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NRMRL MONTHLY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2005
Stephen G. Schmelling, Division Director
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Maryland Sand, Gravel & Stone Operable Unit 03, Region 3: On January 6, John Wilson (GWERD) provided RPM Debra Rossi with a technical review of the "Draft Final Remedial Design Work Plan for the Maryland Sand, Gravel & Stone Operable Unit 03, Elkton, Maryland." The review focused on the "Quality Assurance Project Plan" and the "Bioremediation Treatability Study Work Plan." In addition to a number of detailed comments on a variety of issues, suggestions were offered with respect to sample collection, analysis, and microcosm studies. Differences between laboratory and field results were discussed, particularly with respect to delivering adequate oxygen in field investigations.
In a continuing technical assistance effort at the Maryland Sand,
Gravel & Stone Site in Elkton, MD, John Wilson (GWERD) provided
RPM Debra Rossi with comments on the development and
performance of EPA's selected remedial action. The January 6
comments concerned many important design and implementation
details that were not considered in the proposal. Of major concern was
the design of a proposed injection/distribution piping system.
Suggestions were offered to correct these deficiencies. Concerns were
also expressed with respect to getting amendments, necessary to carry
out the bioremediation remedy, through the unsaturated zone to the
contaminated ground water. The proposed method of introducing
propane and oxygen into the contaminated zone was also questioned.
It was recommended that the area above the contaminated ground
water not be used for a landfill until the bioremediation and natural
attenuation remedy is complete.
(J. Wilson(GWERD)580-436-8534)
Alabama Ammunition Plant, Region 4: On January 21, Randall
Ross (GWERD) provided RPM Michelle Thornton with review
comments on a draft "Ground Water Remedial Investigation" for the
Alabama Ammunition Plant in Talladega County, AL. In general, the
document is well written and provides a thorough presentation of the
extensive characterization activities that have been conducted on and
around the facility. The complex nature of the hydrogeologic setting
and the large aerial extent of contamination presents unique problems
while working toward the restoration of the site. The document
demonstrates a detailed yet basic conceptual model of a very complex
fractured carbonate aquifer that appears to be strongly influenced by
dissolution features and conduit flow. It was suggested that the
detection of COCs at particular locations around the site indicates that
additional work may be necessary in defining the conceptual model
with respect to the fate and transport of COCs in a carbonate aquifer.
(R. Ross(GWERD)580-436-8611)
Delatte Metals Superfund Site, Region 6: During November 29 -
December 3, Ann Keeley, Frank Beck, and Russell Neil (GWERD)
conducted a field trip to the Delatte Metals Superfund Site in
Ponchatoula, LA, to collect core and ground-water samples as part of a
continuing microbiological investigation of two pilot-scale PRBs. The
reactive components of the PRBs include cow manure, limestone, and
wood chips which were designed to promote microbially mediated
sulfate reduction and subsequent metal sulfide precipitation. Cores
were collected and processed on site in a glove box for biogeochemical
parameters. Ground water samples were analyzed for field parameters
focusing on sulfide concentrations and will be analyzed in the
laboratory for relevant microbiological characterization.
(A. Keeley(GWERD)580-436-8890)
General Motors Site, Region 7: On December 29, Steven Acree
(GWERD) and Daniel Pope (Dynamac) provided RPM Nancy Swyers
with a response to comments concerning a previous critique of a
"Butane Biostimulation Pilot Study Report" for the General Motors
Site in Sioux City, IA. In general, it appeared that the hydrogeology of
the site as well as processes by which the Butane Biostimulation
technology works to degrade contaminants may be poorly understood.
The lack of detailed and extensive monitoring data and changes in
operation parameters contribute to the difficulty of evaluating
responses to the comments. It was suggested that at this point the
project be considered at a research level. It will require a more
detailed site characterization and far more detailed monitoring data
during operation to significantly reduce uncertainty in the evaluation of
its performance with respect to remediation goals.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
Carson Ground-Water Contamination RCRA Site, Region 9: On
December 20, Steven Acree (GWERD) and Noman Ahsanuzzaman,
Mingyu Wang, and Rob Earle (Shaw Env.) provided RPM Greg
Lovato with review comments on a document titled "Groundwater
Model Development Report - Supplemental Data" prepared for the
Carson Ground-Water Contamination RCRA Site in Carson, CA.
Detailed comments were offered with respect to model calibration,
boundary conditions, PEST variable analysis, aquifer and model
layers, and injection and extraction well data.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
Montrose and Del Amo Superfund Site, Region 9: On January 12,
Steven Acree (GWERD) and Mingyu Wang and Noman
Ahsanuzzaman (Shaw Env.) provided RPM Jeff Dhont with a review
of "Initial Calibration and Data Gap Analysis Report" for the Montrose
and Del Amo Superfund Sites in Torrance, CA. In general, the efforts
described in the report are useful in understanding the predictive
uncertainty of the baseline model with regard to meeting ROD
objectives. There is concern, however, whether the conclusions, which
were based on a single scenario, are valid for other remedial
alternatives. Specific comments concerned model assumptions and
limitations, calibration weights, partition coefficients, water-level
measurements, and boundary conditions.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
Groundwater Services, Inc.: On January 13, the GWERD Center for
Subsurface Modeling Support (CSMoS) provided Ann Marie Spexet,
P.E., with a review of a BIOPLUME IV Software Package and User's
Manual. Participating in the review were David Jewett (GWERD) and
Noman Ahsanuzzaman, Mingyu Wang, and Robert Earle (Shaw
Env.). The review provides comments on the execution of the
graphical user interface and model algorithms, the tutorial, and user's
manual. Several fatal errors and minor bugs were identified during the
course of the review and the review team provided suggestions and
recommendations for correcting these problems.
(D. Jewett(GWERD)580-436-8560)
Tuba City Landfill RCRA Site, Region 9: On January 20, Randall
Ross (GWERD) provided Hydrogeologist Katherine Baylor with
technical review comments on water data from the Tuba City Landfill
RCRA Site in Tuba City, AZ. It was noted that ground-water
contamination consists of elevated concentrations of nitrate and sulfate
resulting from the use of nitric and sulfuric acid during the processing
of uranium ore. It was not clear, however, if the same characteristics
hold for tailings materials which may or may not have been disposed
of at the site. Recommendations included the location of monitoring
wells, collection of samples and sample parameters, potential
contaminant source, and the assessment of vertical gradients.
(R. Ross(GWERD)580-436-8611)
Dan Opalski, Region 10: On January 19, Steven Acree (GWERD)
provided Dan Opalski (Region 10) with a review of an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for Orica Australia Pty Ltd., Banksmeadow,
New South Wales, Australia. Although sufficient supporting data
regarding the hydrogeology were not available for a thorough review,
it appeared that the proposed remediation system may be adequately
designed with respect to contaminant containment objectives. It was
suggested that success, with respect to containment reduction
objectives, will likely be dependent on the result of source removal
efforts. Recommendations concerned DNAPL source removal,
estimated time frame for an 80% reduction in contaminant levels, and
performance monitoring.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
MEETINGS AND PRESENTATIONS
Paul Mayer (GWERD) gave an invited presentation entitled "The Minebank Run Project as an Approach for Stream Restoration Research: A View From the EPA" in Baltimore January 19 at the Baltimore Ecosystem Study Scientist Meeting. Elise Striz (GWERD) is a co-researcher on this project.
Paul Mayer (GWERD) met with Charles App and Tom Livari of EPA Region 3, and with cooperators at the USGS Water Resources Division in Baltimore on January 20 to present an overview of the Minebank Run Project and tour the newly restored reach of Minebank Run.
John T. Wilson (GWERD) attended The International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology and co-chaired sub session 03-2 of the conference entitled "Natural Attenuation of Contaminants" January 22-24 in New Orleans.
TRAINING
Stephen Kovash (GWERD) completed the course "Grants and GPRA: A Performance Based Approach to Federal Assistance."