Miranda Henning, BCES

Managing Principal, Business Director - Health and Ecology

Miranda Henning, BCES Managing Principal, Business Director - Health and Ecology

Miranda Henning helps clients in the regulated, legal, governmental, and nonprofit communities quantify and mitigate the risks and damages posed by chemicals in the environment, home, workplace, diet, and consumer products. A certified senior ecologist and Board Certified Environmental Scientist (BCES, ecotoxicology), she provides expert testimony, conducts technical analyses, offers strategic advice, and shares findings and recommendations with diverse audiences. Ms. Henning has developed and applied innovative techniques to characterize and mitigate the effects of releases of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), PCBs, PAHs, petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, and metals. Her work often takes the form of human health and ecological risk assessments, natural resource damage assessments (NRDAs), public meetings, safety assessments, feasibility studies, and expert reports. Ms. Henning has contributed to nearly 100 guidance documents, scientific publications, and technical presentations.

Miranda Henning, BCES

Managing Principal, Business Director - Health and Ecology

Contaminated Sediments

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Maine Supported a cooperative assessment and settlement of damages related to historical industrial activities adjacent to a river that led to sediments contaminated with metals. Evaluated baseline conditions, natural resources potentially impacted, methods for quantifying injury, and candidate restoration projects.

Evaluation of 20 Years of Sediment Data, Casco Bay, Maine Directed statistical, geospatial, and risk- related evaluation of a long-term sediment monitoring database for Casco Bay, Maine. Described spatial and temporal trends and compared the results with sediment quality benchmarks and findings for the broader Gulf of Maine.

Ecological Risk Assessment, Eastport, Maine Prepared a baseline ecological risk assessment (ERA) of chemical exposures to aquatic receptors in a bay that is adjacent to a former chemical manufacturing facility in Eastport, Maine. Chemicals of concern included PCBs, PAHs, and mercury and other metals. Oversaw extensive field sampling program targeting sediment, macroinvertebrates, and fish. Quantified risk to marine algae, benthic and aquatic invertebrates, fish, mink, harbor seals, spotted sandpipers, and harlequin ducks.

Risk Support Services, Housatonic River, Pittsfield, Massachusetts Provided risk support services at the Housatonic River PCB site in Massachusetts. Completed ecological field studies on fish and piscivorous wildlife, risk assessment work plans, short-term measures risk assessments, imminent hazard risk assessments, and Monte Carlo analyses of potential human exposure. Developed risk-based cleanup goals, developed white papers on risk-related subjects, and completed key components of a comprehensive ERA.

Ecological Risk Assessment, Nashua River, Leominster, Massachusetts Directed an HHRA and prepared an ERA under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan for a reach of the Nashua River that is impacted by PCBs, PCDD/Fs, PAHs, and metals.

Ecological Risk Assessment, Bridgeport, Connecticut Characterized the nature and extent of metals, PCBs, and PAHs in three brooks and a pond located on a historical industrial property. Designed a phased field sampling program targeting sediment, invertebrates, and fish to support the ERA and characterization to support remedy evaluation and design. Directed the team’s compilation of data into a unified database and geographic information system. Used multiple lines of evidence to quantify risks posed to invertebrates, fish, and wildlife.

Corrective Measures Proposal, Bridgeport, Connecticut Prepared a corrective measures proposal under RCRA to evaluate and select the preferred approach to sediment remediation within a 5-acre pond impacted by metals, PCBs, and PAHs. Developed detailed estimate of the costs to implement all alternatives considered and worked with peer reviewers to refine those costs. Worked with outside counsel to define expedited permitting timeline. Dredging was selected as the preferred alternative.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, New York Supported a cooperative assessment and settlement of damages related to historical releases of PCBs, PAHs, and metals to a large northeastern urban river. Evaluated baseline conditions, natural resources potentially impacted, and candidate restoration projects

