CRESP assesses, recommends and develops approaches aimed at improving the evaluation, effectiveness and efficiency of remediation and risk mitigation techniques for contaminated environmental resources. Resources include soils, ground water, surface water, sediments and biota.

Project activities range from:

• Improving methods for characterizing contaminated environmental media
• Monitoring the effectiveness of remediation processes and near surface disposal systems
• Reducing uncertainty in contaminant environmental fate and transport
• Developing improved treatment processes
• Examines the relative risk to human, ecological and eco-cultural resources from remediation methodologies, including the effect of delaying remediationDevelops methodologies to compare the risk to receptors from different remediation practices.

CRESP also evaluates and develops approaches for more efficient and effective methods for regulatory compliance, natural resource damage assessment, end-state definition and risk communication associated with remediation and potential future use of resources.

Lead Researchers

Craig H. Benson, University of Virginia
Kevin Brown, Vanderbilt University
Joanna Burger, Rutgers University
Michael Gochfeld, Rutgers University
David Kosson, Vanderbilt University
Kathryn A. Higley, Oregon State University
Jiannan N. Chen, University of Central Florida
Kelly Ng, Rutgers University
Florence Sanchez, Vanderbilt University
Lesa Brown, Vanderbilt University
Chen Gruber, Vanderbilt University
Haruko Wainwright, MIT

EM Sites Impacted

• DOE Complex
• Hanford: Richland Operations Office and Office of River Protection
• Oak Ridge Reservation
• Savannah River
• Portsmouth and Paducah
• West Valley

Current Project Areas

Landfill Partnership – Improving Performance Assessment, Monitoring Approaches, and Caps/Liners Design for Near-surface Disposal Facilities

Lead Investigator: Craig H. Benson (Lead, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Additional Investigators: Jiannan Chen (University of Central Florida), David Kosson (Vanderbilt University), Kevin G. Brown (Vanderbilt University)

Project Objectives:

In 2022-23, the CRESP Landfill Partnership undertook a complex-wide review with a broad range of DOE stakeholders to identify priorities for the next five years. These priorities fell into five thematic areas:

• Design & long-term performance of disposal facility final covers. Develop guidance for final cover design and performance assessment that reflects lessons learned from the last two decades of field and laboratory studies.
• Design to optimize waste acceptance criteria (WAC) and waste placement to maximize utilization of air space at disposal facilities. Examine strategies for waste placement and waste isolation in disposal facilities as well as innovative barrier solutions that provide greater control on release, allowing higher WACs.
• Significance of PFAS in disposal facilities. Understand the implications of PFAS in on-site disposal facilities, and whether disposal facility design and waste placement strategy need modification to address risks posed by PFAS.
• Optimizing design to manage mobile radionuclides (e.g., ⁹⁹Tc). Develop strategies to manage highly mobile radionuclides in on-site disposal facilities. These might include pre-treatment strategies, internal barriers, and liner modifications. Priority 4 ties closely with Priority 2.
• Adapting new technologies to facilitate design and performance assessment of on-site disposal facilities. Examine possible roles of using emerging technologies to facilitate design and performance assessment of on-site disposal facilities (e.g., AI calibrated based on monitoring network data).

Future LP activities will be formulated around these thematic areas.

Significance/Impact:
The research plans for the next three years will be tailored around each of the objectives identified in the site-wide review described earlier. A common theme in all plans will be outcomes that are directly applicable to activities at DOE facilities so that the findings have immediate significance and impact.

Public Benefit:
More effective and cost-efficient on-site disposal facilities will be developed based on cutting-edge research and lessons learned, providing significant public benefits. For example, CRESP demonstrated the service life of geomembranes in excess of 1000 yr. in LLW environments; this is critical information because the use of geomembranes is mandatory in some countries for facilities including hazardous waste landfills and liquid impoundments. CRESP also demonstrated field performance of engineering barriers for radon control showing sustained compliance with radon control requirements after decades of service. This work provides not only the foundation for more effective (reducing risks to the public) and cost-efficient (saving taxpayer money) but also builds confidence in the ability of landfills to reduce risks to the public over long periods of time.

References: (* indicates CRESP publication)

*Benson, C., Albright, W., Fratta, D., Tinjum, J., Kucukkirca, E., Lee, S., Scalia, J., Schlicht, P., and Wang, X. (2011), Engineered Covers for Waste Containment: Changes in Engineering Properties & Implications for Long-Term Performance Assessment, NUREG/CR-7028, Office of Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington.  Appendix

*Williams, M., Fuhrmann, M., Stefani, N., Michaud, A., Likos, W., Benson, C., and Waugh, W. (2022), Evaluation of In-Service Radon Barriers over Uranium Mill Tailings Disposal Facilities, NUREG/CR-7288, Office of Research, US Nuclear Reg. Comm., Washington, DC.  Appx.

Determination of Background PFAS Levels for DOE-EM Sites

Lead Investigator: David Kosson (Vanderbilt University)

Additional Investigators: Jenn Guelfo (Texas Tech), Kevin G. Brown (Vanderbilt University), Joanna Burger and Michael Gochfeld (Rutgers University), Haruko Wainwright (MIT), and additional academic experts may be added as consultants.

