Anchor QEA Expands Coal Combustion Residuals Capabilities
Anchor QEA has expanded its coal combustion residuals (CCR) practice with the addition of three experienced technical professionals, new leadership roles and a broader strategic focus on helping the power and energy sector address evolving federal and state regulations, groundwater monitoring requirements and corrective action decisions.
Known for technically complex work involving remediation, restoration, resilience and revitalization, Anchor QEA bolstered its CCR resources by adding Wayne Weber as a principal CCR subject matter expert, Kelly Ferri as a senior geologist, and Matt Barickman as a staff geochemist. With more than a decade of experience in the firm, Joe Smith has assumed a CCR program leadership role to drive support for utility clients grappling with compliance and groundwater remediation challenges.
The expanded team reflects growing demand from utilities responding to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2015 CCR Rule, the 2024 Legacy Rule, and proposed revisions currently under consideration. Anchor QEA’s CCR services include groundwater monitoring and modeling, alternative and geogenic source demonstrations, monitored natural attenuation evaluations, corrective measure assessments, pre-design investigations, field pilot studies and in situ treatment approaches.
The move builds on a CCR program established at Anchor QEA by Jim Redwine and others, whose work helped position the firm as a recognized technical resource for complex groundwater and geochemical challenges associated with CCR sites. The expertise of Dimitri Vlassopoulos and Anchor QEA’s environmental geochemistry laboratory in Portland, Oregon, continue to play a central role in the firm’s national work involving investigation and remediation of arsenic, cobalt, lithium, molybdenum and other Appendix IV constituents; alternative source demonstrations; monitored natural attenuation; and in situ treatment evaluations.
“Historically, Anchor QEA has focused primarily on technically challenging CCR work involving geochemistry, remediation strategy and corrective action evaluation,” says Smith, who is based in the Mid-Atlantic region. “A big part of that work has been helping utilities better understand site conditions so they can make informed long-term groundwater management decisions. Often, the result is that our clients avoid remediation approaches that are far more intensive and expensive than necessary.”
Smith says evolving federal requirements and increased compliance obligations are creating demand for technical and regulatory expertise earlier in the CCR process. “As the regulatory environment evolves, utilities need better guidance throughout the broader compliance process,” he says. “Adding these talented subject experts deepens and expands our ability to support clients across the full spectrum of CCR work.”
Weber, who holds professional licenses as both an engineer and a geologist, brings extensive experience supporting utilities and power cooperatives on CCR regulatory and compliance matters, including EPA enforcement and interpretation of evolving federal CCR requirements. He is based in the Midwest region. “In addition to a wealth of remediation experience, Wayne adds strategic regulatory insight that really complements our existing technical remediation expertise,” says Smith.
Ferri is a senior geologist and project manager with experience leading large, multi-site CCR monitoring and compliance programs for utilities across the Southeast, including program oversight for more than 26 units regulated under federal and state CCR programs. Her background also includes site assessment, groundwater remediation and regulatory reporting for coal ash impoundments and landfills.
Based in the Mountain West region, Barickman is a geologist and geochemist with experience in CCR compliance, corrective action, groundwater monitoring, and monitored natural attenuation evaluations. His prior experience includes regulatory compliance and remediation projects involving CCR facilities and PFAS investigations.
Several members of Anchor QEA’s CCR team recently presented technical work at the 2026 World of Coal Ash Conference. Weber presented on geochemical modeling related to CCR groundwater evaluation, while Barickman discussed monitored natural attenuation evaluations for CCR contaminants. Other Anchor QEA presenters included managing geochemist Jason Stuckey, who presented on naturally occurring (geogenic) studies for various CCR constituents and senior managing geologist Chuck Pippin, who presented on pre-design investigations in fractured bedrock.
About Anchor QEA
Anchor QEA’s mission is to transform our environment and communities, with integrity and vibe. Headquartered in Seattle, the firm has more than 25 offices in the U.S. and Canada. Services include engineering, environmental sciences, planning and restoration, and innovation and technology for public and private clients.
For more information, headshots or other imagery contact us at connect@anchorqea.com or (781) 718-2403.