Sediment Remediation Cost Estimating in Support of Corporate Acquisition, New York To support a private equity investor’s acquisition of a firm with potential sediment liability, directed the analysis of sediment chemistry data for more than 10 miles of a river, estimation of sediment cleanup goals based on precedent, defined theoretical cap areas and dredge prisms for various remediation alternatives, and developed minimum, most likely, and maximum costs to remediate contaminated sediment using combinations of MNR, enhanced MNR, armored capping, and dredging for different reaches of the river. Defined plausible schedule for expenditures under multiple scenarios. Analysis enabled the buyer to acquire insurance and close the deal.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, New Jersey Supporting a responsible party in its defense against natural resource damage (NRD) allegations related to a SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Delaware Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Maryland Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, East Coast Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Pennsylvania Supported a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Brunswick, Georgia Supported the cooperative assessment and settlement of NRDs related to historical releases of PCBs, PAHs, mercury, and lead to an 800-acre saltwater marsh in coastal Georgia. Directed habitat equivalency analyses for multiple ecological receptors, identified candidate compensatory restoration projects, and negotiated with state and federal trustees.

Ecological Risk Assessment, Columbus, Mississippi Prepared a baseline ERA for a creek and river downgradient of a former wood treatment facility. Quantified risks to invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals posed by numerous chemicals of concern.

Consulting Expert, Louisiana Supporting a responsible party in pending litigation related to allocation of responsibility for historical releases to a Louisiana waterbody.

Feasibility Study for Devil's Swamp Superfund Site, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Prepared a feasibility study for PCB-impacted sediment within a constructed lake in the floodplain of the Mississippi River. Defined remedial action objectives, remediation goals, remedial technologies, and remedial alternatives. Evaluated and compared remedial alternatives based on NCP criteria and oversaw detailed estimation of costs to implement each alternative. Identified the preferred alternative as a combination of armored capping within a drainage ditch and enhanced MNR. Reviewed and commented on EPA’s proposed plan and record of decision.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Midwest Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Human Health Risk Assessments, Middletown, Ohio Prepared multiple HHRAs for a steel manufacturing facility where PCBs, metals, and PAHs were present in onsite soils and sediment and in biota in an offsite creek. Designed and executed a survey of human use of the creek.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Ohio Supported the cooperative assessment and settlement of NRDs related to historical releases of metals to a creek. Identified and evaluated multiple compensatory restoration projects.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Michigan Supported the cooperative assessment settlement of NRDs related to historical releases of PCDD/Fs to a river. Identified and designed multiple compensatory restoration projects.

Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study for Orphan Site within the Detroit River Area of Concern, Michigan Represented a nonfederal partner in the investigation of an orphan site under the Great Lakes Legacy Act. Under this voluntary cost-sharing program, directed work in concert with EPA and its contractors to characterize contaminated sediment within a portion of the Detroit River Area of Concern (AOC) that otherwise would not have been evaluated. Directed field sampling to support the remedial investigation and reviewed EPA’s work in preparing the remedial investigation report. Directed the preparation of the feasibility study, including definition of remedial action objectives, remediation goals, remedial technologies, and remedial alternatives. Evaluated and compared the remedial alternatives based on the National Contingency Plan (NCP) criteria and oversaw the detailed estimation of costs to implement all alternatives. Met and negotiated with EPA and its contractors to reach agreement on the preferred alternatives, which was a combination of MNR and dredging with backfilling.

Ecological Risk Assessment, Indiana Harbor, Indiana Prepared an ERA for a former coke plant property adjacent to Indiana Harbor. Chemicals of concern include VOCs, SVOCs, and metals in groundwater that discharges into the harbor. Quantified exposure and risks to aquatic invertebrates, fish, and piscivorous birds and mammals. Refined the assessment and demonstrated that current conditions are unlikely to adversely affect those ecological receptors.

Human Health and Ecological Risk Support Services, Noblesville, Indiana Over three decades, managed human health and ecological risk strategy for addressing PCBs in soil, sediment, and fish tissue associated with historical operations at a former tire manufacturing facility. Originally completed an HHRA and an ERA in 1996, which provided the basis for remediation-focused sediment excavation, and monitored natural recovery in the downgradient creek. Subsequently directed the assessment of risks posed by PCBs in soils of the creek’s floodplain, a portion of which lies in residential backyards and a portion of which is undeveloped bottomland forest habitat. Updated the long-term monitoring program for the creek to evaluate trends in concentrations of PCBs in fish following the remedial action, directed the monitoring, and demonstrated the scientific basis for no further action.

Technical Support for Litigation, Wisconsin Supported Joseph Rodricks, Ph.D., in preparation of his expert report for Appleton Papers, Inc. and NRC Corporation v. George Whiting Paper Co. et al., July 10, 2009.

Ecological Risk Analyses at a Former Manufactured Gas Plant Site, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Peer-reviewed diverse aspects of ecological risk from PAHs in lake sediments adjacent to a former manufactured gas plant.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Washington Supporting a federal agency that is a responsible party at a former mine site where state, tribal, and federal trustees allege physical and chemical injury to a creek and a lake as a result of historical mining activities.

Ecological Study Design at a Mine Site, Alaska Peer reviewed a study plan prepared by a non-governmental organization that was intended to differentiate mine-related and background sources of lead to an embayment.

Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments, Deloro Mine Site, Deloro, Ontario, Canada At an abandoned mine and metals refinery site, directed a baseline HHRA and ERA to support the Government of Ontario’s remediation decisions related to cleanup goals and the areal extent requiring remediation. Collected site-specific data to support testing of sediment toxicity, surveys of benthic community structure, and determination of chemical concentrations in sediment, surface water, floodplain soil, and tissue of invertebrates and fish.

Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment, Peninsula Harbour Area of Concern, Marathon, Ontario, Canada On behalf of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), prepared an HHRA and an ERA on the effects of mercury and PCBs in sediment and aquatic biota within the Peninsula Harbour Area of Concern (AOC). Developed the conceptual site model and selected valued ecological components, assessment endpoints, and measurement endpoints. Assessed risks, calculated target fish tissue concentrations, developed sediment management goals, and estimated area and volume of sediment warranting management. Designed and managed a field survey of mink and river otter habitat quality as well as a survey of fishing behavior and consumption practices among residents of Marathon and the Pic River Tribe. Led four public consultation meetings with residents and municipal leaders of Marathon, the Pic River Tribal Council, and tribe members.

Ecological Risk Assessment for Mercury-Contaminated Sediment in the St. Clair River Area of Concern, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada On behalf of ECCC, developed and applied a decision-making framework to inform future sediment management decisions at the St. Clair River AOC, where mercury is the primary chemical of concern. Constructed a decision-making matrix to identify and prioritize areas within the AOC where sediment remediation is warranted. Geospatial modeling was used to evaluate and analyze the spatial and temporal coverage of four lines of evidence: sediment chemistry, benthic community structure, toxicity, and the potential for biomagnification.

Ecological Risk Assessment, Wheatley Harbour Area of Concern, Wheatley, Ontario, Canada On behalf of ECCC, prepared a targeted ERA focused on the effects of PCBs on piscivorous fish, mammals, and birds that inhabit the Muddy Creek wetland within the Wheatley Harbour AOC (Lake Erie). Estimated exposure to wildlife based on measured fish tissue concentrations and by employing a bioaccumulation food-web model to estimate uptake from sediment. Modeled dietary doses and mink tissue residue concentrations for comparison with literature-derived toxicity reference values and the effect concentration of 10 and 20 percent of the study population from the dose-response curve. Finally, calculated risk-based concentrations of PCBs in fish tissue and sediment based on protection of piscivorous fish and wildlife.

Conceptual Site Model, St. Marys River Area of Concern, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Prepared and updated a conceptual site model for contaminated sediment at the St. Marys River AOC, where PAHs and oil are the primary chemicals of concern. Oversaw a literature review of sediment quality guidelines for total petroleum hydrocarbons. In consultation with stakeholders, offered recommendations for further study and source identification.

Conceptual Site Model for St. Lawrence River Area of Concern, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada To support ECCC’s delisting decisions for the St. Lawrence River AOC, directed an extensive literature review and the development of a conceptual site model for a reach of the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall, Ontario, where mercury-impacted sediment is currently undergoing MNR. Developed recommendations for target sediment concentrations and long-term monitoring to determine success, as well as the timeline for achieving these goals.

Sediment Management Options Analysis, St. Clair River Area of Concern, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Evaluated and compared options for managing mercury-contaminated sediments at the St. Clair River AOC. Constructed a decision-making matrix to identify and prioritize areas within the AOC where sediment remediation was warranted. Evaluated remedial alternatives in terms of their cost, implementability, and effectiveness; also assessed the environmental impacts of implementing the remedies, monitoring requirements for demonstrating remedy success, and regulatory requirements for implementation.

