Environmental forensics focuses on re-construction of past contamination events and related fate and transport of contaminants in the environment. In the last decade there has been a rapid exposure of molecular biological and isotopic protocols to environmental science. These involve proven and long standing methods that are finding utility and acceptance in groundwater management. Taken in total, the expanded “toolbox” allows for pursuit of some basic questions:

• Who is responsible for contamination, when did it occur and what are the sources?
  
• What insights can be gained with regard to remedy design and management?
  
• Can new lines of evidence be assembled to support accelerated closure strategies?

Classical forensic techniques are often seen through the lens of environmental litigation, but they prove to be valuable in many other applications including: site characterization, remedial design, remedy selection, and site closure strategies with or without immediate property transaction requirements.

Environmental forensics makes use of a variety of scientific investigative techniques and data management tools and is often identified with the need to “fingerprint” compounds of concern. This in turn has significance to resolving issues such as source, age and timing of a release. With the advent of new applications for standard molecular biological methods and isotopic techniques, the concept of environmental forensics has extended into other areas, including but not limited to those listed above with some specific examples as follows:

• The status of the microbial ecology to assess treatment needs, prepare remedial actions and manage treatments in groundwater. Optimally these features are useful in support of MNA and NFA outcomes.
  
• If compounds of concern are attenuating naturally or as a function of intervention and the rates of the changes if any; proving compounds are being biologically degraded and mechanisms.
  
• New dimensions in tracer strategies for both groundwater movement and vapor intrusion.

This one day event will profile the latest developments in environmental forensics and the relation of forensic techniques and their applicability to tracking contaminants in groundwater.

Session Topics

• New and Emerging Diagnostic Tools
  
• Stable Isotopes and Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA)
  
• Classical and Emerging Environmental Forensics and Data Analysis
  
• Stable Isotope and CSIA Case Studies
  
• Forensics in the Courtroom and Other Legal Perspectives
  
• Forensic Fingerprinting and Source Identification

Program Agenda >>

Who should attend:

Environmental Professionals with an emphasis on any aspect of water resources such as groundwater, drinking water and wastewater issues and related air quality matters:

• Environmental scientists including but not limited to: geologists, hydrogeologists, chemists, microbiologists, biochemists;
  
• Environmental Attorneys, Regulators or other environmental professionals in management and compliance.

SPONSOR AND EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES

If you are interested in exhibiting your organization's services or products, or being an event sponsor, please contact Mary Megarry (mmegarry@nossaman.com; 916-446-3626). GRA welcomes co-sponsors as well as lunch, break, reception and student poster competition sponsors.

Exhibitors: Adventus Group | ARS Technologies | Advanced Technology Laboratories