Denis Newcomer, LSRP

Scientific Advisory Committee for Citizens’ Action Committee – Brookfield Avenue Landfill Inactive Hazardous Waste Site, Long Island, New York — Project manager of the scientific advisory committee responsible for advising local residents of the surrounding community regarding the science and engineering of landfill remediation at a 272-acre inactive municipal waste landfill contaminated with hazardous industrial wastes, including waste oil, sludge, metal plating wastes, lacquers, and solvents. Acted as the liaison between several entities, including the Citizens’ Action Committee, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), New York City Department of Environmental Protection, New York State Department of Health, the engineering consultant, City Councilman Lanza’s office, the Staten Island Borough President’s office, and the public. Attended several public meetings and presented opinions regarding the technical feasibility of the project. Provided technical and editorial reviews of the following: Operable Unit 1 (OU-1) final design; proposal to utilize the Korean War Veterans highway for site access to minimize truck traffic on local roads; OU-2 feasibility study to evaluate different remedies; OU-2 proposed remedial action plan; OU-2 record of decision; and, contract and specification requirements.

Low Environmental Risk Corporate Program, Westchester County, New York — Provided technical and field support for assessment of environmental concerns associated with the potential sale of property at an active chemical research facility. Under this role, reviewed available historical documents, developed and implemented a statistically based soil sampling plan designed to forecast potential future financial liability, and evaluated soil, soil gas, and groundwater impacts relative to applicable NYSDEC cleanup criteria, site background conditions, and U.S. Geological Survey asphalt PAH study.

ISRA Closure and Low Environmental Risk Assessment, Carteret, New Jersey — Project scientist responsible for providing technical review of third-party prepared soil and groundwater remedial investigation and remedial action reports and human health risk assessment at a former precious metal and precious metal alloy forming and fabrication facility. Assisted with the development of soil and groundwater sampling programs to address historical fill and site-related chemicals of concern to ensure New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) approval for impending property transaction.

Review of U.S. Operation, Maintenance and Monitoring Programs for Multinational Chemical Company, United States — Project director responsible for assessing operation, maintenance and monitoring (OMM) programs at various chemical and raw supply facilities across the United States. Under this role, developed strategies to assess OMM costs and procedures for cost reduction purposes, constructed database detailing relevant site characteristics and costs for comparison to known cost-saving measures, and presented information to client for implementation.

Phase I Due Diligence, Baton Rouge, Louisiana — Project scientist responsible for performing initial scoping activities for a Phase I due diligence evaluation at a former pipeline facility. Project tasks included performing site reconnaissance to assess potential environmental contamination sources, reviewing available environmental data and information regarding past operations and operators, and preparing a technical memorandum summarizing current conditions and recommending Phase II scope of work.

485-MW Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Power Plant, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania — Project manager responsible for conducting Phase I and II environmental site assessments (ESAs) at a former 102-acre U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) site. Managed asbestos-containing materials (ACM) surveys in 21 buildings or support structures, hazardous material surveys, and investigations of soil, concrete, sump and pit water, casting sands, foundry sands, groundwater, and surface water. Conducted Phase I ESA along 2-mile-long transmission corridor.

ISRA Closure and Low Environmental Risk Assessment, Carteret, New Jersey — Project scientist responsible for providing technical review of third-party prepared soil and groundwater remedial investigation and remedial action reports and human health risk assessment at a former precious metal and precious metal alloy forming and fabrication facility. Assisted with the development of soil and groundwater sampling programs to address historical fill and site-related chemicals of concern to ensure NJDEP approval for impending property transaction. Also assisted with the evaluation of environmental conditions pursuant to client’s low environmental risk program. This program was intended to provide assurance that site-related chemicals of concern did not exist in portions of the site not addressed by the Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) remedial investigation activities.

Site Closure and Regulatory Review, Detroit, Michigan — Project scientist responsible for evaluating Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s soil saturation (Csat) criteria and effective solubility calculations for its applicability to site conditions at this former paint and varnish manufacturing facility. Assessed the basis and background information for these through research of available documents and consultation with regulatory personnel.

Site Condition Review, Lodi, New Jersey — Project scientist responsible for evaluating groundwater degradation through Mann–Whitney U test and Mann–Kendall statistical calculations at this chemical facility.

Groundwater Investigation, Ambler, Pennsylvania — Project scientist responsible for evaluating regional and local geological conditions and geophysical test results (including optical televiewer, acoustic televiewer, fluid resistivity, temperature, and natural gamma logs) to assist in developing a groundwater remedial investigation for remediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Act 2 Closure Program. Managed the installation of bedrock monitoring wells and contracted a waste disposal firm to dispose of approximately 700 cy of construction debris at this specialty chemicals manufacturing facility.

ISRA Closure, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey — Project manager responsible for site closure of soil and groundwater concerns associated with site-related historical fill and dissolved-phase chlorinated hydrocarbons at a former research and testing facility, which tested rubber goods, asphalt siding, and roofing tiles. Soil investigation activities included drilling 52 soil borings and collecting soil samples from multiple depth intervals to horizontally and vertically delineate historical fill and PAH/metal contamination. Groundwater investigation activities included installing multiple monitoring wells to horizontally and vertically delineate chlorinated VOC and PFAS in groundwater; conducting several rounds of groundwater sampling; and performing a vapor intrusion investigation. A baseline ecological evaluation (BEE) was conducted to assess potential migration pathways between potential contaminant sources and environmentally sensitive areas. As part of the BEE, an investigation of surface water and sediments within the onsite engineered channel was conducted. This investigation included the collection of surface water and sediment samples. A soil remedial action work plan, which includes engineering (soil and asphalt capping) and institutional controls (Deed Notice), has been submitted to NJDEP for No Further Action determination.

Insurance Determination Investigations, New Jersey — Served as project director of environmental site assessments for an insurance company throughout New Jersey. Management responsibilities included communications with client, homeowners, attorneys, and contractors, as well as management of third-party liability issues, soil and groundwater remedial investigations, remedial alternatives analyses, age-dating of contaminant plumes, foundation support, site backfilling, and restoration. Also installed angled borings to assess soil, soil gas, and groundwater conditions beneath a basement impacted by home heating oil, conducted a high intensity targeted event to remove soil vapors and impacted groundwater.

Corporate Environmental Management Program for Automotive Enterprise, United States — Served as project director of environmental issues for a consortium of automotive dealerships, leasing companies, parts distributorships, and truck up-fitting business located in New Jersey, Kansas, Texas, and Ohio. Managed all facets of environmental issues, including: soil and groundwater investigations typically associated with underground storage tanks (USTs) and underground hydraulic lifts; oil–water separator installations and maintenance; trench drain integrity assessments and repairs; environmental compliance audits for preparation of stormwater pollution prevention (SWPP) plans and spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC) plans; NJDEP’s Right-to-Know hazardous chemical program; and facility expansion evaluations

NJDEP ISRA Closure of Petroleum Distribution Facility, Linden, New Jersey — Project manager responsible for an active petroleum distribution facility for a large scale ISRA environmental investigation of soil and groundwater contamination. Provided cost estimates, design analysis, and design objectives for the assessment and remediation of light nonaqueous-phase liquid (LNAPL) and dense nonaqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) plumes and assessment of chlorinated hydrocarbon dissolved-phase plumes. Managed the implementation of investigative technologies to ascertain the extent of petroleum and chlorinated solvent contamination at the site. Prepared soil and groundwater remedial investigation work plans for 22 areas of concern (AOCs). Conducted tidal study to evaluate petroleum migration potential into adjacent river and negotiated with NJDEP for a monitoring plan with boom containment instead of construction of a barrier wall that resulted in significant cost savings for the client. Implemented and provided operations and maintenance services for an innovative nonaqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) recovery technique, which recovered more than 6,000 gallons of LNAPL from a single recovery well with no disposal costs. This effort increased the yield of recoverable hydrocarbons from 40 gallons per quarter to 1,100 gallons per quarter, which reduced the cost of hydrocarbon recovery from $280/gallon to $3/gallon. Other activities conducted at this site included closure of two USTs, installing more than 70 soil borings, collecting soil and groundwater samples for laboratory analysis, performing groundwater monitoring activities, conducting recovery/recharge tests, evaluating remedial alternatives; preparing permit applications, identifying third-party responsibility for LNAPL source, managing hazardous waste and materials program, and preparing quarterly progress reports for submittal to NJDEP.

