This one-day course focuses on practical aspects of groundwater in the fractured sedimentary bedrock of the Newark Group (Brunswick Aquifer), where thousands of sites have been impacted by industrial contaminants. Remedial activities at such sites are usually impaired by oversimplified notions regarding groundwater flow and contaminant migration, as well as by the use of inadequate hydrogeologic characterization methods.
The course is intended for geologists, hydrogeologists, environmental professionals, remediation engineers, regulators, and corporate site managers responsible for the investigation and remediation of complex bedrock sites. Participants will have an opportunity to improve their understanding of the hydrogeologic framework best used to represent sedimentary bedrock sites. Illustrated by real-world examples, students will learn practical methods to conduct a rapid remedial groundwater investigation, or re-evaluation of problem sites. Attendees are expected to be familiar with basic concepts of contaminant hydrogeology. Bring your problem site information for informal class discussion.
Program Topics
- Fracture flow basics and differences with porous media
- Various conceptual flow models applied for groundwater in bedrock, and how their use influences apparent groundwater flow direction, velocities, plume delineation & remediation outcomes at contaminated bedrock sites
- Dominant role of certain bedding fractures in sedimentary bedrock, and harmful consequences of using inadequate conceptual models of groundwater flow
- A step-by-step approach to fracture flow characterization, using geological, geophysical, and hydraulic methods at unexplored sites, and sites with numerous wells
- Expedited characterization of contaminated groundwater in bedrock by means of temporary test holes, in-well flow tracing, flow sampling and packer testing. (Procedures, advantages and pitfalls of this practical dynamic approach to comprehensive bedrock characterization)
- How to conduct remedial investigations and groundwater cleanups at DNAPL and LNAPL Sites
- Plume delineation and CEA determination at fractured bedrock sites
Instructors
The course instructors, Dr. Michalski and Mr. Britton, have worked together at numerous major industrial sites located in the Passaic Formation and have decades of hands-on experience in characterizing and remediating bedrock sites in the Newark Basin.
Andrew Michalski, Ph.D., CGWP, P.G., a Principal at Michalski and Associates, specializes in groundwater consulting. He has over 30 years of academic and consulting experience conducting groundwater investigations at hundreds of sites. In addition to publishing seminal papers on groundwater occurrence and movement in fractured bedrock of the Passaic Formation, Dr. Michalski developed practical bedrock hydrogeologic characterization tools that will be discussed in this class. He received a M.S. in Mine Hydrogeology and a Ph.D. in Technical Sciences from Cracow, Poland, and held senior technical positions with the Whitman Companies, TRC, and the Earth Technology Corp. He also taught an undergraduate hydrogeology course at Rutgers University for nine years.
Richard Britton, P.G., is Vice President of Geological Services at The Whitman Companies, specialists in environmental engineering and hydrogeology. Mr. Britton manages site investigation projects for The Whitman Companies and has lectured on, and implemented, conventional and innovative remediation technologies at numerous sites in New Jersey. Mr. Britton received his B.S. in Geology and Chemistry, and his M.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University and is the past president of the Association of Engineering Geologists. |