Vice President and Principal Hydrogeologist
Expertise:
Investigation/Feasibility Studies and Remedial Action
Regulatory Compliance
Litigation Support/Expert Testimony
Mining and Mine Clean Up
Mr. Niland has more than 25 years of applied geoscience and environmental engineering experience with special emphasis on regulatory compliance (state and federal), hydrogeology, mine cleanup and litigation support. He has managed investigation and remediation projects of all scales for private and public clients throughout the United States. He is adept in regulatory interaction and is committed to ensuring technical excellence throughout project performance.
He has been involved in more than 50 site investigations under the state and Federal Superfund Program, and managed one federal site for over 15 years through the RI/FS, and remedial action phases. He has managed and been involved with the investigation of organic and inorganic constituents in soil, sediment, fractured rock, groundwater, and surface water. Mr. Niland has aided in the development and design of complex investigation programs, feasibility studies, and conceptual designs at Superfund sites for major clients, including Beazer, Koppers, PG&E, Union Pacific Railroad, Sylvania, the University of California, the Department of Energy, Cooper Industries, and Simplot.
Mr. Niland also specializes in negotiation with federal, state and local regulatory agencies. In addition to spending 17 years with the RWQCB and the DTSC in Sacramento, he worked extensively with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 and all of the northern and central California Regional Water Quality Control Boards. He has also negotiated compliance with county health departments and city fire departments. He is also familiar with NEPA/CEQA and the acquisition of Conditional Use Permits.
In addition, Mr. Niland has provided strategic consultation, litigation support, and and expert witness on a side array of projects including cost recovery actions; private party litigation to recover cleanup costs; NCP compliance; cost allocation; compliance requirements; and long-term remediation costs.
He began his career in mine exploration and development, and is familiar with mine permitting, mine economics, mine operations and mine closure. He has been involved in the investigation and closure of environmental issues at more than 20 mine sites in California. Mr. Niland developed a detailed site management plan and settlement proposal for the closure of the Jamestown Mine in Tuolumne County California. The settlement is in the process of being accepted by the State of California.
Education:
- M.S. Environmental Management, Fate and Transport Thesis, University of San Francisco, 1997
- B.A. Geology,
- Post graduate courses in Hydrogeology, California Geology, and California Regulations
Registration:
- Professional Geologist, California #5545
- Registered Environmental Assessor, California #4153