Biographical Sketch Dr. Thomas F. Bullard came to DRI after spending eight years at Geomatrix Consultants in San Francisco where he was involved in seismic hazard research, applied research related to active fault hazards, and landslide assessments. He received his Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico where he studied the geology of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It was during his time as a graduate student in Costa Rica that Bullard honed his Spanish language skills. His work has since taken him to locations throughout much of the United States and to Colombia, Argentina, and the Philippines. In May, he presented a paper on the environmental impacts of mining in the western U.S. at the First Meeting on the Environmental Impacts of Mining in Mendoza, Argentina.

If you need help in translating the last sentence, just ask Dr. Thomas Bullard, a geologist in DRI's Quaternary Sciences Center. In addition to understanding terms like isotopic composition and recharge source area, Bullard is fluent in Spanish and is currently playing an important role in establishing international research opportunities for DRI.

DRI's first project in Argentina is for Termas Villavicencio, S.A., Mendoza. Termas Villavicencio, known throughout Argentina as Villavicencio, bottles mineral water which is in great demand within the country. When it recently became apparent that proposed mining activities in nearby mountains could threaten water quality, company managers grew concerned.

Enter Dr. Stephen Wells, Judith Lancaster, and Bullard from the Quaternary Sciences Center as well as Dr. Roger Jacobson from DRI's Water Resources Center. They made their first presentation to Villavicencio in late March 1997. By last October, DRI had signed a contract to investigate spring recharge and discharge, subsurface water flow, and water quality for the largest water bottling operation in Argentina. But the story really began in January 1997 when DRI entered into a business agreement with GRK servicios mineros, s.a. of Mendoza with the intent of identifying and developing business and research opportunities within Argentina. Key to this process was having GRK as an in-country representative. In addition, DRI required a researcher with broad scientific knowledge who was both fluent in Spanish and could spend substantial time meeting with potential clients. The latter position was filled by Bullard, who joined DRI as a research faculty member in time for the March 1997 visit to Mendoza.

The Villavicencio project kicked off in early November with a visit to Argentina by Wells and Bullard as well as Dr. Jack Hess, Brad Lyles, and Todd Mihevc from the Water Resources Center. Following initial meetings with Villavicencio personnel, the five DRI researchers went to work sampling spring waters at the former Villavicencio spa and at back country sites. In addition, several reconnaissance trips were made to high-altitude springs in the Andes to collect spring-water and geologic data for input into a final model of the water system in the region. Elements that will go into understanding the Villavicencio springs include basic water chemistry, field properties like temperature, electrical conductivity, spring discharge, and the age and sources of the water, as well as geology. Although the work is not nearly complete, Lyles and Mihevc have already spent three weeks collecting field data. They have also installed six rain gauges in the Andes in order to identify the "fingerprints" of rain and snowfall.

Included in the final package that DRI will provide are the installation of long-term monitoring equipment which involves the construction of special channels to measure spring discharge and the installation of data loggers that will provide real-time monitoring. Because of the minimal water treatment currently necessary prior to bottling, sanitary conditions are a must. As a result, DRI is designing special stainless steel equipment.

When the project is completed, Villavicencio managers will be trained on data retrieval and analysis. In the end, DRI will provide Villavicencio with a better understanding of the sources of their water and the potential for impact resulting from mining activities. An aquifer protection plan and monitoring system to follow trends in spring discharges will provide for long-term control.

DRI anticipates that follow-up work will evolve from the initial relationship with Villavicencio as the company begins to expand its operation into other regions. In addition, Bullard continues to spend about 30 percent of his time in Argentina maintaining contacts and establishing new research and business relationships. The goal is to have DRI become well-known in Argentina for conducting superior basic and applied research.

Bullard's efforts are centered in Mendoza, a growing metropolis situated in a desert environment quite similar to Reno and Las Vegas. DRI is a perfect fit for tackling many of the critical problems facing the region, including environmental impacts of mining, nuclear waste and other hazardous waste disposal, aquifer contamination, flash flooding, urban expansion onto mountain foothills, desertification, air quality, and earthquake-related hazards.