose of the meeting was to jointly create: 1) a vision of excellence in providing administrative and technical support of leading-edge, Agency-relevant, risk- management research, and 2) an integrated approach for achieving that vision.
Steve Vandegrift (GWERD) QA Manager, attended the ORD QA Workshop at the Ecosystems Research Division in Athens, GA, October 25-27.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL/ACTIVITIES
The International Atomic Energy Agency has organized a consultancy to develop guidelines and protocols for the use of compound specific stable isotope analysis for assessment of bioremediation of organic compounds in ground water. On October 27 and 28, John Wilson (GWERD) met in Vienna, Austria with other members of the consultancy to begin the preparation of the guidelines. Other members of the consultancy include: Daniel Hunkeler, Centre of Hydrogeology, Universite' de Neuchatel, Swisteland; Rainer Meckenstock, Institute for Ground Water Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany; Torsten Schmidt, Center for Applied Geoscience, University of Tubingen, Germany; and Barbara Sherwood Lollar, Department of Geology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.