Duncan Knudsen

Background

About Duncan Knudsen

I am the Senior Staff Geologist at Aquifer Sciences, INC. I currently, specialize in geologic studies, hydrogeologic investigations, environmental assessments, and remediation. I conduct multi-disciplinary environmental projects throughout California, particularly in the San Francisco Bay area and the Central Valley, and have performed site assessments and remediation throughout the United States. I routinely conducts negotiations with various regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, several California Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and county and city governments. I continually update my knowledge to remain current with evolving local, state, and federal regulations and their application to environmental issues. • geologic and hydrologic studies • environmental site assessments • investigation of subsurface contamination • remedial design and implementation (soil, groundwater, soil vapor, and air) • regulatory compliance and audits • industrial wastewater monitoring for many municipalities across the bay area • storm water monitoring (NPDES, SWRCB, RWQCB, CEQA) • NPDES monitoring for stormwater and construction dewatering • brownfield site redevelopment • facility closure management • wipe sampling and analysis • municipal and domestic water supply/development I received a BS focusing on Geology at Puget Sound. I completed my geo-chemistry thesis entitled A Petrologic Comparison of Cretaceous vs. Eocene Granitoid Intrusions: Eastern Twisp Quadrangle, Washington, in which I used a scanning electric microscope, Uranium-Lead Zircon dating, thin sections, and ICP-OES and ICP-MS chemical analysis to compare Cretaceous and Eocene Granitic Plutons. My thesis gave me experience taking field samples and conducting a battery of chemical tests to produce working data. After graduation, I worked as a Well-Logging Geologist in Taft, CA. Working 12-hour days as the only geologist onsite, with millions of dollars on the line, all the pressing decisions in regards to drilling dynamics and tracking lithology were based on my reports. Petroleum geology taught me the fundamentals of working in a high-stakes professional environment, writing reports, completing lithology logs and advising drilling operations. Post petroleum geology, I did a brief stint brewing beer at Triple Rock Brewery when I was looking for the environmental geology job that I have today.