Projects
Washington Closure Hanford, Remedial Investigation of Hanford Site Releases to the Columbia River (2008-present)
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Remedial Investigation of Hanford Site Releases to the Columbia River includes studies to collect more than 1100 new samples to measure the concentrations of compounds in various types of material, or media. For Washington Closure Hanford (DOE’s River Corridor Closure Contractor), EAS is leading the work to collect and sample:
- Pore water (groundwater that is upwelling beneath the surface of the river bottom in the space between rocks and sediment)
WCH Newsletter Vol. 5 #6
DOE studying how contaminants enter Columbia River - Sediment (loose material in the river bottom that can move with the river flow)
- Fish (whitefish, sucker, walleye, carp, bass, sturgeon) Researchers look for signs of contamination in Hanford-area fish
For the pore water sampling portion of the study, the EAS team is using an advanced groundwater mapping and sampling tool, the liquid-phase Trident probe, to locate and more precisely measure compounds in the upwellings. Designed for sustained use in complex, offshore riverine environments, the probe will help to determine groundwater discharge patterns in the Columbia River from shore to shore, rather than relying on nearshore measurements alone. Collaborating with the probe’s developer (Coastal Monitoring Associates), EAS was instrumental in tailoring the probe specifically to the Columbia River and its complexities, and integrating river stage-specified field deployment techniques. Sediment samples are being collected concurrently with the pore water to estimate concentrations of contaminants in sediments near the areas of groundwater upwellings.
Groundwater Mapping and Sampling System and Sediment Sampling (click images to enlarge).
The objective of the fish sampling project is to collect tissue samples for analysis of contaminants that have been identified as originating from the Hanford Site. The primary use of the fish sampling data is to determine the potential health risk to nearby residents who consume these fish as a part of their diet. However, fish tissue data will also be used to support the evaluation of fish in the ecological risk assessment.
Washington Closure Hanford, Environmental Services & Ecological Compliance (2008-present)
For Washington Closure Hanford, EAS is conducting ecological resource reviews of project activities, reviewing planning documents, conducting site walk-downs, conducting revegetation monitoring and reporting, conducting ecological investigations, providing guidance for mitigation of project impacts to natural resources of concern, and preparing correspondence and consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy-Richland Operations Office, regulators, and natural resource agencies. WCH Newsletter Vol. 5 #5
Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, Comprehensive Monitoring Program (2008-present)
EAS is collecting, processing, and shipping soil and biota samples in support of the Comprehensive Monitoring Program (CMP) for the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UMCDF), Umatilla, Oregon. The CMP monitors for chemical agents and other analytes to document concentrations in soil, water, air, and biota (vegetation and small mammals) and ensure that levels remain at or below those found prior to the operation of the facility. EAS and Vista Engineering Technologies have teamed to conduct the sampling and analyses.
Vegetation and small mammal sample collection (click images to enlarge).
Washington Closure Hanford, Multi-Media Sampling and Biological Surveys (2005-2007)
Washington Closure Hanford is leading the largest Superfund ecological risk assessment conducted to date in the United States. EAS was awarded a sole-source contract to direct and conduct multi-media sampling (water, soil, sediment, insects, mollusks, fish, mammals, birds, and plants) and field-based surveys of onsite ecological conditions for this risk assessment. EAS also directed, staffed, and conducted field surveys for special status species of plants, mollusks, and salmonid habitat in and around the investigation areas prescribed in the Sampling & Analyses Plan. Datasets were reported in electronic formats and frequently illustrated spatially using geographical information system (GIS) tools. Environmental media collected were prepared for analyses of hazardous chemicals and man-made radionuclides at EAS’s laboratory facility. This work was successfully and safely performed during extreme environmental conditions and in remote areas using multiple high-risk sampling techniques, including boating, SCUBA/snorkeling, electro-fishing, and work at night.
Fluor Hanford, Multi-Media Sampling and Biological Surveys (2005-2007)
EAS was awarded this contract to conduct multi-media sampling (soil vapors, water, soil, sediment, insects, mammals, and plants) and field-based assessments of onsite ecological conditions. Sampled media were prepared for analyses of hazardous chemicals (carbon-tetrachloride is a primary contaminant of ecological concern) and man-made radionuclides at EAS’s laboratory facility. Field-based surveys of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife utilizing the waste sites are an ongoing component of this project. Vegetation community characterizations were also conducted, and GIS-based depictions of these communities were provided by EAS.
Neptune & Company, Hanford Site Ecological Risk Assessments (2006-present)
As part of the ecological risk assessments underway on the Hanford Site, contracts have been awarded to Neptune & Company and EAS, as a team, to review, analyze, and present findings from the data collected between 2005 and 2007. These efforts include organizing and holding regular meetings and giving presentations to the Hanford Site regulatory agencies and stakeholders; providing extensive review of the data quality following highest QA/QC standards set for government, industry and CERCLA/RCRA investigations; incorporation of ecological and contaminant data into a public-domain database; and producing reports summarizing the risk assessment data using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ecological risk assessment guidance process.
Bechtel Hanford Inc., Hanford Site River Corridor Atlas Project (2005)
The purpose of this subcontract was to develop a Hanford Site River Corridor Atlas that presents data from remedial action, waste sites, facilities and the interaction of these data. During the course of this project, we identified key sub-contractors to accomplish this task; interacted with the client to provide weekly status reports, discuss changes or concerns; and tracked progress of the sub-contractors to ensure the product was delivered on time and within budget. The completed product supports site closure and remedial action of the Hanford Site. The specific tasks performed included: 1) the design and development of software (code) using Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcInfo scripting language Arc Macro Language (AML) for UNIX environment, 2) development of detailed module flow chart showing the placement of each software module, 3) preparation of initial symbol sets for color shades, lines, and markers, and 4) preparation of two hardcopies of the Atlas for review.
Bechtel Hanford Inc., Ecological Risk Assessment Data Quality Objectives and Sampling and Analyses Plans (2005-2007)
EAS was contracted to assist in the development and preparation of the 100-BC Pilot Project and the River Corridor Baseline Risk Assessment (RCBRA) data quality objectives (DQOs), Sampling & Analyses Plans (SAPs), and Sampling & Instructions Plans (SAIs) to support regulatory reviews of the Central Plateau and River Corridor of the Hanford Site, Washington. This work included presenting relevant historical datasets and research that would help regulatory agencies and stakeholders assess ecological risk from the past and present releases of legacy materials attributable to Hanford Site operations. The work also included running and analyzing hydro-geo-morphological models to assess effects of hydrological conditions present on and near the Hanford Site.
Fluor Hanford, 100-NR2 Groundwater Operable Unit Ecological Risk Assessment (2003-2005)
As principal scientist with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and later with EAS, Brett Tiller directed the development of the Data Quality Objectives in support of the 100-NR2 ecological risk assessment. This project specifically was to assess strontium-90 concentrations in the aquatic environments. Brett wrote procedures and carried out field sampling of soil, water, periphyton, macro invertebrates, vegetation, and small mammals using EPA QA/QC standards. A number of independent regulatory reviews of these field sampling procedures and activities were required to successfully complete the study. Brett frequently met with the client, regulators, and stakeholders to present past research efforts he had initiated to help develop the scope of the study.