Richard D. Melton

Mr. Melton has nearly 30 years of environmental experience that includes extensive compliance work for air, water, solid & hazardous waste matters for operations, treatment storage and disposal, remediation, transportation, discharges, releases, emissions, emergency response, capital projects, construction, community relations, and corporate management, including application of regulatory requirements, policies and governmental agency interaction. He has contributed to extensive Environmental and Industrial projects functioning as an Engineer and Project Manager for clients in energy, O&G, waste management, chemicals, refining, paper, port operation and industrial development. Additionally, Mr. Melton has served on an EPA Task Force.

Education

  • B.S. Chemical Engineering - Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
  • MBA - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
  • Juris Doctor (JD) - Loyola University School of Law, New Orleans, LA

Summary of Experience

Engineering Related Experience

  • Designed and operated integrated industrial wastewater and storm water treatment system. Including contaminant identification, treatment options, hydrologic calculations, water balance, and system design.
  • Identified and implemented Best management practices for storm water drainage from manufacturing facilities in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Activities included storm water contaminant identification, storm water mitigation/pre treatment design/assessment, sampling and biotoxicity review.
  • Designed and operated emergency storm water and wastewater treatment system for large industrial complex in Houston, TX.
  • Preparation of Storm Water Pollution Prevention and Management plans in accordance with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements.
  • Worked in an olefins/aromatics manufacturing complex; provided troubleshooting, process & project engineering; aided on turnarounds.
  • Unit Engineer for Product Movements operations and projects.
  • Supported the Liquid Ethylene and Salt Dome Storage operations.
  • Preparation of Individual and Multi-Sector Storm Water NPDES permit applications.

Environmental Enforcement/Compliance

  • Addressed enforcement matters before state and federal agencies, TNRCC, LADEQ, EPA, FAA & DOT successfully eliminating or reducing penalties by as much as 75% while preserving compliance history.
  • Provided critical technical and environmental counsel on the defense team for the Shell Norco Refinery Explosion case; including Toxic Tort defense and expert coordination.
  • Strategic management and legal counsel to corporate boards and managers regarding compliance, acquisitions, divestitures, and ongoing operations.
  • Settled major Superfund case in favor of industrial client, significantly reducing exposure; Interacted with EPA on abandoned site project involving assessment of contamination, remediation, property values, and potential liability.

Environmental Training

  • Prepared, drafted and conducted environmental training courses for corporate, field and facility personnel.
  • Primary person responsible for Training Program for Saudi engineers on a Joint Venture with SABIC. Coordinated with division VP in Houston.
  • Prepared articles, drafted seminar materials, and presented lectures for continuing education forums.
  • Assisted business, real estate and banking attorneys and clients on environmental issues.

Additional Experience

  • Associate General Counsel for energy company - responsible for EHS, compliance, policies, training, regulatory, litigation, commercial, M&A across pipelines, utilities and gathering.
  • Senior Director, Pipeline Integrity & Environmental for energy services company - supervised professional and operations staff.
  • Partner in the Environmental Section of a law firm.
  • Sr. Project Mgr, Business Development Manager, Environmental Engineer - URS Corp. (formerly Walk, Haydel & Associates, Inc.)
  • Chemical Engineer: Mobil Chemical - Petrochemical Plant Operations and Saudi Arabia Joint Venture
  • Engineering & Construction, Chemical Industry in Texas and Louisiana
  • Worked on federal construction contract disputes, FAR regulations and construction matters.
  • Worked on litigation teams providing environmental counsel and Louisiana expertise. Also worked on maritime and products cases.
  • Provided environmental counsel on Patent and Intellectual Property matters.
  • Managed Marketing and Administration for private sector business development for a 500 person firm; reported to a retired US Army Major General.