| 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 |
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Education
B.S. Geology, Washington State University
Minor Computer Science, Washington State University
Thesis advisor (s):
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?
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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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