Principals

Our Services

Gail A. Helfrick

Principal
Hamilton

Phone
+1 609.586.4071

Fax
+1 609.586.4072

Areas of Expertise

Client representation on multiparty environmental projects
Environmental remediation project management
Petroleum–related liabilities

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:
Financial management
Project milestones tracking using a QMG-created database
Reviewing reports
Interfacing with the technical consultants and regulators in each specific market
Supporting technical consultants in the field
Conducting safety audits in the field
Information flow management via a web-based SharePoint site
Interfacing weekly with the client management team to report progress in each market

Managing environmental liability for a major oil company at over 50 service stations in the state of New York, and responsible for transitioning the workload to an employee.
Managing the environmental liability of five remediation projects being conducted at service stations owned and operated by a major distributor of petroleum products in the State of New Jersey. Responsibilities include:
1. Participating in strategy sessions with the client and technical consultant,
2. Reviewing technical documents,
3. Participating in regulatory negotiations,
4. Negotiating the Scope of Work and contracts with technical consultants
5. Reviewing progress reports and invoices to ensure that the project remains on track and within budget.
Utilizes the SAP accounting system to create and maintain purchase orders for environmental technical consulting services on behalf of a client, and generates reports to compare actual costs to the approved budget.
Monitoring the activities at Superfund sites to ensure that the client's interest are represented, and that opportunities for settlement are acted upon within the appropriate timeframe. Responsibilities include:
1. Serving as the main point of contact;
2. Maintaining a dialogue with representatives from the PRP Groups, third parties, and counsel;
3. Reviewing, recommending, and coordinating challenges to the client's assigned volumetric share
4. Updating project summary reports on a quarterly basis.
Managed environmental liabilities for a major oil company at over 100 service stations in the State of New Jersey. Responsibilities included:
1. Negotiating with regulatory agencies and third parties,
2. Providing technical support to in-house counsel,
3. Ensuring that the project strategy is consistent with the goals and objectives of the business unit,
4. Ensuring that the remedial activities are conducted on time and within budget, and
5. Working with the client's Sales and Distribution business unit to ensure that the schedules for remedial activities are not negatively impacting business operations.
Managed liability at 21 federal and state Superfund sites, developed strategies for minimizing Superfund liability, and served as liaison with outside companies and regulatory agencies. More specific tasks included:
1. Challenging an assigned cost allocation at Superfund sites and creating a savings of $4.5 million,
2. Developing persuasive arguments based on extensive research that lead to the dismissal of three lawsuits saving substantial litigation costs,
3. Negotiating a settlement that represented the smallest monetary contribution for any major oil company involved,
4. Spearheading an effort to reduce cost by organizing and moderating a task force consisting of industry representatives and successfully argued for an equitable management approach at a Superfund site in North Carolina.
Conducted compliance training for service station managers in several states (i.e., New York, New Jersey, Florida, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts), on behalf of a major oil company.
Managed the Underground Storage Tank reimbursement program for a major oil company, and negotiated a contract with a technical consultant for the preparation and submission of eligibility applications and reimbursement requests. The contract negotiations resulted in a total savings of over $100,000.
Reviewed regulatory NJDEP oversight invoices on behalf of a client, and negotiated cost reductions that resulted in a total savings of over $100,000.
Conducted a third–party review of a remediation project to be implemented at a client's facility. The review included an investigation and evaluation of the remedial design, project management, regulatory framework, community and public relations plans, and the contractual relationship with the technical consultant.
Managed the procurement process for the identification, evaluation, and selection of a technical consultant who could develop, negotiate and implement a proactive, cost–effective alternative to a remedial action being conducted.
Prepared and was granted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection a DeMinimis Quantity Exemption in accordance with the Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) for a transfer of property.
Critiqued a document prepared by a contractor that recommended additional remedial activities at a site (i.e., groundwater sampling for six months), and recommended that a request for No Further Action be submitted to the state agency. The request was granted by the state agency.

Education

Rider University, M.B.A., 1990
Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales, B.S., Chemistry, 1981

Employment History

1989–1996 Mobil Oil Corporation, Superfund Consultant
1983–1989 FMC Corporation, Quality Assurance Specialist
1981–1983 Revlon Health Care Group, Research Associate Chemist

Professional Affiliations

Society of Women Environmental Professionals, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee