Environmental Science Division (EVS)
Advancing informed environmental decision making

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EVS Program Areas

	Advanced Tool Development
	Atmospheric/Climate Research
	Environmental Policy/Planning
	Integrated Assessments
	National Security
	Risk-Based Assessment/Mgmt.
	Site Restoration/Stewardship

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Applied Geosciences and Environmental Management Section

The Applied Geosciences and Environmental Management (AGEM) Section within Argonne National Laboratory’s Environmental Science Division (EVS) integrates field sampling, groundwater modeling, and engineering cost analyses to support remediation of sites having contaminated soil and groundwater. Section staff are developing new cone penetrometer technologies and — in combination with innovative sampling, analytical, and computer data processing methods — are using them to map subsurface distributions of contaminants in soils and groundwater. In addition, section staff are implementing spray irrigation and phytoremediation as alternatives to traditional methods of treating contaminated groundwater and are investigating the potential application of bioremediation and bioaugmentation technologies, where appropriate.

AGEM has nearly 17 years of extensive experience in providing environmental expertise to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) in support of their former grain storage bin program.

AGEM Capabilities

Direct-push technology
- Rapid acquisition of subsurface geologic and hydrogeologic information using direct-push technology to identify lithology, water saturation, and hydrogeologic properties and to conduct soil and water sampling.

Installation of wells and monitoring networks
- Monitoring well installation utilizing both direct-push and conventional drilling methods. Design and monitoring of long-term monitoring network systems.
- Extensive experience in water well installation (drilling, completion, and development) and design.

Groundwater data acquisition and modeling
- Acquisition and application of geochemical and isotopic data for analysis of multi-aquifer systems, identification of preferential flow, and determination of areas of recharge to groundwater systems.
- Simulation of groundwater systems using numerical modeling to optimize water resource management, predict future contaminant migration, evaluate restoration alternatives for contaminated aquifer systems, and optimize remedial design.
- Integrated simulation of groundwater and surface water systems on a watershed scale as a means to protect aquifer systems from contamination and optimize sustainable usage of water resources.
- Employment of advanced techniques to estimate hydrologic properties of complex aquifer systems.

Geophysical methods
- Application of geophysical methods of identify 3-D lithologic (bedrock, aquifer, etc.) distribution as well as stratigraphic and structural relationships.

3-D visualization
- Visualization of 3-D geologic strata and structures and aquifer systems.

Remote sensing
- Utilization of satellite imagery and remote sensing information to determine/identify parameters for analyses of hydrologic systems in a watershed-based study.

Management and implementation of large-scale projects
- Considerable experience in directing and facilitating implementation of large-scale projects.
- Use of the computer-based Primavera project, personnel, and budget-tracking system. This system is used extensively in large-scale construction projects.
- Extensive experience in report preparation and presentation of proposals and programmatic results to private, regulatory, and governmental agencies.
- Extensive subcontracting experience.

Analytical laboratory capabilities
- Analytical laboratory can provide fast analyses and new methodologies, and is capable of developing new analytical methods using state-of-the-art instrumentation.