MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Additional testing by the West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) at Clyde Mine on Tenmile Creek shows acceptable radium levels in drinking water.

Tenmile Creek is the primary watershed within Greene County Pennsylvania, passing through Waynesburg before joining the Monongahela River in Clarksville, Pennsylvania.

“We looked hard and just could not find any evidence of harmful radiation levels,” said Dr. Paul Ziemkiewicz, director of the WVWRI.

Methodology

WVWRI sampled the Clyde Mine discharge on Tenmile Creek six times over a two-week period beginning in late July to make sure the results were representative. That data showed that the highest minimum detectable concentration (MDC) of alpha radiation was 2.95 pCi/L, while the drinking water limit is 5 pCi/L. The reported values averaged 0.74 pCi/L.

In April 2014, sSampling done by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) in April 2014 indicated high levels of radium in discharges to Tenmile Creek from the abandoned Clyde Mine and coal refuse piles farther upstream near Waynesburg and another at the Cumberland Mine on Whiteley Creek.

“The radium numbers were high but not consistent with the much lower gross alpha radiation readings,” said Ziemkiewicz. “Radium is an alpha emitter and the gross alpha reading should be the sum of all of the alpha emitters.

Ziemkiewicz said there were to other problems with the data.

“It wasn’t clear from the 2014 PADEP data which analytical method was used to determine radium concentrations, and the MDC were not provided,” he said. “MDC tells you the lowest data value that can be reported with confidence. For example, if the MDC is 100 all you can say is that the actual value is somewhere between zero and 100.”

Ziemkiewicz explained that if the reading is 50 and the MDC is 100 you still can only say that the actual value is somewhere between zero and 100.

“This is extremely important to remember when evaluating radiochemical results,” he said. “When we saw these inconsistencies we decided to resample and reanalyze using approved EPA methods. We guessed that PADEP determined radium by gamma spectroscopy.”

According to Ziemkiewicz, that method is used mainly as a screening tool for solid wastes.
“It’s cheap but not very precise when used for water samples,” said Ziemkiewicz. “It may be the best method for undiluted Marcellus flowback water where interfering ions like strontium and barium measure in the thousands of milligrams per liter. But the Clyde mine discharge had zero barium and only 6.6 milligrams per liter of strontium, so interference is not an issue. That’s why we used the more precise radiochemistry methods.”

In June of this year, WVWRI sampled the same sites that PADEP had sampled in 2014 and sent the water samples to PACE Analytical Services in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, for analysis. PACE is a state-certified radiochemistry lab. The radium results came in well below EPA drinking water levels.

The only parameter that was close to the drinking water limit was gross alpha, which was 13.4 pCi/L. The drinking water limit is 15 pCi/L. However, the total dissolved solids were high in this sample. So in addition to EPA method 900.0, WVWRI asked PACE to use EPA method 7110C, which is recommended for high-total dissolved solids water.

Providing research data for residents

Funded by the Colcom Foundation, the WVWRI’s Three Rivers QUEST (3RQ) REACH program provided the means to initiate this targeted study for radiologicals on Tenmile Creek in response to residents’ concerns.

The 3RQ program brings together academic researchers with grassroots organizations by collecting field water-quality data and information from local water monitoring groups that are in tune with the health of their local watersheds.

“Several watershed organizations have been monitoring along Tenmile Creek. When their field instruments suggest something unusual we can respond with more detailed chemical analysis. Testing for radiologicals is expensive and beyond the means of most citizens,” said Melissa O’Neal, 3RQ project manager. “Results from this targeted study provide reliable data to local residents who are concerned about the quality of their streams.”

The 3RQ program has been monitoring the mouth of Tenmile Creek since 2009 for a suite of chemical parameters. Results from WVWRI and its partner grassroots water monitoring organizations is shared with the public on the program’s website, 3RiversQUEST.org.

CONTACT: Andrew Stacy, West Virginia Water Research Institute
304-293-7085; [email protected]

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) is pleased to announce that Chance Chapman has joined its team as its new Environmental Scientist. The WVWRI is a program of the National Research Center for Coal and Energy at West Virginia University. Chapman, a West Virginia native, earned his undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management from Glenville State University.

“I look forward to being able to put my skillset to work in a way which positively impacts the environment and aids in working towards the goal of leaving the environment better than when one of our projects began,” said Chapman.

Most recently, Chapman earned his Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University College of Law with a concentration in Energy and Sustainable Development Law, something which he feels will benefit him greatly in his new position.

“My combination of education in both the scientific and legal aspects of environmental protection and restoration has provided me with a unique understanding of both the scientific and legal issues associated with water quality management,” he continued.

In his new role, Chapman will perform water chemistry-related field and laboratory research activities and will help implement land reclamation projects by collaborating with state and federal agencies, watershed organizations, university researchers and external contractors.

“I have always had an interest in the outdoors and the environment,” said Chapman. “Growing up in West Virginia I have seen firsthand the positives and negatives that go along with mineral extraction. In my new role at WRI, I am excited to be involved in research that could potentially have positive impacts on both industry and communities.”

Chapman is excited to get to work doing something that is important to him and that he enjoys. His professional interests include energy, sustainable development and natural resource management.

“We are very lucky to have Chance join our team,” said Melissa O’Neal, program manager for the WVWRI. “His education and experience will be of great value to our staff and will provide us with more opportunity for collaboration with state and private entities.”

Contact:
Andrew Stacy, Public Relations Coordinator, West Virginia Water Research Institute
304-293-7085
[email protected]

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Anna Withrow has joined the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center (NBAC) as its new brownfields redevelopment specialist. The NBAC is a program of the West Virginia Water Research Institute located at the National Research Center for Coal and Energy at West Virginia University. Withrow, earned her master’s degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design at West Virginia University in 2015. In addition, she has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from Marshall University.

“I am happy that my work at the Center [NBAC] will involve working with a variety of communities to improve and protect the wildlife and resources of this state that I love,” said Withrow.
In her new role with NBAC, she will work with local project stakeholders to perform site analyses, facilitate visioning meetings, create conceptual plans and perform various other tasks to move redevelopment projects forward.

“My education in Landscape Architecture allows me to observe, analyze, and design spaces with reference to spatial data, development trends, sustainability standards, and site programming,” she continued. “My experience working on the adaptive reuse of brownfields properties allowed me to work closely with communities to explore and identify practical reuse plans.”

Prior to pursuing her master’s degree, Withrow taught mathematics in Southern West Virginia and worked as an adventure guide on the New River Gorge.

“Having lived in Putnam, Cabell, Fayette and Monongalia Counties, I have a deep appreciation for West Virginia’s wild lands and Appalachian culture,” said Withrow. “The NBAC is building community capacity and boosting local economies through encouraging redevelopments on previously developed lands. This is helping to keep the state’s greenfields green, among other benefits. As a lifelong resident and explorer of the state, I value the Center’s mission and am happy to join the effort.”

Withrow brings a wealth of experience to the NBAC. She has experience with hand rendering, site mapping, place analysis, parcel research, mixed-media design, construction drawings, document layouts and printing and narrative photography. Her professional interests include riparian restoration, stormwater management, whole-systems thinking, urban agriculture, and historic preservation.

“We’re fortunate to have Ms. Withrow as an addition to our staff,” said Patrick Kirby, director of the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center. “Her education and past experience are a great fit to our team. With the addition of Ms. Withrow, we look forward to the opportunity to engage more local communities and assist in their redevelopment needs.”

Contact:
Andrew Stacy, Public Relations Coordinator, West Virginia Water Research Institute
(304) 293-7085
[email protected]