MICHELE BARDEN
Swampscott,USA
Summary
Highly skilled and knowledgeable environmental scientist and program director with over 25 years of experience. Primarily focused on water resources management across government, private, and non-profit sectors. Expert in implementing the Clean Water Act, water quality standards, total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), and other regulatory programs to develop National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Experienced in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure operation and maintenance, including risk assessment for climate change and the development of adaptation plans. Skilled in multi-disciplinary study design, quality assurance project plans (QAPP), environmental sampling, hydrology, and mixing zone modeling. Member of an interdisciplinary team awarded the EPA Silver Medal for Superior Service in 2024 for work on climate resilience.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Environmental Scientist/Senior NPDES Permit Writer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Boston, USA
01.2001 - Current
- Develop and issue NPDES permits, ensuring that each permit meets the goals of the Clean Water Act and other applicable federal and state regulations..
- Conduct reasonable potential analyses.
- Prepare Response to Comments documents.
- Work closely with other federal, state, and local officials, and stakeholders, to ensure that NPDES permits protect critical resources and public health.
- Serve as a technical expert supporting the EPA Region 1’s Office of Regional Counsel in NPDES permit appeals.
- Point of contact and coordinator for the team developing and re-issuing an NPDES permit for the second-largest WWTF in the U.S.
- Developed methodology and recommended procedures for evaluating major storm and flood risks, and preparing adaptation plans for wastewater treatment systems.
- Provide training, and serve as a regional contact for developing resiliency adaptation plans.
- Regional contact for dye study reviews, and CORMIX modeling support.
- Represent EPA Region 1 on topical, national EPA workgroups.
- Provide mentoring to new permit writers.
Water Policy Director
Neponset River Watershed Association
Canton, USA
04.1997 - 01.2001
- Developed the Association's overall water policy positions, with final approval from the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.
- Devised and implemented strategies for achieving the Association's water policy goals through various tools, including designing, implementing, and managing watershed research projects, and membership on numerous state agency committees and task forces.
- Lead Researcher/Project Manager for all scientific research projects.
- Worked closely with the Executive Director and senior staff to develop the Association's long-term and annual work plans, and secure funding through governmental and private grants.
- Developed a water quality monitoring program that produced data used by the U.S. EPA serves as the basis for a bacteria TMDL—the first volunteer-collected data-based TMDL in Region 1.
- Mentored other watershed groups in designing water quality monitoring programs, and developing Quality Assurance Project Plans.
- Served as the manager of Willet Pond, then owned by the Neponset River Landholding Association.
- Supervised a staff of one full-time employee, up to five part-time employees, interns, and over 60 volunteers.
Education
Graduate Studies - Physical Geography and GIS
Portland State University
Portland, OR12-1994
Bachelor of Science - Cartography, Geological Sciences
Salem State University
Salem, MA05-1993
Skills
- Water resource management
- Data interpretation & analysis
- Environmental analysis
- Environmental law
- Pollution investigation
- Geospatial analysis
- Technical writing
- Project permitting
- Ecological assessment
- Mixing zone analysis
- Climate risk assessment
- Water quality testing
Analytical Tools
- CREAT: Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool
- CORMIX Mixing Zone Model
- ArcGIS Pro
Selected Additional Trainings
- R Programming A to Z: R for Data Science with Real Exercises, Udemy, 01/01/25
- CREAT: Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool, EPA, 03/01/24
- CORMIX: Cornell Mixing Zone Expert System, MixZon, 10/01/21
- CORMIX: Cornell Mixing Zone Expert System, MixZon, 03/01/02
- NPDES Permit Writers’ Course, EPA, 01/01/21
- NPDES Permit Writers’ Course, EPA, 04/01/04
- NPDES Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Course, EPA, 10/01/18
- Water Quality Standards Academy, EPA, 01/01/17
- River Morphology and Survey Workshop, New England Environmental, Inc., 05/01/04
- Chemistry for Environmental Professionals – Applied, EPA, 12/01/03
- Chemistry for Environmental Professionals – Fundamentals, EPA, 12/01/03
- Clean Water Act: Tools for Watershed Protection, EPA, 11/01/01
Computer Tools
- MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, One Note, Outlook, Teams
- Other: Zoom, Webex
Field Skills
- Water quality monitoring and sample collection
- Benthic macroinvertebrates sampling, preservation, and identification
- Streamflow gaging
Timeline
Environmental Scientist/Senior NPDES Permit Writer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
01.2001 - Current
Water Policy Director
Neponset River Watershed Association
04.1997 - 01.2001
Graduate Studies - Physical Geography and GIS
Portland State University
Bachelor of Science - Cartography, Geological Sciences
Salem State University
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