United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research
and Development
EPA 600 9-
EPA's Center for
Ground-Water Research
Robert S. Kerr
Environmental Research Laboratory
This document has not been
submitted to NTIS, therefore it
should be retained.
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Past • Present • Future
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Enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in 1961 provided for the construction
of a number of laboratories to combat increasing water pollution problems nationally. One
of these was placed in Ada, Oklahoma. It was named for Robert S. Kerr, a long time U.S.
Senator from the State, in honor of his dedication and concern for the conservation and development
of our natural water resources and his pioneering legislation in environmental protection.
Initially the Laboratory provided technical assistance, presented training, and conducted research
to solve water pollution problems indigenous to the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, and Texas. In 1970 its role was expanded and it became one of fifteen research
laboratories administered through the EPA's Office of Research and Development in Washington.
In 1979 the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory (RSKERL) was designated as EPA's
center for ground-water research by the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and
Development.
Today the Laboratory focuses its activities on both research and technical assistance in the broad
areas of ground-water protection and reclamation. Major research initiatives include understanding
and expressing mathematically the physical, chemical, and biological processes which control the
transport and transformation of contaminants in the subsurface environment. Parallel efforts are
under way in wellhead protection and underground injection control research, as well as the
treatment of hazardous wastes using soil and other natural systems.
Technical assistance at RSKERL falls within the purview of the Technology Support Center which
carries out its mission in close association with the Laboratory's research scientists. Assistance is
provided by direct participation in field investigations and decision making at specific Superfund
and RCRA sites. Technology transfer endeavors include issue papers and briefing documents,
workshops, seminars, conferences, and training courses.
While many inroads have been made toward the solution of environmental problems, new
challenges are now in evidence for which there are no immediate answers. In addition to the
myriad of hazardous waste sites which have contaminated the subsurface environment, other
industrial, agricultural, and domestic practices graphically illustrate a lack of knowledge concerning
the disposal of waste products and the protection of ground-water quality.
The future holds an increasing need for research related to the development of technology which
allows for the environmentally safe disposal of waste products, as well as methods which assure
a lasting and economically feasible remediation of sites where contamination has already occurred.
Because of the RSKERL history and experience in ground-water and wastewater management
research, it will remain in the forefront of technology development in this area for many years into
the future. Due to the diverse skills and dedication of its personnel, the availability of unique field
and laboratory facilities, and an association with scientists throughout the world, RSKERL
maintains an exceptional capability for meeting the environmental challenges of the future.
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Contents
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RSKERL Milestones
1961
Federal Water Pollution Control Act established Regional
Water Quality Laboratories.
1966
Dedication of RSKERL with a mission to provide technical assistance and
training, and to conduct research indigenous to the states of Arkansas,
Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
1970
RSKERL became National Research Laboratory administered by
EPA's Office of Research and Development in Washington, D.C.
1979
RSKERL named EPA's Center for Ground-Water Research.
1979
National Center for Ground-Water Research, composed of the University of
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and Rice University, was founded
to work with RSKERL in conducting long-range exploratory research
addressing the Nation's emerging ground-water problems.
1979
Established the International Ground-Water Modeling Center which is now an
integral part of the RSKERL Center for Subsurface Modeling Support (CSMoS).
1988
Established RSKERL Technology Support Center.
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Organization
Assistant Administrator for
Research & Development
Office of Modeling Monitoring
Systems &: Quality Assurance
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RSKERL
Research Program
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RSKERL
Research Program
National Center for
Ground Water
Research
Laboratory
Researchers
Extramural
Researchers
On-Site
Contractor
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TheRobert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory (RSKERL)
serves as the Environmental Protection Agency's center for ground-
water research, focusing its efforts on investigations related to the
transport and transformation of contaminants in the subsurface, the develop-
ment of methods and techniques directed toward the protection and restora-
tion of ground-water quality, and evaluating the applicability and limitations
of using natural soil and subsurface processes for the treatment of hazardous
wastes. Other active areas of research include: Site characterization to assist in
decisions concerning risk assessment and remediation; underground injec-
tion control; and wellhead protection.
The Laboratory has a long history of conducting basic and applied research
related to the use of soil and subsurface media for waste treatment, and the
protection of surface and ground water. In addition to its research on ground-
water quality protection and restoration, RSKERL has historically been at the
vanguard in developing and demonstrating cost-effective treatment
technologies for municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes.
RSKERL carries out its research responsibilities through in-house projects as
well as cooperative efforts with other EPA laboratories, universities, national
research laboratories, state organizations, and a number of other federal
agencies including the Department of Defense.
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Active PrograM
Areas
• Site Characterization
• Contaminant Transport and
Transformation
• Subsurface Remediation
• Underground Injection Control
• Wellhead Protection
• Mathematical Modeling
Unique Rese'aiijjjjjj
Facilities • \JilP
• Modern Analytical
Equipment
• Injection Well Research and
Training Facility
• Large Aquifer Models
• Drilling and Coring
Equipment
• Soil Sampling Equipment
• Subsurface Microcosm
Research Systems
• Logging and Aquifer Testing
Equipment
• Geographic Information
Systems (GIS)
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Site .^fjf
Characterizati^S
Site characterization research is conducted
in order to improve the ability to assess
risks associated with a contaminated site,
evaluate the need for corrective action,
and select, as well as evaluate the
effectiveness of proper remediation
technologies. Exposure assessments must
be based on an awareness of the geologic,
hydrologic, geochemical, chemical, and
biological characteristics of the site.
Research in this area is aimed at the
development of methods of investigation
and interpretation in order to determine
the parameters which describe a site and
define their spatial distribution.
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Research is aimed at describing the
hydrologic, abiotic, and biotic processes
which influence contaminant transport
and transformation characteristics in the
subsurfaceenvironment.Asinotherareas
of research, many transport and
transformation studies are carried out m
concert with universities and other
research institutions.
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Subsurface
Remediation
In addition to developing technologies
which protect and restore the subsurface
environment, research in this area must
assure that such methods are cost effective
without being unnecessarily complex, and
do not unduly restrict other land use
activities.
Enhanced Bioreclamation
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Ground \\ aler
• Nutrient How
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I I Contaminant
Underground 1
Injection Contr&ijj
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Research in support of the Underground
Injection Control Program is directed at
developing methods to assure the
mechanical integrity of the injection well
itself, and that wastes remain in the zone
of injection. Research is also aimed at
determining the fate of wastes that enter
the injection zone.
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Injection
Tubing
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Tubing-Casing
Annulus
Wellhead
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Wellhead
Protection
The 1986 Amendments to the Safe
Drinking Water Act require the
delineation of protection areas around
public water wells to protect water
systems. RSKERL is conducting research
to advance the fundamental scientific
knowledge of subsurface processes,
develop new wellhead protection
methods, and provide technical assistance
on basic scientific and engineering
wellhead protection issues. The audiences
for research results are EPA's Regional
Offices, state and local officials, and public
water suppliers.
Mathematical
Modeling
RSKERL scientists are developing and testing a variety of mathematical models that
describe and predict contaminant transport in porous and fractured media under a variety
of conditions from biodegradation to immiscible flow. From planning and evaluating
remediation scenarios to identifying wellhead protection areas and permitting injection
wells, mathematical modeling is becoming an increasingly important tool in Agency
decision making.
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RSKERL
Technology Support
Center
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RSKERL
Technology Support Center
In-House Researchers
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CUKh,
Extramural Researchers
NCGWR
- Rice
- Okluhom
Treatabilitv
Subcontractors
(Kast I
On-Site
Contractor
(JeoTrans
Off-Site
Consultants
100+
CSMoS
-RSKKRL
- KiWMC
Treatability
Subcontractors
(West)
On-Site Staff
Subsurface Remediation
Information Center
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Applying research results through technical assistance on a variety of
environmental issues has been a tradition at the RSKERL since its
beginning in 1965. Even though the Laboratory gained a national and
international reputation for its research, it was not until 1986 that events
occurred which led to a structured program in technical assistance and made it
an integral part of the Laboratory's activities, particularly with regard to the
remediation of soil and ground water at hazardous waste sites.
