- David is a hydrogeologist with over 25-years’ experience conducting and managing environmental assessment, remediation, and redevelopment at Brownfields sites. He is a Certified Professional Geologist and Licensed Site Professional. Prior to joining MassDEP in October 2022, David was an environmental consultant, who worked with a broad range of public and private stakeholders. He worked for more than 40 Massachusetts municipalities including as the principal Brownfields consultant for three Gateway Cities. David is an expert in Brownfield incentive programs, funding, and policy. In addition to working directly for municipalities, he has collaborated with regional planning commissions, the US EPA, and MassDevelopment to promote redevelopment with a focus on areas with Environmental Justice concerns. On behalf of MassDEP, David is a member of the Regulatory Committee of BCONE (the Brownfields Coalition of the Northeast) and is the New England (EPA Region 1) representative of the ASTSWMO Brownfields Focus Group. Outside of work, you can find David running and hiking the roads and trails of New England.
- Frank has worked in the environmental and geological sciences fields for over 30 years in the public, private, and academic sectors. Frank started at NJDEP in 1988 as a Hydrogeologist and later in the Office of Brownfield Reuse managing brownfield development area (BDA) projects in Camden, Pennsauken, and Palmyra. Frank has overseen the successful reclamation of numerous brownfields and landfills in Camden to create new economic, community and environmental assets including the Salvation Army Camden’s Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center and Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, both winners of the EPA Phoenix Awards in 2015 and 2022, respectfully.
- Erin Brittain is the Brownfields Program Manager in the Office of Environmental Remediation at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Erin has worked in the environmental remediation field in both state government and private industry for over 15 years. She has a BS in Environmental Science from West Virginia Wesleyan College and an MS in Environmental Science/Applied Ecology from Indiana University. Erin lives in Bridgeport, WV, with her husband and two children.
- Paula Middlebrooks has worked for the State of Tennessee for 16 years. Paula serves as the Brownfields Community Engagement Manager in the Department of Environment and Conservation and currently resides in Nashville. A native of South Dakota, Paula earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Dakota Wesleyan and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Health from the University Of Minnesota School Of Public Health.
- Carrie Geyer has been a member of Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Brownfield Redevelopment team for 18 years, first as a brownfield coordinator and now as the Program Manager. She has worked with consultants, developers, and local units of government throughout the state to support local projects with brownfield incentives. Carrie is also active in the national brownfield arena, where she serves as chair of the ASTSWMO Brownfield Focus Group. Carrie has experience in both the public and private sectors, having worked in local government and consulting prior to joining EGLE. She is a licensed professional engineer and obtained a B.S. in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Michigan Technological University.
- Rebecca is passionate about restoring vacant, abandoned properties and revitalizing communities. After completing her degree in Civil Engineering at Valparaiso University and spending two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa, Rebecca returned to California to start her career in Environmental Engineering at Miller Brooks Environmental in Huntington Beach, conducting environmental assessments and cleanups under rigorous California regulatory scrutiny. In 2003, Rebecca moved to New Orleans to pursue her passion for historic preservation and urban planning at the University of New Orleans. While at UNO, Rebecca started as a graduate assistant at the Regional Planning Commission for southeast Louisiana, coming on fulltime after 17 months and eventually moving her way up to Environmental Programs Director. Rebecca took on the RPC’s fledgling Brownfield Program and over the next 15 years grew it into a dynamic resource for the 8-parish New Orleans metropolitan area, securing and managing $2.5 million in grant and program income resources and completing assessments and/or cleanups at over 25 sites. Her efforts resulted in over $100 million in leveraged resources, more than 200 acres addressed, and over 300 jobs created. In 2018, Rebecca was tapped to take over the statewide Brownfield Program at the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, assisting local Brownfield coordinators, administering the state’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment Program and Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund, and organizing workshops and events to promote the use of Brownfield resources throughout the State.
- Jason Seyler’s position as Brownfields Coordinator for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality has allowed him to champion Brownfields redevelopment in Montana since 2009. Jason enjoys finding creative solutions for non-profits, local communities, businesses, and developers to assess and cleanup underutilized properties throughout Montana. For over 15 years, Jason has successfully facilitated the cleanup and redevelopment of properties that typically would be considered too challenging for redevelopment such as former smelters, wood treaters, dry cleaners, rail yards, refineries, landfills, gas stations, meth-houses, and asbestos-filled historic structures. Jason Seyler is currently serving as vice-chairperson for the ASTSWMO Brownfields focus group and has been working collaboratively with other state Brownfields programs as a focus group member since 2018. Jason has a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and Master of Science degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from Colorado School of Mines in Boulder, CO. In his previous life he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa and worked in chemical manufacturing throughout the Americas.
- Ruben Ramos-Avina works in the Bureau of Corrective Actions housed within the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. Ruben’s career in brownfields began in 2017, when he started developing the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s 128(a) Tribal Response Program. In 2021, Ruben got hired on to work for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection as the Nevada Brownfields Program Coordinator. Ruben joined the ASTSWMO Brownfields Focus Group in October 2021. He is excited to continue working with the focus group and representing the EPA Region 9 states and territories. In his free time, Ruben enjoys road-tripping, cooking, watching tons of horror movies, and spending time with family.
- Marc Thomas joined the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) in 2019 and is the manager of the ADEC Brownfields Program. Marc, along with the ADEC Brownfields Team, manages site-specific brownfields assessment and cleanup projects, provides technical support to the Alaskan brownfields community, and develops an array of outreach and technical training for brownfields stakeholders. Prior to moving to Alaska, Marc worked in US EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management for 14 years in a variety of positions, including as team lead for the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative. In his free time, Marc loves spending time hiking and exploring around Juneau with his wife and two girls.
- Rachel Simpson works in the Site Remediation Program of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. She also manages their Targeted Brownfield Assessment Program. She has been a project manager in Rhode Island since 2017. Rachel has been involved with the ASTSWMO Focus Groups since 2018, starting in the Brownfields Focus Group and now the CERCLA Post Construction Focus Group. She enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling.
- Elyse DuBois works for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Remediation. She is a project manager that oversees State Superfund sites in various stages of remediation, with a focus on construction. Elyse is currently on the CERCLA Post Construction focus group and is excited to assist on upcoming projects with the group. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors.
- Amy Bryson is an Environmental Program Manager with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Remediation Section (DNREC-RS). Her team manages state hazardous substance cleanup act, CERCLA, and federal facility sites. In her previous position with DNREC, Amy spent 10 years managing the investigation and remediation of leaking underground and aboveground storage tank sites and was the driving force behind the creation of DNREC’s Heating Fuel UST Closure Assistance Program. Prior to joining DNREC in 2010, she worked for 13 years as an environmental consultant performing a broad spectrum of environmental investigation and remediation projects. Currently, she is serving as the Vice-Chair of ASTSWMO’s Post Construction Focus Group and is excited to continue her work with the team. Amy enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors hiking and exploring.
- Jennifer Farrell is the Program Administrator for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Waste Cleanup Program. She has been with DEP for 26 years and became the Program Administrator in 2019. In her role, she directs management of the Site Investigation Section, Waste Site Cleanup Section, Federal Programs Section, and the Brownfields and CERCLA Site Screening Section. Currently, she is the chair for the ASTSWMO CERCLA Post Construction Focus Group and is excited to continue working on the challenging issues that face CERCLA post construction sites. Jennifer is a Professional Geologist with the State of Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors with her dogs.
- Mike Sullivan is the Supervisor for the Solid Waste and Contaminated Sites Section in the Land Quality Bureau at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He has over 15 years of experience in solid waste, hazardous waste, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and air pollution in state government, local government, research, and environmental consulting. Mike lives in Ames with his wife and four children and enjoys hiking, volunteering, and attending his kids' sporting events.
- Mahbub Alam is a senior Environmental Engineer with the Toxics Cleanup Program at WA State Department of Ecology. He has more than 20 years of experience in Environmental Field including contaminated site cleanup and water quality. He joined ASTSWMO CERCLA Post Construction Focus Group in March 2022. Mahbub Alam holds a PhD degree from Washington State University in Civil Engineering and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Washington.
