Dr. Jeff Taylor

BSc (Hons), PhD, MEIANZ, CEnvP

Director, Senior Principal Environmental Geochemist

Summary

Dr Taylor is one of the founding directors of Earth Systems. He has more than 30 years’ experience as an environmental and earth scientist and has managed and directed a broad variety of multi-disciplinary environmental projects, both in Australia and overseas. He is regarded as leading expert on issues related to acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD), and has specialist knowledge in the fields of water quality, environmental geochemistry, minesite remediation and nutrient pollution.

Education and Affiliations

• Doctor of Philosophy (Geochemistry), Monash University, Australia
• Bachelor of Science, Honours (Class I) (Earth Sciences), Monash University, Australia
• Member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ)
• Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP), Australia

Countries of Work Experience

Australia, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, South Africa, Peru, Papua New Guinea

Professional History

• 1993 to Present: Principal Environmental Scientist and Director, Earth Systems Pty. Ltd.
• 1990 to 1993: Director – Geoscience Consultant, Petrogenesis Pty. Ltd.
• 1989: Postdoctoral Research

Fields of Special Competence

Project management; environmental geoscience and geochemistry; prediction, prevention and control of water pollution; devising and developing innovative minesite remediation technologies; water quality management; materials characterisation; analytical chemistry and geochemistry; design, implementation and management of geochemical surveys; geochemical modelling.

Representative Experience

Dr. Taylor’s recent roles and projects include:

• Project manager and specialist technical adviser for environmental assessment and rehabilitation projects, including geochemistry, water, rehabilitation, revegetation and waste management issues, at various operating and decommissioned mine sites in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, South Africa, Tanzania, Laos, Peru and Mali.
• Project Manager for a range of water quality and resource management projects for clients including Victorian Department of Primary Industries, Victorian EPA, various power generators in Victoria, Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Mineral Resources Tasmania, NSW Department of Mineral Resources, Queensland Department of Minerals and Energy, Office of the Supervising Scientist, Gippsland Water, WA Water Corporation, Primary Industries South Australia, SA Water and Environment Australia.
• Principal designer and developer of the Neutra-Mill Technology and HALT family of low-cost water treatment systems.
• Manager for technology development in the water sector. Technologies include Neutral Barrier technology (NBT) to control subsurface fluid flow; GaRDS technology to prevent water pollution from underground mines; AcidBLOCK to control acid and metal discharge from waste rock piles and nutrient pollution and algal blooms in water bodies.
• The collection and evaluation of geological, geochemical and hydrogeological data for environmental and natural resource management purposes.
• Development of water quality management strategies, including surface and groundwater.
• Design and development of water and wastewater treatment plants.
• Treatment and control of mine wastewater, including turbidity, cyanide, AMD and salinity.
• Developing water treatment strategies and managing implementation programs.
• Characterisation of geological materials for environmental risk assessment, including tailings and waste rock, and development of management strategies.
• Characterisation, management and treatment of acid sulfate soils.
• Monitoring, closure planning and closure implementation for sites affected by AMD.

Selected Publications

• Taylor, J. R., Stimpfl, M., McLeary, M and Grindley, P., 2009.  Alkalinity Generating Cover Materials for Sustainably Lowering Acidity Loads from Waste Rock Piles – Field Demonstration.  Securing the Future and 8th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD), June 22-26, 2009,Skelleftea,Sweden.
• Taylor, J. R. (Senior Author), 2007.  Managing Acid and Metalliferous Drainage.  Leading Practice Sustainable Development Handbook from the Australian Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
• Taylor, J. R., Pape, S. and Murphy, N. C., 2005,  A summary of passive and active treatment technologies for Acid and Metalliferous Drainage (AMD).  Proceedings of the 5th Australian Workshop on Acid Drainage,Freemantle,Western Australia.
• Hart, B. T., Roberts, S., James, R., O’Donohue, M., Taylor, J., Donnert D. and Furrer, R.,  2003.  Active barriers to reduce phosphorous release from sediments: Effectiveness of three forms of CaCO₃.  Aust. J. Chem. V56, 207-217.
• Waring C. L. and Taylor J. R., 1999,  A new passive technique proposed for the prevention of acid drainage: GaRDS.  Proceedings of the Minerals Council ofAustralia Environmental Workshop,Townsville,Australia, October, 1999.
• Taylor, J. R., Weaver, T. R., McPhail, D. C. “Bear” and Murphy, N. C., 1996.  Characterisation and impact assessment of mine tailings in the King River system and delta, Western Tasmania.  ERISS publication,Darwin,Australia.