Date of Award
12-2020
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Geography - Geographic Information Science: M.S.
Department
Geography and Planning
College
School of Public Affairs
First Advisor
Jeffrey S. Torguson
Second Advisor
Benjamin F. Richason III
Third Advisor
Jean L. Hoff
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Hazardous waste, ArcGIS Hydrology Spatial Analyst, St. Regis Paper Company, Superfund, Groundwater
Abstract
This body of research reviewed the first 36 years groundwater remediation at the St. Regis Paper Company Superfund Site. Thus far the remediation has not been effective at protecting human health and the environment. Available geologic cross sections of St. Regis Paper Company Superfund Site show the two gravel aquifers, but these investigations are non-conclusive about the constancy the clay confining layer. If the confining layer is discontinuous it could be affecting the groundwater flow as well as pollution spread between the aquifers. The existing 2016 groundwater model of the St. Regis Paper Company Superfund Site showed how the pump and treat extraction wells are capturing part but not all of the groundwater pollution. In 1985 when the St. Regis Site Superfund clean-up effort began, the pump and treat extraction wells near were planned where the disposal lagoons and landfills were located during the time of operation. A 2015 soil studies of the St. Regis Paper Company Superfund Site showed that the most polluted soil was not just in the former disposal lagoons and landfill areas. ESRI’s ArcGIS Hydrology Spatial Analyst Toolset was utilized to show the major stream drainage influents at the St. Regis Paper Company Superfund Site. This research found that the areas with most polluted soil unfortunately are located where water will gather and drain to due to the topography of the St. Regis Site. the non-remediated soil continues to contribute to the groundwater pollution as precipitation leads to the pollution in the soil to leach into the groundwater. These early assumptions about the locations of the contaminated areas have limited the site remediation ever since. This study recommends the EPA and the Potentially Responsible Parties engaged in remediation should consider other methods of groundwater and soil remediation at the St. Regis Site. Technology and remedial capabilities have improved greatly since 1984. There are many more options for remediation, including some that are much more affordable and effective than the pump and treat method.
Recommended Citation
Meyer, Jessica L., "Groundwater Vulnerability to Hazardous Waste: A GIS-based Analysis of the St. Regis Paper Company Superfund Site" (2020). Culminating Projects in Geography and Planning. 9.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/gp_etds/9
Appendix B
Appendix C_Larger Former Site Operations Area.pdf (66131 kB)
Appendix C
Appendix D_Hydraulic Capture Zone Analysis_238715.pdf (17753 kB)
Appendix D
Appendix E_VAS_939305.pdf (27539 kB)
Appendix E
Appendix F_NAPL_939306.pdf (14853 kB)
Appendix F
Appendix G_FifthFiveYearReview_484241.pdf (35663 kB)
Appendix G
Appendix H_GFSM-GFMAA 2016.pdf (7757 kB)
Appendix H
Appendix I_Conceptual Groundwater Model for the St. Regis Site.pdf (314 kB)
Appendix I
Appendix J_Soil Horizon Designation Nomenclature.pdf (277 kB)
Appendix J
Appendix K_UAS for Wetland Mapping and Hydrological Modeling.pdf (11743 kB)
Appendix K
