Robert Peterson

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PO Box 999
Richland, WA 99352
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Biography

Mr. Peterson has a broad-based geosciences background, founded in geology and oceanography. Experienced in academic, consulting firm, and government contractor settings. Strong skills in hydrologic investigations, including strategy, design, interpretation, and reporting. Research interests include the interaction between groundwater and surface water. Comfortable with business development and marketing assignments related to technical work.

He also has extensive Hanford Site experience involving groundwater projects (18 years), including CERCLA remedial investigations, RCRA compliance monitoring, and communicating environmental monitoring information to a broad audience. Current research involves methods to characterize (a) discharge of groundwater into the Columbia River, and (b) ecological implications of discharge. Earlier Hanford Site experience in planning investigations to characterize the structural geology and tectonic setting of the Site for use as a high-level radioactive waste repository.

Research Interests

Natural Attenuation of Contaminants in the Environment
Characteristics of the Zone of Groundwater/Surface Water Interaction
Environmental Monitoring Strategies and Methods

Education and Credentials

Ph.D., Geological Oceanography, Oregon State University, 1972-1977
M.S., Marine Geology, Oregon State University, 1967-1969
B.S., Geology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 1963-1967

Affiliations and Professional Service

Selected Publications

2008

Peterson RE, BA Williams, and RM Smith. 2008. Volatile Organic Compound Investigation Results, 300 Area, Hanford Site, Washington. PNNL-17666, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Peterson RE, ML Rockhold, RJ Serne, PD Thorne, and MD Williams. 2008. Uranium Contamination in the Subsurface Beneath the 300 Area, Hanford Site, Washington. PNNL-17034, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.

2007

Peterson RE. 2007. K Basins Groundwater Monitoring Task, K Basins Closure Project: Report for October, November, and December 2006. PNNL-16481, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Peterson RE. 2007. K Basins Groundwater Monitoring Task, K Basins Closure Project: Report for April, May, and June 2007. PNNL-16766, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Miley TB, AL Bunn, BA Napier, RE Peterson, and JM Becker. 2007. Current Conditions Risk Assessment for the 300-FF-5 Groundwater Operable Unit. PNNL-16454 Rev. 0, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Poston TM, RE Peterson, and AT Cooper. 2007. "Past Radioactive Particle Contamination in the Columbia River at the Hanford Site, USA." In Managing Historic Hot Particle Liabilities in the Marine Environment, 30-31 August 2005, Nairn, Scotland. Published in Journal of Radiological Protection , vol. 27, no. 3A, pp. A45-A50. IOP Publishing, Bristol, United Kingdom. doi:10.1088/0952-4746/27/3A/S06
Williams BA, CF Brown, W Um, MJ Nimmons, RE Peterson, BN Bjornstad, DC Lanigan, RJ Serne, FA Spane, and ML Rockhold. 2007. Limited Field Investigation Report for Uranium Contamination in the 300 Area, 300-FF-5 Operable Unit, Hanford Site, Washington. PNNL-16435, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.

2006

Peterson RE. 2006. K Basins Groundwater Monitoring Task, Spent Nuclear Fuels Project: Report for April, May, and June 2006. PNNL-16001, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Peterson RE. 2006. K Basins Groundwater Monitoring Task, K Basins Closure Project: Report for July, August, and September 2006. PNNL-16270, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.

2005

Peterson RE, EJ Freeman, PD Thorne, MD Williams, JW Lindberg, CJ Murray, MJ Truex, SB Yabusaki, JP McDonald, VR Vermeul, and JM Zachara. 2005. Contaminants of Potential Concern in the 300-FF-5 Operable Unit: Expanded Annual Groundwater Report for Fiscal Year 2004. PNNL-15127, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.

2004

Peterson RE, and MP Connelly. 2004. "Water Movement in the Zone of Interaction Between Groundwater and the Columbia River, Hanford Site, Washington." Journal of Hydraulic Research 42(EXTRA ISSUE):53-58.
Peterson RE, and MP Connelly. 2004. "Water movement in the zone of interaction between groundwater and the Columbia River, Hanford Site, Washington." Journal of Hydraulic Research 42(Sp. Iss. SI ):53-58.
Peterson RE, and MP Connelly. 2004. "Water Movement in the Zone of Interaction between Groundwater and the Columbia River, Hanford Site, Washington." In Bridging the gap between measurement and modeling in heterogeneous media: Proceedings of the International Groundwater Symposium, March 25-28, 2002, Berkeley, California, ed. AN Findikakis. International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research, Madrid, Spain.

2003

Hartman MJ, and RE Peterson. 2003. Aquifer Sampling Tube Results for Fiscal Year 2003. PNNL-14444, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Dauble DD, GW Patton, TM Poston, and RE Peterson. 2003. Evaluation of the Effects of Chromium to Fall Chinook Salmon in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River: Integration of Recent Toxicity Test Results. PNNL-14008, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.

2002

Peterson RE, FA Spane, KB Olsen, and MD Williams. 2002. Evaluation of Potential Sources for Tritium Detected in Groundwater at Well 199-K-111A, 100-K Area. PNNL-14031, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Peterson RE. 2002. Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment Plan for the 100-K Area Fuel Storage Basin. PNNL-14033, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Freshley MD, AL Bunn, GW Gee, TJ Gilmore, CT Kincaid, RE Peterson, AL Ward, SB Yabusaki, and JM Zachara. 2002. Groundwater Protection Program Science and Technology Summary Description. PNNL-14092, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Poston TM, EJ Antonio, and RE Peterson. 2002. "Application of Biota Dose Assessment Committee Methodology to Assess Radiological Risk to Salmonids in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River." In Third International Symposium on the Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation (SPEIR 3), pp. 397-405. IAEA , Vienna, Austria.

2001

Peterson RE, and MP Connelly. 2001. Zone of Interaction Between Hanford Site Groundwater and Adjacent Columbia River. PNNL-13674, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.

2000

Peterson RE, and TM Poston. 2000. Strontium-90 at the Hanford Site and its Ecological Implications. PNNL-13127, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.