NJDEP ISRA Closure, Hawthorne, New Jersey — Project geologist responsible for assessing and remediating soil and groundwater at a former chemical manufacturing facility. Managed and performed the installation of monitoring, extraction, and injection wells to assess and remediate DNAPL contaminants as part of a multimillion-dollar injection/extraction groundwater system design. Utilized hollow-stem auger, mud-rotary, and air-rotary drilling methods to install 10-in.-diameter stainless steel extraction and injection wells into bedrock and performed fracture analysis on collected rock cores. Coordinated and conducted soil, groundwater, sediment, and waste characterization sampling programs. Conducted aquifer tests and analyzed data to determine well yields for each injection and extraction well. Assisted with the preparation of technical documents for submittal to state regulatory agency.

LSRP Oversight of Waste Cell Repairs, New Jersey — LSRP contracted to certify the waste cell repair and integrity of the repair in accordance with an approved quality assurance project plan (QAPP) negotiated between property owner and the EPA/Environmental Response Team. During field activities, identified methodology to speed up onsite work that was approved by all parties, and identified a subcontractor to mobilize to the site the same day, saving the project time and money. Prepared a report of observations to property owner.

Subsurface Wastewater Spill Remedial Investigation, Branchburg, New Jersey — LSRP and project manager responsible for developing and implementing subsurface soil and groundwater remedial investigation associated with multiple subsurface wastewater discharges. Directed pilot study of enhanced fluid recovery technique from multiple extraction points to recover impacted perched water and vapors.

Former Paint Blending and Retail Facility, Jersey City, New Jersey — Project manager and LSRP responsible for site closure of soil and groundwater concerns associated with former site activities and a heating oil UST. Reviewed previous environmental work associated with former site activities and recommended additional remedial investigation activities. Recommended engineering and institutional controls to address regional historical fill. Issued Restricted Use response action outcome (RAO). Following issuance of the RAO, an unknown heating oil UST was suspected present beneath the sidewalk in front of the former warehouse. Soil was excavated around the UST and remedial investigation is ongoing. PFAS in soil and groundwater are being investigated.

ISRA and Spill Discharge Electric Utility Sites, New Jersey — LSRP responsible for site closure of multiple inactive electrical substations. Providing regulatory and technical support for preliminary assessment, site investigation, and remedial investigation activities at each site.

PCE Contaminated Dry Cleaner Sites, New Jersey — LSRP and project manager responsible for investigating multiple dry cleaner sites with groundwater and vapor intrusion concerns. Managed the collection of compound-specific isotope analysis groundwater samples to differentiate co-mingled plumes from two different sources. Took over one project because NJDEP had rejected several reports from the previous consultant due to technical deficiencies. Recently provided soil remedial action report closing numerous AOCs.

EPA Assessment Grant, Orem, Utah — Project manager responsible for conducting Phase I and Phase II ESAs at multiple sites in support of an EPA Assessment Grant. Conducted a town hall meeting to encourage local business owners to partake in the grant program.

PCB Multimedia Investigation and Remediation, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania — Project manager responsible for conducting a Phase I ESA at a 106-acre former DOD site in anticipation of the installation of a 485-MW powerplant. The Phase I ESA identified several AOCs, which led to the investigation and remediation of PCBs under EPA’s TSCA program along with other contaminants of concern. Collected more than 3,400 soil samples and managed the disposal of approximately 75,000 tons of solid waste and 600,000 gallons of liquid waste. Received closure from state and EPA for soil and groundwater concerns.

Regulatory Research, Belvidere, New Jersey — Project scientist responsible for conducting research to identify pertinent 1986 regulations associated with the notification and closure of aboveground storage tanks at a former industrial facility. Assessed applicable NJDEP Interim Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act regulations.

