Third
Party / Independent Review & Oversight
Henry
S. Cole & Associates provides independent review and oversight for
courts and government agency.
Court
Appointed Technical Consultant / Liaison: Booth v. Georgia Pacific.
In late 2002, Dr. Cole was appointed the Liaison position established
under a $22 million Settlement Agreement in the case of Booth v. Georgia
Pacific Resins, Inc. The suit was brought by residents of a predominantly
African American community following a large explosion in GPR’s
resin plant in Columbus. The Liaison and co-liaison William Auberle,
P.E. report to Judge Jennifer Brunner (Franklin County Court of Common
Pleas) and serve as a technical consultant to the plaintiff group as
liaisons between the plaintiff group, GPR and government agencies and
provide information to the greater public.
Key issues involve routine air emissions, the safety of the current
plant and adequacy of changes following the accident, and development
of an emergency response plan for the community. The Liaison Team has
been successful in tightening the conditions of the plant’s operating
air permit and has spearheaded action by city, county and state officials
to create an effective emergency response plan for the community. Liaisons
have successfully negotiated with Georgia-Pacific for a safety audit
of the plan. The audit is being conducted by Peter Howell, P.E. one
of the nation’s preeminent expert’s in chemical plant safety
and process safety management systems (PSM).
Contact: Peter Howell, P.E. (Mark V, Inc.)
E-mail: howell@citynet.net
Website: http://www.markfive.com
Peer review consultant: Pottstown Landfill Closure Committee.
In August 2004, Cole & Associates were selected by the Pottstown Landfill
Closure Committee to serve as an independent peer review consultant on
environmental issues pertaining to the operation and closure of Waste
Management’s Pottstown Landfill. The Closure Committee is comprised
of officials from the counties and towns that abut the landfill. The Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Waste Management participate
in this stakeholder process. Cole & Associates selected G. Fred Lee,
Ph.D., P.E. to provide expertise on landfill structure and closure.
Cole & Associates responsibilities include:
- Review
of PA DEP and Waste Management records related to environmental releases,
enforcement and closure.
- An independent
assessment of potential problems at the landfill
- Peer
review of an assessment being conducted by GAI consultants funded
by Waste Management.
- Recommendations
for an environmentally protective closure and post-closure care.
Cole’s
project is funded by Montgomery and Berks County, PA.