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NRMRL MONTHLY REPORT FOR APRIL 2004
Stephen G. Schmelling, Division Director
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Resolve Superfund Site, Region I: In a continuing technical
assistance effort at the Resolve Superfund Site in Dartmouth, MA,
Scott Huling (GWERD) provided RPM Joseph Lemay with comments
on the "Standard Operating Procedure for the RESOLVE Dynamic
Flux Chamber Measurements (Revision 2.0)." In the response of April
12, 2004, issues discussed in detail included methods for extracting
contaminants from activated carbon tubes, quality assurance and
quality control data, assurance that representative soil gas is being
collected, and the required number of activated carbon sample
collection tubes to be connected in series.
(S. Huling(GWERD)580-436-8610)
Former Ashland Distribution Facility, Region II: On April 14,
2004, David Burden (GWERD) and Daniel Pope (Dynamac) provided
RPM Michael Infurna with review comments concerning a natural
attenuation study for the Former Ashland Distribution Facility in
Rensselaer, NY. The review was requested to determine whether the
modeling analysis was done correctly, the parameters used are
appropriate, and if the conclusions are supported by the results of the
study. It was suggested that the results are sufficient to encourage
further characterization and monitoring to assess the role of natural
attenuation processes. It was also pointed out that the study did not
present adequate information with respect to the potential for natural
attenuation to meet remedial goals for the site.
(D. Burden(GWERD)580-436-8606)
Brunswick Wood Preserving Site, Region IV: On March 13, 2004,
Scott Huling (GWERD) provided Ralph Ludwig (GWERD) and RPM
Brian Farrier with technical review comments on a document titled
"Draft Workplan for Treatability Studies Pertaining to In-Situ
Chemical Oxidation, Volume I - Technical" (February 2004) prepared
for the Brunswick Wood Preserving Site in Brunswick, GA. In
general, a major deficiency in the work plan is that there is very little
information regarding Fenton oxidation and no information on the
permanganate oxidation treatability study. In the current form, it is
unclear whether useful information would be provided which would
allow decisions to be made regarding either of the proposed oxidation
technologies. It was recommended that significant improvements be
made to the work plan regarding proposed activities before it is
approved by EPA.
(S. Huling(GWERD)580-436-8610)
Columbia Nitrogen and Macalloy Corporation Superfund Sites,
Region IV: Ground-water sampling, coring, and hydraulic testing
associated with field pilot installations at the Columbia Nitrogen and
Macalloy Corporation Superfund Sites in Charleston, SC, were
conducted during March 29 - April 2, 2004. Personnel involved
included Frank Beck, Ann Keeley, David Jewett and Ralph Ludwig
(GWERD), Mark Paddock (Dynamac), Patrick Clark (NRMRL), and
David Smyth (Univ. Of Waterloo). At the Columbia Nitrogen Site,
where arsenic and heavy metal contamination is present in ground
water, two well transects through a mixed media PRB consisting of
zero valent iron, compost, and pea gravel, were sampled for a variety
of parameters including anions, cations, pH, ORP, alkalanity,
TOC/DOC, and TIC/DIC. In addition, cores were collected and
processed on site in a glove box for microbiological analysis. Several
wells were installed for pneumatic slug testing. At the Macalloy
Corporation Superfund Site, where a ferrous iron-based reductant has
been injected into an aquifer to treat solid-phase and dissolved-phase
hexavalent chromium, selected wells were sampled and analyzed in the
field for sulfite and thiosulfate. In addition, new wells were installed
to better define the ground-water flow regime and cores were collected
to better define lithology in the pilot test areas.
(R. Ludwig(GWERD)580-436-8603)
Columbia Nitrogen and Macalloy Corporation Superfund Sites,
Region IV: During March 29 - April 2, 2004, in support of two pilot-
scale treatability studies, Steve Acree and Randall Ross (GWERD)
characterized the hydraulic conductivity of materials within and in the
vicinity of a recently installed permeable reactive barrier (PRB) at the
Columbia Nitrogen Site and a subsurface reactive treatment zone at the
Macalloy Corporation Site in Charleston, SC. The studies were
performed using pneumatic slug testing techniques in materials of
moderate to high hydraulic conductivity, and conventional slug testing
methods in materials of moderate to low conductivity. The data will
be used to estimate ground-water flow rates and fluxes through these
subsurface systems as part of the ongoing performance evaluations.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
Wrigley Charcoal Superfund Site, Region IV: On April 13, 2004,
Scott Huling (GWERD), and Bruce Pivetz and Mark Paddack
(Dynamac) provided RPM Loften Carr with comments concerning the
presence of NAPLs at the Wrigley Charcoal Superfund Site in
Wrigley, TN, and provided guidance regarding additional site
characterization work needed to improve a conceptual model of NAPL
distribution. It was recommended that the hydrogeologic and
contaminant conceptual model be modified to assist in understanding
the type, source area, volume, and driving force of the NAPL; the type
and stratigraphy of the subsurface materials; and ground-water flow
patterns in the overburden and bedrock.
