Mr. Pluta has over 30 years in hazardous waste site investigations and associated biological investigations and ecological risk assessment and restoration. He is currently the Coordinator of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 3 Biological Technical Assistance Group. This group advises the Region's Hazardous Site Cleanup Division on all biological issues, particularly those relating to Ecological Risk Assessments and impacts of site cleanups on ecological resources.

The group also provides support for the integration of bioengineering and ecological restoration techniques into remedial and removal actions to reduce the impact of these actions on ecological resources and to facilitate recovery of the resources. The BTAG also provides support to Brownfield programs to help facilitate eco-revitalization and integrate green infrastructure into redevelopment projects.

Mr. Pluta has served in his current position since 2000. Prior to 2000, he worked for CDM and NUS Corporation for 13 and 5 years respectively. Mr. Pluta received his B.S. from St. Francis University of Pennsylvania and his M.S. from the University of Pittsburgh.