
Focused upon ocean and coastal environmental issues, provide environmental consulting and facilitation services for dredging and dredged material management and for sediment management, port-related environmental issues, vessel wastewater discharges, watershed environmental management, and coastal restoration.
Expertise
- Dredged material management
- Environmental issues/permit process
- Beneficial use of dredged material
- Workshop facilitator
- Sediment management
- Vessel/cruise ship and port environmental issues
- Coastal watershed management
- International coastal and ocean environmental issues
- Dumping of wastes into the oceans
- Organizer/facilitator of technical workshops
- Prevention of marine pollution in ports and coastal areas
- Coastal zone management
- Climate change—sequestration of CO2
Recent Reports
- Confined Aquatic Disposal in Marine Waters of Contaminated Dredged Material
- Mine Tailings Marine and Riverine Disposal
Sample Clients
- International Maritime Organization, Secretariat of London Convention 1972: “International Assessment of Disposal of Mine Tailings in Marine Waters.” 2012
- U.S. EPA “2011 Update of the National Dredging Team Action Plan.”
- Environment Canada “Practical Guidance Manual to Implement Requirements of the London Convention (International Treaty to Control Dumping of Wastes into the Ocean).” 2012.
- Cruise Lines International Association “Waste and Wastewater Environmental Controls aboard Cruise Ships (contributions to a video for onboard viewing)” 2010.
- Environment Canada “International Review of Practices and Policies for Disposal in Ocean and Coastal/Estuarine Waters of Contaminated Dredged Material 2009.”
- Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District “The Cleveland Harbor Dredging Summit 2010.” The issues involve identification of disposal sites and beneficial use opportunities; Cleveland’s CDFs are full. Designed, facilitated, and prepared proceedings of two day Summit.
- Great Lakes Commission (GLC) “Beneficially Using Dredged Materials to Create/Restore Habitat and Restore Brownfields, and Team Collaborative Efforts that have Achieved Success. Examples/Case Studies.”
- Climos Inc. “Carbon dioxide sequestration from power plants using seawater.”
- U.S. EPA “Development of Corps of Engineers tracking system for beneficial use of dredged material.” Corps partially funded the project.
- Corps of Engineers, Institute of Water Resources “Gulf of Mexico Shoreline Management.” An assessment of shoreline and sediment management in the Gulf of Mexico, to be one chapter in the National Shoreline Management Report to Congress.
- Omega Protein Inc. “Disposal of fish wastes.”
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC
Deputy Director, Oceans and Coastal Protection Division 1991-2008
- Manager/supervisor of a Division consisting of 50 scientists and technical and policy staff for implementing EPA's regulatory/non-regulatory responsibilities for protecting ocean/coastal water quality, including programs under the Clean Water Act, Ocean Dumping Act, and international treaties.
- Programs included: Regulation of vessel discharges including cruise ships; vessels to artificial reefs; wastewater discharges to coastal waters; ports and the marine transportation system, monitoring and environmental assessment of coastal and ocean waters; National Dredged Material Permit Program, including water quality and sediment testing requirements, impact assessment, monitoring, and disposal site designation; ocean dumping permit program (including international treaty negotiations); restoration and enhancement of coastal resources (e.g., the National Estuary Program (NEP), including wetlands restoration); coral reefs; invasive species; and management of EPA’s 225 foot Ocean Survey Vessel Bold.
Director, Marine Operations Division 1988-1991
- Managed Division of 25 scientists for above listed programs, except the NEP.
Deputy Director, Drinking Water Criteria and Standards Division (CSD)1980-1988
- Managed Division of 40 chemists, engineers, and toxicologists.
- Responsibilities were to set national drinking water standards to protect human health.
- Standards were based upon technical and economic evaluations of treatment technologies for contaminants in drinking water and the potential toxicity of the contaminants.
Chief, Science and Technology Branch, Drinking Water CSD 1978-1988
- Managed 15 chemists and engineers.
- Responsible for assessing treatment technology for removal of from drinking water for use in setting national drinking water standards.
Environmental Engineer, Effluent Guidelines Division 1973-1978
- Developed national wastewater standards for the pulp and paper industry.
- Effectiveness/costs of industrial wastewater treatment technologies.
Other Work Experience:
Sanitary Engineer U.S. EPA, Seattle, Washington 1971-1973
- Conducted monitoring and environmental assessment field work collecting samples from industrial and municipal wastewater discharges and from rivers, bays, and estuaries for CWA water quality permitting.
Civil Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland, Oregon 1969-1971
- Participated in the Civil Engineer Training Program, with emphasis upon water resources infrastructure including dams, levies, and sanitary sewer systems.
U.S. Merchant Marines 1965-1969
- Worked in engine room on freighters during the summers: South America, Eastern Asia.
Education:
- Master of Science Degree: Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 1971
- Bachelor of Science Degree: Civil Engineering, Oregon State University, 1969
- Registered/Licensed Professional Engineer, Virginia, 1976 (likely to have expired)
- Coast Guard Licenses: Fireman-Watertender, Oiler (both long expired)
Awards and Recognition:
- William R. Murden Award for Lifetime Public Service Achievement. Awarded by Dredging Contractors of America, May 2008.
- EPA Distinguished Career Award. January 2008.
- EPA Gold Medal. June 2007. Recognizing international efforts in the International Maritime Organization’s London Convention’s Scientific Group and policy meetings.
- National Leadership Award. Coastal America, 2004. Recognizing contributions in protecting and restoring coastal water resources.
- Dredger of the Year. Western Dredging Association (WEDA), 2000.
- Coastal America Lifetime Contributions Award. September 2008.
- Hammer Award from Vice President Gore, 1996, for contributions to “fixing” the U.S. government to make it more efficient and effective.
- Numerous Bronze and Silver Medals from U.S. EPA, 1973-2008.
Notable Positions and Activities:
- Co-Chair with Corps of Engineers, National Dredging Team (NDT), 1995-2008. Federal interagency partnership with objectives to be a forum for resolution of dredged material management issues. Played key role in development and implementation of the 2003-2012 NDT Action Agenda via stakeholder workshops to support environmentally sound port operations and development. Issues addressed:
- Dredged material testing and environmental assessment manuals (Green Book and Inland Testing Manual)
- Beneficial use of dredged material and regional sediment management
- Environmental windows, endangered species, and essential fish habitat
- State coastal zone enforceable policies for dredged material
- Regional Dredging Teams-facilitate and support operations
- Chair, Scientific Group of the London Convention. 2004-2007. Facilitated negotiations between 30-40 countries implementing the London Convention Treaty to control dumping of wastes in the oceans. Elected by meeting delegates each year for maximum of four years.
- Head, U.S.A. Delegation, 1991-2003. Led a diverse team of federal government representatives to annual Scientific Group Meetings negotiating ocean dumping treaty implementation issues, with the primary focus upon dredged material management.
- Member, Interagency Committee on the Marine Transportation System (MTS), 1995-2004. Provided support for Cabinet Level CMTS, 2004-2008. Environmental aspects of the port operations and development, including water, air pollution, and solid wastes.
- Chair, Environmental Commission, Western Dredging Association, 1992-present
- Member, Board of Directors, Western Dredging Association, 1992-present
- Member, Board of Directors, Coastal America Foundation, 1998-present