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DONALD A. FLORY

 

PRINCIPAL AND SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMIST

EDUCATION

BA, Chemistry and Math, Texas Christian University
Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry and Geology, University of Houston

EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

Analytical, radiation, environmental, forensic and geo- chemistries. Radiation chemistry work involved development of halogenated hydrocarbon and nitrous oxide gas dosimetry systems. Direction of analytical and research groups in government, academia and industrial/commercial laboratory settings. Organic geochemical research includes biomolecular evolution, lunar sample analysis, petroleum/source rock correlation by pattern recognition of GC/MS data, and participation in the Mars Viking Molecular Analysis experiment which included in-situ analysis of Martian soil by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Environmental experience includes methods development in GC and GC/MS and hazardous waste management expertise in the development of air, water, and soil sampling/analysis plans for treatability studies and site evaluation/remediation certification. Very familiar with RCRA, NPDES, SDWA, and CERCLA regulatory chemical measurement methods and regulatory limits, having co-authored (Lewis Publishers) a compendium of chemical regulatory action levels. Over twenty years experience in Quality Assurance. Recent experience includes sampling, analysis, and data validation/interpretation of hazardous waste incinerator trial burns; thermal distillation hazardous waste treatability testing; development of a computerized data management/validation system for a Superfund site, and development of computerized Quality Control data validation procedures for all major EPA chemical analysis procedures. Analytical experience includes hands-on analysis, data interpretation, quality assurance, and data validation for thousands of air, water, and soil environmental samples. Twenty years litigation support experience includes depositions and courtroom testimony for personal injury cases involving exposure to toxic chemicals, the evaluation/interpretation of laboratory analyses for the presence of accelerants in arson cases, and the evaluation of laboratory methods for adherence to EPA regulations (see Projects - Litigation Support).

CURRENT AND RECENT MAJOR PROJECTS

Dr. Flory is currently a partner of Quality Assurance Associates, a limited liability company that provides quality assurance services to the environmental industry and for litigation support. Recent major projects include:

As QA manager, he also provides QA oversight for all data quality assessment projects including those under CERCLA Superfund, Louisiana’s RECAP (Risk Evaluation/ Corrective Action Program) and the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP). In a previous major litigation support project, he served as the key expert witness/consultant for the plaintiff in litigation against the USEPA involving the validity of dioxin analyses. The EPA settled this case in favor of the plaintiff.

MAJOR CLIENTELE

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SUMMARY (AT LEAST 25% TIME FOR INDICATED PERIOD)

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY R & D (GC, GC/MS, & LC/MS): 35 YEARS

APPLIED ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (ANALYSIS/ DATA INTERPRETATION, DATA RESCUE), 30 YEARS

LABORATORY MANAGEMENT, 29 YEARS

CONSULTING SENIOR ANALYTICAL CHEMIST, 22 YEARS

RESEARCH DIRECTOR, 15 YEARS

Numerous publications in radiation chemistry, organic geochemistry, and environmental chemistry. Complete bibliography on request.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Jan. 1994 to present

QUALITY ASSURANCE ASSOCIATES, L.L.C. - College Station, TX

Tax Partner and Principal

Performs all company accounting functions, manages finances, and prepares tax returns. Assists in development of company marketing plans, financial planning, and long-term company development strategies.

Senior Environmental Chemist

·         Data Quality Assessment: Responsible for data rescue and determination of the suitability of laboratory data for the intended use as established by the client. Data rescue involves defining special data processing techniques, which can recover data, which would otherwise have to be rejected because of QC failures identified during the data validation process.

·         Quality Assurance: Responsible for senior oversight for all data quality assessment projects performed by the company.

·         Litigation Support: Provides litigation support involving contract disputes related to proper implementation of regulatory analytical methods. Performs data quality assessments of laboratory data for litigation support of cases involving personal injury due to toxic chemical exposure and cause / origin of fires. Designs, implements, and interprets the data from theoretical simulations and laboratory experiments to qualify and quantify toxic exposures. Performs fate and effects studies of environmental contaminants in the atmosphere, water, and soil.

