Edward A. Swakon, P.E., President

Education

Purdue University, B.S. in Engineering (Major Water Resources), 1975

University of Miami, RSMAS, M.S. in Ocean Engineering, 1977

Current Status

Mr. Swakon is President of EAS Engineering, Inc., a firm offering comprehensive environmental permitting and engineering services to the South Florida community and the Caribbean. Activities undertaken by Mr. Swakon include assistance to local governments, land developers, attorneys, property owners and others in acquiring the necessary permits from local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. These permits include dredge and fill, coastal and freshwater wetland construction, Florida Department of Environmental Protection coastal construction control line, county and federal flood criteria variances, and other specialized permits. Mr. Swakon also specializes in applied computer modeling of various environmental situations such as waterway flow simulations, flushing studies for existing or proposed marinas, as well as other coastal and hydrologically related phenomena. Mr. Swakon is familiar with both the Regional Planning Council’s Development of Regional Impact (DRI) process and Monroe County’s Major Conditional Use process, having worked on both.

Previous Experience

Prior to forming EAS Engineering, Inc., Mr. Swakon was Director of Environmental Permitting for a local Miami engineering firm. During that time, he personally coordinated all of the environmental permitting assignments for the firm. These activities included preparation of DRIs, numerous applications to local governments, Florida Department of Environmental Regulation and Florida Department of Natural Resources (now FDEP), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Swakon has provided services to clients such as Metro Dade County, the City of Miami, and many local law firms such as Thomson Zeder et al, Greenberg Traurig et al, and Carlos Abbott and Ferro.

Before entering the private sector in 1984, Mr. Swakon was employed by the Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) in 1977, one of the largest and most widely respected local environmental organizations in the country. He served as the Chief of the Water Management Division, and was responsible for all tidal and freshwater wetland permitting programs. He was also a key participant in the development of the Biscayne Bay Management Plan and the implementation of the Biscayne Bay Restoration and Enhancement Program. He worked closely with other County departments in securing permits for county projects. He was the coordinator of all the County’s efforts regarding beach restoration including the world’s largest beach restoration project, the Miami Beach project and the controversial but much needed Key Biscayne beach project. Finally, his responsibilities included the administration of the County’s drainage policies, including the county and federal flood criteria programs, and canal permitting and design.

Mr. Swakon has been retained by Dade County, the U.S. Justice Department, and private sector attorneys as an expert witness in numerous Florida administrative hearings and federal court proceedings.

Summary

Mr. Swakon has a broad background in all aspects of the environmental regulatory process, having worked for both government and the private sector. He aggressively pursues all assignments with the agencies and is well-respected by their personnel. He has a proven record of success.

Publications

Modeling of Tide and Wind Induced flow in South Biscayne Bay and Card Sound. SeaGrant Technical Bulletin No. 37. 1977.

Organizations

Registration

Professional Engineer #31184, Florida, July 1981