Our leaders share their expertise.

We’re doing more than fostering success for our clients — we’re leading the way in environmental engineering and regulatory compliance. Explore some of our research to see how we’re pushing ourselves and our clients forward. Check out abstracts pulled from our white papers, and download the full reports you’d like to read.

SynTerra’s stream restoration at Kiwi Creek

SynTerra recently completed a stream restoration for Kiwi Creek in North Carolina. Read more and watch the project evolve here.

SynTerra Services Brochure Library

SynTerra offers a variety of services and expertise for companies across the southeast. Find more information on SynTerra services in your industries.

Groundwater Monitoring in the CCR Rule – What’s Next?

Get an overview of upcoming CCR Rule requirements and deadlines. Additionally, there’s information about current CCR monitoring system designs, sampling and analysis programs, and data quality management challenges.

Coal Combustion Residuals: Environmental Risk and Remedy

This presentation provides an overview of the federal CCR Rule and associated state regulations, and it outlines many of the CCR compliance activities we are conducting at current and former coal-fired power plants.

A Model for Sustainable Aquatic Risk Mitigation

A constructed wetland system has received recognition from federal agencies as a model application of sustainable technology. From conceptual design through long-term operation, the system has yielded invaluable research.

Taste and Odor Control in Source Water for the Anderson Regional Joint Water System

The Anderson Regional Joint Water System experienced intermittent taste and odor problems in raw and finished water from a treatment plant on an arm of Hartwell Lake. Read about the successful management strategy that followed.

Framework for Environmental Toxicology and Emissions Assessment of Alternative Piston Aviation Fuels

The FAA, EPA, and aviation and petroleum industries are seeking replacements for leaded aviation fuel, which is still widely used. This presentation focuses on the assessment framework for environmental toxicology and engine exhaust emissions.

Todd Plating, P.G.

Assessment & Remediation Business Unit Lead

Principal

Todd is a Senior Geologist and Project Manager with 20 years of experience. He serves as a technical lead on assessment and remediation projects. Todd leads multidisciplinary teams that focus on energy production residuals and how legacy products affect groundwater and surface water. His teams conduct comprehensive site assessments and employ new technologies to design remediation solutions.

In a recent project, Todd worked in a metamorphosed fractured bedrock setting. His team combined traditional coring, borehole geophysics, fate and transport modeling, and PHREEQC geochemical modeling to develop and refine a site conceptual model. That model is guiding corrective action planning, remedial design, and implementation.

Todd is licensed as a Professional Geologist in North Carolina and South Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Appalachian State University. Todd is a mentor to geologists and scientists at SynTerra.

Kathy Webb, P.G.

Vice President | Principal

Kathy is a leading expert in planning and implementing Brownfields redevelopment initiatives. She’s also a go-to expert for soil and groundwater environmental assessments, remediation, monitoring, and regulatory compliance. Her projects have included source determinations, delineating the footprint of landfills, assessing the generation of landfill gas, assessing the effects of constituents in groundwater, and developing groundwater remediation strategies.

Kathy is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama. She holds a Master’s degree in Geology from the University of Alabama. She earned Bachelor’s degrees in Marine Science and Geology at Alabama.

Mark Taylor, P.G.

Principal

Mark has worked more than 40 years in natural-resource based industries. His expertise includes mine geology and mine engineering, hydrogeologic and geotechnical investigations, solid and hazardous waste management, and regulatory negotiations. He has published peer-reviewed papers about coal geology, ore geochemistry, mineralogy, and solid waste management. He is a leading expert in mining and environmental permitting for litigation support.

Mark is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington. He serves on the boards of the Upstate Red Cross and Upstate Forever. He served on the South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists for six years. Mark holds a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Science from Harvard University.

Andrea Kehn, P.E.

Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit Lead | Principal

Andrea, leader of our Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit, has 28 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and environmental consulting. She leads and supervises staff professionals on multidisciplinary projects for a variety of industrial clients. Andrea’s vast experience and expertise includes: air quality construction and operating permitting; air quality modeling; air permit record-keeping and reporting; Oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP); NPDES Permitting; water quality modeling; process safety management; risk management compliance and auditing; and RCRA compliance.

Andrea is registered as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ruth Albright, P.E.

Vice President | Principal

Ruth has led projects for major industrial facilities throughout the Southeast and beyond. She built her knowledge of environmental regulations and their application to manufacturing operations while working for the second largest chemical manufacturing company in the United States. At SynTerra, she has expanded both her knowledge and reputation working for chemical manufacturing operations of all sizes. She has also worked extensively with other manufacturing operations, including pulp and paper, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive parts and assembly. Her experience includes air and wastewater permit compliance, solid and hazardous waste management, solid waste construction permitting, hazardous materials transportation, wastewater treatment systems, air pollution control equipment operations and maintenance, and ambient air monitoring systems.

Ruth is a professional engineer registered in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She is an active member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee and serves as the chair of the water subcommittee. She has previously served as the program and committee chair for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs committee. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.