Project Objectives:

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Recommend sampling, analysis, and data evaluation approaches for determining background concentrations of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils; water (groundwater, ponds, precipitation); and biota at EM sites; and,
2. Develop a prototype background determination plan for WIPP.

Significance/Impact:
The identification and quantification of background concentration levels are critical when evaluating human health and ecological risks posed by contaminated sites, including those at DOE sites (Vyas, et al 2006). Background levels are defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being of two types: naturally occurring levels and anthropogenic levels because of diffuse anthropogenic, non-site sources (USEPA 2003). Background levels are used in a regulatory context to distinguish contamination from identifiable site-specific sources and activities from naturally occurring levels or contamination from non-site-related sources and activities. PFAS contamination may arise from distinct releases or diffuse sources; however, PFAS arises only from anthropogenic sources. Background levels can also be used to evaluate whether the threat to human health or the environment is posed by known or existing sources, to set remediation goals, and to communicate cumulative risks associated with contaminated sites (USEPA 2001).

High-quality background data are critical to a successful statistical groundwater monitoring program, especially for detection monitoring (USEPA 2009). The statistical tests used to define background levels are predicated on having appropriate and representative background measurements, where a statistical sample is representative if the distribution of sample measurements follows the distribution of the population from which the sample is drawn, but background data must also reflect the historical conditions unaffected by the activities that the background will be compared.

Public Benefit:
There is a large number (perhaps exceeding 20,000 compounds), and varying properties of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and their widespread use may make identification of sources and background concentrations often difficult, in general. In general, the determination of background concentrations can be a thorny problem because of the often-sparse nature of the environmental data involved; this applies to many areas including those outside of DOE; improvements to the process would have widespread impact. Because PFAS found present in environmental media at a site may not be the result of or influenced by site activities or releases, it is critical to be able to discern the actual source(s) of the PFAS to which the determination of background concentration is essential.

References: (* indicates CRESP publication)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response. (1989). Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Volume 1: Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A) (EPA/540/1–89/002). Washington, DC.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response. (2001). Guidance for Characterizing Background Chemicals in Soil at Superfund Sites (EPA 540-R-01–003). Washington, DC.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). Statistical Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities Unified Guidance (EPA 530/R-09-007). Washington, DC.

* Vyas, V. M., Roy, A., Georgopoulos, P. G., Strawderman, W., & Kosson, D. S. (2006). Development and Application of a Methodology for Determining Background Groundwater Quality at the Savannah River Site. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 56(2), 159–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.2006.10464452

Evaluation of the Capacity of Biocrusts (including Melanin-Pigmented Fungi) for Stabilization, Enhanced Resilience, and Limitation of Exposure to Radiologically Impacted Soils

Lead Investigator: Kathryn Higley (Oregon State University)

Additional Investigators: Irene Marry, Steve Kustka, Jillian Newmyer (Oregon State University)

Project Objectives:

The goals of this project are to:

• Evaluate the potential for biocrust restoration or expansion;
• Assess biocrust capacity as a sustainable and affordable means for mitigating environmental contamination through stabilization/sequestration;
• Assess its potential to promote ecosystem resilience following drought, fire, or other disruptive events;
• Examine Cladosporium sphaerospermum (CS)’s mechanism of metabolism in high radiation fields;
• Construct mRNA libraries for strains of CS; and,
• Investigate CS’s potential as a bioremediation agent under radiation stress.

Significance/Impact:
EM manages many large swaths of land that contain very low concentrations of radionuclides at and beneath the soil surface. They also have constructed and operated low-level waste sites LLW at several facilities, including Idaho National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, Savannah River Site, Hanford Site, and Nevada National Security Site (National Academies, 2017), which contain a range of radionuclides and activity concentrations. The design of covers for the waste sites is intended to manage water infiltration, minimize intrusion, and limit mobilization of the waste. Recent studies have shown that vegetative barriers may be superior in this water management effort (Benson, 2023). However, these sites are subject to disturbance from drought, fire, extreme rainfall, and other ecological disruptions, which can damage or remove surface vegetation. Restoration of surface vegetation as quickly as possible is necessary to ensure the integrity of the site. This research project is intended to assess the potential for biocrusts (Figure 1), melanin-pigmented fungi, or a combination of the two, to help stabilize vulnerable sites, enhance their resilience in the face of extreme events, and limit the mobilization of radionuclides in soils from beneath the surface (Haselwandter, 2020).

Biological soil crusts (“biocrusts”) (Figure 1) are intricate communities of cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, fungi, and microorganisms that inhabit the uppermost layer of soil predominantly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, but also in areas where plant-growth factors are less favorable (Sorochkina, et al. 2023). Their intricate networks of microorganisms stabilize soil through physical and biological processes which can prevent erosion through increased soil surface roughness and reduced velocity of overland water flow (Figure 2). Biocrusts can persist in dry soils due to their capacity to undergo dormancy during drought and tolerate complete desiccation. Biocrusts colonize the landscape before vascular plants after disturbance events (García-Carmona, 2023), facilitate seed germination (Haverilla, 2019), improve soil moisture and water-holding capacity, and overall increase soil fertility (Havrilla et al., 2019; Yadav, 2023). There is immense potential for utilizing biocrusts’ synergistic characteristics for restorative and sustainable means to mitigate and promote ecosystem resilience, therefore, requiring less human intervention. Restoration, expansion, or even introduction of biocrusts within contaminated sites may reduce human or environmental exposure by supporting native plant growth and enhancement of the density and robustness of ground cover.  There is also evidence to suggest that biocrusts may contribute to immobilization of contaminants within the soil matrix (Haselwandter, 2023).

