Lawrence H. Keith Biography

Lawrence H. Keith, Ph.D.

40 Years of Experience

Environmental Consulting and Expert Witness Testimony

Education

Dr. Keith received a B.S. degree in chemistry from Stetson University in Deland, FL in 1960, a M.S. degree (chemistry) from Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 1963, and a Ph.D. (chemistry) from the University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 1966. He has continued to provide professional services in environmental chemistry for over 40 years.

Current Positions

President and CEO, Instant Reference Sources, Inc

Expert Witness

Dr. Keith provides expert witness consulting, depositions & testimony for defendants subjected to litigation based on deficient data, inadequate quality assurance and quality control, poor sampling procedures, old methods, or previously accepted practices. He also provides consulting to help plaintiffs strengthen their environmental analytical data and to avoid embarrassing court decisions resulting from inadequate data submitted as evidence. Examples include:

-          Providing consulting and a report to the State of Louisiana for defense of environmental testing data and QA/QC performed by LSU in an environmental analytical project.

-          Providing consulting, deposition & testimony services involving improperly stored waste at a waste site in Texas for a private company.

-          Provided consulting and a deposition in defense of a dentist group to show that a piece of polymer from the gut of a patient did not originate from dental material that could have been swallowed by the patient.

-          Provided consulting and affidavits on appropriate sampling of soil material for testimony before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Canada for an industrial client.

-          Provided consulting and recommendations for sampling air and contaminated automobiles for a major international auto maker in Houston, Texas.

-          Provided a deposition on the problems of using old environmental methods for current litigation, based on historical knowledge, in defense of a large international client.

-          Conducted a literature research and wrote a deposition on data quality involving TCE and perchlorate contamination in groundwater in California for an industrial client.

-          Provided consulting and a deposition on appropriate sampling methods for vinyl siding contamination for an industrial client in North Carolina.

Advisory Boards

-          U.S. EPA, Washington, DC (1982 - 1986); University of Texas Chemistry Department, Austin, TX (1984 - 1990); Trinity University Chemistry Department, San Antonio, TX (1986 - 1996); EnSys Inc., Raleigh, NC (1990 - 1993); Environmental Science & Technology journal, Washington, DC, (1980 - 1986). American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Environmental Chemistry, including chairman (1978) and the Executive Committee (1969 to Present); ACS Committee on Environmental Improvement (1975 to 2002) and Subcommittee on Environmental Monitoring, (1977 to 2002); Environmental Protection journal.

Past Positions

Vice President, Waste Policy Institute (later renamed WPI, 1998 - 2000); Analytical Chemistry Group Leader, Analytical Chemistry Department Head, Chemistry Division Manager (over all environmental analytical laboratories), Program Manager, and Corporate Fellow, Radian International (1977 - 1997); Scientist and Senior Research Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Research Laboratory, Athens, GA (1966 - 1977).

Honors and Awards

Stetson University's Outstanding Alumnus Award (1996); PACS Hall of Fame Award (1995); ACS Outstanding Achievement Award (1988); ACS Southeast Texas Section Distinguished Speaker Award (1987); ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry Distinguished Service Award (1985); ACS Central Georgia Section Chemist of the Year Award (1975); Society of the Sigma Xi Honorary Research Fraternity (1966); Gamma Sigma Epsilon Honorary Chemistry Fraternity (1958); Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Music Fraternity (1958).

Areas of Expertise

Environmental Sampling & Analysis and Data Quality, Anti-terrorism, Expert Witness Testimony and Consulting, Management Consulting, Chemical & Toxicological Information, Training, Conference Organization, Publishing, and Software Development including expert systems for anti-terrorism and training. Each area is summarized below.

Environmental Sampling and Analysis and Data Quality

Dr. Keith began his career at the U.S. EPA Water Research Laboratory developing analytical methods for environmental testing and remediation. At Radian International his expertise expanded to include project management and quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC), including data evaluation and applying EPA's DQO process to generate data of known and acceptable quality. Worked with U.S. EPA to write a new national strategy for sampling and analysis. Also worked with the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria to develop sampling strategies for depleted uranium in battlefields and to write technical document on soil sampling. Working with U.S. EPA to develop a national database of environmental methods (at www.nemi.gov).

Anti-terrorism Environmental Sampling and Analysis

Working with U.S. EPA’s Water Security Division to produce a national database of environmental methods for analysis of chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) agents (NEMI-CBR). Also producing an expert system (the CBR Methods Advisor) to be used with the database and provide rapid targeted advice in multiple levels of detail for use in an emergency, or for planning and training for homeland security needs and the nation’s emergency laboratory network system. Taught sampling and analytical methods for finding and identifying CBR agents with Signature Science in Austin, TX (2003).

