Tying the Knot between Environmental Restoration and the Geosciences: A Consultant’s Perspective
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 @ 1 pm in CSL 422
watch Damon and Rick’s talk
Abstract
The federal government of the United States allocated an impressive $1.7 trillion to discretionary spending in fiscal year 2023, with $805 billion directed towards defense spending and $1.6 billion towards defense environmental programs. These programs present numerous scientific challenges, particularly in environmental restoration. As practitioners in this field, we strive to enhance the effectiveness of our investigations and remediation systems within an increasingly complex regulatory framework. Our understanding of contaminated sites managed under these programs is commonly depicted through conceptual site models (CSMs).
Historically, many sites have been adequately managed using CSMs based on chemical data and simple geological models. However, numerous sites within our federal portfolios continue to grapple with persistent compounds and chemicals of emerging concern.
This review delves into the major environmental programs funded by the federal government and the role geologists and environmental scientists play in these initiatives. Furthermore, it explores the potential of geology-focused CSMs—specifically the application of Environmental Sequence Stratigraphy—and how these advanced models can significantly improve our site management practices.