Fungi are not only a prominent component of biocrusts (Elliott et al., 2024) but have been observed to thrive within highly radiologically contaminated environments. Cladosporium sphaerospermum (CS), a ubiquitous, melanin-rich and hyphae-producing fungi (Zalar et al., 2007), displays positive radiotrophism – an unusual behavior resulting in increased rates of sporulation and directional growth of hyphal biomass towards high-dose rate radiation sources (Tugay et al., 2006; Zhadanova et al., 2004). This behavior is allegedly sourced from a hypothetical metabolic pathway termed “radiosynthesis” that allows melanin-pigmented fungi to utilize ionizing radiation for cellular energy rather than carbon substrate (Dadachova et al., 2007). Subsequently, carbon substrate use can be optimized for cellular repair and biomass production (Geyer et al., 2016). The melanin pigment is also responsible for robust resistance against common EM site environmental stressors, including pH extremes, high concentrations of hazardous heavy metals and organic compounds, radionuclides, and nutrient scarcity (USGAO, 2023; Eisenman and Casadevall, 2012). One experiment studying the effectiveness of CS as a bioremediator suggested that fungi can utilize toluene, a common industrial chemical used in gaseous diffusion plants, as its sole source of carbon substrate through enzymatic digestion (Weber et al., 1995). This suggests the fungi have the potential for assimilating, degrading, or immobilizing persistent forms of environmental waste (Purkis et al., 2022; Manirethan et al., 2018; Mayans et al., 2011; Harms et al., 2011). Despite the potential for fungi exhibiting positive radiotrophism as effective bioremediators, major gaps in scientific literature require additional investigation.

References: (* indicates CRESP publication)

*Benson, C. H., Albright, W. H., Waugh, W. J., Apiwantragoon, P., Tigar, A. D., & Holbrook, D. L. (2023). Field Hydrology of Armored Earthen Final Covers with and without Vegetation.

Dadachova, E., Bryan, R. A., Huang, X., Moadel, T., Schweitzer, A. D., Aisen, P., Nosanchuk, J. D., & Casadevall, A. (2007). Ionizing Radiation Changes the Electronic Properties of Melanin and Enhances the Growth of Melanized Fungi. PLoS ONE, 2(5), e457. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000457

Doherty, K. D., Antoninka, A. J., Bowker, M. A., Ayuso, S. V., & Johnson, N. C. (2015). A Novel Approach to Cultivate Biocrusts for Restoration and Experimentation. Ecological Restoration, 33(1), 13–16. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43441702

Eisenman, H. C., & Casadevall, A. (2012). Synthesis and assembly of fungal melanin. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 93(3), 931–940. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3777-2

Elliott, D. R., Thomas, A. D., Hoon, S. R., & Sen, R. (2024). Spatial organization of fungi in soil biocrusts of the Kalahari is related to bacterial community structure and may indicate ecological functions of fungi in drylands. Frontiers in microbiology, 15, 1173637. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1173637

García-Carmona, M., García-Orenes, F., Arcenegui, V., & Mataix-Solera, J. (2023). The Recovery of Mediterranean Soils After Post-Fire Management: The Role of Biocrusts and Soil Microbial Communities. Spanish Journal of Soil Science, 13, 11388. https://doi.org/10.3389/sjss.2023.11388

Geyer, K. M., Kyker-Snowman, E., Grandy, A. S., & Frey, S. D. (2016). Microbial carbon use efficiency: Accounting for population, community, and ecosystem-scale controls over the fate of metabolized organic matter. Biogeochemistry, 127(2), 173–188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-016-0191-y

*Hargraves, J. T. (2023). Advancements in Phytoremediation, Dosimetry, and Environmental Radiological Protection: Integrating Endemic Plants, Anatomically Accurate Phantoms, and Real-world Data for Improved Assessments. PhD dissertation, Oregon State University.

Harms, H., Schlosser, D., & Wick, L. Y. (2011). Untapped potential: Exploiting fungi in bioremediation of hazardous chemicals. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 9(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2519

Haselwandter, K., & Berreck, M. (2020). Accumulation of radionuclides in fungi. Metal ions in fungi, 259-278.

Havrilla CA, Chaudhary VB, Ferrenberg S, et al. Towards a predictive framework for biocrust mediation of plant performance: A meta-analysis. J Ecol. 2019; 107: 2789–2807. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13269

Manirethan, V., Raval, K., Rajan, R., Thaira, H., & Balakrishnan, R. M. (2018). Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solution by melanin nanopigment obtained from marine source: Pseudomonas stutzeri. Journal of Environmental Management, 214, 315–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.02.084

Mayans, B., Camacho-Arévalo, R., García-Delgado, C., Alcántara, C., Nägele, N., Antón-Herrero, R., Escolástico, C., & Eymar, E. (2021). Mycoremediation of Soils Polluted with Trichloroethylene: First Evidence of Pleurotus Genus Effectiveness. Applied Sciences, 11(4), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041354

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Division on Earth and Life Studies; Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board; Planning Committee on Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management and Disposition. (2017). Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management and Disposition: A Workshop [Report]. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

