JAMES A. JACOBS, P.G., R.E.A.II , C.H.G., C.P.G.
President / Chief Hydrogeologist
Case Closure Strategies
Remedial Technology Evaluations
Bench Testing Design and Implementation
EDUCATION
M.A. Geology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 1981
B.A. Geology, English, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, 1978
SPECIALTIES
Services for Consultants
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Evaluation of Remedial Options |
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Case Closure Strategies |
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Design and implementation oversight of cleanup for hydrocarbons, metals, and solvents, |
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Development and implementation of free-product removal design at various sites, |
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Development of remedial bench testing, |
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Design of pilot testing and full scale remedial programs, and |
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Negotiate with owners and regulatory agencies for settlement agreements and site closure. |
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Workshops and Training for Consultants |
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Development of Funding Options |
SUMMARY
Mr. Jacobs has focused on the evaluation and implementation of remedial treatments of soil and groundwater impacted by petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, and heavy metals for environmental consulting companies. Many of the projects relate to
in-situ applications, while some include above water or vapor treatments. He is a Fulbright Scholar winning 3 awards in environmental engineering and science teaching post-graduate workshops and a graduate class in environmental assessment and
in-situ remediation methods. Mr. Jacobs has bachelors and masters degrees in geology and almost 20 years of experience in
in-situ remediation as a project manager and contractor.
As a technical writer and geologist, he has co-authored/edited two CRC Press books:
MTBE: Effects on Soil and Groundwater Resources (2000) and the
Chromium (VI) Handbook (2005). He has written over 100 technical articles on water treatment and environmental issues and has given over 50 technical presentations. A current book, The Acid Mine Drainage Handbook, is being worked on for John Wiley & Sons. As an expert, he has participated in many 4 hour industry training workshops related to case closure strategies, two phase extraction methods and bioremediation for the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences, California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), Battelle Remediation Conference and the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
He has designed bench testing procedures and implemented remedial field tests for
in-situ soil and groundwater treatment of chromium (VI), petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents as well as recalcitrant compounds such as perchlorate, MtBE and metals. He has served the environmental community as an officer or board member in a variety of professional societies, including the Groundwater Resources Association, the California Council of Geoscience Organizations and the California Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists. He is on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences.
AWARDS
1981: R.K. DeFord Field Scholarship Award
1998: Groundwater Resources Association; President's Tribute Certificate
2001: American Institute of Professional Geologists, National Presidential Cert. of Merit
2003: Fulbright Scholar Award, Univ. of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
2004: Fulbright Scholar Award, Univ. of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
2004: California Council of Geosciences (CCGO) “Gold Award”
2008: Fulbright Scholar Award, Afeka Engineering College, Haifa, Israel
2007, 2008, 2009: Selected for Fulbright Peer Review Committee
REGISTRATIONS / LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Geologist: California #4815; Alaska #A227, Arizona #39066, Idaho #693, Oregon #G-1147, Pennsylvania: # 1152G, Wyoming: #PG-2328, Washington #1815
Certified Hydrogeologist: California #0088, Washington #1815
Registered Environmental Assessor I: California # 1511; REA II: #20171
Certified Professional Geologist, American Institute of Professional Geologists, # 7760
Registered Asbestos Inspector and Management Planner: AHERA Accredited; OLA
Registration # 0000450
Responsible Managing Officer: License #687236: General Engineering Contractor,
Certified for Asbestos Abatement, Hazardous Materials Removal, C-57 Well Drilling.
California Commercial Driver License: C with Hazmat Endorsement
PEER REVIEW FOR CONSULTANTS
Occasionally, consultants may want an independent third-party to review a budget or cost analysis, a report or an approach used by a consultant. Mr. Jacobs serves in a peer review capacity for several organizations. He has served since 2007 on the Fulbright Peer Review Committee, screening potential Fulbright scholars in environmental sciences. Since 2007, he has been on the National Screening Committee for the American Institute of Professional Geologists for candidates applying for the Certified Professional Geologist designation. Since 2005, he has been on the Advisory Board for the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences. The duties include the review of abstracts submitted for presentations for the annual San Diego, California Soils, Sediments, and Water conference.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Groundwater Resources Association of California: Director: 1999 to 2005; Technical
Committee Oversight 2000 to 2005; Executive Officer: Treasurer: 1999, 2002; Board of Directors of Groundwater Resources Association (1999 to 2004)
GRA San Francisco Bay Chapter: Past President/Advisor: 1998,
Field Trip Coordinator: 1998; President: 1996-1998, Vice President: 1995;
Technical Chairman: 1994
American Institute of Professional Geologists: Elected National AIPG Advisory Board: 2000
CCGO Delegate: 1998-present; Past President/Advisor 1998 to present;
Field Trip Coord.: 1997-1998; President : 1996-1998; 2007;
Vice Pres.: 1996; 1999-2006
Treasurer: 1994-1995; National Delegate: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004
California Council of Geoscience Organizations: President 2001, 2002, 2009; Charter member 1997-98 and Board of Directors: 1998 to present; President: 2001; Vice
President/President Elect: 2000; Membership Chairman: 1998-2005; Secretary 2007
National Water Well Association:Active Member 1989 to present
American Association of Petroleum Geologists: Active Member 1981 to 1998
ECON Magazine-Editorial Advisory Board, 1994 to 1996
AEHS Scientific Advisory Board: 2005 to present
Independent Environmental Technical Evaluation Group (co-founder), 2000 to present
