Hazardous Waste Management

-         Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Studies (RI/FS) at over 60  hazardous waste sites (RCRA, CERCLA) including  private industrial and federal facilities (DOD, DOE) in 17 states and 6 USEPA Regions. Conducted detailed evaluation of remedial technologies and alternatives, and cost estimates. Conducted treatability studies, and prepared remedial design of contaminated soil and groundwater treatment systems. 

     Developed strategic project approach to address regulatory , technical, cost, and liability issues at 5 sites. Evaluated options for best, worst, and most probable case scenarios for property transfer, litigation, and corrective action situations involving soil and groundwater contamination, USTs, facility demolition and decommissioning, and clean closure. Successfully negotiated conditions for remediation of the hazardous waste sites with regulatory agencies which significantly minimized corrective action costs.

-         Developed and implemented an approach for conducting environmental clean closure of an industrial facility, which reduced closure costs by over $1M. Successfully obtained regulatory approval and clean closure.

-   Developed an innovative technical approach for feasibility study and remedial design for a major DOD facility which saved over $5M in cost of  soil remediation at a Superfund site. Successfully negotiated the approach with the regulatory agency.

-   Successfully obtained RCRA permits on an expedited schedule for Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) for industrial operations, and commercial TSDFs.

   -        Prepared RCRA permit applications for hazardous waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Maine, and Idaho.  Interacted with regulatory agencies to respond to comments and negotiated the permit approval.

-      Conducted site assessments and environmental audits of industrial facilities (RCRA). Identified areas of regulatory non-compliance and potential environmental liabilities.  Made recommendations to minimize corrective action, avoid penalties, and maintain environmental compliance.

-     RCRA RFI, CMS, and Closure projects in different states (Ohio, Maine, Masachussets, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, California, Wisconsin, S.Carolina, Georgia, and Florida).

-           Provided assistance in review of Draft RCRA Corrective Action permits, Consent Orders, and RFA reports and successfully negotiated permits with regulatory agencies for SWMUs and AOCs requiring investigations and corrective action. Developed cost-effective approach to minimize cost of site investigations and corrective action.

­                      Prepared work plans and provided oversight for removal of 195 underground fuel oil storage tanks from a navy facility. Conducted field monitoring and sampling and analysis of soils. Proposed an approach which minimized the number of samples requiring laboratory analysis of soils and significantly expedited project execution and reduced analytical laboratory cost. Tanks were removed, soil remediation was conducted at selected locations, and clean closure was completed. Closure report was prepared.

-           Prepared of SPCC and FRP Plans for over 10 industrial facilities.

-           Remediation of oil spill site. Site involved excavation and removal of  contaminated soil from UST leak, removing free product in recovery well, and injecting compounds to enhance bioremediation. Proposed approach for site remediation saved over $100,000 and expedited sale of property.

-           Developed a column leach test equipment and test protocol to evaluate the impact of residual hazardous contaminants in soil after cleanup action on groundwater quality.  This procedure was used to evaluate leaching of VOCs in soils and determine clean up levels in site remediation projects in Minnesota and California.

­                      Designed a bench-scale test equipment and performed long-term evaluation of effects of organic solvents and landfill leachate on different clay liner materials used in hazardous waste landfills.

-         Developed bench-scale equipment to evaluate soil vapor extraction technology for cleanup of soils contaminated with VOCs.  Evaluated several fuels and solvents with VOCs. Evaluated effect of different soil types and moisture on VOC removal.  Designed soil vapor extraction systems for VOC removal in soils at remediation sites.

USAID project for assistance in developing national and regional environmental policy in solid and hazardous waste management in Egypt. Provided guidance on planning and implementing environmental regulations for management of hazardous waste. Reviewed local institutional mechanisms and made recommendations for implementing an environmental framework to plan and implement hazardous waste management system. Reviewed design of hazardous waste landfill and made recommendations on the design. Developed document for EEAA on guidelines for design of hazardous waste storage facilities. Conducted workshop on hazardous waste management.

Public Health Risk Assessment

Prepared public health risk assessment reports at over 50 hazardous waste sites in the US, and Europe. Contaminants of concern in soil and groundwater were petroleum compounds, solvents, PCBs, Dioxin, and residual explosives. Identified risk scenarios based on residential and industrial site use, evaluated contaminant migration pathways, and effect on receptors. Recommended remediation options based on a risk-based approach which minimized costs of corrective action and remediation, and expedited redevelopment of the sites.

