Dr Alan Herbert Expert Witness

Dr Alan Herbert - Expert Witness
MA PhD CASM FGS

Consulting Hydrogeologist
 
Ground Source Energy Director, ESI Ltd. Environmental Consultants

Alan Herbert is a hydrogeologist with over 20 years experience of groundwater resource assessment and contaminant transport modelling. He has successfully led projects conducted on all major UK aquifers and dealing with low permeability media.  He has played a leading technical and management role in ESI’s modelling projects for the definition of SPZs, a desk study of the hydrogeology issues associated with low flow problems in the Midlands Region of the Agency, and development of the Environment Agency’s initial methodology for the assessment of the impact of groundwater abstraction on river flows (IGARF).  Alan has led training courses focussed on assessing the impacts of abstractions, soil and groundwater contaminant transport, pumping test interpretation and groundwater modelling.  His experience includes the development and application of customised finite difference and mathematical models to water resources and water quality management issues. 

Dr Herbert developed ESI’s Risk Assessment toolkit that has been successfully used to assess the risk to groundwater posed by a wide range of technically challenging landfill assessments for which site specific models were required.  He also has considerable modelling and mathematical expertise applied to groundwater problems through research and lecturing, where the development of models to address transport in the Chalk was a particular interest.

Areas of Expert Witness Expertise

Groundwater modelling
Conceptual model development
Ground Source Energy Borehole design
Groundwater Risk assessment
Leachate management

Examples of Expert Witness work undertaken by Dr Herbert;

Stratagas Coal bed methane extraction plant – planning appeal 2001
Appointed as the Expert Witness on groundwater pollution and risk assessment by Smith Gore acting for Staffordshire County Council who had refused planning permission for a Coal Bed Methane Pilot Plant.  Stratagas were appealing against the refusal. On meeting with experts retained by Stratagas they agreed additional measures that addressed the concerns regarding protection of groundwater and statement of common ground was produced setting out the changes accepted by Stratagas.
 
The eventual outcome was a dismissal of the appeal.
 
Patteson Court NE quadrant - waste management licence appeal 2001
Appointed on behalf of Biffa to present evidence on the risk assessment and leachate management proposals for the sub-water table NE quadrant for Patteson Court Landfill. This was central to the Agency’s deemed refusal and arguments presented by Dr Herbert were accepted by the planning inspector and permits were issued with leachate management and monitoring conditions as proposed by Biffa.
 
Colnbrook and Burghfield PPC permit - appeal against conditions imposed, joined with similar appeal for Redhill SWA and Redhill NE Quadrant (Patteson Court) 2005
Reained as an Expert Witness for a licence appeal. Dr Herbert was called upon to present evidence for Biffa on groundwater risk assessment and leachate management issues. Biffa’s case was accepted and the Environment Agency issued a revised permit.
 
Warboys Landfill – appeal against refusal of planning permission 2005
Retained as an Expert Witness by Fenside Waste Management to present evidence on the Groundwater Risk Assessment prepared by Hafren Water and accepted by the Environment Agency. Aggressively cross examined by council for Cambridgeshire County Council, Dr Herbert  put a strong case forward  regarding the groundwater risk assessment. However, it transpired that Fenside employees had falsified site records and mislead the Inspector. They withdrew their appeal in some disarray.
 
Various
Appointed as International peer reviewer and to review groups as an "Expert" by Swedish SKI , US NRC, and other international and UK nuclear waste  authorities between 1985 and 2007 (most recent international review project). Key areas were reviewing hydrogeological risk assessment, groundwater flow and radionuclide migration modelling for saturated and unsaturated geological environments including saline flow, gas generation and migration and heat generating wastes. Dr Herbert has since been involved in review panel meetings to discuss the approaches being taken, or in other cases simply presenting peer review reports.

To contact Dr Alan Herbert telephone 01743 276100 or email

ESI's Expert Witness Team

Mark Fermor - Managing Director 

Mike Streetly - Director, Water Group 

Dr Steve Buss - Principal Consultant 

Dr Alan Herbert - Director, Ground Source Energy