- Mark Domaracki is a Geologist in the Division of Environmental Remediation (DER) in New York State. He is project manager for NYS Superfund Program (SSF) and Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) sites. He specializes in remedial investigation techniques and remedial systems optimization projects that require geophysical investigation. He is a Licensed Professional Geologist in the State of New York. Mark received his M.S in Applied Geology from the University of Pennsylvania and B.S from Boston College.
- I grew up in PA and graduated from the University of Delaware. I have been an engineer with the DNREC-Remediation Section since 2018.
- Dianna Kilburn is the Assessment and Remediation Operations Manager in the Office of Land Resources of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ). She directs groundwater, risk and technical staff managing the Arkansas Brownfield, Site Assessment, Superfund, State Priority List, and Regulated Storage Tank remedial programs plus remediation at permitted facilities, sites under an enforcement order, and other voluntary clean-up projects. First as a geologist and then as a supervisor and manager, Dianna has over 30 years with the DEQ. She holds a B.S. in Geology from Arkansas Tech University and a M.S. in Geology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Dianna Kilburn has been an active member of ASTSWMO since 2019. She currently serves as the Chair of the Investigation and Remedy Selection Focus Group in the CERCLA and Brownfields Subcommittee (CaBS). She is enthusiastic about working on new projects with her talented focus group members. Dianna lives in Benton, Arkansas with her spouse of almost 35 years and their sassy cat Marne. Time away from work is spent with their daughter Stephanie, a student at the U of A.
- I work in the Superfund/VCP Section of the Monitoring and Remediation Division of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. I have been with the program since 2020. I have been with ASTSWMO since January of 2022 and am currently serving as a member of the Investigation and Remedy Selection Focus group. I am excited to help work on issues encountered during the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study stages of Superfund cleanups. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my daughters and writing.
- Chris Howell is a Project Manager in the CERCLA Branch- VCP and Brownfields Section at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. In this capacity, he is responsible for managing Voluntary Cleanup Projects as well as reviewing applications for Enforceable Written Assurances. He also provides technical assistance on EPA Brownfields Grants. He has worked at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality for the past 5 years and spent 12 years in environment consulting prior to his current role. Chris received his B.S. in Geology from Weber State University and holds a Professional Geologist License in Utah and Wyoming. Outside of work he enjoys rockhounding, lapidary, and traveling time with his family.
- Maryam Tasnif-Abbasi is the Brownfield Development Manager for the Department of Toxic Substances (DTSC) Control in Southern California and has been with DTSC since 2005. During that time, she has had the extraordinary opportunity to facilitate community revitalization by providing regulatory support for the redevelopment of underutilized brownfield properties. She manages DTSC’s State Response Program Grant from USEPA, which provides funding for Brownfields assessment and planning. She manages DTSC’s Office of Brownfields and has expanding DTSC’s brownfield practice to include the new $270M Equitable Community Revitalization Grant. Prior to DTSC, she was a Senior Project Manager at the Bechtel Corporation for twelve years, working with both military and private sector clients.
- Christa Colouzis works for Washington State’s Department of Ecology as their corrective action unit supervisor. She works with her staff to review and approve plans for investigative and remedial actions associated with TSD cleanups. Prior to taking on this position in 2019, she served as the EHS manager for Seattle Colleges for 13 years. This is her first year on ASTSWMO’s Investigation and Remedy Selection Focus Group. She is excited to find ways to contribute and looks forward to hearing new ideas and making connections with representatives from other states. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and working on her house and yard.
- Ashley is an Environmental Engineer with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and has been in the State Site Remediation & Brownfields Program since 2009. Ashley earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from WPI and is currently working on a Master of Public Administration at URI. She currently serves as vice-chair of the Remedial Action Focus Group.
- I am currently a Professional Engineer 2, Section Chief, in the NYSDEC Division of the Environmental Remediation. I manage a group of project managers who implement remedial programs in New York City under NYSDEC's Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) and Superfund Program. Prior to this position, I was a project manager for BCP and Superfund sites for 15 years. My focus as a project manager was implementing remedial programs at large industrial sites throughout upstate New York including active metal processors and manufactured gas plants (MGPs). I was previously a member of the ASTSWMO, CERCLA & Brownfields, Site Assessment Focus Group. During this time, I presented at the 2016 National Site Assessment Symposium in Philadelphia, PA and the 2018 National Site Assessment Symposium in Denver, Colorado. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, a master’s degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and have been a licensed Professional Engineer in New York State since 2010.
- Alan McCreary is a Project Manager in the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, focusing on both Superfund and Pre-Remedial sites, and has been with the WVDEP since September 2020. Alan earned his B.S. in Environmental Geoscience from Concord University and an M.S. in Earth Sciences from UNC Charlotte. Prior to getting married and moving to West Virginia, Alan worked as a geologist with an environmental consulting firm in Charlotte, NC, where he earned his Professional Geologist licensure through the North Carolina Board of Licensing Geologists. In his spare time, Alan enjoys living life with his wife, serving as a firefighter/chaplain on the local volunteer fire department, and pursuing a Master in Divinity in Pastoral Counseling.
- Brian Stanila is the Site Cleanup Assistance Program Manager in the Restoration and Revitalization Section of the Land Protection Division at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). In this position, Brian manages multiple cleanup programs aimed at assisting local governments and public schools and he oversees investigation and remedial activities at orphaned hazardous waste sites across Oklahoma. In addition, he also manages and oversees all State-lead remedial activities at the Tar Creek Superfund Site in northeast Oklahoma. Over his 12 years at DEQ, he has gained experience in risk assessment, “dig & haul” removals, groundwater passive treatment, consolidation & containment remedies, and lead-based paint, lead dust, and asbestos abatement. Brian is currently a member of the Association of State and Territorial Management Officials (ASTSWMO) Remedial Action Focus Group. In his free time, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and two rascally pups.
- Joe Dom is a licensed Professional Geologist and the Chief of the Assessment & Restoration Section in the Bureau of Environmental Remediation at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. As Chief, Joe oversees the Superfund Program, Site Assessment Program, Spill Response Program, Orphan Sites Program, and Drycleaner Remediation Program. Joe began work with Superfund sites in 2012 and has overseen the Superfund Program since 2013. Prior to joining the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in 2004, Joe spent two years working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Water Pollution Control Program. Joe serves as the Kansas representative to the Region 7 Regional Response Team for the regional planning and preparedness for response to oil and hazardous substance pollution incidents. Joe also serves as the Emergency Support Function #10 designee to the State Emergency Operations Center for Oil & Hazardous Materials events. Joe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Akron and a Master of Science degree in Geological Sciences from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
- Hans Millican is the Manager for the CERCLA Branch in the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. In this capacity, he is responsible for oversight of Utah’s Superfund, Federal Facilities, Brownfields, and Voluntary Cleanup Programs. He has worked in the Utah Superfund program for the past 15 years. Hans received his Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Montana and Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering from Utah State University. Outside of work he enjoys mountain biking, skiing, traveling, and adventuring with his family.
- Bryn Thoms is a hydrogeologist and project manager in Oregon DEQ’s Cleanup Program. Bryn oversees projects in DEQ’s Orphan, Spills, Voluntary Cleanup, LUST, Superfund, Site Assessment, and Brownfields programs. Bryn also provides hydrogeologic support to other PMs in the cleanup program and solid waste programs. He has worked almost exclusively in the Cleanup Program for 24 yrs with occasional technical support to other DEQ programs. Prior to DEQ, Bryn was in environmental consulting for several years after receiving a BS in geology at Oregon State University in 1992. He anticipates that his experience working closely with Region 10 EPA on PASIs, NPL and Removal projects will provide value to the Remedial Action Focus Group and ASTSWMO as a whole. Outside of DEQ, Bryn assists various NGOs with assessment and cleanup of mining impacts (both legacy and active artisanal and small scale mining) in developing countries. Bryn also enjoys spending time working on wooden boats and cooking, among many other interests.
- Cathy Kiley has been with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for over 25 years, predominantly with the Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup. Currently, she is the Emergency Planning and Response Coordinator supporting emergency response readiness for the Emergency Response Program and the Marine Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program, coordinating with other state and federal agencies. In addition to experience as a responder, Cathy has been involved with numerous site assessment and remediation projects, as well as RI/FS, remediation and removal actions associated with a military base superfund site. Cathy also provides support to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency on the Emergency Support Function (ESF) Team ESF10 (Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection). Cathy joined the ASTSWMO Removals and Emergency Response Focus Group in early 2022 and is excited by the opportunities to continue working with the group on upcoming projects. In her free time, Cathy enjoys spending time outdoors with the dogs, traveling, reading and spending time with family and friends.
- Samantha Salotto works in the Remedial Construction Section of the Division of Environmental Remediation of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. She has been with the Department since 2015, where she started out as a Spill Responder, but as of the last 3 years she has been working on State-funded Superfund sites at all stages: Characterization, Investigation, Design, Remedial Action. This is Samantha’s first year with ASTWSMO (2022) and she is currently serving as a member of ASTSWMO’s Removals and Emergency Response Task Force. She is excited to work with the team on emerging issues when it comes to emergency response and removals. In her free time, Samantha enjoys spending time outdoors and being with her friends.
- Barb Krupiarz is the Program Administrator of Maryland Department of the Environment's Land Restoration Program, which includes the State and Federal Assessment and Remediation divisions. Previously, she was the manager of the Environmental Compliance and Fire Protection Division of the National Security Agency, Environmental Compliance Officer with the Maryland Department of Transportation, and a Deputy Director in the Maryland Governor's Coordinating Offices.
- Sheri is a Registered Professional Geologist with over 24 years of experience in the environmental field, specifically in contaminated site characterization & remediation, regulation development, and beneficial reuse. After a brief stint performing geotechnical work in private consulting Sheri started with KDEP in 2000 as a Geologist with the tanks program, becoming a supervisor in the Superfund Branch in 2007. Between 2007 and 2012, Sheri supervised the State Superfund Section, then the Federal Superfund Section before accepting the branch Environmental Scientist Consultant position. As the E.S. consultant, she focuses on scientific research, and regulation & policy development for Kentucky’s Superfund, Brownfields, and other programs. In addition, Sheri serves as the technical lead for Kentucky's high priority clean-up sites. Outside of her career with the commonwealth of Kentucky, Sheri is on the Board of Advisors to the Kentucky Geological Survey. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, cycling, reading, crocheting, quilting, and making stained glass.
- Maizie Reif is the Spills and Site Assessment Team Leader in the Remediation and Redevelopment Program at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. She has been with the Remediation and Redevelopment Program since 2018 and began her current role in late 2021. She oversees and facilitates two statewide teams. These teams manage emergency response to hazardous substance discharges and conduct Site Assessment work under CERCLA.
- Jon Reid is the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) and Chemical Reporting manager for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). He was a project manager in the VCP for 15 years and became manager of the VCP and Chemical Reporting in 2021. He manages sites through the site characterization and remediation process until they are suitable for reuse. He is the point of contact for spills and releases along with any associated emergency response. This is Jon’s first year with ASTWSMO (2023) and currently serving as a member of ASTSWMO’s Removals/Emergency Response Focus Group. He is excited to work with the team on upcoming projects. Outside of work, Jon enjoys playing guitar, hiking, and visiting the national parks.
- As Sr. Emergency Response Coordinator, Kimberlee Van Patten is the statewide technical expert on emergency response activities and coordinator of Oregon DEQ’s Emergency Response Program. She is also responsible for interpreting, evaluating, and making recommendations on laws and policies related to emergency response and marine transportation conventions. Kimberlee joined DEQ in 1988 and has been a member of the ASTSWMO Removals and Emergency Response Sub-Committee since May 2022.
- Patricia Coppolino is the Senior Program Manager for the Sites Management Section. Patricia is responsible for managing the Superfund, PreRemedial, DOD and PCBs in Schools. The Brownfields, Petroleum Cleanup and the Voluntary Cleanup Program are also within the SMS. Patricia has over 25 years of professional experience in the private and public sectors in the development and oversight of environmental remediation and brownfield redevelopment projects. Patricia holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Chemistry from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. She is also an avid mountain biker, soccer coach and mother to two amazing daughters.
- Ryan Kostival currently manages the Division of Site Remediation within the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PA DEP) Bureau of Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields. His work unit administers PA DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program, leaking underground storage tank corrective actions, coordination with U.S. EPA on federal Superfund actions, multi-site environmental remediation agreements (e.g. DSMOA), remediation service contracting, and natural resource damage assessments. Ryan has a B.S. in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State and is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. He has worked in various positions at PA DEP since 1998 including UST/AST inspector, emergency response team member, remedial project officer, contracting manager, and supervisory roles.
- Christoph Uhlenbruch has over 28 years of experience in the environmental field as a regulator, environmental consultant, and in industry. He received his M.S. in geology from Eastern Kentucky University in 1993, and his undergraduate degree in geology from the University of Heidelberg in Germany in 1990. Christoph is a Registered Professional Geologist in Kentucky. He is currently the Federal Section Supervisor of the Kentucky Division of Waste Management’s Superfund Branch, where he manages Kentucky’s Pre-Remedial Program, NPL sites and technical aspects of the Brownfields Program. He is responsible for Kentucky’s U.S. EPA Region 4 Pre-Remedial, FYR, SACA and CORE grants. From 2014 to 2017, Christoph served on ASTSWMO’s Solid Waste Disposal and Conversion Task Force. He is currently the Vice Chair for ASTSWMO’s Site Assessment Focus Group that he joined in 2020. In his spare time, Christoph enjoys travelling with his wife, cycling, hiking, reading and photography.
- Michele is the Site Assessment Supervisor within the Superfund Section of the Remediation Division at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from the University of North Carolina (Charlotte and Wilmington campuses, respectively). Michele has over 22 years of combined environmental experience in the private sector and state government, with eight (8) years at the State of Minnesota [five (5) years at the MPCA; three (3) years at Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)]. Her service at the State of Minnesota includes the oversight and management of the investigation and mitigation/remediation at various sites across the state. Releases investigated include: agricultural chemicals, military munitions, petroleum and non-petroleum compounds, as well as Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC). Prior to her service with the State of Minnesota, Michele was a project manager and/or field geologist at a handful of environmental consulting firms in Minnesota, North Carolina and South Carolina. In her spare time, Michele enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, photography, hiking, and watching college football and basketball.
- Leslie Bruce-Etzel is the Voluntary Cleanup and Brownfields Program Coordinator at the Railroad Commission of Texas. The Railroad Commission of Texas has jurisdiction over oil and gas exploration and production activities in Texas. Leslie oversees the assessment and remediation of properties with historical and/or abandoned oil and gas activities. Leslie has a B.S. in Geology from the University of South Carolina and an M.S. in Geology from University of Texas at Austin.
- Darryl Morgan, P.G. has been the Kansas Department of Health Environment (KDHE), Bureau of Remediation, Site Response Unit Chief since 2016 The Site Response Unit includes the Site Assessment and Spills Programs. As Unit Chief, he supervises 7 staff including 5 staff members in Site Assessment Program and 2 staff members in the Spills Program. The Site Assessment Program conducts assessments at sites with actual or potential releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants which may impact human health and environment from an unknown source. The Spills Program maintains a 24/7 KDHE spills reporting hotline and oversees emergency responses conducted within the state. He has a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science from Emporia State University and has been a licensed Professional Geologist in the State of Kansas since 1999. He has 27 years of experience in the private and public environmental sector and has been with KDHE for the past 13 years. Currently, he is the chair for ASTSWMO’s Site Assessment Focus Group. He enjoys working with the Site Assessment Focus Group members in brainstorming/creating the yearly Site Assessment Focus Group projects and providing national guidance on effective Site Assessment assessments. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, attending KU Jayhawk sporting events and concerts.
