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Current Research and Technology Transfer
The Center will soon begin work with local communities to
verify in situ technologies and transfer technology to federal,
state, and local agencies. The BBC's Scientific Advisory Board,
consisting of US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA),
US Geological Survey (USGS), US Air Force, and NH Department
of Environmental Services (DES) scientists and regulators,
provides input on research topics and experimental design.
The BBC's first task was to determine the extent of natural
attenuation and bioremediation occurring in an organically-contaminated
bedrock aquifer at the Pease International Tradeport (Portsmouth,
NH; formerly Pease Air Force Base). The Center is also conducting
research to:
- more efficiently and economically characterize the direction
of groundwater flow and fracture patterns (size, direction,
secondary mineralization) in the contaminated bedrock aquifers.
Without an understanding of the fracture patterns, flow
paths and contaminant distributions (sorbed and dissolved
phases), it is very difficult to develop strategies for
implementing bioremediation in situ.
- improve and develop new field technologies to control
hydraulic and flow conditions in the contaminant zone. Without
controlling these parameters, the ability to affect biodegradation
is limited.
- develop laboratory and field methods to estimate and
accelerate in situ rates of bioremediation of organic contaminants
in bedrock aquifers. Knowing these rates is crucial because
they must be used in fate and transport models to predict
whether bioremediation will reduce the organic concentrations
to acceptable levels before the contaminants reach the nearest
receptors (e.g. drinking water wells)
- develop and apply innovative microbial and molecular
biology techniques to enhance in situ bioremediation and
assess the efficacy of remedial strategies.
The major outreach effort of the BBC is to transfer information
gained during its research to Federal, state and local regulatory
agencies and environmental consultants.
The BBC Faculty
BALLESTERO,
Thomas P. (PE, PhD, PH, CGWP, Colorado State University,
1981, Associate Professor of Civil/Environmental Engineering)
Interests: hydrogeology, hydrogeologic monitoring, water resources
and hydrology.
BENOIT, Jean
(PhD, Stanford University, 1983, Professor of Civil Engineering)
Interests: in situ soils characterization dealing with various
boring advances and testing techniques, geoenvironmental engineering.
Dr. Benoit is currently the principal investigator of the
National Geotechnical Experimentation Sites (NGES) program
funded by NSF and FHWA.
BIRCH, Francis S. (PhD, Princeton
University, 1969, Professor of Earth Sciences) Interests:
geophysics as it relates to ground water, electrical resistivity,
magnetic surveying, seismic refraction, electromagnetic surveys
and ground-penetrating radar.
BOTHNER, Wallace A. (PhD, University
of Wyoming, 1967, Professor of Earth Sciences). Interests:
structural geology, bedrock geologic mapping, structural analysis,
and interpretation of igneous and metamorphic rocks in central
and northern New England.
DAVIS, J. Matthew (PhD, New Mexico
Institute of Mining and Technology, 1985, Associate Professor
of Earth Sciences) Interests: sedimentary materials, geologic
controls on fluid flow and solute transport, use of geological
information in the quantification of hydrologic models, integration
of geological and geophysical data with statistical models
of flow and transport.
EIGHMY, T. Taylor (PhD, University
of New Hampshire, 1986, Research Professor of Civil/Environmental
Engineering) Interests: element speciation, surface analysis,
environmental chemistry of leaching behavior, residue characterization,
use of recycled materials in highway applications, chemical
stabilization, reactive barriers, innovative and alternative
treatment technologies, and technovation.
KINNER, Nancy
(PhD, University of New Hampshire, 1983, Professor of Civil/Environmental
Engineering) Interests: microbial ecology, groundwater microbiology,
biogeochemical processes, in situ remediation, bioremediation.
Advisor to NH DES on in situ bioremediation.
SULLIVAN, Elise R. (PhD, University of Maryland, 1999, Assistant
Professor of Microbiology) Interests: microbial degradation
of pollutants, including identification of responsible organisms
and determination of specific genes involved in the breakdown
process.
TISA, Louis S. (PhD, University of Wisconsin, 1987, Associate
Professor of Microbiology) Interests: microbial physiology
and diversity and the impact that they have on the environment,
Biology of the Actinomycetes; Signal Transduction; Bioremediation;
Environmental Genomics; Insect-Microbe Interactions; Plant-Microbe
Interactions.
Need More Information?
Please contact:
Dr. Nancy
Kinner
Director, UNH Bedrock Bioremediation Center
Department of Civil Engineering
236 Gregg Hall
35 Colovos Rd.
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
(+1) 603.862.1422 tel
(+1) 603.862.3957 fax
nancy.kinner@unh.edu |
