Insights from Colleen Canfield on Environmental Consulting and Geology section 21 vid 5

Colleen Canfield is a licensed professional geologist in California.
Works as an environmental consultant at Haley and Aldrich, Costa Mesa.
Specializes in assessing and remediating contaminated soil and groundwater at aerospace facilities and airports.
Has fifteen years of experience in environmental consulting.

Program Management: Overseeing various environmental projects.
Business Development: Engaging new clients and establishing partnerships.
Staff Management and Mentoring: Guiding junior staff in environmental practices.
Technical Review and Presentation: Evaluating scientific data and presenting findings to stakeholders.
Regulatory Interaction: Communicating with federal and state agencies on clients' behalf.

Primary Services: Assess soil and groundwater contamination and remediate it based on the findings.
Testing: Utilize various methodologies for soil, groundwater, and surface water testing.
Client Types: Work with developers, aerospace manufacturers, universities, and institutions for environmental assessments.
- Reasons for testing may include:
- Geotechnical assessments for building projects.
- Historical contamination assessments due to past pesticide or chemical use.
- Additionally, maintain public health and environmental protection as priority goals.

Shift in regulations for underground storage tanks (USTs).
Agencies required verification of UST integrity to prevent contamination.
Investigations revealed numerous contaminant releases from USTs, necessitating clean-up efforts.

Types of Contamination: Categorized based on the density of liquid contaminants (lighter vs. denser than water).
Fate and Transport: Understanding how contaminants move through the subsurface:
- Lighter compounds float, while denser compounds sink deeper into groundwater.
- Example: PCE (tetrachloroethylene) from dry cleaners can migrate and form long plumes in groundwater.

Solutions depend on site-specific contamination characteristics. Options include:
- Excavation: Shallow contaminant removal as a straightforward, short-term fix.
- Containment: Protecting public supply wells from contaminant plumes.
- Engineering Controls: Techniques to degrade or mitigate contaminants in situ (e.g., thermal treatment, bioremediation).
- Pumping and Treating: Extraction of contaminated groundwater for treatment and disposal.
Risk-Based Solutions: Collaboration with risk assessors to evaluate public exposure levels and follow evolving regulations to determine acceptable contamination levels.

Initially did not intend to become a geologist; grew up appreciating the outdoors and geological formations.
Studied geologic sciences at UC Berkeley and obtained a Master's at San Diego State University.
Worked briefly in gemology before venturing back into environmental consulting.
Experience in teaching Earth System Science highlighted interdisciplinary applications in geology.

Choice against working for oil and gas industries, favoring environmental conservation.
Emphasis on seeking positive contributions to human health and ecological balance.

Follow Your Passion: Pursue what you love; many opportunities are available that may not be initially known.
Stay adaptable and open-minded about career paths as the field of environmental science evolves.

Colleen's experiences underline the importance of ethical choices in careers related to environmental science, highlighting the various possibilities for future professionals.