Upcoming Events and Recent Monthly Activities
Recent Activities, 2002
January 1 - March 31, 2002
Seminar Presented
Dr. Mark Walthall, Senior Scientist - Environmental Science, presented a seminar at the Graduate Student Seminar in the Agronomy and Horticulture Department, NMSU-Las Cruces describing the Center's history of monitoring and future direction in research. Dr. Walthall is an Adjunct Professor in the Agronomy and Horticulture Department.
Seminar Presented
A delegation of Russian scientists from the All-Russian Institute of Inorganic Materials (VNIINM) presented seminars at CEMRC to Center and Los Alamos National Laboratory staff as part of an ISTC Collaboration, Russia. The topic was waste disposal and contaminated site clean-up of both radioactive and non-radioactive hazardous waste.
Managing Uncertainty for Environmental Decision Making Training
Lead scientists attended a one-day training by the Department of Energy on "Managing Uncertainty for Environmental Decision Making." The training was based on DOE EM-5 Day sq DQO Training and was held at the Skeen-Whitlock Building in Carlsbad.
Presentations
Dr. Richard Arimoto, Senior Scientist - Environmental Chemistry, presented "Desert Dust" to the Chihuahuan Desert Conservation Alliance, Carlsbad, NM, January 2002. He also presented "Man and aerosol biogeochemical cycles in the anthropocene", at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX, March 2002. In April 2002, he presented "Aerosol composition in Korea and China during ACE-Asia", at the ACE-Asia Data Workshop, Beijing, People's Republic of China. He presented "Eolian dust, chemistry, and climate" at the University of Texas, Arlington, in April 2002.
Publications
Arimoto, R., W. Balsam, and C. Schloesslin, Visible spectroscopy of aerosol particles collected on filters: Iron-oxide minerals, Atmospheric Environment, 36, 89-96, 2002.
Actinide Chemistry and Repository Science Program
The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) owned laser spectrometer was installed in the laboratory designated for its use. Final installation and setup by the vendor is pending. The installation and commissioning of the LANL owned X-ray diffractometer was completed. The installation of a solid-state detector and environmental chamber is still pending. A progress report for this program was submitted by CERMC to CBFO.
Outreach
The Center's Picture Yourself in Science display was taken to the Sunset Elementary School Science Fair again this year. Students were dressed as "future scientists" and their pictures were taken with the digital camera. Parents were informed about the Center's "Lie Down and Be Counted" program.
The Pate Elementary School fifth grade challenge class along with their teacher Mrs. Nelson and parent chaperones toured the Center as part of their studies in science and career development. They viewed the laboratories through the Center's glass viewing windows to see scientists at work. They also watched a demonstration of the use of a Geiger counter to detect radiation from low-level sources and demonstrations that showed the properties of liquid nitrogen.
Students affiliated with the Carlsbad Christian Home Educators toured the Center as part of their studies in science. These students ranged in age from 8 to 15 years old. They viewed the laboratories through the Center's glass viewing windows to see scientists at work. They also watched a demonstration of the use of a Geiger counter to detect radiation from low-level sources and demonstrations that showed the properties of liquid nitrogen.
The Internal Dosimetry staff manned an exhibit booth at the Community Health and Safety Fair 2002 to inform people about the "Lie Down and Be Counted" Program. They signed up over 50 potential volunteers for the program.
April 1 - June 30, 2002
New Project Funded
The Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy funded a proposal entitled "Investigations of the Low-Wind Particulate Matter Spikes at the NMED Sunland Park City Yard Monitoring Site in the amount of $81,657 dated June 1, 2002 through August 31, 2003. The principal Investigator is R. Arimoto along with W. W. Li of University of Texas-El Paso.
New Proposal Submitted
R. Arimoto submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs. The proposal is entitled: "Collaborative Research: Antarctic Tropospheric Chemistry Investigation." The project is multi-institutional and headed by groups from Georgia Tech and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. J. Webb and D. Moir submitted proposals to John Hopkins University, Sandia National Laboratory, Stoller Corporation (3 in total) for various analytical and scientific services.
Collaboration Project
R. Arimoto is a foreign collaborator for ISTC project #1908 "Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Dynamics and Kinetics of Gas Contamination and Aerosols in the Central Continental Asia (Baikal Region and Sayan Background Station - Mondy included)." ISTC stands for the International Science and Technology Center, and it is an organization that promotes the nonproliferation of weapons technology of mass destruction. The main objectives of this collaboration are to integrate former weapons scientists from the CIS into the international scientific community, foster self-sustaining civilian activities of CIS scientists, and familiarize foreign organizations with unique Russian/CIS science and research.
Outreach
Center staff members voluntarily established a team on behalf of CEMRC and participated in the annual Relay for Life in support of the American Cancer Society.
Center staff members voluntarily established a team on behalf of CEMRC and participated in the annual River Blitz to clean-up trash along the Pecos River.
Staff members prepared an exhibit and craft projects for children for the Earth Day activities at the Living Desert State Park. Children drew and colored posters to show what they thought the earth might be like in the year 2025. This year's Earth Day theme was "Protect Our Home." Fifteen people volunteered for the "Lie Down and Be Counted" program while attending the function.
