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Energy and Environment Directorate

Rob Mackley

Rob Mackley

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PO Box 999
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 372-6312

Biography

Rob has been with PNNL since 2004. His career has focused around the technical areas of groundwater and remediation monitoring, remedy development and implementation, and hydrogeologic characterization. He specializes in aquifer hydraulic testing, advanced groundwater and vadose zone monitoring instrumentation, and remedy performance monitoring and evaluation.

One of his favorite areas of research is the interaction of surface and groundwater. Rob has provided technical oversight of groundwater, surface water, and subsurface sediment sampling. He has overseen the drilling, design, and completion of groundwater wells. He also enjoys software programming and working with lab and field instrumentation. He is the proud father of four boys. He enjoys coaching them in sports and exposing them to the adventures of the outdoors.

Research Interests

  • Groundwater-surface water interaction
  • Hydrogeologic characterization
  • Aquifer and well testing
  • Groundwater remediation
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Sensors and field instrumentation

Education and Credentials

  • M.S., Geology, Utah State University, 2005
  • B.S., Geology, Utah State University, 2001

Awards and Recognitions

  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012

PNNL Publications

2025

  • Emerson H.P., N. Qafoku, C.D. Johnson, J.E. Szecsody, M.S. Doughman, R.D. Mackley, and D.I. Kaplan. 2025. "A paradigm shift for evaluating natural attenuation of radioactive iodine in soils and sediments: Species-specific mechanisms and pathways." Journal of Environmental Management 374. PNNL-SA-196595. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124101

2024

  • Day-Lewis F.D., R.D. Mackley, and R.L. Bence. 2024. "Sampling in long-screened wells: Issues, misconceptions, and solutions." Groundwater 62, no. 5:669-680. PNNL-SA-190602. doi:10.1111/gwat.13427
  • He X., M.L. Rockhold, Y. Fang, A.R. Lawter, V. Freedman, R.D. Mackley, and N. Qafoku. 2024. "Experimental and Numerical Study of Radioiodine Sorption and Transport in Hanford Sediments." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 8, no. 2:323-334. PNNL-SA-191180. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.3c00291
  • Johnson T.C., J.N. Thomle, J.L. Robinson, and R.D. Mackley. 2024. Electrical Resistivity Tomography Monitoring of In Situ Soil Flushing at the Hanford 100-K East Area: 100KE Soil Flushing Monitoring. PNNL-35781. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Electrical Resistivity Tomography Monitoring of In Situ Soil Flushing at the Hanford 100-K East Area: 100KE Soil Flushing Monitoring
  • Robinson J.L., T.C. Johnson, J.N. Thomle, J. Cambeiro, K.A. Peta, P. Jaysaval, and R.D. Mackley. 2024. "Interpretation of Large-Scale, Long-Term Electrical Geophysical Monitoring Guided by a Process Simulation." Vadose Zone Journal 23, no. 2:Art. No. e20303. PNNL-SA-190606. doi:10.1002/vzj2.20303
  • Szecsody J.E., R.D. Mackley, and C.T. Resch. 2024. Characterization of Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, and Tritium in D0220 Cores. PNNL-36762. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Characterization of Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, and Tritium in D0220 Cores
  • Zhong L., R.D. Mackley, L. Li, J.N. Thomle, F.D. Day-Lewis, and S.A. Saslow. 2024. "Applying colloidal silica suspensions injection and sequential gelation to block vertical water flow in well annulus: laboratory testing on rheology, gelation, and injection." Frontiers in Environmental Science 12, no. _:Art. No. 1381577. PNNL-SA-192132. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2024.1381577

2023

  • Robinson J.L., J.T. St. Clair, J.N. Thomle, P. Jaysaval, J. Cambeiro, K.A. Peta, and F.D. Day-Lewis, et al. 2023. "Using multiple geophysical methods to refine a stratigraphic conceptual site model at a nuclear waste site." Environmental Processes 10. PNNL-SA-177749. doi:10.1007/s40710-023-00622-1
  • Saslow S.A., T.G. Levitskaia, E. Cordova, N.M. Avalos, D. Boglaienko, Y. Fang, and X. Song, et al. 2023. "Part I: Predicting Performance of Purolite A532E Resins for Remediation of Comingled Contaminants in Groundwater." Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 11, no. 3:Art. No. 109618. PNNL-SA-178092. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2023.109618
  • Saslow S.A., T.G. Levitskaia, E. Cordova, N.M. Avalos, D. Boglaienko, Y. Fang, and X. Song, et al. 2023. "Part II: Predicting Performance of DOWEX 21K Resin for Remediation of Comingled Contaminants in Groundwater." Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 11, no. 3:Art. No. 109620. PNNL-SA-178093. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2023.109620
  • Song X., H. Ren, Z. Hou, X. Lin, M. Karanovic, M.J. Tonkin, and V.L. Freedman, et al. 2023. "Predicting Future Well Performance for Environmental Remediation Design using Deep Learning." Journal of Hydrology 617, no. Part C:Art. No. 129110. PNNL-SA-178074. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129110

2022

2019

  • Hou Z., T.D. Scheibe, C.J. Murray, W.A. Perkins, E.V. Arntzen, H. Ren, and R.D. Mackley, et al. 2019. "Identification and mapping of riverbed sediment facies in the Columbia River through integration of field observations and numerical simulations." Hydrological Processes 33, no. 8:1245-1259. PNNL-SA-123667. doi:10.1002/hyp.13396
  • Johnson T.C., M.J. Truex, J.N. Thomle, R.D. Mackley, S.D. Springer, S. Mehta, and D.J. Becker, et al. 2019. "Integration of Real-Time Geophysical Monitoring with In Situ Uranium Remedy Implementation." In Proceedings of the 45th Annual Waste Management Conference (WM2019): Encouraging Young Men & Women to Achieve Their Goals in Radwaste Management, March 3-7 2019, Phoenix, AZ, Paper No. 19094. Tempe, Arizona:WM Symposia. PNNL-SA-139290.

2017

  • Zhou T., M. Huang, J. Bao, Z. Hou, E.V. Arntzen, R.D. Mackley, and A.R. Crump, et al. 2017. "A New Approach to Quantify Shallow Water Hydrologic Exchanges in a Large Regulated River Reach." Water 9, no. 9:703. PNNL-SA-123562. doi:10.3390/w9090703

2016

  • Fritz B.G., R.D. Mackley, and E.V. Arntzen. 2016. "Conducting Slug Tests in Mini-Piezometers." Groundwater 54, no. 2:291-295. PNNL-SA-105423. doi:10.1111/gwat.12335
  • Olsen K.B., R.R. Kirkham, V.T. Woods, D.A. Haas, J.C. Hayes, T.W. Bowyer, and D.P. Mendoza, et al. 2016. "Noble Gas Migration Experiment to Support the Detection of Underground Nuclear Explosions." Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 307, no. 3:2603-2610. PNNL-SA-109064. doi:10.1007/s10967-015-4639-7

2015

  • Truex M.J., V.R. Vermeul, D. Adamson, M. Oostrom, L. Zhong, R.D. Mackley, and B.G. Fritz, et al. 2015. "Field Test of Enhanced Remedial Amendment Delivery Using a Shear-Thinning Fluid." Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation 35, no. 3:34-45. PNNL-SA-101736. doi:10.1111/gwmr.12101

2014

  • Vermeul V.R., C.E. Strickland, P.D. Thorne, B.N. Bjornstad, R.D. Mackley, M.E. Kelley, and E.C. Sullivan, et al. 2014. "FutureGen 2.0 Monitoring Program: An Overview of the Monitoring Approach and Technologies Selected for Implementation." Energy Procedia 63. PNWD-SA-10395. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.438

2013

  • Carroll K.C., M.J. Truex, M.L. Brusseau, K.R. Parker, R.D. Mackley, and V.J. Rohay. 2013. "Characterization of Persistent Volatile Contaminant Sources in the Vadose Zone." Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation 33, no. 2:68-84. PNNL-SA-89088. doi:10.1111/gwmr.12006
  • Freedman V.L., R.D. Mackley, S.R. Waichler, and J.A. Horner. 2013. "Evaluation of Analytical and Numerical Techniques for Defining the Radius of Influence for an Open-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump System." Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 18, no. 9:1170-1179. PNNL-SA-84739. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000720

2012

  • Freedman V.L., S.R. Waichler, R.D. Mackley, and J.A. Horner. 2012. "Assessing the Thermal Environmental Impacts of an Groundwater Heat Pump in Southeastern Washington State." Geothermics 42. PNNL-SA-76515. doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2011.10.004

2011

  • Fritz B.G., and R.D. Mackley. 2011. "Author's Reply: Discussion on 'A wet/wet differential pressure sensor for measuring vertical hydraulic gradient'." Groundwater 49, no. 6:782. PNNL-SA-74887. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2011.00801.x
  • Spane F.A., and R.D. Mackley. 2011. "Removal of River-Stage Fluctuations from Well Response Using Multiple-Regression." Groundwater 49, no. 6:794-807. PNNL-SA-74458. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2010.00780.x
  • Truex M.J., T. Macbeth, V.R. Vermeul, B.G. Fritz, D.P. Mendoza, R.D. Mackley, and T.W. Wietsma, et al. 2011. "Demonstration of Combined Zero-Valent Iron and Electrical Resistance Heating for In Situ Trichloroethene Remediation." Environmental Science & Technology 45, no. 12:5346-5351. PNNL-SA-76701. doi:10.1021/es104266a
  • Truex M.J., V.R. Vermeul, D.P. Mendoza, B.G. Fritz, R.D. Mackley, M. Oostrom, and T.W. Wietsma, et al. 2011. "Injection of Zero Valent Iron into an Unconfined Aquifer Using Shear-Thinning Fluids." Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation 31, no. 1:50-58. PNNL-SA-70324.

2010

  • Vermeul V.R., J.P. McKinley, D.R. Newcomer, R.D. Mackley, and J.M. Zachara. 2010. "River-Induced Flow Dynamics in Long-Screen Wells and Impact on Aqueous Samples." Groundwater 49, no. 4:515-524. PNNL-SA-71263. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2010.00769.x

2008

  • Fritz B.G., and R.D. Mackley. 2008. "A wet/wet differential pressure sensor for measuring vertical hydraulic gradient." Ground Water 48, no. 1:117-121. PNNL-SA-63832.
  • Vermeul V.R., J.S. Fruchter, B.G. Fritz, R.D. Mackley, D.M. Wellman, and M.D. Williams. 2008. "In-Situ Uranium Stabilization Through Polyphosphate Injection: Pilot-Scale Treatability Test at the 300 Area, Hanford Site - 8187." In Waste Management 2008: HLW, TRU, LLW/ILW, Mixed, Hazardous Wastes & Environmental Management, 1-13. Tucson, Arizona:Arizona Board of Regent. PNNL-SA-58147.

2007

  • Last G.V., C.J. Murray, D.A. Bush, E.C. Sullivan, M.L. Rockhold, R.D. Mackley, and B.N. Bjornstad. 2007. "Standardization of Borehole Data to Support Vadose Zone Flow and Transport Modeling." Vadose Zone Journal 6, no. 4:906-912. PNNL-SA-53079. doi:10.2136/vzj2006.0175

Energy and Environment

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