United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Environmental Processes
Effects Research
Washington DC 20460
Research and Development
EPA/600/S8-86/004 Aug. 1986
c/ERA Project Summary
EPA Ground-Water Research
Programs
Brana Lobel
This document describes the U.S. En-
vironment^ Protection Agency's
(EPA's) ground-water research pro-
grams. The programs focus on protec-
tion of ground-water resources by elim-
inating or controlling sources of
contamination; understanding and pre-
dicting the movement and attenuation
of contaminants in the subsurface;
monitoring for contamination; restor-
ing polluted aquifers; and ensuring that
research findings are conveyed to pub-
lic officials, field managers, and the sci-
entific community.
This Project Summary was devel-
oped by EPA's Office of Environmental
Processes and Effects Research, Wash-
ington, DC, to announce key findings of
the research project that is fully docu-
mented in a separate report of the same
title (see Project Report ordering infor-
mation at back).
Introduction
Ground water is a vast and important
resource. In the United States, approxi-
mately 15 quadrillion gallons (56
quadrillion liters) of water are stored
within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of the
land surface. Ground water supplies
about 25 percent of all fresh water used.
Fifty percent of U.S. citizens obtain all or
part of their drinking water from ground
water; and 95 percent of rural house-
holds depend totally upon it. Commer-
cially, ground water is extensively em-
ployed in agricultural practices,
particularly for irrigation, and in various
industries.
Contaminants may leak, percolate, or
be injected into aquifers. As contami-
nants travel through the soil and into a
ground-water system, they may be
slowed down or degraded by processes
that are complex and not completely
understood, but these natural proc-
esses are not totally effective for all con-
taminants. For example, soils were
once believed to be capable of binding
and holding all chemicals. This is now
known to be false for some important
and widely used classes of chemicals,
like organic solvents such as tri- and tet-
rachloroethylene, benzenes, and carbon
tetrachloride. Other contaminants such
as heavy metals are not degradable at
all but may be immobilized. Depending
on the nature of the discharge arid the
type of pollutant, contaminants may en-
ter ground water as slugs (isolated
masses) or localized plumes.
ORD administers fourteen laborato-
ries throughout the United States, four
of which conduct research directly re-
lated to protecting ground water (Fig-
ure 1). Other ORD labs study drinking
water quality, health effects, treatment
technologies, analytical methods for
water samples, and techniques for qual-
ity assurance. These investigations,
which often address contaminants oc-
curring in both surface and ground
water, also provide valuable informa-
tion and control tools.
In recent years, scientific knowledge
about ground-water systems has been
increasing rapidly. The ability to take
uncontaminated samples in the subsur-
face—previously a major limitation in
research—has been greatly improved.
At ORD, researchers have developed
techniques that allow them to enumer-
ate and characterize subsurface mi-
crobes. ORD scientists have also stimu-
lated the aerobic biodegradation of
trichloroethylene (TCE). Improvements
have been made in technology for as-
sessing the subsurface, in adapting
techniques from other disciplines to
successfully identify specific contami-
nants in ground water, and in assessing
the behavior of certain chemicals in
some geologic materials. Each of these
research areas is discussed in detail in
the full report.
-------
t''
Source Control
Control of contaminant sources on
the land surface represents both the be-
ginning and end point of current
ground-water research efforts. Until
more is known about subsurface proc-
esses and their interactions with
specific contaminants, source control
remains the primary method for pre-
venting ground-water contamination.
At the same time, source control tech-
niques are also used where contamina-
tion has already occurred, for example,
in the cleanup of unregulated dump
sites or in emergency response to acci-
dental spills.
ORD supports two source control re-
search programs through the Haz-
ardous Waste Engineering Research
Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio (HWERL-
CIN). Both programs develop and evalu-
ate state-of-the-art technology for haz-
ardous waste management, storage,
and disposal. The Hazardous Waste
Land Disposal Program, in support of
RCRA disposal regulations and guide-
lines, investigates landfills, surface im-
poundments, and underground storage
facilities. The Removal and Remedial
Action Program develops technology
for emergency and ongoing hazardous
waste site cleanup in support of
CERCLA (Superfund). Table 1 lists cur-
rent source control projects for both
programs.
A major issue for almost all in situ
treatment processes is to develop a
means of employing them quickly and
efficiently. As one answer, HWERL engi-
neers and contractors are currently
field-testing a prototype mobile in situ
containment and treatment unit
(ISCTU). This is a 45-foot-long (14-
meter-long) drop-deck trailer capable of
treating approximately 80,000 square
feet (7,500 square meters) of contami-
nated soil approximately 25 feet (8 me-
ters) deep per month. The system has
the capacity to treat a variety of contam-
inants in several different soils.
The full report presents complete in-
formation on these other source control
projects: Hazardous waste land dis-
posal; landfill cover systems; clay soil
and synthetic liners; waste modifica-
tion; system evaluation; and insitu re-
moval and remedial action.
Prediction
Predicting pollutant behavior in the
subsurface is one of the most difficult—
but also one of the most important—
tasks for ground-water protection pro-
grams. Many interacting variables can
influence the transport and fate of con-
taminants: for example, the source o1
contamination, the type of pollutants
climatic conditions, topography, anc
the geological and biological character
istics of the subsurface. The relative
influences of various processes anc
conditions on the behavior of a contam
ADEMQA/HQ = Office of Acid Deposition, Environmental Monitoring and
Quality Assurance
EMSL/LV = Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in Las
»•/:/ Vegas
1 ERL/ATH - Environmental Research Laboratory in Athens
HWERL/CIN = Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory in
Cincinnati
OEET/HQ = Office of Environmental Engineering and Technology in
Washington
OEPER/HQ = Office of Environmental Processes and Effects Research in
Washington
OER/HQ = Office of Exploratory Research in Washington HWERL/CIN,
RSKERL/ADA = Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory in Ada Source
Control
S^
y "X
^
n
•
Washington, DC
/
<(DEMQA/H<
OEET/HQ
OEPER/HQ
OER/HQ
RSKERL/ADA • Ada. Oklahoma
— Production
— Monitoring
— In Situ Aquifer Cleanup
Figure J. EPA offices and laboratories involved in ground-water research programs.
of the Office of Research and Development.
All offices and laboratories shown here are
-------
inant can vary, dramatically affecting
the accuracy of predictions. Knowledge
of these interactions must be refined in
order to develop and improve mathe-
matical models to predict chemical
transport and fate. In order to gain this
knowledge, continued research is
needed to obtain representative sam-
ples, to develop more accurate labora-
tory simulations (microcosms) of envi-
ronmental systems, to conduct field
verification studies, to refine tools and
procedures used to measure chemical
and physical reactions, and to deter-
mine chemistry and biology in situ.
At EPA's Robert S. Kerr Environmen-
tal Research Laboratory in Ada, Okla-
homa (RSKERL-AOA), researchers are
investigating the movement of water in
the ground (hydrogeology) and the var-
ious physical, chemical, and biological
attenuation processes that degrade or
destroy contaminants. In addition,
RSKERL scientists and engineers are in-
vestigating methods for determining
the mechanical integrity of injection
wells and the interaction of injected
fluids with geologic materials.
The Environmental Research Labora-
tory in Athens, Georgia (ERL-ATH) re-
searches subsurface transport and
transformation processes for organic
pollutants and heavy metals, develops
and tests leaching models for unsatu-
rated zone transport to ground water,
and provides technical assistance and
methodology to support proposed
RCRA regulations.
Table 2 summarizes current predic-
tion research at RSKERL and ERL-ATH.
The full report describes all key predic-
tion projects listed in Table 2.
Monitoring
Monitoring provides information on
Table 1. Source Control Research
Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory—Cincinnati, OH
Area of Concern
Project Title
Purpose
Goals and Products
Land Disposal
Office of Environmental Engi-
neering and Technology
(OEET)—Hazardous Waste-
Surface Impoundments
Land Disposal
OEET—Hazardous Waste
Technical Resource Docu-
ments
Land Disposal
Support to Land Disposal
Remedial Action
Chemical Treatment Methods
for Dioxins and Dibenzofurans
Remedial Action
Dioxin Assessment and Con-
trol Research
Assess and develop improved design, operation,
and closure components for landfills, surface
impoundments, and waste piles used for haz-
ardous waste management. Areas covered in-
clude gas and VOC (volatile organic chemical)
emission control technologies, clay soil and FML
(flexible membrane liner) liner performance,
cover performance, contaminant/soil interaction,
leachates, leak detection techniques, and dike
construction criteria.
Develop and update technical manuals for land-
filling and surface impoundment of hazardous
wastes, including information such as design,
construction, and operating and monitoring pro-
cedures. The manuals will address the design
and installation of liners, the design of landfill
covers to prevent infiltration, and closure proce-
dures for surface impoundments.
Develop design, operation, maintenance, and
closure procedures for landfills. Research topics
include the effects of subsidence on cover per-
formance, chemical compatibility and service
life prediction for synthetic liners, leachate col-
lection and treatment efficiency, cost effective-
ness of multi-layer cover systems, assessment
of maintenance-free cover systems, and the im-
pact of designing secure landfills in saturated
soils.
Develop and evaluate methods for the destruc-
tion of dioxins and other chemically related
wastes in soils, sediments, and contained waste
streams. Laboratory and field studies will ad-
dress the feasibility of UV photolysis and APFEG
reagents for treatment of dioxin-contaminated
soils, the removal of chlorinated dioxins from
contaminated soils, the application of alkali
polyethylene glycolate complexes to destroy
dioxins in Missouri soils, and the supercritical
extraction of chlorinated dioxins from soils.
Evaluate the feasibility of incineration for on site
detoxification of dioxin-contaminated liquid
wastes and soils.
• Technical Resource Docu-
ments (TRDs)
• Computer programs to review
land disposal permit applica-
tions.
• "Expert Information" comput-
erized systems on contain-
ment technologies.
• Technical assistance to RCRA
permit writers.
• Improved design and technol-
ogy.
• Provide state-of-the-art techni-
cal information to field man-
agers and Federal, state, and
local officials.
Develop and improve the per-
formance of components and
the unit operations of secure
landfills to comply with RCRA
regulations.
Improve chemical and physi-
cal contaminant destruction
technology.
Improve contamination de-
struction processes.
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Table 1. (Continued)
Area of Concern
Project Title
Purpose
Goals and Products
Remedial Action
Engineering Support for Site
and Situation Assessment
Remedial Action
Provide Technical Support to
Enforcement Program and Re-
gional Offices
Apply engineering expertise to assessments of
hazardous waste site situations (e.g., waste
characteristics, hydrology, geology, and soil
characteristics) to assist in developing corrective
measures. Develop criteria for conducting site
assessments. Prepare feasibility studies regard-
ing data requirements for remedial action deci-
sions.
Provide scientific information and analyses in
support of litigation on corrective actions at Su-
perfund sites. Support areas include review of
designs for remedial actions, review of data
submitted by liable parties, expert witness testi-
mony, technology transfer, emergency response
assistance at releases and waste sites, supervi-
sion of cleanup operations involving ORD equip-
ment, analytical support using mobile and cen-
tral laboratories, and technical support
regarding the designation of hazardous sub-
stances and assignment of reportable quantities.
Technical assistance at haz-
ardous waste sites.
• Technical assistance to EPA
regional and state and local
officials.
Removal and Reme-
dial Action
Evaluate Technology to Man-
age Uncontrolled Waste Sites
Removal Action
Prevent and Contain Haz-
ardous Material Releases
Removal Action
Special Biodegradation Proc-
esses for Detoxifying Contam-
inated Soils
Evaluate improved and new technologies for
emergency and remedial actions for hazardous
material spills and newly discovered releases of
hazardous substances from uncontrolled waste
sites. Topics include field evaluation of prototyp-
ical mobile equipment and innovative commer-
cially available equipment, the use of chemicals
for mitigation of the effects of hazardous sub-
stance releases, fugitive dust control proce-
dures, and the fixation of contaminated soils.
Develop new and improved technology for the
prevention and control of pollution from haz-
ardous material releases by adapting related in-
dustrial technologies. Research topics include
spill or accidental release prevention, ore-
response planning, containment and confine-
ment, separation and concentration, the destruc-
tion of collected cleanup residuals, and the
selection of chemicals to control releases of
floating hazardous substances.
Develop and evaluate biological methods for the
destruction or detoxification of chemicals in
soils. Genetic engineering and other biological
techniques will be used to determine if living or-
ganisms such as plants, yeast, and microbes
can be employed to successfully transform or
degrade such substances as organochlorine
compounds, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid,
chlorinated dioxins, and halogenated hydrocar-
bons.
• Provide most effective tech-
nology for spill control and i
lease cleanup.
Improve technology for emt
gency handling of hazardou
releases.
• Cost-effective decontamina
tion techniques.
potential or known contamination.
Many types of monitoring may be per-
formed for a variety of reasons to deter-
mine probable contaminant pathways,
to map actual contaminant flow, to lo-
cate sources of contamination, to iden-
tify contaminant plumes, and to detect
leaching, percolation, or leaks. Monitor-
ing research, conducted at the Environ-
mental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
in Las Vegas, Nevada (EMSL-LV), with
assistance from the Robert S. Kerr Envi-
ronmental Research Laboratory in Ada,
Oklahoma (RSKERL-ADA), focuses on
developing ground-water monitoi
and sampling techniques and geoph
cal monitoring techniques, and refii
methods for interpretive analysi)
data. These techniques and meth
are used to define the nature, local
and movement of subsurface conti
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Table 2. Ground-Water Prediction Research
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory—Ada, OK
Environmental Research Laboratory—Athens, GA
Area of Concern
Project Title
Purpose
Goals and Products
Biological Processes Determination of Subsurface
Microbial Activity
Biological Processes
Hydrogeologic Proc-
esses
Management Aids
Management Aids
Management Aids
Management Aids
Management Aids
Management Aids
Prediction of Microbial Con-
taminant Concentrations
Determination of Dispersion
Coefficient Processes
Determination of Waste Mo-
bility by the Use of Micro-
cosms
Enforcement and Other Tech-
nical Support
Evaluating Ground-Water
Contamination Risks from
Hazardous Waste Disposal
Methods to Determine the Im-
pact of Geology on Ground-
Water Quality
Standard System for Evaluat-
ing Ground-Water Pollution
Potential Using Hydrogeologic
Settings
Validation of Predictive Tech-
niques for Environmental Ex-
posure
Adapt methods such as electron and epifluores-
cence microscopy and muramic acid assays to
determine the abundance and metabolic activi-
ties of indigenous microflora in subsurface habi-
tats. Develop methods to estimate the propor-
tion of metabolically active bacteria to
determine their nutritional state.
Develop and evaluate predictive models describ-
ing the movement and survival of viruses and
pathogenic bacteria in ground water.
Conduct field investigations to develop an
understanding of physical and chemical compo-
nents of dispersion.
Evaluate soil profile and aquifer microcosms for
their capacity to predict hazardous waste move-
ment. Test protocols using selected chemicals
from RCRA Section 3001. Compare results with
field verification studies.
Provide consultation, project supervision, testi-
mony, and analytical support for Superfund ac-
tivities involving ground-water contamination.
Investigate the processes that govern the trans-
port rates, transformation, and fates of haz-
ardous waste constituents in the subsurface.
Evaluate mathematical models describing solute
transport in the subsurface. Assess validity
through field experiments.
Develop techniques for determining the impact
of geology, including the impact of surface de-
velopment and water use, on ground-water
quality. Develop methods for detecting geologi-
cal areas within an aquifer that should not be
developed for public water use because of natu-
rally occurring contaminants such as chromium,
selenium, uranium, and arsenic.
Develop a protocol to determine the pollution
potential of any United States aquifer or area
within an aquifer based on hydrogeologic crite-
ria. Provide training and guidance in the use of
the protocol.
Develop an extensive field data base to estab-
lish parameters to test exposure assessment
models. These models are designed to assess
pesticide migration through the saturated and
unsaturated zones.
Physical and Chemi- Mathematical Models for Sub- Create or modify a range of models for predict-
cal Processes surface Transport and Fate ing concentrations of toxic chemicals in the sub-
surface.
Develop improved methods
for identifying and characteriz-
ing subsurface microflora.
• Provide methods and data for
predicting chemical concentra-
tions in ground water at a
point of use.
• Determine the physical and
chemical components of dis-
persion as used in solute
transport models.
• Increase applicability of pre-
diction equations.
• Develop screening methods to
assess hazardous waste expo-
sure potential.
• Provide technical support.
• Provide field-evaluated meth-
ods and data to predict con-
centrations of contaminants
from the treatment, storage,
and disposal of hazardous
wastes.
• Develop methods for deter-
mining impact of naturally oc-
curring geological materials
and conditions on ground-
water quality.
Provide technical basis for
planning the location of land
disposal sites. Preliminary
system has been published,
current field evaluations will
lead to the development of
the protocol.
Validate pesticide exposure
assessment models, including
PRZM, PESTANS, SESOIL, and
SWAG.
• Provide a choice of mathemat-
ical models of contaminant
transport and fate, suitable for
a variety of computers, to aid
in estimating exposure of hu-
mans, animals, and plant life.
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Table 2. (Continued)
Area of Concern
Project Title
Purpose
Goals and Products
Physical and Chemi-
cal Processes
Physical, Chemical,
and Biological Proc-
esses
Movement and Persistence of
Dioxins in Soils and Ground
Water
Prediction of Chemical Con-
taminant Concentrations
Determine batch sorption isotherms using la-
beled dioxins. Evaluate successive additions and
extractions of dioxins to determine desorption
characteristics and sorption kinetics in the sub-
surface. Validate transport potential using unsat-
urated microcosms.
Examine sorption/retardation of organic contam-
inants in the subsurface in terms of subsurface
characteristics and organic chemical properties.
Define the subsurface microbial population and
investigate capability to transform organic pollu-
tants. Study abiotic transformations of organics
and concentration effects on sorption and trans-
port.
• Provide capability to predict
the rate of movement and
transformation of dioxins in
soils and ground water.
• /Assess potential for human
exposure to dioxin.
• Provide methods and data to
predict concentrations of
microbial contamination in
ground water.
nation. Table 3 lists current monitoring
projects. The laboratories also provide
operational guidance and technical sup-
port to EPA program and regional of-
fices, and to state and local agencies.
The full report describes each of the
projects listed in Table 3.
In Situ Aquifer Cleanup
Restoring a polluted aquifer is gener-
ally an extremely expensive enterprise.
Nevertheless, in some instances, restor-
ation is the option of choice, for exam-
ple, when there is no other local drink-
ing water source, when the cost of
transporting water from an alternative
source equals or surpasses the cost of
restoration, or when the damage to the
aquifer has serious human health or
ecological implications. The decision to
attempt restoration of a polluted aquifer
is rarely simple or clear-cut. Technical
feasibility is only one aspect to consider
and is often not the most pressing one.
Economic, health, social, political, and
other factors must be weighed against
one another.
Until a range of inexpensive, effective
cleanup methods is developed, man-
agers who must decide whether to re-
store an aquifer face a series of difficult
decisions. Serious thought, good man-
agement skills, and a solid information
base are required. To meet these needs,
researchers at RSKERL are concentrat-
ing on two approaches to improve exist-
ing cleanup methods: they are examin-
ing ways of making restoration
techniques less expensive and more
easily applicable, and they are examin-
ing case histories of restoration efforts
to identify factors that influenced their
success or failure. From this base, they
are developing guidelines for decision-
making. Table 4 summarizes current re-
search projects at RSKERL. The full re-
port describes several other key insitu
aquifer cleanup projects.
Information Transfer and
Technical Assistance
Transmitting information about cur-
rent research to decision makers, field
managers, and the scientific community
is an important part of EPA's ground-
water research programs. New research
findings are communicated directly to
the scientific, technical, and manage-
ment community via information trans-
fer mechanisms such as articles, docu-
ments, symposia, conferences, and
training programs. In addition, ORD
staff offer technical assistance to a vari-
ety of sources (for example, EPA re-
gional and program offices, other fed-
eral and state agencies) to solve specific
environmental problems.
The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Re-
search Laboratory (RSKERL) conducts
many information transfer activities
and, in recent years, has provided tech-
nical assistance at over a dozen haz-
ardous waste field sites in nine states.
At the Environmental Monitoring Sys-
tems Laboratory (EMSL), technical sup-
port investigations and training in
geophysics are an important part of lab-
oratory activities. Hazardous Waste En-
gineering Research Laboratory
(HWERL) researchers provide scientific
information and analysis in support of
corrective actions at Superfund sites, as
well as producing a series of technical
handbooks on source control technol-
ogy in support of CERCLA, and technical
resource documents (TRDs) on specific
areas of landfill design. HWERL has also
recently established the Technical Infor-
mation Exchange (TIX), a specialized
reference center that provides state-of-
the-art information on hazardous waste
cleanup and emergency response tech
nology. In addition to its technical sup
port for the 1984 RCRA amendmen
land disposal banning rule, the Environ
mental Research Laboratory in Athens
Georgia (ERL-ATH) maintains the Cen
ter for Water Quality Modeling.
ORD also supports two centers tha
specialize in ground-water informatiot
transfer. The National Ground-Water In
formation Center (NGWIC) in Worthing
ton, Ohio, houses the world's larges
catalogued and retrievable collection o
ground-water literature, concentratini
on hydrogeology and water-well tech
nology. It contains more than 10,00'
volumes, including state publication?
technical reports, government docu
ments, maps, reference books, and re
lated literature, plus over 120 periodic*
subscriptions. The NGWIC maintains it
own computerized data base, with mor
than 35,000 references, and has the abi
ity to search two international retriev<
systems with access to over 150 add
tional data bases. The Internatiom
Ground Water Modeling Cente
(IGWMC) serving North, Central, an
South America, is located in Indian;
polis, Indiana. The Center, supports
largely by the EPA and in part by tr
Holcomb Research Institute at Butli
University, operates a clearinghouse f<
more than 600 ground-water model
organizes and conducts short coursi
and seminars, and conducts a researc
program on ground-water modeling.
second IGWMC office in Delft, tf
Netherlands, not directly supported I
EPA, serves Europe, Asia, Africa, at
Australia.
Synergism in Research: the
Stanford/Waterloo Project
Of necessity, ground-water r
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Table 3. Ground-Water Monitoring Research
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory—Las Vegas, NV
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory—Ada, OK
Area of Concern
Project Title
Purpose
Coals and Products
Monitoring and
Sampling
Geophysical Surveys of Haz-
ardous Waste Sites
Monitoring and
Sampling
Ground-Water Quality Protec-
tion from Injection Wells
Provide geophysical and geochemical monitor-
ing support to EPA regional offices and EPA's
Emergency Response Team for assessment of
CERCLA hazardous waste sites.
Test the mechanical integrity of injection wells.
Develop an overview of contamination cases as-
sociated with Class II and V injection wells.
• Meet RCRA land disposal reg-
ulations for ground-water de-
tection and compliance moni-
toring for contaminants
leaking from permitted facili-
ties.
• Provide cost-effective monitor-
ing techniques.
• Support remedial and removal
actions at CERCLA sites.
• Establish standard procedures
for the application of
geophysical and geochemical
techniques.
• Conduct geophysical surveys
on request.
• Provide technical support in
the implementation of Under-
ground Injection Control (UIC)
regulations.
Monitoring and
Sampling
Monitoring and
Sampling
Methods for Monitoring Well
Construction
Monitoring Ground Water
with Fiber Optics Technology
Monitoring and
Sampling
Unsaturated Zone Monitoring
for Hazardous Waste Sites
Monitoring and
Sampling
Geophysics
Well Construction and Sam-
pling for Ground-water Qual-
ity Analyses
Detection of Leachate Plumes
in Ground Water with
Geophysics
Assess alternative methods for constructing
monitoring wells to determine problems with
surface and subsurfce contamination; select and
field-test recommended monitoring options.
Evaluate the feasibility of performing
contaminant-specific ground-water monitoring
using fiber optics technology combined with
laser fluorescence spectroscopy.
Evaluate agricultural equipment and methods
for monitoring in the vadose zone to detect
leaching and percolation of pollutants from haz-
ardous wastes. Determine the relative effective-
ness of suction and gravity lysimeters.
Develop methods for constructing, completing,
and sampling ground-water monitoring wells to
obtain representative physical, chemical, and bi-
ological data.
Evaluate geophysical and geochemical methods
to detect and map organic and inorganic
leachate plumes at hazardous waste sites, em-
phasizing soil-gas sampling techniques for map-
ping organic plumes.
Determine and recommend
preferred well drilling and
sealing techniques to derive
accurate ground-water sam-
ples.
Develop methodology and
hardware to monitor organic
and Inorganic chloride con-
centrations.
Conduct field demonstration
to identify weaknesses in the
methodology.
Improve response time and
lower cost of monitoring tech-
nology.
Adapt existing technology to
meet RCRA regulations for
monitoring at permitted land
treatment or land farming dis-
posal areas.
Provide guidance for lysimeter
performance for permit
writers.
Develop technical resource
document on unsaturated
zone monitoring at hazardous
waste land treatment units.
Update manual for sampling
ground-water quality parame-
ters
Establish guidelines for the
number of sample points re-
quired to map a plume.
Develop quality assurance
guidelines for the calibration
of equipment and procedures
for mapping hazardous waste
sites.
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Tab/0 3. (Continued)
Area of Concern
Project Title
Purpose
Goals and Products
Provide guidance on the appli-
cation of geophysical and
geochemical techniques to
hazardous waste sites.
Recommend procedures for
hazardous waste site investi-
gations.
Geophysics
Downhole Sensing for Haz-
ardous Waste Site Monitoring
Geophysics
Interpretive Analysis
Geophysical Sensing of Fluid
Movement from Injection
Wells
Locating Abandoned Wells
with Historical Photographs
Interpretive Analysis
Indicator Methods for
Ground-Water Detection Mon-
itoring
Design, build, modify, and evaluate sensing
devices and methods used to obtain geohydro-
logic data from monitoring wells.
Map the migration of wastes from injection
wells at depths of 1,000+ feet at several field
sites, using the time-domain electromagnetic
method.
Identify abandoned oil and gas wells through
historical aerial photographs and verify by com-
parison with conventional records.
Determine parameters that indicate the presence
of hazardous constituents in ground water at
land disposal sites, using existing data from
Consent Decree, Super-fund, and RCRA site
monitoring files.
Develop new technology or
modify existing technology fa
typical small-diameter,
shallow-depth, plastic-cased
monitoring wells.
Develop procedural manual
for use by site operators and
regulatory personnel.
Make conference presenta-
tions on project efforts.
Assess the applicability of
time-domain EM technology
to meet Underground Injec-
tion Control (UIC) regulation
requirements.
Develop a technical transfer
report.
Assist EPA regional officials
examining large areas for
abandoned gas and oil wells
to comply with UIC regula-
tions.
Provide reports with area
maps indicating photo-
identified oil and gas well to
cations.
Evaluate performance of se-
lected indicator parameters.
Meet RCRA requirements fo
detection and compliance
monitoring as part of land c
posal ground-water monitoi
ing programs.
Identify "missed classes" o;
hazardous constituents.
Develop a short list of
parameters that are (1) reli-
able indicators of leakage, <
(2) inexpensive to measure.
searchers often examine discrete sub-
ject areas (for instance, dispersion in
certain immiscible fluids), and study
them on a small scale (for instance, in a
laboratory microcosm). Because
ground water is a complex subject, this
is often the best way to gain a clearer
comprehension of individual processes.
However, researchers must consider
whether the results of short-term, dis-
crete, small-scale studies will validly
translate to the long-term realities of
contaminant movement in ground
water. The question arises: How to take
the small pieces of the puzzle and fit
them into a larger, coherent whole?
In one effort to address this question,
ORD has sponsored the Stanford/
Waterloo project, an attempt to provide
new understanding of the long-term be-
havior of contaminants in ground
water. This project is an extramural ef-
fort monitored by the RSKERL labora-
tory and conducted jointly by Stanford
University and the University of Water-
loo, Ontario, Canada. It has two compo-
nents: a large-scale study of orga
contaminant transport, and an inve
gation of leachate from municipal Se
tary landfills. Each of these studies
described in detail in the full report.
Future Directions
Ground water presents a series
complex issues for study. Our indusl
society, with its plethora of chemi<
and by-products, combined with oui
verse topography, geohydrology,
climate, create an intricate matrix
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Table 4. In Situ Aquifer Cleanup Research
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory—Ada, OK
Area of Concern
Project Title
Purpose
Goals and Products
Case History/Cost-
Benefit Analysis
Case History/Cost-
Benefit Analysis
Technology
Technology
Technology
Technology
Methods for Protecting Public
Water Supplies from Existing
Ground-Water Contamination
Analysis of Cost-Effectiveness
of Aquifer Restoration Tech-
niques
Feasibility of Enhancing the In
Situ Biodegradation of Con-
taminants in Ground Water
Laboratory and Field Evalua-
tion of Methodology for In
Situ Aquifer Restoration
Simulated Aquifer Restoration
Monitoring the Development
of Active Subsurface Organ-
isms During Bioreclamation of
Polluted Aquifers
Determine cost-effectiveness and feasibility of
alternate aquifer cleanup methods by examining
social, political, institutional, and technical is-
sues in case studies.
Evaluate incremental benefits versus incremen-
tal costs of cleaning up a range of waste sites,
considering political, social, economic, and med-
ical issues, as well as cleanup effectiveness.
Detect the presence of plasmid DNA in ground-
water bacteria and evaluate the ability of
ground-water bacteria to act as hosts for
specific plasmid DNA associated with biodegra-
dation. Evaluate the behavior of the plasmids in
subsurface material.
Evaluate selected cleanup methods, including
physical removal, chemical treatment, and en-
hanced biodegradation for feasibility and cost-
effectiveness.
Test aquifer restoration methods under simu-
lated conditions by creating an artificial aquifer
that can be mathematically represented.
Evaluate existing methods for determining the
population sizes of bacterial groups that may be
used to biodegrade contaminants in aquifers.
• Provide states and localities
with methods of assessing
technology to protect public
water supplies.
• Determine the effectiveness of
various aquifer restoration
techniques.
• Develop hierarchical decision-
making set to determine "how
clean is clean?"
• Evaluate the feasibility of en-
hancing in situ biological
degradation of ground-water
contaminants.
• Develop cleanup protocols
using the results of the proj-
ect.
• Develop the process for aero-
bic degradation of TCE
(trichloroethylene) for use in
the field.
• Use artificial aquifer systems
to develop aquifer restoration
methods.
• Increase scientific information
that will lead to effective
bioreclamation techniques.
contamination scenarios. Physical and
chemical theories must be modified to
apply to variable and often inaccessible
conditions in the subsurface. The rela-
tive newness of ground-water investi-
gation, combined with its complexity,
point to several basic research priori-
ties:
• Identify and study major existing
and potential contamination
sources and agents.
• Invent and/or refine effective, inex-
pensive technology for monitoring
and sampling, source control, and
basic predictive research.
• Develop reliable mathematical
models to predict the movement
and transformation of contaminants
in ground water.
• Provide ground-water training for
EPA, state, and local officials.
• Transmit information quickly. The
time lag between the verification of
research findings and practical ap-
plication should be made as narrow
as possible.
To supplement these recommenda-
tions, Appendix A of the full report pre-
sents the principal findings and recom-
mendations by the Ground-Water
Research Review Committee of EPA's
Science Advisory Board. The commit-
tee's recommendation covers staffing,
the Superfund, accelerated research,
technology and training.
Ground-Water Research in
Other Federal Agencies
Several Federal agencies sponsor re-
search programs that examine ground-
water-related issues. The descriptions
of their research given in the full report
are not intended to be comprehensive
but rather to provide a general context
in which to place EPA's research pro-
grams. For more detailed information,
the reader should contact the specific
agencies mentioned.
The ground-water research of other
Federal agencies is summarized in
Table 5. EPA integrates its research ef-
forts with these other agencies through
joint projects, work groups, committee
participation, and informal information
exchange. The United States Geological
Survey (USGS) is the major Federal
agency doing ground-water research,
and receives the bulk of Federal fund-
ing. Since 1981, EPA has operated
under a general memorandum of
understanding (MOD) with the USGS.
As a result of EPS's Ground-Water Pro-
tection Strategy (of which the research
program are a part), an MOU specifi-
cally on ground water was signed in
June 1985. It addresses data collection
and technical assistance as well as re-
search coordination. Appendix B of the
full report describes in detail the re-
search programs listed in Table 5.
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Table S. Ground-Water Research In Other Federal Agencies
Research Category
Agency
Source
Control Prediction Monitoring Cleanup
Objective
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Department of Agricul-
ture
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Geological Survey
National Science Foundation'
U.S. Navy2
Tennessee Valley Authority
Develop methods for predicting the impact oi
Air Force activities on ground water.
Develop cost-effective ground-water pollutior
control and monitoring systems; provide en-
vironmental and health effects data on Army-
unique pollutants; develop environmental
management systems and data bases.
Provide basis for evaluating effects of
changes in agricultural techniques on
ground-water quality.
Provide information on mechanisms con-
tributing to transport and long-term fate of
energy-related contaminants in ground
water.
Provide research to describe, assess, and de
velop ground-water resources.
Perform basic research.
Provide data needed for assessing the signh
cance of potential Tennessee Valley ground-
water contamination sources and for pre-
venting and isolating contamination.
1 Fundamental researach will contribute to all areas, although it is not necessarily specifically directed toward ground-water projection.
^Program just beginning to be defined.
The EPA author Brana Lobel is with the Office of Environmental Processes and
Effects Research, Washington, DC 20460.
The complete report, entitled "EPA Ground-Water Research Programs,"(Order No.
PB 86-212 552/AS; Cost: $9.95, subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA author can be contacted at:
Office of Environmental Processes and Effects Research
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460
10
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