Bio
Ms. Elena Downs is an engineer with 4 years of consulting experience focusing on site investigation, remedial design and implementation, and litigation support. Using her skills in ArcGIS analysis, cost estimation, alternatives analysis, and review and development of design documents, she has supported a wide range of projects. Ms. Downs has experience planning, executing, and leading fieldwork for soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment sampling, and she has served as a quality assurance lead for construction and sampling projects.
Relevant Experience
Site Investigation
Removal Action Sampling, Former Fertilizer Manufacturing Facility, Guánica, Puerto Rico — Led the direct-push drilling sampling effort to collect more than 140 soil cores over the course of multiple field mobilizations. Supported coordination of field staff, field effort logistics, and subcontracting. Served as GIS lead to develop figures and work plan elements and spearheaded data management and analysis efforts to support removal action and further develop a conceptual site model.
Sediment Investigation, San Diego Bay, California — Served as field lead on a multiconsultant field effort to collect sediment, fish, and invertebrate samples from San Diego Bay. Supported data analysis and generation of a sediment assessment report to assess whether results met the narrative sediment quality objectives that protect human health, wildlife, resident fish, and benthic community beneficial uses.
Groundwater Investigations, Multiple Fire Stations, California — Conducted initial site visits to understand firefighting foam use and storage and helped to develop work plans to investigate the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater. Oversaw the installation of temporary wells and collected grab groundwater and sediment samples from storm drains.
Site Remediation
Residential Yards Time-Critical Removal Action, Former Fertilizer Manufacturing Facility, Guánica, Puerto Rico — Served as construction quality assurance (CQA) lead and site safety officer for a removal action addressing PCB-impacted soil at offsite properties. Supported project manager and engineer of record to delineate excavation extents and develop key work plan elements, prepare bid package documents, and review contractor proposals. CQA responsibilities included implementing a perimeter air monitoring program; manifesting hazardous and nonhazardous waste for offsite disposal; collecting soil grab samples, water samples, and backfill material samples; and overseeing soil excavation, backfilling, and stockpiling activities.
Groundwater Compliance Monitoring and Remedial Design, Blackwell, Oklahoma — Monitored groundwater treatment compliance by 1) generating and reviewing analytical data summaries from the site groundwater treatment facility and wastewater treatment plant, and 2) completing biweekly treatment plant flow calculations. Supported the preparation of a corrective action alternatives analysis and cost estimate for the extension of the groundwater extraction system targeting cadmium and zinc released from a former zinc smelter.
Groundwater Injections at Chlorinated Solvent Cleanup Site, South San Francisco, California — Oversaw enhanced reductive dechlorination injections at a site with chlorinated volatile organic compound contamination in groundwater. Assisted with data review and analysis to determine the efficacy of injection events.
Groundwater Treatment System Evaluation, Minnesota — Provided engineering support during the planning and design phases for the addition of a temporary carbon treatment system on existing recovery wells. Used analytical data, flow rates, and system designs to evaluate system capacity and optimize the network of production wells and treatment processes used for plume containment, potable/nonpotable water supply, and process cooling water.
Remedy Selection and Engineering Design, Select Public Schools, Hawaiʻi — Reviewed engineering design documents to support the selection of remedies to address soil contamination at multiple schools in the Hawaiʻi District. Generated engineering specification documents outlining the requirements for soil excavation and cap-in-place remedies.
Litigation Support
PFAS Water Treatment and Site Remediation Complaint, City of Stuart, Florida — Supported testifying expert for the evaluation of a claim regarding occurrence and mitigation of PFAS in groundwater, including soil and groundwater remediation and treatment of drinking water supplies (City of Stuart, Florida v. 3M Company et al., MDL 2:18-mn-2873-RMG, Case No. 2:18-cv-03487-RMG, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, Charleston Division). Responsibilities included document and data review, evaluation of existing conventional treatment system, design, and cost estimation support for the installation and operation of additional long-term potable water treatment systems.
Environmental Liability Analysis, Ohio and New Jersey — Performed a probabilistic cost analysis to support expert testimony regarding the remediation liabilities for a portfolio of chemical manufacturing sites being divested by the parent company. Reviewed numerous historical documents to understand remedy selection, regulatory status, and project timing to ultimately evaluate the magnitude of the environmental liabilities.
Former Manufactured Gas Plants, New York — Supported expert testimony regarding by-product generation and release during historical operations of manufactured gas plants. Following extensive document review covering more than a century of operation and subsequent remediation, generated detailed site maps, process flow diagrams, and report text to evaluate the source of site contamination and operational knowledge thereof.
Stormwater Management
Stormwater Compliance Support, Multiple Locations, Northern California — Provided support to the qualified industrial stormwater practitioner to update stormwater pollution prevention plans, generate site stormwater maps, review monitoring results, and prepare appropriate documentation for compliance on the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System throughout the stormwater year.
Renewable Energy
Mobile Home Park Infrastructure Upgrade, California — Field engineer and consultant on a pilot program to upgrade the electrical and gas systems for mobile home parks throughout California. Collaborated with engineers and contractors from multiple sectors to facilitate communication and streamline documentation. Served as a quality assurance reviewer and analyzed field documents including gas service records, borehole tests, and GIS maps to verify or mark for corrections as-built construction drawings.
Treatment Plant Energy Recovery Upgrade, Toronto, Canada — Primary collaborator on a graduate capstone project identifying areas for energy production and recovery improvement for a wastewater treatment plant in Toronto, through research, data analysis, and use of BioWin modeling software. Designed, modeled, and conducted a technical economic assessment for an improvement plan that combined modernized aeration diffuser systems, increased anaerobic digester capacity, and codigestion of food waste.
Education & Credentials
M.Eng., Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 2021
B.A., Environmental Earth Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 2019
B.A., Anthropology: Global Health and the Environment, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 2019
Engineer in Training, California (License No. 182841)
Continuing Education
OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER
Hazardous OSHA 8-Hour HAZWOPER Supervisor
DOT Hazmat Function Specific Training for Shipping Papers (2024)
First Aid/CPR/AED Certified