Sediment Management Options Analysis, Ottawa River, Ontario, Canada Oversaw and advised in the identification of candidate remediation options for mercury- and radionuclide-contaminated sediment within a reach of the Ottawa River. Defined criteria for screening remediation options, and comprehensively evaluated and estimated costs for each remediation option.

Sediment Management Options Analysis, Peninsula Harbour Area of Concern, Marathon, Ontario, Canada Evaluated sediment remediation options, including the screening options, based on cost, effectiveness, and feasibility. Prepared the conceptual engineering design for three preferred options, and estimated remedy pricing.

Guidance Development for Sampling Sediment, Surface Water, and Biota, Canada On behalf of Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment, developed guidance for sampling sediment, surface water, and biota in support of a risk assessment.

Ecological Risk Assessment, Alpine Lake, Italy Prepared an ERA for an alpine riverine and lacustrine site impacted by mercury and DDT. The scope of the ERA spanned fate and transport modeling, bioavailability assessment, sediment quality triad use, a sediment profile imaging survey, and food-web modeling as well as a comprehensive literature review of the toxicity of methylmercury and DDT to different ecological receptors.

Literature Search on Beneficial Use of Contaminated Sediments Directed the completion of a comprehensive literature search and critical examination of treatment technologies employed for beneficial use of contaminated sediments.

Natural Resource Damage Assessment

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Delaware Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Maryland Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, East Coast Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Pennsylvania Supported a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Midwest Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Ohio Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD and in allocation of responsibility for historical releases of chemicals to land.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, New Mexico Supporting an energy company in negotiations with the State of New Mexico related to alleged natural resource injuries associated with historical releases of an SVOC.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, New Jersey Supported a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations due to historical releases of PFAS to soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Maine Supported a cooperative assessment and settlement of NRDs related to historical releases of VOCs to groundwater and discharge into surface water. Identified suite of restoration projects that led to rapid settlement of the case.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Maine Supported multiple PRPs with negotiations with the state trustee and the preparation of a cooperative NRDA related to releases from a historical landfill and leaching of VOCs to groundwater. Quantified injury and identified candidate restoration projects.

Evaluation of the Technical Basis for a Natural Resource Damage Settlement, New Jersey On behalf of the New Jersey state legislature, evaluated key reports underpinning one of the largest NRD settlements in the state of New Jersey and advised on the appropriateness of the proposed settlement.

Web-Based Information Management System for Baseline Information, Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Directed the development of a web-based information management system that compiled, evaluated, and facilitated access to publicly available data, reports, articles, and geospatial information related to baseline ecological and human use services provided within the Gulf of Mexico.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Wisconsin Employed a settlement comparison approach and habitat equivalency analysis to evaluate potential liability resulting from historical releases of an emerging contaminant to soil, groundwater, and surface water.

Evaluation of Ecosystem Services under the Environmental Liabilities Directive, Italy Used a net environmental benefit analysis to estimate environmental liabilities resulting from historical releases from a metal ore processing facility in Italy. Established conservative service loss thresholds based on risk-based human health and ecological screening values, scaled potential injuries according to habitat preferences of local biological resources, and calculated potential damages using habitat equivalency analysis. Calculated potential costs to implement sufficient compensatory restoration projects for offsetting the estimated liabilities.

Portfolio Liability Assessments In support of multiple business transactions, conducted comprehensive records reviews to estimate ranges of potential liabilities related to an NRD.

Pellston Workshop: The Nexus between Ecological Risk Assessment and Natural Resource Damage Assessment Acted as an invited participant in the Pellston workshop on the nexus between ERA and natural resource damage assessment. Coauthored manuscript reflecting the deliberations at the workshop.

Litigation Support

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Delaware Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Maryland Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, East Coast Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Pennsylvania Supported a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Consulting Expert, Louisiana Supporting a responsible party in pending litigation related to allocation of responsibility for historical releases to a Louisiana waterbody.

Natural Resource Damage Litigation Support Services, Midwest Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD allegations related to an SVOC in sediment and biota.

Natural Resource Damage Defense Services, Ohio Supporting a responsible party in its defense against NRD and in allocation of responsibility for historical releases of chemicals to land.

Testifying Expert Witness, Connecticut Retained by Babst Calland to represent client in cost recovery litigation under CERCLA for a site primarily impacted by PCBs. Prepared expert report and rebuttal report. Testified in deposition. Case settled favorably.

Technical Support for Litigation, Windham, Maine Developed lines of evidence to demonstrate that client's contributions to PCB contamination were de minimis.

Technical Support for Litigation, New York Supported Robert H. Harris, Ph.D., in preparation of his expert report for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York In re: Solutia Inc. Case No. 03-17949 (PCB); Official Committee of Equity Security Holders of Solutia Inc. v. Monsanto Company and Pharmacia Corporation, Adv. Proc. No. 05-01202 (PCB).

Expert Report under Canada’s Environmental Protection Act and Ontario Water Resources Act, Ontario, Canada On behalf of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks provided sworn affidavit for the Environmental Review Tribunal concerning an appeal by Tembec Industries related to releases of PCBs to an Ontario waterbody.

PFAS/Emerging Contaminants

Guest Editor, Special Journal Issue on Ecological Risks Posed by PFAS Invited guest editor of special issue of Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Identified U.S. and international scientists researching the topic of ecological risk posed by PFAS, solicited and reviewed their submissions, and authored manuscript reflecting their collective findings.

Screening-Level Ecological Risk Assessment for PFAS, Massachusetts Directed the preparation of a screening-level assessment of ecological risks posed by PFAS in surface water, sediment, and aquatic biota.

PFAS Conceptual Site Model, New Jersey Directed the preparation of a conceptual site model for PFAS historically released at an industrial site, characterizing release mechanisms, affected environmental media, migration and transformation pathways, fate, receptors, and exposure routes.

Integral’s Monthly PFAS Updates, Portland, Maine Conducts senior technical review of subscription-based newsletter that summarizes all peer-reviewed publications on PFAS published in the prior month.

Regulatory Toxicology for PFAS Directing the preparation of technical comments on state, federal, and international proposals related to the regulation of PFAS.

Regulatory Support for PFAS Supporting a medical equipment manufacturer in identifying state and federal PFAS-related reporting requirements.

Regulatory Support for PFAS Supporting a manufacturer of industrial equipment in answering customer questions related to PFAS reporting.

Regulatory Support for PFAS Supported a vehicle manufacturer in responding to a state’s PFAS-related regulatory requirements.

Risk Assessment

Baseline Risk Assessment at a Former Manufactured Gas Plant Site, Chicago, Illinois Led a team that prepared a streamlined HHRA and ERA for an urban site with multiple landowners and diverse uses and exposure pathways.

Risk Support Services for a Munitions Manufacturer, Saco, Maine Prepared human health risk assessments (HHRAs) and ERAs at a munitions manufacturing facility in Saco, Maine, where volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were the main chemicals of concern. Quantified risks to ecological receptors in an offsite creek and woodland. Developed and updated site-specific risk-based media protection standards. Prepared a groundwater corrective measures study (CMS) supporting modification of the previously approved remedy to allow rapid final closure of the site.

Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment, Long Island, Maine On behalf of the State of Maine, prepared human health and ecological risk analyses related to the impacts of petroleum hydrocarbons at a former Navy installation on Long Island in Casco Bay. Advised on sampling needs, estimated risks, prepared a report, and presented findings at two public meetings.

Human Health Risk Assessments, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Under a federal government contract, prepared HHRAs for 12 study areas at the Massachusetts Military Reservation in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Estimated potential risks associated with soils and groundwater impacted by metals, pesticides, and semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Evaluated occupational, residential, and recreational scenarios to determine the need for further investigation or remediation.

Human Health Risk Assessment, Great Neck, New York Prepared an HHRA on an aquifer impacted by VOCs. Modeled concentrations of VOCs in air and vegetables. Developed risk-based concentrations of VOCs in groundwater that would trigger air monitoring.

Ecological Risk Services, Navassa, North Carolina Directed the preparation of technical memoranda and ecological risk assessments at several operable units affected by PAHs and PCDD/Fs.

Peer Review of Risk Assessment, Devil's Swamp Superfund Site, Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Peer-reviewed the HHRA and ERA for the Devil’s Swamp Lake Superfund Site, which is located within a backwater of the Mississippi River and has sediment impacted by PCBs. Identified improvements to inputs and methods that yielded more accurate risk estimates and strengthened the documentation for those inputs and methods.

Target Mercury Concentrations for Fouling Communities on Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms, Texas To support decommissioning decision-making, modeled food web transfer of mercury from fouling communities to fish to fish-eating birds and recreational anglers. Estimated mercury concentrations in the tissues of fouling communities that were not expected to affect higher trophic level receptors adversely and identified the maximum acceptable concentration overall.

Guidance Development for Risk Characterization, Massachusetts Participated in three work groups convened by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to develop guidance for conducting environmental risk characterization under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan. Attended meetings and conference calls to discuss strategy, approaches, and specific guidance. Helped develop a screening approach to characterize terrestrial systems and weight-of-evidence methodology.

Metals Toxicology and Assessment

Literature Review on Ecotoxicity of Mercury Directed a detailed critical review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature on the ecotoxicity of mercury to benthic invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals, culminating in the publication of three manuscripts in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Radiological Risk Assessment

Produced Water Study, Louisiana Directed industry-wide study of the effects on human health and the environment of produced water discharges by oil and gas production wells in the territorial seas of Louisiana; the study was prepared as a condition of permitting by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Oversaw two seasons of sampling of produced water, sediment, surface water, macroinvertebrates, and fish; modeling of the mixing zone; and testing of sediment toxicity, as well as data management, analysis and mapping; statistical testing; ERA; and HHRA.

Risk Communication

Public Consultation for St. Lawrence River, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada Represented ECCC at a series of public meetings with the local community, First Nations, and the Binational Public Advisory Council concerning the conceptual site model for mercury-contaminated sediment within the AOC and future recommended actions.

Public Meeting for Long Island Fuel Farm, Maine On behalf of the State of Maine, presented at a public meeting on Long Island, Maine, concerning risk findings associated with the former fuel farm.

Public Meetings for Housatonic River Polychlorinated Biphenyl Site, Pittsfield, Massachusetts Represented client at multiple public meetings concerning ecological risks posed by PCBs in sediment and floodplain soil in the Housatonic River.

Public Meetings for LCP Site, Brunswick, Georgia Represented a client at multiple large and small public meetings concerning sediment remediation options for the LCP Superfund Site in Brunswick, Georgia.

Public Consultation for Peninsula Harbour Area of Concern, Marathon, Ontario, Canada Represented ECCC at four public meetings with residents of Marathon, Ontario, city officials, the Pic River First Nation chief and council, and the Pic River First Nation concerning contaminated sediment management options for Peninsula Harbour, an embayment of Lake Superior.

Public Consultation for St. Marys River, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Represented ECCC at a series of public meetings with the local community, First Nations, and the Binational Public Advisory Council concerning the conceptual site model for contaminated sediment within the AOC and future recommended actions.

Training

Training on Causality Assessment, U.S. Taught a web-based course on the assessment of causality in ecological risk.

Guidance Development and Training for Causality Assessment, Canada On behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, wrote a guidance module on the assessment of causality in an ERA to support Canada’s Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan. Developed and led training on the guidance module.

Ecological Risk Assessment Training, Canada On behalf of ECCC, designed, prepared, and taught 2-day workshops held in nine cities across Canada. The workshops focused on reviewing ERAs under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.

Toxicology

Regulatory Toxicology for PFAS Directing the preparation of technical comments on state, federal, and international proposals related to the regulation of PFAS.

Literature Review on Ecotoxicity of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Directed a detailed critical review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature on the ecotoxicity of PCBs to benthic invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals.

Environmental Safety Profiles for Three Topical Antimicrobial Compounds Directed the development of environmental safety profiles for three compounds used in personal care products through identification of relevant data on the compounds’ ecotoxicology, environmental fate, use, and environmental monitoring; development of screening-level ERAs for each compound; identification of knowledge and data gaps pertinent to the environmental safety narrative; and development of a plan to fill data gaps. Helped prepared a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, as well as posters for presentation at the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Product Stewardship

Literature Review on the Environmental Fate of Polymers Directed the completion of a literature review focused on the empirical and mechanistic tools for predicting the environmental fate and transport of polymers.

