Innellan, Scotland, United Kingdom
Dr. Torrance is a retired Chartered Geologist (CGeol), Certified Professional Geologist (CPG), European Geologist (EurGeol), and environmental scientist based in Innellan, Argyll, Scotland. He has expertise in geochemistry, hydrology, water quality, baseline environmental studies, contaminated site evaluation, Phase I/Phase II ESAs, environmental engineering, mine permitting, coal, AMD/ARD, NEPA, groundwater, and minerals exploration. His PhD on 'Patterns of arsenic speciation and associated potentially toxic metals at contaminated sites impacted by mining and mine waste' was awarded in 2012 following investigations of geochemical controls on arsenic speciation in surface water and mine tailings at contaminated mine sites in Alaska and Colombia. He began his career in the UK coal research and mineral exploration sector, but has spent the majority of his career in North America, holding business development positions for OEMs within the mining, strategic metals, environmental, and semiconductor industries. He completed a master’s degree in geo-environmental engineering at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow in 2008. He has worked on large mine permitting projects, contaminated site remediation and minerals explorations projects in SW Alaska. He was appointed an honorary research fellow at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and served as an adjunct professor in environmental geology at UAA. Specialties: Environmental science, canal sediment, geology, geochemistry, circular economy,project management, contaminated site remediation, hydrology, GIS, environmental engineering, environmental forensics, technology-critical elements,mining, minerals exploration, acid rock drainage, analytical chemistry, Phase I/Phase II, CERCLA, NEPA, and RCRA, arsenic geochemistry, ICP-MS, XRF, AFS, ground gas detection, coal petrology, smoldering fires, ArcGIS, geological sample preparation, project management, business development.
Supporting the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering's graduate apprenticeship program by providing knowledge and advice to students.
Returned to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde to join the SURICATES team, working on the beneficial re-use of dredged sediments from canals and ports, using my experience of contaminated land characterization and remediation in Alaska. http://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/suricates-sediment-uses-as-resources-in-circular-and-territorial-economies/
Principal consultant working on environmental remediation projects in Alaska and the Western United States for the mining industry.
Environmental scientist and professional geologist managing a wide range of environmental projects, including environmental site assessments, NEPA permitting applications, brownfield re-development, contaminated site assessment, mineral exploration and site remediation projects. Most projects are located around Barrow on the North Slope of Alaska where Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation, Umiaq's parent company, is based.
Appointed honorary research fellow in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland for a three year term. I collaborated and promotde academic links between Alaska and Scotland through summer research projects for students and joint research projects.