SOME MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING PROJECTS
for
WILLARD J SMITH
Development of the tender documents for the UAE Environment Abu Dhabi (EAD) agency’s ambient air quality monitoring network operation and maintenance (O&M) contract, 2012-2013
Provided technical input to the Environment Abu Dhabi (EAD) organization for the proper O&M of EAD’s 20-station AQ monitoring network, and developed a very detailed tender document for EAD that covered technical, managerial, and administrative aspects of a fully integrated AQ network O&M contract. This document was the basis for EAD’s recent Request for Proposal (RFP) bidding process. Also provided technical support to EAD management for evaluating each bidder’s proposal.
Performed a Systems Audit of the Environment Abu Dhabi (EAD) ambient air quality monitoring network, 2012
Assembled and managed the technical and administrative support team that conducted a comprehensive and independent 3-week Systems Audit of the entire EAD AQ monitoring network. The audit covered all aspects of the O&M of the network including instrument quality assurance (QA) / quality control (QC) procedures, data acquisition, and data validation & reporting as well as site selection and suitability to name some of the elements of the audit.
Evaluation & Implementation of Open-Path Ultra-Violet (UV) Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) technology for ambient air quality (AAQ) monitoring at Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 1999-2004
Conducted the technical evaluation of a new non-invasive technology called UV-DOAS for measuring criteria and non-criteria ambient air pollutants at Saudi Aramco AAQ monitoring stations. Evaluation consisted of a comprehensive technical review and demonstration of the various types of open-path systems available in the market at the time, conducting a 1-year field evaluation at Saudi Aramco of the selected open-path system, extensive review of the open-path monitoring data with comparison to conventional monitoring station data, a review of the operational and maintenance costs of the open-path station with respect to the conventional stations costs, a final evaluation of the data in report form, and extensive discussions with Saudi Aramco management as to the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of switching to the new technology. The culmination of this extensive and lengthy process resulted in Saudi Aramco converting over more than 12 stations to the UV-DOAS open-path technology and adding new open-path stations in area where volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) monitoring data were needed. The decision to use open-path UV-DOAS lead to lower overall O&M costs, an increase in the number of pollutants that could be measured, and a longer life expectancy for each open-path station.
Implementation of Rotary Autoclaving at Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 1998
Provided the technical guidance to the Saudi Aramco Medical Services organization for the replacement of the Company’s medical waste incinerators with state-of-the art rotary autoclaves. The rotary autoclaves convert medical wastes into sterile, unrecognizable material that are disposed in Class II landfills. Air pollution impacts and higher costs of operating & maintaining the incinerators were thus eliminated.
Alternate Fuels Study - Air Dispersion Modeling Study at the Seawater Conversion Corporation (SWCC) Jubail & Al-Khobar Power Plants, Saudi Arabia, 1996
Conducted an air dispersion modeling study to evaluate the impact on ambient air quality levels at two SWCC power plants in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The modeling was done to determine the impact of switching from gas to liquid fuels in in the boilers. Results of the modeling showed significant ambient air quality impacts due to the sulfur content of the liquid fuels.
Air dispersion modeling study at the Saudi Aramco Uthmaniyah Gas Plant, Saudi Arabia, 1995
Conducted an air dispersion modeling study to evaluate the impacts on ambient air quality levels at the Saudi Aramco Uthmaniyah Gas Plant resulting from the addition of two more sulfur recovery trains. The study determined what sulfur recovery efficiency level was needed to comply with ambient air quality regulations for sulfur dioxide.
Air dispersion modeling study at the Saudi Aramco Shedgum Gas Plant, Saudi Arabia, 1994
Conducted an air dispersion modeling study to evaluate the impacts on ambient air quality levels from the use of sour gas in the Saudi Aramco Shedgum Gas Plant’s utility boilers. The study also determined whether the use of stack economizers would significantly increase ambient sulfur dioxide levels in the vicinity of the plant.
Comprehensive ambient air toxics monitoring project at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Naval Shipyard, 1990-1992
Project Manager for a major ambient air toxics monitoring study conducted at a U.S. nuclear submarine naval shipyard facility as part of an ongoing RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI). Data collected from this monitoring program included VOC's, heavy metals including lead and mercury; total suspended particulates (TSP); PM-10 inhalable particulates; pesticides; other semi-volatiles; and PAH's. The air monitoring data were used to support risk assessment analyses, development of media protection standards, and future remediation of the facility.
Fertilizer Plant air monitoring network project at the SAFCO Plant in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, 1989
Designed and implemented the real-time ambient air quality monitoring network for the SAFCO fertilizer plant in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This network was required by the Saudi Arab government because of air pollution impacts. The network is still in operation after over 15 years.
Joint USEPA/ NYS ambient air toxics monitoring project, NYC Area, 1982-1983
Project Manager for a joint USEPA / NYS ambient air toxics monitoring study in the NY City area to determine the effectiveness of new sampling methodologies and assess the background concentration levels of various toxic pollutants. This was one of the first comprehensive ambient air toxics studies conducted by the USEPA.
Joint USEPA / NYS ozone monitoring project in the NYC Area, 1980
Lead Project Environmental Engineer for a joint ambient air monitoring study in the metropolitan New York City area. The project, called the Northeast US Corridor Regional Modeling Project (NECRMP), was undertaken to determine transport and the photochemical formation of ozone. The results of this study were used to further understand ozone transport mechanisms and to develop photochemical models for the USEPA.