Douglas Romig

Experience

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  The Land Institute

  Jan 1990 - Jan 1992

  Research Fellow

  • Directed research projects in sustainable agriculture and prairie ecology including germplasm and breeding trials to domesticate perennial grains and legumes. Collected, analyzed and interpreted vegetation and soil data for ecological studies of tallgrass prairie and agricultural ecosystems. Prepared reports for technical and general audiences.• Supervised, trained and established work schedules for nine interns.• Participated in an in-depth inquiry and conversation into sustainable solutions in agriculture, renewable energy, economics and ecology. Show less

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  University Of Wisconsin - Madison

  Jan 1992 - Jan 1996

  Research/Program Assistant

  Department of Soil ScienceCenter For Integrated Agricultural SystemsNutrient and Pest Management Program• Developed indicators, risk assessment indices and educational materials to evaluate impacts of field pest management practices on water quality for the Wisconsin Farmstead Assessment Program.• Investigated New Zealand's farmer training and share-milking programs as models to educate and transition new dairy farmers into grass-based dairies. Administered and coordinated a multi-professional team to develop an educational pilot project: The Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy Farmers. • Identified and refined critical quantitative/qualitative indicators of soil quality. Monitored soil quality in an integrated cropping system research trial. Taught undergraduate field classes in soil science and coached soil judging team. Show less

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  World Wildlife Fund

  Nov 1995 - Oct 1996

  Policy Analyst - Agriculture Pollution Prevention Program

  • Independently analyzed the effectiveness of comprehensive farm planning programs to affect conservation planning policies in the Great Lakes region to prevent non-point water pollution from agricultural practices and inputs. • Developed assessment tools and farm management strategies to prevent nonpoint pollution by agricultural fertilizers and pesticides for a network of state agency, nonprofit and farm sector organizations from Canada and the United States.

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  State of New Mexico, Mining and Minerals Division

  Oct 1996 - Dec 2002

  Reclamation Scientist

  • Reviewed coal and hard-rock mine permits for regulatory completeness and technical adequacy based on Surface Coal Mining regulations, guidelines and standards as applied to soils, overburden, spoil, prime farmlands, wetlands and vegetation.• Provided technical guidance for sampling and analysis plans for ecological studies and analyzed chemical, physical, and biological data to evaluate environmental impacts of mining operations with respect to soil quality/quantity, overburden/spoil chemistry, slope stability and erosion, and revegetation success.• Collaborated with mine operators to successfully advanced the adaptation and use of geomorphic and edaphic principles to the reclamation of disturbed watersheds to reconstruct natural drainage patterns and stable slope profiles while enhancing landscape biodiversity gradients. This reclamation technique has been rapidly adopted and proven to significantly reduce short- and long-term costs while meeting strict regulatory performance standards.• Developed regulatory guidelines for monitoring revegetation success related to financial assurance requirements for mining operations. Defined appropriate quantitative sampling designs and techniques, parametric and nonparametric statistics and hypothesis testing, and land husbandry practices to comply with bond release performance standards and regulations under SMCRA.• Resolved long-standing coal mine reclamation issues related to selenium biogeochemistry/toxicity and sodium affected soils. Conducted a meta-analysis of a regional dataset of plant and soil selenium to assess the potential adverse effects to grazing cattle on SW surface-coal mine. Developed a novel geochemical model to evaluate sodicity hazards in mine spoils and their potential for self mitigation and sodicity tolerance of native plants in reclaimed ecosystems.• Recognized for distinguished customer service and as divisional employee of the quarter. Show less

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  Tetra Tech EMI

  Dec 2002 - Aug 2004

  Environmental Scientist

  • Contributed to the development of a habitat restoration plan for endangered fish and bird species along 157 miles of the Middle Rio Grande for a multi-agency collaborative program within in highly regulated floodplain. Provided an extensive synthesis of ecological research and literature related to bosque ecology including cottonwood, willow and salt cedar autoecology, fluvial-geomorphic and hydrologic processes of southwestern river systems, native and exotic vegetation management, and passive and active riverine and riparian restoration strategies to target high-priority habitat needs. Coauthored a high profile report that was recognized and praised by senior US Senator.• Provided site assessments and engineering evaluation studies under CERCLA for over 90 abandoned mine sites on federal properties to determine the nature of hazardous waste contamination. Evaluated non-time-critical removal options, appraised relevant regulatory issues, and developed costs for remediation alternatives. Assessed toxicity risks for human and wildlife receptors and potential impacts to water quality.• Inventoried and evaluated soils, overburden and waste rock materials as to their suitability as a potential reclamation substrate for mine closure. Characterized and interpreted soil chemical, physical, and hydraulic properties to make recommendations regarding their use as cover materials for reclamation.• Conducted a terrestrial ecosystem survey to inventory, map, and interpret soils in riparian, grassland and forest plant communities in northern New Mexico. Correlated soil map units with regional data; delineated soils with stereoscopic interpretation of aerial photography; wrote soil and plant community descriptions; and developed soil interpretations relative to watershed management, road development, forestry and revegetation. Show less

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  WSP USA

  Sept 2004 - now

  Vice President / Technical Principal

  • Secure and manage multiple environmental projects totaling more than $20 million. Develop budgets, scheduled staff, and implemented strategies to meet client requirements and regulatory compliance. Consistently exceeded profitability goals by 10% for supervised projects.• Provide regulatory expertise related to regulations and permitting requirements for the Clean Water Act (CWA), National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA).• Complete numerous soil, vegetation and wetland surveys in New Mexico and Colorado to monitor ecological condition and trend; develop land management and grazing plans, mine permits, and reclamation strategies; create GIS spatial datasets; and analyze environmental impacts. • Lead complex environmental studies to establish self-sustaining ecosystems that protect water quality and restore productivity to over 6,000 acres of mine-affected lands. Plan and direct multiple mine reclamation projects including site/waste characterizations, risk assessments, engineering designs, material specifications, earthwork cost-estimates, construction quality assurance, and revegetation plans.• Assessed environmental impacts to soils, T & E plant and wildlife species, and agricultural land uses to comply with NEPA requirements in New Mexico, Arizona, California and Peru.• Evaluate soil hydraulic characteristics and soil-plant-atmosphere models to assess contaminant fate-transport and water balance of cover systems for sites in New Mexico, Arizona and Oregon. Synthesize historical climate databases, determine vegetation metrics, and conduct model optimization/sensitivity analyses. • Interpret natural resource data to evaluate lands for timber harvest, watershed management, wildlife habitat, road development, erosion hazards, land restoration, revegetation, and reforestation. Show less