Management Consulting

Management consulting involves how to use data quality objectives, dynamic work plans, and modern methods to improve cost performance of environmental sampling and analysis. In 1997 - 1998 worked with the United Nations IAEA to develop a Management Action Plan using EPA's Data Quality Objective (DQO) process.

Chemical and Toxicological Consulting

- Endocrine Disruptors

At Radian International managed multimillion-dollar projects involving chemical and toxicological data for chemical repositories for the National Cancer Institute and also for the National Toxicology Program. Published numerous books - both electronic and traditional bound volumes - on topics involving chemical and toxicological information and also on chemical health and safety. Most recent publications involve the rapidly evolving topic of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment.

Training

- Domestic

-International

Developed and presented workshops and short courses world wide on the topics of environmental sampling and analysis, data quality evaluation, project management, and the U.S. EPA's Data Quality Objective (DQO) Process. Presentations for domestic clients include the American Chemical Society, the Eastern Analytical Symposium, Alcoa, IBM, WMX Corp., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Department of Water Resources. Invited training courses for international clients include those in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Australia for Amdel Ltd.; Quito, Ecuador, Montevideo, Uruguay, and Prague, Czech Republic for the International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD); Lisbon, Portugal for the Chemical Society of Portugal; Hong Kong, China for The Hong Kong Technical University and the Hong Kong Lab Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS); Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan) for the National Institute of Environmental Analysis, Environmental Protection Administration; and Seibersdorf, Austria for the United Nations IAEA.

Conference and Symposia Organization

Organized numerous conferences and symposia beginning in 1976 at the First Chemical Congress of the North American Continent in Mexico City. In the 1980s organized many symposia, and published their proceedings with the ACS. Helped organize PacifiChem 1995 in Honolulu, HI and at PacifiChem 2000 in Honolulu organized an international symposium on Sampling and Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents for Treaty Verification. Under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. EPA organized the Waste Testing and Quality Assurance (WTQA) conferences from 1999 - 2001. This conference has been expanded and renamed the National Environmental Monitoring Conference (www.nemc.us) and Dr. Keith served as conference manager and a key organizer of it with the Independent Laboratory Institute (ILI) under cooperative agreements with U.S. EPA from 2002 - 2004.

Publishing, Web Site, and Software Development



- Internet Web Pages



- Electronic Books and Presentations

Founded Instant Reference Sources, Inc. in 1986 to publish electronic books and software. Published one of the world's first "electronic books" registered with the U.S. Library of Congress. Has published 52 electronic books and expert systems, 65 printed books and book chapters, and 55 journal articles and government reports with numerous publishers including Instant Reference Sources, John Wiley, CRC Press, ACS, Academic Press, Butterworth, etc.

Developed an Internet site with a searchable database of advanced sensor technology and ancillary information with news, events, and a discussion forum under a cooperative agreement with U.S. EPA at www.sentix.org. Developed the Internet site for the ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry at www.envirofacs.org where he serves as editor of the Division’s online newsletter, EnvirofACS. Developed the Internet site for Instant Reference Sources at www.instantref.com and for the National Environmental Monitoring Conference (NEMC) at www.nemc.us.

Developed and published searching and user interface software in both DOS and WindowsÔ-based formats for electronic books. Developed and published expert systems for health and safety and environmental chemistry management (e.g., Quality Control and GC Advisor, 1991; First Response, 1993; and Practical Environmental Quality Control Samples, 1994). Developed and published PowerPointÔ presentations, and training materials (e.g., Reliable Environmental Sampling and Analysis, 1997 and Preventing Children's Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors - A Teaching Aid, 2000). Developed previously mentioned CBR Methods Advisor expert system for U.S. EPA’s Water Security Division for use with homeland security. Currently developing the SWAMP Advisor, an expert system for writing Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP).

Contact Information

Instant Reference Sources, Inc., 329 Claiborne Way., Monroe, GA 30655

Phone: 770-267-7758.

Fax: 253-595-7268

Email: larrykeith@earthlink.net

Internet: www.instantref.com

Publications

Dr. Keith has 179 publications which include 66 books and book chapters, 52 electronic books and expert systems, and 58 journal articles, government reports, and patents. In addition, he has made numerous presentations that are unpublished. Only publications from 1981 to present are listed below. They are further divided into three distinct types for easier referral: (1) electronic (computerized books, databases and expert systems), (2) hard copy books and chapters in books and, (3) journal articles, government reports and patents. There are an additional 21 books and chapters in books and 33 journal articles and government report publications from 1963 through 1980 that are not included. These typically report analysis of trace levels of organic pollutants in the environment, new methods developed, chemical structure elucidation; instrumental analyses and techniques (usually NMR), safe handling of hazardous chemicals, and organic chemical synthesis. These are available on request.

Education	Dr. Keith received a B.S. degree in chemistry from Stetson University in Deland, FL in 1960, a M.S. degree (chemistry) from Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 1963, and a Ph.D. (chemistry) from the University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 1966. He has continued to provide professional services in environmental chemistry for over 40 years.
Current Positions	President and CEO, Instant Reference Sources, Inc
Expert Witness	Dr. Keith provides expert witness consulting, depositions & testimony for defendants subjected to litigation based on deficient data, inadequate quality assurance and quality control, poor sampling procedures, old methods, or previously accepted practices. He also provides consulting to help plaintiffs strengthen their environmental analytical data and to avoid embarrassing court decisions resulting from inadequate data submitted as evidence. Examples include: - Providing consulting and a report to the State of Louisiana for defense of environmental testing data and QA/QC performed by LSU in an environmental analytical project. - Providing consulting, deposition & testimony services involving improperly stored waste at a waste site in Texas for a private company. - Provided consulting and a deposition in defense of a dentist group to show that a piece of polymer from the gut of a patient did not originate from dental material that could have been swallowed by the patient. - Provided consulting and affidavits on appropriate sampling of soil material for testimony before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Canada for an industrial client. - Provided consulting and recommendations for sampling air and contaminated automobiles for a major international auto maker in Houston, Texas. - Provided a deposition on the problems of using old environmental methods for current litigation, based on historical knowledge, in defense of a large international client. - Conducted a literature research and wrote a deposition on data quality involving TCE and perchlorate contamination in groundwater in California for an industrial client. - Provided consulting and a deposition on appropriate sampling methods for vinyl siding contamination for an industrial client in North Carolina.
Advisory Boards	- U.S. EPA, Washington, DC (1982 - 1986); University of Texas Chemistry Department, Austin, TX (1984 - 1990); Trinity University Chemistry Department, San Antonio, TX (1986 - 1996); EnSys Inc., Raleigh, NC (1990 - 1993); Environmental Science & Technology journal, Washington, DC, (1980 - 1986). American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Environmental Chemistry, including chairman (1978) and the Executive Committee (1969 to Present); ACS Committee on Environmental Improvement (1975 to 2002) and Subcommittee on Environmental Monitoring, (1977 to 2002); Environmental Protection journal.
Past Positions	Vice President, Waste Policy Institute (later renamed WPI, 1998 - 2000); Analytical Chemistry Group Leader, Analytical Chemistry Department Head, Chemistry Division Manager (over all environmental analytical laboratories), Program Manager, and Corporate Fellow, Radian International (1977 - 1997); Scientist and Senior Research Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Research Laboratory, Athens, GA (1966 - 1977).
Honors and Awards	Stetson University's Outstanding Alumnus Award (1996); PACS Hall of Fame Award (1995); ACS Outstanding Achievement Award (1988); ACS Southeast Texas Section Distinguished Speaker Award (1987); ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry Distinguished Service Award (1985); ACS Central Georgia Section Chemist of the Year Award (1975); Society of the Sigma Xi Honorary Research Fraternity (1966); Gamma Sigma Epsilon Honorary Chemistry Fraternity (1958); Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Music Fraternity (1958).
Areas of Expertise	Environmental Sampling & Analysis and Data Quality, Anti-terrorism, Expert Witness Testimony and Consulting, Management Consulting, Chemical & Toxicological Information, Training, Conference Organization, Publishing, and Software Development including expert systems for anti-terrorism and training. Each area is summarized below.
Environmental Sampling and Analysis and Data Quality	Dr. Keith began his career at the U.S. EPA Water Research Laboratory developing analytical methods for environmental testing and remediation. At Radian International his expertise expanded to include project management and quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC), including data evaluation and applying EPA's DQO process to generate data of known and acceptable quality. Worked with U.S. EPA to write a new national strategy for sampling and analysis. Also worked with the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria to develop sampling strategies for depleted uranium in battlefields and to write technical document on soil sampling. Working with U.S. EPA to develop a national database of environmental methods (at www.nemi.gov).
Anti-terrorism Environmental Sampling and Analysis	Working with U.S. EPA’s Water Security Division to produce a national database of environmental methods for analysis of chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) agents (NEMI-CBR). Also producing an expert system (the CBR Methods Advisor) to be used with the database and provide rapid targeted advice in multiple levels of detail for use in an emergency, or for planning and training for homeland security needs and the nation’s emergency laboratory network system. Taught sampling and analytical methods for finding and identifying CBR agents with Signature Science in Austin, TX (2003).
Management Consulting	Management consulting involves how to use data quality objectives, dynamic work plans, and modern methods to improve cost performance of environmental sampling and analysis. In 1997 - 1998 worked with the United Nations IAEA to develop a Management Action Plan using EPA's Data Quality Objective (DQO) process.
