Sacramento Branch Highlights

February 2005 through June 2005

By Pat Dunn

In February, Chris Petersen , a Supervising Hydrogeologist with MWH, described recent studies and feasibility of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) in the City of Roseville using dual purpose (injection/extraction) wells. The principal purpose of the Roseville ASR Feasibility Study / Demonstration Project is to evaluate opportunities to store treated surface water from Folsom Lake in the groundwater basin underlying Placer County by direct injection during "wet" years for extraction to supplement the City's surface water supply during "dry" years. The presentation regarding the cycle-testing within the Mehrten Formation was very interesting.

In March and in association with the Artificial Recharge Workshop, Mr. Marshall Davert, Vice President of MWH, spoke on the Integrated Regional Water Planning Efforts in North Sacramento and Southern Placer Counties. An overview of the planning and political issues associated with the development of a regional conjunctive use program for the greater Sacramento area was provided, along with specific examples of public policy and public interests associated with explosive regional growth.

The April meeting featured Bruce Marvin, a Principal of Aquifer Solutions, Inc, who spoke on the In-Situ Chemical Oxidization Concepts, Chemistry, Safety and Implementation. In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) is a maturing technology for the treatment of various contaminants including difficult to treat compounds and some dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPL). The application of this class of remediation technologies is growing based on the potential for ISCO to be a fast and relatively low cost way to remediate a site to closure levels. The presentation included an overview of the most common oxidants (permanganate, ozone, catalyzed hydrogen peroxide, and persulfate), as well as site characterization implications for the design of ISCO delivery systems. Factors of success and failure were summarized nicely.

In May, a presentation on the Do's and Don'ts for Expert Witnesses was provided by Robert Soran and Michael Mills, partners at the law firm of Downey Brand LLP. Discussions were included on the legal and practical considerations that all environmental expert witnesses should be aware. Assistance efforts to counsel and clients with complex technical problems were detailed. In June, Robert Dearborn of EDR spoke on the AAI Rule – What Does It Mean for you and Your Clients. This rule includes the first federal standard for environmental due diligence nearing promulgation, Mr. Dearborn revealed how the AAI rule will affect not only the way Phase 1s are conducted, but who can conduct them. AAI will have an influence on the ASTM E 1527-00 Standard, and how consultants and the clients complete transactions.

In August, David Von Aspern formerly with Wallace-Kuhl & Associates, Inc. provided a pictorial presentation entitled “What Makes a Toxic Weasel Tick “ He shared some insights into that question by presenting color slides collected over the past 15+ years from actual project sites. The slides are those gathered from the most challenging or intriguing projects, where some extraordinary site assessment methods were used to get to the bottom of things or to resolve ‘roadblocks' that might have caused a client to expend larger amounts of time and money on ‘Phase 2' site assessments. David's presentation was not a “how to do” but how to go the extra mile in your interpretation. David has been involved in about 1000 Phase 1 Site Assessments since entering the industry at its infancy in 1988. His projects have run the gamut from old farm homesteads to abattoirs to heavy manufacturing facilities, as well as building renovation projects where David managed asbestos abatement and lead-based paint surveys. As many in GRA know, David is a founding GRA officer and the first editor of HydroVisions.