Environmental Forensic Investigation and Technical Evaluation of Environmental Records, Geospatial Data, and Technical Documentation
Project Overview
This investigation involved the review of environmental records, geospatial information, technical documentation, mapping resources, regulatory materials, and supporting environmental data associated with a historical environmental incident. The available materials were evaluated to develop an understanding of the environmental information available for review and to assess the technical documentation using accepted principles of environmental forensics, environmental engineering, and geospatial analysis.
The investigation incorporated multiple categories of environmental information to evaluate historical environmental conditions and to assess the consistency and technical reliability of the available records. Review of these materials provides a comprehensive understanding of the environmental documentation within the scope of the investigation while maintaining the historical context in which the records were prepared.
Chemicals of Concern
The investigation considered petroleum hydrocarbons and associated constituents commonly encountered following releases of crude oil and refined petroleum products into the environment. Evaluation included consideration of the physical and chemical properties of petroleum, environmental fate and transport processes, weathering characteristics, and potential interactions with environmental media.
Published scientific literature and government guidance relating to petroleum behavior, environmental transport, and ecological exposure were reviewed as appropriate to provide technical context for the environmental records evaluated during this investigation.
Methods
The investigation was conducted using established principles of environmental forensics, environmental engineering, geospatial analysis, and historical records evaluation. Available environmental records, mapping products, technical documentation, regulatory information, and supporting datasets were reviewed as an integrated body of information.
The investigation included evaluation of geospatial datasets, environmental mapping, historical observations, and supporting environmental documentation using geographic information system (GIS) techniques where appropriate. Multiple independent sources of information were considered collectively to evaluate the consistency of the available environmental documentation and to assess the technical basis of the materials reviewed.
The methodology emphasized integration of multiple categories of environmental information rather than reliance upon any individual record or dataset. This approach is consistent with accepted environmental forensic practices used to evaluate historical environmental conditions and associated technical documentation.
Results
The reviewed materials constitute a comprehensive collection of environmental records, mapping products, technical documentation, and supporting information prepared during environmental response and assessment activities.
Collectively, the available materials provide multiple independent sources of environmental information that can be evaluated using accepted environmental forensic and engineering principles. Review of the records demonstrates the value of integrating environmental documentation, geospatial information, and technical records to develop a comprehensive understanding of historical environmental conditions.
The environmental information reviewed during this investigation was evaluated for consistency, completeness, and technical reliability within the scope of the available documentation.
Conclusions
The available environmental documentation provides an appropriate technical foundation for environmental forensic evaluation and historical environmental reconstruction.
Evaluation of multiple independent categories of environmental information provides greater technical context than review of individual records alone and supports a comprehensive understanding of the available environmental documentation. The investigation was conducted using accepted environmental engineering, environmental forensic, and geospatial evaluation methodologies appropriate to the scope of the available materials.
This investigation was conducted under the direction of Dr. Paul Rosenfeld, an environmental scientist and environmental forensic expert with experience in environmental contamination assessment, contaminant fate and transport, historical site reconstruction, exposure evaluation, regulatory review, and technical causation analysis. Through RoseyFields LLC, Dr. Rosenfeld provides environmental forensic investigations, contaminant source evaluations, historical records analysis, environmental compliance assessments, regulatory review, geospatial environmental evaluations, and expert consulting services in matters involving complex environmental conditions and historical industrial operations.
References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profiles.
Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri). GIS mapping resources and geospatial analysis documentation.
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). Environmental response records, mapping resources, and related environmental documentation.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Oyster resource and coastal management publications.
Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office (LOSCO). Environmental response documentation and technical guidance.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Environmental response guidance, coastal mapping resources, and technical publications.
National Weather Service (NWS). Historical meteorological information.
Published scientific literature relating to petroleum fate and transport, environmental forensics, geospatial analysis, and ecological assessment.
Technical maps, geospatial datasets, environmental records, and supporting documentation reviewed during this investigation.