Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The evaluation process will be done quarterly utilizing a quantitative process by the number of waterways sampled, collecting samples weekly for 8 months, gathering 5 samples in vials at each site, analyzing particulate matter in waterways monthly (80 samples monthly), and assessing results of finding. The results will determine if additional testing needs to be completed or if we need to adjust to other testing areas and frequency.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
40%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Goal: Gathering and Monitoring Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) Fingerprint data including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) on the Blackfeet Reservation. Objectives: 1. BCC students will establish baseline conditions in watersheds throughout the Blackfeet Reservation; St. Mary River, Milk River Head Waters, Cut Bank Creek and Two Medicine River 2. Students will continue to collect and monitor throughout the academic year. 3. Collect and Monitor TPH in the vicinity of active drill sites for approximately 10 weeks during the summer. Our rugged, picturesque 1.5 million acre (3,000 square mile) reservation in Montana has a population of about 10,000, including 8,500 enrolled Blackfeet, several hundred Blackfeet descendents and Indians from other tribes, and a few hundred non-Indians. (blackfeetnation.com) Although oil development has been going in the State of Montana since the 1920's each oil boom has created excitement with the potential gains of economic growth. The Blackfeet Reservation has been involved in oil devilment since the early 1930's as well however the major oil development was in the 1970's on the eastern part of the Blackfeet Reservation. This generation of land owners is currently experiencing this for the first time. The method of development has raised questions/concern for the environment. The interest in development methods has resulted in community meetings and seminars to address the communities concerns. However, we do not have the baseline data to guide establishment and monitoring practices that would minimize impacts to the environment. The proposed research project would allow our students the opportunity to contribute toward the responsible stewardship of the land.
Project Methods
Our approach would involve the use of a portable Hydrocarbon Analyzer to take measurements in parts per million (ppm) levels of TPH in vapor or water in the field. Students will travel to selected watershed sites within the Blackfeet Reservations take readings to establish baseline data and for monitoring purposes. After establishing baseline conditions, we would be able to monitor any changes in the total petroleum hydrocarbon fingerprinting. Students will be involved in the interpretation of the results and other components of the study. We will be asking our faculty on staff at BCC trained in cultural resource management to assist our students to conduct a cultural survey of the selected sites. This will be one of our initial projects to be completed prior to any activity to the area. It is important to explain and teach our research students what tribal resources are important to protect and how to identify them in the field. Students will complete an inventory of flora and fauna of the area. This will expose our students to the experience of conducting a cultural survey. Students will create a poster and possibly present during the annual spring grazing seminar or BCC sponsored event and during the annual `Days of the Blackfeet' a week long educational conference sponsored by BCC. The conference takes place on BCC campus the third week of September. The Research Supervisor has overseen water projects over the past 5 years. He was been the research supervisor for five different student interns this past year he trained all the interns in lab safety, collecting samples, equipment calibration and usage, recording data, and interpreting results and has travelled with the students to MSU-Bozeman for short presentations. BCC undergraduate students will obtain experience in research skills, sampling techniques, equipment calibration and usage, data recording and analyzing, oral and written skills, and problem solving techniques. Some of the skills gained will be the use of electronic instruments to collect pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, velocity, turbidity, and air and water temperature. The students will also gain chemical testing experience by collecting their samples, adding chemicals specific for their project, and using a Spectrophotometer (Hach) to obtain numerical values of the chemicals they were researching as well as gather and monitor samples from the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) analyzer including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX). These students will expand their knowledge on how to collect, analyze, and interpret their results.