- Mr. McDaniel is a current member of the ASTSWMO CERCLA site assessment focus group and previously served on the CERCLA post construction focus group. He has over 20 years of experience as an environmental consultant and as a regulator at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Most of his experience has been focused on groundwater assessment and remediation. During the last four years, Mr. McDaniel has been managing the Motorola 52nd Street Superfund site, a large trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater contaminant plume that stretches across 7 miles of central-Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. McDaniel is a registered geologist in Arizona, California and Washington who recently obtained a Master’s Degree in hydrology from Arizona State University to complement his Bachelor’s Degree in geosciences from the University of Arizona. Mr. McDaniel has interests in groundwater remediation and water resources, two important topics in Arizona and the southwestern U.S.
- Franziska Landes is a Project Manager and Data Analyst in the Cleanup Program at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. At DEQ, Franziska manages cleanup projects from site assessment to operations and maintenance, and works to advance environmental data handling and analysis as well as environmental justice. Franziska completed her PhD in Earth and Environmental Science at Columbia University in 2019, with a focus on Geochemistry, Environmental Health and Hydrology. Prior to that, Franziska worked in the Oklahoma DEQ Brownfields program. Franziska also has a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Science from Jacobs University in Germany and was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Argentina. Franziska is on the Site Assessment Focus Group (2020-2023) and is excited to contribute to the SAFG projects on GIS and Contaminants of Emerging Concern, such as PFAS.
Mission
The ASTSWMO CERCLA and Brownfields Research Center’s mission is to enhance and promote the development of flexible and effective State-run cleanup programs addressing releases of hazardous substances into the environment, including State-run Superfund programs under CERCLA, and State Response programs in their implementation of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. This includes research of specific program elements; the development of State position papers; commenting on federal regulation and policy development; and the development and dissemination of resource documents and tools to assist States in developing and enhancing their State Superfund and State Response/Brownfields programs. Research is overseen by the CERCLA and Brownfields Research Center Subcommittee and its programmatic Focus Groups, covering State Superfund programs, removal actions, long-term stewardship, State Response and Brownfields programs, site evaluation, and sediments.
Recent Publications
Focus Groups
Brownfields
CERCLA Post
Construction
Investigation and
Remedy Selection
Remedial
Action
Removals and
Emergency Response
Site
Assessment
Mission
The mission of the Brownfields FG is to promote the use and effectiveness, and recognize the diversity of, State Response and Brownfields programs, while providing research tools and training for State program development and enhancement.
Focus Group Members
Mission
The mission of the CERCLA Post Construction FG is to promote facilitation and maintenance of reliable, effective, and protective remedies constructed at contaminated sites, to include identification of the resources necessary following remedy construction, and to communicate State program strategies effectively among interested parties.
Focus Group Members
Mission
The mission for the Investigation and Remedy Selection Focus Group is to research issues associated with the investigation of hazardous substances and the remedy selection process at Superfund sites. The Investigation and Remedy Selection Focus Group will work on issues encountered during the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study stages of Superfund cleanups.
Focus Group Members
Mission
The mission of the Remedial Action FG is to research issues associated with the remediation of hazardous substances at State and federal Superfund sites and the infrastructure development needs of these State programs. This mission includes providing States with the research tools, studies and training necessary to develop and enhance their programs, and to carry out their responsibilities in the federal Superfund program. The Focus Group actively evaluates the potential impacts and relevance to the States of Superfund program issues. The Focus Group works closely with EPA staff to identify priority issues and approaches to resolving those issues.
Focus Group Members
Mission
The mission of the Removals and Emergency Response Focus Group is to advocate for and support State removal action and hazardous substance emergency response programs. Their goal is to assist States as they conduct and coordinate emergency response activities and time critical and non-time critical removal actions so that they are performed with greater protectiveness of human health and the environment, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
Focus Group Members
Mission
The mission of the Site Assessment Focus Group is to research, evaluate, and provide guidance for States’ federal Site Assessment Programs to facilitate effective assessment, prioritization, and risk communication at sites with actual or potential releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants.