GEOLOGY AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COMMUNICATION: THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESSFUL ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION

Delineation and understanding the geology and hydrogeology of a contaminated site is a fundamental component for environmental remediation. Successful environmental remedial programs are composed of interdisciplinary teams of scientists – geologists, engineers, chemists, mathematicians, biologists and others. Good interactive communication between disciplines is a necessary component to the success of the program. The selection and deployment of remedial technologies that are appropriate for the problem rely on the initial subsurface characterization activities. Hydrostratigraphy and hydrogeology control both the migration of contaminant plumes and affect the performance of cleanup technologies. At the Savannah River Site, which is underlain by interbedded and heterogeneous coastal plain sediments, understanding depositional and post-depositional processes support building a hydrogeological model and guide proper selection and optimization of cleanup technologies. For example, accurately mapping the continuity of critical sediment layers can aid in locating areas where contamination is most likely to have migrated and provide a cost effective basis for depth-discrete contaminant sampling, if warranted. This type of information can be used to refine existing remediation systems or assist in designing new systems. A thorough understanding of the subsurface coupled with biological and/or chemical effects, for example are essential for successful engineering implementation of the chosen technology. An overview of the geology and hydrogeology of the Savannah River Site will be presented along with examples on why geology along with interactive, interdisciplinary communication provides the foundation for successful environmental remediation.