Please submit reservation by Friday, May 11, 2012
GRA San Francisco Bay Area Branch
Dinner Meeting
RSVP For This Event
(Register early due to room size limit of 70 participants)
1,4-Dioxane in America's Groundwater – What to Expect
Mr. Thomas Mohr
GRA Past President and 1,4-Dioxane Book Author
PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS
Since his book on 1,4-dioxane was published in 2010, a flurry of inquiries, research, and debates have revealed new realizations about the ubiquity of 1,4-dioxane and defined the regulatory path for this very mobile and recalcitrant groundwater contaminant. Mohr will profile what he calls 'contaminant archeology' – how the uses of solvents dictate the composition and subsurface fate of solvent waste – and some of the unique and surprising sources of 1,4-dioxane contamination that he has discovered. Mohr asserts in his book that 1,4-dioxane was a stabilizer of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) but not of trichloroethylene (TCE); yet, the Air Force recently published a study (Anderson et al, 2012) showing that 64% of groundwater samples in which 1,4-dioxane was detected at 49 Air Force installations had TCE as the only other detected solvent. Can both be right?
Mohr's book profiles the usage of dozens of other solvent stabilizer compounds and assesses which may be sufficiently concentrated, persistent, mobile, and toxic to warrant consideration at groundwater cleanup sites or be useful in forensic investigations. In 2011, a team of six researchers working for the Danish EPA published a similar study. How well do the results agree, and why are there differences?
The holy grail in 1,4-dioxane remediation is passive or enhanced bioremediation, which remains elusive under ambient conditions, even though baited bio-traps set in Tucson's Air Force Plant 44 six-mile 1,4-dioxane plume conclusively show intrinsic biodegradation. Mohr will discuss possible enhancements that if workable would make bioremediation of 1,4-dioxane more effective and acceptable to regulators. He will also share his updated analysis of several state and national databases used to forecast the likely rates of detection that testing 30,000+ water systems using EPA Method 522 for low-level 1,4-dioxane will reveal under the 3rd Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Requirements beginning in 2013.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
| Thomas Mohr works at the Santa Clara Valley Water District where he is a Senior Hydrogeologist managing groundwater monitoring programs and salt and nutrient management planning. His independent study of 1,4-dioxane began after the publication of the District's Solvent Stabilizers White Paper, which generated many inquiries and dialogs and ultimately led to his six year personal quest to prepare his book, "Environmental Investigation and Remediation: 1,4-Dioxane and Other Solvent Stabilizes" (CRC Press, 2010). Mohr has published on the use of solid phase extraction for 1,4-dioxane analysis (now used in EPA Method 522), on perchlorate isotope investigations, on cataloging and prioritizing investigation of past cdry cleaner operations, on differentiating sources of nitrate using stable isotopes of water, and on anaerobic bioremediation of gasoline compounds. He previously worked as Environmental Engineering Coordinator for the City of Sunnyvale, and Senior Hydrogeologist for the County of Yolo. Mohr was GRA's President in 2006 and 2007, and served as a Director on GRA's Board for 10 years. |  |
LOCATION
Spenger's - Fresh Fish Grotto
1919 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
510-845-7771
DIRECTIONS
From San Francisco and points south:
- Take I880 to I80 east towards Berkeley/Sacramento.
- Take University Avenue off-ramp and stay in your right lane.
- Follow the Fourth Street/Frontage Road signs.
- Turn right on Hearst Street and go 3 blocks to Fourth Street and turn right.
- Spenger's will be on the left and guest parking is to the right.
From points north:
- Take I80 towards Berkeley and exit at University Avenue and keep right.
- You will pass over the highway and at the first stoplight, Sixth Street, turn left.
- Take the first left at Hearst Street.
- Go 2 blocks and turn left again on Fourth Street.
- Spenger's will be on the left and guest parking is to the right.
From points east:
- Take Highway I680 to Highway 24 and Highway 24 to Highway I580.
- Head west on I580 West following the signs to Berkeley/Sacramento.
- Take the University Avenue off-ramp and stay in your right lane.
- Follow the Fourth Street/Frontage Road signs.
- Turn right on Hearst Street and go 3 blocks to Fourth Street and turn right.
- Spenger's will be on the left and guest parking is to the right.
TIMES
5:30 - 6:30 -- No-Host Social and Registration
6:30 - 7:30 -- Dinner and Announcements
7:45 - 8:30 -- Keynote Speakers
8:30 - 8:45 -- Questions and Answers
DINNER CHOICES
Fish – Parmesan Crusted Petrale Sole
Meat – Sliced London Broil with Mushroom Demi Glaze
Vegetarian - Grilled Vegetable Platter
Dinner includes mixed green salad with Balsamic vinaigrette, rolls, butter, coffee or tea
DINNER COSTS
$40 for members
$50 for non members
$10 for students
Please pay on-line by credit card or at the door either by cash or checks payable to: GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION (GRA). If you pay on line by credit card, please check in at the door with David Abbott so that we can get an accurate count.
RSVP REQUIRED
Please submit electronic reservation by 12 PM (Noon) ***Friday, May 11, 2012***
SUBMIT RSVP >>
CANCELLATION POLICY: GRA will accept cancellations without charge until Noon on Friday, May 11, 2012. After that time, we must submit a final count to the restaurant and we will be charged accordingly. If you cancel after that time, or are a no-show, we will ask you to pay the cost of your meals. Thank you for your cooperation.
If you have any announcements or questions, please contact the Branch President, John Karachewski (Geoscapes1@gmail.com) at 510-540-4121 or Branch Treasurer, David W. Abbott (dabbott@dbstephens.com) at 510-928-4543 (mobile).
All Proceeds to Benefit Science Students
GRA San Francisco Bay Branch is interested in supporting university science students. Our Scholastic Sponsorship Program is an opportunity to publicize your business while contributing toward a good cause. Your sponsorship will be acknowledged in the announcement, at the meeting, and space will be provided for a small display and brochures. Please contact Abigail McNally at amcnally@confluenceenvironmental.com 510.837.8740 for details.
Our Scholarship Sponsor for May 2012:
EnviroTech Services Company
Providing quality environmental products for purchase and rental since 1988. Please check out our website www.envirotechonline.com for more information on purchasing and product rental.
Fred Ousey, Geologist and Owner
Michelle Buller, Company Representative
EnviroTech Services Company
1-800-468-8921
www.envirotechonline.com
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