NGWA: 50 Years for the Future

Reaching the half-century mark for any organization is widely seen as an opportunity to reflect on the past and make plans for the future. The same is true for NGWA as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Originally formed in 1948 as the Temporary National Water Well Association, the organization's early goals were to bring together people in the ground water industry and to serve as the industry's information clearinghouse. Ed Hartley, a Massachusetts water well contractor and NGWA member since 1949, best explained this idea by saying, "Two heads are better than one, even though one may be a cabbage." Although dues were a real bargain in 1948, $10 for a regular membership, the founding fathers could only imagine the scope and sophistication of member benefits that NGWA provides today.

Since the Association's inception in 1948, its mission statement has changed to reflect the diverse needs of its membership. NGWA's mission as it readies itself for a new millennium is "to provide professional and technical leadership in the advancement of the ground water industry and in the protection, the promotion, and the responsible development and use of ground water resources."

NGWA hopes that all members join in the anniversary festivities as NGWA commemorates this important benchmark in its history and begins the countdown for the 1998 National Convention, to be held December 13-16 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Be on the lookout for "Anniversary Clips," interesting snippets of NGWA history, and for exciting programs and activities designed to thank you, our members. You never know; there may even be a few surprises along the way.

MTBE/Perchlorate Conference Set for June

June 3-4, 1998

Hyatt Regency Alicante, Anaheim, California

The NGWA Southwest Focused Ground Water Conference will discuss the issue of MTBE and perchlorate in ground water. Topics will include occurrence, fate and transport, remediation, laboratory analysis, regulatory and water purveyor issues, and human/environmental impacts. Speakers have been invited from industry, universities, local, state, and federal agencies, and the military. Talks will include proven and state-of-the-art knowledge/technologies. Please call NGWA at 1-800-551-7379 or click here for more details.

A second regional conference on another topic will be held in the Northeast. Watch for details.

AGWSE Student Membership Touted by All

As reported in the last issue of this newsletter, the AGWSE Board of Directors recommended that membership fees for full-time students be decreased from $48 to $25. The new dues structure became effective in January for new members and in March for renewing members. Membership fees for students were drastically cut to make membership in AGWSE, a division of the National Ground Water Association, even more affordable for interested students.

Full-time students in hydrology, geology, or engineering will be interested to learn that the benefits of student membership can be applied immediately to course work. For instance, AGWSE Division members receive the critically acclaimed bimonthly journal of Ground Water (a $200 value) and the quarterly Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation (a $70 value). Free access to the 77,000 record ground water database, Ground Water On-Line TM (a $100 value and handy research tool), is also provided to members. Discounts on NGWA courses, seminars, conferences, and bookstore purchases combine to make this an offer too good to refuse. In many instances, books needed for class may be purchased through the NGWA bookstore cheaper that at the campus bookstore.

The best spokesperson for AGWSE student membership, however, is actual members. Several AGWSE members with varying backgrounds and perspectives were interviewed by the editor in order to obtain a wide array of membership viewpoints. Their stories are told below.

University Professor

Dr. Jean Bahr is a professor in the department of geology and geophysics at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. An AGWSE member since 1987, Bahr tells her students that membership is "a good deal on a good journal (Journal of Ground Water)." Dr. Bahr also encourages her students to read Ground Water because of the relevant research results they will find and so they can "stay up to date on what professionals in the field are doing." "Starting to build a personal library," she adds, is another good reason to join."

Former Student Member, Current Individual Member

John H. Kramer, Ph.D., a senior hydrogeologist with Condor Earth Technologies, Inc.,

Sonora, California, believes that AGWSE membership is a "good deal for students." John should know. He joined the AGWSE division of NGWA as a student while "retooling for the environmental services boom of the late 1980s" and he remains an individual member today. "Returning to graduate school after an eleven year hiatus," he remembers, "I needed a fast-track window into the world of hydrogeology and environmental remediation. I found this in the journals of Ground Water (GW) and Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation (GWMR) and in the AGWSE-sponsored training conferences that I have used throughout my educational experience and subsequent consulting career. AGWSE enriched my professional maturation and it continues to be a factor in my professional growth. I believe that the student membership program is an important outreach to future professionals; they too will learn, grow, and reap the rewards from the flow of quality AGWSE information."

Employer

Lindmark Engineering is a ten-year-old environmental consulting firm specializing in assessment and remediation of contamination in both ground water and soil. Past and current clients range from individual small businesses to large industrial firms, school districts, and municipalities. Recently, the firm placed a job announcement for two staff engineers and a geologist on NGWA’s Web site. When asked if the company felt it was beneficial for students to become a member of NGWA, Mr. Ulf M. Lindmark, founder and president of the firm, responded by saying, "I think that membership in NGWA shows a candidate’s interest in our business and indicates a commitment to learning. These are definite pluses and something we look at very carefully in our hiring decisions."

Student Member

Bill Abrahams-Dematte, a geology graduate student at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island, joined as an AGWSE student member in 1996. Bill joined AGWSE because he likes receiving his own issues of GW and GWMR. He further explains his membership by adding, "Since GW is one of the few journals that deals exclusively with ground water, it’s a useful resource to have in order to augment your educational background." Additionally, being a member helps "keep you abreast of things going on and important resources for hydrogeology students." Abrahams-Dematte urges other students to "become a member if you’re interested in this field."

Student Member

Philip Jahnke is a graduate student at the University of Arizona and joined AGWSE as a student in 1991. He plans to continue his membership after graduation. He enjoys "receiving the journals on a regular basis" instead of relying on checking out copies from the library. "The publications are definitely worth getting, and the registration discounts are also beneficial, " Jahnke offered. Philip took advantage of the low student registration rate at last April’s Outdoor Action Convention in Las Vegas and says he "wouldn’t have attended the conference if I hadn’t qualified for the student member discount."

To become a student member of AGWSE today and take advantage of the low $25 price, either call the NGWA Membership Department at 1-800-551-7379, or click here for details.

Chairman’s Corner

Everything You Need to Know You Learned in College, Graduate School, and from NGWA by Thomas M. Johnson

There was a book several years ago whose title indicated that everything one needed to know was learned in kindergarten. Today’s ground water professionals, however, must also rely on all the training and skills they learned in college and graduate school to deal with the increasingly rapid changes that have occurred in business, government, information technology, and scientific knowledge. Fortunately, NGWA has been there to help us learn about new technologies, changing regulations, and advances in ground water science. Most importantly, NGWA has provided the opportunity for continued learning through the exchange of ideas.

Colleges and universities also face a difficult task preparing ground water scientists and engineers for careers in this changing multidisciplinary environment. It seems that ground water professionals are often expected to be experts in hydrogeology, chemical engineering, microbiology, organic chemistry, toxicology, and the Federal Register. While this may not be a realistic expectation, colleges and universities do provide the basic skills and education necessary to continue the learning process throughout one’s career.

Perhaps, we should recall some of the earliest ground water scientists who were neither hydrogeologists, engineers, biologists, nor chemists. Homer, Plato, and Aristotle were poets and philosophers who long ago wondered about the origin of springs. The concept of infiltration was first described by Vitruvius, a Roman architect. During the renaissance, the philosophers Decartes and Kepler further considered the origins of ground water, while Mariotte, considered the "father of hydrology," was a physicist in 17^th century France. Even Perrault, who developed the concept of the hydrologic cycle, was an attorney.

Today, we not only have numerous outstanding university ground water programs to train us to be chemists, engineers, or hydrogeologists; we also have an unparalleled source of continuing learning and education in NGWA. All of us look forward to receiving the journals, recognized as the premiere scientific forums for ground water knowledge. Many of us have attended (or taught) NGWA short courses on a wide variety of short courses, such as ground water monitoring and sampling, hydraulic testing, ground water modeling, and remediation technologies. I’m also sure that most of us have attended NGWA conferences, with their often-stimulating presentations and opportunities to meet colleagues and continue lifelong friendships.

Like many such organizations, NGWA is facing significant challenges. However, recognizing its unique role in continuing education, NGWA has been making important changes. The Association has hired Dr. Dennis Goldman to serve as its new Science and Education Counsel. NGWA’s Internet services now provide direct access to Ground Water On-Line and the NGWA Bookstore, as well as information regarding employment opportunities and numerous other member services. While the Outdoor Action Conference will not be held in 1998, there will be new regional focus conferences, beginning in June 1998 in Anaheim, California, focusing on the issues of MTBE and perchlorate in ground water. We can also look forward to the Las Vegas Annual Technical Meeting and Convention in 1998 celebrating NGWA’s 50^th anniversary.

While it has been many years since some of us graduated from college, NGWA has been an important part of our continuing learning process. With the development of increasingly relevant programs and services and the involvement of its members, NGWA will continue to be the most important source of information for all ground water professionals.

NGWA's Web Site Far Reaching

At a fall NGWA short course in Boston, Massachusetts, NGWA was pleased to learn that one of the participants learned about our educational offerings through a colleague and was able to quickly access further course information by visiting our Web site. Hamed Naseeb, a professional hydrogeologist with the Kuwati Institute for Scientific Research, believes that NGWA's short courses are a "great way to augment your professional resume" and that the web site provides a fast and inexpensive link to ground water-related information. An additional bonus to Internet travelers from afar is that the World Wide Web never closes and is not subject to those pesky time-zone changes.

WWW Links

The following links to ground water-related Internet sites are provided

for the benefit of the AGWSE membership. No particular endorsement of these sites by

NGWA is intended or implied.

http://news.wateronline.com/regulatory-articles/19971008-7.html This is a section of the Water Online Web site that provides the latest news from the EPA and Capitol Hill and how it affects the water industry.

Contributions Wanted

Please send any URL addresses that might be of interest to the AGWSE membership to the newsletter editor (E-mail: ) for review and possible inclusion in this column.

New Legislation Hopefully Makes Borrowing Money Easier

The U.S. Congress passed legislation in September of 1996 that has the potential to make loans easier to obtain for industry. The Asset Conservation, Lender Liability, and Deposit Insurance Protection Act of 1996 provides safe harbors for lenders and fiduciaries with regard to facilities and "vessels" (commonly known as sites) under Superfund, and to underground storage tanks (UST) regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

This new law offers protection for financial institutions’ fiduciary entities with environmental liability and should allow flexibility to enter loan and fiduciary arrangements on industrial properties. Industries should find that fewer loans are rejected or classified due to environmental reasons, and it should become easier to deed industrial properties to trustees, should the law work as the Congress intended. Let’s take a look at what is included in this law.

Protections for lending institutions:

The Superfund and UST standards and requirements for lenders are similar. Participation in the management of sites under Superfund and UST must be avoided. Specifically, under Superfund sites, the lending institution must avoid decision-making. Control that reaches a degree where responsibility for the borrower’s hazardous substance handling and\or disposal cannot occur so that the lending institution is adequately protected. For sites involving underground storage tanks, the lender must not have "undertaken responsibility for all for substantially all of the management" of the UST or the UST system.

The law effectively adopts a 1992 EPA rule that laid out options available to lenders with respect to contaminated sites under Superfund that could be exercised without the lender assuming liability.

Because lenders now have a clear test to avoid previous assumed liability problems, this law should make lenders open to lending and potentially more aggressive in seeking loan opportunities. In addition, because of the new protections, lenders will no longer ignore problem loans because of potential environmental issues. As the law relates to fiduciaries, these changes allow industries to place more assets into trusts and other fiduciary arrangements. The intent of the Congress was to reduce environmental risks to those making loans and financial commitments in the environmental arena and to make loans more plentiful and financial planning easier. The lawmakers assumed that lending institutions would continue environmental scrutiny, however, in order to ascertain a borrower’s potential liability and collateral. Hopefully this will be the case. Let us hear from you if you have experience with this new law and its effects.

