Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., C.P.G., President and CEO of the I2M Corporation (Texas), announced today that the I2M Board of Directors has approved the engagement of James A. Saunders, Ph.D., P.G., as a Technical Advisor. He will report to Mr. Campbell and the I2M Board of Directors on matters related to subsurface biogeochemical processes and to environmental matters during the permitting process on various projects, which will soon be underway.
Dr. Saunders held academic positions for 31 years at Boise State University, the University of Mississippi, and Auburn University. During that time, he taught classes in, and conducted research on, aqueous-environmental geochemistry and mineral deposits. He also served as a project geologist for Law Environmental Services in the Atlanta area for three years, held a part-time appointment with the USGS Branch of Geochemistry in Denver for three years, and held summer jobs with AMAX, Selco Mining, and U.S. Steel.
While at U.S. Steel, Dr. Saunders worked in an exploration program in South Texas for roll-front uranium deposits that were potentially suited for in-situ leaching. Saunders’ background in geochemistry led to his interests in using it to explore for mineral deposits and also deducing how some types of ores formed by hydrothermal geochemical processes. He also conducted research on the geochemistry of meta(loid)s (e.g., arsenic, selenium, uranium, lead, zinc, cadmium, etc.) in natural and contaminated ground- and surface waters. To that end, he spent two summers as a Summer Faculty Researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory investigating groundwater contamination by radionuclides and metals there.
Dr. Saunders developed and patented two bioremediation processes designed to remove metals and potentially some radionuclides from contaminated groundwater. He also was one of the early researchers deciphering the causes of natural arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh and elsewhere.
Dr. Saunders has also served as a geology-geochemistry consultant and expert witness on a variety of litigation matters during his career. He has also served as an I2M Associate for many years.
Mr. Campbell remarked after conferring with the I2M Board: “The Board and I are especially pleased that Dr. Saunders has agreed to join the I2M Team. Both Dr. Saunders and Dr. Lee will be instrumental as we begin the permitting process of the I2M project that will involve the TCEQ, the TRRC, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and then when in-situ uranium recovery project production begins in the next few years, depending on how permitting goes.”
