Scott Phillips, Hydrologist

Education

M.S.

Hydrogeology, 1983, George Washington University

B.S.

Geology, 1981, James Madison University

Experience

October 1995 to present, Chesapeake Bay Coordinator, (U.S. Geological Survey)
-- Serves as coordinator and liaison for USGS activities involved with management and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Primary duty is coordination of the USGS Chesapeake Bay Studies, which involves about 30 USGS projects. Acts as the primary USGS liaison to the Chesapeake Bay Program by serving on several the Subcommittees (Implementation, Monitoring, and Scientific and Technical Advisory) and workgroups (Nontidal Tributaries, Chair; Sediment, and Water Quality Technical workgroup). Integrates the USGS findings with other Federal and State agencies and academic institutions involved in the Bay restoration.

January 1991 to October 1995, Water-Quality Specialist, (U.S. Geological Survey)
-- Served as technical specialist in all matters pertaining to quality of water conducted by USGS with the Mid-Atlantic area. Provided direct technical support to approximately 45 interpretive projects including project planning, formulating monitoring and data collection approach, data interpretation, and report review. Participant in the Chesapeake Bay Program through membership on monitoring subcommittee and associated workgroups. Provided communication and exchange of technical information between USGS and other agencies.

November 1989 to December 1990, Senior Scientist (Geraghty and Miller, Inc)
-- Served as Groundwater group leader, project manager, and principle investigator for a variety of Groundwater and hazardous-waste projects. The projects included CERCLA Hazardous Waste Remedial Investigations, RCRA Post-Closure Permit studies; water-supply and well-field design studies, characterization of Groundwater flow and quality underlying landfill sites, and environmental assessments.

December 1983 to November 1989, Hydrologist (U.S. Geological Survey)
-- Principle investigator for hazardous-waste characterizations, Groundwater flow modeling, and Groundwater supply and quality projects in Maryland and Delaware. Projects included study of Groundwater/surface-water interactions, contaminant transport, and low-temperature aqueous geochemistry.

 

Selected Publications

Phillips, S.W. and Lindsey, B.D., 2003, The influence of Groundwater on nitrogen delivery to the Chesapeake Bay: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-091-03. 6p.

Phillips, S.W., Editor, 2002, The U.S. Geological Survey and the Chesapeake Bay--The Role of Science in Environmental Restoration: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1220, 32 p.

Phillips, S.W., Preston, S.D., Langland, M.J., and Brakebill, 2002, Nutrient Delivery and Trends in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: American Water Resources Association 2002 Annual Water Resources Conference, Abstract Proceedings, Nov 3-7, Philadelphia, PA

Phillips, S.W., 2002, The Relation Between Nutrient Trends in Rivers and Management Actions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, May 28-31, Washington, D.C.

Phillips, S.W., 2001, The U.S. Geological Survey Chesapeake Bay Science Program, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-125-01, 4 p.

Phillips, S.W., and Focazio, M.J., and Bachman, L.J., 1999, Discharge, Nitrate Load, and Residence Time of Groundwater in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-150-99.

Phillips, S.W., and Caughron, B., 1997, Overview of the U.S. Geological Survey Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Program: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-124-97.

Phillips, S. W., and Ryan, B.J., 1989, Water-quality degradation by brackish-water intrusion, Northern Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: in Groundwater Issues in the Chesapeake Bay Region, NWWA, p. 211-237.

Phillips, S.W., 1987, Hydrogeology, degradation of Groundwater quality, and simulation of infiltration from the Delaware River into the Potomac aquifers, northern Delaware: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4185, 86 p.

Belval, D.L., Campbell, J.P., Phillips, S.W., and Bell, C.F., 1995, Water-Quality Characteristics of Five Tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay at the Fall Line of Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 95-4258

Blazer, V., Phillips, S.W., Pendleton, E., 1999, Fish Health, Fungal Infections, and Pfiesteria, The Role of the USGS, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-114-98

Cronin, T.C., Willard, D.A, and Phillips, S.W., 2000, Impact of Climatic Variability and Human Activities on the Chesapeake Bay and Implications for Ecosystem Restoration, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-116-00.

Knobel. L.L., and Philips, S. W., 1988, Aqueous geochemistry of the Magothy aquifer, Maryland; U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2323, 28 p.

Knobel. L.L., Chapelle, F.H., and Phillips, S.W., 1987, Overview of geochemical processes controlling the chemistry of Groundwater in the northern Atlantic Coastal Plains in Regional Aquifer Systems of the United States, AWRA Monograph Series, No. 9 p. 25-38.

Langland M., Cronin, T. and Phillips, S.W, 2003, An executive summary of sediment processes in the Chesapeake Bay and watershed, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4123, 109 p.

Lindsey, B.D., Phillips, S.W., Donnelly, C.A., Speiran, G.K., Plummer, L.N., Böhlke, J.K., Focazio, M.J., and Burton, W.C., 2003, Residence time and nitrate transport in Groundwater discharging to streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4035, 202 p.

Sprague, L.A., Langland, M.J., Yochum, S.E., Edwards, R.E., Blomquist, J.D., Phillips, S.W, Shenk, G.W., and Preston, S.D., 2000, Factors Affecting Nutrient Trends in Major Rivers of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 00-4218.

Tenbus, F.J., and Phillips, S.W., 1996, Hydrogeology and Chemical Quality of Water and Soil at Carroll Island, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 96-4169.

Tenbus, F.J., and Phillips, S.W., 1990, Study Approach for the Hydrogeologic Assessment of Carroll Island and Graces Quarters, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 90-181.

Vroblesky, D.A., Phillips, S.W., and Stefano, J.E., 1988, Remote-controlled drilling operations at hazardous-waste sites in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland: May 23-26, 1988, Las Vegas, Nevada, Pro./2nd Nat’l. Outdoor action Conf. on Aquifer Restoration, p. 17-30.

Projects

-- Natural attenuation of contaminated Groundwater in a freshwater tidal wetland, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

-- Piezometer installation at Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Delaware

Sediment coring and Groundwater profiling in a tidal marsh, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
-- This study was conducted to investigate the lithology and Groundwater quality in marshy areas that were previously inaccessible because of deep mud and shallow water, and to support ongoing investigations of the fate and transport of organic contaminants in the Canal Creek aquifer. A unique vibracore drill rig mounted on a hovercraft called the U.S. Geological Survey ?Hoverprobe? was used for drilling and Groundwater sampling. Continuous cores of the wetland sediment and of the Canal Creek aquifer were collected at five sites. Groundwater sampling attempts were made by use of a continuous profiler at 12 sites, without well installation, at a total of 81 depthis within the aquifer. This was the first use of the hoverprobe at a hazardous-waste site, or at a site where unexploded ordnance is a potential hazard. This successful completion of this project showed that with proper precautions, the hoverprobe drilling and Groundwater-quality profiling could be carried out safely at hazardous-waste sites, and sites with unexploded ordnance.

Assessment of soil, surface-water, and Groundwater contanimation at selected sites at J-Field, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
-- This study was conducted from 1989 to 1994 to determine the nature and extent of contamination at five sites where chemical-warfare agents, high-explosive munitions, and industrial chemicals were tested and disposed of from the 1940?s to the 1970?s. The sites investigated were the toxic-materials disposal area, the riot-control-agent disposal area, the Robins Point demolition area, the White-Phosphorus disposal pits, and the Prototype building.

Selected Publications

Phelan, D.J., Fleck, W.B., Lorah, M.M., and Olsen, L.D., Changes in Groundwater quality in the Canal Creek Aquifer between 1995 and 2000-2001, West Branch, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4076, 42 p.

Spencer, T.A., Phelan, D.J., Olsen, L.D., and Lorah, M.M., 2002, Groundwater and surface-water quality data for the West Branch Canal Creek, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, November 1999-May 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-420, 295 p.

Lantrip, B.M., Summers, R.M., Phelan, D.J., and Anderle, William, 1987, Sediment/water-column flux of nutrients and oxygen in the tidal Patuxent River and esturary, Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2296, 76 p.

Phelan, D.J., 1987, Water levels, chloride concentrations, and pumpage in the coastal aquifers of Delaware and Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-422, 106 p.

Phelan, D.J., 1990, Water use in the St. Jones River Basin, Kent County, Delaware, 1983-86: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-4094, 30 p.

Phelan, D.J., and Ayers, M.A., 1992, Water supply and water use: pp. 12-13, in: Ayers, M.A. and others, 1992, Sensitivity of water resources in the Delaware River basin to climate variability and change: U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2422, 42 p.

Froelich, A.J., Hoffman, M.F., Taunton, S.S. and Phelan, D.J., 1992, Preliminary results of coring surficial deposits in the Winchester 30x60minute quadrangle, West Virginia and Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 92-395, 47 p.

Phelan, D.J., Marchand, E.H., Cashel, M.L., Koterba, M.T., Olsen, Lisa D., and Nemoff, P.R., 1996, Hydrogeologic, soil, and water-quality data for J-Field, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 1989-94: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-128, 191 p.

Phelan, D.J., Olsen, L.D., Cashel, M.L., Tegeler, J.L., and Marchand, E.H., 1998, Assessment of soil, surface-water, and Groundwater contamination at selected sites at J-Field, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 98-4037, 76 p.

Beman, J.E., Phelan, D.J., Dysart, J.E., Cashel, M.L., and Smith, V.C., 1999, Hydrogeologic and water-quality data for the East Management Unit of Dover Air Force Base, Kent County, Delaware, 1995-96: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-253, 95 p.

Phelan, D.J., Senus, M.P., Olsen, L.D., 2001, Lithologic and Groundwater-quality data collected using hoverprobe drilling techniques at the West Branch Canal Creek wetland, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, April-May 2000: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-446, 43 p.

Phelan, D.J., Olsen, L.D., Senus, M.P., 2001, Spencer, T.A., 2001, Assessment of volatile organic compounds in surface water at Canal Creek, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland November 1999-September 2000, 49 p.

—IN-HOUSE PUBLICATIONS
Phelan, D.J., 1983, Automatic flushing system for flow-through water-quality monitors with submersible pumps: Chapter in--WRD Bulletin, Water Resources Division, May-December, 1983, 3 p.

Phelan, D.J., Carrington, N.R., Hyatt, G.J., 1984, Water resources publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, Mid-Atlantic District, 1981-83, 98 p.

—ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Phelan, D.J., 1993, Results of geophysical logging at the Limestone Road CERCLA site in Alleghany County, Maryland; Administrative-letter type report to the USEPA, 23 p.

Phelan, D.J., 2000, Interpretation of geophysical logs at the Ordnance Products Superfund site, Cecil County, Maryland, Administrative-letter type report to the USEPA, 127 p.