Education

Drexel University, B.S. (civil/environmental engineering), 1999

Licenses/Certifications:
Licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania (PE076511)

OSHA HAZWOPER (incl. Site Supervisor)

U.S. EPA Method 9 Opacity

Maritime Transportation Security Act - Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC®)

LEED® Accredited Professional (LEED AP BD+C)

"LEED Accredited Professional" and related acronym, and the LEED AP logo are trademarks owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and awarded to individuals under license by the Green Business Certification Inc.

PADEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee (AQTAC)

  • Member, 2021-2025

Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council (PCIC)

  • Legislative/EHS Committee Co-chair, 2024-present

Air & Waste Management Association, 2002-present

Delaware Valley Chapter Air & Waste Management Association

  • Board Member, 2011-2015

National Society of Professional Engineers, 2005-present

Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, 2005-present

American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists® (AAEES), 2016 - present

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), 2004-2023

Green Building United (formerly Delaware Valley Green Building Council), 2009-present

Profile
Professional Highlights
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Michael joined Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox LLP in 2005 as an in-house technical consultant. A licensed professional engineer, Michael has more than 20 years of diverse environmental engineering experience gained through previous employment in the manufacturing sector, environmental consulting, and with an international chemical manufacturing trade association. He also currently serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee (AQTAC).

Michael's experiences have enabled him to excel in complex multi-media environmental problem solving through "real-world" experiences in the manufacturing, production, retail, and real estate sectors.  Not afraid to “get in the trenches”, Michael particularly enjoys time spent understanding the intricacies of many of our client’s complex manufacturing facilities, development projects, and related technologies in order to fully comprehend relevant regulatory concerns while maintaining a corporate management perspective to problem solving.  Michael provides a unique role to our firm by acting as the “prism” into our client’s operations and how we may best serve their needs.

Michael continues to provide high level environmental engineering expertise and regulatory support services to the firm's attorneys and clients regarding complex manufacturing processes, multi-media pollution control, and sustainability initiatives.

Michael has consulted many of our clients, ranging from Fortune 100 corporations, municipalities, and small to medium sized enterprises on a variety of complex matters including the following:

  • lead role in firm’s environmental auditing activities for evaluating compliance with environmental regulations;
  • daily compliance management for vehicle manufacturer in multiple states;
  • environmental supporting role to executive management of City of Philadelphia’s industrial development corporation;
  • air quality permitting, applicability reviews, and compliance strategies for multiple source categories;
  • environmental, health, safety, and security management systems ("EMS") implementation for continuous improvement;
  • LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification planning and submittal;
  • Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act ("EPCRA") compliance reporting and management;
  • National Pollution Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") permitting, compliance strategies, and applicability determinations;
  • Process Safety Management ("PSM") implementation and applicability determinations;
  • site investigation and remedial selection strategies;
  • environmental due diligence and corporate transactional risk strategies;
  • hazardous waste management compliance, permitting, and minimization strategies;
  • emergency planning and site-specific implementation, such as Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure ("SPCC") planning;
  • wastewater pre-treatment applicability and compliance; and
  • natural resource damage calculation.


Michael also has a wide range of experience and professional training with technical software packages such as the AERMOD/ISC3 air dispersion model, PHAST (Process Hazard Analysis Software Tool), RMP Comp (off-site consequence analysis tool), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") Water 8 and Water 9 emission models, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection RADIUS air permitting and emission statement software, Quick Domenico fate and transport model, and PENTOX surface water model.

Special Alerts

Articles

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

"Federal PFAS Update," presented for the Environmental Law Network, March 12, 2024

"Paying for Rain – The Advent of Municipal Stormwater Management Regulations, Mandates and Fee Structures," presented at the Railroad Environmental Conference in Champaign, IL, November 15, 2023

"Air Regulatory Update," presented at the Chemistry Council of New Jersey Environment Committee Meeting in Bordentown, NJ, October 17, 2023

"PADEP's Interim-Final Environmental Justice Policy May Impact Your Projects: What You Need to Know," a webinar presented by MGKF, October 5, 2023

“Air Regulatory Update” presented at the Chemistry Council of New Jersey Environment Committee Meeting in Middlesex, NJ, May 16, 2023

"PFAS Technical Developments, Current Issues, and What Lawyers Need to Know about the Interconnection between Law and Science", presented at the PBI Environmental Law Forum, Harrisburg, PA, March 16, 2023

"PFAS:  Impacts to Your Property & Operations", a webinar presented by MGKF, February 22, 2023

"EPA’s Proposed Risk Management Program Rule & OSHA’s Process Safety Management Standard Update", a webinar presented at the Chemistry Council of New Jersey's Plant Operations Management Workshop, December 6, 2022

"Pennsylvania Water Laws and Regulations: Water Quality Issues Associated with Development and Construction ," a HalfMoon Education webinar, April 28, 2022


“Being Prepared to Respond to the Next Emergency” a webinar presented at the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel's Health, Biotech and Pharma Institute, June 9, 2020

“Internal Environmental Auditing:  Best Practices for the Audit Process & Protecting the Findings” presented at the Chemistry Council of New Jersey’s Plant Operations Management Workshop, Princeton, NJ, December 4, 2019

"A Regulatory Overview for Plant Management" presented at the Plant Operations Management Workshop sponsored by the Chemistry Council of New Jersey (CCNJ), East Brunswick, NJ, December 5, 2017

“Are You Prepared for an Environmental Emergency at Your Camp?” presented at Tri-State CAMP Conference, April 2, 2017

"USEPA's Proposal for Addition of Natural Gas Processing Facilities to the Toxic Release Inventory" presented at Midstream and Pipeline Committee, January 31, 2017

"Dirty Dirt and Development in Pennsylvania: New Act 2 Standards and Their Impact on Cleanups and the Management of Fill"
presented by MGKF in Philadelphia, PA, November 15, 2016

"LEED® for Lawyers: A Green Building Update and Tour" presented at the offices of MGKF for the Greater Philadelphia Delaware Valley of the Association of Corporate Counsel, November 17, 2015

"The Environmental Concerns You May Not Be Thinking About But Should:  Strategies for Limiting Your Potential Liabilities," at the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel's (DELVACCA's) Health Biotech and Pharma CLE Institute in King of Prussia, PA, June 2, 2015

"Green Stormwater Infrastructure--Rainwater: Where Does It Go?" presented at Overbrook Environmental Education Center in Philadelphia, PA, April 23, 2015

"Preparing for and Responding to Environmental Emergencies," presented at 2015 Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors/Township Emergency Managers Association Educational Conference in Hershey, PA, April 19, 2015

"Preparing for and Responding to an Emergency of Casualty Incident," sponsored by MGKF in Bala Cynwynd, PA, June 24, 2014

"Company Audit Programs," presented for The Auditing Roundtable Philadelphia Regional Meeting, June 5, 2014

"Infrastructure: Civil Works Projects for Lawyers," presented for the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, November 9, 2012

"EPA's New Boiler Rules: What's Next for Owners and Operators?," a webinar presented for the American Boiler Manufacturers Association, March 6, 2012

"How Your Environmental, Health and Safety Department Can Add Value to the Company's Bottom Line," presented by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel's In-House Counsel Environmental, Health & Safety Institute in Philadelphia, PA, October 12, 2011

"Managing Risk During EHS Auditing - The Attorney-Client Privilege," presented at the National Meeting of the Auditing Roundtable, September 7, 2011

"Managing Risk During EHS Auditing," sponsored by the Auditing Roundtable in Bala Cynwyd, PA, April 28, 2010

"Untangling the Web of LSRP Regulations," sponsored by MGKF in Cherry Hill, NJ, December 15, 2009

"What is Sustainable or Green Development: The Emerging Standards," presented atBuilding Greensponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, August 26, 2008