Bio
Mr. Joseph Kraycik is a professional geologist with 30 years of environmental consulting experience. He is an effective and successful manager who has been recognized with four prestigious brownfield redevelopment excellence awards for public and private projects in EPA Region 3. He has managed numerous EPA and state grants on behalf of clients throughout the northeast and mid-Atlantic with an emphasis on best practices for establishing sustainable assessment and redevelopment programs. Mr. Kraycik has extensive and specialized experience in brownfields redevelopment and community revitalization with a proven record of progressing sites from investigation through redevelopment. He is a certified quality auditor with expertise in third-party field auditing and inspection of environmental sampling and remediation activities, preparation of project control documents, and training programs. He is a leader in projects related to PFAS and other emerging contaminants, including assessment and litigation support.
Relevant Experience
Brownfields Redevelopment
Brownfield Assessment and Redevelopment Program, Redevelopment Authority of the County of Montgomery (MCRDA), Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — As project manager, implemented multiple EPA Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and assessment grants. Services included assessment, site inventorying, remediation and reuse planning, community outreach and engagement, remedial oversight, assistance with the preparation of loan documents, and required financial and progress reporting. Assisted MCRDA with developing a successful brownfields program that focused on a systematic process that utilized public funding to assess properties, develop remediation and reuse plans, engage the community, and provide cleanup funding through RLF grants and other sources, such as RLF program income, state grants, and private equity. Critical components of this program were marketing the program and educating developers, property owners, and municipalities about program specifics. Also prepared grant applications on behalf of MCRDA that resulted in more $3.75 million of funding for environmental assessment and cleanup at brownfield sites in the county.
EPA Brownfield Assessment and RLF Grant Implementation, Multiple Sites and Grantees, United States — Oversaw and implemented various tasks as the project’s qualified environmental professional for assessment and RLF grants. Clients have included Susquehanna Economic Development Association-Council of Governments (Pennsylvania), the City of Waynesboro (Virginia), the Central Virginia Planning District Commission, Wayne County (New York), and the Northeastern Vermont Development Association. Primary tasks included Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), project progress reporting, participation in community and steering committee meetings, and remediation and reuse planning (including the preparation of analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives reports). Prepared EPA-required cooperative agreement work plans, community engagement plans, field sampling plans, program-wide quality assurance project/program plans, and health and safety plans.
Knitting Mills Redevelopment, Wyomissing and West Reading, Pennsylvania — On behalf of the client, managed environmental due diligence and remedial actions at the 53-acre former Vanity Fair Outlet complex, which was remediated under Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling/Voluntary Cleanup Program (Act 2) as part of redevelopment. The project was recognized with the Region 3 Phoenix Award at the 2022 National Brownfields Conference and has led to extensive job creation and economic benefits for the Boroughs of Wyomissing and West Reading.
Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) Redevelopment, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Designed and managed the assessment and remediation of a former salvage yard and illegal dumping site that was redeveloped as the PWPM. As part of the Act 2 process, prepared and submitted deliverables, including a remedial investigation report, cleanup plan, and final report, that were approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP). An Act 2 release of liability was subsequently granted for this site. The PWPM project was recognized with the EPA Region 3 Phoenix Award and a Brownfield Renewal Award for Economic Impact in 2011.
City of Lancaster and the Lancaster County Planning Commission, Brownfields Assessment Program, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — Served as project manager responsible for coordinating and implementing Phase I and Phase II ESAs at multiple project sites throughout the county. Work was funded through a series of EPA brownfields assessment grants. Several of the individual projects received awards, including the Roberto Clemente Park assessment and cleanup that was recognized with a 2005 Phoenix Award for community impact. The project included 26 Phase I ESAs and 12 Phase II ESAs.
Former Dry Cleaners, Doylestown, Pennsylvania — Served as project manager for the investigation and remediation of a chlorinated solvent release that was funded through an environmental insurance policy. Remediation included source removal and disposal. The project was conducted under Pennsylvania’s Act 2 program. Demonstrated attainment of the site-specific remediation standard (risk assessment and institutional controls) and received liability protection from PA DEP for soil and groundwater.
Former Dry Cleaners, Williamsport, Pennsylvania — Managed investigation and remediation activities at a former dry cleaners on behalf of a real estate investment trust where soil, groundwater, and indoor air quality were impacted by a release of chlorinated ethenes. Remedial activities included the design, installation, and operation of a soil vapor extraction system and in situ groundwater bioremediation program. The project was conducted under Pennsylvania’s Act 2 program. Demonstrated attainment of a remediation standard and received liability protection from PA DEP for soil and groundwater.
Data Quality Assurance
Hudson River PCB Superfund Site, Hudson Falls, New York — Served as quality assurance auditor for Hudson River PCB Superfund Remedial Action Monitoring Program (RAMP). Conducted third-party field audits of monitoring consultants during sediment remediation (dredging) and post-remediation as well as long-term operations and maintenance. Audited activities included sediment, surface water, biological (fish), and air (particulate) monitoring. Conducted technical reviews of project control documents, including sampling and analysis plans and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Fly Ash Recovery Project, Kingston, Tennessee — Served as a key quality assurance team member by providing third-party auditing and inspection services in response to the TVA release of more than a billion gallons of fly ash slurry to the Emory, Clinch, and Tennessee Rivers in eastern Tennessee. Managed sampling of groundwater, surface water, soil, sediment, fly ash, waste materials, air, and various biological specimens. Also assisted with the preparation of more than a dozen sampling plans and more than 40 SOPs used by the field sampling teams.
Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site, Butte, Montana — Conducted field audits of consultants during soil and dust sampling throughout the city of Butte, Montana, to evaluate metals impacts associated with historical mining operations. Also performed technical reviews of SOPs and field documentation while training consultants.
Various Oil and Gas Producers, Alaska and Pennsylvania — Assisted upstream and midstream oil and gas producers with site issues associated with cold-climate petroleum resource development in the Prudhoe Bay oil production field (North Slope of Alaska). Also assisted upstream natural gas producers in the Marcellus Shale gas play (Pennsylvania) with predrill surveys of residential water supplies and complaint-based investigations concerning degradation of the post-drilling water supply.
Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Response, Houma, Louisiana — Served as a member of the third-party quality assurance team. Prepared project control documents and reviewed field documentation.
Remedial Design and Construction
Rocky Mountain Arsenal Superfund Project, Commerce City, Colorado — Served as the geologist/quality control inspector responsible for the oversight of subsurface investigation, monitoring well installation/abandonment, and sample collection. Performed construction management and quality control inspections during the construction of onsite, double-lined hazardous waste landfill, a wastewater treatment plant, and associated infrastructure and remediation projects.
Shattuck Chemical Superfund Site, Denver Radium Site Operable Unit 8, Denver, Colorado — Served as laboratory manager and field engineer during the construction of a soil-cement monolith and clay cap system to immobilize soils impacted by historical uranium processing activities. Operated and managed the onsite geotechnical field laboratory to support impacted-soil processing. Conducted air quality monitoring, including high-volume total suspended particulate (TSP) testing and continuous radiological air monitoring using a radionuclide aerosol sampler (RAS) to protect worker and community health. Also responsible for radiological soil testing, environmental sampling, and construction quality oversight.
Litigation Support
Water and Biosolid Sampling, Legal Client, Maryland, Delaware, and Utah — Designed and managed municipal water supply and biosolid sampling programs to evaluate the presence and concentrations of PFAS. The data generated were used in support of litigation.
PFAS/Emerging Contaminants
Produced Water Sampling, Oil and Gas Client, Pennsylvania — Designed and implemented a sampling program to assess process and produced water for the presence of PFAS and evaluate potential liabilities associated with water disposal.
Fire Suppression System, Industrial Client, Confidential Location — For disposal and risk management purposes, assessed onsite firefighting foam in the fire suppression system for PFAS content at an industrial facility.
Contaminated Sediments
New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site, New Bedford, Massachusetts — Served as quality control manager responsible for implementing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers three-phase inspection system. Coordinated the inspection of work elements, ensured compliance with project control documents, and instituted corrective actions on various projects associated with the remediation of PCB-impacted soils and sediment from New Bedford Harbor and the Acushnet River.
PCB-Impacted Sediment Site, Lower Hudson River, New York — Provided consulting services for a complex remedial investigation and design project involving the removal of contaminated sediments from the Lower Hudson River. Conducted field audits of sampling activities, data evaluations, 3-dimensional modeling, volume and mass calculations, and remedial cost estimating.
City of New Bedford, Massachusetts — Managed work orders providing engineering and environmental services to the city for navigational dredging projects. The scope of services included marine investigations (geotechnical drilling, sediment sampling, and bathymetric surveys), engineering design for dredging and dredge material disposal, regulatory agency and client interfacing, subcontractor management, and cost estimating.
Sediment Investigation, Queens, New York — Managed a large-scale sediment investigation of a tributary to the East River on behalf of a responsible party to support litigation and cost allocation negotiations. Performed and managed sediment sampling, processing, analytical laboratory coordination, data evaluation, 3-dimensional visualization, and reporting.
Expert Testimony
Private Arbitration Hearing, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania — Supported the plaintiff’s legal counsel and gave expert testimony during a private arbitration hearing related to a contentious real estate transaction. The transaction was complicated and ultimately was not consummated due in part to environmental concerns that were brought to light during a Phase I ESA.
Education & Credentials
M.A., Earth Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, 1996
B.A., Geo-Environmental Studies, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 1993
New Hampshire Licensed Professional Geologist, License No. 122
American Society for Quality, Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certification No. 46625
Continuing Education
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER
First Aid/CPR/AED Certified
Professional Affiliations
Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE): Board of Directors, Member
American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG): Member
American Society for Quality (ASQ): Member
Achievements & Awards
2022–EPA Region 3 Phoenix Award, Knitting Mills Redevelopment Project, Wyomissing and West Reading, Pennsylvania
2011–EPA Region 3 Phoenix Award, Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market Project, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2011–Brownfield Renewal Award for Economic Impact, Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market Project, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania