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Energy and Environment Directorate

Philip Meyer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Portland Office
620 SW FIFTH AVE, SUITE #810
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 417-7552

Biography

Dr. Meyer has more than 25 years of experience in applying hydrologic and hydraulic principles, model evaluation, and other methods to the solution of applied research and engineering problems. He developed and applied a methodology to estimate the combined impact of uncertainties in hydrogeologic model parameters, conceptualization, and future scenarios, and demonstrated the practicality and benefits of the methodology in applications to modeling uranium transport in groundwater and modeling groundwater flow for new nuclear reactor licensing. His experience includes applied analysis of flow and transport in soil covers, engineered barriers, and the near-field environment at waste disposal facilities, including the design and implementation of large-scale lysimeter experiments to evaluate waste form degradation. Dr. Meyer has completed technical analyses on groundwater impacts to support licensing of new nuclear power plants. He has contributed to flood hazard re-evaluations of operating nuclear power plants, which included reviews of flooding on streams/rivers, from dam failure, and from local intense precipitation. He contributed to development of a technical basis for the use of probabilistic flood hazard analysis in reactor licensing. Dr. Meyer has also contributed to the evaluation of water resources environmental impacts for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense.

Research Interests

  • Applying models of flow and transport through unsaturated and saturated porous media to the solution of engineering problems using methods of systems analysis, optimization, and probabilistic modeling.
  • Estimation and interpretation of hydrologic uncertainties in dose/risk assessment analyses.
  • Analysis of flow and transport in soil covers, engineered barriers, and the near-field environment at waste disposal facilities.
  • Application of Bayesian methods in uncertainty analysis.
  • Application of quantitative methods to groundwater monitoring network and remediation design.
  • Development of methods for the explicit derivation of tradeoffs between conflicting objectives in water resources management problems.

Education and Credentials

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Illinois, 1992
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Illinois, 1988
  • B.A., Physics, Cornell University, with Distinction, 1986

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • American Geophysical Union, Member
  • ANS-2.17 Working Group Member, revised ANSI/ANS-2.17-2010, Evaluation of Subsurface Radionuclide Transport at Commercial Nuclear Power Plants

Awards and Recognitions

  • 2017, 2016, 2011, Outstanding Performance Awards

PNNL Publications

2017

2013

  • Lu D., M. Ye, P.D. Meyer, G.P. Curtis, X. Shi, X. Niu, and S.B. Yabusaki. 2013. "Effects of error covariance structure on estimation of model averaging weights and predictive performance." Water Resources Research 49, no. 9:6029-6047. PNNL-SA-99813. doi:10.1002/wrcr.20441

2010

  • Meyer P.D., and S.J. Cohen. 2010. "Treatment of Uncertainty in Groundwater Modeling: A (Limited) Research Perspective." In Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2010: Challenges of Change, May 16-20, 2010, Providence, Rhode Island, 729-736. Reston, Virginia:American Society of Civil Engineers. PNNL-SA-70726. doi:10.1061/41114(371)80

2008

  • Meyer P.D., M. Ye, S.P. Neuman, and M.L. Rockhold. 2008. "Application of Maximum Likelihood Bayesian Model Averaging to Groundwater Flow and Transport at the Hanford Site 300 Area." In Calibration and Reliability in Groundwater Modelling: Credibility of Modelling: Proceedings of ModelCARE 2007 Conference, 64-69. Oxfordshire:International Association of Hydrological Sciences. PNNL-SA-55882.
  • Meyer P.D., T.J. Nicholson, M. Ye, S.P. Neuman, and M.L. Rockhold. 2008. "Incorporating Scenario Uncertainty within a Hydrogeologic Uncertainty Assessment Methodology." In 2008 Ground Water Summit, March 20 - April 2, 2008, Memphis, TN. Westerville, Ohio:National Ground Water Association. PNNL-SA-70390.
  • Saripalli K.P., M.J. Lindberg, and P.D. Meyer. 2008. "Measurement of Solute Diffusion Behavior in Fractured Waste Glass Media." Journal of Environmental Engineering (ASCE) 134, no. 10:879-883. PNNL-SA-43823.
  • Ye M., P.D. Meyer, and S.P. Neuman. 2008. "On Model Selection Criteria in Multimodel Analysis." Water Resources Research 44, no. 3:Art. no. W03428. PNNL-SA-59158. doi:10.1029/2008WR006803

2006

  • Meyer P.D., M. Ye, S.P. Neuman, M.L. Rockhold, K.J. Cantrell, and T.J. Nicholson. 2006. "Combined Estimation of Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model, Parameter, and Scenario Uncertainty." In Proceedings of the 3rd Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference. Washington D.C.:USGS Water Information Coordination Program Subcommittee on Hydrology. PNNL-SA-47117.
  • Saripalli K.P., M.J. Lindberg, and P.D. Meyer. 2006. "Measurement of Effect of Chemical Reactions on the Hydrologic Properties of Fractured Glass Media Using a Tri-axial Flow and Transport Apparatus." Journal of Hydrology 328, no. 3-4:685-693. PNNL-SA-51473.
  • Saripalli K.P., V.L. Freedman, B.P. McGrail, and P.D. Meyer. 2006. "Characterization of the specific solid-water interfacial area-water saturation relationship and its import to reactive transport." Vadose Zone Journal 5, no. 2:777-783. PNNL-SA-50716. doi:10.2136/vzj2005.0145

