Barry Nelson

Chief Geologist and Corporate President - Northwest Geoscience, PC

A native and lifelong resident of High Point, Barry has devoted his entire career to investigating how geologic systems and processes interact with human’s utilization of natural resources.  Educated in geology and civil engineering at North Carolina State University, Barry has been employed with local and national engineering and environmental consulting firms.  Early in his consulting career, Barry focused on evaluation of surface and groundwater resources for municipal water supplies including development of groundwater systems for numerous municipalities in all regions of North Carolina.  He has also modeled local river basins to evaluate the potential for flood inundation under the Federal Flood Insurance program.

With the explosion of environmental regulations in the 1980’s, Barry applied his knowledge of hydrology and geology to evaluate the magnitude and potential hazards of improper waste management practices.  He has worked on RCRA hazardous waste management disposal sites in the lead and heavy metals industry, wood preserving, and chemical production.  Barry has performed numerous Phase II ESAs, including the development and implementation of remedial action programs for soil and groundwater contamination, as well as developing industrial storm water monitoring programs and securing permits for sites within the Piedmont of North Carolina.

For fifteen years, Barry served as Chief Geologist for a Winston-Salem based geotechnical and environmental firm.  During this period, he was involved in the evaluation of subsurface conditions for such diverse civil engineering projects as earthen dams, deep foundations for the Lawrence Joel Coliseum, the relocation of the historic Hamlet Railroad Station and proposed structures for the NC Department of Transportation.

Over the past eight years, Barry has been the lead scientist and project manager for a major soil and groundwater remediation project in Davidson County, North Carolina utilizing fast tract soil remediation from a 33-acre, uncontrolled waste disposal site containing fifteen individual waste management units.  This project included extensive assessment and development of corrective action plans for free product and dissolved phase petroleum hydrocarbons.  A highly innovative remediation system was implemented to collect both free product and dissolved groundwater contaminants at minimal cost.  Combined with mobile multiphase extraction, natural attenuation and an Alternate Concentration Limit (ACL), this systematic approach provided cost effective compliance with NCDENR requirements.

Barry is a Licensed Geologist in North Carolina, a Certified Professional Geologist in Virginia and a Registered Professional Geologist in South Carolina.  He is a member of the Geological Society of America, the Association of Engineering and Environmental Geologists, the American Institute of Professional Geologists and is an Affiliate Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.  Barry served eight years on the Guilford County Advisory Board for Environmental Quality, including three years as Chairman.  He participated as a Scientist in the Classroom program of the Geological Society of America and has taught Soil and Water Management in the Brownfields Training Program at Durham Technical Community College.   He has been named to Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, and listed on America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals.