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Research Policy Statement

Table of Contents:

• Philosophy of Research
• Research Proposals - Planning and Coordination
• Coordination of Field Work
• Additional Support Provided by the Minnesota District
• Publications

Philosophy of Research

Research efforts at the Bemidji, Minnesota, crude-oil spill site are directed towards understanding the combined physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting the migration and fate of slightly soluble, organic contaminants in a field-scale system. These processes include the flow of the immiscible organic fluid, the partitioning of volatile components into the unsaturated zone gas phase, the dissolution of soluble components into the water phase, the microbially mediated redox processes, and the impact of these reactions on the organic and inorganic geochemistry of the ground-water system. The complexities of interacting and competing processes make studying the field scale challenging. Additionally, all processes occurring in the field are modified, if not controlled, by the spatial variability of physical and chemical properties. Through interdisciplinary research teams and intensive field studies, we hope to integrate the knowledge obtained into a comprehensive understanding of the overall mass balance of the oil in the subsurface, and of the processes controlling the fate of the oil in the subsurface. Knowledge gained and methodologies developed from detailed studies at this site will be relevant to other sites, and will help understand the potential for in situ bioremediation of organic ground-water contamination.

The planning and coordination of research at the Bemidji site is based on four principles: (1) focusing research on a specific field site draws together scientists of various disciplines who might otherwise think they have little in common. All researchers must deal with the overall physical, chemical, and microbiological system, finding it to their advantage to work together to accomplish their aims; (2) the field site is used as a field laboratory to study processes as they operate in the natural environment. In other words, the purpose is not to answer site-specific questions, but to gain a general understanding that incorporates the complexities inherent in the real world; (3) the results of work at the site must be disseminated to the scientific community and the public. The product is not the work, but the findings disseminated through publications, presentations, and field trips; (4)"bottom-up" planning, with an emphasis on personal and collective initiative, leads to better research than "top-down" planning.

The researchers meet once per year at a planning meeting that usually takes place in mid-winter. The primary purposes of the annual planning meeting are to (1) present and discuss the most recent research findings, (2) plan the next summer's field work, (3) discuss future research plans and goals, and (4) discuss future or proposed research. It is important for each research team to have at least one representative at the annual planning meeting to coordinate the following summer's field work and to update the other researchers on their research findings. A representative from each new research team will be able to discuss how their proposed research is linked to the overall research goals of the project. The annual planning meeting typically is assembled in the Denver, Reston, or Menlo Park regional research offices.

Research Proposals - Planning and Coordination

Ideas for new and innovative research at the Bemidji site are encouraged. These ideas need to be coordinated, however, to avoid the unnecessary, or unintentional, duplication of research efforts. Research ideas could originate from many different sources including NRP or University researchers, requests for proposals, or sometimes as a result of interest expressed by a potential funding agency. In many cases, new research efforts result because of new collegial contacts that bring in fresh ideas. These fresh ideas need to be developed and implemented in coordination and consultation with the other Bemidji researchers, to insure that the proposed research is a good investment of the site's resources and that the work builds on, and adds to, other work at the site. The fresh ideas also need to be developed and implemented in coordination the District, to insure that the proposed work can be supported by the site's infrastructure.

All ideas for new research at the Bemidji site must be communicated, first of all, to the NRP research coordinator (currently Bill Herkelrath) or the site coordinator (currently Geoff Delin). The proposed research will then be distributed amongst the Bemidji research team for discussion and coordination. Each University-sponsored research team needs to have a strong link to a USGS researcher working at the Bemidji site, or preferably a USGS person actively involved in their research effort. A representative of each new research team must attend the annual planning meeting to coordinate the following summer’s field work and update the other researchers their planned research. The new research team can discuss how their research proposal is linked to the overall research goals of the project.

Coordination of Field Work

The Minnesota District serves as the formal coordinator for work at the Bemidji site and has ultimate responsibility for decisions concerning the site's operation. Therefore, all plans for field work and requests for field support must be communicated to the site coordinator to allow for adequate planning. The Minnesota District will provide local assistance in planning specific field efforts and in coordinating major field activities.

Advance planning is extremely important in relation to scheduling of the drill rig. All drilling plans must be scheduled before field activities commence each summer. Requests for use of the drill rig to install wells, collect soil cores, or conduct other research will be discussed at the annual planning meeting.

Additional Support Provided by the Minnesota District

The District will provide it's Mobile B56 drill rig, including a driller and a helper, during periods of drilling and field data collection. The drill rig is capable of obtaining intact sediment cores of the unsaturated and saturated zones through 8-inch outside-diameter hollow-stem augers. Standard water-sampling equipment, such as pumps, tubing, nitrogen gas, gas regulators, deionized water, cleaning solvents, tools, generators, and general supplies, will be provided by the District. Water levels and oil levels will be measured monthly in a network of monitoring wells using a electronic or steel tape. Continuous monitoring of water levels will be made in selected wells using data loggers. All water-level, oil-level, geologic, and other well data will be entered into a relational data base. District personnel will provide researchers with accurate, up-to-date information on well locations, well depths, water levels, geology, and similar data on request. Status reports, summarizing significant activities and research findings, will be compiled and distributed quarterly. District personnel will also be collaborating on research at the site.

Publications

A copy of each major interpretive report should be sent to the District at the draft stage. This draft report will be kept on file and will be useful in case the site coordinator needs to answer questions regarding ongoing or completed research at the site. A copy of the final interpretive report, as well as all conference abstracts, should be sent to the site coordinator following publication. An up-to-date bibliography will be maintained by the District and will be available on request as well as on the Bemidji WWW home page.