Oct. 1983 to Dec. 1993

FLORY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS, PEARLAND, TX

Senior Environmental Chemist/ Consultant/Owner - provided chemical consulting services in forensic and environmental sciences. Environmental consulting included the areas of laboratory organization/management, laboratory safety, quality assurance/quality control, analytical methods development, and GC/GC-MS analysis/data interpretation for air, water, and soil/sludge analysis. Major environmental projects during this time period have included:

French Superfund Site, Crosby, TX - Project Quality Assurance Manager: Quality assurance duties and responsibilities included:

·         Preparing and revising/updating the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP);

·         Defining analytical measurement purposes;

·         Selecting analytical methods and QC mechanisms consistent with the measurement purposes;

·         Validating environmental and quality control sample results;

·         Monitoring QA documentation to assure that sampling and analytical procedure compliance is maintained;

·         Resolving data quality problems that may arise;

·         Performing QA audits;

·         Preparing QA reports;

·         Training of project personnel to assure adequate familiarity with relevant sections of this plan and standard operating procedures; and

·         Liaison with regulatory agencies.

French Superfund Site, Crosby, TX - Senior Environmental Chemist: Senior Environmental Chemist duties included:

The French site maintained the largest GC/MS air-monitoring program in the USA (and the world) during 1992 and 1993.

·         Assisting in the evaluation of the Tenax and carbon molecular sieve (CMS) data during the demonstration phase of the project and interpretation of all air monitoring (using modified TO-1 and TO-2 methods) data and resolution of all anomalies during the remediation phase in 1992 and 1993. This included defining experiments to resolve such problems as internal standard degradation in CMS, extremely high benzene results in Tenax tubes, unusual front/back tube ratios, and very high Chloromethane results in CMS tubes. Evaluated all 1992 data and prepared justification for submittal to EPA to eliminate use of back tube analysis in 1993 at a cost saving of over $400,000.

·         Oversight/Coordination of all sampling and analysis with the site laboratory contractor; total annual analytical program valued at $1,000,000.

·         Assisting the site microbiologist in the interpretation of lagoon sludge data to predict reaction rates and time to achieve cleanup during demonstration and remediation phases.

·         Assisting the site hydrogeologist in the interpretation of soil and groundwater data during remediation.

Flint Environmental Services, Tulsa, OK - Laboratory Quality Assurance Manager: Quality assurance manager for a dioxin analysis laboratory. Responsibilities included validation of all laboratory QC data, compilation of results reports and QC packages, and extensive liaison with EPA personnel. Majority of dioxin analyses were in support of incinerator trial burns resulting in first-hand knowledge of incinerator stack gas sampling techniques.

BFI/Thermal Dynamics, Inc., Houston, TX - Senior Environmental Scientist: Responsible for testing and evaluation of a thermal distillation process which involved reductive thermal degradation or pyrolysis of hazardous waste to produce non-hazardous residue. This process was very similar to an incinerator resulting in gain of detailed knowledge of incinerator regulations. Prepared test plans and interpreted test results. Prepared reports of test results for submittal to EPA as part of Best Available Technology program. Prepared technical description of process for patent application.

Law Engineering, Houston, TX - Senior Scientist: Quality assurance oversight, QA training, data quality assessment and/or interpretation, and proposal preparation for environmental assessments, RCRA investigations/feasibility studies and remediation activities.

ENSR Consulting and Engineering, Houston, TX - Senior Scientist: Quality assurance oversight, QA training, data quality assessment and/or interpretation, and proposal preparation for environmental assessments, RCRA investigations/feasibility studies and remediation activities.

