Control of biologically active degradation zones by vertical heterogeneity: Applications in fractured media. 1998 annual progress report

'The objective of this research is to determine the relationship between biologically active contaminant degradation zones in a fractured, subsurface medium and vertical geological heterogeneities. The research is being performed on samples collected from the Test Area North (TAN) site at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) where a dissolved trichloroethylene (TCE) plume is migrating in the basalts and interbed sediments of the Eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) aquifer. Results are leading to an enhanced understanding of the constraints placed on the activities and distribution of TCE-degrading organisms by the geochemical and hydrological environment. This understanding allows better decisions to be made regarding the use of remedial technologies such as natural attenuation and in-situ bioremediation at geologically complex waste sites. Through this research, investigations conducted by the DOE Subsurface Science Program at TAN have been extended in order to develop a mechanistic understanding of the coupled geomicrobial and hydrogeochemical processes that are necessary to predict field-scale intrinsic degradation rates of TCE. The research objective is being accomplished by characterizing paired cores and water samples from boreholes located in differing geochemical and flow environments within the plume. Analysis of these samples will allow the determination of the spatial correlation between microbial degradation and preferred flow paths for the contaminant and required electron donors and acceptors. A combination of traditional microbiological methods (e.g., enrichments) and molecular tools are being used to characterize the indigenous microbial communities. This report summarizes work conducted after 1.5 years of a three year project.