The survey is to help identify areas for use as potential research field sites and to collect sufficient quantities and types of soils for research purposes.
We have identified 19 sites:
| Smelting/Mining sites | 12 | |
| Industrial or waste sites | ||
| Battery Cracking | 2 | |
| Acid sludge disposal | 1 | |
| Pb metal | ||
| Disposal sites | 3 | |
| Lead paint in soil | 1 | |
| Total | 19 | |
If you know of additional sites, please complete a survey and send it to Bill Berti, DuPont Co. (302/451-9224).
Sally Brown, USDA-ARS, told the group that the rat dosing studies are scheduled to begin soon. This study at the University of Maryland will determine Pb bioavailability from the Joplin field research site using the rat model. Rufus Chaney, USDA-ARS, discussed the rat study protocol and that there are several changes that are being considered, which will make the protocol more similar to the protocol for the swine studies conducted at the University of Missouri.
The plots at Joplin have good cover of grass that was planted last spring. A follow-up trip to the site is planned for this spring. No additional lime or fertilizer will be applied to any of the plots for the first two years as long as there is a reasonable cover of grass. However, if plots are not supporting sufficient plant growth, soil testing will be used to determine lime and fertilizer needs. After that, recommendations of the University of Missouri will be followed for maintaining a lawn in this area.
We can now post and retrieve documents to our web page at <http://www.rtdf.org> in the IINERT Administrative area. This area is only accessible by typing in a username and password. Members may access the files from the "Administrative Documents" area in the password-protected area. You may upload additional files through the "Upload a File" feature. The level of "permission" is set on this upload area so that members may upload new files, but may not overwrite existing files. Hopefully, this will make it easier to exchange information in the group. There are already a couple of files there for you to download, including the Soil Survey and Soil Survey Results Summary. Please check it out and let Julie Levinson <jlevinso@emsus.com> or Bill Berti know of any problems or suggestions.
The deadline for "final" copy submissions for the April issue of RTDF UPDATE is Monday, March 16. If you have something that you would like to post to the UPDATE please send it to Bill Berti or Jim Ryan (US EPA) so we have time to get copy finalized to Carolyn Perroni <cperroni@emsus.com> by March 16. Graphics can also be included.
. . . is scheduled for Monday March 16 from 2 to 3 pm eastern standard time.