Richard E. Woodward, M.A.



SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE

Mr. Woodward has a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary science education from Millersville State University in Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts degree in botany / plant physiology from the University of South Florida, and has conducted extensive graduate work towards the Ph.D in plant physiology at The Pennsylvania State University. He has over 29 years of experience in the biological fate of toxic and hazardous componds in the environment and as a consulting microbiologist and senior scientist managing microbial systems in soils, sludges and aquifers. His application of both traditional and innovative technology in oxidative and reductive microbial metabolism has led to the successful bioremediation of contaminated surface spills, lagoons, ground water and subsurface sediments at nine CERCLA sites, seven RCRA sites, and more than 46 other hazardous waste facilities in the U.S. and overseas.

Mr.Woodward has been involved over many years in the French Limited Superfund Site, near Crosby, Texas, and many other sites managing various aspects of the in situ bioremediation programs. His projects ranged from Superfund to RCRA projects for a variety of industrial plants. Mr. Woodward is also a Guest Lecturer for the Institute of Environmental Technology, and a Principal in Environmental Litigation Associates (ELA). He also manages Sierra Environmental Services, Inc., Houston, Texas.

Mr. Woodward also has evaluated new applications for monitoring bioremediation and has assisted in the development of techniques which are presently undergoing development and testing. He provides project management for such projects. Mr. Woodward developed new advances in applied microbiology to important industrial practices in handling "tramp oil".

1970s
During the early 1970s Mr. Woodward pursued an M.A. in Botany at the University of South Florida. Initially associated with the Phycology (algae) Group, his interests focused on plant physiology with projects in carrageenan production by red algal species in the Florida Keys and growth hormone (IAA, NAA) effects on siphonacious green algae (Caulerpa). Subsequently, he pursued solutions to the aquatic weed problems of South Florida; specifically water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) and was active in the Hyacinth Control Society where he presented several papers. He specialized in the effect of sublethal herbicide treatments on the concentration of preformed disease resistance compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins) in floating and submerged aquatic plants. The idea being to predispose these exotic species to attack by indigenous plant pathogens. He studies involved extensive aquaculture field plots in three South Florida ecosystems.

He continued to pursue the physiology of plant disease at The Pennsylvania State University where he specialized in the physiology of diseases cause by bacterial pathogens. He isolated bacteria phage effective against Erwinia species and demonstrated disease suppression in cucurbits. Interactions between soil microbiology and plant nutrition (agronomy) lead him to expand his interest in disease physiology to include nutritional interactions and factors predisposing plants to disease. He joined the product development staff of Stoller Chemical Company in 1979 and coordinated efficacy testing and FIFRA registration of pesticides and specialty fertilizers (chelated micronutrients) for agriculture.

1980s
At Stoller, he sharpened his skills in agronomy and developed four new commercial products for agriculture. Stoller frequently reformulated industrial wastes into specialty products for agricultural applications. Stoller reformulated the micronutrients in liquids wastes (from acid plating and pickling processes) and particulate wastes (from bag houses associated with smelting). The liquid wastes became chelated micronutrients for liquid fertilizers or direct foliar applications. The dusts were granulated for blending into dry, bulk fertilizer formulations. As director of Business Development, Mr. Woodward opened the Mid-south to micronutrient technology and base-loaded a production facility near Greenville MS. He moved to Houston in 1982 where, as Director of Research and Development, he was instrumental in the introduction of many new product formulations for agriculture. He pioneered the use of emulsifiable vegetable oil based carriers for herbicides, insecticides and other pesticides.

In 1985, Mr. Woodward redirected his career to focus on environmental remediation. He joined ENSR Consulting and Engineering (formerly ERT/REI) as a Senior Scientist where he developed, then directed the bioremediation program nationally. Using his experience in agronomy and soil microbiology, he directed the successful remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons and halogenated organic compounds in soils, sludges and water. Results of these projects were present to professional societies nationwide and are shown in the list of publication/presentations. His project resume provides a detail list of the industrial clients served by this technology.

1990s
With the diversification and specialization of the environmental industry, he saw the opportunity to form Sierra Environmental Services, Inc. to provide specialty services in biotechnology to clients directly and to major engineering firms. As principal and consulting microbiologist, Mr. Woodward continues to integrate his training in microbiology, agronomy, plant pathology and aquaculture to provide innovative solutions to challenges in bioremediation, industrial microbiology, waste water treatment, biosolids management and other diverse, environmental issues, the most recent being MTBE.

2000s
For the past two years, and in addition to his work on MTBE, Mr. Woodward has also been conducting indoor residential mold assessments for purposes of home repair and litigation support.

COMPANY PROFILE:

Presently, he is President of Sierra Environmental Services, Inc.(SESI), and manages the bioremediation consulting practice as Principal Microbiologist. SESI is a firm that specializes in biological destruction of organic wastes by stimulating, then managing, indigenous or introduced microorganism populations.

SESI employs innovative technology in nitrification/denitrification, oxidative and reductive metabolism and has adapted technology from other industries to quantify and optimize microbial activity during remedial action by real-time, on-site monitoring of enzyme activity. Regulatory experience ranges from federal (SARA/CERCLA, RCRA, CWA) to state (TNRCC, PADER, INDEC) agencies.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS of BIODEGRADATION AND BIOREMEDIATION:

Land treatment of hydrocarbon spills
Land treatment of reserve pits for oil based drilling fluids
Composting of hydrocarbons, PCBs and munitions wastes
Treatment of PAHs by modified land treatment methods
Resurrection of overloaded refinery hydrocarbon land treatment units
Phthalate ester degradation in-situ in a operating tank farm
Nitrification/denitrification of ammonia waste streams by passive cascades
Substituted pyridine degradation by aerobic/ anoxic biological fence processes
Cyanide degradation by application of carbon and phosphorus
Wastewater pretreatment and polishing with Fenton's reagent
Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treatment of agricultural wastes
Biotransformation enhanced vapor extraction of TCE/DCE
Denitrification mediated in-situ bioremediation of EDC in subsurface soils
Use of cryogenic oxygen as oxygen source for in situ bioremediation
Biological transformation of inorganics (As, Hg)
Treatment of non-CCA, creosote based wood preservatives
Non-invasive measurement of subsurface biological activity during in-situ remediation
Verification of microbial activity and population density of introduced organisms
Bio-deterioration control in stored fuels Real-time microbial activity and population assessments
MTBE spills and leaks.

MAJOR CLIENTS:

American Cyanamid
Ameron Southgate
Arco Chemical Company
Ashland Chemical
AT & T
Atochem North America
Basf BioTech international
Boeing
Brown and Caldwell
Brown and Root
Carlew Chemical
Century Forest Industries
Chevron
Crown Central Petroleum
CSX Diamond Shamrock (Maxus Energy)
Dupont Eco Environmental
Enron Gas Pipeline Services
Espey-Huston
Exxon
Foster Wheeler
GATX
Georgia Pacific
Goodyear
Huntsman Chemical
Hudson Oil
International Maytex Tank Terminals

Mr. Woodward's Curriculum Vitae

Mr. Woodward's Litigation Summary

Last Update: May 10, 2000