Expert Details
Chemical Environmental Forensics Expert
ID: 735139
Iowa, USA
Over the last 16 years, he has provided expert witness and investigation services in matters of fires, explosions, chemical releases, personal injury, enforcement actions and similar issues related to litigation support. Prior to entering the hazardous waste management field in 1980, he held a faculty position at the Michigan State University Heavy Ion Laboratory where he worked as an instrumentation engineer. He is currently serving on the American Institute of Chemists Editorial Review Board. He is on various committees for ASTM International including Air Quality; Waste Management; Molecular Spectroscopy and Separation Science; Occupational Health and Safety; and Environmental Assessment, Risk Management, and Corrective Action. Over the years, Expert has been involved in the process of developing, reviewing and approving numerous ASTM standards.
He is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the International Society of Environmental Forensics, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Association of Fire Investigators, the Forensic Expert Witness Association and is an Associate Member of the American Bar Association (ABA)-Section of Environment, Energy & Resources and Section of Tort Trial & Insurance Practice. He is a licensed Private Investigator and is on the Technical Advisory Board of Core Technology Development Group, LLC. He is a named inventor on five patents granted by the US Patent Office.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1979 | Degree: Master of Science | Subject: Interdisciplinary Physical Science: advanced analytical chemistry, exploration geophysics, climatology, management/communications and thesis. | Institution: Michigan State University |
| Year: 1977 | Degree: Bachelor of Science | Subject: Major in Interdisciplinary Physical Science: extensive background in chemistry, physics, mathematics and geology. Additional courses in engineering, cartography and climatology | Institution: Michigan State University |
| Year: 1975 | Degree: First two years of B.S. | Subject: Courses in chemistry, physics, geology and mathematics. | Institution: Hanover College |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2015 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Chief Investigator | Department: |
Responsibilities:Providing chemical and environmental forensic and expert witness services both nationally and internationally |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2019 | Employer: ChemRight Laboratories, Inc. | Title: President | Department: |
Responsibilities:Providing laboratory testing services to local communities in eastern Iowa. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2005 | Employer: ERAtech Group LLC | Title: Managing Partner | Department: |
Responsibilities:Developing multiple international waste fuel blending and fuel use facilities in Europe, South America and Asia. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Owner | Department: |
Responsibilities:A 670 acre corn, soy bean and timber farm located in eastern Iowa, including active forest, savanna and prairie ecological restoration as part of the farming operation |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1988 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President | Department: |
Responsibilities:Providing technical, regulatory and scientific consulting services to industry both nationally and internationally. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1987 to 1988 | Employer: Safety-Kleen Corp. | Title: Manager | Department: Cement Kiln Services |
Responsibilities:Continued to manage and expand hazardous waste fuel use in cement kilns after McKesson Envirosystems acquisition by Safety-Kleen. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1986 to 1987 | Employer: McKesson Envirosystems | Title: Manager | Department: Business Development |
Responsibilities:Developed and managed cement kiln outlet for waste fuels including state of the art on-site laboratory. Fuels outlet permitted overall corporate growth to record levels. Also assisted in corporate development of standard company analytical procedures, QA/QC program and health and safety evaluation system. Negotiated corporate purchase of Perkin-Elmer GCs and minicomputers to standardize plant labs. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1985 to 1986 | Employer: McKesson Envirosystem | Title: Manager | Department: Marketing |
Responsibilities:Assisted in technical development and marketing of cement kiln waste fuels outlet in Puerto Rico. Conducted systems analysis of three plant labs to improve operations. Developed and implemented a new waste stream qualification program, providing a 50% increase in number of qualifications and adding $500,000 in corporate revenues for qualification analysis services. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1982 to 1985 | Employer: Systech Corp. | Title: Director/Manager | Department: Technical Services and Safety & Regulatory |
Responsibilities:Transferred to corporate staff of vice president. Assumed added responsibilities of corporate safety and regulatory compliance. Originated and performed early design of computerized, plant level system for receiving, invoicing and other real time data management activities. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1982 to 1982 | Employer: Systech Corp. | Title: Director | Department: Technical Services |
Responsibilities:Responsible for all technical aspects of the Waste-to-fuels Division. Analyzed and specified analytical equipment and computers for labs in Ohio, California and Kansas. Responsible for the design and set-up of each of the new labs. Continued training of all new chemists and other technical personnel. Additional research and development of faster and more accurate methods of analysis |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1980 to 1982 | Employer: Systech Corp. | Title: Site Manager and Chemist | Department: Laboratory |
Responsibilities:Built, developed methods for and operated pilot project laboratory for analyzing waste solvents prior to their use as fuel in a cement kiln. Project involved extensive research into cement chemistry and industrial waste solvent chemistry in order to determine appropriate analytical criteria and methods. Hired, trained and managed staff of up to five chemists and technicians. Trained two future site managers. Position involved extensive communications with cement plant personnel, industrial waste generators, waste haulers and corporate sales and management staff. Also responsible for on-site interactions with federal and state regulatory personnel. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1979 to 1980 | Employer: Self Employed | Title: Private Tutor | Department: |
Responsibilities:Tutored college students in chemistry, math and physics |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1978 to 1979 | Employer: Science and Mathematics Michigan State University Teaching Center | Title: Graduate Assistant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Taught lab and recitation section of Sophomore Physical Science. Supervised one undergraduate employee. Provided academic advising for undergraduate students enrolled in interdisciplinary science programs. Responsible for helping students deal with numerous academic and bureaucratic problems |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1977 to 1978 | Employer: MSU-NSF Heavy Ion Laboratory Michigan State University | Title: Specialist | Department: University faculty position |
Responsibilities:Systems engineering work involved design, construction and operation of instrumentation systems. Implemented computer controlled magnet mapping system and was involved in design and operation of cyclotron control systems. Technologies included digital and analog electronics, mini-computers, cryogenics, RF systems, super-conducting magnets and vacuum systems. Wrote the in-house biweekly engineering newsletter “Cyclotron News” updating technical changes and developments in operating and future systems. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1975 to 1977 | Employer: MSU-NSF Heavy Ion Laboratory Michigan State University | Title: Research Aid | Department: University faculty position |
Responsibilities:Same as above. Also performed computer assisted analysis of nuclear spectra; occasionally supervised other student employees doing computer analysis. Gave tours of the cyclotron lab to school groups and the general public |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1975 to 1975 | Employer: Shaw High School Madison, Indiana | Title: High School Teacher (temporary). | Department: |
Responsibilities:Taught one class of high school chemistry. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1973 to 1975 | Employer: Hanover College Hanover, Indiana | Title: Teaching Assistant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Assisted teaching college freshman chemistry. Supervised and prepared labs. Graded lab reports and tests |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1974 to 1974 | Employer: Systems Technology Corp. Dayton, Ohio | Title: Skilled Laborer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Implemented the conversion of a mothballed sewage digester to a methane producing solid waste/sewage digester. Included supervising one other employee, purchase of all needed equipment and supplies and implementation of drawn up designs |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science, ABA American Bar Association, ACS American Chemical Society, AEHS (ISEF) International Society of Environmental Forensics, AIC American Institute of Chemists, Inc., ASTM International, AWMA Air & Waste Management Association, NAFI National Association of Fire Investigators, NFPA National Fire Protection Association, |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| CFEI Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| ASTM standard development is a consensus-based process involving the input and contributions from numerous individuals. Expert has been involved in the process of developing, reviewing and approving numerous ASTM standards. Following are ASTM standards for which he was either principal author or had substantive input and involvement in developing: D 4978 Test Methods for Screening of Reactive Sulfides in Waste D 4979 Test Method for Physical Description Screening Analysis in Waste D 4980 Test Methods for Screening of pH in Waste D 4981 Test Method for Screening of Oxidizers in Waste D 4982 Test Methods for Flammability Potential Screening Analysis of Waste D 5057 Test Method for Screening Apparent Specific Gravity and Bulk Density of Waste D 5058 Test Methods for Compatibility of Screening Analysis of Waste D 5177 Guide for Waste Acceptance at Hazardous Waste Incinerators D 5283 Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Related to Waste Management Activities: Quality Assurance and Quality Control Planning and Implementation D 5368 Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of Total Solvent Extractable Content (TSEC) of Solid Waste Samples D 5468 Test Method for Gross Calorific and Ash Value of Waste Materials D 5513 Practice for Microwave Digestion of Industrial Furnace Feedstreams and Waste for Trace Element Analysis D 5530 Test Method for Total Moisture of Hazardous Waste Fuel by Karl FischerTitrimetry D 5681 Terminology for Waste and Waste Management D 5792 Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Related to Waste Management Activities: Development of Data Quality Objectives D 5830 Test Method for Solvents Analysis in Hazardous Waste Using Gas Chromatography D 5839 Test Method for Trace Element Analysis of Hazardous Waste Fuel by Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry D 5928 Test Method for Screening of Waste for Radioactivity D 6050 Test Method for Determining of Insoluble Solids in Organic Liquid Hazardous Waste D 6052 Test Method for Preparations and Elemental Analysis of Liquid Hazardous Waste by Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| * Testimony on industrial burn accident * Report source of fatal fire at hazardous waste mgmt facility * Expert report on railcar explosion * Waste recycling patent dispute analysis * Report on explosion cause at an HWF storage facility * Assisted in prep of testimony for permit hearings * Forensic examination to determine fire/explosion cause * Analysis of litigated odor complaints * Numerous fire/explosion investigations * Report on adequacy of product labeling |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Specific self-employment experience includes the following: • Investigated trans-Atlantic cargo ship fire and explosion that resulted in multiple fatalities. • Investigated railcar derailment, fire and chemical contamination following mishandled cleanup. • Investigated personal injury caused by the chemical burn which occurred in the workplace. • Investigated explosion at wastewater treatment plant which caused a fatality and resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit. • Investigated city wastewater treatment system which was inadequately maintained and subsequently caused damage to several parties and their property. • Investigated and determined causation of fire in oxygen tank regulator resulting in personal injury lawsuit due to burns to the individual’s lungs. • Investigated explosion in the home caused by an acetone-based cement stain in which individuals were badly burned, and determined there were inadequate warnings regarding the products. • Investigated zirconium explosion and fire at the hazardous waste incinerator, resulting in a multi-party lawsuit, and determined causation was due to mismanagement of the waste materials prior to delivery at the facility. • Investigated potential offensive odor contamination in a liability lawsuit. • Provided technical analysis in a personal injury case involving chemical burns caused by hydrofluoric acid in an aluminum cleaner. • Provided technical analysis for the Department of Justice in a case involving potential violations of the Clean Air Act from an industrial source. • Determined causation in a personal injury lawsuit involving explosion of an aerosol paint can. • Determined causation in an investigation of a propane-related home explosion. • Investigated explosion of automobile air conditioner Freon refill aerosol can in a personal injury lawsuit. • Investigated causation for an industrial fire involving a methane digester. • Provided an environmental forensic investigation of soil PCB contamination. • Conducted sampling and testing for an investigation into possible workplace heavy metal contamination. • Performed chemical analysis to determine causation of an industrial chemical flash fire at an incineration facility in a multi-party workplace personal injury lawsuit. • Investigated possible illegal processing of RCRA hazardous waste in potential violation of federal hazardous waste laws in a criminal lawsuit. • Performed investigation of dust contamination and groundwater impact related to personal property adjacent to a quarry in a civil lawsuit. • Investigated health and safety of working conditions and potential environmental regulation violations on behalf of a labor union. • Investigated and determined causation of an industrial pipeline rupture and fire at a hazardous waste plant in a multi-party wrongful death lawsuit. • Provided analysis and testimony for a personal injury lawsuit concerning an individual burned by industrial furnace material. • Performed environmental forensic analysis to determine causation and the actual source of dioxin emissions in an enforcement action. • Provided expert witness report in the patent dispute. • Investigated and provided testimony in a civil case concerning contamination of private property following containment failure of a lagoon in which oil field waste had been dumped. • Provided technical reports and supporting materials concerning emission modeling to assist attorneys in adjudicated permit hearings in New York State. • Investigated hazardous waste violations in enforcement action by the EPA. • Performed chemical forensic examination and determined causation as part of an investigation into a large industrial railcar explosion and fire. • Determined causation of an explosion and fire in the flammable liquids tank farm of a waste management facility. • Provided expert report and testimony in an adjudicated permit hearing for a hazardous waste facility in Texas. **Many more examples available upon request. |