Purkis, J. M., Bardos, R. P., Graham, J., & Cundy, A. B. (2022). Developing field-scale, gentle remediation options for nuclear sites contaminated with 137Cs and 90Sr: The role of Nature-Based Solutions. Journal of Environmental Management, 308, 114620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114620

Sorochkina, K., Nevins, C. J., Inglett, P. W., & Strauss, S. L. (2023). Biological Soil Crusts in Agroecosystems: SL506/SS719, 9/2023. EDIS, 2023(5). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-SS719-2023

Tugay, T., Zhdanova, N. N., Zheltonozhsky, V., Sadovnikov, L., & Dighton, J. (2006). The influence of ionizing radiation on spore germination and emergent hyphal growth response reactions of microfungi. Mycologia, 98(4), 521–527. https://doi.org/10.3852/mycologia.98.4.521

US Government Accountability Office. (2023). Hanford Cleanup: DOE Should Validate Its Analysis of High-Level Waste Treatment Alternatives (Congressional Committee GAO-23-106093; p. 43). https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-106093.pdf

Weber, F. J., Hage, K. C., & de Bont, J. A. (1995). Growth of the fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum with toluene as the sole carbon and energy source. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61(10), 3562–3566.

Yadav, P., Singh, R. P., Hashem, A., Abd Allah, E. F., Santoyo, G., Kumar, A., & Gupta, R. K. (2023). Enhancing Biocrust Development and Plant Growth through Inoculation of Desiccation-Tolerant Cyanobacteria in Different Textured Soils. Microorganisms, 11(10), 2507. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102507

Zalar, P., de Hoog, G. S., Schroers, H.-J., Crous, P. W., Groenewald, J. Z., & Gunde-Cimerman, N. (2007). Phylogeny and ecology of the ubiquitous saprobe Cladosporium  sphaerospermum, with descriptions of seven new species from hypersaline  environments. Studies in Mycology, 58, 157–183. https://doi.org/10.3114/sim.2007.58.06

Zhdanova, N. N., Tugay, T., Dighton, J., Zheltonozhsky, V., & Mcdermott, P. (2004). Ionizing radiation attracts soil fungi. Mycological Research, 108(9), 1089–1096. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953756204000966

Evaluating the Consistency and Comparability of Ecological Indicators for DOE Sites

Lead Investigator: Joanna Burger (Lead, Rutgers University)

Additional Investigators: Michael Gochfeld (Rutgers Medical School) and Kelly Ng (Rutgers University); Kevin G. Brown and David Kosson (Vanderbilt University)

Project Objectives:

The goals of this project are to:

• Support ecological data needs for evaluating ecosystem risks from site contamination and remediation.
• Develop ecological monitoring approaches for “chemicals of emerging concern” (CECs) for the protection of human health and the environment (particularly aquatic resources such as salmon).
• Identify (and categorize) the ecological and eco-cultural indicators currently used at the five major DOE-EM sites, including developing a climax community indicator applicable complex-wide.

Significance/Impact:
Understanding the extent and potential risk of CECs also builds on previous CRESP work and will allow DOE-EM managers to consider the risks and possible remediation methods.  Emerging chemicals of concern are substances or families of substances that are known to be toxic to aquatic life and/or humans but have not been adequately characterized with respect to toxic reference dose or carcinogenic slope factor.  They are currently unregulated, yet they pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and to humans, mainly through the consumption of drinking water.  Research is needed to understand the potential impacts of CECs to human health, natural resources and ecosystems as part of the EM mission.

The benefits to DOE-EM are that CRESP can 1) provide ecological information that aids DOE-EM in reducing risks to human health and the environment that will be timely, relevant, and useful across the complex to reduce risks and support its mission; 2) provide monitoring strategies for emerging chemicals of concern that will allow managers, regulators, and the public to understand potential distributions, exposure pathways, and risks; and 3) assess current ecological indicators to assist DOE to communicate the consistency of methods and the potential applicability of methods that could be employed complex-wide. The information and indicators will be useful for 1) planning and making remediation decisions and evaluating performance; 2) understanding risks (and potential mitigations) for ecological resources across sites; 3) providing processes for when and how to evaluate emerging chemicals of concern; 4) monitoring emerging chemicals and minimizing ecological damage; and 5) developing tools that can be used in communication strategies with neighboring communities.

This project provides tools and approaches that can be used complex-wide to provide assurances that human and ecological health are protected (i.e., part of DOE-EM’s stated missions), including protection from harm from emerging contaminants.   The project aids in identifying resources of high value and provides approaches to reduce the effects of remediation on valued resources. Because many of the larger DOE-EM sites have remediation tasks that may take decades, it is important to track the vulnerability and protection of ecological resources from both contamination and physical disruption to assure regulators and the public of environmental and ecological protection on site of resources likely to deteriorate or disappear on- or offsite. It will also provide methods that can compare the key ecological habitat of each site with the surrounding region. The project builds on approaches that CRESP developed at Hanford and ORR over the last decade. All five major DOE sites have many governmental and other stakeholders that have a vested interest in the protection of ecological resources, including recreational values. Site neighbors and communities may benefit from the site, and DOE can support multiple uses while still achieving DOE-EM’s priority mission of cleanup and protection of human health and the environment.

Public Benefits:
This project will provide an independent and transparent process for evaluating the use and risks of new, emerging chemicals that are easily accessible and usable by the public. These independent studies will directly provide information and data to the public on the safety of ecological resources (Tribal and subsistence fish, game, and herbs) on a given DOE or other site for consumption and recreational activities. These studies will help assure the public that some tracts of land on DOE-EM sites are safe for public recreation and Traditional activities. CRESP will engage with neighbors, students, and Tribal members in discussions and research on their concerns, food safety, emerging contaminants, and the safety of DOE lands for recreation or practicing traditional and recreational activities.

References: (* indicates CRESP publication)

*Burger, J., Gochfeld,M., Bunn,A., Looney, B., & Jeitner, C.. (2021a). Role of uncertainties in protecting ecological resources during remediation and restoration, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2021.1887783.

*Burger, J., M. Gochfeld, A. Bunn, J. Salisbury, K.G. Brown, C. Jeinter, and D. Kosson.  (2021b). Temporal uncertainties in evaluating risk to ecological resources using the Hanford Site as a case study. Waste Management Symposium, Phoenix, AZ. 20248. March 2021.

*Burger, J., M. Gochfeld, D. Kosson, K. Brown, and M. Cortes. (2022a). Development of a method to evaluate ecological risk: Oak Ridge Reservation as a case study. WM2022, Phoenix, AZ. March 1

** Burger, J., Greenberg, M., & Lowrie, K. (Eds.) (2022b). Risk communication during crises and chronic exposures. Risk Analysis. Vol. 11. Pages 2345-2606. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.14065

*Burger, J., Gochfeld, M., Giffen, N., Brown, K. G., Cortes, M., Ng, K., & Kosson, D. S. (2023a). Comparing land cover and interior forests on contaminated land and the surrounding region: Oak Ridge Reservation as a case study. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 86(15), 501–517. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2023.2223231.

*Burger, J., Gochfeld, M., Brown, K.G., Ng, K., Cortes, M., Kosson, D. (2023b).  The importance of recognizing buffer zones to lands being developed, restoration, or remediated on planning for protection of ecological resources.  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2023.2285511.

*Burger, J, Gochfeld, M, Kosson, D, S., Brown, KG, Ng, K & Cortes, M. (2023c), Indicators for evaluating ecological resources useful for management and remediation: Oak Ridge Reservation’s Bethel Valley Watershed as a case study’, WM 2023, WMSymposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

*Burger, J., Gochfeld M., Brown, K.G., Ng, K., Cortes, M., & Kosson, D. (2024). Evaluating resources on Department of Energy’s Bear Creek Valley Administrative Watershed on Oak Ridge Reservation as a case study.  WM 2024. WM Symposium, Phoenix, Arizona.

*CRESP (2015).  Salmon Exposure to Chromium in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River: Potential Effects on Life History and Population Biology http://www.cresp.org/projects/cresp-reviews/

Department of Energy. (1994). Stewards of National Resources.  DOE, Office of Energy Research, Washington, D.C. DOI: 10.2172/10116461.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2024. Contaminants of Emerging Concern including Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/wqc/contaminants-emerging-concern-including-pharmaceuticals-and-personal-care-products

Fenton, S.E., Ducatman, A., Boobis, A., DeWitt, J.C., Lau, C., Ng Ca, Smith, J.S. & Roberts, S.M. (2021) Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research. Environ Toxicol Chem.; 40(3): 606–630. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4890.

*Gochfeld, M., Burger, J., Kosson, D. & Brown, K. (2022). An approach for evaluating risk and communicating risk to the public using East Tennessee Technology Park at Oak Ridge.  WM2022, Phoenix, AZ. March 2022. 12 pgs.

*Gochfeld, M., Burger, J., Brown, D. & Kosson, D. (2024). Contaminants of Emerging Concern: 1,4-Dioxane as a Remediation Challenge at DOE’s Environmental Management Sites. WM2024, Phoenix AZ. March 2024.  12 pgs.

*Gochfeld, M., Burger, J., & Kosson, D. (2024)   1,4-dioxane in the environment.  CRESP Report to DOE/EM February 2024.

NJDEP (2021) Review of proposed EPA Maximum Contaminant Level for Perchlorate Public Health Standing Committee (M. Gochfeld, Chair) of the New Jersey Department of Health, Trenton NJ.

Parr, P.D. & Hughes, J. H. (2006). Physical characteristics and natural resources.  Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN. ORNL/TM-2015/98.

Whicker, R.W., Hinton, T. G., MacDonnell, M.M., Pinder, J. E., & Habegger, (2004). Avoiding destructive remediation at DOE sites.  Science 303:1615-1616. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1093187

Developing Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Long-term Groundwater Model Validation and Data Assimilation Strategies

Lead Investigator: Haruko M. Wainwright (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

DOE POC: April Kluever, Charles Denton, Quincy Mason (EM)

Project Objectives:

The goals of this project are to develop a blueprint for archiving/managing/synthesizing groundwater assessment models across multiple sites for enabling cross-site analyses, to automatically detect the deviation of observational data from model predictions, and to facilitate and improve groundwater model developments in the future. Specifically, the project aims to:

• Objective 1: Create the database of past groundwater assessments at the DOE sites such as archiving the model assumptions and parameters as well as the model input files and results (if available) in a machine-readable format.
• Objective 2: Investigate different assumptions and parameter ranges/distributions as well as key factors associated with the success and failures of modeling results.
• Objective 3: Develop a Bayesian model-data assimilation methods and associated AI technologies to automatically ingest datasets collected at the sites and to detect the model deviation/discrepancy from observations.

Significance/Impact:
Many of the groundwater assessments at the DOE sites are known to have failed in the past such that the subsequent observations were not captured within the predicted confidence intervals. Such failures were partly attributed to incomplete scientific understanding (Zachara et al., 2013) as well as to modelers’ judgments. These failures would threaten the credibility of future groundwater assessments as well as performance assessments. At the same time, it is extremely difficult to investigate/analyze past models, since the key information (such as source terms and model parameters) is often buried in large reports and thereby limits independent confirmation.

The database developed in this study will be a valuable asset for DOE-EM for retaining the knowledge relevant to groundwater assessments. In addition, the database will allow us – by taking advantage of artificial intelligence technologies (AI) for pattern recognition – to analyze the commonality and transferability of certain assumptions and parameters. Our results will not only facilitate future groundwater model developments and improve their quality/predictability through the lessons learned. At the same time, the automated model-data assimilation will be able to not only detect anomalies and discrepancies to alert the site managers for re-assessment in a timely manner but also to validate the model results through long-term observations.

Public Benefits:
The improved predictability of groundwater systems using Artificial Intelligence technologies will provide assurance to the public about the performance of waste disposal cells, the stability of residual contaminants, the transparent identification of anomalies, and the valid predictions of groundwater contamination projected forward in time.

References: (* indicates CRESP publication)

Meray, A. O., Sturla, S., Siddiquee, M. R., Serata, R., Uhlemann, S., Gonzalez-Raymat, H., … & Wainwright, H. M. (2022). PyLEnM: A machine learning framework for long-term groundwater contamination monitoring strategies. Environmental science & technology, 56(9), 5973-5983.

*Rustick, J. H., Kosson, D. S., Krahn, S. L., & Clarke, J. H. (2013, July). Building Confidence in LLW Performance Assessments-13386. WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9-332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States).

Zachara, J. M., Long, P. E., Bargar, J., Davis, J. A., Fox, P., Fredrickson, J. K., … & Yabusaki, S. B. (2013). Persistence of uranium groundwater plumes: Contrasting mechanisms at two DOE sites in the groundwater–river interaction zone. Journal of contaminant hydrology, 147, 45-72.

Evaluating Potential Environmental Impacts from Use and Disposal of Batteries with Specific DOE Environmental Management Applications

Lead Investigator: Jennifer Guelfo (Texas Tech University)

Additional Investigators: Evan Gray (Texas Tech University)

Project Objectives:

1. Identify PFAS and non-PFAS fluorinated battery compounds (FBCs) used in advanced batteries relevant to electric vehicles (EVs) and specialized EVs or other devices used by DOE in unique service applications.
2. Identify key environmental considerations for the use, recycling, and disposal of advanced batteries in electric vehicles in general and in unique service applications.

Significance/Impact:
PFAS occurrence has been established at DOE facilities, including Los Alamos and Brookhaven National Laboratories. Further, DOE issued a Strategic Roadmap committing to understanding PFAS use at DOE sites, reducing risks associated with any PFAS releases, preventing future environmental PFAS releases, and enhancing PFAS research (DOE, 2022b). DOE has also committed to a 100% zero EV fleet in its 2022 Sustainability Plan (DOE, 2022a). This may include EVs in general and battery-operated robotic devices in EM operations that represent unique challenges in deep mining activities (WIPP) and radioactive waste management operations (e.g., waste retrieval from single-shell tanks, waste processing). Simultaneously, there is increasing awareness of the use of PFAS in battery technology (e.g., lithium-ion batteries or LiBs) as electrolytes, electrode binders, and separators (Guelfo et al., In press). Studies have demonstrated the environmental release of LiB-associated PFAS near manufacturing facilities and confirmed their occurrence in wastewater and landfill leachate (Neuwald et al., 2022; Guelfo et al., In press). Thus, there is the potential for the pursuit of a zero-emissions fleet to harm DOE’s progress in their PFAS Strategic Roadmap. Studies have also confirmed the environmental release of non-PFAS FBCs (e.g., there is no information regarding the environmental risk of FBCs relative to PFAS (Neuwald et al., 2021, 2022). Objectives described here will facilitate DOE’s ability to successfully and simultaneously pursue both their PFAS strategic and sustainability plans.

Public Benefits:
This project will reduce the use and release of recalcitrant chemicals (PFAS) used in batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) and other DOE and non-DOE applications. The results from this research will be made publicly available in peer-reviewed manuscripts to help inform the public. As part of this project, graduate students will be trained in cutting-edge approaches to PFAS analysis, knowledge of fate, transport, and ecotoxicity. This training will have a broad applicability to both DOE and other sites.

References: (* indicates CRESP publication)

DOE (2022a) 2022 Department of Energy Sustainability Plan. Available at: https://www.sustainability.gov/pdfs/doe-2022-sustainability-plan.pdf (Accessed: 10 June 2024).

DOE (2022b) PFAS Strategic Roadmap: DOE Commitments to Action 2022-2025. Available at: https://www.energy.gov/pfas/articles/pfas-strategic-roadmap-doe-commitments-action-2022-2025#:~:text=PFAS%20Strategic%20Roadmap%3A%20DOE%20Commitments%20to%20Action%202022%2D2025,-August%2018%2C%202022&text=Specifically%2C%20DOE%20commits%20to%3A,the%20 environment%20at%20DOE%20sites. (Accessed: 10 June 2024).

Guelfo, J. et al. (In press) ‘Lithium-ion battery components are at the nexus of sustainable energy and environmental PFAS release’, Nature Communications [Preprint].

Guelfo, J.L. and Higgins, C.P. (2013) ‘Subsurface Transport Potential of Perfluoroalkyl Acids at Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)-Impacted Sites’, Environmental Science & Technology, 47(9), pp. 4164–4171. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/es3048043.

Neuwald, I. et al. (2021) ‘Filling the knowledge gap: A suspect screening study for 1310 potentially persistent and mobile chemicals with SFC- and HILIC-HRMS in two German river systems’, Water Research, 204, p. 117645. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117645.

Neuwald, I.J. et al. (2022) ‘Ultra-Short-Chain PFASs in the Sources of German Drinking Water: Prevalent, Overlooked, Difficult to Remove, and Unregulated’, Environmental Science & Technology, 56(10), pp. 6380–6390. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c07949.

Schaefer, C.E. et al. (2023) ‘Occurrence of quantifiable and semi-quantifiable poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in united states wastewater treatment plants’, Water Research, 233, p. 119724. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.119724.

Shojaei, M., Kumar, N. and Guelfo, J.L. (2022) ‘An Integrated Approach for Determination of Total Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)’, Environmental Science & Technology, 56(20), pp. 14517–14527. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c05143.

USEPA (2000) Methods for Measuring the Toxicity and Bioaccumulation of Sediment-associated Contaminants with Freshwater Invertebrates. EPA 600/R-99/064. USEPA. Available at: internal-pdf://USEPA 2000-0707894272/USEPA 2000.pdf.

Yang, Z., Shojaei, M. and Guelfo, J.L. (2023) ‘Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in grocery store foods: method optimization, occurrence, and exposure assessment’, Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, p. 10.1039.D3EM00268C. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EM00268C.

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All Publications: Remediation, Near Surface Disposal & Long-term Stewardship,
2006-2019 (pdf)

Highlighted Publications & Reports

CRESP Remediation and Near Surface Disposal

Yesiller, N, Hanson, J, Risken, J, Benson, C, Abichou, T & Darius, J 2019, ‘Hydration Fluid and Field Exposure Effects on Moisture-Suction Response of Geosynthetic Clay Liners’, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 145, no. 4, p. 04019010. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002011

Suttora, L, Rosenberger, K, Benson, C & Hughes, F 2019, ‘Reducing Risk to Enable End States, Panel’, WM ‘2019, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Setz, M, Benson, C, Bradshaw, S & Tian, K 2019, ‘Lithium Extraction to Determine Ammonium in the Exchange Complex of Bentonite’, Geo Testing Journal, vol. 1, no. 42. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20170004

Scalia, J, Benson, C & Finnegan, M 2019, ‘Alternate Procedures for Swell Index Testing of Granular Bentonite from GCLs’, Geotechnical Testing Journal, vol. 5, no. 42. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20180075

Burger, J, Gochfeld, M, Kosson, DS, Brown, KG, Salisbury, JA & Jeitner, C 2019, ‘Evaluation of ecological resources at operating facilities at contaminated sites: The Department of Energy’s Hanford Site as a case study’, Environmental Research, vol. 170, pp. 452-462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.12.052

Burger, J, Gochfeld, M, Kosson, DS, Brown, KG, Bliss, LS, Bunn, A, Clarke, JH, Mayer, HJ & Salisbury, JA 2019, ‘The costs of delaying remediation on human, ecological, and eco-cultural resources: Considerations for the Department of Energy: A methodological framework’, Science of The Total Environment, vol. 649, pp. 1054-1064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.232

Burger, J, Gochfeld, M, Kosson, D, Bunn, A, Salisbury, J, Brown, K, Downs, J & Jeitner, C 2019, ‘Comparing Ecological Risk between D & D Facilities and Operating Facilities at the Hanford Site – 19531, Poster’, WM ‘2019, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Burger, J, Gochfeld, M, Jeitner, C, Bunn, A, Downs, J, Kosson, D, Salisbury, J & Brown, K 2019a, ‘Comparing Ecological Risk between D & D Facilities and Operating Facilities at the Hanford Site – 19531, Presentation’, WM ‘2019, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Burger, J, Gochfeld, M, Jeitner, C, Bunn, A, Downs, J, Kosson, D, Salisbury, J & Brown, K 2019b, ‘Comparing Ecological Risk between D & D Facilities and Operating Facilities at the Hanford Site – 19531, Panel’, WM ‘2019, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Benson, C & Tian, K 2019a, ‘Stress-Induced Porewater Pressures in the Vadose Zone Beneath a Mixed Waste Landfill ‘, WM ‘2019, 2019 Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Benson, C & Tian, K 2019b, ‘Stress-Induced Porewater Pressures in the Vadose Zone Beneath a Composite-Lined Landfill – 19001, Panel’, WM ‘2019, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Benson, C, Black, P, Walker, S, Rosenberger, K, Seitz, R & Brown, K 2019, ‘Interagency Community of Practice in Risk and Performance Assessment, Panel’, WM ‘2019, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Benson, C 2019, ‘Applying Lessons Learned on Engineered Barrier Service Life to Performance Assessment, Presentation’, WM ‘2019, WM Symposia, Phoenix Arizona.

Benson, C 2019, ‘CRESP’s Land Fill Partnership: Applied Research to Solve Challenging Problems for On-Site Disposal Facilities, Presentation’, WM ‘2019, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Tian, K, Benson, C, Yesiller, N & Hanson, J 2018, ‘Evaluation of a HDPE Geomembrane from a Composite Liner after 12-yr of Atmospheric Exposure’, Geosynthetics 2019, Industrial Fabrics Association International, Houston, Texas.

Tian, K, Benson, C, Yang, Y & Tinjum, J 2018, ‘Radiation dose and antioxidant depletion in a HDPE geomembrane’, Geotextiles and Geomembranes, vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 426-435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2018.03.003

Tian, K & Benson, C 2018, ‘Containing Tc-99 using a multisorbing barrier material’, Waste Management ‘18, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona.

Scalia, JI, Bohnhoff, G, Shackelford, C, Benson, C, Sample-Lord, K, Malusis, M & Likos, W 2018, ‘Enhanced bentonites for containment of inorganic waste leachates by GCLs’, Geo synthetics International, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 392-411. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.18.00024

Ng, G & Higley, K 2018, ‘Application of US EPA SWMM 5 to a radionuclide-contaminated urban catchment with Low-Impact Developments’, Health Physics Society 63rd Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio.

Neville, D & Higley, K 2018, ‘Faster, Sharper and Open’, Cascade Chapter Health Physics Society, Olympia, Washington.

Neville, D, Condon, C & Higley, K 2018, ‘Improving Methodology for Biota Radiation Dosimetry, Poster Session’, CRESP Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee.

Neville, D, Condon, C & Higley, K 2018, ‘Improving Methodology for Biota Radiation Transport’, Applicability of Radiation-Response Models to Low Dose Radiation Protection Standards, American Nuclear Society and Health Physics Society Joint Topical Meeting, Tri-Cities, Washington.

Higley, K 2018a, ‘Radiation Protection: It’s Not Just the Numbers’, Applicability of Radiation-Response Models to Low Dose Radiation Protection Standards, American Nuclear Society and Health Physics Society Joint Topical Meeting, Tri-Cities, Washington.

Higley, K 2018b, ”Integration of radiological protection of the environment into the system of radiological protection”, Annals of the ICRP, vol. 47, no. 3-4, pp. 270-284. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146645318756823

Gomez-Fernandez, M, Higley, K & Tokuhiro, A 2018a, ‘Heuristics and Machine Learning Approaches to Radiation Protection’, Health Physics Society 63rd Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio.

Gomez-Fernandez, M, Higley, K & Tokuhiro, A 2018b, ‘Heuristics and Machine Learning Approaches to Diagnosis and Prognosis’, Spring 2018 E. Dale Trout Meeting of the Cascade Chapter of the Health Physics Society, Portland, Oregon.

Elder, C & Benson, C 2018, ‘Performance and economic comparison of PRB types in heterogeneous aquifers’, Environmental Geotechnics, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.17.00063

Condon, C, Neville, D & Higley, K 2018, ‘Site Specific Environmental Fate and Transport of Radionuclides Through Field Work’, CRESP Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee.

Condon, C & Higley, K 2018, ‘Sectional 3D Model Development for the Reference Tree’, Health Physics Society 63rd Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio. http://hps.org/documents/2018_annual_meeting_program.pdf

Burger, J, Kosson, D, Powers, C & Gochfeld, M 2018, ‘An Information Template for Evaluating the Relative Priority of Remediation Projects that Pose a Risk to Receptors – 18674’, WM’2018, WM Symposia, Phoenix, Arizona. http://toc.proceedings.com/40439webtoc.pdf

Burger, J, Gochfeld, M & Jeitner, C 2018, ‘Risk valuation of ecological resources at contaminated deactivation and decommissioning facilities: methodology and a case study at the Department of Energy’s Hanford site’, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 190, no. 8, p. 478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6866-1

Benson, C, Albright, W, Waugh, W & Davis, M 2018, ‘Field Hydrologic Performance of Earthen Covers for Uranium Mill Tailings Disposal Sites on the Colorado Plateau’, DOE-LM Long-Term Stewardship Conference, Grand Junction, Colorado. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/10/f56/Benson-Field-Hydrologic-Performance.pdf

Benson, C 2018a, ‘Water Balance Covers for Waste Containment: Engineering with Unsaturated Soils from Theory to Practice’, Dr. Arthur T. Corey Distinguished Lecture Series, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Benson, C 2018b, ‘Sustainability in Geoengineering: A New Paradigm for Engineering with Earthen Materials’, 8th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Hangzhou China.

Benson, C 2018c, ‘Field Evaluation of Radon Fluxes from In-Service Disposal Facilities for Uranium Mill Tailings’, DOE-LM Long-Term Stewardship Conference, Grand Junction, Colorado. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/10/f57/Benson-Field-Eval-Radon-Flux.pdf