Solid Waste Management

  ­          Evaluated the performance of a pilot plant for anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste for methane recovery over a two-year period. Recommendations were made for trouble-shooting the plant. The plant is in full scale operations.

  -         Conducted treatability studies to evaluate the feasibility of anaerobic digestion of solid wastes from cane sugar industry for methane generation. The studies were successful and optimum process design and operating conditions were developed.

-           Evaluated alternatives for treatment and disposal of landfill leachate from a solid waste landfill. Resulted in avoiding construction of an on-site leachate treatment facility and instead disposed to a POTW with limited pretreatment.

Wastewater and Industrial Environmental Management

-               Evaluated design and operating performance of tertiary wastewater treatment technologies in 35 municipal treatment facilities (POTW) nationwide for the USEPA. Developed recommendations for improved design and operation of the plants. Screened the  treatment plants based on performance and future needs and made recommendations for selecting  plants requiring  upgrading.

-           Evaluated in-plant process changes and end-of-pipe treatment technologies effective in minimizing discharge of dioxin containing wastewaters in pulp and paper mills.  Recommendations were made to consider the effectiveness and implementability factors in developing revised effluent guidelines by USEPA.

 ­           Conducted in-depth study of the operations of a large metal plating  plant  to assess the potential for waste minimization and eliminate risks associated with  co-mixing of cyanide bearing process wastewaters and other waste streams. Reviewed plant operating information, interviewed plant staff, and sampling and data collection at different operating conditions.  Implementation of recommendations  resulted in minimized risks of exposure, improved operating conditions and treatment of segregated cyanide waste streams.

  -         Evaluated waste generation and management practices at two paper mills in faced with NPDES discharge compliance problems.  Recommended a comprehensive pollution control plan including details of waste minimization, recycle options,  treatability studies, and design of modifications / upgrading of treatment plant.  Implementation of changes resulted in increased fiber recovery, waste reduction and the plant exceeding compliance  requirements.

­                      For a large candy manufacturing plant, evaluated the problem of process upsets in the local POTW due to discharge from the industrial facility.  Reviewed manufacturing processes, and evaluated  waste sources and characteristics data. Recommendations were made for recycling wastewater, and modifying  the existing industriall wastewater treatment plant. Implementation resulted in cost savings, and  NPDES permit compliance.

-         Conducted wastewater sampling, characterization, treatability studies and process design of wastewater treatment facilities for a  pharmaceutical  plant  to meet stringent effluent discharge limits. Recommended changes resulted in reduced wastes, recycling of process water, and minimized cost of upgrading the biological wastewater treatment facility.

-         Conducted facility assessment for process wastewater sources, characteristics, and treatment for a large automotive parts manufacturing facility. Identified opportunities for minimizing wastewater containing emulsified oil and grease, coolants, and cleaners. Process changes implemented resulted in minimizing waste volume and reducing the cost of upgrading the treatment facility. Conducted treatability studies, and designed the upgraded wastewater treatment system.  Plant received State award for environmental performance.

  ­          Evaluated process operations, identified potential areas of waste reduction, and conducted sampling, analysis, treatability studies for removal of heavy metals and fluoride for wastewater from two electronic components manufacturing  plants in Michigan and Indiana. Developed process design of the treatment plant based on treatability results to be in compliance with NPDES permit.

-           For a refinery having difficulties meeting effluent discharge limits, evaluated the waste sources and characteristics, identified methods to reduce waste loading and  impact of variable operating conditions on treatment processes, and made recommendations to control waste sources, and developed a waste treatment process design to meet effluent discharge standards.

-           For the USTDA conducted a Desk Study on wastewater project in China.. Based on evaluation and recommendations, TDA funded the Feasibility Study. Project value was $200M.

­                      Provided consultant services for USAID project for environmental policy development.to control industrial pollution in Morocco. Prepared development/ guidance document  for formulating policy for environmental regulatory control. Recommendations were used to implement national norms and standards for pollution control for the tannery sector.

-           Evaluated waste minimization and treatment alternatives and prepared the conceptual design and cost estimate for wastewater treatment for a food  processing plant, tannery,  and textile dyestuffs mill, in Egypt for an USAID project.  Designed a chromium recovery system for the tannery to minimize pollution and reduce operating costs.

  -         For a new newsprint manufacturing  plant in India, recommended major modifications to the design of the proposed biological wastewater treatment facility.  Recommended modifications resulted in reduction of approximately 30% of size of treatment facility and significant cost savings.

  ­          Provided oversight in the upgrading and construction of three cement plants in Syria.  Project included evaluation of existing cement plant processes, identification of modifications needed to handle wastes due to increased production, recommendations for managing waste sources, and methods for waste minimization and pollution control.

  ­          Prepared the process design of the wastewater treatment plant for a nitrogenous fertilizer manufacturing facility in India.  Detailed process design, specifications, and drawings were prepared for construction.

­                      Conducted a literature search and a summary report of in-plant and end-of-pipe technologies effective in minimizing the discharge of chlorinated organic compounds (specifically dioxin) in pulp and paper wastewaters.  Evaluated wastewater characteristics from over 20 mills, reviewed USA and foreign technologies on delignification processes and chlorine substitution bleaching processes to minimize dioxin formation. Findings were used by USEPA in developing effluent limitations guidelines for the pulp and paper industry sector.

-           Assessed effect of pulp and paper mill effluent on the dissolved oxygen sag pattern in a receiving stream. Project included sampling and characterization of effluents and stream water and use of stream modeling techniques to project dissolved oxygen conditions in the stream.

-           Technical consultants on an USEPA project on tannery based industrial complex. Collected data from tanneries nationwide and evaluated the feasibility of developing a tannery based Environmentally Balanced Industrial Complex (EBIC).  The design of the complex was based on a tannery as the core industry with compatible industries to form an EBIC that would have minimum wastes and reduced cost of production

Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention

            Provided consulting services for USAID/World Bank project for cleaner industrial production,  pollution prevention  and environmental management in 9 chemical facilities in Poland, 8 metal finishing, 4 paint coating facilities, and 3 textile mills in Egypt,  3 food processing facilities in Philippines, 2 dairies in Chile, 3 automotive battery plants in Indonesia,  6 plywood plants and 2 automobile manufacturing and assembly plants in Indonesia. Conducted  evaluation of environmental management systems, manufacturing processes, identified pollution prevention, waste minimization and resource recovery opportunities, evaluated environmental and cost benefits, and made recommendations to plan and implement a pollution prevention/waste minimization program. Conducted several workshops for representatives from each of the different industry sectors.

-         Provided consulting services and recommendations to minimize waste generation, cleaner production, and for industrial wastewater treatment at 12 industrial plants in India (electronics components, paper, distillery, power plants, aluminum, paints and chemicals, textiles, food grade gelatin, ore processing, cigarette, pharmaceutical, and industrial fans and air pollution control equipment ) . Environmental assessment reports with recommendations for waste minimization and treatment were prepared.

ISO 14001 and Environmental Management Systems

-           Conducted ISO 14001 registration audits for over 10 industrial facilities in the US.

-         Conducted training on ISO 14001 EMS, and assisted in implementing an EMS at three manufacturing facilities in India. Provided consulting services, and participated in conducting aspects and impacts analysis, writing procedures, and in performing internal EMS audit in preparation for registration audit

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-         Assisted two automotive parts manufacturers in training, planning, and implementing an ISO 14001 EMS. Both facilities have obtained ISO 14001 registration.

-     Developed check list for conducting ISO 14001 gap analysis that has been successfully used by industrial facilities.

Training

-           Conducted training course on environmental management systems, industrial waste treatment and waste minimization for environmental engineers from S.Korea.  Course comprised of technical and management approaches for joint-industrial and municipal treatment, unit processes for waste treatment, and waste minimization technologies.

-           Conducted workshops on waste minimization/pollution prevention opportunities in paper, metal finishing, wood products, paint coating, food processing, and chemical industries in Poland, Egypt, Chile, India, Philippines, and Indonesia.

-         Conducted training seminars on pollution prevention, environmental management, environmental audits and industrial wastewater treatment in four cities in India for representatives of industries, regulatory agencies, and consultants. Conducted in-plant assessments with trainees to demonstrate application of methodologies discussed in training.