Management Environmental

SAIMA KHURSHEED (Ph.D.)

E-mail: *************@*****.***

Address: *** ********** **** *** ***

RICHARDSON TX- 75081

Cell No. 214-***-**** 469-***-****

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

Ph.D. in Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry), SK University of Agriculture Sciences & Technology, Srinagar –India (Oct 2008 - April 2012).

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Soil Science, SK University of Agriculture sciences & Technology, Jammu-India (Oct. 2004 to July 2006).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Agriculture, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra UP, India (March 1996 - Dec 2000).

SUMMARY

I have been using my Soil and Environmental science experience in consulting, fieldwork, litigation support/expert witness testimony, management, and scientific support and analysis; using my management and consulting experience in a team-oriented, multi-disciplinary professional environment that is proactively involved with environmental sustainability, ecology, natural resources, and soil science related projects including assistance with coordinating field activities, field work including soil/groundwater/vapor and ecological investigations, data evaluation, and report preparation.I am an experienced professional interested in leading and participating in this team effort .

I have also worked in areas like Crop production and management with primary interest in improving crop production systems and enhancing their sustainability. Agricultural water management, crop water use, and irrigation management. Studying various biophysical parameters related to crop growth and yield. Impact of global climate change on crop production and excellent working knowledge of environmental regulations, permitting, agency practices, and chemical manufacturing operations.

Soil and Environmental Consulting Specialties:

■ Environmental/Ecological Consultation for Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Development

■ Environmental Forensics/Damage and Disturbance Assessment

■ Wetland and Stream Evaluations: Wetland Banking, Delineation, Mitigation, Permitting, Monitoring, and Restoration, Environmental Project Management.

■Develop and enforce environmental guidelines and practices.

■Review and recommend improvements to existing environmental programs for compliance assurance.

■Generate environmental reports as requested by regulatory agencies.

■Provide guidance and direction to management for ensuring environmental compliance.

■Ensure that industrial operations are in compliance with local, state and federal environmental regulations.

■Prepare permit applications and agreements as needed by regulatory agencies.

■Obtain, maintain, modify and renew environmental permits and licenses.

■Work with emergency response team to address environmental incidents such as chemical leaks and spills. Advise management on most effective ways of waste treatment and disposal procedures to avoid environmental contaminations.

■Work with emergency response team in clearing chemical spills and accidents.

■Investigate accidents and analyze root causes and develop corrective action plans

■Address client queries and provide assistance to team members when required.

■Assess potential risks and develop appropriate mitigation plans.

■Develop and enforce environmental standards and practices.

■project meetings, make site visits and assist in developing project budget and timelines.

■Identify and solve environmental violations.

■Assisting industrial clients in achieving and maintaining compliance with federal and state environmental regulations.

■preparing regulatory compliance reports and writing technical reports.

■Conduct regular environmental inspections to determine pollution level.

■Investigate environmental accidents and propose corrective actions.

■Assist in developing project proposals and statement of work and determine overall budget and schedules.

■Maintain inventory control and oversee shipping and transportation arrangements.

■Oversee waste disposal and pollution control programs.

■Educate workers on environmental health and safety procedures.

■Work with management in project staffing, cost control, quality control and safety activities.

■ Updated with local, state and federal environmental regulations.

■ Threatened and Endangered (T&E) Species Surveys & Biological Assessments (BA

■ Ability to work on multiple projects at one time, maintain flexibility, travel, and work independently with minimal supervision.

■Conduct regular environmental inspections to determine pollution level and Environmental Permitting

■ Soil Mapping/High Intensity Soil Survey

■ Soil Erosion and Sediment Control/Stormwater Management

■ Excellent writing and verbal communication skills..

■ Strong interpersonal skills (established reputation with potential clients a plus).

■ Soil Health

■ Biochar Use and Management

■ Phase I Environmental Site Assessments

■ Phytoremediation

■ Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (primarily Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access) at an advanced level.

EXPERIENCE

Since August, 2013 - Present

Soil\Environment Scientist (Earth Team) @ USDA-NRCS FORTWORTH TX (United States Dept. Of Agriculture).

