Over the past 26 years, Dr. Jersak has had an extensive and diverse career in the earth and environmental sciences, both in academia and consulting. His professional experience generally includes: characterizing site and material conditions in “clean” and contaminated environments, including characterizing (bio)geochemical processes and effects in such environments; developing/designing remedial (cleanup) technologies and approaches; and remedy implementation. Dr. Jersak’s work in various characterization- and remedy-related areas covers a broad spectrum of environmental media and settings, including: geologic strata; soils; sediments; groundwater; surface water; atmospheric inputs (“acid rain”); wetlands and industrial properties. He has been involved in project activities and research as diverse as conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments to investigating ways to enhance evaporation from brine-filled surface-water impoundments.
Over the past 14 years, Dr. Jersak’s work has focused exclusively on contaminated sediments in freshwater and marine environments. Having first served as R&D Director for AquaBlok, Ltd. in the USA (8 years) then as Technical Manager for Biologge AS in Norway (6 years), his main focus during this time has been on remediating contaminated sediments using in-situ capping (and treatment) approaches. He has been closely involved in developing and implementing engineered sediment capping (and treatment) products, namely AquaBlok® and related product lines, currently known as BioBlok® in Scandinavia.
Dr. Jersak entered the field of contaminated sediments from a commercial – not academic – perspective. Over the last 14 years, he has gained a wide perspective and understanding, knowledge and applied skills related to:
Consequently, he has a firm grasp and working knowledge of other non-capping and non-remediation related aspects of the contaminated sediment field.
Dr. Jersak has authored/co-authored numerous publications, including conference presentations, most recently (since 1997) on sediment capping, treatment, characterization and assessment, and previously (1985-1997) on various soils-related issues.
Jersak, J. 2012. Recognizing, optimizing and expanding the concept of in-situ treatment of ongoing contaminant inputs to sediments. NORDROCS 2012, Oslo, Norway, 18-21 September, 2012. Accepted for poster presentation.
Hjartland, T., T. Hansen and J. Jersak. 2012. Carbon-enriched capping products placed in Kirkbukten, Bergen. NORDROCS 2012, Oslo, Norway, 18-21 September, 2012. Accepted for poster presentation.
Jersak, J. and J. Hull. 2011. Use of carbon-amended composite particles to accomplish in-situ treatment of contaminated sediments. SedNet conference, Venice, Italy, 6-9 April, 2011. Accepted for poster presentation.
Kjeilen-Eilertsen, G., J. Jersak and S. Westerlund. 2011. “Developing treatment products for increased microbial degradation of petroleum oil spills across open-water surfaces.” Paper presented at Offshore Technical Conference, Houston, TX., 7-9 February, 2011. ATC Paper No. 928647.
Jersak, J., J. Laugesen, T. Moskeland, A. Pettersen and B. Aschjem. Action Plan for Managing Contaminated Sediments in Norway: Sandefjord Harbor Case Study. Abstract for “Sixth International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments”, Battelle-sponsored conference, Feb. 7-10, 2011. New Orleans, LA. Accepted for poster presentation.
Jersak, J. and F.B. Aasen. 2010. Pilot Sediment Capping in Norway: Two Case Studies. Abstract for “Sixth International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments”, Battelle-sponsored conference, Feb. 7-10, 2011. New Orleans, LA. Accepted for poster presentation.
Jersak, J. and P. Abrahamsen. 2010. Capping marine sediments impacted by tributyltin and other organic contaminants. NORDROCS 2010, Copenhagen, Denmark, 15-16 Sept., 2010. Poster presentation.
Laugesen, J., D.Reible, U. Skyllberg, M. Palermo, A. Teeter, J. Skei, E. Eek, R. Kleiv, J. Jersak, H. Østbøll, and T. Møskeland. 2009. Capping of Highly Mercury-Contaminated Sediments from WWII Submarine at 150 M Water Depth. Proceedings, 5th International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments, February 2-5, 2009, Jacksonville, FL.
Jersak, J. and E. Eek. 2009. Management of tributyltin-contaminated sediments using innovative capping-based remedies. Abstract for “Fifth International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments”, Battelle-sponsored conference, Feb. 2-5, 2009. Jacksonville, FL. Oral presentation.
Det Norske Veritas (DNV Consulting). 2008. Salvage of U864 – Supplementary Studies – Study No. 11: Assessment of Future Spreading of Mercury for the Capping Alternative. Report No. 23916-1, Prepared by Det Norske Veritas (DNV Consulting) for Kystverket (Norwegian Coastal Administration), Oslo, Norway.
Jersak, J. and F.B. Aasen. 2008. Risk-based management of TBT-contaminated sediments in Norway: Remedial approaches, regulatory requirements and other challenges. NORDROCS 2008, Helsinki, Finland, Sept. 23-26, 2008. Poster presentation.
Jersak, J., F.B. Aasen, J. Hull and J. Collins. 2008. Innovative capping remedies for risk-based management of contaminated sediments in shallower inner-harbor areas. SedNet conference, May 27-30, 2008, Oslo, Norway. Oral presentation.
Jersak, J. and F.B. Aasen. 2008. Risk-based management of TBT-contaminated sediments in Norway: Remedial approaches, regulatory requirements and other challenges. SedNet conference, May 27-30, 2008, Oslo, Norway. Poster presentation.
Lundh, T. and J. Jersak. 2006. In Situ Treatment of Organic Contaminants in Norwegian Harbor Sediments. Abstract for “Fourth International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments”, Battelle-sponsored conference, Jan. 22-25, 2007. Savannah, GA. Accepted for oral presentation.
Jersak, J., J. Hull and P. Hutton. 2005. In Situ Hydraulic Sealing of Impoundments Using a Clay Based Composite Particle System. Abstract for conference sponsored by Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2005. Salt Lake City, UT.
Jersak J. and J. Hull. 2005. Use of In Situ Capping to Improve In Situ Management Techniques. Abstract for “Third International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments”, Battelle-sponsored conference, Jan. 24-27, 2005. New Orleans, LA.
Jersak, J., J. Hull and P. Hutton. 2004. Potential Uses of Relatively Low-Permeability Liner Systems in Pit Lake Environments. Abstract for “Pit Lakes 2004”, US EPA-sponsored conference, Nov. 16-18, 2004, Reno, NV.
Apitz, S., J. Davis, K. Finkelstein, D. Hohreiter, R. Hoke, R. Jensen, J. Jersak, V. Kirtay, E. Mack, V. Magar, D. Moore, D. Reible and R. Stahl. 2005. Assessing and Managing Contaminated Sediments: Part II, Evaluating Risk and Monitoring Sediment Remedy Effectiveness. International Environmental Assessment & Management , Vol. 1, No. 1., pp. e1-e14.
Apitz, S., J. Davis, K. Finkelstein, D. Hohreiter, R. Hoke, R. Jensen, J. Jersak, V. Kirtay, E. Mack, V. Magar, D. Moore, D. Reible and R. Stahl. 2004. Assessing and Managing Contaminated Sediments: Part I, Developing an Effective Investigation and Risk Evaluation Strategy. International Environmental Assessment & Management (online edition), Vol 1, No. 1, pp. 2-8.
Jersak, J. and E. Cherry. 2002. Characterizing the Spatial Extent of Biologically Relevant Sediment Contamination at Impacted Sites. In: Contaminated Soils, Vol. 7., P. Kostecki, E. Calabrese and J. Dragun (eds.). Amherst Scientific Publishers, MA.: pp. 435-442.
Hull J., J. Jersak and H. Crowell. 2000. ‘Biofriendly’ Remediation of Impacted Wetlands. In: J.R. Means and R.E. Hitchee (eds.). Wetlands & Remediation International Conference Proceedings: pp. 229-236.
Hull J., P. Hotz and J. Jersak. 2000. Sediment Capping Demonstration Project on the Ottawa River: An Impacted Lake Erie Tributary. Proceedings of the Western Dredging Association Twentieth Technical Conference, June 25-28, 2000, Warwick, RI: pp. 441-446.
Hull J. and J. Jersak. 2000. A flexible Approach for Managing Contaminated Sediments. World Dredging, Mining & Construction, Oct. 2000: pp. 12-13.
Jersak J. and J. Hull. 2000. In Situ Capping as a Facilitator for Improving In Situ Sediment Treatment Technologies. Proceedings for The Second International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, Monterey, CA, May 22-25, 2000: pp. 369-377.
Hull J., J. Jersak and C. Kasper. 1999. In Situ capping of contaminated sediments: Comparing the relative effectiveness of sand versus clay mineral-based sediment caps. Proceedings of the 1999 Conference of Hazardous Waste Research, May 24-27, 1999, St. Louis, MO: pp. 286-311.
Hull J., J. Jersak, P. Pochop and J. Cummings. 1998. Evaluating a New In Situ Capping Technology for Mitigating Contaminated Sediments. Proceedings of World Organization of Dredging Associations (WODCON) Conference, Las Vegas, NV.: pp. 555-576.
Hull J., J. Jersak and B. McDonald. 1998. Examination of a New Remedial Technology for Capping Contaminated Sediments: Large-Scale Laboratory Evaluation of Sediment Mixing and Cap Resistance to Erosive Forces. Remediation, Vol. 8, No. 3: pp. 37-58.
Hull J. and J. Jersak. 1997. Resilience of Clay Mineral-Based Hydraulic-Barrier Materials to Climatically Induced Stresses (abstract), in Proceedings , Landfill Capping in the Semi-Arid West: Problems, Perspectives and Solutions. May 21-22, 1997. Grand Teton National Park, WY.
Jersak J. R. Amundson and G. Brimhall. 1997. Trace metal geochemistry in Spodosols of the Northeastern United States. Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 26: pp. 511-521.
Jersak J., R. Amundson and G. Brimhall. 1995. A mass balance analysis of podzolization: Examples from the Northeastern United States. Geoderma, 66: pp. 15-42.
Jersak J., J. McColl and F. Hetzel. 1992. Changes in the extractability of iron, aluminum and silicon and dispersiblity by storage of California forest soils. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal., 23: pp. 993-1018.
Jersak, J. 1991. Quantification of chemical and physical changes occurring during the pedogenic process of podzolization: Examples from the Northeastern United States, doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley.
Jersak, J. and R. Amundson. 1991. Quantifying physical and chemical changes during podzolization: Examples from the Northeastern United States. 83rd Annual Meeting, American Society Agron. Abst.: p. 313.
Jersak J. and R. Amundson. 1990. Evaluating parent material uniformity in some New England Spodosols. 82nd Annual Meeting, American Society Agron. Abst.: p. 296.
Jersak J. and J. McColl. 1989. Aluminum release from solid-phase components of forest soil leached with citric acid. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 53: pp. 550-555.
McColl J., A. Pohlman, J. Jersak, C. Tam and R. Northup. 1988. Organics and metal solubility in forest soils. In: Sustained Productivity of Forest Soils. 7th North American Forest Soils Conference, Vancouver, B.C., CA, S.P. Gessel, D.S. Lacate, G.F. Weetman and R.F. Powers (eds.): pp. 178-195.
Jersak, J. 1987. Aluminum and magnesium release from solid-phase components of soil leached with citric acid. Master’s Thesis. University of California, Berkeley.
McColl, J., A. Pohlman and J. Jersak. 1987. Aluminum solubility in coniferous California forest soil: relevance of soluble organics and the source of aluminum. In: Heavy Metals in the Environment, Vol. 2, S.E. Lindberg and T.C. Hutchison (eds.): pp. 467-469.
Jersak J. and J. McColl. 1987. Sources of soluble Al in contrasting forest soil profiles. 79th Annual Meeting, American Society Agron. Abst.: p. 259.
Pohlman, A., J. Jersak and J. McColl. 1986. Kinetics of metal dissolution from soil components by organic acids. 78th Annual Meeting, American Society Agron. Abst.: p. 262.
Jersak, J. J. McColl and A. Pohlman. 1986. Complexation and dissolution of metals by soluble forest litter organics. 78th Annual Meeting, American Society Agron. Abst.: p 265.
Applin, K. and J. Jersak. 1986. Effects of airborne particulate matter on the acidity of precipitation in Central Missouri. Atmospheric Environment, 20: pp. 965-969.
Applin K. and J. Jersak. 1985. Effects of airborne particulate matter on the acidity of precipitation in Central Missouri. 98th Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (abstract). Vol. 17, No. 7: p. 515.’*
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