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NRMRL MONTHLY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2004
Stephen G. Schmelling, Division Director
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
W.R. Grace Superfund Site, Region I: During January 14-16,
2004, David Jewett (GWERD) and Mingyu Wang (Shaw-CSMoS)
attended a meeting in Harvard, MA, to discuss ground-water flow
and solute transport modeling being conducted by Geotrans Inc. at
the W.R. Grace Site in Acton, MA. Others attending the meeting
were from EPA Region I, Metcalf & Eddy (Region 1 contractor),
MADEP, Brown & Caldwell (MADEP contractor), and Remedium
Group (Grace representative). The meeting focused on revisions to
the ground-water flow model, model calibration and verification,
proposed contaminant transport modeling, and the use of models in
the feasibility study. CSMoS concerns with the ground-water flow
model were also discussed and additional information was
requested to aid in reviewing model revisions.
(D. Jewett(GWERD)580-436-8560)
Puchack Well Field Superfund Site, Region II: On February 12,
2004, Ralph Ludwig (GWERD) provided RPM Michelle Granger
with review comments on a bench-scale treatability study of in-situ
technologies for the remediation of hexvalent chromium in ground
water at the Puchack Well Field Superfund Site in Pennsauken
Township, NJ. In general, the scope of work was found to be
sufficiently detailed with respect to the feasibility of employing
abiotic or biotic approaches for treating chromate at the site. Issues
discussed in detail included the need to differentiate between
chromate reduction and sorption, and proposed chemical analyses.
(R. Ludwig(GWERD)580-436-8603)
Dublin Site, Region III: On February 17, 2004, Scott Huling
(GWERD) and Bruce Pivetz (Dynamac) provided James
Cummings (Technical Innovation Office) with comments on a
pilot-scale test for in-situ chemical oxidation of chlorinated
solvents in ground water at the Dublin Site in Dublin Borough, PA.
The basis of the review was to assess whether the proposed
activities are innovative and, therefore, warrant support from the
risk sharing initiative program of the Technology Innovative
Office. It was pointed out that TCE oxidation by MnO4- has often
been documented in the scientific literature, and the recirculation
method of distribution has been used for well over 20 years.
However, the depth of contamination in fractured bedrock and
other factors may collectively present technical challenges that
have not been addressed at other sites.
(S. Huling(GWERD)580-436-8610)
Macalloy Corporation Site, Region IV: During January 26-30,
2004, Ralph Ludwig (GWERD) and Mark Paddock (Dynamac)
conducted a field trip to the Macalloy Corporation Site in
Charleston, SC, to collect ground-water samples as part of a
continuing performance monitoring investigation of two pilot
redox studies. One involves the injection of a sodium
dithionite/ferrous sulfate solution into a saturated zone hexavalent
chromium source area. The second involves the injection of the
same solution into the path of a dissolved hexavalent chromium
plume. Samples were collected from 31 performance monitoring
wells and analyzed in the field for ferrous iron, hexavalent
chromium, sulfide, and alkalinity. Samples to be analyzed for
anions and cations were shipped to GWERD.
(R. Ludwig(GWERD)580-436-8603)
Owens Corning Facility, Region IV: On February 6, 2004, Mary
Gonsoulin (GWERD), Mark Paddack, Daniel Pope and Kelly Hurt
(Dynamac) provided Environmental Scientist Channing Bennett
with review comments on an in-situ enhanced bioremediation work
plan for the Owens Corning Facility in Anderson, SC. A number
of issues were discussed including inadequate data for selecting
remedial alternatives, the possible existence of NAPLs as
evidenced by high concentrations of VOCs in ground water,
potential problems associated with the proposed remedy,
determination of bacterial species present at the site, performance
monitoring, and the need to consider alternative remedies such as
dewatering combined with SVE/bioventing to remove VOCs.
(M. Gonsoulin(GWERD)580-436-8616)
Delatte Metals Superfund Site, Region VI: During January 26-
29, 2004, Steve Acree and Randall Ross (GWERD) made a field
trip to the Delatte Metals Superfund Site in Ponchatoula, LA, to
characterize the hydraulic conductivity of a recently installed
permeable reactive barrier (PRB) to serve as a basis for evaluating
changes that may occur over time. The tests were performed using
both pneumatic and conventional slug testing methods. In
addition, dataloggers were installed to monitor temporal
fluctuations in hydraulic gradients in the vicinity of the wall.
(S. Acree(GWERD)580-436-8609)
Boomsnub/Airco Superfund Site, Region X: In a continuing
technical assistance effort at the Boomsnub/Airco Superfund Site
in Hazel, WA, Randall Ross (GWERD) and Milovan Beljin
(Dynamac consultant) provided RPM Lee Marshall with technical
review comments on a ground-water modeling summary report.
The February 17, 2004, comments, which followed a February 6,
2004, teleconference, stressed the need for more realistic input
values and cautioned against overconfidence in model results,
particularly with respect to solute transport. The collection and
incorporation of site-specific data was urged. The primary issue
yet to be resolved concerns natural attenuation as there is no direct
evidence to support the biotic or abiotic degradation of TCE or
chromium at the site.
(R. Ross(GWERD)580-436-8611)
ONGOING RESEARCH
Field Work at Former CAFO Facility (Cimarron Pork).
GWERD researchers Rick Wilkin and Steven Hutchinsconducted field work including installation of ground-water
monitoring wells for site characterization at a former CAFO
facility (Cimarron Pork) located in north central Oklahoma.
