May 29, 2015
Vice President of Administration and Finance
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Subject: Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Dear Vice President,
I am submitting this letter in support of applying for the subject position. I am a Kansas
Professional Engineer and am currently employed with the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment (KDHE). The advertised position aligns closely with my professional background.
Therefore, in the following paragraphs I have evaluated and compared the job responsibilities
in light of my professional training and experience.
Direct university-wide programs to maintain and ensure consistent and effective safety
programs that are responsive to the needs of Kansas State University, a diverse research
university. This includes but is not limited to asbestos, lead, hazardous waste, hazardous
materials, radioactive materials, bio safety, fire safety, occupational safety, ventilation,
environmental pollution and risk management issues – I am currently employed with KDHE as
the Section Manager for the Kansas Hazardous Waste Permits and Corrective Action Program.
In my current capacity I provide oversight for the state’s implementation of the federal
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for hazardous waste Treatment, Storage and
Disposal Facilities (TSDF). TSDFs are facilities with the primary function of managing hazardous
and toxic wastes. RCRA mandates the protection of human health and environment through
cradle-to-grave management of hazardous waste. Therefore, RCRA permit cuts across many
environmental programs/regulations such as CAA (Clean Air Act), OSHA (Occupational Safety
and Health Administration), NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act), NPDES (National
Pollution Discharge Elimination Act), TSCA (Toxic Substance Control Act), etc.; and a wide range
of wastes from hazardous chemicals to low level radioactive materials; through implementing
adequate management procedures. TSDFs include facilities like Ash Grove Cement Plant in
Chanute, Kansas, where waste is converted to energy; or the Kansas State University Landfill,
where KDHE provided regulatory oversight for the clean-up of hazardous and low level
radioactive wastes.
Communicate, collaborate and coordinate programs with campus community – This is an area
of strength that I will bring to this position. I routinely communicate with a wide range of
internal and external customers/stakeholders such as state, federal and local officials;
environmental consultants and contractors; news reporters; and of course the members of the
public. I often respond to legislative inquiries and represent the state in public meetings in front
of citizens’ groups. Also, I am currently serving as a Task Force Member for the Association of
State and Territorial Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) as a representative for EPA (US
Environmental Protection Agency) Region 7 states.
Vice President of Administration and Finance
May 29, 2015
Page Two
Provide leadership and management oversight for all staff (approximately 15) within the
Department of Environmental Health and Safety – This is very similar to my current position
where I supervise seven (7) direct reports and is responsible for a Section of eleven staff (11)
members. I also provide leadership and assistance to district inspectors, enforcement staff,
legal staff, etc., on an as needed basis.
Manage and oversee the departmental budget – While I am not directly responsible for the
departmental budget, I prepare and negotiate the yearly work plan with EPA for receiving the
federal grant that forms the larger part of KDHE’s hazardous waste program budget. I also work
with the bureau manager in developing program budget forecasts for legislative approval.
Develop and implement strategic plans for the department consistent with K-State 2025 – I
believe I have a lot to offer in all four areas of K-State’s 2025 sustainability action plan:
academics, campus and public engagement, operations and leadership. My strong regulatory
and technical background will help in developing and implementing strategic plans consistent
with this vision.
Develop, review and administer programs to assure compliance with the federal and state
environmental, health and safety regulations. This includes but is not limited to asbestos,
lead, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, radioactive materials, bio safety, fire safety,
occupational safety, ventilation, environmental pollution and risk management issues – I have
a wide range of experience in this area as explained above. In addition, I was instrumental in
receiving authorization for the RCRA corrective action program from EPA recently. With this last
program authorization, Kansas became a fully authorized state and is now able to act as an onestop-shop and provide the necessary customer service for all hazardous waste management
requirements.
Represent the university on issues relative to regulatory, legal and legislative matters where
university operations may have safety, occupational health and environmental
implications. This involves interactions with regulatory agencies such as OSHA, EPA, KDOL
and KDHE – I routinely do these activities for my present job and feel that I will be able to bring
a lot of strength to this position.
Communicate with the vice presidents, deans, department heads, faculty, staff and students,
providing technical assistance and/or oversight on environmental health and safety issues –
While I currently don’t work in an academic environment, I routinely communicate with all
levels of KDHE and EPA for program implementation and customer service. I feel my strong
communication skills will bring strength to this position.
Vice President of Administration and Finance
May 29, 2015
Page Three
Preferred skills – While I meet all of the required qualifications, I like to address some of the
preferred skills. Although I didn’t complete a PhD in environmental engineering, I am a Kansas
Licensed Professional Engineer with 25+ years of experience in the field of environmental
engineering. I haven’t directly managed an environmental laboratory but I am very familiar with
such laboratory operations. For example, KDHE issued a RCRA hazardous waste permit to the
EPA environmental laboratory in Kansas City for managing a wide range of hazardous materials.
KDHE later provided closure oversight for the same due to EPA’s relocation. I am very familiar
with environmental laboratory procedures and able to interpret environmental data involving
environmental media (air, water, soil) and wastes. All TSDF operations require environmental
safety and contingency plans approved as a part of the RCRA permit. Therefore, during the
implementation of a permit as well as routine inspections, these documents and procedures
must be evaluated and validated. As an inspector and a permit writer, I directly evaluated these
areas.
I have tried to summarize my background education, training and experience as applicable to
this position. I believe I will bring a lot of strengths to this position and will be able to
adequately manage the challenges. I believe I will bring fresh ideas and concepts necessary to
address K-State’s challenges to meet the 2025 vision. Therefore, I submit this application for
your consideration. If you have any questions, please call me at (785) 393-3419.
Sincerely,
Mostafa Kamal
Mostafa Kamal
Objective: Continue to work in a leadership position involving regulatory compliance, permitting,
policy development and program management.
Education:
MS in Civil/Environmental Engineering, May 1986; University of Oklahoma
BS in Civil Engineering, July 1983; Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Certified Public Manager - University of Kansas, 2003
Licenses and Certificates:
Professional Engineer, No. 12927 - State of Kansas, 1993
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, No. 5854, 1995 (discontinued)
Completed FEMA ICS (Incident Command Systems) training 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800B
Work Experience:
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Hazardous Waste Permits Section Manager; Professional Environmental Engineer III
Bureau of Waste Management - January 2001 to Present
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Manage the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permitting program including
the oversight for RCRA corrective action through orders and permits.
Implement hazardous waste regulation, policy and guidance for Kansas’ hazardous waste
treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDF).
Supervise environmental engineers, geologists and scientists working with operating and
closed facilities. Assist staff with necessary technical guidance during various stages of site
investigation, remediation, environmental testing and permitting.
Provide regulatory oversight and guidance during Comprehensive Monitoring Evaluation
(CME) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) inspections. Assist staff with reviewing
Comprehensive Performance Test (CPT) plans and reports.
Responsible for all aspects of staff development and supervision. Responsible for final work
product for accuracy, completeness and overall quality.
Worked with legal staff in addressing violation of state and federal regulations at hazardous
waste management facilities.
Assist in developing new Kansas regulations for hazardous and toxic waste management.
Assist in developing program budget for legislative review and work plans for requesting
federal grants.
Coordinate the efforts of the agency with other state, federal and local agencies. Respond to
public comments/inquiries and represent the agency in public meetings, hearings, etc.
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Chief, Operating Facilities Unit; Professional Environmental Engineer II
Bureau of Waste Management – July 1995 to December 2000
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Supervised environmental engineers responsible for preparing permits for hazardous waste
storage, treatment and disposal facilities. Reviewed staff work products for accuracy,
completeness and overall quality.
Prepared complex permits for treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes, including a dioxin
waste burning incinerator, hazardous waste burning cement plants and an explosives
incinerator. Reviewed and approved final closure documents for treatment and storage
facilities.
Assisted field inspectors during compliance inspections.
Worked with legal staff in addressing violation of state and federal regulations at hazardous
waste management facilities.
Provided regulatory oversight during trial burns, closure sampling, remediation, etc.
Coordinated the activities of the unit with other state, federal and local agencies. Respond to
public comments/inquiries and represent the agency in public meetings, hearings, etc.
District Engineer for the Waste Programs; Professional Environmental Engineer I
Bureau of Environmental Field Services – February 1994 to June 1995
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Supervised RCRA inspectors responsible for conducting regulatory inspections of solid and
hazardous waste facilities. Assisted staff with field inspections, report review and follow-up
compliance verifications.
Worked with staff attorneys in developing compliance orders.
Worked with local governments in developing solid waste plans and closing open dump sites.
Responded to public comments/inquiries and complaints.
Represented the agency in public meetings, hearings, etc.
Layne GeoSciences, Inc. – A Subsidiary of Layne Western Company, Shawnee-Mission, KS
Project Manager – September 1991 to January 1994
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As an environmental engineering consultant managed industrial and utility sites with
widespread soil and ground water contamination. Completed site investigation and
remediation in accordance with CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act) and RCRA protocols.
Managed staff engineers, chemists, geologists, drillers and technicians during all aspects of site
investigation and remediation. Provided sub-contractor oversight as needed. Tracked project
costs and completed tasks within approved budget and schedule.
Prepared deliverables and maintained liaison for client through appropriate regulatory agency
communication.
Managed water supply projects involving through extensive well field designs and prepared
wellhead protection plans.
Prepared NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits for industrial
wastewater and storm water discharges.
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Environmental Engineer – January 1989 to August 1991
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Performed air, soil, water and ground water sampling at environmental remediation sites.
Prepared site investigation work plans, quality assurance project plans and health and safety
plans.
Worked as a team leader during drilling operation, pump test, soil and groundwater sampling,
etc.
Prepared final project reports and completed other tasks as assigned by the project manger.
Other Experience:
Graduate student assistant at the University of Oklahoma from August 1984 to December 1988.
Responsibilities included teaching and research in environmental engineering.
Awards and Honors:
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USEPA Notable Achievement Award for Outstanding Use of Redevelopment Potential to
Accelerate Clean-up – October 2011
USEPA Region 7 Partnership Award for Outstanding Contributions – May 2004
KDHE’s Outstanding Performance Award - December 2001
Cleo-Cross Scholar, University of Oklahoma - September 1987
Member, Chi-Epsilon, Civil Engineering Honor Society, February 1986
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Mostafa Kamal
Mr. Kamal serves as the Hazardous Waste Permits Section Manager for the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). In this leadership position he is
responsible for implementing the federally delegated the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste management permitting program in the state.
The program assures protection of human health and the environment through safe
management of hazardous and toxic wastes during the active life and through minimizing
releases of hazardous constituents during closure and post-closure of permitted hazardous
waste management facilities. During his 21-year tenure with KDHE, Mostafa also served
as a permitting engineer as well as the District Waste Engineer for the Northeast District
Office of KDHE.
Prior to joining KDHE, Mostafa worked as an environmental consultant for Layne
Western Company in Kansas City. He joined Layne in 1989 as an environmental
engineer specializing in hydrogeology and became a project manager for the firm in
September 1991. During his tenure with Layne, he managed projects involving
Superfund and RCRA Corrective Action clean-ups; prepared RCRA, NPDES and Title V
permits; prepared groundwater models and water rights applications, etc. Mostafa served
as the key technical expert for establishing the water rights for the Cheyenne Bottoms
wetland preserve in Great Bend, Kansas.
Mr. Kamal has B.S. in Civil Engineering. He also received an M.S. in Civil Engineering
from the University of Oklahoma, specializing in hydrogeology and environmental
engineering. He has been a Kansas registered Professional Engineer (PE) since 1993.
Mostafa earned the Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification from the University of
Kansas in 2003.
Mr. Kamal received the USEPA Notable Achievement Award for “Outstanding Use of
Redevelopment Potential to Accelerate Clean-up” in October 2011and EPA Region 7
Partnership Award in May 2004 for “Outstanding Contributions to the Joint Negotiations
and Settlement of Petroleum Refining Cases”. He also received the Outstanding
Performance Award from KDHE in 2001. Mostafa became a Cleo-Cross Scholar at the
University of Oklahoma in 1986 and has been a member of Chi-Epsilon, Civil
Engineering Honor Society, since 1987.
Professional References:
William Bider
Director, Bureau of Waste Management
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
John Mitchell
Director, Division of Environment
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Nancy Ulrich
Attorney (retired), Legal Services
Kansas Department of Health and Environment