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Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Induction Sounding Surveys for Landfill Site Characterization Studies |
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| Authors: | John Jansen Bassem Haddad Wayne Fassbender Patrick Jurcek |
| Institution: | John Jansen is the director of geosciences for Northern Environmental Technologies Inc. (1214 W. Venture Ct., Mequon, WI 53092), where he directs environmental geophysics surveys and ground water exploration projects. He has a B.S. in geology and an M.S. in geophysics, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.;Dr. Bassem Haddad is a senior environmental engineer at Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer and Associates (345 N. 95th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226), where he is the assistant manager of the Environmental Division, responsible for engineering services. He is actively involved in ground water contamination projects. He received his B.S. in civil engineering in 1982, M.S.C.E. in environmental engineering in 1984, and Ph.D. in environmental engineering in 1990 from West Virginia University.;Wayne Fassbender is a senior project manager and hydrogeologist at Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer and Associates Inc. He is an environmental consultant specializing in the identification and remediation of ground water contamination. He has a B.S. in geology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.;Patrick Jurcek is a staff geophysicist at Northern Environmental Technologies Inc. His areas of interest lie in geophysical surveys for environmental and ground water exploration projects. He has a B.S. in geology and is completing an M.S. in hydrogeology, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. |
| Abstract: | A frequency domain electromagnetic induction sounding survey (FDEM) was conducted on a landfill in northern Illinois to determine the depth of fill, locate areas of drum disposal, and locate areas of heavy metal sludge disposal. Sketchy information obtained from interviews of the site personnel identified specific exploration targets and areas of concern. The results of the geophysical survey verified much of the reported disposal history and identified areas suspected to contain hazardous waste. Based on the results of the survey, the thickness of fill was estimated and two areas with highly conductive fill were located. These areas could represent leachate pockets or sludge disposal areas. An area in which the fill appears to be thicker than expected was identified. This area is thought to represent industrial sludge disposal in trenches excavated into the existing fill and underlying soils. An area with several linear in-phase, quadrature, and conductivity highs was detected. A subsequent magnetometer survey detected linear magnetic anomalies that are believed to be caused by parallel trenches filled with steel drums. This area is believed to be a previously unreported hazardous waste drum disposal cell excavated into the native soil. As of this writing, the results of this survey have not been verified by traditional intrusive methods. When these investigations begin, we expect that information provided by the FDEM survey will reduce project costs by directing subsequent investigations, thereby reducing the number of borings and test pits required to characterize the site. While there is an unavoidable margin of error and uncertainty in remote sensing methods, the subsurface coverage provided by this geophysical survey could not have been reproduced by traditional methods without substantial expense. This paper presents the results of the survey and discusses application of the FDEM method on landfills. |
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