HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-03-16, Page 53Farm Progress '94 -Page 37
Soil ekpert works on nuclear fuel waste project
(NC) - While Marsha Sheppard still
Occasionally finds herself elbow
deep in wet peat during field trips,
or engrossed in a research project in
her laboratory, she spends much of
her time on research reports, com-
putermodeling, administration, and
marketing her services as a
'specialist on the movement of con-
taniinants, Such as uranium, lead
and arsenic, through soil.
Variety is one of the major attrac-
tions of her job as a research scien-
tist at AECL Research's Whiteshell
Laboratories near Pin.awa,
Manitoba, the focal point of
Canada's 107year program to
develop , a reliable means of per-
manently disposing of .used fuel
from the country's CANDU power
reactors:
When she joined the lab in 1979,
colleagues who were working on
the fuel waste disposal concept,
needed to unde;stand how ground
water might carry radioactive
substances from an .underground
disposal vault to the surface. Shep-
"...science isn't a
glamour job..."
pard's job was to develop computer
models for such movement. Since
then she has worked on a variety of
projects,, including commercial
research for outside clients, such as
the Ontario Ministry of the En-
vironment, which was developing a
program to clean up soils con-
taminated with lead.
Recently, she has been studying
sites where deep ground water rises
to the earth's surface. "We normal-
ly think of deep ground water
coming to the surface at the bottom
of a lake or at a .low spot in the
environment," she explains. "But
we've found places in northwestern
Ontario and eastern Manitoba where
moose. and deer come to eat soil
and plants that have a high salt
content. The plants arc picking up
sodium chloride from brine which
originates deep in the earth's crust,
so that these salt licks are a good
indicator of where the deep ground
water is coming up."
Such information is used to en-
sure that a fuel disposal vault' is
located in an area where ground
water is less likely to disturb the
fuel waste or carry radioactive
elements 16 the surface, even in the
distant future.
Not all of her activity is so tech-
nical. As a female employed in
scientific research, she is asked to
speak to high school and university
students, especially young women,
about her work and profession.
"One thing I'd like to say to ait
students is that science isn't a
glamour job. It's more, hard work.
than a lot of other professions. 1
also tell them that no matter what
they do, it's important they enjoy
their job; that they look. forward to
going to work in the morning. And
finally, 1 tell them no matter what
they do, they .should make sure they
are technically driven because the
world is 'going that way."
-She preaches the sante advice to
her own. two daughters. "Our oldest
daughter is almost 12 now and she
wants to be a dress designer. We
bought a.PC and she's .trying all
kinds of designs and textile patterns
on it."
We have a full line of:
•SEED -FEED -FERTILIZER
-CHEMICALS:
•UREA - -MAP
•POTASH -TRIPLE
Custom Application of Fertilizer &Chemical
Howson & Howson
Limited
FLOUR & FEED MILLERS COMPLETE FARM SUPPLIES
BLYTH . ` WINGHAM CARGILL
523=4241 357-2700 366-2224
Marsha Sheppard, a research scientist, says
the major attractions of her job.
variety. is one of
LIVESTOCK
CONFINEMENT EQUIPMENT •
Dairy! Pressure Washers •Hog'
Headrad
Comfort Stalls
Model 92 with
anti crush bar
and Model 80
Plastic Floor"
Different Sizes
3 Different Feeders
N:
opening
FBar
Flooring
ad .4\x)
ov'a
Property lines
should be
defined to
avoid conflict
by Mark Cripps
Hardwood logging on private land
in Huron County could create some
'bad neighbours' , if property .
boundries aren't visible, says Tree ,
and Weed Inspector. Joe Gibson.
"The loggers are having trouble
finding boundry markers in wood -
lots," said Gibson, "especially this
year with the excessive snow,. Most
• of ,the boundries are marked by
very old fences that have fallen
down and are hard to find .at the
best of times."
So to nip the potential for conflict
caused .by loggers inadvertently
crossing into a neighbouring wood -
lot, Gibson suggests getting together
with neighbours and redefining
original property lines.
"Put in some permanent steel
poles or sorne wood stakes," said.
Gibson. "Spray paint them . with
bright paint. Make it easier to
define boundries in the winter time; .
or anytime."
Logging companies pay land
owners to cut trees for timber
useage.
Gibson said there have been. some
complaints during the past year.
about these companies cutting past
contracted boundries.
MIDWAY FARM SYSTEMS
Mildmay 367-5358