I have been supporting USDA-NRCS FORTWORTH TX tremendously through public awareness efforts, as well, including conferences, trainings, and social media. Provide information on Soil and Environment Natural Resources in depth, slope, physical and chemical properties of soil and direction to management for ensuring environmental compliance through soil and environmental survey.

Researchers and scientists will use this valuable data to make informed and wise decisions on restoration plans for aquatic vegetation.

Many of the projects I am working on, required a certain amount of field data to be collected for the purpose of developing project plans for them. These project plans were to be submitted to regional NRCS Soil Survey Offices or to the National Soil Survey Laboratory in order to obtain their approval as official projects that would benefit the conservation and Soil Survey Division parts of NRCS.

Measured decomposition, nitrogen mineralization, and litterfall, and captured and analyzed hemisperical canopy photographs for the sudden oak death project.

Dredge management, carbon storage capability, and other applications. create the soil survey, field notes and soil pedon descriptions, collected at particular location to document the differing soil types and landforms

Environmental regulatory compliance in the chemical industry, with a focus on air regulations, and experience developing compliance program development and maintenance

Air emission inventory reports and attention to detail, quality and safety.

Write environmental related articles, newsletters, and press releases.

Provide assistance on environmental site assessment and remedial investigations at various properties across Texas in Dallas FortWorth area.

Supervised 5 technicians ground-truthing and processing remote-sensing data on wetlands for conservation and landscape fire simulation with FARSITE.

Perform field activities including soil, groundwater, and soil vapor sampling, drilling and well installation, and remedial activities.

Perform office activities including project planning, permitting, subcontractor contracting, data compilation and presentation, and report preparation.

Proficient at organizing and implementing field work.

Examined the influence of forest understory plant and soil microbial (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria via T-RFLP) diversity and composition on ecosystem processes and exotic plant invasion, in conjunction with a long-term experiment simulating oak die-off following invasion by the sudden oak death pathogen, Phytophthora.

I went with the staff for many conservation planning meetings, helping with surveys, mapping and GIS, and spot checks., so I was already exposed to a wide variety of projects focused on drainage, irrigation, cover crops, wetlands rehabilitation and wildlife habitats. Motivated thhe farmers to use various organic manures,cover crops and no till techniques to improve soil health and crop production.

Assisting industrial clients in achieving and maintaining compliance with federal and state environmental regulations.

Consulting project management including financial management, drafting and presenting proposals, and time management to meet project budgets and technical scope.

I’ve been able to help with soil evaluations as well as some outreach, helping lead a fieldtrip for college students . As an NRCS Earth Team Soil Scientist volunteer, assist in a wide variety of ways, including field surveys, conservation planning, Geographic Information System (GIS) data layer organization, public outreach, and plant research .A growing number of Texas farmers are using soil health management systems to improve the health and function of their soil.

I am working hand-in-hand with USDA- NRCS team, to provide these producers our technical and financial assistance programs and services to help ensure their success, Crop production and management with primary interest in improving crop production systems and enhancing their sustainability.

Federal and state environmental regulations with Texas regulatory, including preparation of residual waste reports,air permitting and compliance experience and Environmental auditing.

As a Soil \Environmental Scientist(field team lead in conducting rangeland surveys for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in NRCS CNTSC Dallas Fort Worth . Including notifying producers of the data collection process, plant identification, Soil Testing, GPS documentation, and applying various survey techniques (e.g. soil testing, cover pole, quadrat sampling, point intercepts, and slope determination).

Providing technical support to the NRCS CNTSC Fort Worth Center to help and develop research projects, collected scientific data, conduct data analysis, write popular and scientific publications, give presentations, and aided in equipment maintenance and fabrication.

Presented poster presentation at 69th soil and water conservation society annual conference 2014 at Lombard Illinois from NRCS CNTSC Dallas Fort Worth . Responsible for the development of wetland restoration and enhancement technology development, and the delivery of this technology within NRCS through the publication of agency documents, scientific publications, and training.

Perform program research, planning and development, permitting, compliance monitoring, inspections/enforcement, and technical support services in relation to air, water, waste, federal facilities, corrective action, mining, biology, and other environmental programs.

The Wetland Team, in conjunction with the Conservation Engineering Division, develops and maintains the National Technical Standards for Wetland Restoration, Wetland Enhancement, and Wetland Creation .Develops effective science-based technologies for natural resource assessment, management, and conservation.

Oct. 2008 to April. 2012; Ph.D. Scholar SK University of Agriculture Science and Technology, Srinagar (India).

Thesis title; Investigation on Phosphorous fractions and Its use efficiency in RICE (ORYZA SATIVA) under integrated phosphorous management.

Physico-chemical properties pH, Electrical conductivity, organic carbon and CEC.

Available N, P, K and Zn,Total Phosphorus,Various phosphorus fractions Fe-P, Al-P, Ca-P.

Plant observations (Rice crop),Number of effective tillers/m2.,Number of spikelet’s/panicle.

Test weight,Grain yield,Straw yield,Estimation of dry matter accumulation and uptake of N, P, K and Zinc,Estimation of N, P, K and zinc content in grain and straw.

Estimation of Phosphorus use efficiency.

Deptt. of Agriculture Production Department Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Profile: Assistant Officer Agriculture Extension(April 2007 - Sep 2008) Continue from June-2010 till june-2013

Assist in the development of technical reports, work plans, field sampling plans, and health and safety plans.

Utilize communications skills to interact with both internal and external clients

communicating with clients, regulators and sub-contractors, e.g. analytical laboratories;

Researching previous investigations of a site to provide information to clients considering purchase.

Undertaking field work to identify previous activities on the site and any contamination.

Development of conceptual models: this involves identification and consideration of the potential contaminant sources, critical pathways and receptors that could potentially have an adverse impact on the immediate and wider environment.

report writing: completion of detailed scientific reporting, written in a manner that can be understood by non-technical people

Worked various scheme like ATMA (Green house, vermin compositing etc., Technology mission (Distribution of various hybrid vegetable seeds free of cost), oil seed demonstration plots (OSDP), National Pulse Development Programme (NPDP), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Youjna (RKVY) for farmers.

Interact with clients and other tasks as necessary to fulfil project requirements.

Assists project manager with field and office tasks, such as site investigation, Soil and environmental sample collection (ground water, soil, etc.), report preparation, data collection and evaluation.

Conduct data tabulation, data review and evaluation, including the preparation of electronic data deliverables consistent with regulatory requirements.

Assist with environmental compliance tasks, including spill prevention plans, stormwater plans, various permits, audits and other regulatory compliance programs.

As Assist Agricultural Officer to work with the farmers and growers for the smooth functioning of the office and provide leadership to extension activities in the responsible areas by effective implementation of agricultural schemes/projects sanctioned by the Department, LSG and other Government agencies.

Perform field work (sampling, inspections and field oversight).

List the recommendation of assistance to eligible farmers from the empowered wards after proper verification. Ensuring the affective functioning of agro-clinic in the allotted wards and motivate the farmers to apply manures and fertilizers based on soil test data. He/she is entrusted with collection, dispatch of soil samples for analysis and transmitting the results to the farmers.

Oct. 2004 to July 2006 Masters Coursework (M.Sc.), SK University of Agriculture Science & Technology Jammu, India

Thesis title; Effect of different organic manures on Carbon enrichment in typical inceptisols of Jammu.

Estimation of different soil carbon pools like – water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) Organic Carbon.

Soil biochemical analysis;

Soil microbial biomass.

Soil microbial biomass carbon.

Soil microbial biomass nitrogen.

Soil microbial biomass Phosphorus.

Enzyme activity – Dehydrogenase activity.

Certain soil characteristics;

Soil moisture, particle size analysis, pH, electrical conductivity, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, bilk density, total Carbon, total Nitrogen, mineralizable N, available P, available S.

Organic manure analysis;

Farm Yard Manure analysis.

Poultry manure analysis.

Handling of equipment’s like : i) Flame photometer ii) Spectrophotometer iii) Atomic absorption spectrophotometer iv) Centrifuge v) Kjeldhal apparatus vi) Distillation assembly etc.

Jan 2001- Jan 2003 (Research Fellow)

Division of Environmental Science SK University of Agriculture Science & Technology,, Srinagar India.

Roles and Responsibilities; Microbial Technology for Rehabilitation of Fir and Spruce Seedlings on degraded sites.

Project details and background; The project was funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests Govt. of India.

