Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- Barbara Bekins, a research hydrogeologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), addressed over 50 University of Wisconsin-Platteville students, Monday, May 3, on the topic of "The Influence of Hydrogeology on 25 years of Natural Attenuation at a Crude Oil Spill Site." Bekins referenced a site located near Bemidji, Minn., where a pipeline break occurred in 1979. The spill dumped over 10,000 barrels of oil into the environment.

Bekins outlined the chemical, physical and biological processes that are involved in reducing the mass, toxicity, mobility, volume and concentration of an oil spill. She explained that gasoline, like oil is similar in its biodegradation.

Immediate clean up efforts at the Minnesota site removed about 60 percent of the oil. Since 1983 the USGS has studied the fate of the oil and the ground water plume as part of the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program. In 1992, the plume appeared to be at a steady state or shrinking. Bekins, herself, began working at the site in Minnesota in 1993. The research at the site has shown that in order for the spill to biodegrade, it needs oxygen, microbial populations have a direct role and iron slows the rate of expansion of contaminant into the aquifer.

Vice commented on inception of the UW-Platteville geology seminar series noting, "The series started because students at larger schools have the opportunity to attend many seminars presented by authorities in their fields during the academic year. This was something that I missed at UWP and decided to start the seminar series in 2000. I arrange through national geological organizations for speakers on topics related to geology and the environment or geology in society and have one speaker per semester."

"[The series] exposes students to new ideas and current topics of importance, not just for reclamation, science and engineering majors, but also for future voters who will need to make decisions about different issues," said Vice.

The event was sponsored by Reclamation Club, Geography Club, American Society of Civil Engineers, Platteville Society of Environmental Engineers, Civil and Environmental Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.