Julie Konzuk, PhD

Julie Konzuk, PhD, (Ontario) is a Senior Principal Engineer with more than 20 years of environmental consulting and research experience in Australia and North America. She helps clients to remediate soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents (chlorinated ethenes, ethanes and methanes), nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs), unexploded ordinance and munitions constituents (perchlorate and nitroaromatics), heavy metals, nitrated and chlorinated benzenes, and chlorofluorinated compounds. In addition to more conventional methods, Julie has extensive experience with innovative in situ remediation techniques such as bioremediation and chemical oxidation.

Julie has directed, managed, or provided specialist technical support for projects ranging from overall strategy development and site investigation to laboratory treatability studies and design/implementation of innovative in situ remediation technologies. Julie also has experience with litigation support (insurance recovery and expert witness testimony in the New South Wales Land and Environment Court) and third-party independent peer reviews. In addition, she has authored many guidance documents and journal articles.

SPECIALTIES
  • Remedial investigation/design and implementation
  • Remediation strategy
  • Treatability studies
  • Technical peer review
  • Fractured bedrock remediation
  • Litigation support
SELECTED AUSTRALIAN PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Chemical Manufacturing Facility, Botany Bay, NSW. Provided design and technical support during implementation of four enhanced in situ bioremediation (EISB) pilot trials for treatment of a plume containing 1,000s mg/L chlorinated solvent concentrations. The trials successfully demonstrated the ability to overcome inhibition related to high concentrations of ethylene dichloride (EDC) and low pH groundwater with engineering controls. The trials achieved biodegradation of >1,000 mg/L EDC and other chlorinated ethenes, methanes and ethanes to innocuous end products, with a total mass degraded exceeding 3,000 kg over the 18-month pilot trial duration.

Dry Cleaners Facility, Sydney, NSW. Provided treatability study, remedial design, and technical support for pilot and full-scale implementation of EISB treatment of tetrachloroethene (PCE) dense, non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPL) source area and plume. Pilot testing indicated successful stimulation of biodegradation of PCE DNAPL with enhancement of the dissolution of the DNAPL between 2-4 times and clean-up of the downgradient and off-site plume to below cleanup criteria. The full-scale system successfully met the interim remedial goals specified by the NSW Land and Environment Court and, in some areas of the plume, met the final remedial goals within the first 8 months of operation. Dr. Konzuk also provided expert witness support in the landowner's successful appeal in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Chemical Manufacturing Facilities, Melbourne, VIC. Provided treatability study (in partnership with a local laboratory) and desktop feasibility study evaluations of EISB for two fractured bedrock sites impacted with chlorinated/nitrated benzenes and aniline DNAPL. The evaluations illustrated that only a portion of the contaminants were likely to be effectively treated with EISB and that high concentrations within the DNAPL source zones were inhibitory to biological activity. Within the plume, the lower concentrations were demonstrated to be treatable with EISB. A cost-benefit analysis indicated that the cost effectiveness of an EISB remedy within the plume was highly dependent on the contaminant mass flux and that EISB may not be a cost-effective approach. A feasibility evaluation of EISB treatment of a separate PCE source area is currently underway.