| water environment international |
GREGORY P. MILLER, Ph.D.
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Contact information
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Last updated 02 Jan 2006
QUALIFICATIONS
- Professional Hydrogeologist with 17 years experience in geochemistry, surface water and groundwater hydrology, geostatistics, geophysics, contaminant hydrology, quality assurance, and numerical modeling.
- Published Researcher in arsenic geochemistry and geochemical modeling at the field scale.
- Experienced Field Investigator of geology and large and small-scale surface water and groundwater systems.
- Project Management Experience with staff of up to 15 full-time employees and budget to US$750,000.
- Expert Witness and litigation support experience.
- Experienced in the application of flow, solute transport, and aqueous geochemistry models in remedial design and site investigations.
- Expert in the collection of representative groundwater samples using state of the art techniques. Have specified and installed hundreds of monitoring wells and piezometers and managed large drilling contracts.
- Experienced in the application of statistical techniques to hydrogeology and regulatory compliance issues.
- Trained in analytical chemistry techniques, geological and hydrological laboratory procedures, and their applicability to water resources and waste management.
- Broad experience in a wide array of geoscience and hydrology field methods, including innovative technologies. Competent, self-supporting, field worker with a strong safety background.
- Skilled in use and specification of automated sampling and data acquisition equipment for hydrogeology.
- Highly skilled in the use and maintenance of personal computers and small networks (IBM and Microsoft). Competent in use of most common office software. Rapid mastery of new programs.
- Mechanically adept. Able to field service equipment, vehicles, and simple electronics.
SPECIALIZATION / KEYWORDS
Hydrogeochemist, hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geochemist, geologist, arsenic geochemist, reactive transport modeling of groundwater and surface water, remedial investigations, regulatory analysis and compliance, engineered geochemical barriers, surface water hydrology, geostatistics, representative sampling techniques for water and geomedia, expert witness.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Geochemistry, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 2001. Dissertation Topic: Surface Complexation Modeling of Arsenic in Natural Water and Sediment Systems.
MS Geology, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 1988
BS Geology, Honors, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 1986
OTHER TRAINING
- SARA/OSHA Remedial Action Worker, 40 hour, Supervisor, and 8-hour Refresher
- US Department of Energy Health and Safety Officer Certification
- US Department of Energy Radiation Worker Training
- Structural Firefighter ~ Journeyman
- State Certified Firefighting Instructor ~ Tennessee
- Hazardous Material First Responder Training
- "Geochemical Modeling of Groundwater," 1992 Seminar, NGWA
- "Groundwater Pollution Litigation," 1993 Seminar, University of Wisconsin
- "Environmental Assessments in Conjunction with Real Estate Transactions," 1994 Seminar, NGWA
- "Remediation of Sites Contaminated with Explosives and Radioactive Material", 1995 Seminar, EPA
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION
- Registered Professional Geologist No. 254, Tennessee
- Registered Professional Geologist No. 635, Kentucky
- Registered Professional Geologist No. 1671, Florida
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Chemical Society
- International Association of Geochemistry and Cosmochemisry
- Mineralogical Society of America
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2003-Present Senior Researcher, Subsurface Technologies, Inc., Socorro, NM and Rock Tavern, NY
2001-2003 Senior Geochemist, Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Albuquerque, NM
1996-2001 Geochemical and Hydrogeologic Consultant, Knoxville, TN and Socorro, NM
1997-2001 Research Assistant, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM
1995-1996 Quality Assurance Manager, P2 Technologies, Inc., Knoxville, TN
1988-1995 Hydrogeochemist, Environmental Consulting Engineers, Inc., Knoxville, TN
1987 Hydrogeologist, Martin Marietta Energy Systems - Oak Ridge, TN
1985-1988 Student, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM
1978-1985 Professional Cook, Chef, Sous Chef, San Francisco Bay Area, CA
SELECTED PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Subsurface Treatment for Arsenic Removal (STAR), San Antonio, New Mexico, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Lead scientist for research and development on in situ treatment of arsenic in groundwater. Technology can result in large cost savings when compared with conventional above-ground treatment methods. Received $100,000.00 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to continue project development and testing.
Understanding the Mobility of Arsenic in Natural Systems, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Palo Alto, California: Providing support to EPRI in an effort to better understand arsenic mobility in the environment Ongoing efforts currently being put to use in development of arsenic mitigation programs, and pathways for site assessment and arsenic fate and transport modeling.
Mobilization of Arsenic in Biodegrading Aquifers, Enviro-Sciences, Inc.: Extensive remedial investigation/feasibility study of crude oil and refined products terminal revealed certain areas of aquifer had developed elevated levels of arsenic and iron. Suspecting biodegradation as cause, reviewed site data, created conceptual geochemical model of arsenic-iron biologically mediated dissolution process, and conducted geochemical modeling to test conceptual model. Determined arsenic was being mobilized by biodegradation and being adsorbed before reaching site boundary. Provided information to regulators who subsequently allowed greater freedom in site assessment techniques.
Jemez y Sangre Regional Water Plan, City of Santa Fe, New Mexico: DBS&A prepared regional water plan incorporating information on water supply of region, projected future water demands, facilitated public participation process, and analyzed alternatives. One issue considered was arsenic treatment for drinking water supplies because of high naturally-occurring levels. As part of the planning process for preparing regional water plan, evaluated and presented arsenic treatment alternatives to meet multiple and often competing needs of a regional plan. Results of evaluation presented to planning committee and stakeholders, integrating expert commentary into presentation. Evaluation results also presented to public to inform and to receive feedback on path that may best meet arsenic treatment needs of planning region.
Litigation Support, Confidential Clients, USA: Provided consulting expert support on litigation involving the primary contaminants perchroloethylene, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA or C8), nitrate, MTBE, selenium, and gasoline. Each individual contaminant represents a separate litigation task, for different clients.
Performance Assessment of a Large Surface Water Monitoring Network, Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Oak Ridge National Laboratory has an extensive watershed-monitoring network that is used for environmental compliance and basic research. Monitoring points, consisting of over 100 weirs, flumes, and precipitation and meteorologic measurement stations, were installed by numerous and often unrelated programs. Much of the data being collected was of unknown quality. Recommendations were made for short and long-term strategies to improve data quality and utility, while minimizing costs.
Evaluation of Arsenic Mobility in the Environment, EPRI, Palo Alto, California: Principal investigator for multi-year assessment of processes controlling arsenic mobility on electric utility properties. Novel sampling and preservation methods developed and employed in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Watershed-scale sediment and aqueous geochemical data collected for reactive transport simulation of arsenic mobility. Reactive transport scheme utilizing PHREEQC and a component additivity surface complexation method successfully predicted arsenic sediment-water partitioning.
62-Acre Cap Design and Performance Assessment, Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Conducted groundwater and surface water investigations through a four-year Remedial Investigation and Design for a radioactive and hazardous waste shallow land burial site. Complex site hydrogeology required iterative data collection and modeling efforts to determine the design. Following construction, performance assessment was conducted. Part of the planning team for surface water, groundwater, and stream sediment statistically based sampling and analysis programs. Used automated data collection where possible. Primary author of Performance Assessment plan elements pertaining to groundwater sampling and analysis, and all aspects of the plan pertaining to surface water and groundwater hydrogeochemistry. Conducted oversight of plan implementation.
Fate and Transport Modeling of Pentachlorophenol, Confidential Client, Knoxville, TN: The EPA proposed a new rule to regulate how hazardous wastes will be defined for inclusion in the Hazardous Waste (Subtitle C) management system. The project required evaluation of the EPA contaminant transport model mandated for use in the proposed rule, specifically with respect to pentachlorophenol, and generally in respect to its overall applicability.
Ash Pond Closure Design, Mississippi Power, Pascagoula, MS: Conducted an environmental assessment of an active ash pond located at a large, coal-fired electric generating facility. Provided geochemical modeling to link FEMWATER (flow model) and PHREEQE (geochemical model) output to predict the success of various closure options.
Design of Deep Saline-Water Well Field, Confidential Client, Artesia, NM: The client determined that a new and novel food production process could be more economically applied if they could access and use deep saline water. Time domain electromagnetic methods were used to probe the subsurface using a kilometer dimension antenna array. Existing well logs and other data were used to construct a conceptual model and probable chemistry profile for a specific site.
Zeolite Treatment of Radioactive Spring, Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Provided design support for a passive zeolite treatment system for a radionuclide contaminated seep at ORNL. Conducted field assessments and supported modeling for design of a French drain to intercept and direct contaminated water to a subsurface treatment vault. Numerical analysis was conducted to optimize the design of the permeable treatment system to maximize retention time and throughput for the range of modeled flows and heads. Conducted geochemical modeling using MINTEQA2 to investigate the suppression of precipitation of iron oxides and hydroxides. Operated a scaled physical model of the system to evaluate the practical application of the technology. Determined design parameters for process chemistry for the treatment system.
TCE Plume Treatment System, Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Piketon, OH: A detailed field investigation was required to support a 3-D finite element groundwater flow model for remedial design. Site hydrogeologist for well installation and cone penetrometer work. Determined the design parameters for process chemistry for innovative passive catalytic oxidation of TCE. Managed the efforts of field teams for surface water weir installation and calibration, monitoring well installation, waste management, health and safety, aquifer pump tests, groundwater sampling, and quality assurance. Primary author of all required plans. All planning, investigation, fieldwork, modeling and reporting completed in less than 90 days in winter and early spring.
TCE Plume Investigation, Confidential Client, Bristol, Tennessee: Provided hydrogeologic support to litigation team for investigation of TCE migration in karst terrain. Shallow siesmic geophysical surveys, a variety of drilling technologies, and dye tracer tests were used to map karst conduits. Deposition provided for litigation.
White Oak Lake Sediment Transport, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee: An earthen dam impounding sediment contaminated with radionuclides, organic chemicals, and heavy metals was determined to be unsafe. Evaluated breaching the dam and allowing White Oak Creek to return to run-of-the-river conditions as a mitigation strategy. Investigated the contaminant load that sediment erosion would discharge following breaching.
Gaseous Diffusion Plant 'Urban' Runoff Study, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee: Conducted surface water modeling at a mothballed uranium enrichment facility that covers approximately 1,500 acres of mixed urbanized areas and waste management facilities. The site is distinguished by having one of the largest footprint buildings ever built, the K-25 facility, at over 1.6 million ft2. Evaluated whether the WWII-era storm drain network was sufficient to convey runoff from storm events. Field tests were conducted to evaluate the validity of default model parameters.
PUBLICATIONS
Author or contributor to over 100 technical reports or plans for private clients and the Department of Energy. The DOE material is published as part of the US Environmental Restoration Program documentation. 1988-2005.
Miller, G.P. and D.I. Norman. 2000. Modeling Arsenic Mobility in Natural Systems. Chemical Speciation and Reactivity in Water Chemistry and Water Technology: A Symposium in Honor of James J. Morgan, 220th ACS National Meeting, Washington, D.C., August 2000.
Miller, G.P. and D.I. Norman. 2000. Modeling Arsenic Mobility in Natural Systems. Soc. of Env. Geoc. and Health, Fourth International Conference on Arsenic in the Environment, San Diego, CA, June, 2000.
Miller, G.P., D.I. Norman, and P.L. Frisch. 2000. A Comment on Arsenic Species Separation Using Ion Exchange. Water Research 34(4): 1397-1400.
Miller, G.P., D.M. Welch, D.I. Norman, L.A. Brandvold, and R.M. Prol-Ledesma. 1998. Arsenic Speciation in a Geothermally Impacted Watershed, Guadalajara, Mexico. Soc. of Env. Geoc. and Health, Third International Conference on Arsenic in the Environment, San Diego, CA, July 1998.
Miller, G. P., 2000. Prediction of the Environmental Mobility of Arsenic: Evaluation of a Mechanistic Approach to Modeling Water-Rock Partitioning. EPRI, Palo Alto, CA 2000. 1000547.
Miller, G. P., 2002. Prediction of the Environmental Mobility of Arsenic: Selection and Use of Partitioning Coefficients. EPRI, Palo Alto, CA 2002. 1005308.
Miller, G. P., Representative groundwater samples call for proper protocols. HAZMAT World, November 1993.
RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS
Award Winner
Arsenic Treatment for Small Systems – American Water Works Association Research Foundation. Development of Subsurface Treatment for Arsenic Removal $100,000
Small Business Innovation Research Grant - US EPA. Development of Subsurface Treatment for Arsenic Removal $100,000
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), 1998-2000, $76,650. Agreement No. 4CH6890. Testing approaches to arsenic surface complexation modeling of field data. Mary E. McLearn, Project Manager.
Soil Science Society of America, November 1999, $1,000. For presentation of “Modeling arsenic adsorption in a small watershed using PHREEQC.” at the Oxyanion Surface Chemistry and Remediation in Soil and Geologic Media Symposium, SSSA Annual Meeting, November, 1999, Salt Lake City, Utah.
American Academy of Environmental Engineers, April 2001. Grand Prize Winner in the University Research Category for Excellence in Environmental Engineering. Arsenic Speciation Kit.
Co-Investigator
New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), March 2000 to April 2001, $36,920. Arsenic and Arsenic Species in the Rio Grande, and the Effect of Irrigated Lands, NMIMT.
Waste-Management Environmental Research Consortium (WERC), January 1999 to December 2000. $230,688. A Commercial Arsenic Testing and Speciation Field Kit, NMIMT.
PATENTS
Method, Device, and Kit for Chemical Species Separation. Patent applied for with New Mexico Tech Research Foundation, 2000.
Apparatus, Method and System of Treatment of Arsenic and Other Impurities in Ground Water, Provisional Application Serial No. 60/456,876 2003.