Basics of Forensic Science

            Where and How is Environmental Applied?

Preparing an Analysis of Evidence and Methods of Proof

            How to Win a Case?

River and Groundwater Gauging Data

NOAA & NRCS Climatic Data

Sources of Aerial Photographs

Rules of Evidence

Field Surveys, Sample Collection, and Documentation

            Lake Sedimentation

Mineralogical Fingerprinting Analysis

Radioactive Isotope Analysis

Micro-Landscape Age Variations

Radiocarbon 14C Laboratory Results

Potential Problems with Radiocarbon Dating of Sediments

Radio-nuclide Age Dating of Sediments with 137Cesium

Radio-nuclide Age Dating of Sediments with 210Lead

Other Techniques for Age Dating of Sediments

Spatial Analysis of Contaminates in Soil & Groundwaters

            Case Study #1 – Metals Contamination of Soils and Groundwaters

Hydrological Modeling of Streams and Rivers

Sediment Transport Modeling of Streams and Rivers

Water Quality Modeling of Streams and Rivers

Water Quality Modeling of Watersheds

Tracing Pollutants in Watersheds

What is DNA Fingerprinting?

Bacterial Fingerprinting of Pollutant Sources in Watersheds

ARA Bacterial Fingerprinting

DNA Bacterial Fingerprinting

Age Dating of Groundwater

Hydrologic Modeling of Shallow Groundwaters

Hydrologic Modeling of Wetlands

            Case Study #2 – Mississippi River

            Examining Plaintiffs’ Expert Report on Moreau River

            Case Study #3 – Sedimentation Along the Moreau River

            What is More Important in Forensic Investigations and Why?

Working with Attorneys

             Developing Plaintiff and Defense Expert Strategies

Dr. Barrett L. Kays

Dr. Barrett L. Kays is an expert investigator and witness specialized in earth sciences involving soil, hydrology, and groundwater science.  Dr. Kays has conducted numerous forensic investigations involving construction, water resource, sedimentation, flooding, wastewater, and contamination damages.  He has also been involved in unusual eminent domain, and inverse eminent domain cases in federal and state courts.  Dr. Kays uses state-of-art forensic techniques and complex temporal and spatial analysis in determining causation.  He also has conducted expert investigations in twenty states and has testified before US Court of Federal Claims, US District Courts, and State Courts, as well as, federal and state administrative hearings. 

Dr. Kays has a success rate of 85 percent in his expert cases because he expertly uses science to analyze and answer each important allegation in the litigation case, and is extremely thorough in determining how best to present and explain the evidence so the trier of fact can easy apply his scientific findings to the legal case.  He has been commissioned by USDOJ, USACOE, USFWS, State DOJ’s, State DOT’s, cities, counties, banks, institutions, corporations, and property owners.

Pen or pencil to take notes. Please bring paper if you do not wish to take notes in your course book.  Lunch will be on your own but drinks and snacks will be provided throughout the day.

In order to guarantee a space in a course, the tuition must be paid in full TWO WEEKS before the first day of the course by either check or credit card. State and government agencies paying with a purchase order are allowed payment under the two-week time frame if a copy of the purchase order is received by NWETC.

Cancellations*

• With 31 or more days notice, we will offer a 100% refund or credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With 30-8 days notice, we will offer a course credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With fewer than 8 days notice, there is no course credit available

*Please note that attendee replacement is welcome at any time

Disability Accommodations:

To request disability accommodations, please contact us at info@nwetc.org or 425-270-3274 at least 30 days prior to the event.