1. “A Civil Action” WELLS G AND H WOBURN, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) No. MAD980732168 http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/classes/geol351/woburn.htm

3. Five sources of TCE : New England Plastics Wildwood Conservation Trust (Riley Tannery/Beatrice Foods) Olympia Nominee Trust (Hemingway Trucking) UniFirst W.R. Grace (Cryovac)

4. 01000 feet TCE in 1985 W.R. Grace Beatrice Foods Woburn Site Municipal Wells G & H Aberjona River Geology: buried river valley of glacial outwash and ice contact deposits overlying fractured bedrock The trial took place in 1986. Did TCE reach the wells before May 1979? Wells G&H operated from October 1964- May 1979

5. Common organic contaminants Source: EPA circular

6. UniFirst Corportation Formerly a dry cleaning facility - Interstate Uniform Service Corporation (IUSC) (1966- 1983). From 1977-1982, a 5,000-gallon above-ground tank was used to store the dry-cleaning agent tetrachloroethylene. In 1988 Ebasco Services Inc. reported the recovery of less a liquid contained 19,000,000 ug/l of tetrachloroethylene.

7. Cryovac Division of W.R. Grace and Co. A food wrapping manufacturer since 1961. W.R. Grace and Co. utilized degreasing agents such as trichloroethylene at its facility. W.R. Grace and Co. made use of a pit behind the plant for waste disposal, and discharged waste into the city's sewer system. In accordance with an EPA Administrative Order, the pit was excavated and six 55-gallon drums of liquid waste and contaminated soil were removed to a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA)- approved disposal facility in June, 1983.

8. New England Plastics Corporation A manufacturer of solid vinyl siding and various other plastic products. Prospect Tool and Die Company is also located within the same building. In December 1986, water from an industrial well which tapped the bedrock aquifer was found to be contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (PCE & TCE). In 1988, effluent from the New England Plastics Corporation was found to enter the Aberjona River via a drainage ditch.

9. Olympia Nominee Trust Corp. 1970 - 200 to 500 five-gallon containers of arsenic trioxide were discovered on the property. The Hemingway Transport Co., which owned the property since 1980, had four underground storage tanks at the trucking terminal facility. In May 1983, a 6,280-gallon gasoline tank was found to be leaking, and was removed in July 1983. It is unknown when the tanks were installed and when the gasoline tank began leaking.

10. Wildwood Conservation Corporation John J. Riley sold the land to Beatrice Foods, Inc., in 1978, then repurchased the property in 1983. Established the property as the Wildwood Conservation Corporation in 1985. Various trails leading from two neighboring facilities, Whitney Barrel Company and Murphy Waste Oil Company, to the property existed during the period 1966-1983. On the property, extensive contamination consisting of sludge, discolored soils, trash, 55-gallon drums, paint cans and debris piles has been documented. John J. Riley Tannery has an industrial water supply well on the property.

11. Introduction to Environmental Geology

12. Fundamental Concepts of Environmental Geology Population growth Sustainability The earth system Uniformitarianism Hazardous earth processes Geology as a basic environmental science

13. Fundamental Concepts- Population Growth Population Growth is the #1 environmental problem Why? www.prb.org

14. Fundamental Concepts- Population Growth It is impossible to support exponential population growth with a finite resource base 1) Primary goal of environmental work is to defuse the population bomb 1) Pessimistic: the earth will take care of itself through disease and catastrophes 2) Optimistic: find better ways to control population growth within the limits of our available resources

15. Fundamental Concepts- Sustainability Sustainability is the environmental objective  We are currently using most living environmental resources faster than they can be naturally replenished  What would we need for a sustainable global economy? Populations of humans in natural harmony with air, water, and land Energy policies that do not pollute or cause climatic perturbations Utilization plans for renewable resources (Recycling) Utilization plans for nonrenewable resources

17. How do we predict the consequences of earth system changes?  Understand the nature of the system  Understand rates of change  Conduct input-output analysis

18. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system  The earth system Understanding the earth’s systems and their changes is critical to solving environmental problems. The earth itself is  an open system with respect to energy  a closed system with respect to material

19. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system Feedback A system response where: System output (something happening) is a new system input Positive and negative feedback Input-output analysis

20. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system 1. Positive feedback-- "vicious cycle" a. one action intensifies the next (example: erosion) 2. Negative feedback-- "self-regulating" enables the system to reach a steady state or equilibrium (example: stream morphology). 3. Threshold events -- No apparent changes until threshold levels are reached (Lake Turnover).

21. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system  Negative Feedback  Stream A. Increase gradient B. Increases the river's velocity, which C. Increases the rate of erosion, which D. Widens and deepens channel, which E. Slows rivers velocity F. promotes deposition G. reduces gradient

22. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system  Example of threshold event  Lake turnover

23. Fundamental Concepts- Uniformitarianism  James Hutton, 1785  “the present is the key to the past”  Geologic processes modifying our landscape have operated in the past  Human activity is a new geological force  Affects the magnitude and frequency of geologic processes  “the present is the key to the future”

24. Fundamental Concepts- Hazardous Earth Processes  Some geologic hazards are inevitable  Planning is important  The impacts of hazardous earth processes are enhanced by spatial concentration of population and resources  Should be considered in cost-benefit analysis

25. Fundamental Concepts-Geology as a basic environmental science  Geology is a factor in every person’s life:  “Civilization exists by geological consent…subject to change without notice”--Will Durant

26. Fundamental Concepts-Geology as a basic environmental science  Branches of Environmental Geology:  Geomorphology (Geologic Landforms and Processes)  Hydrogeology (Water and soil / rock interactions)  Pedology (Soils)  Economic geology  Engineering geology  Classical geology

27. Fundamental Concepts-Geology as a basic environmental science  Environmental problems are interdisciplinary  Physical Geography, geologic processes, hydrology, rock types, soil types, climate  Biological  Plants, animals, biologic conditions, spatial analysis of biologic information  Human interest/use Land use, economics, aesthetics, environmental law, hazards, historical/archaeological value

28. Environmental Geology and Land- Use Planning  There is a limited supply of land  We strive to plan so that suitable land is available for specific uses for this generation and those that follow  Comprehensive plan – designed for long-range local development based on and environmental inventory of resources and hazards

29. Landscape Evaluation  Environmental geologists provide geologic information and analysis to assist in planning, design, and construction Former and Present land use Physical and chemical properties of earth materials –Pollutants –Engineering Properties of soil and rock Natural Hazards Groundwater Characteristics

30. Site Selection  Cost-Benefits Analysis – Assumes all relevant costs and benefits can be determined Examples: Building a shopping mall in a flood zone; Drilling oil wells in National Parks?  Physiographic Determination-Applying ecological principals to planning Considers physical, social, and aesthetic data Let natural characteristics determine the choice of a site

31. Environmental Impact Analysis  1969- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) All major federal actions which could affect the quality of the human environment must be preceded by an evaluation of the project and the potential impact to the environment Environmental Impact Statements –Discussion of the environmental consequences of the proposed project and of the alternatives  State Environmental Impact Legislation State Environmental Policy Acts (SEPAs) –California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

32. What do Environmental Geologists do? Mostly Site Assessments (ESAs) and BrownFields Studies

33. What are ESAs? n Identify/evaluate: – environmental concerns –Magnitude and extent of contamination –Cleanup goals –Remediation options –Future land use

34. Phase I ESA n Identify potential environmental concerns n All Appropriate Inquiry –Involves –Records review –Site reconnaissance –Interviews –Report

35. Phase II ESA n Evaluates potential concerns from Phase I n Tailored to site-specific needs Limited sampling/analysis »Confirm/rule out concerns Expanded sampling/analysis »Amount and extent of contamination Recommended cleanup goals/options Increasing Costs

36. Phase III ESA n Corrective actions for environmental concerns

37. Environmental Concerns at Brownfields n Impaired soil, water, or air conditions from historical use n Land uses: –Waste storage/ disposal –Manufacturing/ industrial –Transportation/ rail –Petroleum –Mining –Agribusiness n Buildings and Improvements –Underground/ aboveground storage tanks –Process areas/ machinery –Asbestos –Lead-based paint –Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) –Fill materials

38. What are ESAs? – Summary Land Uses Contaminants & Related Risk Site Improvements Focus on: Past, Present & Future

39. Sampling/Analysis – Sampling Methods n Conventional –borings/excavation –groundwater monitoring wells –decontamination/ plugging/abandonment/ waste disposal –crude field-screening –off-site analysis n Accelerated –geophysical surveys –direct-push probes –field labs/test kits –off-site analytical confirmation –electronic data archiving/interpretation

40. Sampling/Analysis – Sampling Methods n Conventional drilling/sampling technology

41. Sampling/Analysis – Sampling Methods n Screening/field-based methods - Direct-push methods

42. Sampling/Analysis – Sampling Methods n Geophysical Methods Electromagnetic Conductivity & Magnetic Surveys Ground-Penetrating Radar