Ross Island

Technical Assistance Panel

Jeremy Buck is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Environmental Contaminant Specialist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Portland, Oregon. He has been there since 1993 and has been involved in numerous studies of fish and wildlife along the Columbia River, and commonly addresses issues regarding bioaccumulation of organochlorine contaminants in both the Columbia and the Willamette food chains. He is currently completing several investigations, which assess the impacts of contaminants to bald eagles, double-crested cormorants, and other species. He also responds to oil spills, evaluating contaminant threats to endangered species, and addresses natural resource issues at superfund sites. He obtained his BS in Wildlife Biology in 1989 at State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry and an MS in Environmental Toxicology in 1992 from Clemson University.

Deke Gundersen in August 2000 became the Director of the Environmental Sciences Program at Pacific University. Prior to that he was an Assistant Professor of Biology for the University of Southern Indiana. He teaches courses in anatomy and physiology (lab and lecture), comparative animal physiology (lab and lecture), aquatic biology, tropical biology, environmental toxicology and lab sections in introductory biology. He obtained his BS in Biology from the Indiana University Southeast, New Albany Indiana, a MS in Biology from University of Louisville, and a PhD. in Fisheries from Oregon State University.

Mike Houck has been Urban Naturalist for the Audubon Society of Portland since 1982, and as the Director of the Society’s Metropolitan Wildlife Refuge System. The Audubon Society played a key role in the developmental Metro’s Greenspaces Masterplan and the passage of a bond measure to acquire as much as 6,000 acres of Greenspaces throughout the Portland metropolitan region. The Audubon Society of Portland was one of the members of the Coalition for A Livable Future (CLF). He is working with other Coalition members and serves on CLF’s steering committee and chairs the Natural Resources Working Group. Mike focuses on the integration of urban fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands, urban streams and other elements of the urban Greenfrasturture into regional growth management strategies. He serves on Metro’s Water Resources Policy Advisory Committee (WRPAC), Metro Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC), and several local and national stormwater advisory committees. He obtained his BS in Zoology in 1969 at Iowa State University and MST in Biology with an emphasis in plant ecology and plant physiology in 1972 from Portland State University.

John Malek is the Ocean Dumping Coordinator and Dredged Material Management Specialist for Region 10, Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally he advises Region 10 Superfund on contaminated sediments issues. Prior to joining EPA in 1987, he worked in the Environmental Resources Section of the Seattle District, Corps of Engineers for 13 years.

John has been involved in navigation projects and sediment management issues in the Pacific Northwest most of his career, including early Superfund investigations at Commencement Bay, technical studies for the U.S. Navy Homeport project at Everett, WA, and development of the Sediment Management Standards with the Washington Department of Ecology. He was one of the developers of the Puget Sound Dredged Disposal Analysis (PSDDA) study and presently manages EPA's implementation of that program. He has served or is serving on several national EPA or joint EPA/Corps technical committees and workgroups, including the dredged material testing manual for ocean waters (the "Green Book"), the companion testing manual under development for 404 waters (the "Inland Manual"), EPA's Sediment Management Strategy, and EPA's Sediment Technical Oversight Committee. He obtained his BA in 1972 from Western Washington University and an MA in 1978 from University of Washington.

Jim O’Connor, Ph.D. is a Research Hydrologist for the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey. He has been there since 1991, specializing in river processes, including channel and floodplain dynamics, sediment transport, and effects of human and natural disturbances on streams and rivers. He obtained his BS in 1982 from the University of Washington, and an MS (1985) and Ph.D. (1990) from the University of Arizona.

Mike Palermo, Ph.D. is a Research Civil Engineer with the Environmental Engineering Division at the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. He began his career with the Corps in 1967. He conducts research and applied studies concerning dredging and dredged material disposal. He has authored numerous publications in the area of dredging and dredged material disposal technology. He is active in studies concerning design, operation and management of disposal sites, beneficial uses of dredged material, and management of contaminated sediments. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and a member of the Western Dredging Association and the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses. He obtained his BS and MS in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University and his Ph.D. in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Chris Prescott is a Environmental Scientist at the City of Portland's ESA Program, providing technical support on Water Quality and Ecology issues. Prior to working for the City of Portland he worked for the Puget Sound ambient monitoring program as a Chief Scientist. He obtained his MS in Ecology from the University of South Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a BA in Environmental Science from University of South Florida.

Jim Reese is a Lead Technical Specialist and Environmental Policy Advisor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He began his career with the Corps in 1977. He coordinates with district offices and federal and state agencies on matters pertaining to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Ocean Dumping Act, Clean Water Act, and other environmental laws. Jim participates in national-level joint-agency task forces for dredged material testing, environmental research, and environmental policy. He is responsible for independent analysis of environmental fish and wildlife, and aquatic plant functions on the Environmental Resources Team. He also prepares, coordinates, and reviews the Environmental Impact Statements for the North Pacific Region. He has numerous publications on dredging materials. He obtained his BS in Environmental Sciences in 1983 from East Central State University and his MS in Biology/Chemistry from University of Oklahoma.

Jim Grimes works at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).

Don Stephens is a Research Associate at OHSU, Pediatrics Research Department. He has been in research for 30 years. His research involves use of molecular biology and biochemical approaches to gain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis. He is an author or co-author of 14 publications in scientific journals, and 20 abstracts presented at scientific meetings. He has also been a reviewer for two journals and has written a review chapter. He lives in the Brooklyn Neighborhood and is an active member of the Brooklyn Action Corps. He obtained his BS from Portland State University.

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