Site Characterization

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
• Michigan Public Service Commission
• Michigan State University

• Waste Waters (Pyroligneous Acid)
• Hydrocarbons (Creosote and Tar)

In 1995, a house in Kingsford, Michigan, developed explosive levels of methane (CH4) that was degassing from the aquifer below the house. Methane built up in the basement, and eventually an explosion occurred. The methane was likely the result of the microbial degradation of organic compounds in a plume of contaminants emanating from nearby industrial areas. The operation of charcoal production and other industrial facilities led to the release of organic compounds, such as pyroligneous acid, creosote, and tar into the subsurface. As the organic compounds migrated away from the industrial areas, microorganisms converted the organic compounds to methane and carbon dioxide, creating plumes of methane in the subsurface. The methane moved with the natural ground-water flow system and escaped to the surface.

To help determine the source of the methane-generating ground water, USGS scientists used compound-specific carbon-isotope analysis. The isotopic signature of the contaminants was used to help identify if there was one or more sources of contamination and to help understand the natural degradation of the contaminants.

• Fate of Organic Chemicals in Subsurface Environments, Kingsford, Michigan
• Compound-Specific Carbon-Isotope Analysis in a Contaminant Plume in Kingsford, Michigan

Michel, R.L., Silva, S., Godsy, E.M., Warren, Ean, and Westjohn, D.B., 1998,

Compound-Specific Carbon-Isotope Analysis in a Contaminant Plume in Kingsford, Michigan, Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 79, supplement, p. F308. Poster presentation of the paper.

Michel, R.L., Silva, S.r., Bemis, B., Godsy, E.M., Warren, E., Westjohn, D.B., 2001,

Compound-specific carbon isotope analysis of a contaminant plume in Kingsford, Michigan, USA, in Gehrels, H., Peters, N.E., Hoehn, E., Jensen, K., Leibundgut, C., Griffioen, J., Webb B., and Zaadnoordijk, W.J. eds. Impact of Human Activity on Groundwater Dynamics: International Association of Hydrologic Sciences Publication no. 269, pp. 311-316.

Godsy, E.M., Warren, E., and Westjohn, D.B., 2001,

Methanogenic biodegradation of charcoal production wastes in groundwater at Kinsford, Michigan, USA in Gehrels, H., Peters, N.E., Hoehn, E., Jensen, K., Leibundgut, C., Griffioen, J., Webb B., and Zaadnoordijk, W.J. eds. Impact of Human Activity on Groundwater Dynamics: International Association of Hydrologic Sciences Publication no. 269, p. 303-309.

 

USGS Information on Natural Attenuation

• A Unique Approach to Evaluating Natural Attenuation is Applied Worldwide
• Relying on Nature to Clean Up Contaminated Ground Water
• Topical Information on Natural Attenuation, Toxics Program
• Listing of Toxics Program Projects Evaluating Natural Attenuation
• Listing of Other USGS Projects Evaluating Natural Attenuation

Toxics Hydrocarbon Remediation Projects

• Crude Oil Contamination in the Shallow Subsurface -- Bemidji , Minnesota
• Processes Affecting the Natural Attenuation of Fuel Oxygenates in Ground Water -- Laurel Bay, South Carolina
• Processes Affecting the Natural Attenuation of Gasoline in Ground Water - Galloway Township , New Jersey
• Osage-Skiatook Petroleum Environmental Research Project, Oklahoma