Sustainability. Efficiency. Simplicity.
Phone #: (979) 268-9890
   
Ronald G. Duckworth

Education
M.Ag., Mechanized Agriculture, Texas A&M University, 1993
B.S., Range Science, Texas A&M University, 1980

Professional History
Project Manager, Duckworth-Cole, Inc.
Biosolids Management Specialist, K. W. Brown Environmental Services
Engineering Specialist, Watershed Management Division, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
Research Assistant, Texas A&M University
Sales Manager, Brenham Power Equipment, Inc.
Ranch Manager, Rafter E Ranch

Years of Experience
Professional: 19
Environmental Consulting: 15
Biosolids Management: 14
Wetlands: 12

Areas of Expertise
Recycling municipal and industrial wastestreams
Natural Resource Management
Regulatory program analysis and interpretation
Composting municipal and agricultural wastes
Wetland development and delineation
Reclamation of drastically disturbed soils
Agricultural production methods

Typical Projects 

  • Project Manager for a project to develop and negotiate a regulatory program for the beneficial reuse of byproduct streams at an innovative bioengineering industrial facility. The regulatory program was accepted by the regulatory agency as presented. 
  • Project Manager for Phase I environmental site assessments (ESA) of diverse commercial properties including undeveloped land, historic retail buildings, manufacturing facilities, service stations, and shopping centers. 
  • Project Manager for a greenhouse study to evaluate byproduct streams for suitability as commercial fertilizers/soil amendments. Multiple crops, application rates, and soils were used to determine the benefit and lack of detriment of the byproducts. 
  • Project scientist for a feasibility study of beneficial uses of multiple waste streams at an innovative bioengineering industrial facility. Multiple outlets for the valuable residuals were developed. The outlets were prioritized and further evaluated to determine markets, costs, and timelines for implementation. 
  • Project Manager for a project to draft Ecological Site Descriptions for the Natural Resource Conservation Commission. Duties included interacting with a federal agency to establish schedules, collect current and historical documents, and review and presentation of drafts for agency review. 
  • Project Scientist for aquatic surveys of a freshwater stream pursuant to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requirements. The survey was conducted prior to and following construction activities. 
  • Project Manager for a project to develop sources for native seed materials to be used by federal and state agencies in restoration and reclamation projects. Duties included interaction with governmental, academic, and private landowner groups to develop methods to incorporate native seed production into conservation, wildlife habitat, historical preservation, and recreational land uses. 
  • Project Manager for development of an industrial beneficial land application program including program management and regulatory interaction. Duties included site evaluation and sampling, development of environmentally sound management plan, and preparation of a detailed regulatory submittal. 
  • Project Manager for a study to evaluate the feasibility of growing alternative crops in a beneficial reuse program. Duties included interaction with industry, academic, and governmental groups to determine the potential markets and production methods for fiber and energy producing crops. 
  • Project Manager for industrial biosolids risk assessment project. Duties included review and modification of accepted methodologies and development of appropriate criteria to risk assess a beneficial biosolids land application program. 
  • Project Manager for development of a municipal beneficial land application program including site selection, program management, and successful negotiation of regulatory approval. 
  • Project Manager for constructed wetland baseline monitoring project. Duties included management of data collection in extensive field operations, including: coordination of teams involved in collection and interpretation of biological, chemical, and physical data; and data synthesis and summary for reporting and presentation. Additional duties included participation in development of monitoring program and educational materials. 
  • Project Manager for feasibility study of beneficial use of coal ash and municipal and industrial biosolids for reclamation of mined lands. The scope of the project included regional municipal and industrial participants in northeast Texas. 
  • Project Manager for co-product program development. Duties included co-products characterization, development of greenhouse studies to demonstrate benefit of co-products for agricultural use, and research and development to evaluate market potential for co-products within regional and national markets. 
  • Project Manager for wetland construction oversight project. Duties included design of habitat for constructed wetland including selection of native and adapted species, and development and oversight of seedbed preparation, fertilization, planting, and erosion control for wetland cells, berms, and adjacent habitat areas. Additional duties included the design and development of a wet meadow to provide additional wildlife habitat near the constructed wetland. 
  • Project Scientist for beneficial land application of industrial biosolids project. Duties included development of required regulatory documents and assisting client in negotiations with state regulatory agency. Additional duties included design of agricultural program to beneficially utilize biosolids, selection of land application areas, and development of specifications for agricultural and biosolids application equipment. 
  • Project Manager for co-product marketing program. Duties included identification of potential customers, estimation of market potential, and development of transportation and storage requirements. Project Manager for compost market study for municipal co-composting program. 
  • Project Manager for compost feasibility study for co-composting program utilizing industrial and agricultural wastes. 
  • Demonstrated composting of select municipal wastes for small cities in Texas. 
  • Organized and conducted Regional Biosolids Outreach Workshop and published quarterly newsletter “Biosolids Quarterly” for TNRCC. 
  • Directed and managed reclamation of land disturbed by oil and gas exploration and production through selection and establishment of forage crops. 
  • Directed and managed reclamation of land disturbed by continuous rowcrop production through selection and management of native grasses. 
  • Provided technical and management assistance to develop successful beneficial land application programs in crops as diverse as sugar cane, coastal bermuda grass, and high desert rangeland.

Professional Organizations/Certifications/Training
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Scientific Permit No. SPR-0598-953
Certified Composting Systems Technical Associate (No. 81665) – Solid Waste Association of North America
USCOE Wetland Delineation Certification Course (40 hour training)
HAZWOPER for Cleanup Operations Course (40-hour training) (29 CFR 1910.120)
Emergency First Aid and CPR (8-hour training)

Awards and Recognition
Industrial Water Quality Achievement Award, Water Environment Federation, 2000 (Corporate, International)
DuPont 2002 Sustainable Growth Excellence Award (International)

Presentations and Publications  

  1. Duckworth, R. G., Cole, J. A., Herrick, H. A., Reitberger, J. H., Beeman, R. E. 2003. Management of an Invasive Species in the DuPont Victoria, Texas Plant Constructed Wetland. National Symposium: Wetlands 2003: Landscape Scale Wetland Assessment and Management. October 20 –24, 2003. Nashau, New Hampshire. 
     
  2. Cole, J. A., Duckworth, R. G., Herrick, H. A., Reitberger, J. H., Beeman, R. E. 2003. Using Benchmarks to Monitor Treatment Wetlands. National Symposium: Wetlands 2003: Landscape Scale Wetland Assessment and Management. October 20 –24, 2003. Nashau, New Hampshire. 

  3. Duckworth, R. G., Cole, J. A., McIntosh, T. B., Reitberger, J. H., Beeman, R. E. 2002. Results of Pilot Program to Reuse Industrial Biosolids at the DuPont, Victoria, Texas Plant. Water Environment Federation Residuals & Biosolids Conference. March 3-6, 2002. Austin, Texas. 
     
  4. Cole, J. A., Duckworth, R. G., Reitberger, J. H., Beeman, R. E., Mokry, L. E. 2001. Wetland Health Plan. Industrial Wastewater, July/August 2001. 
     
  5. Duckworth, R. G., Alden, A. S., Cole, J. A., and Beeman, R. E. 1999. A Risk Assessment for the Beneficial Use of Industrial Biosolids. WEF/Purdue Industrial Wastes Technical Conference. June 27-30, 1999. Indianapolis, Indiana. 
     
  6. Duckworth, R. G., Cole, J. A., and Reitberger, J. H. 1999. Beneficial Use of Industrial Biosolids at the DuPont, Victoria, Texas Plant. Industrial Wastewater, March/April 1999, Vol. 7, No. 2. 
     
  7. Cole, J. A., Duckworth, R. G., and Beeman, R. E. 1999. Utilization of an Onsite Nursery to Optimize Wetland Planting. Third Annual American Wetlands Month Conference. February 17-20, 1999. New Orleans, Louisiana. 
     
  8. Duckworth, R. G., Cole, J. A., and Reitberger, J. H. 1999. Beneficial Use of Industrial Biosolids at the DuPont, Victoria, Texas Plant. WEF Joint Residuals Conference. January 27-30, 1999. Charlotte, North Carolina.  
  9. Cole, J. A., Duckworth, R. G., Hornby, W. J., and Beeman, R. E. 1998. Plant Nursery to Facilitate Rapid Planting and Propagation of a Constructed Wetland. Texas Wetlands Workshop. April 27-29, 1998. Corpus Christi, Texas. 
     
  10. Duckworth, R. G. 1995. Pathogen and Vector Attraction Reduction-Subchapter D. 8th Biosolids Outreach Workshop. May 17-18, 1995. El Paso, Texas. 
     
  11. Duckworth, R. G. 1995. Site Registration and Land Management. 8th Biosolids Outreach Workshop. May 17-18, 1995. El Paso, Texas. Also presented at 7th Biosolids Outreach Workshop. April 5-6, 1994. Lubbock, Texas; 6th Biosolids Outreach Workshop. January 11-12, 1995. Edinburg, Texas. 
     
  12. Duckworth, R. G. 1995. Overview of Chapter 312 Rules. Water/Wastewater Seminar. February 1995. San Antonio, Texas. 
     
  13. Duckworth, R. G. 1994. Site Registration and Land Management. 5th Biosolids Outreach Workshop. November 1-2, 1994. Nacogdoches, Texas. Also presented at 4th Biosolids Outreach Workshop. September 14-15, 1994. San Antonio, Texas. 
     
  14. Duckworth, R. G. 1994. Municipal Sludge Rules. East Texas Council of Governments-Solid Waste Workshop. October 14, 1994. Tyler, Texas. 
     
  15. Duckworth, R. G. 1993. Project to Demonstrate Selected Municipal Waste Composting for Small and Medium Sized Municipalities in Texas. 1993 Recycling/Waste Management Seminar & Workshops. Texas A&M University. College Station, Texas.