Thermal Electron Corp., Waltham, MA: Management study of laboratory resources for the analysis of hazardous wastes. Scope of work included assessment of facility and staff capability to deal with all aspects of waste handling and analysis.

Radian Corp., Austin, TX: Management analysis of analytical services laboratory operation for EPA regulatory analyses of hazardous wastes and other environmental samples, including staffing, organization, and operational considerations to increase laboratory throughput. Developed workflow and designed layout for new laboratory in Sacramento, CA. Performed analysis of GC-MS instrumentation requirements for Austin laboratory.

REI / ERT, Houston, TX (Now ENSR Consulting and Engineering): Management studies to develop a five-year strategic plan for the analytical services division following the merging of REI and ERT. Scope of work included research and service objectives, organization, staffing, facilities, instrumentation projections and safety considerations for handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous samples and chemicals.

   
May 1985 to Jan. 1992

CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON, TX

Adjunct Research Scientist: Assisted post-doctoral and graduate students in development of research projects and interpretation of experimental results.

April 1985 to May 1988

INSTITUTE FOR CHEMICAL INSTRUMENTATION, CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director: Responsible for (1) training of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in GC-MS and LC-MS, (2) directing/performing research in environmental and biomedical applications of LC-Thermospray-MS, and (3) administration of grants/contracts involving research in liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Research areas included development of LC/MS environmental and biomedical applications, and the application of soft ionization mass spectrometry to the complete characterization of organic trace contamination in drinking water.

Sept. 1979 to Oct. 1983

SPECTRIX CORPORATION, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Executive Vice President and Director of Research: 33% Equity Ownership. Responsibilities included the areas of business management, technical laboratory organization/management, analytical methods development, technical director of research/development, and interpretation of gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis data.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TASKS INCLUDED:

·         Financial planning

·         Total company budget preparation

·         Sales and costs projections

·         Marketing and sales

LABORATORY ORGANIZATION/MANAGEMENT TASKS INCLUDED:

·         Safety considerations in handling hazardous samples and chemicals.

·         Assessing costs and preparing quotations for routine services in GC and GC-MS such as priority pollutant and hazardous waste analysis.

·         Re-organization of laboratory to increase sample throughput, and thereby lower costs, for routine hazardous waste analyses (EPA Superfund contract).

·         Preparation of business and technical R & D proposals.

ANALYTICAL METHODS DEVELOPMENT TASKS INCLUDED:

·         Quantitative GC & GC-MS analysis of common solvents and their metabolites in blood, breath and urine.

·         Quantitative GC-MS analysis and data processing technique for hazardous wastes samples.

·         GC and GC-MS analysis of PCBs in transformer oils and alumina.

·         Quantitative and qualitative analysis of ambient air using a variety of adsorbent tubes, bags, and canisters.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS INCLUDED:

·         Designing a protocol for development of spacecraft reuse water quality criteria.

·         Development of a computerized correlation process for determining source relationships of complex organic mixtures such as petroleum to source rocks (organic geochemistry), soil contamination to underground storage tank sources (environmental chemistry), and groundwater contamination to waste sites (hydrogeology).

·         Evaluating breakthrough of chlorinated volatile hydrocarbons in air sampling using Tenax and other adsorbents

GC-MS ANALYSIS/DATA INTERPRETATION TASKS INCLUDED:

·         Selecting methods and interpreting data for non-routine analyses of wide variety of samples including air, stack gases, waste water, catalysts, sediments and solid wastes.

·         Analysis and data processing for organic priority pollutants in water and waste water according to EPA Methods 624 and 625.

·         Analysis and data processing for hazardous substances in hazardous waste (water, soil, and solid waste) according to EPA Superfund Methods.

April 1974 to Sept. 1979

SPECTRIX CORPORATION, HOUSTON, TX

Vice-President and Director of Technical Services: Primary responsibility was to support the NASA Viking Molecular Analysis Experiment through a consulting contract to the NASA Langley Research Center. Responsibilities included contamination control for all Mars Viking Lander sampling equipment, direction of graduate student research in the area of pyrolysis, and design/review input for the pyrolysis-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer constructed for organic analysis of the Martian soil. Served as a member of the flight operations team, which was responsible, for conducting (spent 6 months in residence at JPL) the Molecular Analysis Experiment while the Viking Lander was on Mars. Directed/performed research efforts that included designing a protocol for development of spacecraft reuse water quality criteria; development of methods for the concentration and analysis of trace organics in environmental, biomedical, and geochemical samples; development of crude oil correlation techniques; and pyrolysis-GC-MS studies of bacteria and soils.

Dec. 1969 to April 1974

LABORATORY OF BIOMOLECULAR ANALYSIS, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Research Associate/Assistant Director: Responsibilities included direction of research efforts of postdoctoral and graduate students, administration of grant and contract funds, direct participation in the NASA Mars Viking Molecular Analysis Experiment, Co-Principle Investigator on a Lunar Sample Analysis Grant, and Co-investigator in a project to determine the feasibility of utilizing volatile organic components of urines as a medical diagnostic tool. NASA Mars Viking Molecular Analysis Experiment responsibilities included contamination control via high vacuum materials properties and development of flight qualification test protocols.

Dec. 1962 to Dec. 1969

NASA-JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Aerospace Technologist: Work included vacuum chamber design and construction; technical direction of development, design and flight qualification programs for Apollo science equipment; and analytical laboratory management. Played a vital role in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL) program at JSC having initiated the effort leading to recognition of the need for such a facility. Served on the official NASA committee, which developed the scientific requirements and objectives for the LRL and was heavily involved in the design and development of the vacuum chambers and mass spectrometric instrumentation for the laboratory. Ph.D. work completed at UH during this time involved a study of the carbon isotope ratios in the carbon containing matter of meteorites and participation in the design and construction of the vacuum system and mass spectrometer used for the isotope measurements.

PUBLICATIONS

Over 40 publications in radiation chemistry, organic geochemistry and environmental chemistry. A selected list of the most significant publications follows:

1.  Flory, D.A., "High Dose Nitrous Oxide Dosimeter", Nucleonics, 21,405-409, (1963).

2.  McLane, J.C., Jr., King, E.A., Flory, D.A., Richardson, K.A., Dawson, J.P., Kemmerer, W.W., and Wooley, B.C., "Lunar Receiving Laboratory", Science, 155, 525-531,(1967).

3.  Flory, D.A. STABLE CARBON ISOTOPE RATIO MEASUREMENT OF METEORITIC CARBONACEOUS MATTER, Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Chemistry. University of Houston (l969).

4.  Flory, D.A., with Lunar Sample Preliminary Examination Team, "Preliminary Examination of Lunar Samples from Apollo 11", Science, l65, 1211-1227, (1969).

5.  Simoneit, B.R., Burlingame, A.L., Flory, D.A., and Smith, J.D., "Apollo Lunar Module Engine Exhaust Products", Science,166,733-738, (1969).

6.  Flory, D.A., Simoneit, B.R., Burlingame, A.L., and Smith, J.D., "Experimental Determination of Potential Organic Contamination in the Apollo Lunar Module Descent Engine Exhaust," NASA TR-R389 (1971).

7.  Flory, D.A., and Simoneit, B.R., "Terrestrial Contamination in Apollo Lunar Samples", Space Life Sciences,3, 457-469, (1972).

8.  Flory, D.A., Wikstrom, S., Gupta, S., Gibert, J.M., and Oro, J., "Analysis of Organogenic Compounds in Apollo 11, 12, and 14 Lunar Samples", Proceedings of the Third Lunar Science Conference, ed. C. Watkins (Houston: Lunar Science Institute), 2091-2108, (1972).

9. Oro, J., and Flory, D.A., "Organic Analysis of Lunar Samples and the Martian Surface", COSPAR Life Sciences and Space Research, XI, 43-54, (1973).

