Branch Activities Sacramento Branch On January 31, the Sacramento Branch hosted Dr. Charles P. Remund of South Dakota State University, who lectured on Thermal Enhancement of Bentonite Grouts for Vertical Ground Source Heat Pump Systems. Dr. Remund gave an overview of the ground source heat pump industry, which is currently booming. GSHP systems are being incorporated in new home and building designs at a rate of 40,000 units per year (1994), and are anticipated to increase to 400,000 units per year by 2001. The Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, who sponsored Dr. Remund’s trip to California, is sponsoring research into the thermal properties of bentonite grouts used in GSHP installations, and examining issues of regulatory priorities for long term safety and groundwater quality protection. Dr. Remund showed slides of experiments documenting the potential conduits for migration of surface contamination into underlying aquifiers. Dr. Remund also spoke of a data gap in the area of understanding thermal conductivity of soils, which leaves GSHP designs somewhat imprecise. He is working on the establishment of a thermal performance index which may be used to classify the ability of a soil to transfer heat based on texture alone. Dr. Remund left 3 reprints of his papers with the Sacramento Branch; interested parties may obtain a copies by contacting Tom Mohr. The February meeting, sponsored by the law firm of Downey, Brand, Seymour, and Rohwer, featured a talk from George O’Connell and Craig Allison, both attorneys with Downey Brand Seymour and Rohwer, on Defending Environmental Enforcement Actions. Members in attendance were captivated with the at times chilling message of consultant liability for client’s violations, and the increasingly frequent and aggressive prosecution of failure to comply with environmental statues. A summary of their talk appears in this issue of Hydrovisions. Also in February, a small group of Sacramento Branch officers and members hosted Bill Knight, Executive Director of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), for a luncheon to discuss the changing landscape of employment opportunities for geologists, and to discuss issues of professional registration. The AIPG certifies Professional Geologists, a distinction recognized throughout the United States, and useful for accessing opportunities to practice geology in Europe. Mr. Knight recommends geologists retool to become multi-disciplinary professionals proficient in management, engineering, and a variety of other combinations to make themselves more employable. We are also advised to be prepared to seize opportunities beyond our borders ... for more information, contact Bill Knight at 303-431-0831. The Sacramento Branch held its March event at the Privatbrauerei Hubsch, aka Sudwerk, USA’s #1 craft brewery, located in Davis. The focus of this event was the social benefits of the GRA, providing an opportunity for members to get acquainted and discuss issues in common. The Sacramento Branch will seek to conduct another social event later this summer at an El Dorado Hills winery. The April meeting was sponsored by Law Engineering and Environmental Services, and was held on Thursday the 18th at the Royal Hong King Lim Restaurant, 419 J Street, Sacramento, with social hour beginning at 5:00 pm, and the regular meeting at 6:00. Our presentation featured a panel discussion of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories Report on California’s Leaking Underground Fuel Tanks (Historical Case Analysis and Recommendations to Improve the Cleanup Process). The panel consisted of Dr. Brendan Dooher, a primary author of the LLNL Report, James Giannopoulos, Contract Manager with the State Water Resources Control Board, Gordon Boggs, UST Program, RWQCB, and Mr. Mike Keenan, Hazmat Specialist, Sacramento County Environmental Health. This event was co-sponsored by PEMA, the Professional Environmental Marketing Association. On May 16, the Homestake Mining Company hosted a talk by Ray Krauss, Environmental Manager of the McLaughlin gold mine, located in the Coast Ranges at the Lake/Napa/Yolo County borders. Mr. Krauss discussed issues of water quality protection in open pit mining operations. Discussion focused on geology and economic mineralogy of the McLaughlin mine, the natural and human history of the McLaughlin mine property, the history of mercury extraction in the Coast Ranges and present day consequences and water quality protection challenges, and general aspects of environmental management for large mining operations. On Saturday, May 18, Homestake Mining company hosted a tour of the McLaughlin Mine. Future Events: June: Wayne Pearce, President of Phase Three Environmental management, will give an entertaining talk on presentations, the regulatory interface, and a look at the lighter side of an assortment of challenges we all face in the environmental industry. Member input to branch activities is welcome. Officers meet on the last Wednesday of each month at the Tower Cafe on Broadway, Sacramento. Call first to confirm meeting locations. Southern California Branch Many thanks to our April Meeting speaker, Mr. Ken Williams, Chief of the Pollutant Investigation Unit of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region (RWQCB). Ken provided us with a General Overview and Preliminary Evaluation of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Data. Key points presented during Ken's talk are: MTBE advects with groundwater and plumes are typically 1.5 to 2 times the size of typical benzene plumes. Underground Storage Tank (UST) sites are the largest contributors for MTBE in groundwater. MTBE appears resistant to biodegradation in either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Remediation of MTBE in groundwater is more difficult than other gasoline components, BTEX. Production wells in the City of Santa Monica screened at depths of 200 to 450 feet below ground surface had MTBE concentrations of 490 to 590 parts per billion in mid-March 1996. They have had to shut down three of their five production wells. The 1993/1994 USGS study found that MTBE was the second-most frequently detected groundwater contaminant in their National Water Quality Assessment Program. A statewide policy for MTBE has not been developed yet. UST sites may be required to analyze for MTBE. Implications to closed sites or property transfers has not been assessed. The Southern California Branch's next Dinner Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 1996. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Lorne Everett of Geraghty and Miller, who will be discussing the revised LUFT Manual. For meeting information contact Jim Carter at 714/ 447-6868.