A new publication examines how microbial processes may influence the fate of CO2 in geologic carbon sequestration settings. The article, Biotransformation Processes...
A new publication examines how microbial processes may influence the fate of CO2 in geologic carbon sequestration settings.
The article, Biotransformation Processes Relevant to Geologic Carbon Sequestration: Potential Implications for Environmental Fate, is published in Environmental Science & Technology and is authored by GSI experts Lisa J. Molofsky, Thomas E. McHugh, Danny Kingham, and Charles J. Newell, with contributions from Sven Lahme, Kelly M. McFarlin, Paul G. Koster van Groos, Frank E. Löffler, Louise Camenzuli, Leanne Walker, Sophie L. Nixon, and Trent A. Key.
The paper reviews how CO2-driven geochemical changes can alter microbial communities and trigger biotransformation processes that move carbon into mineral, gas, or organic phases. It also explores implications for both deep storage formations and nontarget environments such as shallow groundwater, the vadose zone, and marine systems, while identifying key knowledge gaps that affect long-term prediction of CO2 behavior.
Read the full open-access article here:
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c02389
A new article by Ayman Alzraiee and Richard Niswonger has been published in Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. The article, “Assessing future...
A new article by Ayman Alzraiee and Richard Niswonger has been published in Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies.
The article, “Assessing future hydrologic extremes using an integrated hydrology and river operations model in the Russian River watershed,” presents an integrated surface water, groundwater, and operations modeling approach to evaluate how climate change and water use may affect streamflow conditions.
The study finds that groundwater pumping can significantly deplete streamflow, streamflow droughts become longer and more severe under climate change scenarios, peak flows increase substantially in wetter futures, and reservoirs play a key role in buffering these impacts across the watershed.
Read the full open-access article here:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825008456
A new publication in "Remediation" features contributions from GSI’s Charles J. Newell and David T. Adamson: "A Long Way to Go: Challenges...
A new publication in “Remediation” features contributions from GSI’s Charles J. Newell and David T. Adamson: “A Long Way to Go: Challenges and Strategies for Managing PFAS in Groundwater.”
Co-authored with Paul B. Hatzinger (APTIM) and John S. Cook, this open access article explores national-scale PFAS remediation strategies by comparing pump-and-treat systems within situ permeable sorptive barriers across more than 10,000 hypothetical contaminated sites in the U.S.
The analysis finds that containment-focused approaches at a greater number of sites may offer more effective and cost-efficient risk reduction than intensive cleanups at fewer locations. The authors propose a phased national strategy: near-term containment and exposure prevention, followed by targeted mass removal as in situ destructive technologies evolve.
Read the open access article about challenges and strategies for managing PFAS in groundwater: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rem.70028
This article was developed in support of a wider tech transfer-focused project led by Dr. Hatzinger and funded by PFAS-Related R&D Efforts, SERDP-ESTCP
Our new USG-Transport version 2.3.0 can be found here: https://www.gsienv.com/product/modflow-usg and includes changes that make the code more convenient to use with...
Our new USG-Transport version 2.3.0 can be found here: https://www.gsienv.com/product/modflow-usg and includes changes that make the code more convenient to use with available compilers and FloPy tools. Two notable ones include:
This version also includes some bug fixes and updates to the documentation. This version release also includes the datasets for the example problems listed in the document. The ReadMe file included with the zip-file indicates the updates.
Major features of USG-Transport (USGT) include:
Exciting News! The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) singularly honors Chuck Newell, Vice President/Principal Engineer with the prestigious 2024...
Exciting News! The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) singularly honors Chuck Newell, Vice President/Principal Engineer with the prestigious 2024 Gordon Maskew Fair Award!
The award recognizes Dr. Newell’s extensive work in environmental science, including numerous publications, patents, and contributions to the field as exemplary of the goal to “protect and enhance environmental quality.” Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
The Gordon Maskew Fair Award honors one of the pioneers of environmental engineering, Dean Fair. In addition to his exemplary career, his living legacy includes hundreds of prominent practicing engineers and eminent professors who continue to emulate his values. He taught his students not only the technical aspects of the field but also inspired them to use their skills to protect and enhance environmental quality.
Through the Fair Award, the Academy seeks to identify Board Certified Environmental Engineers, Members, or Scientists who have contributed to the status of the environmental engineering or science professions by:
Dr. Charles Newell holds the position of Vice President at GSI Environmental Inc. and is based in Houston, Texas. He is recognized as a Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, a Certified Ground Water Professional by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University. His academic and professional contributions are extensive, including co-authorship of four U.S. EPA publications, 12 environmental software systems, over 70 journal articles, five patents, and two books, notably “Natural Attenuation of Fuels and Chlorinated Solvents”.
Dr. Newell’s areas of expertise encompass site characterization, groundwater modeling, risk assessment, natural attenuation, LNAPL/DNAPL, remediation technologies, long-term monitoring strategies, technology transfer, and management of PFAS-impacted sites. He has served as a Principal or Co-Principal Investigator in numerous environmental R&D projects sponsored by various agencies and organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy, American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Defense, and diverse industrial clients.
Dr. Newell is the recipient of the Hanson Excellence of Presentation Award from AAPG, the Outstanding Presentation Award from AIChE, and the 2001 Wesley W. Horner Award from ASCE. Additionally, he received the 2008 Outstanding Alumni Award from Rice University, the 2014 Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Project of the Year Award, the 2016 Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) Environmental Excellence Award, and the 2020 Foundation Achievement Award from the Association for Environmental Health and Science.
Contact Chuck directly at Charles J. Newell, PhD, PE, BCEE