Bio
Mr. Mark Schroeder is an engineer with 5 years of consulting experience broadly trained in environmental engineering and has focused experience in the fate and transport of contaminants in groundwater, soil, and sediment. His use of programming and ArcGIS analysis helps guide appropriate development of investigation and remediation strategies.
Relevant Experience
Data Analysis
GIS Data Analysis and Figure Production — Proficient with using ArcGIS for data visualization and analysis, and for generating production figures to be used in technical reports. Developing tools used for automating repetitive processes using R and Python scripted computer languages.
R Scripting — Proficient with data preparation, visualization, and analysis. Regularly used for data exploration and development of production figures. Developed internal documentation for bridging R scripting and ArcGIS for more advanced tools to automate mapping tasks. Developed tools for automated data extraction from received document sets. Actively involved with the Data Analysis Practice Group and initiative to improve internal QA/QC practices.
Site Investigation
Wood Treating CERCLA Facility, Springfield, Missouri — Supported engineering tasks and the preparation of biennial and semiannual reports for a stormwater discharge basin. Prepared sections of text, figures, and tables to demonstrate the effect that storm size has on a surficial aquifer and transport of creosote-like contaminants into the basin from the contaminated aquifer. Used R scripting to automate production of hydrographs and document exceedances of screening benchmarks.
Stormwater Management
6PPD-Q Subgroup Contributions for Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, United States — Supported experts across the country in developing a framework for understanding the emerging contaminant 6PPD-Q as private and public sectors grapple with the impacts of this contaminant and methods to manage it.
Site Remediation
PFAS Treatment Cost Analysis Support, Various Locations, United States — Cost model analysis for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) drinking water treatment systems. Prepared process flow diagrams for granular activated carbon (GAC) and ionic exchange PFAS treatment systems. Assisted with text and material development to support expert opinions.
Trichloropropane Treatment Designs and Cost Estimates for Numerous Locations, California — Supported designs for a GAC treatment system for various wells with trichloropropane-impacted groundwater. Designs were used to develop cost estimates to account for the size of the vessels, GAC usage rates, piping layout, and cost of materials with respect to local rates.
Wood Treating CERCLA Facility, Columbus, Mississippi — Supported engineering tasks with cost estimates, weekly activity logs, and coordination with external vendors for hazardous waste disposal. Provided additional support with ArcGIS for mapping tasks. Coordinated with third-party vendors for appropriate hazardous waste disposal to meet state and federal requirements.
Lower Passaic River Superfund Site, Newark, New Jersey — Supported engineering feasibility study for sediment remediation in the Lower Passaic River Superfund site by developing the Green and Sustainable Remediation appendix to assess environmental impacts.
Boulder Community Health Hospital, Boulder, Colorado — Supported development of environmental monitoring of groundwater and soil work plan during hospital demolition activities. Additionally supported fieldwork activities such as well and boring installation and water level measurements and observed ground-penetrating radar activities. Assisted with analysis of collected data to make informed decisions for excavation of potentially hazardous waste.
Shoreham Yard, Minneapolis, Minnesota — Supported confirmation sampling event for soil vapor extraction system removing volatile organic compounds and semivolatile organic compounds. Responsibilities include data organization and ArcGIS production figure development for the remedial action implementation report, soil sampling fieldwork, and organization of sampling event data from subcontractors.
Litigation Support
Manufactured Gas Plants Litigation Support, Various Locations, United States — Supported analysis of historical documents to assess releases of contaminants to the environment. Used knowledge of the reviewed sites to contribute to an expert report narrating the events that led to widespread site contamination.
PFAS Litigation Support, Various Locations, United States — Performed clustering and principal component analyses to assess the mixing and similarities of PFAS during its migration down a river. Supported document review and data collection from thousands of documents. Developed R scripting tools for automation of data extraction from produced documents and for exploratory data analysis. Developed cost estimates to support expert opinions.
Allocation Support for Portland Harbor Superfund Site, Willamette River, Oregon — Support for data analysis and the fate and transport of contaminants in sediment in the Willamette River. Used ArcGIS and R Scripting to visualize the transport of contaminants upstream and downstream of the client site. Supported writing a technical memorandum for upland sources.
Expert Report Support at a Site in North Providence, Rhode Island — Reviewed historical remediation activities and drafted section of the expert report. Reviewed the historical operations and witness testimonies to assist with expert opinion. Used R Scripting and ArcGIS for organization of preliminary data sets and drafting of figures.
PCB Exposure Analysis Support, Washington — Supported data analysis, data organization, and quality control for PCB sampling data in air, wipe, and soil samples. Used R Scripting to prepare data for summary statistics and use in ArcGIS to visualize areas with potential exposure.
PFAS Litigation Support, Various Locations, United States — Supported document review and data collection from thousands of documents. Developed R Scripting tools for automation of data extraction from produced documents, and for exploratory data analysis. Developed cost estimates to support expert opinions.
Education & Credentials
M.S., Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 2018
B.S., Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 2015
Professional Engineer, Washington (License No. 24012584)
Engineer in Training, Oregon (License No. 91664EI)
Continuing Education
OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER
OSHA 8-Hour HAZWOPER Supervisor
First Aid/CPR/AED Certified
Coursera R Programming Certification; Johns Hopkins University, 2020
Professional Affiliations
Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council Contributor (2023)
Insights & News
Posters
A Comparative Analysis and Decision Framework for Handling Non-Detects in TSCA Risk Evaluations
Videos
Emerging Contaminants in Stormwater: Webinar