Chemical and Toxicological Consulting - Endocrine Disruptors	At Radian International managed multimillion-dollar projects involving chemical and toxicological data for chemical repositories for the National Cancer Institute and also for the National Toxicology Program. Published numerous books - both electronic and traditional bound volumes - on topics involving chemical and toxicological information and also on chemical health and safety. Most recent publications involve the rapidly evolving topic of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment.
Training - Domestic -International	Developed and presented workshops and short courses world wide on the topics of environmental sampling and analysis, data quality evaluation, project management, and the U.S. EPA's Data Quality Objective (DQO) Process. Presentations for domestic clients include the American Chemical Society, the Eastern Analytical Symposium, Alcoa, IBM, WMX Corp., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Department of Water Resources. Invited training courses for international clients include those in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Australia for Amdel Ltd.; Quito, Ecuador, Montevideo, Uruguay, and Prague, Czech Republic for the International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD); Lisbon, Portugal for the Chemical Society of Portugal; Hong Kong, China for The Hong Kong Technical University and the Hong Kong Lab Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS); Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan) for the National Institute of Environmental Analysis, Environmental Protection Administration; and Seibersdorf, Austria for the United Nations IAEA.
Conference and Symposia Organization	Organized numerous conferences and symposia beginning in 1976 at the First Chemical Congress of the North American Continent in Mexico City. In the 1980s organized many symposia, and published their proceedings with the ACS. Helped organize PacifiChem 1995 in Honolulu, HI and at PacifiChem 2000 in Honolulu organized an international symposium on Sampling and Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents for Treaty Verification. Under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. EPA organized the Waste Testing and Quality Assurance (WTQA) conferences from 1999 - 2001. This conference has been expanded and renamed the National Environmental Monitoring Conference (www.nemc.us) and Dr. Keith served as conference manager and a key organizer of it with the Independent Laboratory Institute (ILI) under cooperative agreements with U.S. EPA from 2002 - 2004.
Publishing, Web Site, and Software Development - Internet Web Pages - Electronic Books and Presentations	Founded Instant Reference Sources, Inc. in 1986 to publish electronic books and software. Published one of the world's first "electronic books" registered with the U.S. Library of Congress. Has published 52 electronic books and expert systems, 65 printed books and book chapters, and 55 journal articles and government reports with numerous publishers including Instant Reference Sources, John Wiley, CRC Press, ACS, Academic Press, Butterworth, etc. Developed an Internet site with a searchable database of advanced sensor technology and ancillary information with news, events, and a discussion forum under a cooperative agreement with U.S. EPA at www.sentix.org. Developed the Internet site for the ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry at www.envirofacs.org where he serves as editor of the Division’s online newsletter, EnvirofACS. Developed the Internet site for Instant Reference Sources at www.instantref.com and for the National Environmental Monitoring Conference (NEMC) at www.nemc.us. Developed and published searching and user interface software in both DOS and WindowsÔ-based formats for electronic books. Developed and published expert systems for health and safety and environmental chemistry management (e.g., Quality Control and GC Advisor, 1991; First Response, 1993; and Practical Environmental Quality Control Samples, 1994). Developed and published PowerPointÔ presentations, and training materials (e.g., Reliable Environmental Sampling and Analysis, 1997 and Preventing Children's Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors - A Teaching Aid, 2000). Developed previously mentioned CBR Methods Advisor expert system for U.S. EPA’s Water Security Division for use with homeland security. Currently developing the SWAMP Advisor, an expert system for writing Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP).
Contact Information	Instant Reference Sources, Inc., 329 Claiborne Way., Monroe, GA 30655 Phone: 770-267-7758. Fax: 253-595-7268 Email: larrykeith@earthlink.net Internet: www.instantref.com
Publications	Dr. Keith has 179 publications which include 66 books and book chapters, 52 electronic books and expert systems, and 58 journal articles, government reports, and patents. In addition, he has made numerous presentations that are unpublished. Only publications from 1981 to present are listed below. They are further divided into three distinct types for easier referral: (1) electronic (computerized books, databases and expert systems), (2) hard copy books and chapters in books and, (3) journal articles, government reports and patents. There are an additional 21 books and chapters in books and 33 journal articles and government report publications from 1963 through 1980 that are not included. These typically report analysis of trace levels of organic pollutants in the environment, new methods developed, chemical structure elucidation; instrumental analyses and techniques (usually NMR), safe handling of hazardous chemicals, and organic chemical synthesis. These are available on request.

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