MEDIA ADVISORY
North Central Section, Geological Society of America
34th Annual Meeting
April 6-7, 2000
Indiana State Government Center
Indianapolis, IN

INFORMATION FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

CONTENTS

I. Introduction
II. Meeting Highlights
III. Support for Journalists
IV. Media Registration Policy and Procedures

I. INTRODUCTION
The 34th annual meeting of the North Central Section of the Geological Society of America (GSA) will be held April 6-7, 2000, at the Indiana State Government Center, Indianapolis, Indiana. A major focus of the meeting is environmental geoscience. Topics of regional interest include area soil and surface/ground water contamination and wetlands ecosystems. (See meeting highlights below.) Complimentary registration is available for media representatives who wish to attend. Over 700 geoscientists are expected to attend the meeting. Hosts are geologists from the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) Department of Geology and the Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES), in cooperation with the Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources, U. S. Geological Survey, Indiana Geological Survey, Professional Geologists of Indiana and the Natural Resource and Conservation Service.

II. MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The following papers will be presented at the meeting on the dates and times noted. Media representatives are welcome to attend sessions and interview scientists onsite, or conduct telephone interviews in advance of or during the meeting. Advance interviews may be conducted on an embargoed basis, with release dates coinciding with presentation dates. (See "Support for Journalists" below.)

SOIL CONTAMINATION
LEAD IN SURFACE SOILS OF MARION COUNTY, INDIANA
Gabriel Filipelli, Dept. of Geology and CEES, IUPUI, Indianapolis, 317-274-3795, [email protected]; et al. Friday, April 7, 10:30 a.m., Training Center Room 8. Indianapolis exhibits clusters of extremely high blood-lead levels in children, in spite of the phase-out of leaded gasoline and lead-based paints 20 years ago. To study the problem, surface soil samples were collected and analyzed from approximately 100 sites in Marion County. Samples were also collected from rural sites outside the county for comparison purposes. Results of the analysis will be shared, including discussion of airborne rather than lead-paint sources. A comparison to Indiana Public Health records of blood-lead levels shows correlation between high soil lead and high blood-lead levels. Further study is planned to evaluate this correlation.

SURFACE WATER CONTAMINATION
CONSTRAINING SOURCES OF E. COLI CONTAMINATION OF LAKE SHAFER
Krysten M. DeBroka, Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN, 765-494-6787, [email protected]; et al. Thursday, April 6, 9:00 a.m., Rooms A/B/C (poster hall) (Questions may also be directed to Jane Frankenberger at 765-494-1194.) Concern over high e. coli levels in the Lake Shafer watershed, White County, Indiana, has led to a multidisciplinary study of this $40 million per year recreational area. The study underway addresses sources of e. coli (e.g., septic systems, hog farms, row-crop farms that practice manure application, sewage treatment plants, and wildlife), and mechanisms responsible for their introduction into the lake. Results of this study, coupled with DNA fingerprinting of e. coli sources, will help shape solutions to the e. coli problem in the watershed.

GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION
LOCALIZATION AND RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM PRODUCT IN A VULNERABLE AQUIFER
Matthew P. Waldo, Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management, Indianapolis, 317-308-3164, [email protected]; et al. Thursday, April 6, 9:30 a.m., Training Center Room 1. The Walker Oil Service site in Indianapolis, a former gasoline service station and bulk storage facility in a rural section of Marion County, produced widespread high levels of soil contamination. Substantial amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel are present at the surface of the ground water in a shallow aquifer approximately 20 feet below ground surface. Aggressive removal methods, including low-flow pumping and use of hydrocarbon-sensitive membranes, is underway. Further corrective action is planned for the adsorbed and dissolved-phase contamination.

WETLANDS ECOSYSTEMS
THE ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON FOX ISLAND NATURE PRESERVE, ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA Solomon A. Isiorho, Dept. of Geosciences, Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ., Ft. Wayne, IN, 219-913-0962, [email protected]; et al. Friday, April 7, 10:10 a.m., Training Center Room 8 Wetlands perform important functions such as water quality improvement, flood reduction, and filtration of sediments, in addition to contributing to water supply, wildlife habitats, and overall outdoor enjoyment. Some wetlands in the Fox Island Nature Preserve in Allen County in northeast Indiana have shown signs of demise. Several observation wells were monitored within the park from 1996 to the present in order to identify the causes. Data analysis shows a lowering of the water table that may be related to human activity: two quarries that pump approximately 1-3 million gallons per day have reversed the ground water flow direction; and a landfill adjacent to the property has reduced surface runoff to the park.

EXPANSION OF AN URBAN WETLAND COMPLEX BY BEAVER (CASTOR CANADENSIS), INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
Robert C. Barr, Dept. of Geology and CEES, Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ., Indianapolis, IN, 317-274-7484, [email protected]; et al. Friday, April 7, 10:30 a.m., Rooms 1 and 2. In 1995, restoration of the Lake Sullivan 6.5-acre wetland complex was planned. When beaver moved into the wetland area that spring, planned restoration was halted while effects of the beaver on the site were studied. Since that time, wetland area has more than doubled due to ponding. In addition to this increase in area, the wetland has also increased in diversity. After the beaver constructed diversion canals through the area, a wide range of microenvironments was created by different water levels, ranging from fully aquatic to seasonally dry. The area now is now a complex mosaic of wetland plant types. Restoration plans remain on hold while continued manipulation of the wetland by beaver is studied.

III. SUPPORT FOR JOURNALISTS

Prior to the meeting, contact GSA Director of Communications and Marketing, Ann Cairns, for information and assistance. Advance interviews with scientists can be arranged and conducted on an embargoed basis, with release dates coinciding with presentation dates. During the meeting, Pam Hogue of IUPUI will be onsite to assist journalists. She can be reached by calling the Marriott Courtyard Downtown at 317-635-4443 and asking for the GSA Registration Desk. Both telephone and onsite interviews can be arranged.

IV. MEDIA REGISTRATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Media will register at the main meeting registration desk, located in the lobby of the Marriott Courtyard Downtown, 501 W. Washington St., where they will receive badges and program/abstract books. Registration hours are:

Wednesday, April 5, 3-7 p.m.
Thursday April 6, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 7, 7:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Registration entitles journalists and public information officers (PIOs) from geoscience and other related organizations to access to all scientific sessions and the exhibition area.
Eligibility for complimentary media registration is as follows, all of whom have equal access:

. Working press representing bona fide news media with a press card, letter, or business card from the publication. . Freelance science writers, presenting a current membership card from NASW, ISWA, regional affiliates of NASW, or evidence of work pertaining to science published in 1998 or 1999. . PIOs of scientific societies, educational institutions and government agencies.

Representatives of the business side of news media, publishing houses, and for-profit corporations must pay the appropriate fees.