JAMES C. VARNELL, P.E. 

EDUCATION:
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1970
Graduate Studies, Civil/Environmental Engineering, UT Austin, 1970

SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE:
Mr. Varnell is a registered professional engineer responsible for the fiscal and technical conduct of engineering and environmental projects conducted throughout the United States and internationally.  Mr. Varnell has over 30 years of experience, including 15 years of experience with planning, design and construction administration of civil/environmental engineering projects, and an additional 15 years of experience with conduct of environmental programs and analyses.  Mr. Varnell is experienced with engineering design and construction projects involving: water supply, treatment and distribution facilities; wastewater collection, treatment and effluent disposal facilities; municipal utilities; city streets and thoroughfares; state and Interstate highways; surface mine planning, construction, and reclamation; underground storage tanks (USTs), above-ground storage tanks (ASTs), and repair / replacement of leaking storage tanks (LSTs); hazardous site assessments, remedial designs, and remedial construction management; subdivisions and commercial developments; airport runways and taxiways; and solid and hazardous waste landfills.  Mr. Varnell also is experienced with environmental engineering programs involving: infiltration/inflow (I/I) analyses, sewer system evaluation surveys (SSES), Phase 1 and Phase 2 site assessments, UST and LST site investigations, lead-based paint and lead-in-water investigations, hazardous and toxic waste assessments, asbestos assessments, groundwater monitoring programs, stormwater and sanitary sewage flow modeling and analyses, surface and groundwater modeling, noise modeling, air pollution modeling and contaminant plume tracing and modeling, as well as preparation of complex environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs).   In addition, Mr. Varnell is experienced with the conduct of cost-effectiveness analyses and value engineering studies for large water treatment, wastewater treatment and transportation construction projects.

SELECTED PROJECT EXPERIENCE:

Program/Project Management:

Mr. Varnell served as project manager and chief engineer for the preparation of an EIS for a proposed Border Station Expansion in Laredo, Texas.  This project was to include new roadways, entrance drives, parking and inspection facilities, and a new building for the Border Station.  During conduct of the "determination of project need" phase of the EIS, Mr. Varnell conducted computerized truck traffic modeling and time/motion modeling of U.S. Custom's inspector operations which resulted in the determination that the proposed project was not needed.  The proposed project was subsequently cancelled, saving the US Government $15 million in construction.

Mr. Varnell served as program manager for preparation of two EAs for the US Air Force's (USAF's) Valentine and Reserve Military Operations Areas (MOAs) in Texas and New Mexico.  These EAs evaluated environmental impacts of proposed supersonic aircraft training flights in the MOAs.  The EAs evaluated potential impacts of sonic boom pressures on citizens, endangered species (particularly pronghorn sheep), and cultural resources.  Several controversial items were researched and analyzed satisfactorily, and the US Air Force received the requested waivers for MOA utilization.

Mr. Varnell was project manager for conduct of the SRAM II Missile and AMRAAM Missile EAs at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.  These EAs evaluated impacts of radioactive materials, hazardous waste, sonic boom pressures, noise, and other activities within the project region.  All issues were resolved and the missile testing was conducted as planned.  The AMRAAM missiles subsequently were used with good success in the overseas Desert Storm warfare..

Mr. Varnell served as program manager for a $20-million contract with the US Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) located at Brooks AFB, Texas.  Projects conducted under Mr. Varnell's supervision to-date have included: hazardous soil contamination remediation at England AFB, Louisiana; hazardous soil remediation at Whiteman AFB, Missouri; and hazardous spill cleanup and stream restoration at Carswell AFB, Texas.

Mr. Varnell was project manager for conduct of the EA for the STORM MOA in Martinsburg, West Virginia.  This project involved conduct of very large US Army, Air Force and National Guard exercises in populated portions of West Virginia.  The EA evaluated potential impacts from troop movements, field billeting, airlifting of personnel and equipment, military convoy maneuvers, and field program operations on both regional economics and the local environment.  Originally a very controversial project, the EA was completed ahead of schedule and the proposed military exercises were held, with the local population observing and participating in the program instead of protesting the program. 

Mr. Varnell was program manager for the conduct of asbestos surveys at Holloman AFB NM, England AFB LA, Bergstrom AFB TX, and Langley AFB VA. These projects involved the survey, identification, and abatement planning of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) for over 12 million square feet of building space.

Mr. Varnell served as program manager for the groundwater and sediment sampling program for the Mesquite landfill and gravel pits in Mesquite, Texas.  This project involved assessment of potentially hazardous leachate from the landfill and the evaluation of hazardous and toxic effluents in the gravel pits.  The project involved site assessment; water, sediment and soil sampling; data analyses; site remediation planning; and report preparation.  

Mr. Varnell was program manager for the Floodplain Delineation and Wetlands Identification Program at E-Systems in Greenville, Texas.  This project involved conduct of jurisdictional wetlands delineations for a 600-acre site.  Proposed expansion plans for this major Department of Defense (DoD) contractor were modified based on the results of the surveys.

Mr. Varnell was project manager for the conduct of a UST investigation at a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) facility in Wichita Falls TX.  Concern over apparent fuel loss from an underground storage tank prompted the study.  Mr. Varnell selected several locations for soil and groundwater testing and analysis using a Geoprobe direct push technology system.  Analysis with an on-site HNu and gas chromatograph determined the presence of fuel in the soil.  Tank tightness testing determined that the storage tank did not leak, but a leak was located in a fuel delivery line running between the fuel tank and the dispensing unit.  Contaminated soil was removed, the leak was repaired, and clean backfill was replaced around the tank and piping.  In addition, a permanent groundwater monitoring well was installed downdip of the tank and fuel island.  Contaminated soil was disposed at a properly licensed landfill.

Mr. Varnell served as program manager for conduct of I/I and SSES studies in Houston, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; Garland, Texas; Plano, Texas; Edgecliff Village, Texas and Forest Hills, Texas.  These projects involved extensive flow monitoring and modeling, smoke testing, dyed water infiltration testing, night flow measurement and analysis, and the installation of over 600 piezometers and groundwater monitoring wells.

Technical Designs and Investigations:

Mr. Varnell served as lead engineer for the investigation of a hazardous product spill at a major paint manufacturing facility in Ennis TX.  This project involved sampling and identification of major solvent leaks from tankage and piping.  Computer modeling was utilized to identify contaminant plume movement on-site, and to assist with the identification of remediation alternatives for keeping the contaminated plume from migrating off-site.  The study also identified other contaminant plumes which had migrated from other adjacent lands onto the paint manufacturing facility site.  Extensive coordination with state and local agencies was conducted to identify appropriate responsible parties in the project area.

Mr. Varnell was lead engineer for conduct of the analysis of wastewater treatment plant final clarifier short circuiting problems at Lufkin TX and Fresno CA.  These projects involved flow path detection and modeling using fluorometric dyes and a Turner Fluorometer capable of detecting dye concentrations in the parts per billion range.  Dye and suspended solid contours were developed for flow through all units using computerized techniques, and recommendations were made for correcting short circuiting problems.  Resulting effluent quality improved an average of over fifty percent.

Mr. Varnell served as the lead engineer on the evaluation of wastewater treatment plant alternatives for the Bushkill PA and Gettysburg PA EISs.  These projects involved iterative computations to determine the optimum line size for major wastewater collection system mains, optimum locations and sizing for major lift stations, analyses of alternative treatment methodologies, conduct of cost-effectiveness analyses to determine the best all around treatment scheme, and preparation of detailed cost estimates for construction and operation of  the optimal facilities.

Mr. Varnell was chief engineer for the investigation of potentially leaking Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) at an automotive repair shop in Plano TX.  Soil and groundwater samples at select locations around the project site were obtained using a Geoprobe. Samples were analyzed on-site using an HNu and gas chromatograph, and verified by analytical laboratory off-site.  Leaking tanks were identified, removed, and repaired / replaced.  Removal of contaminated soil located immediately adjacent to the leaking tanks was conducted at the time of tank repair and / or replacement.  No off-site contamination occurred.