2005

  • Freedman V.L., K.P. Saripalli, D.H. Bacon, and P.D. Meyer. 2005. "Implementation of Biofilm Permeability Models for Mineral Reactions in Saturated Porous Media." Computers & Geosciences 31, no. 8:968-977. PNNL-SA-35919.
  • Gee G.W., P.D. Meyer, and A.L. Ward. 2005. "Nuclear Waste Disposal." In Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment, edited by Daniel Hillel. 56 - 64. Oxford:Elsevier Ltd. PNNL-SA-42117.
  • Saripalli K.P., P.D. Meyer, K.E. Parker, and M.J. Lindberg. 2005. "Effect of Chemical Reactions on the Hydrologic Properties of Fractured and Rubbelized Glass Media." Applied Geochemistry 20, no. 9:1677-1686. PNNL-SA-41150. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2005.04.001
  • Ye M., S.P. Neuman, P.D. Meyer, and K. Pohlmann. 2005. "Sensitivity Analysis and Assessment of Prior Model Probabilities in MLBMA with Application to Unsaturated Fractured Tuff." Water Resources Research 41, no. 12:W12429. PNNL-SA-46915. doi:10.1029/2005WR004260

2004

  • Freedman V.L., P. Saripalli, D.H. Bacon, and P.D. Meyer. 2004. "A Film Depositional Model of Permeability for Mineral Reactions in Unsaturated Media." Vadose Zone Journal. PNNL-SA-35801.
  • Ye M., S.P. Neuman, and P.D. Meyer. 2004. "Maximum Likelihood Bayesian Averaging of Spatial Variability Models in Unsaturated Fractured Tuff." Water Resources Research 40, no. 5 : doi:10.1029/2003WR002557, 2004:WO5113 Pg: 1-17. PNNL-SA-40452.

2003

  • Freedman V.L., K.P. Saripalli, and P.D. Meyer. 2003. "Influence of Mineral Precipitation and Dissolution on Hydrologic Properties of Porous Media in Static and Dynamic Systems." Applied Geochemistry 18, no. 2003:589-606. PNNL-SA-31744.
  • McGrail B.P., D.H. Bacon, P.D. Meyer, M.I. Ojovan, D.M. Strachan, N. Ojovan, and I.V. Startsceva. 2003. "New Developments in Field Studies of Low Activity Waste Glass Corrosion and Contaminant Transport." In Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVI: Materials Research Society Symposim Proceedings, edited by RJ Finch and DB Bullen, 757, Paper No. 112.1. Warrendale, Pennsylvania:Materials Research Society. PNNL-SA-37761.
  • Meyer P.D., and T.J. Nicholson. 2003. "Analysis of Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model and Parameter Uncertainty." In Groundwater Quality Modeling and Management Under Uncertainty: Proceedings of the Symposium: June 23-25, 2003, Philadelphia, PA, edited by Mishra, Srikanta, 47-57. Reston, Virginia:American Society of Civil Engineers. PNNL-SA-37985.

2002

  • Saripalli K.P., R.J. Serne, P.D. Meyer, and B.P. McGrail. 2002. "Prediction of Diffusion Coefficients in Porous Media using Tortuosity Factors Based on Interfacial Areas." Ground Water 40, no. 4:346-352. PNNL-SA-31742.

2001

  • Meyer P.D., and R.Y. Taira. 2001. Hydrologic Uncertainty Assessment for Decommissioning Sites: Hypothetical Test Case Applications. NUREG/CR-6695; PNNL-13375. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydrologic Uncertainty Assessment for Decommissioning Sites: Hypothetical Test Case Applications
  • Saripalli K.P., P.D. Meyer, D.H. Bacon, and V.L. Freedman. 2001. "Changes in hydrologic properties of aquifer media due to chemical reactions: A review." Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 31, no. 4:311-349. PNNL-SA-31684.

2000

  • Simmons C.S., and P.D. Meyer. 2000. "A Simplified Model for the Transient Water Budget of a Shallow Unsaturated Zone." Water Resources Research 36, no. 10:2835-2844. PNNL-SA-33428.

1999

  • Gee G.W., A.L. Ward, and P.D. Meyer. 1999. "Method to estimate water storage capacity of capillary barriers - Discussion." Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 125, no. 10:918-919. PNNL-SA-36243.
  • Meyer P.D., and G.W. Gee. 1999. "Flux-based estimation of field capacity." Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 125, no. 7:595-599. PNNL-SA-31626.
  • Meyer P.D., and R.J. Serne. 1999. Near-field Hydrology Data Package for the Immobilized Low-Activity Waste 2001 Performance Assessment. PNNL-13035. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Near-field Hydrology Data Package for the Immobilized Low-Activity Waste 2001 Performance Assessment
  • Meyer P.D., G.W. Gee, and M.L. Rockhold. 1999. "Characterization of Soil Hydraulic Parameter Uncertainty." In Proceedings of the International Workshop on Characterization and Measurement of the Hydraulic Properties of Unsaturated Porous Media. Oct. 22-24, 1997, edited by M. Th. van Genuchten F. J. Leij and L. Wu, 1439-1451. Riverside, California:U.C. Riverside Press. PNNL-SA-31789.

Energy and Environment

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