Mr Dr. Ralph Markarian

Senior Principal In-Charge of Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Toxicology at SWCA Environmental Consultants

Speaker

Dr. Ralph Markarian has over 35 years of experience in natural resource damage assessments, ecological risk assessments and environmental toxicology. His expertise and specialty includes the design and management of natural resource damage assessments (NRDA). His most recent experiences include serving as the lead NRDA consultant for Cardno's efforts in the Gulf of Mexico in behalf of BP. He has served as the lead technical expert in multiple party cooperative NRDAs that have led to a number of cost effective settlements for clients involved in complex NRDA cases. As a senior representative for the Responsible Party, his role includes strategic consultation and technical negotiations in order to resolve damage claims associated with the NRDA. He has also provided the oil industry with NRDA training for spill response teams during oil spill drills, taking advantage of his experience at numerous spill incidents. Dr. Markarian’s experience in site assessments has included all aspects of the aquatic ecosystem including toxicity concerns, bioaccumulation of contaminants, food chain contamination and human risk associated with contaminated fish/shellfish. Effluent studies have included chemical plants, refineries, marketing terminals and metal working facilities.
Dr. Markarian's experience in the area of natural resource damage assessments and multiple party programs has allowed him to refine the necessary negotiation and communication skills required for technical consensus building and conflict resolution required in today’s complex regulatory environment. His experience with both the technical and legal aspects of providing quality data also insures that programs incorporate appropriate safeguards that insure the viability and integrity of the information collected.

Dr. Markarian has written numerous toxicology publications, abstracts, and technical reports, and has participated in technical presentations both nationally and internationally.