Mr. Varnell served as chief engineer for the analysis of wastewater pretreatment needs at Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson AZ and Luke AFB, Phoenix AZ.  Both studies involved the characterization of waste streams being discharged to the base wastewater collection system and thence to the wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater samples from hospitals, administrative and housing areas, flight line washdown areas, maintenance areas, and support facilities were collected by crews supervised by Mr. Varnell and tested by an analytical laboratory, in order to characterize wastewater being discharged to the treatment plant.  In both cases, waste steams were identified that could cause the need for pretreatment of wastewater prior to its discharge from the AFB to the municipal wastewater treatment plant.

At Davis Monthan AFB, wastewater discharges from four major areas of the base were sampled and characterized.  Initial sampling conducted by Davis Monthan AFB personnel had indicated that chromium wastes and other heavy metal discharges were creating the need for a pretreatment facility at the base.  However,  sampling conducted by Mr. Varnell and his field crews determined that, by building a new interceptor line that would combine all four major waste streams prior to discharge, the chromium wastes would be dilute enough that the resultant wastewater could be discharged directly to the municipality, without requiring pretreatment at the base.  This finding saved the U.S. Government approximately $12.5 million in pretreatment plant construction cost.  In addition, treatment at the municipal treatment plant actually improved, because the combined wastewater collection and discharge system eliminated shock loading of heavy metals previously discharged directly to the municipal plant.

At Luke AFB, wastewater sampling and characterization efforts did indicate the need for pretreatment facilities.  Mr. Varnell managed and coordinated a team of design engineers in the preparation of a preliminary facilities plan and schematic design for the pretreatment plant, and a team of environmental professionals in the conduct of an environmental assessment for the siting of the plant.  The work supervised by Mr. Varnell was accepted by the Air Force, and funding was made available for the detailed design and construction of the required pretreatment facilities. 

Mr. Varnell served as chief engineer for analysis and improvements to the municipal wastewater treatment plant in Fresno CA.  The City was proposing to undertake expensive construction of several new treatment units to solve a problem of high TSS values in their WWTP effluent.  Instead, Mr. Varnell conducted dye testing of the circular final clarifier, using Rhodamine Dye and a Turner Fluorometer, to determine flow patterns in the final clarifier at the WWTP.  By producing contour maps of the dye flows readings, Mr. Varnell was able to identify severe short-circuiting problems in the final clarifier.  A simple baffle design was developed by Mr. Varnell to correct the short circuiting, and the City was able to build the baffle improvements with inexpensive materials using local city forces for about $10,000.  Following installation of the baffles, TSS values for the plant’s effluent improved by 65%.  All permit requirements were thus met without expensive construction of new treatment units.

ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Engineering Design and Construction Administration Projects:
Arlington TX 302-Acre Waterway Park Design	
Arlington TX Cooper Street Design	
Engineering Design and Construction Administration Projects (cont’d):
Belton TX Sewage Lift Station Design	
Brownwood TX STP Improvements	
Calhoun County TX Airport Expansion Design	
Carrollton TX 220-Ac Floodplain Reclamation Design	
City of Austin TX Storm Drainage Criteria Manual	
Dallas TX Cole Avenue Office Drainage Analysis	
Dallas TX Kaiser Medical Center Drainage Study	
Dallas TX Chain of Lakes Feasibility Study	
Dallas TX Cottonwood Creek Erosion Control	
Dallas TX Water Utilities 54" Water Line Design	
Dallas TX Trinity Park Floodplain Analysis	
Dallas TX Denton Drive Roadway Design	
Denton TX 384-Acre Subdivision Design	
DeSoto TX 220-Acre Subdivision Design	
Elevated Water Storage Facility Design, Belton TX	
Farmers Branch TX Valwood Parkway Design	
Flow Monitoring for Fort Worth TX Sewage System	
Flow Monitoring for Garland TX Sewage System	
Fort Worth TX 193-Acre Subdivision Design	
Garland TX 45-Acre Subdivision Design	
Garland TX Springpark Floodplain Reclamation Design	
Houston Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Analysis	
Houston TX Sewer System Evaluation Survey	
Lakeview State Park TX Floodplain Analysis	
Lufkin TX Sewage Clarifier Flow Study	
McKinney TX El Dorado Roadway Design	
McKinney TX 220-Acre Subdivision Design	
Mesquite TX 64-Ac Floodplain Reclamation Design	
Plano TX 141-Acre Subdivision Design	
Sachse TX 12" Water Line Design	
San Marcos TX 120" Storm Sewer Design	
Taylor TX Loop 427 Roadway Design	
Temple TX Regional Water System Design	
Texas Instruments Sewage Flow Metering	
TTA North Tollway Design, Dallas TX	
Valwood Parkway Design, Farmers Branch TX	
Waco TX Sewer System Evaluation Survey (SSES)	
Waco TX Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Analysis	
Waller Creek Floodplain Delineation, Austin TX	
Wichita Falls TX Short Circuit Flow Study