Groundwater Treatment System Closure, Grand Rapids, Michigan — Project scientist responsible for successfully negotiating with a local publicly owned treatment works (POTW) facility to reduce sampling and reporting requirements from monthly to quarterly by recalculating permit limits relative to actual discharge rates, and to allow direct discharge of recovered groundwater into the sanitary sewer system, which saved the client up to $100,000 per year, at this former chemical manufacturing facility.

LNAPL Remediation, Nassau, Bahamas — Project manager responsible for investigating and remediating LNAPLs in a karst topography at an active bulk storage facility. Assisted with the installation and maintenance of six solar-powered and electrical-powered free-product recovery systems that recovered more than 11,000 gallons of petroleum within 1 year. Maintained a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) computer system that gathered real time data and allowed internet access to control operational run times for each free-product recovery system. Performed electrical system modifications to ensure proper operations. Managed import and export issues with local custom officials and custom agents for procuring equipment and supplies.

Remedial Investigation and LNAPL Remediation, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands — Project manager of an active power utility facility responsible for investigating and remediating a diesel fuel spill and conducting a facility audit. Designed and installed several monitoring wells to evaluate groundwater conditions at the facility. Supervised the installation of a trench LNAPL recovery system. Conducted a facility audit to identify various operation and maintenance requirements in addressing LNAPL releases from various sources.

ISRA Groundwater Closure, Changewater, New Jersey — Project manager responsible for remedial system design at a former bulk fuel storage terminal. Evaluated hydrogeologic conditions for a remedial system design at this remote facility and successfully negotiated remedial system redesign with NJDEP to install an innovative solar-powered LNAPL recovery system that saved the client more than $1 million. Prepared evaluation report assessing potential environmental concerns in bedrock and overburden aquifers.

NAPL Recovery and Recharge Testing, Jamaica, New York — Project manager responsible for conducting liquid phase hydrocarbon (LPH) recovery and recharge tests under the Bulk Fuel Farm Remediation Optimization program at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Evaluated test results to optimize LPH recovery for recycling and to minimize production of secondary by-products such as emulsions, air emissions, and effluent waters that require treatment and disposal.

NAPL Recovery Tests, Jamaica, New York — Conducted LPH recovery/recharge tests under the Bulk Fuel Farm Remediation Optimization program at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Evaluated test results to optimize LPH recovery for recycling and to minimize production of secondary by-products such as emulsions, air emissions, and effluent waters that require treatment and disposal.

Petroleum Terminal Project Management, Changewater, New Jersey — Designed, installed, and operated six oil-recovery systems. Evaluated hydrogeologic conditions for a remedial system design that led to a successfully negotiated remedial system redesign with state agency. Installed and operated a solar-powered LNAPL recovery system that saved client more than $500,000 in energy and operational costs.

Active Bulk Storage Facility, Nassau, Bahamas — Investigated and remediated LNAPLs in a karst topography. Assisted with the installation and maintenance of six solar-powered and electrical-powered free-product recovery systems that recovered more than 11,000 gallons of petroleum within 1 year. Maintained a SCADA computer system that gathered real time data and allowed internet access to control operational run times for each free-product recovery system. Performed electrical system modifications to ensure proper operations. Managed import and export issues with local custom officials and custom agents for procuring equipment and supplies.

Active Power Utility Facility, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands — Designed and installed several monitoring wells to evaluate groundwater conditions at the facility. Supervised the installation of a trench LNAPL recovery system. Conducted a facility audit to identify operation and maintenance requirements in addressing LNAPL releases from various sources.

Active Petroleum Distribution Facility, Linden, New Jersey — Provided cost projections, design analysis, and design objectives for the assessment and remediation of LNAPL and DNAPL plumes and assessment of chlorinated hydrocarbon dissolved-phase plumes. Managed the implementation of investigative technologies to ascertain the extent of contamination at the site. Conducted tidal study to evaluate petroleum migration potential into adjacent river and negotiated with NJDEP a monitoring plan with boom containment instead of construction of a barrier wall that resulted in significant cost savings. Implemented and provided operation and maintenance services for an innovative NAPL recovery technique and recovered more than 6,000 gallons of LNAPL from a single recovery well. Also conducted recovery/recharge tests, evaluated remedial alternatives, prepared permit applications, identified third-party responsibility for LNAPL source, and managed hazardous waste and materials program.

