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Sample Newsletter of the Association of Ground Water Scientists and Engineers
April - May 1996
Emerging Opportunities in Ground Water: Are You Ready
Considerable emphasis has been placed on ground water cleanup technologies, methods, and regulations over the past decade. In fact, NGWA has focused on ground water quality issues since the early 1980s with the advent of a new periodical, Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation and the Outdoor Action Conference. But that all may be changing, or perhaps it has changed.
"A lot will be happening in water resource management in the coming decade and ground water will undoubtedly be impacted," speculates James Goodrich, executive director of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, and chairman of the 1996 AGWSE national education program. "This conference is first designed to frame us for the changes that will be coming."
The program "Emerging Opportunities in Ground Water: Are You Ready" speakers will be invited and representative of recognized experts within the ground water industry, as well as related areas and professions. The invited speaker program sessions are:
- "Trends in the Ground Water Industry"
Moderator: James Goodrich, Executive Director of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority
- "Aquifer Management"
Moderator: Mario Lluria, Sr. Principal Geohydrologist, Salt River Project
- "Ground Water Recharge"
Moderator: Herman Bouwer, U.S. Water Conservation Water Laboratory
- "Ground Water Policy & Law"
Moderator: Art Kidman, Attorney, McCormick, Kidman & Behrens
- "Conjunctive Use and Ground Water Management"
Moderator: William R. Mills, General Manager, Orange County Water District
- "The Future of Ground Water Modeling"
Moderator: David Chamberlin, Sr. VP, Camp, Dresser & McKee, Inc.
- "Future of Contaminant Management"
Moderator: Doug Mackay, University of Waterloo
The program will begin to shift the focus of ground water professionals attention back to water quantity issues, Goodrich explains. In short, by identifying the quantity problems looming in our not-to-distant future, employment opportunities for the early part of the 21st century may be identified and the industry can begin preparing for the changes some are predicting are inevitable.
Poster presentations will be an integral and essential portion of the program. Presenters will be invited from those candidates who submit the "Call for Poster Presenters" application and are selected by the AGWSE Review Committee to present their poster. Poster presentations will be presented for two days in the NGWA Exhibit Hall to provide the maximum exposure for the presenter. Mario Lluria, senior Principal geohydrologist, Salt River Project and 1996 Poster Presenter chairman, suggests that post er presenters be challenged and to prepare poster complementary to the program topics of:
- Will ground water basins contaminated in the 20th Century recover in the 21st?
- What will be the new role of federal, state and local resource management agencies with regard to ground water?
- What changes have to be made to our higher education and research programs to support the ground water industry of the future?
- Where is the computer age taking the ground water industry?
Plan now to attend the 1996 AGWSE National education program, offered in conjunction with the NGWA Annual Convention & Exposition, December 8-11, 1996, at Las Vegas, Nevada. Watch for registration information in future issues of this newsletter or call NGWA (800-551-7379) and register today at special express discount rates.
The Darcy Lecture Experiences
During 1995, I had the privilege of giving the Henry Darcy Distinguished Lecture. I was thrilled to follow the footsteps of eight previous lecturers whom I respect and admire. I am grateful to AGWSE for sponsoring the lectures, to all the hosts and host institutions for their hospitality, and especially to the U.S. Geological Survey for allowing me to undertake the lecture travel as part of my work duties.
I visited altogether 57 institutions (mostly universities) - 44 in the United States, 4 in Canada, 6 in Europe and 3 in South Africa. These visits gave me an overview of current research and education in the ground water field. In this short article, I draw some general observations from my Darcy Lecture experience. Because these observations are based more on impressions than on quantitative data, they probably are neither representative nor entirely accurate.
In most universities, ground water research and education are housed in either the geology department or the civil engineering department. Prior to my Darcy Lecture travels, I had the notion that the split is about 50/50. Therefore, I was surprised that nearly 90 percent of my lectures were hosted by geology departments. I am not sure what to make of this statistic. Perhaps the lecture topic (flow and transport in fractured crystalline rocks) drew grater interest among geologists. Then again, perhaps the statistic reflects an increasing realignment of geology departments towards the water/environment field in recent years.
While there are several large and well known ground water programs at North American universities, most of the universities I visited had relatively small programs, consisting of one or two faculty members with ground water expertise and perhaps up to ten graduate students. In itself, such a program might appear somewhat limited. However, such an assessment fails to properly acknowledge the multi-disciplinary nature of the ground water field. Increasingly, I see the ground water hydrologist forging st rong ties with specialists in related fields such as chemistry and biology. The telecommunication revolution has made it feasible to routinely carry out collaborative work among researchers at different locations. Students, too, are often able to participate in joint projects with other universities. Further developments in these areas will undoubtedly enhance the ground water profession and the educational process.
Career opportunity in the ground water/environmental field appears sound, although not as attractive as it was the last decade. Many faculty members believe that the job market today is close to saturation, so students have to search harder, sell themselves better, and consider geographic locations that might not rank as their top choice. Nonetheless, nearly all the faculty members said that their students were able to find employment in the ground water/environmental field upon graduation or soon afte r graduation. At the same time, there is the realization that work in the environmental field is strongly driven by government regulations, and the uncertainty in environmental legislation translates to an uncertainty in the future job market.
My trip to Europe taught me the importance looking beyond one's backyard. Living in a huge country such as the United States, it is easy to adopt the attitude that "we have everything we need." Visiting European universities exposed me to new and exciting developments in areas such as computer modeling, stochastic analysis, karst hydrology, and field methods. And of course, many important advances on flow and transport in fractured crystalline rocks stemmed from studies at underground research facili ties in Europe. Closer ties between American and European professional associations could improve communication and exchange of ideas across the ocean.
My final three lectures were delivered in South Africa, a land of great beauty, but not without its share of social problems. The scenery of mountains and oceans in the Cape Town area will be forever seared in my memory. The South African government has embarked on a program of rural water development for the nation. Talking with hydrologists there, one cannot but appreciate the value of clean water - something most of us take for granted in this country. When I think of my Darcy Lecture experience, South Africa will always stand out as a highlight.
It is also a reminder of something that is easy to forget in my day-to-day work - that the essence of our profession is service to our fellow human kind.
ASBOG Meets at Jackson Hole
The National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) conducted an examination, development and review workshop in conjunction with their 6th Annual Meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, October 10-14, 1995. Thirteen states are now full members of the Association and several other states that have new registration programs have indicated an interest in joining. The ASBOG national exam is available for all member states.
Two examinations are given each year - usually in April and October. The total number of candidates taking the exam this year were 399. Workshops have been conducted after each examination in order to validate and rate new questions. The validation process will continue until all questions available for the examinations have been verified and rated. Test questions are related to tasks performed by professional geologists.
During the summer of 1995 Drs. Jack and Steven Warner, testing specialists for ASBOG, conducted a tasks analysis study. A questionnaire was sent to over 2200 geologists across the nation. The geologists were asked to evaluate the amount of time spent performing various tasks and the importance of these tasks in protecting the public health, safety and welfare. The response rate was over 55 percent and the degree of consistency in the practice of geology across the nation proved to be 98 percent. This study verifies that the ASBOG test base (Task Statements) reflects critical aspects of the profession and is valid for testing and evaluation of competency in the practice of geology.
The success of the examinations can be attributed to the vision of ASBOG and the Arizona Board of Technical Registration, and the dedication of the professional geologists (subject-matter experts) who have spent many hours in the development and frequent review of the examinations.
NGWA is an affiliate member of ASBOGGround Water Industry Events & News
The International Conference on Evapotransporation and Irrigation Scheduling will take place November 3-6, 1996, in conjunction with The Irrigation Association Exposition at the Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. Additional details available by contacting Susan Buntjer, at 616-428-6327.
NGWA is a member of the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium. This is a group, primarily made up of utility companies, is working to promote further use of geothermal energy. NGWA's new headquarters is heated and cooled with close loop geothermal system.Horizontal Drilling and Wells
Originally developed for petroleum extraction in vertically inaccessible areas, directional and horizontal wells now allow remediation wells to be placed in direct contact with contaminant plumes in previously unreachable areas. More and more remedial systems are incorporating directional wells to increase efficiency and reduce the overall number of wells being drilled (saving money and time).
The NGWA Bookstore Catalog offers "Horizontal Drilling and Wells," an anthology of 32 articles with abstracts on horizontal drilling, horizontal wells, or the use of horizontal wells in aquifer rehabilitation. The price is $25 for members and $31.25 for non-members, plus postage and handling. Consult the NGWA Bookstore Catalog or call NGWA (800-551-7379) to order.
Come see how directional drilling is done and how you might be able to use it at Outdoor Action Conference, May 13-15, 1996, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Outdoor Action
Don't miss the 10th Annual Outdoor Action Conference, coming up May 13-15, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dozens of indoor and outdoor workshops, paper presentations, and a exposition will cover the latest topics in aquifer remediation, ground water monitoring, geophysical methods, and soil treatment. New this year is an Environmental Software Showcase, a specialized exposition focusing on software for environmental applications. If you haven't already made plans to attend this unique, informative event, t hen hurry and call NGWA at (800) 551-7379 to register and get lodging information.
Still want to exhibit at Outdoor Action?
If you want to exhibit at Outdoor Action and haven't arranged space yet, please call Alice Vickerman at (800) 551-7379 to see if space is still available.
Plan to attend one or more NGWA short courses during June.
- Subsurface 3D Data Management, Visualization and Analysis for Site Assessment and Remediation
June 3-5, 1996, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Using the latest desk top computer tools for environmental site restoration, attendees will learn to properly collect data and analyze and present subsurface data in 2D and 3D formats.
- Principles of Ground Water -- Flow, Transport, and Remediation
A foundational NGWA course providing the background hydrogeological knowledge and fundamental technical skills necessary to pursue more advanced topics in ground water.
- Application of Health Risk Assessment for Environmental Decision Making
June 25-26, 1996, Baltimore, Maryland
The hand-calculations in this course will sharpen your skills at calculating exposure and risk at contaminated sites and help you to develop cleanup levels in a cost-effective manner.
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- Risk Assessment for the Environmental Professional: Contaminant Fate and Transport Modeling Using API Decision Support Software
June 27-28, 1996, Baltimore, Maryland
Attendees will learn and use all modules of DSS, including vadose zone transport (SESOIL, Jury and VADSAT unsaturated zone models), AT123D for ground water transport, and emissions into air (Farmer's, Cowherd, Box and Gaussian dispersion).
- 1996 NGWA National Convention and Exposition
Mark your calendar to attend the 1996 NGWA National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Workshop and seminars, a two-day trade exposition, membership meeting and events, and NGWA governance functions.
NGWA in Washington
The House and the Senate recessed after a brief spat of activity the beginning of January and very early February. While the Senate passed important farm legislation before recess, all other activity will remain relatively quiet in Washington, D.C. before the spring session of activity, primarily March and April. Although talks were stalled during February on reaching a seven-year balanced budget agreement, glimmers of hope were emerging that a bipartisan agreement could possibly be reached and signed by the President to balance the budget by 2002.
Even if the President continues to block a bipartisan agreement on a balanced budget plan, funding for unsigned FY-96 appropriations bills will need to be resolved. As of today (February 20) six of the annual thirteen FY-96 appropriations bills have not yet been signed, including the one funding the U.S. EPA. Assuming the President remains unwilling to sign these bills, funding for these programs and agencies will have to be provided through alternative bills, such as a continuing resolution, an omnib us appropriations bill, or targeted appropriations measures.
