Environmental Project Experience
Program Manager: Dr. Rowlands was the program manager for two $5 million Indefinite Delivery Order Contracts for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville District. The contracts were for hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste, with ordnance for military bases within EPA Region VI. I was responsible for negotiation of delivery orders, preparation of cost proposals, submittal of monthly and annual reports, assignment of project managers and staff, and overall responsibility for financial, business, and technical aspects of projects.
Senior Project Manager: Dr. Rowlands was the senior project manager for remediation at a former pesticide formulation facility for FMC Corporation, Fresno, California. His responsibilities included all aspects of financial and technical management of the project. His technical activities included the following: operation and maintenance of a 150-gpm groundwater recovery and treatment system, quarterly groundwater monitoring and reporting, installation of monitoring wells, Phase I SVE design and pilot testing, design of a full-scale SVE system, preparation of a Feasibility Study for off-site groundwater, preparation of a Remedial Action Plan for on-site soils, design of a closure cover system, 3-D contaminant fate and transport modeling of groundwater and the design of a treatment system for off-site groundwater. Successfully negotiated a change in the ROD that significantly reduced remediation costs. Other activities include weekly client interaction with local and corporate environmental staff, assistance in formulating strategies, and negotiation with state regulatory agencies (DTSC and RWQCB).
Project Manager, Garland County Industrial Park and Landfill Superfund Site, EPA Region VI: Dr. Rowlands was the project manager for this site which consisted of a landfill and seven adjacent industrial facilities, and had been proposed for inclusion on the NPL. He managed the RI/FS for the site as well as a risk assessment, expanded site investigation, and an RI for off-site areas suspected of being contaminated. The project included preparation of work plans, health and safety plan, sampling and analysis plan, quality assurance plan, and strategic work plan for the entire site. He made presentations to EPA and held public meetings with local citizens groups. The project included drilling, groundwater, soil, sediment, and surface water sampling for HRS Packages, the RI, and the Risk assessment.
Project Manager, Fort Bliss, Texas: The initial phase of this project involved preparation of cost proposals and cost negotiations with the Corp of Engineers. Individual projects included: modification of a RCRA Part B Permit for an ordnance disposal area, investigation of an uncontrolled medical waste landfill, negotiation of a compliance agreement to address unregistered USTs and ASTs in Texas and New Mexico, establishing a new hazardous waste storage facility, operation of the existing hazardous waste storage facility, modification of the RCRA Permit for the existing storage facility to include the new facility, and performing environmental compliance audits for current operating facilities. Work included preparation of work plans, health and safety plans, sampling and analysis plans, preparation of reports, and presentations to state and federal environmental officials.
Project Manager, Temple-Inland Forest Products, Diboll, Texas: Dr. Rowlands provided engineering, hydrologic, and regulatory consulting for a number of RCRA related problems at the facility. These included: review of hydrogeology and recovery system design for a DNAPL recovery system, Part B Permit modifications and Compliance Plan negotiations with the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC), Preparation of a RFI Work Plan, and the investigation of an area of soil contamination.
Project Manager, Indefinite Delivery Order contract, Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO), Houston, Texas: Dr. Rowlands was the proposal manager and made the formal presentation to the selection committee, negotiated the contract rates and terms, and managed the projects. Work performed included a Phase I site assessment, a regulatory compliance review of an operating facility, and a major site investigation of soil and groundwater contamination at an operating facility. This site investigation included drilling, sampling, report preparation, presentations to METRO executives, and negotiation of remediation goals with the TNRCC using the Texas Risk Reduction Rules.
Expert Witness: Dr. Rowlands provided expert witness services to a Houston law firm representing the DuPont Beaumont Works. Services included meetings with lawyers and clients, assisting with the development of the technical strategy for the defense, preparation of exhibits, and preparation of expert testimony.