Groundwater Modeling of Treatment System, Hawthorne, New Jersey — Project manager and project scientist responsible for performing a detailed analysis of a MODFLOW groundwater and contaminant transport model that was the basis for the design of a multimillion-dollar injection-extraction groundwater system designed to remediate DNAPL contamination. The purpose of the evaluation was to determine if the model properly modeled site conditions and to provide recommendations for adjusting flow rates from the extraction wells and to the injection wells. Also developed groundwater and remedial system sampling protocols to minimize sampling costs.

Water Supply Well Investigation, Jackson, New Jersey — Project manager responsible for water supply well investigation. Conducted aquifer tests to determine the hydraulic parameters of the aquifer to predict the effect of new withdrawals on existing wells, the drawdowns in the well at future times and different discharges, and the radius of the cone of influence for the well. Installed a datalogger with transducers to measure water levels and barometric pressure changes within the pumping and observation wells. Performed a step-drawdown test to determine the specific capacity of the well at various discharge rates to select the optimum discharge rate. Based on the step-drawdown test results, performed a 72-hour, 660-gpm constant-rate test to determine the feasibility of utilizing the aquifer for new water resource. Reviewed analysis of pumping test data and prepared a report for submittal to regulatory agency.

Litigation Support for Insurance Company, New Jersey — Expert witness for insurance company in a litigation case involving third-party damages associated with petroleum contamination during the policy period from 1977 to 1981. Prepared an expert report and the claim was subsequently dismissed based on evidence presented in the report.

Litigation Support for Insurance Company, New Jersey — Served as project geologist for several litigation cases on behalf of two major petroleum exploration and refining companies and law firms. Conducted third-party reviews to assess hydrogeological and contaminant characteristics.

NJDEP Permitting, Eatontown, New Jersey — Project manager responsible for complying with wastewater effluent and air permit requirements at a pharmaceutical company.

Coastal Zone Management Activities, Rhode Island — Project Geologist responsible for coastal zone management issues for the Rhode Island Geological Survey and the University of Rhode Island. Managed 20-year beach profiling project for 2 years along the southern Rhode Island coast. Scheduled and performed beach surveys at numerous transects along headland and barrier beach profiles. Compiled data for analysis of beach profile shape. Evaluated profiles to predict future beach responses to coastal storm conditions. Conducted side-scan sonar surveys to map bathymetric surface of the southern Rhode Island tidal face. Modeled the effect of sea level rise along the southern coast of Rhode Island. Determined the migration potential of headlands and barrier beaches for 30-year, 50-year and 100-year periods. Utilized Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps and wave envelopes along the historical migration measurements to determine the future location of the headlands, barrier beaches, and various FEMA-designated flood zones. Surveyed beach transects using Topcon^TM surveying equipment.

Laboratory Data Validation Program, Farmingdale, New York — Project geologist responsible for managing a laboratory data validation program for a $18M waste excavation, removal, and disposal project performed in response to a consent judgment at a former aircraft parts manufacturing and metal plating facility. Approximately 80,000 tons of hazardous and nonhazardous waste were excavated and transported offsite for disposal. Negotiated with laboratory to recover costs associated with laboratory nonconformances.

PCB and PAH Sediment and Groundwater Concerns, New Jersey — Provided third-party review and strategic consultation for a pole transformer discharge into a wetland. Determined sediment and groundwater concerns were associated with background conditions and not related to the transformer oil spill, which was previously cleaned up in an emergency response.

485-MW Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Power Plant, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania — Conducted Phase I and II ESAs at a former 102-acre DOD site. Managed ACM surveys in 21 buildings and support structures, hazardous material surveys, and investigations of soil, concrete, sump and pit water, casting sands, foundry sands, groundwater, and surface water.