Nick Patz

Contracted to establish the emirate’s waste management program from the beginning. The work included writing and codifying a new set of environmental laws and regulations, an environmental awareness program for all age levels, modernization of the collection system, and construction of a materials recycling facility. A 50-year landfill was sited, designed and constructed under his management to US EPA and European Union guidelines, the first such landfill in the GCC region. Starting from zero recycling, the program achieved a 60% recycling rate within 18 months.

Led an effort resulting in construction of a state-of-the-technology landfill for a city producing approximately 3,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day, together with a materials recycling facility. Nearly 80 percent of possible recyclables are captured from the facility for downstream use.

As president of Ceres Associates, supervised a company directive to provide state-of-the-technology landfills and recycling programs in the Middle East, including responsibility for the siting, design and construction of the first landfill in the GCC with environmental controls.

Managed an environmental site assessment of a 56-acre aerospace manufacturing facility involved in the manufacture and testing of jet and rocket engines. The work included a large-scale geophysical survey, a 150-point soil vapor survey, asbestos surveys, and 57 soil borings to depths of up to 70 feet, followed by a fate and transport study coupled with a risk-based corrective action report.

Managed assessment and remediation at former gasoline service station sites within a portfolio acquired from bankruptcy court. Work included approximately 50 soil borings, installation and monitoring of 28 groundwater wells at one site and 17 at another, and air sparging and vapor extraction systems engineered to obtain regulatory closure in 24 and 18 months respectively.

A Phase I assessment recommended removal of an underground storage tank within a 60-day escrow period. After removal it emerged that the full 10,000-gallon contents had previously been released to the ground. Contamination was chased to groundwater at 45 feet, more than 15,000 cubic yards of affected soil was placed in windrows onsite with hundreds of analyses by mobile laboratory, and the entire programme was completed within the escrow period.

Designed a removal process using field XRF screening to estimate lead concentrations while removing contaminated soil directly to off-haul vehicles. Over 100 cubic yards were removed in two days, avoiding construction delays, with subsequent removal of an underground storage tank and treatment of excavation groundwater under regulatory approval while construction continued.

Following a bank merger, environmental due diligence was conducted on approximately 300 bank-owned properties. Prepared reviews of 95 Phase I assessments, advising whether further background was required, whether recommendations were sufficient or excessive, and whether particular branches should be acquired.

Managed Phase I and follow-up Phase II projects across six newspaper publishing sites dating to the late 1800s, delineating soil contamination from gasoline, diesel, waste oil and chlorinated solvents. Completed on time and within budget, and all six properties were purchased.

Managed Phase I projects across 30 sites for a Texas acquirer to support its negotiating position on a $150,000,000 real estate transaction. Completed on time and within budget.

Retained by attorneys for Beechcraft Corporation to provide litigation support in a $10 million suit brought against the County of Orange concerning perchloroethene groundwater contamination. Conducted site-specific fate and transport research and modeling, briefed the board of directors periodically, and presented data demonstrating Beechcraft was not responsible for cleanup. The County withdrew the suit and paid attorney fees.

A property taken under eminent domain for a State highway expansion had been devalued to nearly zero over perceived cleanup costs for lead in soil and petroleum in soil and groundwater. Assessed the viability of State reimbursement, provided an expert opinion summary report and was deposed on two occasions. The case settled before trial for an increase of approximately $800,000.

Managed environmental site assessments across a 28-acre mixed-use land assembly, including geophysical and soil vapor surveys, subsurface sampling and groundwater monitoring, and advised the redevelopment agency on potential cleanup costs for eminent domain purposes.

Advises clients pursuing ISCC EU and CORSIA certification, including supplier questionnaires, sustainability declarations, traceability documentation and mass balance systems, with focus on practical implementation across large and distributed supplier networks.