Over several decades, the U.S. Department of Energy conducted energy research and weapons development and production, which led to the storage, disposal and sometimes the release of toxic and radioactive materials to the ground. Until recently, contamination between the ground surface and the top of the groundwater - an area known as the vadose zone -- was believed to be relatively immobile. However, recent detection of contaminants in the vadose zone has highlighted the need to understand the conditions where migration might occur.
In response, DOE tasked the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory to lead the development of a science and technology roadmap, a form of strategic planning to help make research and development investment decisions. The roadmap will identify research over the next 25 years that would improve the ability to estimate subsurface contaminant movements. The motive for this research effort is to reduce scientific uncertainty in predicting how contamination will behave over the long term. Its conclusions will directly impact decisions about how to cleanup or stabilize contamination at DOE sites around the country.
Between March and September 2000, 62 representatives from DOE national laboratories, other U.S. government agencies, universities and industry, discussed in detail their independent vision for a science and technology roadmap that would transform the scientific basis for making decisions involving the vadose zone. The research suggested in the roadmap would support DOE's long-term complex-wide needs, while advancing state-of-the-art characterization, monitoring and modeling science and technology.
Known as the DOE Complex-Wide Vadose Zone Science & Technology Roadmap, the draft document calls for a better scientific foundation for decision-making with respect to the vadose zone, and would require increased knowledge and capabilities in three areas: understanding basic subsurface processes; better data collection and monitoring capabilities; and new computer models and predictive capabilities, including visualization techniques. The specific research required over the next 25 years in each of these areas forms the centerpiece of the roadmap.
Over the next few decades, the roadmap anticipates dramatic and fundamental advances in computing, communication, electronics and microengineered systems that will meet many of the scientific and technical challenges DOE faces today. Improved scientific understanding in these and related areas will provide DOE, its regulators and the public a stronger basis for making cleanup and long-term stewardship decisions.
As the next step in the roadmapping process, DOE intends to broaden discussions with researchers, the science community, regulators and other stakeholders. DOE has established a 6-month public comment period, from October 2000 through March 2001, when interactions with affected and interested parties will occur. The draft 70-page roadmap is available for review and comment. It can be found on the Internet at http://vadosezone.inel.gov . Questions, comments, ideas, and suggestions about the science and technology roadmap can be directed or submitted to:
Stephen Kowall, Ph.D.
DOE-Complex-Wide Vadose Zone
Science and Technology Roadmap Project
P.O. Box 1625
Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2213
e-mail: kowasj@inel.gov; phone: 208-526-0603; FAX: 208-526-0603
The INEEL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's missions in environment, energy, science and national security. The INEEL is operated by Bechtel BWXT Idaho LLC in partnership with the Inland Northwest Research Alliance. Visit the INEEL web site at http://www.inel.gov for a graphic.
Media contact: Reuel Smith, 208-526-3733, mrs@inel.gov