Handled the equipment’s like; Autoclave, laminar flow, incubator etc. Techniques used on nursery raising. Production of Microbial inoculants.

Media preparation, Nutrient agar, Ashby's medium. Isolation of certain plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (Azatobacter, Azospirillium, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas etc.)

Oct.2000 Graduate Agriculture DR. B R AMBDKAR University –UP-INDIA

Data analysis;

Used R-Software, Minitab Statistical Software's gage R&R tools to evaluate measurement systems.

PUBLICATIONS

Investigation on Phosphorus Fractions and its use efficiency in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Integrated Phosphorus Management System

http://ojs.uok.edu.in/xmlui/handle/1/1107

Saima khursheed, Sanjay Arora and Tahir Ali.(2013)Effect of Organic Sources of Nitrogen on Rice (oryza sativa) and Soil Carbon Pools in Inceptisols of Jammu.Vol.1,P 17-21,International Journal of Environmental pollution and Solutions. Columbia International Publishing.

http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/201********.html

Columbia International Publishing International Journal of Environmental Pollution and Solutions

http://www.uscip.org/paper/ijeps/IJEPS%20-%20Effect%20of%20Organic%20Sources%20of%20Nitrogen%20on%20Rice%20Oryza

%20sativa%20and%20Soil%20Carbon%20Pools%20in%20Inceptisols%20of%20Jammu.pdf

Zargar,M.Y.,Khan,M.A.,Mushtaq Ahmad and Saima Khursheed, (2005).Effect of inoculation of pseudomonas on the growth and development of Fir and Spruce Seedlings.Vol 45, No 4, p 313-316, Indian Jor. of Microbiology.

Effect of inoculation of Pseudomonas on the growth and development of fir and spruce seedlings

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=10&q=my+zargar&hl=en&as_sdt=0,44

Zargar, M.Y., Khan, M.A., Khurshed, A., Mir, I.A. and Saima Khursheed. 2005. Impact of degradation on physiocochemical characteristics and microbial status of forest soils dominated by fir and spruce. Asian Jr. of Microbiology. Biotech. Env. Sc. 7(1) : 45-48.

IMPACT OF DEGRADATION ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MICROBIAL STATUS OF FOREST SOILS DOMINATED BY FIR AND SPRUCE.

http://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&continue=/scholar%3Fq%3DM%2BY%2Bzargar%26hl%3Den%26start%3D120%26as_sdt%3D0,44&citilm=1&citation_for_view=u-x6o8ySG0sC&hl=en&oi=saved

Saima Khursheed, Sanjay Arora and Jalali,V.K. (2011). Soil Carbon Enrichment for sustaining paddy yield in Jammu. Soil Conservation Society of India.

Saima Khursheed, Sanjay Arora. (2011). Biochemical Changes in Soil as influenced by application of organic manures. Soil Conservation Society of India.

PRESENTATION

Presentation\Poster Presentation 69th International Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference Lombard IL.

http://www.abstract.xlibx.com/a-other/62112-34-69th-swcs-international-annual-conference-making-waves-conserva.php

Abstract 69th SWCS International Annual Conference July 27-30, 2014 Lombard, Illinois

http://www.swcs.org/documents/filelibrary/14ac/Abstract_Book__FINAL_FB7B07FB89022.pdf

Poster Presentation at 9th Agricultural Science Congress, Srinagar-India.

Paper Presentation at a seminar on Integrated Nutrient Management for sustainable Agriculture organised by Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture (CSKHPKV), Palampur, HP-India.

Volunteer Technical(Soil Scientist) Advisory Expertise in US Deptt. of Agriculture- NRCS FortwORTH Texas

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/cntsc/?cid=stelprdb1257835#Soils

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Merit Scholarship from SK University of Agriculture Science & Technology, Jammu India.

Student Incentive Award from Soil Conservation Society of India.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Completed Three (3) months training programme on Agribusiness and Agriclinics by MANAGE, Department of Agriculture, Hyderabad, India (2010).

Project work on Vermicomposting (2010).

R-Software, Minitab Statistical Software's gage R&R tools.

Membership

Soil and Water Conservation Society

Soil Science Society of America.

Corp Science Society of America.

American Society of Agronomy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Reference : Available upon of References.

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