dan cooke principal scientist · 2018. 5. 15. · dan cooke principal scientist mr. cooke has 29...

Dan Cooke

Principal Scientist

Mr.Cookehas29yearsofprojectmanagementexperienceinthedesign,direction,andperformanceofecologicalriskassessments,sedimentevaluations,environmentaltoxicologystudies,coastalmarinehabitatassessments,chemicalbiodegradabilityandtreatabilitystudies,naturalresourceevaluations,chemicalfateandeffectstudies.Mr.Cookehasprojectmanagementandtechnicalexpertiseforbothprivateandpublicsectorclientsthroughoutthecountry.

Hehasextensiveexperienceasaregulatoryliaison,andhasactedasleadtechnicalreviewerfordozensofecologicalriskassessmentsandenvironmentalsiteassessmentsfortheUSEPA.Hehassubstantialexperienceinthedevelopmentandimplementationofawiderangeofqualityassuranceprojectplans,healthandsafetyplans,soil,groundwater,surfacewaterandsedimentinvestigations,laboratoryandfieldtoxicologyandbioaccumulationstudies,bench-scaletreatabilityandfieldpilotstudies.Healsohassignificantexperiencewithemergencyresponseactivities.

Hehasbeenresponsibleforbusinessdevelopmentforseveralclientsandhasdemonstratedtheabilitytoworkwiththeclienttoidentifytheirneeds,defineprojectrequirements,workwithseniorprogrammanagementtodevelopcontract/proposalsforthework,andsuccessfullymanagetheensuingprojects.

Representative Projects – Prior to CDM Smith 

Ecological Risk Assessment 

NJDEP,EcologicalEvaluationTechnicalGuidance,NewJersey.TechnicaladvisorandcontributingauthorfortheNewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection’sEcologicalEvaluationTechnicalGuidance.ThedocumentwaspromulgatedtoprovideguidanceforconductingEcologicalEvaluations(EE)andEcologicalRiskAssessments(ERA)forenvironmentallysensitivenaturalresourcesassociatedwithcontaminatedsites.Mr.Cookewrotealloftheguidancedocumentsectionsdealingwithtoxicityandbioaccumulationstudiesforaquaticandterrestrialspeciesforuseinecologicalassessment,andwasalsoapeerreviewerforthecompleteddocument.

ProjectManager,RedBankLandfillSite,RedBank,NewJersey.Mr.Cookedesignedanddirectedanecologicalriskassessmentofaformerlandfillsitealongatidalestuary,destinedforbeneficialreuse.Theprojectentailedmultiplefieldeventstoassesssediment,surfacewater,soil,andbiotainandaroundtheformerlandfilltoassesswhetheritwouldbefeasibletocreateaparkforrecreationandtoopentheriverforfishing/crabbing.Severalstakeholder/publicpresentationsweremadetoexplaintheresultsofsedimenttoxicityassessments,wildlifefoodchainexposuremodelling,andthepresenceofendangeredbirds.TheprojectwaspartiallyfundedbytheNewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,andtheDepartmentwasinvolvedinthereviewofallreportsandpresentations.

LeadSedimentBiologist,FormerStratfordArmyEnginePlantSite,Stratford,Connecticut.Mr.CookeledalargesedimentremediationprojectataFormerlyUsedDefenseSite(FUDS).Alarge,estuarinetidalflathadbeencontaminatedthroughhistorical

Education

M.S.–Biology,FairleighDickinsonUniversity,Teaneck,NJ,1991

B.S.–MarineBiology,FairleighDickinsonUniversity,Rutherford,NJ,1984

Certifications

USEPADivemaster

USEPAScientificDiver

OSHA–HAZWOPERSupervisor

OSHA–40hrHAZWOPER

Dan Cooke 

operationsattheplant.AspartofBaseRealignmentandClosing(BRAC),theArmycontractedtodesignandperformalarge-scalesedimentsamplingandanalysisprogramtodeterminethepotentialremedialfootprint.Aseriesof100+samplinglocationswereassessedformetalsandPCBs,and56ofthesamplinglocationsweresubmittedfor28-DaychronictoxicitystudiesusingtheamphipodLeptocheirusplumulosus.ThetoxicitystudyIdesignedandoversawwasthelargestsedimentstudyeverundertakenbytheUSArmyCorpsEngineeringResearchandDevelopmentCenterlaboratoryinVicksburg,MS.Thestudywasusedinconcertwiththemultiple-depthsedimentanalysestoderiveasite-specificremedialfootprint.

ProjectManager,Route1P.W.,LLCSite,Linden,NewJersey.Mr.Cookedesignedanddirectedanecologicalriskassessmentofanurbanstreamimpactedbypetroleumhydrocarbonsfromaleakingstoragetank.Mr.Cookedesignedaseriesofstudiestodelineatethegroundwaterandsedimentcontaminationandtodeterminewhetherthemeasuredpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAHs)wereofpyrogenicorpetrogenicorigin.State-of-the-sciencetechniquesincludedtheuseofsolid-phasemicro-extraction(SPME)analysisofUSEPA’slistof34PAHs,calculationofthePyrogenicIndexforallsamplinglocations,andtheuseofequilibriumpartitioningsedimentbenchmarkmodellingforPAHtoxicunits(ESBTU).ThestudydeterminedthatthePAHsinsedimentwerefromoff-sitesources,savingtheclientfromcostlyremediationanddirectingregulatorstoalternatesources.

LeadEcologicalRiskAssessor,NIPSCOBaillyGeneratingStation,NiSource,Chesterton,Indiana.Mr.Cookeledateamforthedesignandperformanceofamulti-yearseriesofstudiesasaweight-of-evidenceapproachforanEcologicalRiskAssessment(ERA).TheERAwasusedtodeterminewhetherhistoricreleasesofflyashhadimpactedthewildlifeandtheuniquewetlandvegetationandamphibianpopulationsinaNationalParkontheshoreofLakeMichigan.TheERAincludedthecollectionofhundredsofgroundwater,surfacewater,soil,sediment,andplanttissuesamples.HedesignedandsupervisedadirectassessmentofsoiltoxicityfromacrosstheSiteviamulti-speciesplanttoxicitystudies,andadirectassessmentofephemeralpoolsedimenttoxicityviaamphibiantoxicitystudies.Hedesignedanddirectedamulti-year/multi-seasonfieldamphibiansurveyfortwentyephemeralpoolsinfivedifferentwetlandandreferenceareasonthefacilitypropertyandintheadjacentNationalPark.Acattailrhizomebioaccumulationstudywasdesignedtoassesswhetherthecattailrootsystemina50-acrewetlandareacouldpotentiallyaccumulateenoughSite-relatedmetalstoposeariskofreleaseaftertheNationalParkService(NPS)cattaileradicationprogram.Theweight-of-evidenceapproachalsoincludedaphysical/chemicalassessmentofbarrensoilareas,acharacterizationofwetlandplants,acharacterizationofeachwetlandhabitat,androutinemonitoringofephemeralpoolwaterquality.HedesignedallstudieswithinputfrombothUSEPAandNPS,andeachstudywasapprovedbyUSEPApriortoinitiationinordertoensurethatallresultswouldbeacceptableforthedevelopmentofanERA.Overthecourseoffiveyears,alldeliverablesweresubmittedonscheduleandwithinbudget.

LeadEcologicalRiskAssessor,FairLawnWellFieldSuperfundSite,FairLawn,NewJersey.Performedascreeninglevelecologicalriskassessment(SLERA)foralargegroundwaterplumeofchlorinatedsolventsoriginatingatasmallindustrialparkinacommercialarea,whichflowedthrougharesidentialareaandintoamunicipalwellfield.TheSLERAwaspartofamuchlargerRemedialInvestigation(RI),andwasfocusedon

Dan Cooke 

potentialimpactsofgroundwatervolatilecompoundsonsedimentandsurfacewaterinastreamcorridor.Hundredsofgroundwatersamplesanddozensofsurfacewaterandsedimentsampleswereusedtodelineatetheplumeandtoselectpotentialareasofconcerninthestream.

LeadRiskAssessor,ExxonMobil,FormerCharlestonDistributionTerminal,Charleston,SouthCarolina.Mr.CookedesignedandledaBaselineEcologicalRiskAssessment(BERA)ofalargepetrochemicalstoragefacility,focusingonthestormwaterretentionpondareasandadjacentsaltmarshontheCooperRiver.TheBERAwasperformedusingsoil,sedimentandsurfacewatersamplescollectedfromthreeareasofconcern(AOCs)onthesiteandthreemarshareastodeterminewhetherhistoricandongoingsiteactivitiesposerisktowildlifereceptorsinandaroundtheSite.

LeadEcologicalRiskAssessor,NationalGrid,Inc.,FormerGloucesterMGPSite,Gloucester,Massachusetts.Mr.CookecompletedaStageIIEnvironmentalRiskCharacterization(ERC)oftheGloucesterHarborareaadjacenttotheSite.TheERCwasperformedaspartofalargeComprehensiveSiteAssessment(CSA)oftheformerManufacturedGasPlant(MGP).Usingsediment,surfacewaterandbiotasamplesinconcertwithhistoricaldataandaseriesoflaboratorytoxicitystudies,hecharacterizedtheecologicalrisksassociatedwithMGP-relatedconstituentsinconformancewithMassachusettsDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection’spresumptivecertaintyrequirements.

LeadEcologicalRiskAssessor,BankofAmerica,NA,WhiteSwanandSunCleanersSuperfundSite,WallTownship,NewJersey.Mr.Cookedesignedamodifiedscreeninglevelecologicalriskassessment(SLERA)foralargegroundwaterplumeoftetrachloroethylene(PCE)originatingattwoformerdrycleaningfacilitiesinacommercialarea,andconvergingasitflowedthroughresidentialandwetlandareastowardtheAtlanticOcean.TheSLERAwaspartofamuchlargerRemedialInvestigation(RI),andwasfocusedonpotentialimpactsofgroundwatervolatilecompoundsonsedimentandsurfacewaterintwonearbystreamcorridors.Thousandsofgroundwatersampleswereusedtodelineatetheplumeandtoselectpotentialareasofconcerninthetwostreams.

ProjectManager,AtlanticWoodIndustries,Inc.Site,Portsmouth,Virginia.Mr.CookedesignedanddirectedanecologicalriskassessmentontheElizabethRiverinPortsmouth,VA.TheStateofVirginiaraisedconcernsthatwoodtreatingchemicalshadcontaminatedtherivertothepointthatseafoodconsumptionadvisorieswereinplace,andwildlifewasbelievedtobeatrisk.Theprojectentailedstudydesign,collectionandanalysisofsediment,fishtissue,andsurfacewaterintheElizabethRiverandseveraltributaries.Sedimentprofileimagery(SPI)andfieldcollectionofbenthicinvertebrateswasusedinconjunctionwithlaboratorytoxicitystudiesusingamphipods(Leptocheirusplumulosus)andfish(Cyprinodonvariegatus).Alsoincorporatedwereinsitutoxicityandbioaccumulationstudieswithcagedoysters(Crassostreavirginica)andlaboratorytoxicityandbioaccumulationstudieswithsandworms(NeriesNeanthesvirens).Site-specific,risk-basedclean-upgoalswerederived.

ProjectManager,MolycorpMineSite,RedRiver,NewMexico.Mr.CookedesignedaseriesofinsitutoxicitystudiesintheRedRiver,usingthefreshwateramphipodHyalellaaztecaandtheindigenousmayflyDrunellagrandis.Theprojectdevelopedanovelapproachtofocusthetoxicitystudies.Piezometerswereinstalledtomonitorpressure

Dan Cooke 

differentialsbetweenthegroundwaterandsurfacewateralong15milesoftheriver,tomonitortheeffectsofmine-contaminatedgroundwaterupwellingintothestream.Thesix-monthprojectentailedmultipletripstothesitetoinstallandmonitorpiezometerspriortodesigningthetoxicitystudy.Theinsitutestchamberswereplacedintheriverinlocationswherethegroundwaterwasupwellingintothestream.Toxicityresultswerecorrelatedwithmetalsconcentrationsdetectedingroundwatercollectedfromthepiezometers.

ProjectFieldLead,FormerKoppersWoodTreatingPlant,BeazerEast,Carbondale,Illinois.Mr.Cookeledaseriesofaquaticstudiesinthreestreamsadjacenttothesitetoassessthehealthoftheaquatichabitat.Bothforage-sizedfishandedible-sizedfishwerecollectedfortissueanalysestouseinecologicalandhumanhealthriskassessments.Healsodevelopedasite-specificsedimenttoxicitystudyplanforassessmentofsub-lethalimpactstosedimentinvertebrates.

ProjectManager,JacobsSmelterSite,SaltLakeCity,Utah.Mr.Cookemanagedanecologicalriskassessmentofanabandonedminingandsmeltingsiteonasmalldead-end,salinelakenearSaltLakeCity,Utah.ThehabitatwasuniqueandthespeciesutilizingthelakewerebelievedbytheUtahDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualitytobeatrisk.Theprojectincludedthecollectionofsoil,groundwater,sediment,surfacewater,planttissue,fishtissue,aquaticandterrestrialinvertebratetissue,andsmallmammaltissueforanalysisofmine-relatedconstituents.Foodchainexposuremodellingwasperformedandpreliminaryclean-upgoalswerederived.

ProjectManager,CanalCreekSite,AberdeenProvingGrounds,Harford,Maryland.Mr.CookeperformedanecologicalriskassessmentintheCanalCreeksectionoftheUSArmy’sAberdeenProvingGrounds.TheteamhadtocoordinatewiththeUSArmy’sordnancedisposalunittoscreenallsamplinglocationsforunexplodedordnance(UXO)priortocollectingsediment,surfacewater,fishtissue,andaquaticplanttissuesamplesforuseinfoodchainexposuremodelstodeterminewhethermunitionsandchemicalwarfareagentshadcontaminatedasaltmarsh.Contaminantsourceswereidentifiedandpreliminaryclean-upgoalswerederived.

ProjectManager,KingsCreekSite,AberdeenProvingGrounds,Harford,Maryland.Mr.CookedirectedtheperformanceofanecologicalriskassessmentintheKingsCreeksectionoftheUSArmy’sAberdeenProvingGrounds.TheteamhadtocoordinatewiththeUSArmy’sordnancedisposalunittoscreenallsamplinglocationsforunexplodedordnance(UXO)priortocollectingsediment,surfacewater,fishandclamtissuesamplesforuseinfoodchainexposuremodelstodeterminewhethermunitions,metalsandpesticideshadcontaminatedasaltmarsh.

GroupLeader,BurntFlyBogSite,Marlboro,NewJersey.Mr.CookedirectedtheperformanceofanecologicalriskassessmentofaNewJerseyPinelandsbogthathadbeencontaminatedwithmetalsandpetroleumhydrocarbons.Theteamcollectedsoil,planttissueandsmallmammaltissueforanalysisofcontaminants.Analyticalresultswereusedinfoodchainexposuremodelstodeterminewhetherriskwaspresentfromsite-relatedcontamination.Contaminantloadswerecalculatedandpreliminaryclean-upgoalswerederived.

ProjectManager,RingwoodMines/LandfillSuperfundSite,Ringwood,NewJersey.Mr.CookewastheProjectManagerforamulti-yearecologicalandhumanhealthrisk

Dan Cooke 

assessmentofcontaminationfromindustrialsolventsandautomotivepaintsludgereleasesintoawoodedareanearRingwood,NewJersey.Theprojectincludedpost-remediationassessmentofseveralmine-pitareas,andabiotaassessmentinthewooded/residentialareaswithinandsurroundingthesite.Residentsexpressedconcernsthatlocalplantsandwildlifetissuehadbeencontaminated.Astudywasperformedtocollecttissuesamplesfromthosespeciescommonlyeatenbylocalresidents(deer,turkey,rabbits,squirrels,frogs,crayfish,wildcarrot,blackberries,anddandeliongreens).Tissuecontaminantburdenswerecomparedtobackgroundandreferencelocationsamplesandwereusedtodevelophumanhealthconsumptionguidelines.Thestudyalsoincludedanecologicalassessmentofsoil,sediment,surfacewater,plants,andsmallmammals.

Natural Resource Surveys 

LeadBiologist,OffshoreWindTurbineImpactsonMarineAnimals,Fishermen’sEnergy,AtlanticCity,NewJersey.Mr.CookewastheLeadMarineBiologistforaprojecttoplaceanoffshorewindfarmoffthecoastofNewJersey.Heproducedawhitepapertodeterminethepotentialimpactsofconstructionandoperationofoffshorewindturbinesonthemigrationofmarinemammals,dolphincalvingareas,seaturtlesandfishinboththenearshoreareaand20milesfromshore.Anexhaustiveliteraturesearchwasperformedtocompileallavailabledataonmarineanimalsandwindfarms,constructionnoise,acousticresearch,andenhancementoffisheries.Inaddition,amulti-yearmarinemammalandfisherymonitoringplanwasdevelopedforthethreestagesoftheproject(pre-construction,construction,andpost-construction/operation).

FieldTeamLeader,ReefCoralBioassessment,St.Croix,USVirginIslands.Mr.CookewasaFieldTeamLeaderforaseriesoffieldsurveysfrom2001through2007designedbyUSEPA’sGulfEcologyDivisionLaboratorytodeveloprapidbioassessmenttechniquesforstonycorals.Thebioassessmenttechniquesweredevelopedtocreatebiocriteriaforresourcemanagers.Eachofthefieldteamsperformedradial-belttransectstoidentifythecoralspeciespresent,percentlivetissuecoverandthethree-dimensionalsizeofthecoralcolonies.Inadditiontothecoralassessments,Mr.CookewasalsoinvolvedinaprojectwiththeNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)toperformreeffishsurveys.Reeffishwereidentifiedtospecies,andestimatesweremadeoftheirpopulationnumbersandsizeclasses.

ProjectManager,ViequesSeagrassSurvey,USFishandWildlifeService,Vieques,PuertoRico.Mr.CookedesignedandledastudytodevelopabaselineseagrasssurveyfortheU.S.FishandWildlifeService,priortotheconstructionofapassenger/cargoferrydockingfacilityalongaformerUSNavypier.Theteammonitoredthedensityofseagrassspeciespresentwithintheanticipatedimpactzone,andinthesurroundingseagrassbedaspartofaproposedlong-termstudy.

Divemaster,ArtificialReefMonitoring,USEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,NewJerseyandDelaware.WorkingwithUSEPARegion3,theUSEPAEnvironmentalResponseTeamDiveTeamtookpartinannualmonitoringofartificialreefstructuresoffshoreofNewJerseyandDelaware.Atlanticcoastalstatesroutinelysinkships,railcars,armytanksandpersonnelcarriers,andlargestructurestoenhancefisheries.Thetargetsarethoroughlycleanedpriortosinking,butsomepotentiallycontaminatedmaterialmay

Dan Cooke 

bemissed.Theprojectteammonitoredfishassemblagesandinvertebratecolonizationofvariousstructuresandcollectedfishtissuesamplesforcontaminantanalysis.

ProjectManager,SeagrassSurvey,VirginIslandsResourceManagementCooperative,St.John,USVirginIslands.Mr.CookewastheProjectManagerforanecologicalassessmenttoquantifytheeffectsofboatanchoringandseaturtlegrazingdamagetoseagrassbedsintheVirginIslandsNationalPark,St.John.Hedesignedandperformedcomparativeseagrassproductivitystudies.Hedeterminedseaturtlepopulationdynamicsandgrazinghabits,usingbothvisualandultrasonictrackingofdiurnalmigrations.Hedevelopedaresourcemanagementplan,andcontingenciesforimplementation.HeassistedresearchersfromtheNationalParkServicewithcoraldiseasesurveysalongthenorthshoreofSt.John,andassistedresearchersfromtheUSFishandWildlifeServicewithseaturtletag-and-releasepopulationsurveys.

Remedial Investigations/Remedial Actions 

NJDEP,ContaminatedGroundWaterDischargetoSurfaceWaterTechnicalGuidance,NewJersey.TechnicaladvisorandcontributingauthorfortheNewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection’sContaminatedGroundWaterDischargetoSurfaceWaterTechnicalGuidance.Thedocumentwasbeingpromulgatedtoprovideguidanceforconductingremedialinvestigations,monitoringandassessmentofgroundwaterdischargestosurfacewaterbodies.Mr.Cookewasastakeholder,apeerreviewerforthecompleteddocument,andwasaninstructorforNJDEP’strainingonthesubject.

ITRC,ContaminatedSedimentsRemediation:RemedySelectionforContaminatedSediments,Washington,DC.TechnicaladvisorandcontributingauthorfortheInterstateTechnologyandRegulatoryCouncil’sContaminatedSedimentsRemediation:RemedySelectionforContaminatedSediments.Thedocumentwaspromulgatedtoprovideguidanceforselectingappropriateremedialactivitiesforcontaminatedsedimentsites.Mr.Cookewasateammemberdevelopingtheguidancedocument,andwasalsopartoftheteamtodevelopinternet-basedtrainingsessionstodisseminatethetechnology.

GroupLeader,SharonSteelSite,Sharon,Pennsylvania.Mr.Cookeledacollaborationtodesignandperformbench-scaleandpilot-scalestudiesutilizingdifferentmixturesofbiosolidsandlimeassite-soilamendmentsforremediatingmetals-contaminatedsoil.SoilpH,nutrientrequirements,andporewatersampleswerecollectedtoensurethatconditionsforplantgrowthremainedfavorableandthatmetalswerebound.Inadditiontolaboratoryandfieldassessmentsofbiosolidseffectivenesswithplants,aseriesofearthwormtoxicityandbioaccumulationstudieswereperformedconcurrentwiththeplantstudies.Earthworms(Eiseniafoetida)wereexposedfirstinlaboratorystudiesusingthesamesoilamendmentsusedinthebench-scaleplantstudies,andlaterinsituduringthepilot-scalefieldstudies.Earthwormtissueswereanalyzedformetalsbioaccumulation.Recommendationsforfield-scaleremediationweremadeforbiosolids/limeamendmentsandaninitialcovercroptoprotecttheslower-growingnativegrassmixturefromweedinfestation.

ProjectManager,JasperCountyMiningSite,Joplin,Missouri.Mr.CookewasProjectManagerforaphytoremediationprojectonaverylargeminewastesite.USEPAstudieshadshownthatchildreninthecountyhadelevatedbloodleadlevelsthatwereattributedtotheminewaste(chat)thatcoveredhundredsofsquaremilesoftheTri-CountyLead

Dan Cooke 

Belt.Theteamassessedtheeffectivenessofphytoremediationtechnologyonaseriesofpilotscaleareas.Sampledsurfacewaterandsoil,andperformedasmallmammalsurvey.Performedsmallmammalnecropsies,andkidneyswereshippedforhistologicalassayofmetals-relatedcellulardamage.Recommendationsweredevelopedforimprovedremediation.

Divemaster,IntermediateLakeandHigginsLakeSites,Roscommon,Michigan.Mr.CookewasateammemberforaprojecttoremovedrumswithunknowncontentsfromtwosmalllakesinresidentialcommunitiesinMichigan.Thedrumshadbeenreportedbylocalpolicediverswhohadspottedthemduringroutinetrainingdives.TheUSEPAEnvironmentalResponseTeamDiveTeamlocatedthedrums,over-packedtheminplace,liftedthemtothesurfaceandtowedthemtoshorewheretheycouldberemovedfromthewaterandtakentoasecurelocationforcategorizationofhazardouscontents.Theteamremovedapproximately20drumsofunknownoriginfromthelakes.

Human Health Risk Assessments 

LeadBiologist,PraiaBay,LajesField,USAirForce,Terciera,Azores,Portugal.Mr.CookewastheLeadBiologistforastudytodeterminewhethertheoperationsofamilitaryoceanterminalhadcontaminatedthesedimentandtherebythefishtissueintheenclosedareaofPraiadaVitoriaBayontheislandofTerciera.Workingwithhydrogeologistsandcommercialdivers,sedimentcoreswerecollectedinordertoperformdepthcontouringofconstituentstocorrelatesedimentcontaminantconcentrationstoediblefishandinvertebratetissues.Samplesofthemostcommonlycaughtandconsumedfishspecieswerecollectedalongwithintertidalinvertebratestoassessthehumanhealthriskfromconsumptionoffishandshellfishfromthebay.

LeadBiologist,NewJerseyTransitFuelSpillSite,WashingtonTownship,NewJersey.Mr.CookewastheLeadBiologistforastudytodeterminewhetherfuelspill-relatedconstituentshadcontaminatedthefishtissueintwolakesdownstreamofthespillsiteandinanupstreamreferencelake.Threetrophiclevelsoffish(predators,panfish,andbottomfeeders)werecollectedviaelectrofishingfortissueanalysisusinghighresolutiongaschromatography/massspectrometryselectiveionmonitoring(GC/MSSIM)toassessthehumanhealthriskfromconsumptionoffishfromtheimpactedlakes.

LeadAquaticBiologist,KoppersPondSite,BeazerEast,Horseheads,NewYork.Mr.Cookedevelopedawhitepaperontheproductivityofasmallnaturalpondthathadbeenimpactedbyindustrialdrainage.Thefishproductivityofthepondwascalculatedusingfisheriesmodelstodeterminethesustainablebiomassoffishtissuethatcouldbecapturedforconsumptionbyfishermen.Thefishtissueconcentrationsofsite-relatedconstituentswereusedinconjunctionwiththeproductivitycalculationstoderiveahumanhealthriskassessment.

ProjectManager,HammondHullSite,Beaufort,NorthCarolina.Mr.CookewasProjectManagerforahumanhealthexposureassessmenttocontaminatedoysters.ResidentsofhomesbuiltalongBatteryCreek,onthesiteofanabandonedfertilizerandchemicaltransferfacilityhadconcernsaboutthesafetyofconsumingoysterscollectedfromBatteryCreekasaresultofriverbankerosionandpotentialexposureofsite-relatedarsenic.Mr.Cookedesignedastudytocollectoystertissuesamplesandcollocatedsedimentsamplesforcorrelationoftissuearsenicburden.Tissuemetalswerecompared

Dan Cooke 

toUSEPAseafoodconsumptionguidance.Theteamalsocollectedsedimentandsurfacewatersamplesalongatwo-milestretchofthetidallyinfluencedcreektoassesstheextentofcontamination.

ProjectManager,ViequesBiotaContaminantSurvey,Vieques,PuertoRico.Mr.CookewastheProjectManagerforastudyinresponsetoclaimsthattheUSNavy’strainingactivitiesontheeasternendoftheislandhadcontaminatedfishandshellfish.TheNavyhadbeenusingtheeastendasa‘LiveImpactArea’fortrainingpilotsandamphibiousassaulttroopssinceWorldWarII.ThewaternorthandsouthoftheLIAwaslitteredwithunexplodedordnance(UXO),andlocalresidentsfearedthatlocallycaughtfishwerecontaminatedwithmetalsandexplosiveresidues.HeledtheUSEPADiveTeam’scollectionandanalysesoffish,lobsterandconchtissuefromfivelocationsaroundtheisland,andcomparedtheresultstoUSEPA’sseafoodconsumptionguidance.

Site Assessments 

LeadBiologist,MarcellusShaleAreaPondAssessments,ChesapeakeEnergy,Towanda,Pennsylvania.Mr.CookewastheLeadBiologistforaseriesofassessmentsofprivatelyownedpondsthathadpotentiallybeenimpactedbywell-drillingactivitiesassociatedwithnaturalgasextraction.Mr.Cookeperformedfieldassessmentsofthepondsanddevelopedrestorationplanstoreturnthepondstotheirpreviouscondition.

LeadBiologist,OhioRiverBasinandSusquehannaRiverBasinInvasiveSpeciesAssessments,NewYorkandPennsylvania.Mr.Cookeledaseriesofassessmentsofpotentialwatersourcesforinvasiveaquaticspeciesoffish,invertebratesandplants.Millionsofgallonsofwaterarerequiredforthedevelopmentofnaturalgaswells,andinthesearchforwatersources,severalsurfacewaterbodies(e.g.,abandonedquarries,privateponds)werefound.TheSusquehannaRiverBasinCommissionwasconcernedabouttransportofaquaticinvasivespeciesbetweenwatersheds,andbetweenlocationsintheSusquehannaRiverwatershed.Hedesignedandperformedfieldsurveysofthesewaterbodiestoassessthepresenceofpotentiallyinvasivespecies,andassistedwiththedevelopmentofguidancetopreventthetransportofinvasives.

GroupLeader,ManistiqueHarborSite,Manistique,Michigan.Mr.CookewasDivemasterandGroupLeaderfortheperformanceofsedimentcoringinManistiqueHarbortoconfirmthatdredgingofcontaminatedsedimentwassuccessfullyremovingPCBs.CoresampleswereusedtodeterminenotonlyconcentrationsofPCBs,butthedepthprofileofcontamination.TheUSEPADiveTeamperformedhundredsofdivestofacilitateharborremediation.

ProjectManager,OccidentalChemicalSite/HylebosWaterway,Portland,Oregon.Mr.CookewastheProjectManagerforanassessmentofgroundwaterinfiltrationintotheHylebosWaterwayinthesoutheastendofPugetSound.TheUSEPARegion10andtheWashingtonDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualitywereconcernedthatvolatilecompoundswereleachingintothegroundwaterandbeingtransportedtothewaterway.Theteamdesignednovelpassive-diffusionsamplingdevicesthatwereburiedbydiversinthesedimentfortwoweeks.Thedeviceswerethencollectedandanalyzedforvolatilecompounds.Inadditiontothediffusionsamplers,severalsampleswerecollectedusingspeciallydesignedseepwatercollectiondevices.

Dan Cooke 

FieldTeamLeader,PyramidLakeOilSpillAssessment,LosAngeles,California.Mr.CookewasDivemasterandFieldTeamLeaderforanassessmentoftheextentofcontaminationfromanoilspillintoPyramidLake,aman-madereservoirthatisoneofthemainwatersourcesforthecityofLosAngeles.TheUSEPAEnvironmentalResponseTeamDiveTeammadeaseriesofdivestocollectsedimentcorestodepthsof100feettodeterminethesedimentvolumethatwouldhavetobedredgedtoremediatethereservoir.

ProjectManager,VirginIslandsRumIndustriesLimited,St.Croix,USVirginIslands.Mr.CookewasDivemasterandProjectManagerforasurveytomonitortheeffectsofarumdistillery’sunregulated,untreatedprocesswastewateroutfallontheseagrassbedsandcoralsalongthesouthshoreofSt.Croix,intheU.S.VirginIslands.Theteamperformeddivingsurveysforseagrassbiomassstudiesandcoraldiseasemonitoring.Surfacewatersampleswerecollectedfornutrientanalysis,andlightattenuationwasmeasuredinandaroundthedarkbrown,opaqueplume.

Aquatic Toxicology 

Mr.Cookehasexpertiseinthedesign,directionandperformanceofenvironmentaltoxicologystudies,chemicalbiodegradabilityandtreatabilitystudies,productregistrations,andchemicalproductfateandeffectstudies.Hehasbeentheregulatoryliaisonbetweenclientsandinternational/federal/stateagenciesforhundredsofprojects.Hehasextensiveexperienceinthedevelopmentandimplementationofawiderangeofqualityassuranceprojectplans,toxicityandbiodegradabilitystudyplans,benchscaletreatabilityandfieldpilotstudies,andinvestigationsofsoil,groundwater,surfacewaterandsediment.

Mr.Cookedirectedafull-serviceenvironmentaltoxicologylaboratoryfortwelveyearsandhasbeeninvolvedinthousandsofaquaticandterrestrialtoxicitystudiesonchemicalproducts,soils,sediments,surfacewatersandwastewaters.Healsodesignedanddirectedtheperformanceofbiodegradabilitystudiesofchemicalproductsunderaerobicandanaerobicconditions.HislabwascompliantwiththeUSEPAGoodLaboratoryPractice(GLP)standardsandwasoneofthefirstlabsintheUStoqualifyforInternationalOrganizationforStandardization(ISO)certification.Hesuccessfullydesignedandperformedwastewatertoxicityidentificationevaluations,andhasbroadexperiencewithsoilandsedimenttoxicitystudiesandremediationtechniques.Hehasalsodesignedinsitutoxicitystudiesforsoil,sedimentandsurfacewatertoallowamorerepresentativeassessmentoffieldconditions.

Mr.CookewasalsoamemberoftheNewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection’sEnvironmentalLaboratoryAdvisoryCommittee,andwasastakeholderandtechnicaladvisorforamajorrevisionofNJDEP’sRegulationsGoverningtheCertificationofLaboratoriesandEnvironmentalMeasures.

Mr.Cookehasmanagedprojectsonthetreatabilityofhumanandveterinarypharmaceuticalproductsandonthewastestreamsfrompharmaceuticalproduction.Hehasalsodesignedstudiesonthetoxicityofpost-metabolizedveterinarypharmaceuticals.Inadditiontothestandardizedshake-flask,activatedsludgeandsoilbiodegradabilitystudies,Hedesignednoveltestapparatustoperformstudiesofsepticsystemtreatmentofhouseholdchemicalsandpersonalcareproducts.

Dan Cooke 

Inthecourseoftestingvariouspharmaceuticalproducts,industrialchemicals,activeingredients,householdchemicals,specialtychemicals,biocides,biologicalagents,oilspillcleanupagentsandpersonalcareproducts,Mr.Cookehasaccumulatedawealthofexperiencewithnumerousmarineandfreshwaterfish,invertebrates,plantsandalgae.Inadditiontotheaquaticspecies,healsohasextensiveexperienceworkingwithsoilinvertebratesandplants(crop-vegetableandnon-targetspecies).

Fornineyears,hewasthesenioraquatictoxicologistundercontracttotheUSEPA’sEnvironmentalResponseTeamperformingfieldstudiesandoverseeinglaboratorystudiesoftoxicityandremediationtechniques.Hewasresponsiblenotonlyfortheplacementandoversightoflaboratorystudies,butalsoforthereviewofnumerouslaboratorystudiessubmittedaspartofecologicalriskassessmentsfortheUSEPA’sSuperfundprogram.

Mr.CookewasalsoatechnicalAdvisorandcontributingauthorfortheNewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection’sEcologicalEvaluationTechnicalGuidance.ThedocumentwaspromulgatedtoprovideguidanceforconductingEcologicalEvaluations(EE)andEcologicalRiskAssessments(ERA)forenvironmentallysensitivenaturalresourcesassociatedwithcontaminatedsites.Mr.Cookewrotealloftheguidancedocumentsectionsdealingwithtoxicityandbioaccumulationstudiesforaquaticandterrestrialspecies,foruseinecologicalassessment,andwasalsoapeerreviewerforthecompleteddocument.

Emergency Response 

ResponseCoordinator,WorldTradeCenterEmergencyResponse,NewYork,NewYork.Mr.CookewastheResponseCoordinatorforLockheedMartin/REAC’ssupportoftheUSEPAresponse.HecoordinatedtheeffortsofREAC’steamof60fieldresponderswithUSEPA’sEnvironmentalResponseTeamandUSEPARegion2,andtheUSCoastGuardtosetupanairmonitoringprograminandaround“GroundZero”,tomonitorforhazardousairconditions(asbestos,volatileandexplosivechemicals)towhichrescueworkersmayhavebeenexposed.Mr.CookewastheResponseCoordinatorduringtheemergencyresponseportionoftheprojectforapproximatelythreeweeksaftertheterroristattack.Whentheprojectbecameawell-orderedairmonitoringprogram,projectmanagementwaspassedontoLockheedMartin/REAC’sAirSectionLeader.Mr.CookealsoparticipatedinboatingsurveyswiththeUSEPAaroundlowerManhattantosearchforfloatingdebris.

Divemaster,SpaceShuttleColumbiaRecovery,ToledoBendReservoir,Texas.Mr.CookewasaDivemasterandSeniorfieldteammemberinvolvedindiveoperationsoverthreemonthssearchingToledoBendReservoirforpartsfromtheSpaceShuttleColumbia.TheteamworkedcloselywithNASA,USNavy,USCoastGuard,Texasstatepolice,Houstonpolice,anddiveteamsfromfourUSEPARegions.Thediveoperationsutilizedsidescanandmulti-beamsonar,sectorscansonar,remotelyoperatedvehicles,surfacesuppliedair,andvarioussearchtechniques.TheUSEPADiveTeamwasinvolvedbecauseofthepotentialforhazardousmaterialsassociatedwiththeShuttle’spropulsionsystem.

ResponseCoordinator,HurricaneKatrinaResponse,NewOrleans,Louisiana.Mr.CookewasResponseCoordinatorforLockheedMartin/REAC’ssupportofUSEPAresponseactivitiesforthefirstfewweeksoftheemergency.Mr.CookeworkedtocoordinatetheeffortsofREAC’s50fieldresponderswiththeUSEPA’sEnvironmentalResponseTeam.

Dan Cooke 

Whentheresponsehadcompleteditsemergencyphase,hepassedontheprojectmanagementtoREAC’sAirSectionLeader.Healsotookpartinthefieldresponse,assistingwithmonitoringintheNewOrleansarea.

ResponseCoordinator,AthosIOilSpill,Philadelphia,Pennsylvania.Mr.CookewastheResponseCoordinatorforLockheedMartin/REACforthefirstfewdaysofthespillresponse,andretainedProjectManagementwhentheprojectbecameaclean-upoperation.Theteamwasresponsiblefordeterminingtheextentofthespillcontamination,bothontheshorelineandintheDelawareRiverchannel.Muchoftheoilsanktothebottomoftheriverandhadtobesuctiondredgedbycommercialdivers.Theteamalsoprovidedside-scansonarsupporttolocatetheobstructionthatwasstruckbytheAthosI,andtolocatearesponsevesselthathadsunkintheriver.

Health and Safety 

LeadDivemasterInstructor,USEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyDiverTraining,GulfBreeze,Florida.Mr.CookewastheleadinstructorforUSEPADivemastertraining,andalsoledtrainingincontaminatedwaterdivinganddiverdecontaminationinMay2005,2006and2007.

Professional Activities 

Member,SocietyofEnvironmentalToxicologyandChemistry(SETAC)

Member,Hudson/DelawareChapterSETAC

Presentations/Publications 

NJDEP(NewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection)2016.CharacterizationofContaminatedGroundWaterDischargetoSurfaceWaterTechnicalGuidance.January2016.Iwasastakeholderandcontributingauthor.Ialsohelpeddevelopthetechnicaltrainingsessionforremediationprofessionalsandpresentedthetrainingatpublicmeetings.

ITRC(InterstateTechnologyandRegulatoryCouncil)2014.ContaminatedSedimentsRemediation:RemedySelectionforContaminatedSediments.Iwasateammemberfortwoyearsworkingonthedocument,andalsoworkedonthedevelopmentoftheinternet-basedtrainingmodule.

NJDEP(NewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection)2011/2012.EcologicalEvaluationTechnicalGuidance.NJDEP,SiteRemediationProgram.August2011,revised2015.Iwasacontributingauthor,writingallofthetoxicology,bioaccumulation,andsedimentAVS/SEMsections.

R.DeVries,T.Sorell,D.Cooke,J.Robb.2011.VegetationUptakeFactorsinWetlandVegetation.Posterpresentation,SocietyofEnvironmentalToxicologyandChemistry(SETAC)AnnualMeeting,Boston,MA.

J.W.Huang,C.Gussman,D.Cooke,M.D.Sprenger,H.ComptonandR.Mathur.2008.UsingOrganicResidualstoRemediateMetal-ContaminatedSoils:WhatistheRisktotheEcosystem?Proceedingsofthe3rdInternationalConferenceonSoilPollutionandRemediation.October2008,Nanjing,China.

Dan Cooke 

Cooke,D.2007.DiveOperationPlanning;RiskManagementandLiabilityinDiveOperations;andDiverDecontamination.PresentedatUSEPAAnnualDiverTrainingCourse,GulfBreezeFL.May2007.

Cooke,D.2005.AbioticFieldSamplingEquipmentandProcedures.Ashort-coursepresentedtotheHudson-DelawareChapteroftheSocietyforEnvironmentalToxicologyandChemistry(HDCSETAC),atRutgersUniversity,NewBrunswick,NewJersey.May2005.

Cooke,D.2004.TropicalSeagrassSpeciesIdentificationandSurveyMethods.PresentedtotheUSFishandWildlifeService,SouthwestRegionDiveTeaminVieques,PuertoRico.June2004.