Environmental Safety Justification to Support New Drug Application Directed the assessment of potential environmental impact of the introduction of a new therapeutic option for a rare childhood disease, proposed for registration in the U.S. and the European Union. While FDA accepted the justification to forego a comprehensive environmental risk assessment, the European Medicines Agency is requiring additional study.

Web-Based Environmental Safety Assessment Directed the development of a framework and automated web-based assessment tool to allow rapid tiered assessment of the environmental safety of hundreds of ingredients used in personal care products.

Web-Based Human and Environmental Safety Assessment Directed the refinement of an automated web-based assessment tool to allow rapid tiered assessment of consumer and environmental safety of hundreds of ingredients used in cleaning products.

Regulatory Support for PFAS Supporting a medical equipment manufacturer in identifying state and federal PFAS-related reporting requirements.

Regulatory Support for PFAS Supporting a manufacturer of industrial equipment in answering customer questions related to PFAS reporting.

Regulatory Support for PFAS Supported a vehicle manufacturer in responding to a state’s PFAS-related regulatory requirements.

Petition to Delist Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether from the Hazardous Air Pollutants List, U.S. On behalf of the American Chemistry Council, prepared a petition to EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards to delist ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) from the Clean Air Act Section 112 list of hazardous air pollutants. Evaluated human and ecological toxicity of the compound, developed a nationwide emissions inventory for more than 3,000 sources of the chemical, implemented a tiered emissions modeling approach to quantify ambient concentrations of EGBE at the fence line of each source, estimated risks to human health and the environment associated with current and future ambient concentrations in the air and surface water, and prepared the petition. The petition was approved by EPA, and EGBE has been removed from the hazardous air pollutants list.

Petition to Delist Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether from the Toxics Release Inventory, U.S. On behalf of a trade group, prepared a petition to EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory Program division to delist EGBE from the Toxics Release Inventory. Evaluated human and ecological toxicity of the compound, developed a nationwide emissions inventory for more than 2,000 sources of EGBE, implemented a tiered emissions modeling approach to quantify ambient concentrations of EGBE at the fence line of each source, estimated risks to human health and the environment associated with current and future ambient levels in the air and surface water, and prepared the petition.

Planning and Permitting

Total Maximum Daily Load and Water Quality Criteria Support, Delaware River Provided technical support to a consortium of companies and municipalities affected by the Delaware River Basin Commission’s definitions of water quality criteria for PCBs, modeling of fate and transport of PCBs, and requirements for total maximum daily loads under the Clean Water Act.

Feasibility Studies

Groundwater Corrective Measures Study, Saco, Maine Prepared a CMS for groundwater impacted by VOCs. More than 25 years after the site’s original CMS recommended implementation of a barrier well system, this study updated the corrective measure objectives, media protection standards and points of compliance, and corrective measure alternatives. Enhanced anaerobic dechlorination with groundwater recirculation, combined with confirmation monitoring and institutional controls, was identified as the preferred alternative. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection accepted the updated CMS and revised corrective measure with no substantive comments.

Remedial Alternatives Analysis, Rockaway Township, New Jersey Evaluated the risks to ecological receptors posed by various remedial alternatives at an operating industrial facility that borders the Rockaway River. Characterized the value of the habitat that would be affected by the proposed remedial actions, assessed injury that would result from these alternatives, and discussed uncertainty of regaining lost values after implementation of the alternatives. Developed a range of preliminary remediation goals for PCBs in surface soil, based on protection of the American woodcock.

Corrective Measures Proposal for a PCB-Impacted Floodplain, Noblesville, Indiana Negotiated with EPA Region 5 to employ risk-based remediation in residential backyards within the floodplain of a creek impacted by PCBs. Participated in meetings with homeowners regarding their preferred remediation plans and documented successful completion of the remedial activities. Prepared a corrective measures proposal for the undeveloped portion of the floodplain, which identified habitat enhancement and MNR as the preferred alternative. Following EPA’s approval of the preferred remedy, directed the preparation of a habitat enhancement plan and implementation of that remedy. Oversaw post-remediation monitoring of the creek and the undeveloped floodplain.

Mining

Environmental Decision-Making

Expert Testimony

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