Our Services

Patti Burns

Senior Associate
Hamilton

Phone
+1 -

Fax
+1 609-586-4072

Areas of Expertise

Project Management
Site Remediation
Wetlands Science and Permits
Ecological Evaluations
Wetlands Mitigation
Ecological Evaluations

Major Project Experience

Part of a company-wide team to manage the divestiture of thousands of properties across the country for a global energy company. Assisted with the planning and implementation of Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments according to rigid schedules, budgets and safety requirements. Some of the specific tasks accomplished include reviewing reports, interface with technical consultants, supporting technical consultants in the field, safety audits in the field, and information flow management via a web-based SharePoint site.
Owner and principal scientist of an environmental consulting company for 12 years, specializing in wetlands land-use permitting and ecological evaluations for Clients representing industry, remediation engineering, land-use engineering, municipalities, and residential properties.
Prepared White Paper on costs and feasibility to meet wetlands mitigation obligations for national energy company. The costs and feasilbity were assessed for 8 possible options including land donation, cash donation, in-watershed wetlands creation/enhancement at three sites and out-of watershed wetlands creation/enhancement at three sites.
Managed, supervised and conducted multiple site investigations and remediation cases for specialty chemical companies in New Jersey including the regulatory coordination regulators; delineation soil and groundwater sampling, laboratory analysis and data assessment; report preparation and participated on the engineering team for remedial design, remediation, and project closure activities.
Conducted and managed site remediation project and wetlands mitigation at a Former Foundry site in Bridgeton, NJ. Initially managed the site remediation including delineation soil sampling, laboratory analysis and data assessment; report preparation, and regulatory coordination. Participated on the remediation team in the design and oversight associated with the remediation of jurisdictional wetlands. As lead wetlands scientist conducted, designed, permitted and managed the mitigation of the 1.3 acres of wetlands and associated 5 acres of watershed. Coordinated with regulators, site engineer, contractors, Client and property owners, and local officials. Prepared and managed bid packages, hired and managed wetlands restoration contractors including engineers, surveyors, and landscapers. Conducted five years of monitoring reporting and maintenance in order to achieve the NJDEP’s stringent mitigation requirements. At the completion of the 5 year period the NJDEP approved the mitigation with no conditions.
Designed wetlands restoration and enhancement projects in support of remedial action for numerous sites in New Jersey including five dual-purpose soil covers to remediate soils and protect conservations areas. Designs satisfied wetlands mitigation and remediation requirements at sites in Cumberland, Camden, Bergen, Essex, and Monmouth Counties and in response to US ACOE, NJDEP, NJ Pinelands and NJ Meadowlands regulations.
Conducted wetlands compliance and restoration at four residential and commercial properties that had received notices of violation for wetlands disturbances in Burlington, Salem and Gloucester Counties, NJ. Coordinated with NJDEP, USF&WS, and US ACOE and obtained letters of full compliance for each Site.
Directed numerous Baseline Ecological Evaluations (BEEs) on remediation sites throughout New Jersey. The activities included evaluation of contaminants of ecological concern (CECs) using approved standards, identification of Environmental Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and migration pathways to receptors using maps and site inspections. In all cases the NJDEP approved the BEEs with no additional tasks required.
On behalf of the US Department of Public Health provided oversight to a remediation project within a northeastern national park. Contamination results from industrial work had pre-dated the incorporation of the national park. Reviewed and commented on work plans, RIs, feasibility studies, ecological risk assessments and habitat evaluations. Chemicals of concern included asbestos, metals and PAHs. Receptors included a river, wetlands, floodplains, caves, grasslands, and numerous species of special concern. Also trained staff in conducting habitat assessments and portions of the OSHA Hazwopper Training.
Managed the wetlands mitigation component at a 12-acre Superfund Site in Central New Jersey. Activities included installation and 5-year monitoring of the wetlands mitigation, field oversight for installation of plantings, conducting bi-annual inspections and annual regulatory reporting, coordination with owner and landscape contractor, NJDEP, ACOE, and USEPA, preparing proposals, and managing schedules, budgets, and staff.
Managed permitting and ecological restoration of a stream bank within a residential community which included conducting wetlands delineations and obtaining permits from NJDEP, coordinating with engineering team, homeowners’ association, and regulatory agencies, preparing proposals, and managing schedules and strict budgets.
Managed permitting for remediation at a specialty gas site that was contaminated with low-levels of radioactive material. Activities included conducting wetlands delineation, preparing wetlands permits, designing a restoration plan, providing support to civil engineer for riparian zone permitting and restoration, and coordination with NJDEP for land-use permitting concerns.

Education

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA – Natural Resource Biology (Aquatic Ecology), 1980
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, MS, Forest Science (Soil Chemistry) 1987

Employment History

2010-Present Quantum Management Group, Inc. / Senior Associate
1998-2010: Wetlands and Environmental Technology, Inc., Woodbury, NJ/ President & Principal Scientist
1990-1998:Roux Associates, Inc., West Deptford, NJ / Senior Scientist
1988-1990: BCM Engineers, Marlton, NJ / Environmental Scientist
1986-1988: US EPA- Region IX, San Francisco, CA / Environmental Scientist
1980-1983: US Peace Corps – Cameroon, West Africa / Inland Fisheries Extension Agent and High School Science Teacher

Training

ACOE Wetlands Delineator Certification Program Training (48) hours, 1995
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.190 Hazardous Waste Operations: Health & Safety Training Program for Supervisors with annual updates since 1990
T&E Species Assessment, Rutgers University, 2001
Bog Turtle Field Assessment Techniques, NJDEP, 2001
Vernal Pond Certification Program, NJDEP 2006
Flood Hazard Area Rules Training, Rutgers Univ./NJDEP, 2008
Wetlands Restoration – Hydrologic Regime Training, Rutgers Univ./NJDEP 2008
Loss Prevention System Training, with annual refreshers since 2009

Professional Affiliations

Society of Ecological Restoration
Society of Wetlands Scientists
Society of Environmental Toxicologists and Chemists
New Jersey Society of Women Environmental Professionals – Co-Chair 1999-2003, Steering Committee Advisor (2003-present)