Rya Hawks M.S. Candidate Hydrogeology Office: SC 131 Ph: 509-592-0882 (home/cell, etc.) E-mail: rya.hawks@grizmail.umt.edu Dept. of Geosciences Univ. of Montana 32 Campus Drive #1296 Missoula Mt, 59812

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Education

B.S. Geology, Washington State University

Minor Computer Science, Washington State University

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Thesis advisor (s):

Bill Woessner

Thesis project:

     I am investigating the movement of thermal energy generated by an electrical resistance heating (ERH)

remediation project through a heterogenous glacially deposited aquifer in Ronan, MT. A secondary

priority is to gage biotic response to the added thermal energy by observing bioremediation product

concentrations. 

    The study site's groundwater is heavily contaminated with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE),

a popular gasoline oxygenate and known carcinogen. Due to this chemical's volatile nature, the Montana

Department of Environmental Quality has opted to treat the site with ERH. My research is primarily conc-

erned with the after effects of this treatment. How will the hot water move through the aquifer and how

will bioremediation rates of MTBE be affected?

MTBE information from the EPA

Photo showing the source of the contamination- George's Conoco of Ronan, MT. The arrow denotes plume movement direction into the study area. Photo courtesy of Jeff Kuhn (Montana DEQ)

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