ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTISE FROM THE EXPERT

James L. Cornette, P.G.,  has over 20 years of field experience, successfully completing hundreds of contamination assessment, contamination remediation, water production, well drilling, hydrogeological and geological land planning, development, environmental drilling, water re-use, wastewater, permitting, mining, and waste reduction/disposal projects.

Fields of Competence

  • Groundwater Resources Management, Development, Planning, and Modeling.
  • Subsurface/Geological Investigations, Contamination Plume Interpretations, Modeling, and Assessments.
  • Wastewater Re-Use, Recycling, Planning, Permitting, and Modeling.
  • Subsurface Contamination Remediation (groundwater and soil).
  • Production Well Design, Drilling, and Water Supply.
  • Regulatory Negotiations and Permitting.
  • Phase I and Phase II Environmental Audits.
  • Land Research, Supportability, and Planning.
  • Emergency Response and Hazard Minimization.
  • Expert Witness Testimony and Report Preparation.

Resolved Expert Witness Testimony Cases

1. Smith Bros. Of Dudley, Inc. vs. D. M. Price & Sons, Inc.
Designated Expert Witness, Testified in North Carolina, Wayne County Superior Court ref. petroleum plume migration.

2. Mid State Petroleum, Inc. vs. Sun Oil Company, Inc.
Ref. Former Lakewood Sunoco
Designated Expert and Fact Witness, Testified at Binding Arbitration ref. hydrogeology, contamination sequencing, and petroleum plume migration.

3. Mid State Petroleum, Inc. vs. Sun Oil Company, Inc.
Ref. Former Barnett’s Sunoco
Designated Expert and Fact Witness, Testified at Binding Arbitration ref. hydrogeology, contamination sequencing, and petroleum plume migration.

4. Bobbie Adams, et. al. vs. BP Products North America, Inc. et. al.
Designated Expert and Fact Witness, Testified at Depositions and Summary Judgement Hearing ref. hydrogeology, MTBE and Benzene migration.

5. Bobbie Adams, et. al. vs. A. J. Ballard, Jr., Tire and Oil Company, Inc.
Designated Expert and Fact Witness, Testified at Depositions and Summary Judgement Hearing ref. hydrogeology, MTBE and Benzene migration.

6. Linda Barnett, et. al. vs. BP Products North America, Inc. et. al.
Designated Expert and Fact Witness, Testified at Depositions and Summary Judgement Hearings ref. hydrogeology, MTBE and Benzene migration.

7. Cockrell and Joe Kershner vs. Coldwell Banker Fountain.
Designated Expert Witness. Testified at Deposition ref. geology, geotechnical, and contamination from landfills.

8. The Village of Bald Head Island vs. Bald Head Island Club
Designated Expert and Fact Witness. Testified at Mediations and before the Town Council and island residents ref. hydrogeology, wastewater disposal, and water supply issues.

9. NC State Ports Authority vs. Apex Oil Company vs. Flint Hills Resources. Designated Expert Witness. Testified at Mediation ref. hydrogeology, plume migration, and MTBE presence.

Education

  • Bachelors in Geology, 1987
  • Graduate Studies In Hydrogeology, 1991
  • Graduate Studies in Sedimentology, 1992
  • AHERA Asbestos Abatement Supervisor’s Training Course, 1997
  • Hydrogeological Computer Modeling, 2000
  • Hydrogeological Computer Modeling, MODFLOW 3D, 2004
  • Hydrogeological Computer Modeling, MODFLOW Pro, 2006
  • 40 Hour OSHA Health and Safety Trained (updated annually)

Professional Registration/ Licences

  • North Carolina Professional Geologist Lic. No. 1214
  • South Carolina Professional Geologist Lic. No. 2023
  • Georgia Professional Geologist Lic. No. 1099
  • Tennessee Professional Geologist Lic. No. TN2252
  • Virginia Professional Geologist Lic. No. 001518
  • NC Public Utilities Contractor License Lic. No. 44430
  • Certified NC Well Driller Lic. No. 2424
  • North Carolina Pump Installer Lic. No. 1966

Professional Associations

  • National Ground Water Association
    – N.C. Delegate, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2008
  • Geological Society of America
  • Ground Water Professionals of North Carolina
  • American Nuclear Society