Michelle Lorah
Dr. Michelle Lorah is a Research Hydrologist and has been with the U.S. Geological Survey in the Maryland Water Sciences Center since 1985, where she directs the Fate and Bioremediation Team. Her research focuses on contaminant fate, microbial community dynamincs, and developing bioremediation methods for a wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants in groundwater...
My research is focused on determining natural attenuation processes in complex environments, such as wetlands, sediment, and fractured rock, with the goal of enhancing or augmenting these processes to obtain efficient remediation of contaminants. This research includes defining anaerobic and aerobic degradation processes, microbial community dynamics, and controlling environmental factors. Much of my research has focused on chlorinated volatile organic compounds, including chlorinated methanes, ethenes, and benzenes, and development of bioremediation technologies for these widespread groundwater contaminants. I have led the development of an anaerobic dechlorinating consortium (WBC-2) for degradation of chlorinated solvents and of bio-reactive barriers or caps for application in bottom sediment and groundwater discharge areas. Additional research has included study of biodegradation of explosives compounds and perchlorate, natural attenuation of landfill leachate, and fate of nutrients in groundwater/surface-water discharge area.
Professional Experience
1994-Present, Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Baltimore, Maryland
Technical director of Fate and Bioremediation Team. Principal or co-principal investigator on projects investigating contaminant fate and remediation, with a specialization on complex hydrogeologic environments, including wetlands and other areas of ground-water-surface water interaction and fractured rock.
Education and Certifications
B.S. Pennsylvania State University, Geosciences/Minor- Marine Science, 1983
M.S. University of Virginia, Environmental Sciences- Geochemistry, 1987
Ph.D. University of Maryland, Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences Program- Environmental Chemistry, 1999
Science and Products
Surface geophysics and porewater evaluation at the Lower Darby Creek Area Superfund Site, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2013
Hydrogeologic characterization and assessment of bioremediation of chlorinated benzenes and benzene in wetland areas, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2009-12
Biogeochemical evolution of a landfill leachate plume, Norman, Oklahoma
Summary of Organic Wastewater Compounds and Other Water-Quality Data in Charles County, Maryland, October 2007 through August 2008
Design and Performance of an Enhanced Bioremediation Pilot Test in a Tidal Wetland Seep, West Branch Canal Creek, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Laboratory and in situ tests for bioremediation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by the dechlorinating consortium WBC-2
Microbial consortia development and microcosm and column experiments for enhanced bioremediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds, West Branch Canal Creek wetland area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Characterization of Preferential Ground-Water Seepage From a Chlorinated Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Aquifer to West Branch Canal Creek, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 2002-04
Characterization of a microbial consortium capable of rapid and simultaneous dechlorination of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and chlorinated ethane and ethene intermediates:
Natural attenuation of chlorinated solvent ground-water plumes discharging into wetlands
Temporal changes in indicators of natural attenuation and physical controlling factors for a freshwater tidal wetland contaminated With chlorinated volatile organic compounds, West Branch Canal Creek, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 1995-2001
Preliminary assessment of microbial communities and biodegradation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds in wetlands at Cluster 13, Lauderick Creek area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 36
Surface geophysics and porewater evaluation at the Lower Darby Creek Area Superfund Site, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2013
In cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 3, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is participating in an ongoing study to aid in the identification of subsurface heterogeneities that may act as preferential pathways for contaminant transport in and around the Lower Darby Creek Area (LDCA) Superfund Site, Philadelphia Pa. Lower Darby Creek, which flows into the DelawarAuthorsCharles W. Walker, James R. Degnan, Michael J. Brayton, Roberto M. Cruz, Michelle M. LorahHydrogeologic characterization and assessment of bioremediation of chlorinated benzenes and benzene in wetland areas, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2009-12
Wetlands at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site (SCD) in New Castle County, Delaware, are affected by contamination with chlorobenzenes and benzene from past waste storage and disposal, spills, leaks, and contaminated groundwater discharge. In cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey began an investigation in June 2009 to characterizeAuthorsMichelle M. Lorah, Charles W. Walker, Anna C. Baker, Jessica A. Teunis, Emily Majcher, Michael J. Brayton, Jeff P. Raffensperger, Isabelle M. CozzarelliBiogeochemical evolution of a landfill leachate plume, Norman, Oklahoma
Leachate from municipal landfills can create groundwater contaminant plumes that may last for decades to centuries. The fate of reactive contaminants in leachate-affected aquifers depends on the sustainability of biogeochemical processes affecting contaminant transport. Temporal variations in the configuration of redox zones downgradient from the Norman Landfill were studied for more than a decadeAuthorsIsabelle M. Cozzarelli, John K. Böhlke, Jason R. Masoner, George N. Breit, Michelle M. Lorah, Michele L. Tuttle, Jeanne B. JaeschkeSummary of Organic Wastewater Compounds and Other Water-Quality Data in Charles County, Maryland, October 2007 through August 2008
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the government of Charles County, Maryland, and the Port Tobacco River Conservancy, Inc., conducted a water-quality reconnaissance and sampling investigation of the Port Tobacco River and Nanjemoy Creek watersheds in Charles County during October 2007 and June-August 2008. Samples were collected and analyzed for major ions, nutrients, organic wastewaAuthorsMichelle M. Lorah, Daniel J. Soeder, Jessica A. TeunisDesign and Performance of an Enhanced Bioremediation Pilot Test in a Tidal Wetland Seep, West Branch Canal Creek, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Because of a lack of available in situ remediation methods for sensitive wetland environments where contaminated groundwater discharges, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Garrison, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, conceived, designed, and pilot tested a permeable reactive mat that can be placed horizontally at the groundwater/surface-water interface. Development of thAuthorsEmily H. Majcher, Michelle M. Lorah, Daniel J. Phelan, Angela L. McGintyLaboratory and in situ tests for bioremediation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by the dechlorinating consortium WBC-2
No abstract available.AuthorsMichelle M. Lorah, Eric Vogler, Phil Dennis, Duane Graves, Jose GallegosMicrobial consortia development and microcosm and column experiments for enhanced bioremediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds, West Branch Canal Creek wetland area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Chlorinated solvents, including 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform, are reaching land surface in localized areas of focused ground-water discharge (seeps) in a wetland and tidal creek in the West Branch Canal Creek area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In cooperation with the U.S. Army Garrison, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland,AuthorsMichelle M. Lorah, Emily H. Majcher, Elizabeth J. Jones, Mary A. VoytekCharacterization of Preferential Ground-Water Seepage From a Chlorinated Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Aquifer to West Branch Canal Creek, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 2002-04
Wetlands act as natural transition zones between ground water and surface water, characterized by the complex interdependency of hydrology, chemical and physical properties, and biotic effects. Although field and laboratory demonstrations have shown efficient natural attenuation processes in the non-seep wetland areas and stream bottom sediments of West Branch Canal Creek, chlorinated volatile orgAuthorsEmily H. Majcher, Daniel J. Phelan, Michelle M. Lorah, Angela L. McGintyCharacterization of a microbial consortium capable of rapid and simultaneous dechlorination of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and chlorinated ethane and ethene intermediates:
Mixed cultures capable of dechlorinating chlorinated ethanes and ethenes were enriched from contaminated wetland sediment at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) Maryland. The “West Branch Consortium” (WBC-2) was capable of degrading 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TeCA), trichloroethene (TCE), cis and trans 1,2-dichloroethene (DCE), 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCA), 1,2-dichloroethane, and vinyl chloride to nonchAuthorsElizabeth J.P. Jones, Mary A. Voytek, Michelle M. Lorah, Julie D. KirshteinNatural attenuation of chlorinated solvent ground-water plumes discharging into wetlands
No abstract available.AuthorsMichelle M. Lorah, David R. Burris, Linda Jo DyerTemporal changes in indicators of natural attenuation and physical controlling factors for a freshwater tidal wetland contaminated With chlorinated volatile organic compounds, West Branch Canal Creek, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 1995-2001
No abstract available.AuthorsMichelle M. Lorah, Tracey A. Spencer, Angela L. McGintyPreliminary assessment of microbial communities and biodegradation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds in wetlands at Cluster 13, Lauderick Creek area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
A preliminary assessment of the microbial communities and biodegradation processes for chlorinated volatile organic compounds was con-ducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in wetlands at the Cluster 13, Lauderick Creek area at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The U.S. Geological Survey collected wetland sediment samples from 11 sites in the Lauderick Creek area for microbial analyses, and used exAuthorsMichelle M. Lorah, Mary A. Voytek, Tracey A. Spencer - News