Meeting Announcement and Call for Papers
October 26-27, 2001

Geology in the Service of Public Health

Most geologic investigations in New Jersey today are for the cleanup of hazardous materials in ground water, and for the siting of new wells for water supply. Study areas for these investigations are usually small, typically less than 1/2 acre at leaking under storage tank sites to 200 or so acres at the largest landfills, industrial sites and public-supply well sites. Usually there are no outcrops. At best, investigations can be thought of as blind geology (or blind hydrogeology). Even for the smallest sites, a formidable effort is required at the outset of investigation to develop enough understanding of the hydrogeologic framework to optimize cleanup efforts or water yield. For non-point contamination, initial investigation commonly involves a similarly formidable task of researching and synthesizing masses of analytical work done for disparate purposes using a wide range of procedures and quality standards.

Hydrogeologic investigations at hazardous waste sites, water supply well fields, and non-point source ground water contamination sites focus on public health and welfare, rather than geology. The results of the investigations commonly have substantial economic and planning implications.

Recognizing the importance of applied geology and hydrogeology in New Jersey and the non-geologic considerations common to much geologic work, GANJ in cooperation with the New Jersey Section of the American Water Resources Association (NJ /AWRA) will hold a joint 2001 meeting to bring together New Jersey geologists and water resource managers.

Friday will be open for talks relating geology in service to public health at hazardous waste sites and at water supply sites. The Saturday field trip is being organized by Pierre Lacombe of the US Geological Survey – Water Resources Division. The field trip will include visits to a ground water investigation site at a former Navy base in West Trenton, The base is on a fault contact of the Lockatong and Stockton Formations/Aquifers. Rock cores through the fault, geophysical logs, and a tour of the air stripping facility will be included. The field trip will also include visits to saltwater intruded well fields along Raritan Bay. Saltwater intrusion was a major imputus for the NJDEP to create Critical Area 1 which reduced water withdrawls in the Norhtern Coastal Plain.

You are invited to submit an abstract and manuscript for the October 26, 2001 seminars. Manuscripts may be up to 20 single spaced pages relating geology to public health and/or water supply. Manuscripts will be published in the field conference proceedings and should conform to the Geological Society of America style. Talks will be 15 minutes with 5 minutes for questions.

Submit abstracts preferably via email or by letter by March 2001 and manuscripts by July 1, 2001 to David Harper dvdharper@hotmail.com or PierreLacombe placombe@usgs.gov

NJ Section AWRA's objectives are to provide a common forum in which to meet, discuss, exchange ideas, and assist all persons concerned with the conservation, development, management,and utilization of fresh and marine waters and related resources together with their environmental aspects.