Ground water at the site is contaminated with high concentration
levels of dissolved nitrate and ammonia due to operation of the
swine CAFO over a seven-year period. GWERD researchers will
evaluate the treatment performance of a carbon-based reactive
barrier that was designed and installed through a cooperative effort
between State (Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and
Forestry) and Federal (EPA Region 6) personnel. The overall
goals of research underway at this site are to better understand the
chemical and microbiological processes that result in nitrate
removal in a carbon-based permeable reactive barrier (PRB) and to
evaluate the effect of the PRB on downgradient aquifer/ground-
water chemistry. GWERD researchers used both the Division's
geoprobe and CME drilling rigs to install wells within the PRB and
in the fractured sandstone matrix upgradient and downgradient of
the reactive barrier. This site presented special challenges in that
drilling rigs had to be moved on-site whenever the surface soil was
frozen in order to facilitate access and prevent damage to the PRB,
and drilling in the competent sandstone matrix was problematic.
Regardless, two monitoring well transects were completed and
additional wells for continuous down-hole data loggers were also
installed. These well transects will be used to develop a
hydrogeological and geochemical model of nitrate transport and
transformation through the reactive barrier.
(R. Wilkin(GWERD)580-436-8874)
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
GWERD staff Roger Cosby and Frank Price attended the annual EPA B&F Workshop February 2-5, 2004, in San Francisco, CA. Frank Price, GWERD's Facility Manager, was awarded EPA's "BTU Buster of the Year" award for his determination and persistence in achieving fifty percent energy reduction through an energy savings performance contract at the lab.
GWERD staff members Ken Jewell, Kyle Jones and Garmon Smith attended a U.S. EPA Office of Administration/Safety, Health and Environmental Management Division-sponsored training course entitled "RAB Accredited ISO 14001 EMS (Environmental Management Systems) Lead Auditor Training" in Seattle, WA, on February 2-6, 2004. The 40-hour training course was conducted by two instructors from Excel Partnership, Inc. and provided excellent instruction on how to develop an effective EMS program based on the ISO 14001 international standards for EMS. By using auditing techniques developed to evaluate prepared EMS programs and documentation, course attendees were given the tools to help develop their local EMS program and be able to determine if it meets the needs of the organization and the ISO requirements. Further development and implementation of GWERD's EMS program will involve all personnel at the Kerr Research Center.
Paul Mayer (GWERD) attended the 2nd National EPA Nonindigenous Species Workshop and NCER's STAR Biopollution Progress Review on February 4-6, 2004, at the USEPA lab at Research Triangle Park, NC. This workshop was a forum for STAR grantees to present findings of their research on various aspects of invasive species. ORD, Program, and Regional EPA offices then presented overviews on their respective perspectives and efforts related to invasive and nonidigenous species. A large portion of the workshop was devoted to discussing the role of the EPA in invasive species including aspects of prevention, monitoring, control, prediction, impacts on water quality, and the relationship of invasive species to ecosystem restoration. A list of action items was developed at the end of the workshop. Paul Mayer (GWERD) presented recent findings of his research on the invasive species eastern red cedar and tall fescue, discussing the ecological effects of each species and describing efforts to understand mechanisms of their invasion and establishment.
GWERD staff Stephen Schmelling, Elise Striz and Stephen Kovash visited the Canaan Valley Institute in Davis, WV, for an Advanced Monitoring Review February 9-12, 2004. Stephen Kovash reviewed the cooperative agreement records and found CVI is administratively in compliance with the agreement. Two days of meetings were held, attended by management and technical staff from CVI, ORD NRMRL and NHEERL, and Region 3. CVI gave presentations on the status of the current ReVA cooperative agreement and the proposed FY2003 supplement directed at Restoration Plus (RePlus) research. Stephen Schmelling and Joe Williams (GWERD) updated attendees on the objectives and status of the EPA RePlus program. Discussions were held on how the EPA ORD RePlus program meshes with the CVI proposed Mid-Atlantic Highlands Action Plan, which is a methodology to implement sustainable resource management in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands region. Elise Striz, who is the Project Officer for the CVI cooperative agreement, presented the peer review of the proposed RePlus supplement to the agreement. She also gave a presentation on a new ORD research proposal to partner with CVI to identify and evaluate hydrological, ecological, biological, economic and social metrics of restoration effectiveness at selected restoration sites in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands.
TRAINING
During the week of February 1-6, 2004, David Burden (GWERD)attended the OPM training course "Leadership Skills for Non- Supervisors and Non-Managers" at the Western Management Development Center in Denver, CO. The program was attended by 43 participants from numerous different federal agencies. The program concentrated on developing informal leadership skills necessary to influence positive organizational success without positional authority. Participants learned about effective models for leadership success, the art of interpersonal dynamics, as well as other important leadership skills useful in today's governmental organizations.
Angela Cunningham with the Federal Occupational Health gave a presentation to GWERD employees, and a separate one to supervisors on the Federal Employee Assistance Program (EAP)on February 25, 2004, at the GWERD office.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
On February 17, 2004, Garmon Smith (GWERD) made a presentation to the Diamond K Kiwanis Club on recycling of solid waste and recycling in Ada, OK.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROGRAM NEWS
Black History Month activities culminated with a program held on February 26, 2004. The theme was "Black History Through the Eyes of Three Women." Dr. Shirley Mixon from East Central University, Dr. Mary Gonsoulin (GWERD), and Pat Bush, SEEP, spoke of their struggles to get where they are today. After their presentations they answered questions and refreshments were served.