Research Needs in Subsurface Science (2000) / Chapter Skim
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6 Recommendations for a Long-Term Research Program
6 Recommendations for a Long-Term Research Program
Pages 115-130
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From page 115... ...
. Program Vision The EM Science Program has been in existence for almost four years, but there does not appear to be a clear and agreed-upon program vision in DOE, and especially in upper management in the Office of Environmental Management (EM)
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From page 116... ...
The committee's analysis of subsurface contamination problems in Chapter 2 shows that the environmental remediation and management mission is unlikely to succeed without new knowledge to support the development of new and improved technologies to treat, ~Specifically, from the Office of Science and Technology. 2About $10 million of the appropriation wasfor research on low-dose ionizing radiation.
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From page 117... ...
also support the conclusion that subsurface contamination is a significant long-term problem. Moreover, previous National Research Council reports have shown that DOE lacks the technologies needed to effectively remediate much of the subsurface contam nation at its sites (e.g., NRC, 1 997a,c, 1999~.
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From page 118... ...
With the proper encouragement from program managers, it would also encourage researchers to develop collaborations that could lead to novel approaches to addressing the knowledge gaps, many of wh ich are h igh Iy i nterd isci pi i nary.5 The decadal time horizon would allow investigators to apply for competitive renewals to pursue significant research findings. Such renewals could accelerate progress in addressing the knowledge gaps, keep good researchers focused on problems of importance to DOE, and, in the case of university-funded projects, provide a strategic investment in future generations of researchers knowledgeable of DOE's problems through support for graduate students and postdoctoral scientists.
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From page 119... ...
Location and Characterization of Subsurface Contaminants and Characterization of the Subsurface The challenges of locating subsurface contamination are magnified by the wide range of contaminant types (e.g., mixtures of organic solvents, metals, and radionuclides) in the subsurface at many DOE sites; the wide variety of geological and hydrological conditions across the DOE complex; and the wide range of spatial resolutions at which this contamination must be located and characterized, from widely dispersed contam i nation i n grou ndwater pi u mes to smal I isol ated hot spots in waste burial grounds.
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From page 120... ...
Conceptual MotIeIing Existing conceptual and predictive models have often proven ineffective for understanding and predicting contaminant movement, especially at sites that have thick unsaturated zones or complex subsurface characteristics. Accurate conceptualizations are essential for understanding the long-term fate of contaminants in the subsurface and the selection and application of appropriate corrective actions.
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From page 121... ...
However, basic research focused on the following topics will be needed to support this technology development effort: · The mechanisms and kinetics of chemically and biologically mediated reactions that can be applied to new stabilization and containment approaches (e.g., reactions that can extend the use of reactive barriers to a greater range of contaminant types found at DOE sites) or that can be used to understand the long-term reversibi I ity of chemical and biological stabi I ization methods.
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From page 122... ...
At the back end, monitoring and validation are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of efforts to remove, treat, or especial Iy to contai n contami nation and to gain regulatory acceptance for such corrective actions. Moreover, such monitoring and validation efforts can also improve the understanding of the contaminant fate and transport processes and can be used to recalibrate and revise conceptual and predictive modelsimportant elements of the model building process.
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and indirect (e.g., using plants and animals) measu remeets over long ti me periods, particu I arly for harsh chemical environments characteristic of some DOE sites.
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From page 124... ...
Much of the expertise needed to address the knowledge gaps identified in Chapter 5 can be found outside the traditional DOE research community. Indeed, the previous NRC committee on the EM Science Program encouraged program managers to broaden the community of investigators involved in the program and to expand the core or committed cadre of investigators who are knowledgeable of EM's problems (NRC, 1 997b, p.
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From page 125... ...
FieItl Sites The committee recommends that program managers examine the feasibility of developing field research sites where investigators with program awards could work on the knowledge gaps described earlier in this chapter. These field sites could include contaminated or uncontaminated areas at the major DOE sites; analog uncontaminated sites that have subsurface characteristics similar to contaminated DOE sites; and even virtual sites comprised of data on historical and contemporary C h a p t e r 6 125
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From page 126... ...
The establishment of field research sites is potentially expensive, especially if the field sites are located in contaminated areas where drilling, sample collection, and sample handling would be costly and where investigators would be required to follow DOE environmental 7For example, the Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research program (see Chapter 4) plans to establish a field research site at a major DOE site in fiscal year 2000 and may be an appropriate test bed for research sponsored by the EM Science Program.
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From page 127... ...
Indeed, support for field research sites could consume a significant fraction of the program budget for new starts. However, field research is just one component in a well-balanced research program and should not be supported at the expense of projects that involve laboratory and modeling approaches.
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From page 128... ...
Small program budgets can also lead to significant investigator frustration, especial Iy when proposal success rates fal I below accepted norms and highly rated proposals are declined. When proposal success rates fall to low levels, talented investigators may view the proposal preparation and submission process as a bad investment of their time and may stop submitting proposals.
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From page 129... ...
The committee believes that there must be strong scientific, technical, and management leadership at all levels of EM, from the EM Science Program up to and including the assistant secretary for environmental management, if significant progress on closing the knowledge gaps and applying results effectively to the cleanup effort is to be made in the next decade. The development of such leadership remains a continuing chal lenge and a significant opportunity for the EM Science Program and DOE.
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