Environmental Sciences Research
| Research |
Experience & CredentialsTrace Contaminant Analysis GERG currently conducts a large number of high quality, trace contaminant environmental monitoring programs. Some of these programs include field sampling and others are strictly analytical efforts. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contract Laboratory GERG has been one of the USFWS's contract laboratories for over 19 years. GERG has demonstrated it can meet and exceed USFWS's stringent quality control/quality assurance requirements. NOAA's National Status and Trends Mussel Watch Project GERG was a participant in the NOAA NS&T program for over 14 years. GERG has a long-standing record of intercalibration using the NIST/NOAA/NRSC methods for a wide array of trace metal and trace organic analytes. EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Near Coastal (EMAP-NC) in the Gulf of Mexico, Virginian and Carolinian Provinces We were extensively involved in EMAP-NC analytical work for most of the provinces. We have conducted sediment analyses for the Lousianian Province (Gulf of Mexico), tissue analyses for the Virginian province (northern East Coast) and sediment analysis for the Carolinian Province (southern East Coast). Thus, we have provided the majority of the analytical work for EPA's 1991 to 1995 EMAP-NC program in U.S. coastal waters. These programs involve both trace metal and trace organic analyses and field sampling in the Gulf. Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Studies GERG has been involved in a number of major NRDA studies since 1990. We conducted most of the analytical hydrocarbon analyses for the Trustees as part of the Exxon Valdez oil spill NRDA. As part of this effort, GERG conducted sample analyses for NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the State of Alaska. We also provided Exxon's contractors with hydrocarbon analyses as part of Exxon's Oil Spill Litigation Studies. GERG was the only laboratory that provided high quality hydrocarbon analyses to both parties in the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Another large NRDA effort that GERG participated in was the Montrose (Southern California bight) NRDA effort. On this project GERG provided the Trustees (NOAA and USFWS) with nearly a million dollars of pesticide and PCB analysis. Additionally, GERG has provided NRDA analytical support to a number of other smaller federal, state and private clients. MMS 's Environmental Studies Programs GERG has provided the contaminant chemistry work element for many of the Minerals Management Service's (MMS) studies in both the Gulf of Mexico and offshore California. Some examples include:
EPA's National Estuary Programs GERG has conducted several of EPA's National Estuary Program analytical efforts in Galveston Bay, Boston Harbor, Casco Bay, and the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. The largest of these was entitled "Toxic Contaminant Characterization of Aquatic Organisms in Galveston Bay". NSF's Bahia Pariso Antarctic Oil Spill and Environmental Projects In 1989, the National Science Foundation chose GERG to provide contaminant analytical support for the Bahia Pariso oil spill in Antarctic. This project has continued and expanded to include what is now a six year study of contaminant concentrations around both U.S. Antarctic stations (Palmer and McMurdo Stations). The program involves joint funding from NOAA. IOC's International Mussel Watch The IOC selected GERG to participate in International Mussel Watch as the only U.S. laboratory. Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP): Atmospheric Deposition State of Maryland TMDL/PCB Study Statewide Fish Tissue Monitoring Program Fish Study - Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Division for Regulatory Services U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Organic Contaminant Sample Analyses |