SAFETY TRAINING
40 Hour OSHA (29 CFR 1910.120), 1989
8 Hour OSHA Confined Space Training, 1995.
8 Hour OSHA Competent Person Training, 1994.
8 Hour OSHA Supervisors Management Training, 1993
Transportation Training: DOT 49 CFR Parts 171-177, 1994
Corporate Health and Safety Officer: 1990 to 2000
Current 8-hr. refresher classes for OSHA and Asbestos Inspector/Management Planner
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
In-Situ Chemical Geofixation of Chromium (VI) – Directed the
in-situ liquid delivery design and provided staff for the injection of calcium polysulfide for chromium (VI) at a former wood treating plant in northern California. The chromated copper arsenic (CCA) chemicals found on-site included the arsenic (V) oxide, chromium (VI) oxide and copper (II) oxide used in the wood treating process. The CCA wood was used in the construction of cooling towers. Calcium polysulfide was used as the reducing agent, which successfully lowered the chromium (VI) concentration at the site over a period of 18 months.
In-Situ Chemical Geofixation of Chromium (VI) – Directed and performed the bench testing design and on-site implementation and oversight of the project to inject calcium polysulfide for chromium (VI) at a former electronics manufacturing facility in southern California. The Cr(VI) was found on-to a depth of 60 feet in the vadose zone. EBS also developed a field screening method using spectrophotometry methods for soils to analyze for Cr(VI), total chromium, sulfate and sulfide in the field. The method was correlated with duplicate samples by state-certified fixed laboratory analyses. The five month field project significantly reduced Cr(VI) concentrations in the vadose zone at the property.
Bench testing and pilot testing was designed and implemented for several petroleum hydrocarbon sites in southern California to treat the vadose zone as well as the groundwater source zone using on of three chemical oxidizers. Ultimately, after significant site-specific bench testing, sodium persulfate was used for the main oxidant with specific activation compounds. The bench testing allowed for optimized chemistry to be used in the field. Pilot testing was successful in most of the cases at significantly reducing petroleum hydrocarbon mass.
Free product related to a used hydraulic oil leak was assessed by others at a large vehicle repair facility in northern California. EBS designed the bench testing to determine which chemicals would best work with existing site geochemical conditions to remove the sticky free-product from the former tank pit soils. After evaluating various biosolvents, surfactants and other chemicals, a biosolvent was selected for the removal of the almost 16 inches of free product. Working with the consultant, EBS designed the delivery system which included in high-pressure injection of water, biosolvent and air combined with two phase extraction of vapors and groundwater, to enhance free product recovery. After removal of the free product, the consultant obtained case closure for the land owner.
Site Remediation and Closure – Project Manager of dozens of underground tank removal projects. After the initial assessment, dozens of soil and groundwater remediation projects in California were performed for properties impacted with petroleum hydrocarbons or chlorinated solvents. Many of these projects were closed using
in-situ remediation methods. Some of these projects used risked based corrective action (RBCA) models or risk assessment data showing limited exposures. From this approach, dozens of sites were closed.
In-Situ Perchlorate Study – Developed with the client, a field pilot study program for a rocket fuel burn test site in Hollister, California. The project was designed to inject water into the shallow vadose zone at high pressure to solubilize the perchlorate and to pump it out. The lithology at the site was clay. Groundwater was shallow (10-15 feet below ground surface). The water was injected using a high-pressure pump system connected to specialized rods driven into the ground by direct push rigs. Results indicated that although the approach was reasonable, at this site, the clays were too tight to allow for significant desorption of the perchlorate from the clay matrix.
Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils - Project manager for bioremediation of approximately 800 cubic yards of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. Original diesel contamination exceeded 8,000 parts per million. After two months the levels of diesel in the soil were below 350 parts per million. On-site treatment lowered the disposal costs by allowing for Class III landfill disposal rates instead of Class II rates.
Bioremediation of Diesel and Gasoline Contaminated Aquifer – Developed above ground treatment equipment and supervised the installation of treatment equipment for a aerobic bioremediation treatment system for a rental car agency at the San Francisco International Airport. The treatment was part of a regulatory driven requirement on the site. Treatment of the groundwater was performed so that the treated effluent was disposed directly into the sanitary sewer.
In-Situ Chemical Oxidation of Diesel Free-Product – Designed and directed the contracting portion of the project to inject hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid at high concentrations to remove diesel free-product near a well in Oakland, California. After the treatment event, the free product was reduced from 5 cm to 0 cm.
BOOKS
Jacobs, J., Guertin, J., and Herron, C., eds., 2001, MTBE and its effect on Soil and Groundwater Resources, Lewis Publishers/CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida; 264 p. Jacobs co-authored many of the articles within this volume.
Guertin, J., Jacobs, J., and Avakian, C., eds., 2005, Chromium (VI) Handbook, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida; 784 p. Jacobs co-authored 19 of the articles within this volume.
ABSTRACTS, CHAPTERS, JOURNALS AND GENERAL PUBLICATIONS
Baker, S. and Jacobs, J., The Government's New Environmental Role, Sacramento Business Journal, March 17, 1997
Goldberg, L., and Jacobs, J., 2000, Brownfields, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY; p. 16.21 -16.32.
Guertin, J., Jacobs, J., and Avakian, C., ed., 2005, The Hexavalent Chromium Handbook; editor and co-author of 19 articles; CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 786 p.
Hartman, B., and Jacobs, J., 2000, Soil Vapor Principles, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY; p. 11.87 -11.95.
Hartman, B., and Jacobs, J., 2000, Applications and Interpretation of Soil Vapor Data to Volatile Organic Compound Contamination, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY; p. 11.96 – 11.112.
Jacobs, J., 2002, Overcoming Limitations of
In-Situ Remediation using Chemical Oxidizers and Bio-Amendments for Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Chlorinated Solvents, Association of Engineering Geologists and American Institute of Professional Geologists Annual Meeting, Reno, Nevada, abstracts,
p. 53.
Jacobs, J., and Parker, T., 2002, Low Concentrations of Organic Contaminants in the Hydrologic System, Abstracts and presentation, 11th Annual Groundwater Resources Association Meeting and Conference, Long Beach, California, September 18-19, 2002.
Jacobs, J., 2001 Optimization of Existing Soil Vapor Extraction and Pump and Treat Systems using
In-Situ Hydraulic Fracturing, Groundwater Resources Association of California, 10th Annual Meeting and 23rd Biennial Groundwater Conference, Sacramento, California, October 30, Abstracts, p. 65.
Jacobs, J., 2001,
In-Situ Delivery Methods for Remediation of Hexavalent Chromium in Soil and Groundwater, National Joint Meeting of the Association of Engineering Geologists and American Institute of Professional Geologists, St. Louis, October 5, St. Louis, Missouri, Abstracts, p. 62.
Jacobs, J., 2001, Insights into Remediation of Recalcitrant Compounds using
In-Situ Liquid Delivery Systems for Chemical Oxidation, Bioremediation, and Metals Stabilization, Groundwater Resources Association of California, 2nd Symposium in the Series on Groundwater Contaminants: Characterization & Remediation of Emerging and Recalcitrant Contaminants, June 14-15, 2001, Proceedings, 12 p.
Jacobs, J., Kram, M., and Lieberman, S., 2000, Direct Push Technology Sampling, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY; p. 11.151 – 11.163.
Jacobs, J., and Phillips, J., 2000, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Environmental Projects, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY; p. 11.1 – 11.15.
Jacobs, J., and Testa, S.M., 2003, Design Considerations for
In-Situ Chemical Oxidation Using High Pressure Jetting Technology, AEHS Soil, Sediment and Water, March/April p. 51-60.
Jacobs, J., 2000, Monitoring Well Construction and Sampling Techniques, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY; p. 11.46 – 11.68.
Jacobs, J., 2000, Passive
In-Situ Remediation Systems, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY; p. 14.12 – 14.25.
Jacobs, J., 2000, Applications of Jetting Technology for
In-Situ Remediation, Association of Engineering Geologists – Groundwater Resources Association 2000 Annual Meeting, San Jose, Abstracts, p. 92.
Jacobs, J., 2000,
In-Situ Remediation of Hot Spots using Jetting Technology; 52nd Annual National Ground Water Association Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, Program, Abstracts, p. 24.
Jacobs, J., Ruslen, D., MacLeod, S., and Taylor, T., 1999,
In-Situ High Pressure Remediation Injection Process, Hydrovisions, Fall, 1999, Groundwater Resources Association.
Jacobs, J. and Bertucci, P. ed., 1998, Geology and Hydrogeology of Northern San Francisco Bay Area, Groundwater Resources Association 7th Annual Meeting Field Trip Guidebook, October, 1998.