Although it is impossible to predict exactly what issues will be debated during the remaining period of the second session of the 104th Congress, we have attempted to outline what issues will likely see action during 1996. Republicans have placed a high priority on reforming the Superfund program, and are continuing to fine-tune a proposal to overhaul the entire program. An emphasis on protecting the environment and directing more money to actual site clean up are cornerstones of discussions. Debate continues regarding the level of repeal acceptable in the "retroactive liability" provisions of the program. Anticipation remains positive that completion will be accomplished regarding Superfund reform. In a letter to the Congressional leadership, NGWA has called on Congress to move the Superfund debate forward.
With regard to OSHA reform, H.R. 1834, sponsored by Representative Cass Ballenger (R-NC), currently has more than 150 cosponsors. This reform bill adds new emphasis to consultation and training, adds fairness to the inspection process, eliminates the quota mentality for issuing fines, and reforms the regulatory process based on the Contract with America's regulatory reforms. Subcommittee and full Committee markup is anticipated in March and April and attention and emphasis has turned now to the Senate where organized labor is focusing many resources and influence.
The House will likely follow the Senate's bipartisan action on Safe Drinking Water legislation and pass a strong bill with hearings and markup to be held in early spring. Despite rumors that Senate Environment and Public Works Committee staff are circulating titles of Clean Water Act revisions, Dutko staff and several Hill sources have not seen any language. Leaders of the Clean Water Coalition describe such discussions as "hopeful." Senate aides confirm that Chairman Chafee is planning hearings on the Clean Water Act, a bill he describes as "one of the greatest success stories in environmental legislation in the last twenty years." While the House-passed version has received stinging attacks from environmental groups, the bill passed with a large bipartisan coalition and support from state and local governmental groups as well as industry. Prospects for completion in 1996 remain clouded and unsure.
Other legislation of interest may include a small limited tax provision bill, legislation intended to end gender and racial based set asides and preferential treatment in the government contracting process as well as product liability reform and hopeful resolution on the line item veto currently stalled in conference committee. Finally, with the comprehensive regulatory reform bill currently stalled in the Senate, the House, in an effort to jump-start the process, may take up a new regulatory reform bi ll which combines many aspects which previously passed the House as well as provisions relating to Congressional review, administrative review, the Regulatory Flexibility Act and regulatory impact analysis.
USEPA proposed establishing constituent-specific exit levels for low-risk solid wastes that are designated as hazardous because they are listed, or have been mixed with, derived from, or contain listed hazardous waste. Under the December 21, 1995 Federal Register proposal, generators of listed hazardous wastes that meet the self-implementing exit levels would not longer be subject to the hazardous waste management system of RCRA Subtitle C. NGWA's RCRA Task Force developed comments on the proposal. A copy is available by contacting, Chris Reimer, NGWA, 800/551-7379, extension 560. A proposal addressing media containing hazardous waste is expected in March 1996.
A recent report by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory minimizing the dangers from leaking underground fuel tanks prompted the California Water Resources Board to curtail its decade-long cleanup program. After an 18-month study reviewing 1,500 contaminated sites, the report stated that in most cases subsurface organisms and natural processes degrade fuel hydrocarbons and other toxins before they can pollute ground water sources, and the removal happens at approximately the same rate as technology . Some officials of the state's nine regional offices believe the report was narrowly focused and looked at contaminants in only one of several types of soil. They also believe that the decision to replace cleanup operations at sites more than 250 feet from drinking water wells with monitoring will close sites before they have sufficient information about the dangers to water sources. NGWA's Outdoor Action Conference will have a session focusing on the report, the reaction to date in California and pot ential impacts to the industry of this bellwether state's action. With Spring approaching and the smell of election year politics in the air, many items of importance face uncertain futures in the politically charged and acrimonious atmosphere which exists in Washington.
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