2024-06-20 PL-INT-2024-008036 AECOS, Inc. Category PL.13

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RACHEL E. KNAPSTEIN Rachel Knapstein is a Biologist with AECOS and has over 15 years of experience in laboratory and environmental sciences including animal husbandry, microbiology, marine biological surveys, and water quality monitoring. Her primary responsibilities at AECOS include microbiological analyses, water quality sampling and periodic work conducting marine biological surveys and analysis, and coral transplantation. Rachel Knapstein received two B.S. degrees in Biology and Environmental Science from Salisbury University and the University of Maryland: Eastern Shore, respectively, in 2008 and a M.S. degree in Marine Science in 2013 from Hawai'i Pacific University. She worked for the National Institutes of Health from 2008-2010 before attending graduate school and has been with AECOS since 2013. Rachel is the laboratory supervisor and primary analyst of the AECOS microbiology laboratory, which is certified by the Hawai'i State Department of Health. In her role, she oversees the processing of water samples for various microorganisms, including total coliforms, Escherichia coli, heterotrophic bacteria, Enterococci, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Current clients include: Hawai'i Kai Marina Association, Hono'uli'uli Water Reclamation Facility, NAVFAC Hawai'i, Sea Life Park Hawai'i, US Forest Service, and various plumbing and mechanical engineering firms,food growers and distributers, and mortgage lenders. In addition to conducting tests on water samples, Rachel is responsible for implementing rigorous quality control measures.This includes regular calibration of equipment, verification of media performance, and proficiency testing. She is also responsible for maintaining the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a robust quality assurance program in accordance with the guidelines set by the Hawai'i State Department of Health. As a Qualified Field Sampler, she monitors potable water lines, streams, harbors, and nearshore environments in accordance with water quality regulations. Rachel is knowledgeable in all sampling procedures, equipment, instruments, SOPs, calibrations, limits, and reporting requirements for water quality and microbiological compliance, and she is experienced in SCUBA-based marine survey techniques. Current projects include sampling of various Honolulu Board of Water Supply Potable waterlines and NPDES(National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) compliance monitoring as potable water infrastructure is built, repaired or replaced around Oahu. She is a certified scientific diver under the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), holds open water SCUBA, NITROX diving, and Rescue Diver certifications and has traveled to remote locations. As a certified NOAA diver, she worked with the coral Reef Ecosystem Division to survey and remove derelict fishing gear around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. With AECOS, she traveled to Johnston Atoll as a diver to sample fish tissue and marine sediment surrounding the atoll. She maintains current first aid, CPR/AED, and oxygen administration for divers, and she holds a transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) and MARSEC for working in and around harbors.