Earth & Water Resources, LLC
Ted Smith Serves as Volunteer Expert Advisor
September 2014: Ted Smith, P.G. C.P.G, of Earth & Water Resources, LLC was recently recruited by the International Executive Service Corps (IESC); a Washington D.C based international development non-profit organization, to serve as a volunteer expert advisor to local government in China (iesc.org). IESC deploys consultants and volunteer experts to developing countries to provide managerial and technical expertise to private enterprises, emerging industries, financial institutions, and governments. Their continuing mission statement is “Prosperity & Stability through Private Enterprise.”
Mr. Smith spent two weeks (July 18 through August 2) in China, dividing his time between Zibo City, Zichuan District in Shandong Province, as well as the city of Taiyuan in Shanxi Province. His responsibilities consisted of the following:
- Advising local government officials on various issues regarding land subsidence problems associated with former coal, iron and clay mining sites.
- Provided advice and consultation regarding ground water contamination issues associated with former mine sites.
- Advising local government on modern industry standards and practices for land restoration and reclamation.
- Discussed regulatory framework for mine design, permitting and reclamation, as well as management of ground water resources.
In Taiyuan, Mr. Smith also gave a presentation to government officials on the investigation and remediation of ground subsidence problems associated with sinkhole development in Florida, with particular emphasis on a paper he published on the 2006 Scott Lake sinkhole in Lakeland, Florida.
“Like Florida, China is also greatly affected by sinkholes and land subsidence problems causing damage to buildings, infrastructure and disruption to local populations. It was a great honor to be called upon to serve as an expert advisor in China. While I was able to offer my expertise and answer many of their questions regarding sinkholes and land subsidence issues, I also learned great deal about their society and culture – knowledge which I can apply to my own practice and share with my geology and engineering colleagues."