ASBOG Annual Meeting Recap

by Dr. Dennis Goldman, NGWA Science & Education Counsel

The annual meeting of the Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) was held October 22-25, 1997, in Madison, Wisconsin. The first two days of the annual meeting involved peer review of the ASBOG exam. One of the primary efforts of ASBOG has been the development of an exam to determine basic competence of a geologist wishing to become registered. The exam is divided into two parts: fundamentals of geology and practice of geology. The exam questions are generated, reviewed, and rated as to difficulty by professionals. These questions are put into a data base by geologic specialty (e.g., ground water). Each exam is made up of a selection of questions proportioned by geologic specialty from the data base. Thus, each exam has different questions. Each exam is scored by the "criteria reference procedure." This procedure accounts for the rated difficulty of the test questions. ASBOG does not intend to provide a study guide or recommended references, due to possible conflicts of interest. However, they do have an internet Web site that provides the general makeup of the test (e.g., number and type of questions from each geologic specialty) and provides example test questions. The current Web site address is http://www.geosun1.sjsu.edu/asbog, however, the Web site address will be changed (date unknown) to http://www.asbog.org. Note that there are commercial companies that provide an independent review for taking the ASBOG exam.

ASBOG also provides a forum for sharing information of common concern and experiences learned. Some of the items discussed at the annual meeting included potential impacts of American Standards and Testing Methods on professional geologic judgement, criteria for registration between the various states (e.g., formal education and work experience, testing, and grandfathering), professional ethics (including sharing of violation information between states), reciprocity, providing the ASBOG exam as a exit/competency exam from universities, and making ASBOG a clearinghouse for geologists wanting to be registered in any member state. Many of these issues were discussed, but no formal position taken.

Each of the member states provided state-specific issues and experiences. Of special note was the state of Wyoming has changed their geologic registration act to a practice act; the state of Oregon Board is semi-privatized (four-year test), and is looking at hydrogeologic certification; the state of California is looking into (1) changing scoring of their registration exam to the "criteria reference procedure," and (2) adopting a code of ethics that is enforceable; and the state of Wisconsin Board licensing requirements has been challenged by soil scientists and environmental hydrologists (local Wisconsin school degree). Further details by state can be obtained from ASBOG at P.O. Box 11591, Columbia, SC 29211-1591. ASBOG's e-mail address is 102667.2674@compuserve.com.

ASBOG promotes reciprocity of registration and licensure throughout the United States through an equalization of registration and licensing requirements. Registration is now required in 25 states, 17 states are members of ASBOG, and 13 states now use the ASBOG exam.

Recent Additions to Geologist Registration/Definition Laws

Kansas

Grandfathering period ends July 1, 2000.

Board of Technical Professions

900 SW Jackson, Rm 507

Topeka, KS 66612-1257

785/296-3053

Minnesota

Grandfather period ends August 5, 1998

612/296-2388

Mississippi

Grandfather period ends December 31, 1998

Rick Ericksen

Office of Geology

P.O. Box 20307

Jackson, MS 39289-1307

601/961-5507

Wyoming

Grandfather period ends June 30, 1998

Wyoming Board of Professional Geologists

P.O. Box 3008

Laramie, WY 82071

307/766-2490

e-mail: wbrpg@wsgs.uwyo.edu

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Note: state laws and regulations are constantly changing; please check with the appropriate government agencies prior to undertaking work in any state.

Chart Your Business’s Future Course Today

Ground Water Industry Legislative Conference

March 10-11, 1998 Washington, D.C.

Receive personal briefings on the "hot federal legislative issues" affecting the industry. Promote ground water and your profession in visits with Congressional members. There is strength in numbers – please plan to attend. Sponsored by the National Ground Water Association. For more information, call NGWA at 1-800-551-7379; fax 614-898-7786, attn. Chris.

1998 Darcy Lecture

Dr. Sherwood-Lollar, University of Toronto, will present the 1998 Henry Darcy Distinguished Lecture, "Stable Carbon Isotopes: Tools for Detection of the Origin and Fate of Environmental Contaminants." The lecture will provide both graduate and undergraduate students with an introduction to environmental isotopes and the latest technical developments in the application of isotope geochemistry to contaminant hydrogeology. The lecture covers both the scientific basis for using isotopes to trace the source and fate of contaminants as well as the implications for monitoring protocols and remediation schemes. Look for the lecture presentation schedule on NGWA’s Web site, www.ngwa.org, or on Fax-on-Demand, 1-888-440-NGWA, international callers dial 202-274-4506, and plan to attend!

Special Priced Case Studies Going Fast

The response to our offer of the 1995 Outdoor Action Conference (OAC) and Exposition Proceedings for $19, a $75 value, was outstanding. Order now and have it shipped in the United States for free. This publication is a compilation of 45 case studies on soil and ground water remediation presented at the 1995 OAC. There are still a few copies of the proceedings still available, so order yours today while they last.

Features of the Month

SESOIL in Environmental Fate and Risk Modeling

Edited by Marc Bonazountas, David M. Hetrick, Paul T. Kostecki, and Edward J. Calabrese.

A series of papers published in 1997 on applications using SESOIL, the EPA’s computer program that predicts the fate and transport of chemicals in soils and the unsaturated zone. A perfect reference to accompany National Ground Water Education Foundation’s course on Risk-Based Soil and Ground Water Clean-up. Catalog # T557 Member: $57 Nonmember: $67

CD-ROM of Ground Water Modeling

Evaluate more than 125 software packages related to ground water modeling and geochemistry, including BIOPLUME II and MODFLOW, as well as models from the EPA, USGS, and the Internet. Install only the models you want. If you are a ground water modeler, you cannot afford to be without this powerful new CD.

Catalog # X730 Member: $229 Nonmember: $249

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Call the NGWA Bookstore at 800-551-7379 for more information, or order items on-line at the NGWA Web site (www.ngwa.org).

Guest Editorial

Outlook Brightens for Certain Kinds of Environmental Careers

By Jean Parvin

Editor’s Note: This article, shortened for purposes of this newsletter, is reprinted with permission from the October 20, 1997, issue of Engineering News-Record.

After several dismal years, the market for environmental engineers, scientists, and other professionals seems to be gently warming. It may never feel the red-hot passion of the 1980s, but neither do things seem quite as bleak as in the first half of the 1990s. Credit for that goes not to increased regulatory pressures, but to a better economy which is loosening employer’s purse strings, at least a bit.

The large hazardous waste remediation sector remains sluggish, but private industry, consultants, and government all recognize their need for continuing environmental services. In some cases, they seem to be enlarging their staffs after years of belt-tightening.

"I’ve seen a pickup since November 1996," says Richard Fiore, division manager for environmental health and safety at Search Consultants International, a recruiter based in Houston, Texas. "For several years companies were cutting to the bone. In some cases they over cut, and they finally realized that their people were burning out or quitting and needed more help. In addition, the economy is good and they have the money now to hire."

Gail Fulwider, vice president, human resources, Air and Water Technologies (AWT), sees solid prospects in certain market segments. "Job opportunities in traditional areas such as hazardous waste consulting and remedial work are rather limited," she says. "But there is demand in growth areas such as water and waste water." She expects to hire about 100 new employees for her environmental consulting firm over the next year.

The needs of government agencies can vary somewhat from those in industry. In South Florida, for instance, the massive Everglades restoration and construction project is creating lots of new jobs for scientists and engineers. Linda Starr, senior employment representative for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), which is overseeing the project, is looking for specialists in limnology, aquatic ecology, civil engineering, and computer modeling.

While the news about job openings is heartening, trends in salaries may not be, except at the entry level, where beginning salaries may equal those earned by people with three to five years’ experience. "I see more salary compensation, with salaries increasing at the bottom end, but not at the top," says Fiore. "There are a lot of employees making $50,000 to $80,000, and then it drops off."

