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The evaluation of a contaminated site under both the state and federal regulatory frameworks involves sample collection, laboratory analysis, and comparison of results against relevant criteria. Remediation is required for areas of the site that exceed these criteria. This process is costly, often resulting in mediation over the allocation of remedial costs or litigation related to cost recovery. Strong liability arguments are needed to define and support your (or your client’s) share of costs. Environmental forensic methods are a powerful tool that can be used to support these arguments.

Environmental Forensic Methods

Environmental forensics is a blanket term used for a wide variety of statistical methods conducted with the intent of differentiating sources of environmental contamination. These methods can be used to help reveal the potential sources (and likely parties) responsible for contamination at your site. Examples of these forensic techniques include:

• Chromatogram Fingerprinting: The organic compounds present in petroleum products can be vaporized and separated using gas chromatography. The most volatile compounds are detected first, followed by the less volatile constituents. The pattern of compounds detected in a sample is a chromatogram, which serves as a fingerprint that can be used to differentiate various petroleum products, distillates including diesel and fuel oils, as well as the degree of weathering. These techniques are primarily qualitative in nature and can be used to distinguish hydrocarbons in co-mingled plumes and to determine the age of a hydrocarbon plume via weathering products. Figure 1 is an example of chromatograms associated with gasoline and diesel, highlighting the differing hydrocarbon constituents of these two fuels.
• Alkylated PAH Analysis: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination is a common element of upland and sediment sites. Regulatory agencies rely on the analysis of a narrow subset of PAH compounds for criteria comparisons. The analysis of additional alkylated PAH compounds can help to determine the source material as alkylated PAH are more common in petroleum (petrogenic) based sources and less prevalent in combustion (pyrogenic) based sources. In addition, ratios of PAH compound pairs can serve as diagnostic indicators to aid in differentiating common PAH containing materials like creosote, manufactured gas plant tars, and urban background-based contamination.
• Chemometric Methods:  Chemometric analysis is a statistical approach to the interpretation of patterns in complex data sets (pattern recognition). Chemometric methods include commonly referenced techniques like principal components analysis (PCA) but also more comprehensive unmixing models that can be used to qualitatively identify unique chemical signatures present in a data set and to quantify the amount these signatures contribute to each sample. Chemometric methods can be applied to any chemical data but are commonly used with polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) and dioxin/furan congeners.

SoundEarth Strategies and the Use of Forensic Methods

As noted, regulatory guidance is intended to define and delineate the extent of remediation. It is not intended to help determine liability. As a result, data collected under the remedial investigation process is often insufficient for analysis using the above techniques. Dr. Hafner and Mr. Cammarata have successfully used forensic methods at a variety of sites. In addition, they have experience preparing effective study designs that meet regulatory requirements while also achieving the data quality objectives required for forensic analysis. Planning ahead in this manner can avoid the significant expense of resampling.

Forensic methods are a powerful tool for getting more out of your chemical data. Findings from these methods should always be supplemented with thorough historical research of your site. Connecting a chemical source signature identified via forensics with historical records of product usage provides an additional line of evidence. Please contact Dr. Hafner or Mr. Cammarata to discuss how we can support a forensic and historical investigation of your contaminated site.

Figure 1. Chromatographic “fingerprint” for a) gasoline and b) diesel range hydrocarbons.

SoundEarth Completes Its Leadership Transition

SEATTLE, May 15, 2020 SoundEarth Strategies, Inc., an environmental consultancy and parent company of EHS-International (EHSI), headquartered in Seattle, WA, recently completed its senior leadership transition with the hiring of Nimish “Nim” Desai as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Desai joins Brian Hebert, Chief Financial Officer, and Sarah Bice, Human Resources Manager, who joined the firm’s management team following staff retirements in late 2019.

Mr. Desai has over 20 years of experience integrating business, engineering, technology and policy strategies to address environmental challenges nationwide. After leading environmental practices on both coasts, Nim spent 10 years in Seattle as Vice President of EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc., leading operations in Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. In 2016, following an ESOP exit, Mr. Desai extended his environmental policy efforts working in support of several political campaigns before founding Downticket Inc. to increase engagement in U.S. elections nationwide. In 2019, Nim merged Downticket with Politiscope Inc., further extending political engagement and empowerment nationally prior to his return to the consulting community as CEO of SoundEarth. 

“I’m thrilled about the opportunity to work with the professionals at SoundEarth and EHSI. I was fortunate to have been mentored and supported throughout my career by amazing leaders with a genuine professional interest and curiosity in finding smarter ways to manage and solve big problems,” said Desai. “I see that same talent and energy in the staff here, particularly as we navigate the evolving business requirements and issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. That presents unique challenges but also opportunities to integrate some of the agility and entrepreneurship of the tech world with the management rigor of the consulting community.”

As a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s dual-degree Management & Technology Program, Nim received a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and a BAS in Environmental Systems. His graduate work includes an MS in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from the University of Washington.

Nim joins Brian Hebert who accepted the position of Chief Financial Officer in November 2019. Mr. Hebert has over 12 years of experience in financial management, accounting, auditing, financial planning and analysis, system implementation, risk management, operations, and process improvement.  His career has been focused primarily on professional services industries at Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized privately held corporations, and the federal government. 

“I am excited to be a part of SoundEarth’s leadership team and leading its finance organization in contributing to SoundEarth’s future success as the firm progresses to the next phase of its strategy,” said Hebert. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University where he double majored in Accounting and Finance. 

Ms. Sarah Bice also joined SoundEarth in November 2019 as Human Resources Manager. Ms. Bice brings 7 years of HR experience to SoundEarth and is a trusted advisor, connecting with all levels of the organization. Sarah completed two Bachelor of Arts degrees at the University of California Santa Barbara in Film Studies and Environmental Studies. She also completed the Carsey-Wolf Center’s Blue Horizon’s program focused on environmental documentary filmmaking. Her first job after college was at the Environmental Film Festival in Washington, DC, an experience that fueled her passion for communicating science through new technologies and reminding visitors of our ability as humans to join forces across global and political lines to enact positive science-based change for the world we live in.

She recalls John Muir as a hero of hers, having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and frequently thinks his quote about the trees of Muir Woods exemplifies her calling to this industry, “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”. Thinking this way reminds her of the powerful benefits of spending time outdoors and makes her feel committed to our company knowing the work we do helps preserve the health of these outdoor spaces, and in turn, the health of the flora, fauna and humans that inhabit them.

For more information regarding SoundEarth and EHSI, please visit http://www.soundearthinc.com/ and https://www.ehsintl.com/.