Jacobs, J., 1998, Private Land Recycling -A New Approach to Brownfields, Hydrovisions, Spring, 1998, Groundwater Resources Association.
Jacobs, J., Baker, S. and Stewart, R., 1998, Implications of Nationwide Policy Changes in Environmental Regulations, American Institute of Professional Geologists, January, 1998 p 6.-8.
Jacobs, J. and von Wedel, R., 1997, Enhanced In Situ Biodegradation Via High Pressure Injection of Oxygenating Agents and Nutrients, American Institute of Professional Geologists, 34th Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, Abstracts, p. 27.
Jacobs, J., 1996, Passive Oxygen Barrier for Groundwater, Hydrovisions, January/February, 1996, Groundwater Resources Association.
Jacobs, J., 1996, Spotlight on a new technology: January 1996, American Institute of Professional Geologists; Northern California Section Newsletter, p. 1, January, 1996.
Jacobs, J., 1995, Vertical and Horizontal Direct Push Technology and
In-Situ Remediation Delivery Systems, 1995 Annual Meeting, Groundwater Resources Association, Sacramento, California; October 6, 1995; Abstracts, p. 59.
Jacobs, J., 1994, Overview of Site Evaluation and
In-Situ Remediation Technologies by Direct Penetration Method,, 1994 Annual Meeting, Groundwater Resources Association, Napa, California; September 29, Abstracts..
Jacobs, J. and Loo, W., 1994, Direct Push Technology-Site Evaluation and Remediation Technologies without the use of Hollow Stem Auger Rigs, American Institute of Professional Geologists California Section Newsletter, p. 4-6, July, 1994.
Jacobs, J. and Loo, W., 1994, Direct Push Technology Methods for Site Evaluation and
In-Situ Remediation, Hydrovisions, July/August, 1994, Groundwater Resources Association.
Jacobs, J. and Loo, W., 1994, DPT Technology Opens New Remediation Avenues, ECON Magazine, p. 36-37, December.
Jacobs, J., 1992, Environmental Assessments of Oil and Gas Fields, American Association of Petroleum Landman 1992 West Coast Symposium, Santa Barbara, Proceedings, 36 p.
Jacobs, J., Traver, R., and Jacobs, O., 1991, Environmental Investigations and Remediations of Oil and Gas Fields, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, AAPG Bulletin, Abstracts, April; p. 601.
Jacobs, J., and Davis, P., 1990, Environmental Liability and the Oil and Gas Prospector, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, AAPG Bulletin, Abstracts, June.
Jacobs, J., 1985, Fluvial Responses to Hydrologic Changes on the Red River in Northeast Texas. In Transactions, pp. 409-414, Austin, Texas: Gulf Coast Association of Geologic Societies, AAPG Bulletin,, October; Abstracts, p. 1424.
Jacobs, J. 1980, Geomorphology of the Red River from Texarkana to Lake Texoma, in Red River Archaeology Project, ed. K. Gilmore and O. McCormick, pp. 70-90. Denton, Texas: Institute of Applied Sciences.
Jacobs, J., 1981, Depositional and Quaternary History of the Red River in Northeast Texas, M.A. Thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 1981.
Kram, M., Lieberman, S., and Jacobs, J., 2000, Direct Sensing Technologies, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY; p. 11.124 – 11.150.
Nikas, J., and Jacobs, J., 1990, Observations Made in the Marina District of San Francisco After the Northern California Earthquake of 1989, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, AAPG Bulletin, Abstracts, June.
Phillips, J.K. and Jacobs, J., 2000, The Impact of Global Positioning Systems on Groundwater Resources, Hydrovisions, Fall, 2000, Groundwater Resources Association, Vol. 9, No. 3.
Testa, S., and Jacobs, J., 2001, Oil Spills and Leaks, Handbook of Hazardous Waste Remediation, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY; Chpt. 9, p. 9.1-9.85.
Testa, S., and Jacobs, J., 2001, The Remediation of Hazardous Wastes from Oil Well Drilling, Handbook of Hazardous Waste Remediation, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY; Chpt. 8, p. 8.1-8.56.
Testa, S., and Jacobs, J., 2000, Geological Principles, Standard Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Jay Lehr, ed., McGraw Hill, New York, NY, Chapter 3; p. 3.1 – 3.30.
von Wedel, R., and Jacobs, J., 2000, Overview of Aerobic Bioremediation and Future Development Potential, Association of Engineering Geologists – Groundwater Resources Association 2000 Annual Meeting, San Jose, abstracts, p. 118.
(Co-authored 41 articles included in the 2005 John Wiley Water Encyclopedia of Water,
ed. Jay Lehr, 5 volumes, John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY) Topics included construction erosion control,
in-situ remediation, metals treatments, microbial growth and numerous other environmental science topics.