Environmental Projects:
Albuquerque NM Cesium-127 Sludge Irradiation EIS	
Aurora IL Wastewater Treatment EIS	
Environmental Projects (cont’d):
Barksdale AFB LA Classified EA	
Bergstrom AFB TX Flight Activity EA	
Bushkill PA Wastewater Treatment EIS	
Camp Bullis, TX Sewage Treatment Plant EA	
Dare County NC Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Study	
EA for 34 Radar Sites in TX, NM, AZ	
EPA Ore Mining and Dressing Facility EA Guidelines	
Fort Sam Houston TX Commissary EA	
Fort Worth TX Village Creek STP EIS
Gettysburg PA Wastewater Treatment EIS	
Grand Isle NE STP Effluent Analysis	
Greenville TX Wetlands Assessment	
Hill AFB UT Sonic Boom EA	
HLP Limestone EGS/Jewitt Mine EIS, Jewitt TX	
Holloman AFB NM Flight Activity EA	
Holloman AFB NM Classified EA	
Housing Market Analysis at Goodfellow AFB, TX.	
JTF-6 Programmatic EIS in TX, NM, AZ, CA	
Lake Charles LA Refining Co. Site Assessment	
Laredo TX Border Station EIS	
Luke AFB AZ Realignment EA	
Luke AFB AZ Sonic Boom EA	
McConnell AFB KS Classified EA	
Nellis AFB NV Sewer Line EA	
Nellis AFB NV Aircraft Movement EA	
Nellis AFB NV Realignment EA	
Onondaga County NY Wastewater Treatment EIS	
Randolph AFB TX Flying K Recreation EA	
Valentine TX / Reserve AZ  MOA Flight Activity EA	
Texas Utilities Twin Oak EGS/Lignite Mine EIS	
USAF WIMS-ES Training Program	
WSMR NM SRAM and AMRAAM Missile Test EAs	
WVANG STORM Military Exercises EA

Hazardous Materials Analyses:
Asbestos Investigation at Langley AFB, VA.	
Dallas TX Fishtrap Lake Lead Contamination Study	
Del Rio TX Site Assessment	
Ennis TX Hazardous Product Spill Assessment	
Fort Sam Houston TX UST/Site Assessment	
Killeen Airport TX Site Assessment	
Mesquite TX Landfill Assessment	
Rocky Mountain National Labs Analysis
Fort Hood Munitions Burn Pit Site Analysis

Planning Projects:
Chain of Lakes Master Plan, Dallas TX	
Dallas TX Arboretum Utility Master Plan	
DISD Crockett School Expansion Plan, Dallas TX	
Lubbock TX General Hospital Site Plan	
Plano TX Bob Woodruff Park Design	
Sam Houston Stadium Design, Huntsville TX	
TPWD Purtis Creek State Park Design	
TPWD Cedar Hill TX State Park Design	
TPWD Rusk TX Railroad Maintenance Plan/Design	

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION:
Registered Professional Engineer, Texas #39017
Registered LPST Corrective Action Project Manager, TNRCC #01399

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
National Society of Professional Engineers
Texas Society of Professional Engineers 
American Society of Civil Engineers

SECURITY CLEARANCE:  DoD Secret (inactive)