Expert Witness Spotlight: Dr. B. Tod Delaney, PhD, PE, BCEE
When complex environmental litigation demands clarity, credibility, and technical rigor, the role of an expert witness becomes critical. At First Environment, our Litigation Support & Expert Witness services are anchored by seasoned professionals with deep scientific, engineering, and regulatory expertise. Leading them, Dr. B. Tod Delaney stands out as a nationally recognized, trial-tested expert witness with over four decades of experience.
A Proven Expert in Environmental Litigation
Dr. Delaney has provided expert testimony in more than 30 litigation cases across federal and state courts, supporting both plaintiffs and defendants as well as serving as a court-appointed expert. His work spans a wide range of environmental issues, including:
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund (CERCLA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) litigation
- Natural Resource Damages (NRD) claims
- Toxic tort lawsuits
- Environmental cost recovery and allocation
- Insurance and indemnity disputes
His testimony focuses on the management, handling, disposal, and environmental impact of hazardous substances, such as chlorinated solvents, petroleum products, PCBs, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants like PFAS, also known as forever chemicals.
Deep Technical Expertise That Drives Case Strategy
With a PhD in Environmental Health Engineering and a background in chemical engineering, Dr. Delaney brings an outstanding combination of academic rigor and real-world industrial experience. His expertise includes:
- Fate and transport modeling of contaminants in soil, groundwater, air, and sediment
- Historical reconstruction of industrial operations and standard of care
- Source identification and timing of contamination releases
- Cost allocation analysis for complex multi-party litigation
- Air emissions and pollution control technologies
His ability to translate complex scientific data into clear, defensible expert opinions makes him an invaluable partner to legal teams developing litigation strategies.
Specialized Experience in Emerging Contaminants: PFAS
Dr. Delaney has been at the forefront of addressing emerging environmental challenges, particularly PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). His recent work includes:
- Authoring expert reports on PFAS sources, releases, and remediation
- Evaluating wastewater treatment impacts on PFAS compounds like PFOA
- Supporting large-scale litigation involving contamination across multiple environmental media
This expertise enables First Environment to effectively support clients navigating the rapidly evolving regulatory and legal landscape surrounding PFAS.
Industry and Regulatory Insight
Dr. Delaney’s experience extends beyond litigation into decades of hands-on environmental engineering and consulting work, including:
- Air pollution control system design and emissions modeling
- Site investigation and remediation of contaminated industrial facilities
- Environmental compliance and permitting
- Historical analysis of industrial practices and regulatory standards
He has also worked directly within the petroleum refining industry and collaborated with organizations such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Justice, and various state agencies.
A Successful Track Record Across Complex Cases
Dr. Delaney has supported litigation involving:
- Superfund sites and large-scale remediation projects
- Petroleum refineries and chemical manufacturing facilities
- Dry cleaning operations and solvent contamination
- Sediment contamination in major waterways
- Multi-plaintiff toxic tort cases
His work often involves reviewing extensive historical records, applying advanced modeling techniques, and developing compelling technical narratives that withstand cross-examination.
Why Expert Witness Experience Matters
In environmental litigation, the difference between a strong case and a successful outcome often lies in the persuasiveness of expert testimony. An effective expert witness must not only possess technical expertise but also the ability to:
- Communicate complex concepts clearly to judges and juries
- Withstand rigorous cross-examination
- Provide objective, defensible opinions grounded in science and data
- Support legal strategy with credible technical analysis
Dr. Delaney exemplifies these qualities, making him a trusted expert in high-stakes environmental cases.
First Environment’s Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services
Dr. Delaney is part of First Environment’s broader team of experts who have supported over 100 litigation matters in the past 15 years. Our services include:
- Expert testimony and report preparation
- Technical analysis and forensic investigations
- Document review and electronic discovery (E-discovery) support
- Cost estimation and allocation
- Regulatory and compliance evaluation
We bring a multidisciplinary approach to every case, combining engineering, science, and regulatory expertise to deliver results.
Looking for an Environmental Expert Witness?
Whether you are involved in complex environmental litigation, insurance claims, or regulatory disputes, having the right expert witness can ultimately determine the outcome.
Contact Us today for help and learn more about our team and their expert witness services.






