Life After Getting a BS and MS Degree Working as a Professional in PA

Transcription

1 Life After Getting a BS and MS Degree Working as a Professional in PA Presented by: Mr. Brian Oram, PASEO Soil Scientist Professional Geologist B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. 15 Hillcrest Drive Dallas, PA bfenviro@ptd.net

2 B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. Professional Consulting Services in the areas of water quality, soils, stormwater, geology, aquifer analysis, and land-development. Baseline Chain-of-Custody Expert Testimony / Online Training Program Water Treatment Process/ Product Development

3 Water-Research Center Education and Outreach Program funded by B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. Outreach Programs Environmental and Professional Education and Training for Citizens and Local Municipalities Water Quality Help Guides Information Library Community and Business Outreach Programs Low Cost Informational Water Testing Program with National Laboratory Citizen Monitoring Programs Website:

4 PACleanwater.org Keystone Clean Water Team Private Well Owner Education Source Water Protection Issues Alternative, Renewable, and Homegrown Energy Issues Training Young Adults and Children about Energy and The Environment Citizen Groundwater and Surfacewater Database Natural Gas and Baseline Water Testing Training Professionals

5 Hydrogeological Challenges in PA Stormwater Management (Legacy Issues) Soils and Infiltration Karst Natural Gas Water Reuse, Water Withdrawal, Baseline Monitoring Water Resources Planning Sourcewater Protection- Balancing Rural and Urban Areas.

6 Stormwater Issues Why Manage Stormwater? Adversely impacts water quality, streamflows, reduces groundwater recharge, increases pollutant loading, and impacts stream/watershed ecology. Health and safety concerns- sourcewater protection, navigation, and travel hazards. Financial Impact if we do not properly manage stormwater it will cost us more money, lost economic efficiency, and wasting resources over the long-term. Which is most important? Evaluate Long-Term Costs- Improper management will cost us more in the Long-Term- This one will likely get the biggest audience and help to generate the most local support.

7 Examples When will We learn OUR Lesson??????????? We have and ARE making Bad Decisions.

8 My Vote is NO!

9 Current Stormwater Infiltrate the 2 year Storm 2.4 to 3.3 inches Most Infiltrate the Runoff Difference within 72 hours Approximately 99.7 % of storms are < 2 year storm For a 3.27 inch storm in forest (Cn 73) to pavement, the net difference could be 2.24 inches. Therefore, we must design a system that can recharge 2.24 inches every 3 days. This is a system that can recharge 272 inches per year. Does anyone see a problem?? Are we ready for climate change?? How about a Water Budget Approach? We USE the Percolation Test???

10 4.5 Comparison Infiltration to Percolation Testing Rate (in/hr) Infiltraton Test Percolation Test Percolation Testing Over Estimated Infiltration Rate by 40% to over 1000% * Trail Source: On-site Soils Testing Data, (Oram, B., 2003)

11 Percolation Testing Does not directly measure permeability or a flux velocity. Has been used to successfully design small flow on-lot wastewater disposal systems, but equations and designs have a number of safe factors. Results may need to be adjusted to take out an estimate of the amount of horizontal intake area. Without Correction Percolation Data over-estimated infiltration rate data by 40 to over 1000 % with an adjustment for intake area error could be reduced to 10 to 200% (Oram, 2003), but infiltration rate can overestimate saturated permeability by a factor of 10 or more (Oram, 2005). May need to consider the use of larger safety factors and equations similar to sizing equations used for on-lot disposal systems. Safety factors of 50% reduction may not be enough!!

12 My Recommendation and Opinion Please Do NOT Use a Conventional Percolation Rate or Percolation Test for Developing Engineering Designs! Hello Lawsuits! Bye Bye License But this is the Standard??

13 Flooded Pit The following is the protocol that was used for each test. 1. A soil probe was excavated and squared, rate adjusted for wetted area. 3. The pit was filled with water. 4. The change in water level with time was documented. 5. The estimated infiltration rate was then calculated based water level.

14 - Adjusted for Wetted Area Vertical Only 20 gallons If you did not adjust for Wetted Perimeter Test Pit # inches per hour Test Pit # inches per hour

15 Use of the Flooded Pit Quick Screening Tool or Post Assessment Tool for a Site Could be used to confirm results or findings. Method that could be used to troubleshoot or evaluate an existing system. Need to Adjust Drop to Account for Wetted Area. Scientist will not agree, but this could be a low tech approach for residential lots. Not sure how cost effective, because of volume of water needed.

16 Karst Landforms / Geology These are HIDDEN Jewels For the Future Consultant

17 Karst Karst is common to areas underlain by carbonate bedrock (limestone and dolostone). These rocks are more easily dissolved than other rocks by a weak, naturally forming acid formed by the mixture of water and carbon dioxide. This dissolving process is enhanced along the many fractures found within the bedrock and over time has created a unique subsurface plumbing network.

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19 Natural Gas Issues

20 Legacy Issues

21 This is Drinking Water in PA? 50% How do we know this? Other 50% Iron / Manganese Corrosion Sediment / Gases Citizen Groundwater Surfacewater Database Bacteria

22 About 49% - Do Percent Exceeded NOT Meet Drinking Water Standards! bis(2 ethylhexylphthaltes) What? Plasticizers? Well Inflenced by Saline Water Lead Manganese Iron e. coli Phthaltes Arsenic TDS Sodium (> 200 mg/l) Chloride Gross Alpha Looks Like a Marcellus Shale Impact but it is not! ph < 6.5 Total Coliform Percent Exceeded

23 Abandon Wells 200,000 Wells Unaccounted Estimated over 200,000 Abandon Oil and Gas Wells in PA. At $ 12,500 per hole, This would be 2.5 billion dollars Once you Find them.

24 PSU Study -Migration and Disturbance During Drillinglosing circulation Proper Construction Poor Construction Lined Tanks Pit up to 2000 ft Add String Could this explain the Bromide Issue or Discolored Water?? Key Points 1. Proper Casing and Cement of Marcellus Shale Wells 2. Knowing How Private Wells Are Constructed 3. Isolation Distances will not Solve This Problem. 4. Fixing Private Wells has to be part of the Solution. 5. This may account for the data on bromide from PSU. 6. The issue may not be well radial distance, but construction and drilling issue. 7. Recommend closed loop drilling with water within freshwater aquifer (no muds) or water-based muds.

25 Methane Gas Migration

26 Approximate Flowback Water - Wastewater Chemistry Concentration - mg/l (Source: PSU and Marcellus Shale Coalition) Approximate Frac Water - Wastew ater Chemistry Concentration - mg/l (Source: PSU and Marcellus Shale Coalition) Bromide Chloride Sodium Calcium Strontium Potassium Ammonia Magnesium Barium Lithium Iron NitrogenManganese Aluminum MBAS Lead Arsenic Oil/Grease 0.1 Chloride Sodium Calcium Magnesium Barium Iron Nitrogen Maganese Lead Arsenic Cd, Sb, Be, Cr Ni, Ag, Tl and other trace metals Oil/Grease Cadmium

27 Perf Gun The Only Real Explosion

28 Video

29 Evaluating Recharge Capacity Step 1: Desktop Assessment - GIS Review Published Data Related to Soils, Geology, Hydrology Step 2: Characterize the Hydrological Setting Where are the Discharge and Recharge Zones? What forms of Natural Infiltration or Depression Storage Occurs? How does the site currently manage runoff? What are the existing conditions or existing problems?

30 What is Recharge Capacity? Discharge Zone Recharge Zone SB BI, INF INF Surface Berms (SB) Bioretention/Infiltration (BI) Infiltration - INF

31 Evaluation Recharge Capacity Step 3: On-Site Assessment PA One Call Deep Soil Testing Throughout Site Based on Soils and Geological Data Double Ring Infiltration Testing or Permeability Testing to calculate q and provide estimate of loading rates- If good site access, try a flooded pit. How does the water move through the site? Step 4: Engineering Review and Evaluation (meet with local reviewers and PADEP) Step 5: Additional On-site Testing May be use flood pit approach Step 6: Final Design and Final BMP Selection

32 Online Training Portals Training Programs available Project Management LEED AP / Green Associate Sustainability

33 Hands On Training Soil Science and Soil Morphology Hydric Soils and Wetlands Stormwater Management Land Based Management Approaches Land Based Wastewater Disposal Groundwater Recharge

34 Thanks I do not like being the bait!

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