How do employers find the experienced environmental pros they need? There is no single answer. Linda Starr of SFWMD relies heavily on print advertising – classified ads in a local newspaper for entry-level jobs; professional magazines for higher level positions. Her agency also is building a Web site (www.sfwmd.gov) which is already posting openings and receiving resumes.

Gail Fulwider, meanwhile, finds AET’s bonus program for employees encourages referrals – her favorite source of high-quality candidates, though she uses a variety of methods, including her company’s Web site. "I do think the Web site is very effective," she says. "If I were going to rank all the recruiting methods, I would place it second behind networking and referrals."

Looking ahead, recruiters and employers alike offer advice for those who want careers in the environmental field. Fulwider stresses developing a variety of skills: technical, project management, working with clients. Don Deieso, president and chief executive officer of EA Engineering, Science & Technology, Inc., encourages engineers and scientists to learn two or three languages, and acquire business and project management experience. Fiore, the recruiter, recommends that engineers be sure to obtain the Professional Engineer (P.E.) license and, if they want to succeed at higher levels of management or consulting, to try to earn a master’s degree in business administration as well.

"For those young people contemplating a career in this field, I say come on in," Deiso said. "Environmental issues are now part of every operating decision at every facility around the world. This industry is far from dead. It’s an exciting place to be."

Membership Update

Don’t Miss Out!

NGWA’s Membership Department reminds all members to renew in a timely fashion in order to maintain all current journal subscriptions. If your renewal payment is received late, important membership benefits such as access to Ground Water On-Line and all journal subscriptions will lapse.

The purchase price for journal back issues has recently increased considerably, because of increased storage, shipping, and handling costs incurred by the publisher, making prompt renewal even more important. NGWA offers several choices for membership payment - through the mail, by faxing renewal forms with credit card information, or calls to the NGWA membership department to renew over the phone.

1997 Campaign Wrap Up

The 1997 NGWA Member-Recruit-a-Member (MRAM) campaign gained a grand total of 101 new members. This number represents a high NGWA member-participation rate, as compared to other nonprofit membership organizations.

Congratulations to the Following MRAM Winners Craig Hutchinson, Washington D.C., who will be cruising the Caribbean in 1998

Joel Stavens, Willington, Connecticut, who will soon be redeeming $50 in Hertz rental certificates

Jan Erik Sorlie, Oslo, Norway, who will be proudly wearing his new NGWA logo shirt

Thanks to all the NGWA recruiters and new members who contributed to 1997's successful program. Watch future issues for news on this year's exciting membership drive.

New Members

Eric Silva; Felix Wang; Carroll E. Baker; Robert Yost; Allen J. Schlag; Michael Burnett; Matias Carrera-Delgado; Alan M. Robinson; Pete Poynter; Ron Eckert; Jeff Balmer; Shawn Frape; Gijs Breeveld;Audun Hauge; Per Kolstad; Kristen Chardo; Jeffrey McKenzie; Charlene Fawcett; Eric Wilson; Peter Szabo; Eric T. Vogler; Steve L Walters Sr.; Sherwood Shoemaker; Geneva Roland; Paul Roland; M. S. Morris; C. M. Stoner; Erik Kleiman; Paul Langer; Karl Steiner; Daron Abbey; Dennis Batts; Theresa M. Barber; Calvin Johnson Jr.; Tina Parson; David Watkins; Frederick Paillet

Recruiters

Larry K. Brannaka; Christine L. Vilardi; Raymond Young, Jr.; Joseph Armstrong; Jeffrey Cawlfield; David Rudolph; Hooman Heravi; Craig Hutchinson; J.R. Ham; Scott Korom; Aladdin Shaikh; Abraham Springer; Michel Tetreault; Peter Thibodeau; Gary Vargas; Barclay Woodward; Diana Allen; Porky Cutter; Blair Greenly; Noel Krothe; W. F. Nash; Donald Podsen; Donald Siegel; George Dasher; Joe Goebel; Harry Kleiman; Gerald Sherman; Bill Stoner; James John; Jan Erik Sorlie

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