Bio
Mr. Mike Martin is a registered professional engineer with 22 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering. Mr. Martin specializes in soil, groundwater, and stormwater treatment alternatives analysis, cost estimation, and design and implementation of remedial actions, from pilot- to full-scale systems. He has substantial experience developing cost-effective alternatives for site remediation, including CERCLA remedial actions, RCRA corrective actions, state-led projects, and litigation and property transfer projects. In addition, Mr. Martin’s background includes litigation support and insurance recovery, specifically reviewing engineer-procure-construct contracts, managing design-build contracts, and conducting chemical plant process analyses. He has been involved with the design and construction of municipal water treatment plants, conventional wastewater treatment plants, stormwater collection and treatment systems, and potable water transmission pipelines. Mr. Martin also has supervised the construction of remedial actions, solid waste landfills, and wastewater treatment plants.
Relevant Experience
Site Investigation
Former DDT Manufacturing Facility, Portland, Oregon — Engineer-of-record for the feasibility study, design, and construction of multiple source control measures to address the discharge of contaminants in stormwater at a former pesticide manufacturing facility under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Soils and groundwater at the site were contaminated with both DDT and chlorobenzene, and measures to address these contaminants in stormwater included capping areas of known contamination, decommissioning the current site stormwater collection system, and providing surface flow and treatment via a detention basin and sand filter prior to discharge. Currently, conducting monitoring of the implemented stormwater measures to assess performance and optimize treatment efficiencies. Also, providing technical support for an engineering evaluation and cost analysis (EE/CA) for EPA-led early action cleanup of contaminated sediments at the Portland Harbor Superfund site on the Willamette River associated with the site, including assisting in preparing an EE/CA report and associated site characterization planning documents.
Closed Sugar Mill Facilities, Hawaii — Provided technical assistance for stabilization plan at the closed Lihue and Kekaha sugar mills on the island of Kauai, on behalf of the property owner. Assessed stormwater flow paths and mitigation measures, including stormwater diversion around potentially contaminated areas and installation of treatment measures (e.g., compost berms, silt fencing) to provide long-term stabilization until redevelopment can occur.
Blackwell Zinc Site, Blackwell, Oklahoma — Providing engineering technical support for an RI/FS, remedial design, and remedial action for metals-contaminated groundwater at a historical smelter site. Groundwater at the site discharges to local surface water bodies and infiltrates into the city’s wastewater and stormwater collection system. Supported the preparation of design submittals, including discharge permitting, for the extraction and ex situ treatment of site groundwater via a chemical sulfide treatment process to mitigate discharges. Providing ongoing support for the remedial action construction and implementation, including evaluation of storm sewer rehabilitation and the management of the ongoing performance monitoring for the remedial action.
Soil Remediation Project, Seattle, Washington — Project engineer for the development of a feasibility study for the cleanup of PCB-contaminated soil at a mixed-use residential/industrial site in south Seattle. Assisted in the evaluation of various capital improvements that will be incorporated into the cleanup, including construction of a stormwater collection and treatment system. Participated in developing a cleanup action plan to address PCB-contaminated soil. The project was combined with the Terminal 117 non-time-critical removal action.
Slip 4 Early Action, Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site, Seattle, Washington — Project engineer for the alternative evaluations and remedial design for PCB-contaminated sediments at the Slip 4 early action site, located within the boundaries of the Lower Duwamish industrial waterway CERCLA site. Assisted with the development of technical specifications and served as project engineer for revetment design and materials selection for the cleanup action at the Slip 4 early action site. The design included sediment dredging, upland disposal, capping, integrated shoreline stabilization, outfall erosion protection, and habitat restoration.
Former Glenbrook Nickel Facility Remedial Action, Coos Bay, Oregon — Engineer of record for design and construction services for remediation of contaminated sediments at the former Glenbrook nickel facility located in Coos Bay, Oregon. The project entailed remediation of approximately 2,000 cubic yards of intertidal sediments impacted with nickel using land-based excavation techniques while working “in the dry” (i.e., coordinated excavation and backfilling to be conducted between tide cycles). Conducted feasibility evaluations to assess alternative remediation strategies, prepared final design plans and specifications, and assisted with the management of the remedial construction contract and onsite quality assurance program.
CERCLA Allocation Assistance, Southern California — At the direction of outside legal counsel, provided technical information to a Joint Defense Group, preparing technical critiques of EPA’s proposed remedial action. Also, served on technical committee of the Joint Defense Group in response to a unilateral administrative order issued by EPA under CERCLA. Assisted the technical committee to oversee a common consultant to the Joint Defense Group in preparation of documents to be submitted under the unilateral administrative order.
West Bay Berth Deepening and Remediation Project, Port of Olympia, Washington — Project engineer for the development of a conceptual design report and cleanup plan, including feasibility cost analysis for the deepening of the Port of Olympia shipping berths located in south Puget Sound. The deepening is proposed to accommodate larger vessels for a prospective port tenant. Sampling of the dredge prism revealed that the sediments contain dioxin at levels that preclude open-water disposal; liquid phase hydrocarbon contamination is also present. Sampling by the Washington State Department of Ecology has revealed further widespread dioxin contamination throughout the surrounding bay (Budd Inlet), which has prompted a bay-wide RI/FS.
Crow Wing County Landfill, Minnesota — Managed the evaluation of treatment alternatives to remove trace metals (primarily arsenic) and ammonia from the landfill leachate. Assisted with geotechnical modeling and oversaw a laboratory treatability study to demonstrate treatment effectiveness and to quantify full-scale design parameters (e.g., chemical dosages, pH). Provided support for a pilot test conducted at the facility.
Former Smelter Site, Salida, Colorado — Managed a remedial design investigation effort for a Superfund site under the jurisdiction of both EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment. The project included the development of a design investigation report with the objective of delineating contaminated soil areas for excavation and consolidation underneath a soil cover. Site soils are contaminated with lead and arsenic.
Litigation Support
Coal Tar Site, Minneapolis, Minnesota — Assessed historical light and dense nonaqueous-phase coal tar and benzene transport in a fractured bedrock system as part of a former manufactured gas plant. Developed costs estimates for a range of remedial alternatives to address contamination. Results of the investigation were presented at a mediation that led to a favorable settlement recovering past and future costs.
Settlement Negotiation Support, Potable Water Treatment, United States — Consulting expert for the evaluation of claims. Provided settlement support regarding the occurrence and mitigation of PFAS in drinking water supplies across the United States. Settled.
Litigation Support, Potable Water Treatment Complaints, Multiple Sites in Alabama and Georgia — Consulting expert for the evaluation of claims regarding the occurrence and mitigation of PFAS in surface drinking water supply resulting from carpet manufacturing.
Litigation Support, Potable Water Treatment Complaint, Middlesex, New Jersey — Consulting expert for evaluation of claims associated with occurrence of PFAS in potable groundwater supply wells. Pending settlement.
Litigation Support, Potable Water Treatment Complaint, Decatur, Alabama — Consulting expert for evaluation of claims associated with occurrence of PFAS in surface water intake of a potable water drinking plant. Settled.
Litigation Support Potable Water Treatment, Multiple Sites, California — Consulting expert for resolution of claim associated with occurrence of 1,2,3-TCP in potable groundwater supply wells at multiple agricultural production facilities. Assisted in the development of designs and cost opinions.
Oil Processing Facility, Confidential Location — Instrumental in gathering and evaluating information for an insurance recovery effort due to a fire at an oil production and processing facility. Evaluated damages including frozen pipes at the facility after the fire and lost profits due to decreased production. Reviewed and analyzed documents and production records, inspected the site, and conducted multiple interviews to support the insurance claim.
Zinc Recovery Facility, Confidential Location — Provided technical support for the arbitration of claims associated with an engineer-procure-construct contract at a zinc recovery facility. Provided process analysis support to determine whether the technology was fully developed and implementable. Provided project management support to determine root cause for schedule delays and budgetary issues.
Fertilizer Manufacturing Facility, Confidential Location — Provided technical support for the arbitration of a claim associated with an engineer-procure-construct contract at a fertilizer manufacturing facility. Provided process analysis support to determine whether the technology was fully developed and implementable. Provided project management support to determine root cause of schedule delays and budgetary issues.
Expert Testimony
Litigation Support, Disclosure, and Expert Witness Testimony; Water Treatment Complaint, Westfield, Massachusetts — Retention as testifying expert for the evaluation of claims regarding the construction delays associated with construction and startup operation of a water treatment plant to mitigate PFAS in groundwater drinking water supplies (R.H. White Construction Company, Inc. v. City of Westfield, Superior Court Civil Action No. 2179CV00046, Hampden County Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts). Prepared disclosure and provided deposition testimony. Settled.
Water Management
Perfluoroalkyl Substance Water Treatment, Confidential Location — Served as the lead design engineer for the design and construction of an expansion of a 1.2 million gallons per day potable water treatment plant to add treatment for the removal of perfluoroalkyl substances. Completed a feasibility analysis that resulted in the selection of granular activated carbon (GAC) as the treatment technology and oversaw GAC bench scale treatability testing. Provided settlement support for client with municipal water provider for the installation of the system. Oversaw assembly of a hydraulic model of the treatment system and drafted/finalized bid documents for contractor selection.
Contaminated Public Water Supply, Confidential Location — Evaluated treatment systems for the removal of perchlorate from groundwater collected in drinking water supply wells. Technologies evaluated included biological fluidized-bed reactors, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and GAC to determine both the feasibility and the cost of installing the systems. Assisted in the evaluation of contractor bids to determine the most cost-effective system to install for the treatment of the groundwater. Also participated in the evaluation of different pipeline routes for both transporting the influent water and distributing the treated effluent.
Contaminated Public Water Supply, Salina, Kansas — Completed an engineering cost assessment and alternative evaluation for the treatment of groundwater contaminated with perchloroethylene and benzene. Completed a preliminary design for the addition of air stripping to the head of the city’s water treatment plant, rated at 15 million gallons per day, to address the contaminants and provide a safe drinking water supply for the community. Developed an approach to operate public water supply wells during the implementation of the remedial action, so that influent water would not be above maximum contaminant levels and spreading of the contaminant plume would be minimized.
Education & Credentials
M.S., Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 1995
B.S., Engineering (Civil Specialty), Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, 1992
Registered Professional Engineer, New Jersey (License No. 24GE05317700)
Continuing Education
OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER