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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-03-16, Page 554,4 Parte Prepwr'ti-Psg. 37 Soitexpert 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- puter modeling, administration, and marketing her services as a specialist on the movement of con- taminants, 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 Pinawa, Manitoba, the focal point of Canada's 10 -year 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 understand 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 Ham:6. Aumons HOWSON MILLS content. The plants are 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 to 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 au students is that science isn't a glamour job. It's more hard work than a lot of other professions. I 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, I 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 same 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 rt." Marsha Sheppard, a research scientist, says variety Is one of the major attractions of her job. .5Qs MiLIS LIVESTOCK CONFINEMENT EQUIPMENT Dairy • Pressure Washers • Hog We have a full tine of: •SEED •FEED 'FERTILIZER 'CHEMICALS: Farrowing Crates Model 92 with ,''' anti crush bar and Model 80 • UREA •MAP • POTASH •TRIPLE Custom Application of Fertilizer & Chemical Howson & Howson Limited FLOUR & FEED MILLERS COMPLETE FARM SUPPLIES BLYTH 523-4241 WINGHAM 357-2700 CARGILL 366-2224 Plastic Floor Different Sizes 3 Different Feeders MIDWAY FARM SYSTEMS Mildmay 367-5358 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 far 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 some 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.