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Scott Elder

Stormwater Management

2026-04-23T14:26:16-06:00June 1st, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A significant aspect of Geosyntec's water and natural resources practice is our stormwater management expertise. In fact, the firm is known for its innovative work in urban stormwater and surface water quality management, including green infrastructure design for CSO controls, Low Impact Development, Best Management Practice (BMP) design, hydromodification management, and erosion and sediment control. Our personnel have helped shape the state of these practices nationally over the past two decades via joint research and project work with civil engineering faculty at outstanding academic institutions, as well as continuous involvement in original research, development, and application of techniques and technologies. As a result, Geosyntec is recognized for frequently facilitating the transfer of technologies from academia to commercial and public use. Our professionals have been a critical and ongoing part of an award-winning team maintaining the ASCE/US EPA International Database on Urban Stormwater BMP Design and Performance.  Geosyntec's experts in erosion control have developed and implemented nationwide site compliance audit programs, and have also provided critical post-fire emergency services after the San Diego and Orange County fires. Stormwater management planning and design (urban, transportation, industrial, commercial, agricultural, MS4 compliance) Sustainable stormwater solutions: green infrastructure, stormwater best management practices, low impact development, rainwater harvesting Stormwater monitoring and modeling Water quality crediting and watershed-based mitigation approaches NPDES permitting and receiving water studies (watershed planning, total maximum daily loads and implementation plans) Erosion and sediment control: Construction NPDES compliance and post-fire erosion and sediment control

Overview of Contaminated Site Assessment and Cleanup

2026-08-18T14:34:36-06:00November 12th, 2014|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Geosyntec practitioners rank among the world's top professionals in providing site assessment and remediation services at a wide range of impacted sites using innovative technologies and solutions that consistently advance the state of the practice. Through our use of innovative technologies and solutions, we provide our public and private sector clients with a wide array of services to address their toughest challenges. Our contaminated site practitioners guide our clients through a specialized remediation plan, consult on regulatory strategies, and develop a comprehensive cleanup approach. We can address numerous types of media, including contaminated soils, sediments, and groundwater. Advancing the State of the Practice Geosyntec's practitioners are pioneers in site assessment and remediation. Our senior practitioners have developed and authored guidance material and courses for local, state, and national agencies and associations on remediation techniques and technologies. Working with the Interstate Technical Regulatory Council, Geosyntec practitioners taught a training course on vapor intrusion, including mitigation options for the development of vapor-impacted brownfield sites. Geosyntec practitioners also wrote the guidance document on evaluating, optimizing, or ending post-closure care at impacted sites, including brownfield sites, and developed a patented approach for sub-slab vapor migration mitigation allowing residential, commercial, and industrial development on sites impacted by vapor intrusion. Our specialists routinely collaborate with prominent national researchers from academia and government agencies to provide innovative and defensible strategies for sites with contaminated sediments. For example, we collaborated with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to remediate chlorinated solvent-contaminated marsh sediments by applying a bioreactive mat system embedded with a dehalogenating microbial consortium, a technology Geosyntec helped develop. This project and partnership earned our client recognition as a finalist for the Service to America Medal awarded by the Partnership for Public Service. Through a collaborative research project with the University of Florida, Geosyntec professionals helped develop the FLUCL software package for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This software is used to calculate exposure point concentration statistics in risk assessment and was the first of its kind to contain algorithms for censored datasets. FLUCL has received endorsements from several United States Environmental Protection Agency regions and the California Environmental Protection Agency. Geosyntec scientists also pioneered the use of genetic molecular tools to characterize microbes in environmental media and are engaged in applied research and development with top academic institutions around the world, including the University of Toronto, Cornell University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Overview of Waste Management Planning, Engineering & Design

2026-04-29T11:39:03-06:00November 12th, 2014|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Geosyntec is a recognized leader in waste containment facility permitting and design. From concept to implementation, we assist our clients in achieving efficient, safe, and secure containment of their regulated wastes that require land disposal. Our practitioners assist our clients in increasing commercial viability, achieving and maintaining compliance, and ensuring that short- and long-term needs are met for new and existing sites and projects. We are experienced in the permitting, design, and construction of expansions and closures of: Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills Hazardous waste landfills Coal combustion residual landfills Construction and demolition waste landfills Radiological and mixed waste landfills Tailings impoundments Mine waste rock piles and dumps Our waste containment practice specializes in addressing the most complex and challenging projects through our innovative technologies and designs. Our practitioners assist clients with permitting greenfield sites and existing site expansions, maximizing disposal capacity, and solving complex site challenges.   Our practitioners also provide investigation, design, permitting, and construction oversight for on-site disposal facilities for cost-effective, safe on-site disposal of soils, sludges, and miscellaneous debris with a broad range of contaminants, including mercury, PCBs, and volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds.

Landfill Gas Collection and Management Systems

2026-04-21T07:51:36-06:00March 27th, 2014|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A significant component of Geosyntec's landfill engineering practice is the management of landfill gas and compliance with air quality standards. Our expertise with landfill gas is built upon a legacy of being a recognized leader helping our clients achieve safe, secure containment of regulated wastes since our founding in 1983. Geosyntec has extensive experience in preparing landfill gas collection and control system (GCCS) design master plans for compliance with New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for several facilities.  We work with facility owners and operators to optimize the construction of landfill GCCS through phased development as cells are constructed and closed. Through proper sequencing, evaluation of future system needs and capacity, and sufficient initial system construction, we take advantage of the installed infrastructure and keep landfill gas flowing as a fuel source. Phased landfill gas management plans benefit our clients by optimizing the value of the capital investment in the gas collection system, minimizing the need to abandon parts of the system as subsequent lifts of waste are placed, and providing reliable gas flows that can generate a steady revenue stream from direct use, power generation, or conversion. We are also assisting our clients in the development of landfill gas-to-energy (GTE) projects, either through self-development or contracts through third parties. Once installed, Geosyntec has the hands-on, practical experience to assist our clients with the operation and maintenance of their GCCS.  Whether it is routine monitoring, tuning and optimization, repairs, or expansions to these systems, Geosyntec can provide the personnel and services to keep a GCCS operating in optimum conditions.  Our field services personnel are familiar with the current practices of landfill operations and have the capabilities to service flares, blowers, compressors, and self-perform repairs on the in-field components such as HDPE piping, valves, wellheads, sumps, and pumps.  Geosyntec is a trusted consultant for compliance issues having successfully obtained permits for landfill gas flares and GTE facilities, including in severe non-attainment areas.  Our professionals develop strategies that allow our clients to manage their air emission portfolios and plan future projects to be compliant with air regulations. We have excellent technical relationships with state and federal regulators throughout the country and are recognized in the industry for our technical leadership. Geosyntec is a dynamic and influential member of the international community of solid waste industry practitioners focused on furthering the science and technology of sound landfill gas management. We are a long-standing member of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) with the objective to work in the public interest to promote and develop sustainable and professional waste management practices worldwide. Within the United States, Geosyntec is heavily involved at local and national levels with the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), providing speakers to conferences and serving on national committees for the Landfill Management and Landfill Gas Technical Divisions. As a partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), a voluntary assistance and partnership program, Geosyntec works to promote the use of landfill gas as a renewable, green energy source.

Scott Elder

2026-06-26T09:28:45-06:00October 15th, 2013|Tags: , , , |

Scott Elder is a Senior Principal and Construction Specialist based in Georgia with more than 30 years of experience focused on the management and implementation of complex field assignments, delivery of large enviro-civil projects, and provision of construction management and quality assurance services for clients.

Bioremediation in Overburden and Bedrock to Address Chlorinated Solvents

2026-04-02T15:50:27-06:00October 27th, 2009|Tags: , |

An accidental release of TCE decades ago contaminated overburden and bedrock at this manufacturing plant. Remediation did not occur until contamination was discovered during an investigation performed as part of a property transaction. Upon this discovery, a pump and treat system was installed by another firm in the suspected source area. This system operated for about a decade, and removed approximately one pint of TCE annually with reported O&M costs of $80,000 per year. Despite groundwater pumping, TCE migrated into the bedrock, moved downgradient and then off-site. TCE and its daughter products eventually began discharging into a stream located on a neighboring property. These seeps have impacted water quality in the stream and threatened to impact water quality in the lake into which the stream discharges. Geosyntec was asked by the client to assist the incumbent consultant in implementing bioremediation in the source area and install a barrier (biobarrier) in bedrock at the property boundary to prevent off-site migration of VOCs.

Site Investigation and Remediation of Commercial/Industrial Property in Albany, Georgia

2026-04-02T15:50:27-06:00October 20th, 2009|Tags: |

Due diligence performed by Geosyntec for a former lease on behalf of the property owner indicated several potential Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) on site that warranted further evaluation. Geosyntec completed due diligence activities with the goal of managing the site assessment and subsequent remediation of chlorinated pesticides within the guidance of the Georgia Hazardous Sites Response Act (HSRA) and Georgia Hazardous Site Inventory (HSI). Once a site is listed on the HSI, significant costs can be incurred for regulation-required delineation of contaminants of concern to background concentrations (non-detect in the case of pesticides). Geosyntec successfully managed the project to avoid a HSI listing.

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