Jean Talanda Email & Phone Number

Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

Kalamazoo, Mi

As a geologist and EP in a small company, I performed and managed a variety of environmental projects including Phase I and Phase II ESAs, Baseline Environmental Assessments (BEAs), Due Care Plans, Section 7a Compliance Analyses, vapor encroachment screening, and contaminant remediation projects for facilities in Michigan and Indiana. My credentials as a CUSTP allowed the company to become a MDEQ Qualified Consultant (QC) for LUST sites. Additionally, my extensive experience with Part 201 and LUST sites, including initial assessment, hydrogeological investigation, and closure strategies, broadened our consulting services. My experience communicating environmental risks and solutions to regulators [MDEQ, EPA, Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)], clients, developers and financial institutions resulted in successful closures, approvals and adequacy determinations for submittals such as the MDEQ 2011 No Further Action (NFA), Response Activity Plan, and Compliance Analysis requests, as well as IDEM’s NFA, LUST closure, and liability exemption “Comfort Letter” requests. My duties included business, budget and scope development, RFP bids, field work, research, data analysis and report writing.

Grand Rapids, Mi

I served in a variety of functions for out-of-state clients and clients within Michigan. RMT focused on providing a “turn-key” approach for environmental problems and compliance issues that large industrial companies commonly face. The out-of-state projects were conducted by multiple offices and required interaction with numerous government agencies and regulations in other states which have unique environmental and geologic concerns and challenges. Developed RMT’s Michigan qualification and quotation bid package in response to request for proposals (RFPs) for brownfield site assessment consulting services. At RMT my experience also expanding into environmental areas such as acid mine drainage remediation, feasibility studies for deep well injection of hazardous waste, environmental impacts of wind turbine farms, and contaminant investigation, remediation and closure of bedrock impacted sites and coastal plains. RMT also provided the training for my designation as an Environmental Professional (EP) pursuant to ASTM E 1527-05 and the All Appropriate Inquiries necessary to conduct Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs).

Benton Harbor And Kalamazoo, Mi

As Technical Services Manager at LANDMARK in the Benton Harbor Corporate Office, my responsibilities included direct management of staff, equipment and project management, regional profit/loss, procuring contractual agreements, maintaining client and regulatory liaison, enforcing corporate policies, and contributing to client development. In 2003, I transitioned the traditional office environment to a more effective “virtual” office whereby the employees worked from their home locations under my management with a small support base or “store-front” in Benton Harbor. The employees valued the “virtual” working atmosphere and conditions; the results were highly effective, efficient and profitable.My role was to provide technical input and oversight on a variety of environmental disciplines directly and indirectly related to CMI-funded site investigations, aquifer characterizations, underground storage tank management programs, waste management, state and federally regulated closures, site remediation activities, compliance, real estate transfer services, environmental health issues, and site redevelopment throughout southwest Michigan. I performed formal document preparation and review, data analyses, project costing, budgetary management, and departmental coordination. Other responsibilities included the direct oversight of technical project managers, the indirect management of multi-discipline professionals, the tracking of divisional profit/loss and capital expenditures, and the enforcement of practical environmental standards and company policies to ensure the safety of all technical personnel as well as the delivery of quality workmanship.

Kalamazoo, Mi

The opportunity as a part-time instructor for Physical Science classes was the most personally rewarding of my professional career. Being able to share my passion of geology with students in different stages of life brought about a synergistic exchange in the classroom. My instruction focused on critical problem solving, communication skills, and hands-on interaction with maps, rocks, geologic models such as the groundwater simulators and enviro-landscape models.

Kalamazoo, Mi

My work extended into the private sector when I joined Kieser & Associates in 1994 as a project manager and hydrogeologist. Our projects were primarily in Kalamazoo County and the surrounding areas. I managed LUSTs sites utilizing Michigan Underground Storage Tank Financial Assurance (MUSTFA) funds for completion of contaminant investigation, remediation, and closure. Other projects included non-LUST environmental impacted sites and Environmental Site Assessments. Our firm was selected by the City of Kalamazoo for inclusion on their short-list of environmental contractors.

Rose Lake Field Office, East Lansing; Plainwell/Kalamazoo District Office

I have worked with the MDNR in the Divisions of Groundwater Quality (GQD), Environmental Response (ERD), and Underground Storage Tanks (USTD). In the Groundwater Quality Division, I served as project manager conducting investigations at environmentally impacted sites across Michigan for the enforcement cases of the Michigan Department of Attorney General. My training was conducted by the Department of Attorney General to serve as an expert witness for utilization in cases during the discovery process and court proceedings. I have also worked as a district senior geologist in the Kalamazoo Office for the Environmental Response Division on a variety of sites, serving as a Project Manager for hundreds of Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) sites and other facilities including those requiring the procurement of LOE contractors. I was involved in “brownfield redevelopment” before it became a common phrase. I served as the lead manager for extensive remediation at a large pharmaceutical company. In addition, my work with the MDNR is well recognized and I have earned a reputation for promoting reasonable and innovative solutions for residents, business owners, elected officials, and municipalities across Michigan.

Bachelor Of Science, Geology

Michigan State University Field Camp, Baraboo, Wisconsin/Marquette, Michigan

Master Of Science, Geology

Activities and Societies: Assistantship & Research Awards, Dept. of Geological Sciences; Research Grant Recipient, The Graduate.