Services / Environmental Science
Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Hydrosphere has been involved in Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) cases in managerial, technical investigator, and expert witness roles. Many of the cases have involved hard-rock mining sites, where metal and acid releases from mine sites have adversely impacted terrestrial, air, groundwater and surface water environments. In particular, Hydrosphere has investigated the impact of hazardous metal discharges from mine sites on native salmonid populations. In addition, Hydrosphere has managed a petroleum groundwater NRDA case where the contaminant discharged directly from groundwater to the ocean and adversely impacted native marine and estuarine aquatic life.
- Hydrosphere offers the following types of NRDA services:
- Evaluation of sources of hazardous and related substances, contaminant pathways, and impact of hazardous and related substances on groundwater, surface water, sediment, and aquatic life resources
- Field work and review of existing data
- Calculation of area and volume of contamination and yield of contaminated groundwater for use in injury determination
- Assessment of linked legal and technical strategies
- Preparation of injury reports
- Expert witness services