(S. Huling(GWERD)580-436-8160)
Chem-Dyne Superfund Site, Region V: In a continuing technical
assistance effort at the Chem-Dyne Superfund Site in Hamilton, OH,
David Jewett (GWERD), and Abu Noman Ahsanuzzaman and Mingyu
Wang (Shaw-CSMoS) provided RPM Lolita A. Hill with comments on
a ground-water transport model for the site. The April 14, 2004,
critique stated that the modeling approach, incorporating the mass
distribution ratio concept, has the capability of handling the
complexity and capturing the average primary attributes of the
contaminant sources stored in soil layers in a capture zone, such as
contaminants sorbed to soils and those present as residual nonaqueous
phase liquid droplets. The approach is particularly valuable for
estimating VOC mass removals and their average concentrations in the
corresponding capture zones. However, the modeling approach has a
limited capability for evaluating the spatial distribution of contaminant
concentrations at different points of interest within the capture zones
formed by extraction wells.
(D. Jewett(GWERD)580-436-8560)
Former Siemens/Sobrato Properties Site, Region IX: On April 1,
2004, John Wilson (GWERD) provided David Burden (GWERD),
ORD Technical Liaison Michael Gill, and Hydrologist Herb Levine
review comments on an enhanced reductive dechlorination work plan
for the Former Siemens/Sobrato Properties Site in Mountain View,
CA. Issues discussed in detail included iron and manganese sampling,
enumeration of bacteria, possible increases in the cis-DCE
concentration, and proposed attenuation of vinyl chloride. Figures
were provided which show the expected distribution of contaminants
downgradient of the source.
(J. Wilson(GWERD)580-436-8534)
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS
Ferrey, Mark L. (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency), and Richard T.
Wilkin, Robert G. Ford, and John T. Wilson (GWERD). 2004.
"Nonbiological Removal of cis-Dichloroethylene and 1,1-
Dischloroethylene in Aquifer Sediment Containing Magnetite."
Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 1746-1752.
NRMRL-Ada-03162
http://pubs3.acs.org/acs/journals/toc.page?incoden=esthag
MEETINGS AND PRESENTATIONS
Dale Pflaum (GWERD) attended EPA's fifth annual National Notes, Email, and BlackBerry Administrators Conference March 29-31, 2004, in Research Triangle Park, NC.
During April 12-14, 2004, NRMRL personnel Steve Hutchins (GWERD), Elise Striz (GWERD), John Haines (LRPCD), and John Cicmanec (TTSD) were invited to participate in an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Program review of their National Program on Manure and By-Products Utilization. Research in this particular Program is conducted through 30 projects at 20 laboratories, and involves 75 scientists with an annual budget of $17 million. These Program reviews are conducted every five years for each of ARS's National Programs, and the invitees are tasked to review their past five years of work in this area and identify projects and results which it was felt had the greatest impact and those where more research was needed. This provided an unparalleled opportunity for EPA-ORD scientists to not only become more aware of all CAFO-related work in the USDA-ARS research program, but to help direct future ARS research in topics of interest to EPA, and to identify areas and potential partners for active collaboration. GWERD personnel recommended an increased emphasis on ground water protection to close the mass balances on reactive nitrogen emissions, and this was subsequently listed as one of the higher research priorities in the area of nutrient management. Additionally, key ARS research partners were identified for collaborative work on GWERD's proposed research project on land application of CAFO wastes. Based on collective comments and other criteria, ARS will be preparing a draft research strategy for their next five years of research in this National Program over the next week or so, and NRMRL and other invitees will have an additional opportunity to comment on this draft research strategy.
GWERD staff Tim Canfield and Paul Mayer attended and made presentations at the EPA/ORD sponsored workshop on the Effectiveness and Uses of Best Management Practices and Restoration for Water Quality Programs in Arlington, VA, April 13-14, 2004. Paul Mayer's presentation was titled "Assessment of Riparian Restoration Options: Case Studies and Approaches for Determining Effectiveness and Benefits."
GWERD scientists Chunming Su, Robert Ford and Robert Pulsparticipated in a workshop titled "Conceptual Model Development for Subsurface Reactive Transport Modeling of Inorganic Contaminants, Radionuclides, and Nutrients" sponsored by the Working Group on Subsurface Reactive Solute Transport of Federal Interagency Steering Committee on Multimedia Environmental Model, April 20-22, 2004, in Albuquerque, NM.
Mary Sue McNeil (GWERD) attended the EPA Library Network Working "Pie-in-the-Sky" Meeting in Dallas, TX, April 27-29, 2004. EPA Library Support contractors and the Project Officers and Task Order Project Officers for the EPA library support contracts attended the meeting. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the EPA 260-R-04-001, titled Business Case for Information Services: EPA's Regional Libraries and Centers, and address new challenges across the agency. The goal of this meeting and additional meetings and workgroups is to develop a strategic plan to re-configure the library network to address challenges and better support EPA's mission.
Mary Gonsoulin (GWERD) attended the ORD-HRC/HRPC Meeting April 28-29, 2004, in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the state of and next steps for current HRC workgroup activities and to discuss the transition from HRC to HRPC (Human Resources Partnership Council).
TRAINING
Steve Vandegrift, QA Manager (GWERD), attended the USEPA 23rd Annual National Conference on Managing Environmental Quality Systems, April 13-16, 2004, in Tampa, FL.
Dr. Charles Biles of East Central University made a seminar presentation to GWERD staff at RSKERC on April 21, 2004, titled "Home and Building Mold: fungi that should be playing outside."
GWERD staff Hershel Chronister and Becky Butler attended the Bi-annual ORD Funds Control Officer (FCO) Conference and Training/Workshop April 26-30, 2004, in Las Vegas, NV. Tuesday's session focused on training FCOs, and Hershel Chronister gave a presentation on the Review of Administrative Control of Appropriated Funds. Other topics of discussion for the week included reconciliation procedures, the new budget structure, reprogramming justification, Financial Data Warehouse, and hands-on training in IRMS and Business Objects.
Ms. Pam Legare from the Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division gave informal training to the EPA staff April 29, 2004, on preparing procurement packages with emphasis on writing good, complete statements of work, sole source justifications, market surveys, and writing government minimum needs and specifications. This training was due in part to a recent Simplified Acquisition Review that suggested follow-up training to the staff.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
On April 2, 2004, scientists from NRMRL/GWERD participated as judges in the 2004 annual Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair held on the campus of East Central University in Ada, OK. Those participating as judges included Tim Canfield, Joe Williams, John Wilson, Paul Mayer, Ann Keeley, Scott Huling, and David Burden. More than 250 projects from both the junior high and high school grades were judged. Projects were entered in one of several categories including Biochemistry, Physical Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Environmental Science, and Zoology and Botany. Drs. Keeley, Huling and Burden and Mr. Canfield also participated as Special Awards Judges; Drs. Wilson and Mayer and Mr. Williams were Special Category Award Judges. For the first time, EPA Region 6 sponsored an EPA Award for best project related to "Environmental Protection." Awards were given for First, Second and Third Place at both the junior high and high school level. The judging for this award was performed by Tim Canfield, Ann Keeley, and David Burden, and winners were awarded an EPA plaque and certificate at the State Science Fair and Awards Banquet.
Frank Beck (GWERD) spoke to East Central University's hydrogeology class about well installation on April 13, 2004. He brought several hands-on demonstrations of well materials and tools, some of his own design, which really impacted the students.
On April 15, 2004, Drs. Astatkie Zikarge and Judith Mazique, assistant professors of Environmental Health at Texas Southern University, and Dr. Sharunda Buchanan, Chief, Environmental Health Services Branch, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA, met with GWERD staff John Wilson, Steve Acree, Mary Gonsoulin, and Roger Cosby, and Guy Sewell of East Central University. The purpose of the visit was for Drs. Zikarge, Mazique and Buchanan to become familiar with the mission and capabilities of GWERD, and to evaluate possible areas of collaboration.
Mayor Darrell Nemecek proclaimed April 22 Earth Day in Ada, OK. He presented the proclamation to Garmon Smith (GWERD), Ada Recycling Coalition Chair, at the Ada Recycling Coalition's annual recycling meeting on April 14, 2004. The proclamation encourages citizens in Ada to reduce waste by reusing, recycling and buying recycled products, and taking pride in the community by helping to keep it clean.
GWERD and East Central University co-sponsored a Water Festival on Earth Day, April 22, 2004, on the East Central University campus. The thrust of the Water Festival was to educate students and community members of all ages about the importance of water as a whole, and to the local community. Through the leadership of Randall Ross (GWERD) and with the participation of GWERD staff David Jewett, David Burden, Cynthia Paul, Susan Mravik, Cherri Adair, Mary McNeil, David Walters, Russell Neill, Kenneth Jewell, Philip Kaiser and Timothy Canfield, activities and demonstrations for elementary grade school and college students were conducted.
During April, Tour Coordinator Linda Jackson (GWERD) hosted two groups interested in learning how the center operates. They were home-schooled senior chemistry and physics students, and the Moyers Public High School 11th grade chemistry class. GWERD staff Phil Kaiser, Ken Jewell, Ann Keeley and John Wilson, as well as ERAP students, made the experience very informative by showing the students research techniques in the labs and answering questions.