Seeing into the Earth Noninvasive Characterization of the Shallow Subsurface for Environmental and Engineering Applications (2000) / Chapter Skim
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6 Nontechnical Issues
6 Nontechnical Issues
Pages 107-119
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From page 107... ...
Similar nontechnical issues are discussed in two recent reports (Federal Facilities Policy Group, 1995; National Research Council, 1997~. This chapter explores a variety of nontechnical barriers to the application of noninvasive technologies to characterize the subsurface environment.
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From page 108... ...
The costs of research and development for the three-dimensional seismic methods and the costs of more extensive data collection efforts in the field were more than offset by the savings associated with fewer dry holes; there have been unsubstantiated claims of success ratios of over 80 percent. The economic benefits of noninvasive methods in resource exploration and recovery are apparent.
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From page 109... ...
A seismic reflection survey at the site sampled the subsurface at 0.7-m intervals, delineating two buried valleys, which enabled the refinery operator to develop a contingency plan that satisfied the state regulatory agency (Miller et al., 1989~. As another example, inadvertent disruption during construction of buried utility cables and gas pipelines is frequently in the news; noninvasive characterization might help avert such disruptions and their associated costs (National Transportation Safety Board, 1997~.
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From page 110... ...
Both contractors and regulators have a vested interest in adopting and following detailed, rigid, generic regulatory requirements regardless of site-specific conditions. If they can show that they followed every regulation to the letter, contractors have some protection from lawsuits regardless of the quality of their results.
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From page 111... ...
To maximize the net benefits achieved from investments in federal facilities cleanup, the Federal Facilities Policy Group (1995) recommended (1)
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From page 112... ...
, Ames Laboratory DOE, Argonne National Laboratory California Environmental Protection Agency Accelerated Site Characterization Committee D-18 on Soils and Rocks Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model Tools for Expedited Site Characterization Expedited Site Characterization Expedited Site Characterization (QuickSite) Environmental Technology Certification Program data acquisition program, and interpretation of results will be different for each site.
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From page 113... ...
For example, the Geophysics Advisor Expert System (Olhoeft, 1992) can help select the appropriate geophysical tools to apply to EPA Superfund site problems.
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From page 114... ...
, includes statutory decisions, competitiveness and infighting among agencies and contractors, the "not-invented-here" syndrome, and "turf" protection. A relatively recent example of a congressionally mandated program involved buried UXO and mine detection advanced technology demonstration (ATD; U.S.
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From page 115... ...
Competition among agencies, turf protection, and the not-invented-here syndrome can lead to major inefficiencies and barriers to effective subsurface characterization programs. A 1996 NRC report (Barriers to Science: Technical Management of the Department of Energy Environmental Remediation Program)
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From page 116... ...
for characterization jobs, compounded by regulatory pressures and legal liability, can discourage the adoption of new tools and techniques unless contractors (1) have access to documentation of the methods'
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From page 117... ...
However, to be effective in the competitive environment in which near-surface contractors operate, delivery of the continuing education programs must be independent of time and location. Again, the Internet and the World Wide Web offer opportunities for new approaches to continuing education.
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From page 118... ...
Results of noninvasive characterization are inherently nonunique and sometimes cannot address certain classes of subsurface characterization requirements (e.g., contaminant concentrations)
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From page 119... ...
continuing education programs, particularly using distance learning technologies; and (3) public outreach programs.
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