10. Simoneit, B., Flory, D.A., and Reynolds, M.A., "Organic Contamination Monitoring and Control in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory", (Philadelphia: ASTM) Special Publication, STP 539, 1-15, (1973).

11. MacDonald, E.J., Lichtenstein, H.A., Nooner, D.W., Flory, D.A., Wikstrom, S., and Oro, J., "Epidemiological Factors in Lung Cancer Among Women in El Paso County, Texas, 1944-1969", Journal Amer.Women's Med.Association, 28, 459-467, (1973).

12. Flory, D.A., Oro, J., and Fennessey, P.V., "Organic Contamination Problems in the Viking Molecular Analysis Experiment", OrIgins of Life, l, 124-136, (1974).

13. Koons, C.B., Rogers, M.A., Mercer, J.N., Flory, D.A., Rubenstein, A.E., and Lichtenstein, H.A., "Pattern Recognition of Output from GC/MS-COM for Crude Oil Classification", Proceedings of a Workshop on Pattern Recognition Applied to Oil Identification, (Storrs, Conn.: University of Connecticut), (1976).

14. Flory, D.A., Rubenstein, A.E., Lichtenstein, H.A., Koons, C.B., Rogers, M.A., Mercer, J.N., "Sophisticated Equipment Fingerprints Crude Oils", The Oil and Gas Journal, 20, 102-107, (1978).

15. Flory, D.A., Lichtenstein, H.A., Biemann, K., J.E., and Barker, C., "Computer Process Uses Entire GC-MS Data", The Oil and Gas Journal, 21, 91-120, (1983).

16. Flory,D.A., Biemann, K., Barker, C., Biller, J.E., Scott, R.B., Fencl, M.K., Nooner, D.W., Flory-Todd, T., and Lichtenstein, H.A., "North Slope Oil-Rock Correlations Using Computerized GC-MS Comparisons", Alaska North Slope Oil-Rock Correlations, (Tulsa, OK: AAPG;), 663-670; (1985).

17. Flory, D.A. and McLean,M.A.,"Environmental Applications of the Thermospray LC/MS Interface Part I: Dyes and Selected Pollutants", Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Cinncinnati, OH, 1986

18. Sunwanrhumpa, S., Flory,D.A., Vestal, M.L. and Freas, R.B.,"The Identification of Ampicillin and Its Metabolites Using Liquid Chromatography/Thermospray/Mass Spectrometry", Proceedings of the 35th Annual Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Denver, CO, 1987

19. Flory, D.A., McLean, M.A., Vestal, M.L., "Environmental Applications of Thermospray LC/MS Qualitative Analysis of Sulfonated Azo Dyes", Rapid.Comm.in Mass Spectrom.1, 48-50, (1987)

20. Sunwanrhumpa,S., Flory, D.A., Vestal, M.L. and Freas, R.B., "Tandem Mass Spectrometry of Pencillins", Biomed. Mass Spectrom. (1988)

21. Scholz, T.G., Flory, D.A. and Keith, L., Hazardous Chemical Regulations Database, Lewis Publishers (now CRC Press), Boca Raton, FL, (Nov., 1991).

22. Scholz, T.G., Flory, D.A., and McGinley, L.L., "Automated Data Assurance Manager (ADAM)", Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Waste Testing and Quality Assurance Symposium, 692-706, Washington, D.C. (American Chemical Society and USEPA, July 23-28, 1995)

23. Scholz, Taryn, McGinley, Louise., and Flory, Donald A.,” Data Quality Assessment: It’s Not Just Pushing Paper”. Environmental Protection, 7,37-38, (September, 1996)

24. Scholz, Taryn G. and Flory, Donald A., ”Clearing Up The Confusion", Environmental Protection, 10, 37-41, (May, 1999)



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Last Update: October 13, 2003