RICHARD D. PONAK
Summary
Experienced with environmental data analysis, field samplings and environmental investigations, Utilizes knowledge of regulatory frameworks and sustainability practices to support conservation initiatives. Track record of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, delivering actionable environmental insights and ensuring environmental compliance.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Environmental Scientist/Enforcement Officer
United States Environmental Protection Agency
05.1991 - 02.2025
- Conducts Clean Air, Toxic Substance Control Act, and Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act Inspections: I am responsible for identifying sources and/or facilities in violation of Clean Air Act, TSCA AHERA, TSCA Lead, FIFRA, and other applicable statutory source and facility compliance regulatory requirements, standards and practices
- Conducted outreach, education and enforcement of the Federal Worker Protection Standard.
- I have conducted over 2000 inspections and investigations while at the EPA
- Presented on integrated pest management and asbestos methods in schools to inform the community on Environmental Protection Agencies ongoing efforts.
- These inspections have involved collecting samples, documents and photographing other evidence at the facility
- Many of the inspections have led to EPA enforcement actions being issued
- Assists EPA Criminal Investigation Division: Since 1991 I have assisted the Philadelphia, Washington Area, Wheeling, and New York CID Offices during search Warrants and field investigations
- During the investigations I have acted as a field health and safety technician by assessing hazardous conditions and recommending the proper personal protective equipment to the agents
- I have conducted sampling for CID during many search warrants and investigations
- The methodology, labeling and photographing all samples, and maintaining the chain of custody from the field throughout the entire case
- I have also reviewed many technical documents for CID, including laboratory analysis reports, site surveys, waste manifests, and field data logs
- Some of the criminal cases I have provided technical assistance for Phillip Banks, Howard Parsons, Christopher Arader, Thomas Chau, David Farley, Kenneth McDonald, and DeVold Partnership criminal cases
- Serves as an expert and fact witness in civil and criminal trials: I provide program support to CID by explaining the asbestos regulatory program, obtaining and explaining headquarters interpretations of the regulations and by testifying as a fact and expert witness at Grand Juries, Trials, and sentencings
- I have testified in numerous criminal proceedings, program hearings, depositions, and state courts
- I have also been involved in several criminal cases that have reached successful plea agreements
- Case development in accordance with agency's enforcement policies: Serves as a senior staff specialist with responsibility for imitating enforcement/compliance actions, in the absence of appropriate and timely state and local enforcement and compliance actions, particularly in cases where a high degree of technical knowledge is necessary
- Prepares Notice of Violation and develop technical support documents to support federal negotiations
- Use EPA developed penalty computerized models, to determine noncompliance penalties based on amounts of money saved by noncompliance with applicable regulations and standards
- Conducts seminars and workshops, provides technical assistance and outreach programs for EPA, state, national offices, local agencies, schools, and the public
- Responds to inquiries from state and local officials, environmental groups, the regulated community, or the public concerning the interpretation and application of policy directives and regulations pertinent to the agency's national enforcement/compliance programs and requirements
- Responsible for training new inspectors, senior Environmental Employees, interns, and state inspectors
- Provides oversight and technical direction for contractor performance to ensure receipt of products and services purchased, serving as a project officer and work assignment manager
- Responsible for laboratory service contracts for the branch also responsible for purchasing all personal protective equipment and supplies for the branch
- Serves as the Region III Asbestos Enforcement Coordinator
- Responsible for targeting and assigning all Region III asbestos inspections and investigations
- Reviews all enforcement documents issued by the Toxics Branch
- Coordinates enforcement with other regions, states, and other EPA programs
Environmental Scientist
JACA Corporation
05.1988 - 04.1991
- While at JACA Corporation I conducted environmental Audits, NESHAP Inspections-EPA Region II and Asbestos Hazard Emergency Act Inspections
- I also was involved with water sampling, lakes, streams, rivers, quarries and monitoring wells
- I was trained in and utilized NIOSH 582, Phase Contrast Microscopy, and Polarized Light Microscopy
- I developed and utilized laboratory quality control criteria
- I developed and reviewed environmental bid proposals for school districts
- I was on the AHERA Quality Assurance Team of the Philadelphia School District
Environmental Technician
Applied Environmental Technology
08.1987 - 05.1988
- OSHA-EPA Quality Assurance Air Monitoring Environmental Audits/Building Inspections
Environmental Technician
North East Environmental, Inc.
05.1987 - 08.1987
- OSHA-EPA Quality Assurance Air Monitoring
Environmental Technician
Allentown Testing Laboratories, Inc.
05.1986 - 08.1986
- Hazardous Waste Site Safety Technician Asbestos Monitoring and Sampling Analytical Laboratory Analysis
Education
B.S. - Environmental Studies
East Stroudsburg University
East Stroudsburg, PA05.1987
Skills
- Environmental monitoring
- Environmental impact analysis
- Investigation report composition
- Environmental assessment
- Environmental compliance
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Environmental education
- Compliance inspection
- Contaminated site cleanup
- Field observations recording
Personal Information
Title: Enforcement Officer/ Environmental Scientist
Certification
1988: Asbestos Abatement Worker/Supervisor-Asbestos Training Academy
Asbestos Inspectors Course- Kaselan and D'Angelo Training Division
1989: AHERA Inspector Refresher- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Sampling and Evaluating Asbestos Dust- University of Utah
Bulk Analysis for Asbestos-University of Utah
1990: Philadelphia Asbestos Project Inspector-City of Philadelphia
1991: Asbestos Building Inspector Refresher-Drexel University
EPA Fundamental Inspector Training- EPA Region III
Industrial Hygiene-Temple University Graduate School
Occupational Health and Safety Training-EPA Region III
EPA Contract Administration Course-EPA Region III
1992: Hazardous Waste Management-Temple University Graduate School
Enforcement Negotiation Skills Training-EPA Region III
Building Inspector Recertification Course-Temple University
EPA Project Officer Certification Course-EPA Region III
1993: National Asbestos Registry System Training-EPA Region III
Analytical Instrumentation-Temple University Graduate School
Building Inspector Recertification Course-Temple University
Asbestos NESHAP Demolition and Renovation Inspection Procedures- R.W.J. Medical School
1994-96: Asbestos Building Inspector Refresher-Temple University
Technical Personnel Training-Federal Law EnforcementTraining Center
1998: Asbestos Building Inspector Refresher-Criterion Labs
1999: EPA Administrative Hearing and Trials-EPA Region III
EPA Litigating Civil Penalties-EPA Region III
Asbestos Building Inspector Refresher-Criterion Labs
2000-2024: Asbestos Building Inspector Refresher-Criterion Labs
EPA Respirator Fit Test Training Program-EPA Region III
2001: Evidence Legal Aspects and Practical Concerns-EPA-CID Region III
2002-2024: Health and Safety Eight Hour Training-EPA Region III
2019-2024: Lead RRP Initial-Criterion Labs
2021-current: Lead Based Paint Inspector- Cocciardi Associates, Inc.
2021-current: Lead Based Paint Risk Assessor- Cocciardi Associates, Inc.
Timeline
Environmental Scientist/Enforcement Officer
United States Environmental Protection Agency
05.1991 - 02.2025
Environmental Scientist
JACA Corporation
05.1988 - 04.1991
Environmental Technician
Applied Environmental Technology
08.1987 - 05.1988
Environmental Technician
North East Environmental, Inc.
05.1987 - 08.1987
Environmental Technician
Allentown Testing Laboratories, Inc.
05.1986 - 08.1986
B.S. - Environmental Studies
East Stroudsburg University
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