A group of ninth grade students from the New Mexico Academy, Santa Fe, New Mexico, toured the Center and conducted demonstration measurements to evaluate the reduction in radiation background achieved by the Centers whole body counting shield. In addition, the students used the whole body counter to quantify the level of K-40 in their instructors.
The Leadership Carlsbad organization toured the Center and held a discussion with Center management.
Presentations Made
R. Arimoto gave three talks: "Man and aerosol--biogeochemical cycles in the anthropocene," University of North Texas, Denton, TX; "Aerosol composition in Korea and China during ACE-Asia," ACE-Asia Data Workshop, Beijing, People's Republic of China; "Eolian dust, chemistry, and climate," University of Texas, Arlington.
July 1 - September 30, 2002
Presentation Made
R. Arimoto presented a talk: "Man and dust: a unique perspective from southeastern New Mexico/west Texas," at the International Conference on Aeolian Research and The Global Change & Terrestrial Ecosystem-Soil Erosion Network Joint Conference, held at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, in July 2002.
Abstract Published
Arimoto, R., S. Sage, C. Schloesslin, T. Kirchner, J. Webb, B. Stewart,
D. Schoep, and M. Walthall, Man and dust: a unique perspective from southeastern New Mexico/west Texas, In: Lee, J. A. and T. M. Zobek, Proceedings of ICAR5/GCTE-SEN Joint Conference, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA Publication 02-2, 148-151, 2002.
Grant Award
A grant of $45,000 was awarded to M. Walthall from the Carlsbad Soil Water and Conservation District to monitor potential changes in the chemistry of the soil and surface water during the District's efforts to eradicate Salt Cedar along the Pecos River.
Contracts Awarded
Various analytical contracts were awarded from John Hopkins University, Sandia National Laboratory, Stoller Corporation. The value of these contracts is approximately $39,000.
Outreach
CEMRC hosted a public Colloquium entitled "The Management of Radioactive Waste in Hungary." Dr. Tamas Hamor of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and the Institute for Environment and Sustainability presented this colloquium.
CEMRC staff presented general information about the Center and the "Lie Down and Be. . .Counted" program at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center Field Day 2002 near Artesia, New Mexico.
A group of students from the New Mexico Academy, Santa Fe, New Mexico, toured the Center and conducted demonstration measurements to evaluate the reduction in radiation background achieved by the Centers whole body counting shield. In addition, the students used the whole body counter to quantify the level of K-40 in their instructors and to make measurements of gamma-rays emitted from a household smoke detector (Am-241) and a fiesta-ware plate (nature uranium). This demonstration marks the second visit to CEMRC from the New Mexico Academy since May 2002.
CEMRC's lung and whole body counter was featured in the July issue of National Geographic. A two page picture of the National Geographic photographer having a lung and whole body count was included as part of the 'On Assignment' section. The WIPP and photographs of transportation containers and the underground were also featured in this issue.
Several CEMRC staff volunteered their time to assist in the construction of the Playground on the Pecos.
October 1 - December 31, 2002
Test Plan and Project
The Test Plan TP-PLAN-003, "The Identification and Quantification of Gnome-Derived Radionuclides in WIPP Environmental Samples", was approved in December. Status reports for the Gnome and Oil/Gas Baseline projects were provided to CBFO.
Presentations
R. Arimoto presented a talk, "Chemical and radiochemical studies of aerosol particles from the vicinity of the WIPP" to the American Chemical Society, 17th Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting held in Albuquerque, NM, during October 2002. He also presented a talk "Asian dust storms: some interlocking questions, issues and unknowns" at the 2002 International Workshop of Dust Storm, held in Beijing, People's Republic of China during October 2002.
Abstract Published
Arimoto, R., T. Kirchner, J. Webb, B. Stewart, D. Schoep, M. Walthall, "Chemical and radiochemical studies of aerosol particles from the vicinity of the WIPP", Book of Abstracts, American Chemical Society, 17th Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting, p. 37, 2002.
Paper Published
R. Arimoto, T. Kirchner, J. Webb, M. Conley, B. Stewart, D. Schoep and M. Walthall. 239,240Pu and inorganic substances in aerosols from the vicinity of a waste isolation pilot plant: the importance of resuspension. Health Phys. 83(4):456-470; 2002.
Seminars
CEMRC hosted four seminars as part of the ongoing LANL-CEMRC Actinide Chemistry and Repository Science Seminar Series. Dr. Mei Ding of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Chemistry Division, presented "Synchrotron XAS applications in actinide molecular environmental science: Reduction of Pertechnetate and Pu (VI) by Metallic Fe and Al." Dr. Steven Conradson of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Chemistry Division, presented "Chemical Speciation of Heterogeneously Reduced Plutonium Precipitated from Brines." Dr. Donald Reed presented "Stability and Reactivity of U(VI), Np(VI) and Pu(VI) in Brine." Dr. Jean-Francois Lucchini, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, of Los Alamos National Laboratory, presented "Effect of Water Alpha Radiolysis on the Nuclear Spent Fuel UO2 Matrix Alteration."
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