Following the Superf und Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, Regional
decision makers, charged with administering cost-effective and permanent
restoration technologies at Superfund sites, quickly became overburdened by
the technical complexity of this responsibility. Informed decisions concerning
soil and ground-water remediation require a broad, interdisciplinary, state-of-
the-science level of expertise in a rapidly developing and complex environmental
field.
In 1987, in order to make EPA's Office of Research and Development scientists
more accessible to Regional decision makers, the Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response (OSWER) provided direct funding to ORD laboratories in
Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Athens, and Ada to establish Superfund Technology
Support Centers.
The RSKERL Technology Support Center consists of a Core Team of scientists
and engineers supported by RSKERL in-house and extramural researchers, the
National Center for Ground Water Research, the RSKERL Center for Subsurface
Modeling Support, and an on-site technology support contractor with off-site
subcontractors and consultants.
In addition to Superfund which remains the major client, the RSKERL Technology
Support Center provides assistance to Headquarters and to Regional and State
personnel responsible for RCRA Corrective Action, Underground Storage Tank,
Pesticides, and the Underground Injection Control Programs. These activities
not only provide a "real world" testing ground for research results but aid
RSKERL scientists in focusing on high priority research needs.
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RSKERL Jechnolo
'r'^ilS
Support Core
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RSKERL scientists and engineers in the
Applications and Assistance Branch
provide a readily available source of
interdisciplinary support along with the
skills of Laboratory researchers and an
on-site contractor with its cadre of
consultants and subcontractors.
RSKERL Researij
Program j
In-house scientists and engineers at the
Laboratory provide the technical base for
the Technology Support Center along with
associates in universities and other
research institutes.
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Center for
CSMoS distributes and services all
RSKERL developed models and software,
and provides assistance and training on
modeling applications to the ground-
water and vadose zones of the subsurface.
CSMoS is composed of RSKERL scientists
and is supported by the International
Ground Water Modeling Center
(IG WMC), the National Center for Ground
Water Research, and a number of ground-
water modeling consultants.
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On-Site
Contractor
The RSKERL on-site contractor, along
with over 100 of its consultants and
subcontractors, provides support to the
Core team, carries out information
transfer activities, and houses the
Subsurface Remediation Information
Center.
National
The Center, a consortium of Oklahoma,
Oklahoma State, and Rice Universities,
and more recently the University of Texas
at Austin, develops and conducts long-
range exploratory research to address new
challenges in ground-water protection and
restoration.
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Technical
Assistance
Provided
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Site Specific
Assistance
In its first three years, the RSKERL
Technology Support Center provided
assistance in all ten EPA Regions at more
than 130 Superfund Sites primarily in the
areas of site characterization, ground-
water modeling and bioremediation, soil
venting, and pump-and-treat remediation
technologies. While some requests for
assistance involve short term reviews of
technical documents, others result in
extensive field and laboratory investi-
gations and treatability studies.
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Technology
Transfer
Technology transfer activities may be
carried out without specific requests or in
response to generic needs suggested by
the Regions or Headquarters. They often
take the form of:
• Issue Papers
• Briefing Documents
• Workshops
• Seminars and
Conferences
• Training Courses
Environmental
Research ^\.
Laboratory *°"
Subsurface
Information Center
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Ti EMEDIATION
ECHNOLOCiY
U.S. Lnvironme
Robert S. Kerr Enviroi
Protection Agency
ital Research Laborat
Site name
Remediation used at the site
Contaminants occuring at site
Firm associated with this site
Article(s) referring to the site
Gty
County
State
EPA region
Remedial Project Manager (RPM)
Phone number of RPM
On-scerte coordinator (OSC)
Phone number of OSC
SefcCt aM records where (site name! equals Land fiiJ
The Subsurface Remediation Information
Center provides a forum for the rapidly
developing, highly specialized informa-
tion in the scientific arena. Activities are
conducted toward developing, collecting,
evaluating, coordinating, and dissemi-
nating information relating to the
transport and fate of contaminants in soil
and ground water. In addition, the Sub-
surface Remediation Technology data
base provides site specific information
concerning contaminants and remediation
activities at existing hazardous waste sites.
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