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Environmental
and Coastal Resources Management
- Water Resource Analysis, Modeling, and Management -
Water and Environmental Quality
RPI has conducted a broad range of field studies to characterize
point and non-point pollution of water, sediments, and aquatic organisms.
Selected examples of experience in this area included:
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- Since 2000, RPI has been under contract with SC DHEC (South
Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control) through
a federally funded cost-sharing program to address issues in water
quality in two local watersheds. The goals of the projects were
to reduce fecal coliform bacteria and turbidity loading into the
Rocky Creek watershed in Chester and Fairfield counties (project
duration: 2000-2007); the Little Saluda River watershed in Saluda
County (project duration: 2000-2004); the Big Wateree Creek watershed
in Fairfield County (project duration: 2005-2008), the Fishing
and Tinkers Creek watersheds in Chester and York Counties (project
duration: 2004-2008), Allison Creek, Lower Allison Creek, Beaverdam
Creek, Brown Creek, and Calabash Branch watersheds in York County
(project duration: 2005-2009); and Turkey and Bullock Creek watershed
in Chester and York Counties (project duration: 2008-2011). The
targeted watersheds violated the fecal coliform water quality
standard (and turbidity standard in Big Wateree Creek). Sources
of the fecal coliform bacteria in the watershed include agricultural/livestock
operations, failing septic systems, and urban stormwater runoff.
More...
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- Delineation of the distribution of PCB contamination for 60
miles of the Mud River, Kentucky downstream of a die-casting facility.
RPI scientists developed a sediment and contaminant budget for
the river, modeled the rate of contaminant transport downstream
with and without different remediation options, and evaluated
risks to aquatic organisms with and without remediation.
- Baseline environmental assessment of the Niger River, Nigeria.
This study was conducted for the Petroleum Inspectorate, to assist
them in the development of criteria and standards for oil industry
activities in the Niger River Delta region. We conducted
a three-year baseline assessment of water and sediment quality,
habitat types (including mapping), and biological characterization
of the entire delta system. We developed water classifications
and mapped them for the Niger River system. In the course
of this study, we set up 633 field stations, 2,000 separate field
chemistry measurements were taken, 7,029 laboratory analyses of
water and sediments were performed, 1,379 biological field samples
were collected, and 3,2020 replicate samples were processed in
the laboratory.
- In 1994, RPI prepared a manual on protocols and methodologies
for oil spill damage inventory and assessment for the State of
Florida. These protocols were developed to meet the State's
requirements for data quality assurance and control.
- RPI developed a water and sediment quality model to evaluate
the fate and persistence of contaminants from point sources into
18 estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico. This work required characterization
of the pollutants from a wide range of industrial discharges,
for the following priority pollutant groupings: pesticides,
halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, monocyclic aromatics, phthalate
esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamine and other
N-containing chemicals, and inorganics. Estuaries were ranked
according to the amount of point source pollutants being deposited
in the estuarine areas by pollutant type and persistence categories.
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Flood Plain Management
In approaching watershed management issues, RPI investigates land use,
surface and groundwater, wetlands monitoring and socioeconomic factors
including forecasted population growth. Only through this multidisciplinary
approach, which includes analyses of numerous data sources incorporated
in a GIS, can effective watershed management be achieved.
RPI is under a five-year contract with the Damage Assessment Center of
NOAA to provide expertise in natural resource damage assessment and restoration.
RPI has developed restoration plans for damaged habitats with an emphasis
on the restoration and enhancement of wetlands. RPI is also under
another five-year contract with the Office of Pipeline Safety to provide
expertise on resource mapping, damage assessment, and habitat restoration.
Geomorphology and Sediment Transport
RPI scientists have extensive experience in the coastal plain geology
of the southeastern United States. Project capabilities include
riverine, estuarine, and marine geomorphology; sediment transport, erosion
and deposition modeling; data collection methods including photointerpretation,
aerial reconnaissance, and ground surveying; and lake sedimentation.
Drinking Water Unusually Sensitive Areas
The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), in support of
the Pipeline Integrity Management System Rule, is required to identify
Unusually Sensitive Areas (USA's) to environmental damage in the event
of a hazardous liquid pipeline accident, in accordance with pipeline safety
laws. RPI is the sole contractor responsible for creating USA's for RSPA.
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