Lydia M. Work, LRS, Principal Chemist
Ms. Work has over 25 years of analytical quality assurance experience as well as extensive applied geoscience experience in the area of remediation. Ms. Work has provided a full scope of environmental quality assurance project management services to private industry, manufacturers, developers, as well as state and federal regulators across various programs including Voluntary Remediation and Brownfields, ASTM Environmental Site Assessments, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and Superfund. Ms. Work has provided environmental consulting services to the energy industry, including both coal and oil/natural gas. Her services include compliance, chemistry quality assurance, site assessment, and remediation.
As a Licensed Remediation Specialist (LRS), Ms. Work has been successful in achieving Certificates of Completion for her clients across a diverse segment of properties from former industrial sites, rail lines, mining/quarrying properties, and fueling stations to orchard land. Recent projects of Lydia’s were awarded the Environmental Impact Award at the 2016 and 2017 West Virginia Brownfields Conference.
Certifications
- Licensed Remediation Specialist (WV) OSHA 40-Hour Hazardous Workers
- OSHA 8-Hour Mine Safety & Health Administration
- Hazardous Ranking Score Training Environmental Sampling Field Course
Patricia A. Hickman, Senior Advisor
Ms. Hickman has over 30 years of experience in environmental education, compliance, site remediation, site redevelopment, and grant administration. Previously, Ms. Hickman served as the Director of the Division of Land Restoration within the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) where she directed agency remediation and reclamation programs, including Brownfields/Voluntary Remediation, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action, Leaking Aboveground and Underground Storage Tanks (LAST and LUST), Landfill Closure Assistance, bond forfeiture mining reclamation, Pollution Prevention and Open Dump, recycling, tire reclamation, and beautification programs. She managed 95 employees and an annual budget of $130 million. She has experience as an Environmental Program Manager in Brownfields, Voluntary Remediation, LUST, and Underground Storage Tank (UST) compliance programs. She served as a Project Manager for Brownfields, Voluntary Remediation, LUST, and RCRA Corrective Action projects, and performed compliance inspections of USTs and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) facilities. She worked for West Virginia State Parks as a park Naturalist and Activities Coordinator. Ms. Hickman currently serves as the Executive Director of the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 created by the West Virginia Legislature. Its mission is to ensure long-term stewardship of environmental liabilities and economic redevelopment in West Virginia.
Certifications
- OSHA 40-Hour Hazardous Workers and OSHA 8-Hour Refresher
- West Virginia University Center for Executive Excellence WVDEP Management Training
- Dale Carnegie Immersion Seminar
Leah D. Mistick, Project Geoscientist
Ms. Mistick is a Project Geoscientist whose 15 years of professional experience includes the management and performance of Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) and Brownfields projects, Phase I and Phase II ASTM Environmental Site Assessments, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) projects, environmental remediations, compliance audits, oil and gas water supply inventories, complaint investigations, impoundment monitoring, state and federal permitting, emergency response, and stray gas investigations. Her regular responsibilities also have included the direction and supervision of field staff, groundwater sampling and analysis, and quality assurance protocols.
As a Licensed Remediation Specialist (LRS), Ms. Mistick has worked on remediation projects across a diverse segment of properties from former industrial sites, rail lines, mining/quarrying properties, and fueling stations.
Certifications
- WV Licensed Remediation Specialist, Registration No. 308
- Ohio EPA Voluntary Action Program Certified Professional, CP398
- ASTM Training: Phase I and II ESA
- 40-Hour HAZWOPER
- 24-Hour MSHA Surface Miner Training
- MSHA Methane/Oxygen Deficiency Training
- Current Adult and Infant CPR training and First Aid Training
- DOT HAZMAT Certification
- RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Certification
- PEC Safeland USA Certification
John F. Bolakas, MBA, P.G., LSRP, Project Director and Energy Executive
Mr. Bolakas provides energy clients with technical and business expertise. He is a Professional Geologist/Geoscientist and Licensed Site Remediation Professional with over 30 years of experience in the fields of geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, site investigation, site remediation and business decision analysis. He also holds an Energy Master of Business Administration degree to further provide solutions to complex energy and environmental matters including due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, and environmental, social and governance.
Mr. Bolakas provides technical strategy and analysis for client environmental claims, regulatory orders and litigation support. He manages stakeholder and regulatory compliance strategy development. He has led Project Teams in rapid response and investigation for air claim, loss of well control, stray gas and pipeline release incidents. He has been recognized for his applied use of conceptual site models and multiple lines of evidence to create project alignment and durable explanations to satisfy clients, regulators and community understanding of technical issues.
Certifications
- Delaware, Professional Geologist
- Florida, Professional Geologist
- Louisiana, Professional Geologist
- New Jersey, Licensed Site Remediation Professional
- New York, Professional Geologist
- Pennsylvania, Professional Geologist
- Texas, Professional Geoscientist
- Wyoming, Professional Geologist
Kelsey M. Morton, Staff Geoscientist II
Ms. Morton is a Staff Geoscientist II who has experience in groundwater sampling, wetland delineation and invasive species plant identification. Shortly after graduation, Ms. Morton completed an internship where she gained valuable experience in invasive species monitoring and treatment as well as wetland delineation. After completing her internship, she began completing work under CERCLA, RCRA and state voluntary action programs. In this role, she performed sample collection of groundwater, surface soil, sediment, wastewater and stormwater. She managed and created schedules for weekly, quarterly and annual sampling of 30+ sites in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She ensured that samples were within the constraints of each facility’s discharge permits.
Certifications
- 40-Hour HAZWOPER
- DOT HAZMAT Certification
- RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Certification
- Current Adult and Infant CPR training and First Aid Training
- PEC SafelandUSA Certification