Project Manager, Two RCRA Facility Investigations at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: The projects involved the investigation of 74 SWMUs, some of which contained Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). Dr. Rowlands prepared the bid, negotiated the pricing, schedule, and contract terms. These lump sum projects were completed on time and under budget. Investigative techniques included: soil borings, monitor well installation, surface geophysics, soil gas surveys, and sediment and sludge sampling. Project reports included: Project Management Plan, QA/QC Plan, Health and Safety Plan, two RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) Reports, and two Groundwater Assessment reports. Presented conclusions and recommendations to the client, personnel from the USACE, Huntsville and Tulsa Districts, EPA Region VI, and State of New Mexico regulators. Assisted client in the negotiation of RCRA Corrective Measures Studies and remediation goals with EPA Region VI and NMED. Dr. Rowlands initiated a groundwater remediation of a diesel fuel and chlorinated solvent plume using a Rapid Response Contract. The total value of this lump sum project exceeded $2,500,000.
Project Manager, DuPont Beaumont Works, Beaumont, Texas: Dr. Rowlands managed the investigation of off-site groundwater contamination from chlorinated solvents. The project included the installation of groundwater monitoring wells, sampling of soil and groundwater, characterization of the hydrologic conditions, mapping of the contaminant plume, groundwater modeling, and report preparation. In addition, I participated in conferences with clients outside legal council and prepared exhibits and documentation for expert witness testimony.
Project Manager, Groundwater Remedial Design Project, Geneva Superfund Site, Houston, for the Texas Water Commission. Dr. Rowlands responsibilities included cost estimates, contract negotiations, and technical and financial management. The project included design and placement of recovery wells, design of the groundwater recovery system, groundwater modeling, design of the groundwater treatment system, preparation of technical specifications and bid packages, and meetings with the lead agencies, the Texas Water Commission (TNRCC) and EPA Region VI. Management of the oversight portion of the groundwater Remedial Action for this project.
Project Manager, RCRA Facility Investigation, Star Refinery, Port Arthur, Texas. The project involved the installation of 200 monitoring wells, soil and groundwater sampling, analysis of samples, preparation of groundwater assessment report, assessment of RCRA corrective measures, and preparation of the RFI Report.
Project Manager, UST Investigations and Site Remediation, Southland Corporation. Dr. Rowlands was the project manager for six underground storage tank projects in Texas and Arkansas. The work involved site assessments, soil and groundwater sampling, report preparation, submittals to state agencies, meetings with state regulators, site remediation of both soils and groundwater, financial and technical management.
Project Director, UST Projects, Chevron. Responsible for program quality, business development, client interface, establishing policies consistent with client requirements, report and proposal review. The work included investigations, and soil and groundwater remediation. The program included coordination of work in six company offices and covered a seven state (TX, LA, Al, MS, FL, AR, and OK) market area for the client.
Task Manager, RCRA Corrective Measures, PPG Industries, Lake Charles, Louisiana.. Task manager for the development and use of horizontal drilling and recovery techniques for remediation of DNAPL contamination. Work included researching recovery methods for DNAPL, evaluating the potential effectiveness of horizontal recovery wells, input to computer modeling methods for application to recovery from horizontal wells, technical presentations to client, and preparation of a work plan for submittal to the LaDEQ.
Project Manager, Hydrocarbon Contamination, Leaking Petroleum Storage Tank (LPST) Program, Texas Water Commission. Project manager for the investigation of hydrocarbon contamination in five areas of the town of Anson, TX. The project included drilling and monitoring well installation, soil and groundwater sampling, identification of hydrocarbon plumes, groundwater modeling, and the preparation of reports. Other activities included presentations to TWC staff and officials, and conducting public meetings.
Site Investigation for Chemical Waste Landfill Permit for CECOS International Facility, Niagara Falls, New York. This project included subsurface geology, characterization of the site hydrogeologic setting, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, pumping test and analysis, client meetings, meetings with clients outside council, and preparation of expert witness testimony.
Project Coordinator for Site Investigation of Soil Contamination and Remediation Project for Stauffer Chemical Plant, Axis, Alabama. The project included meetings with the client, drilling, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, soil and groundwater sampling, and preparation of reports.
Groundwater and Natural Resource Consultant to the Nature Conservancy; Numerous Projects in Eastern and Southeastern United States. These projects included evaluation of the oil, gas and mineral potential of properties donated to the Nature Conservancy, and potential environmental liabilities associated with past oil and gas production and mining activities on these properties. In addition, he prepared a preliminary evaluation and recommendation for 55,000 acres of minerals rights in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee
Expert Witness. Provided services in engineering geology, hydrogeology, and oil and gas exploration. Managed technical, business, financial, and promotional activities.