A superstar group of regulators from the MICHGAN ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY agency convened in Lansing, Michigan for the two-day experience, TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF THE SUBSURFACE.
Day One was classroom instruction, the customized training experience for regulators. One of the significant differences of the training schedule for regulators is REVIEWING soil boring logs prepared by others. Three metrics exist to evaluate soil boring logs; and we practice the steps for evaluating a few soil boring logs that -at first glance look complete - but is full of conflicting inconsistencies, questionable procedural observations, and sample recovery uncertainty.
Day Two was the field component. EGLE has a variety of drilling rigs capable of different drilling techniques. A pilot boring was drilled and sampled about 2 months ahead of the official training dates in order to help prepare for the training. The soil boring log and borehole decommissioning form from the pilot boring can be found here: https://midwestgeo.com/eastlansing-geology.php
The pilot boring was sampled using the Rotasonic tooling and the soil boring collected during the official training field component was sampled using a Continuous Sampler inside hollow stem augers. The EGLE drilling team did a phenomenal job to collect both borings.
EGLE training participants are superstars. It was easy to sense they are eager to master the procedures and strategies required for TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF THE SUBSURFACE.
Special thank you to Chris Christensen for leading the way with teaching the local and regional geologic setting. For me, it was a perfect setup for the pre-field strategy where we collect background information in order to set us up for success in the field - that is knowing how our soil core relates to the local and regional geologic setting.
We were all treated by the surprise visit by John Esch from the Michigan Geological Survey who arrived on site for the training field component and logged the open boring using Natural Gamma geophysical tools. John has a wealth of knowledge and experience in and around Michigan. His first participation in a Midwest GeoSciences Group training event was at Ohio State University when he ran a geophysical tool in a sampled soil boring for that training event 15+ years ago.
Lastly, THANK YOU to the organizers and leaders at MICHIGAN EGLE for allowing me to help you with this unique training experience. Melissa, you're awesome! Chris, you rocked it! Brian, you nailed it! It's an honor for me to contribute to your success, but also for helping you help professionals become responsible stewards of this precious planet. Keep up the good work.
Below are the random collection of photos from both the classroom and field components.
