
Ph.D., Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, 1993
B.S., Geology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 1985
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response 40-Hour Certification (1991–2009)
Hazardous Waste Operations Management and Supervisor 8 Hour Certification (1991)
First Aid and CPR Certified (2004)
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Kappa Phi
Andrew Nicholson, Ph.D. Senior Science Advisor (720) 465-3330 Boulder, CO anicholson@integral-corp.com
Dr. Andrew Nicholson is a geochemist with 32 years of experience assessing the environmental impacts and chemical fate at industrial facilities and mining sites. Dr. Nicholson has conducted analyses of the source and mobility of petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, PCBs, and other chemicals in sediment, soil, and groundwater. His work has included extensive analysis of the behavior of acids, metals, radionuclides, and organic compounds in the environment at mines and in chemical manufacturing, petroleum production, and industrial settings. Dr. Nicholson has authored numerous articles and book chapters, including the chapter on groundwater chemistry in the most recent edition of Groundwater and Wells, the standard reference for the water well industry. He has served as an expert witness on a variety of matters, including determining the sources of petroleum hydrocarbons at manufactured gas plant and petroleum sites.

Source Identification, Chemical Fingerprinting, and Expert Testimony: Washington
Case Study
May 23 2019Litigation Support
Geochemistry
Mining
Nordstrom, D.K., and A. Nicholson (eds). 2017. Geochemical Modeling for Mine Site Characterization and Remediation. Volume 4. Society for Mining and Mineral Exploration, Englewood, CO.
Nicholson, A. 2007. Groundwater chemistry. In: Groundwater and Wells, 3rd Edition. B. Sterrett (ed). U.S. Filter, Johnson Screens.
Helgen, S., A. Davis, and A. Nicholson. 2007. Apportioning mining waste at a Superfund site using four-component linear mixing, Lower Area One, Butte, Montana, USA. Environ. Forensics 8:107–118.
Suedel, B., A. Nicholson, C. Day, and J. Spicer. 2006. The value of metals bioavailability and speciation information for ecological risk assessment in arid soils. IEAM 4(2):355–364.
Davis, A., B. Howe, A. Nicholson, and K. Hoenke. 2005. Use of geochemical forensics to determine release eras of petrochemicals to groundwater, Whitehorse, Yukon. Environ. Forensics 6:253–271.
Nicholson, A., S. Helgen, and A. Davis. 2004. Response to comment on: Nicholson et al. 2003. Elements influencing cost allocation in the Pinal Creek Aquifer, Arizona, USA. Part II: Geochemical controls on groundwater quality recovery. Environ. Forensics 4(4):271–278.
Helgen, S., A. Davis, and A. Nicholson. 2003. Elements influencing cost apportionment in the Pinal Creek Aquifer, Arizona USA. Part I: Geochemical Fingerprinting and Source Delineation. Environ. Forensics 4:255–269.
Nicholson, A., A. Davis, and S. Helgen. 2003. Elements influencing cost apportionment in the Pinal Creek Aquifer, Arizona USA. Part II: Identification of Geochemical Controls on Remediation Time. Environ. Forensics 4:271–286.
Nicholson, A. 2003. Incorporation of silicate buffering in predicting acid rock drainage from mine wastes: A mechanistic approach. Mining Engineering 55(2):33–38.
Emami, N.K., A. Nicholson, and J. Wren. 1998. Microbiological attack on concrete: A threat to concrete infrastructure. International Conference on Forensic Engineering: A Professional Approach to Investigation, London, England, September 28–29, 1998.
Nicholson, A.D., T. Hanna, J. Mansanti, J. Westfall, and B. Braginton. 1996. Evolution of groundwater chemistry during dewatering: Lone Tree Mine, Nevada. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, October 31, 1996. Denver, CO.
Kempton, H., D. Goode, D. Atkins, A. Nicholson, C. Travers, and A. Davis. 1995. A model for predicting post-closure water quality in mine pit lakes. In: Proc. of the Mine Closure Conference. March 29–31, 1995. Nevada Mining Association, Reno, NV.
Ruby, M.V., A. Davis, and A. Nicholson. 1994. In situ formation of lead phosphates in soils as a method for immobilization of lead. Environ. Sci. Technol. 28(4):646–654.
Link, T.E., M.V. Ruby, A. Davis, and A.D. Nicholson. 1994. Soil mineralogy by microprobe: an interlaboratory comparison. Environ. Sci. Technol. 28(5):985–988.
Nicholson, A.D. 1993. The control and effects of thermochemical sulfate reduction, Whitney Canyon-Carter Creek Field, Wyoming. Ph.D. Thesis. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
Goldhaber, M.B., and A.D. Nicholson. 1993. Thermochemical sulfate reduction as a source of sedimentary H2S [abstract]. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 25(6):21–22.
Davis, A., J.W. Drexler, M.V. Ruby, and A. Nicholson. 1993. Micromineralogy of mine wastes in relation to lead bioavailability, Butte, Montana. Environ. Sci. Technol. 27(7):1415–1425.
Reynolds, R.A., A. Nicholson, M. Goldhaber, S. Coleman, J. King, C. Rice, M. Tuttle, and D. Sherman. 1990. Diagnosis for greigite (Fe3S4) in Cretaceous beds, North Slope, Alaska, and Holocene sediments, Lake Michigan. Eos 71:1282–1283.
Nicholson, A.D., and P. Zimmermann. 2019. Small party issues in large sediment site allocation: A technical framework for decision-making. Platform presentation at Tenth International Conference on the Remediation and Management of Contaminated Sediments, New Orleans, LA. February 11−14.
Nicholson, A. 2018. Environmental modeling at mine sites: What are the regulatory and data needs? Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration Annual Conference & Expo, Minneapolis, MN. February 25–28.
Greer, B., A Nicholson, S. Helgen, and S. Kosinski. 2013. Incorporating wall rock runoff into pit lake water quality modeling in the arid western United States. International Mine Water Association Annual Meeting, Golden, CO.
Helgen, S.O., and A.N. Nicholson. 2007. The nexus of litigation, remediation, and good science in equitable allocation. American Bar Association 36th Annual Conference on Environmental Law. Keystone Resort and Conference Center, Keystone, CO. March 8–11.
Bowers, T.S., and A.D. Nicholson. 1996. Distinguishing the impacts of mining from natural background levels of metals [abstract]. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 31(4):A-465.
Nicholson, A.D. 1996. Evaluating mercury speciation in contaminated soils: an integrated approach. EPA Special Mercury Speciation Workshop, Denver, CO. September.
Nicholson, A.D., and M.B. Goldhaber. 1992. Thermochemical sulfate reduction in the Whitney Canyon–Carter Creek Field, Wyoming: Core studies and geochemical modeling [abstract]. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 23(6):A-153.
Kempton, H., W. Locke, D. Atkins, L. Bliss, A. Nicholson, and P. Maley. 1996. Predicting water quality in mine pit lakes: How far into the future to forecast? Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. October 31.
Co-instructed one-day course on environmental forensics for CLE credit and New Jersey LSRP credentials, 2018, 2019.
Court Testimony
- Strong Oil Company, Inc. v. Zurich American Insurance Company. Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk.
Deposition Experience
- Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP v. NCR Corporation. U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan (two depositions).
- Wild Earth Guardians v. IRG Bayaud et al. U.S. District Court for Colorado.
- NL Industries, Inc. v. ACF Industries, et al. U.S. District Court for Western District of New York.
- 2134 Western, Inc v. Texaco, Inc. Superior Court of the State of Washington in and for the County of King.