EWS: the environmental consultant you have been looking for.
OUR goal is to help our clients accomplish their projects quickly and effectively all while preserving sensitive ecosystems.
Services We offer
Wetland Assessment and Delineation
Phase I - Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
Wetland and Stream Disturbance Permitting
Wetland and Stream Disturbance Permitting
Phase I - Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
Wetland and Stream Disturbance Permitting
Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys
Phase I - Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
Phase I - Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
Phase I - Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
Phase I - Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
Phase I - Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
Brownfields Site Assessment and Remediation
Phase II - ESA Soil and Groundwater Assessments
Phase II - ESA Soil and Groundwater Assessments
Phase II - ESA Soil and Groundwater Assessments
Phase II - ESA Soil and Groundwater Assessments
Phase II - ESA Soil and Groundwater Assessments
Erosion and Sediment Control Inspections
Phase II - ESA Soil and Groundwater Assessments
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC)
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC)
Phase II - ESA Soil and Groundwater Assessments
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC)
Some of the Friends we have made along the way
Field Security Guard
Wetland Assessment and Delineation
Wetland Assessment
A wetland assessment is a desktop review that looks at online sources to determine the likelihood a wetland would be present. This is a cost-effective options for early planning of a site.
Wetland Delineation
Wetland delineation is the scientific process of identifying and mapping the precise boundaries of wetlands, determining where they end and uplands begin, using indicators like hydrology(water presence), hydric soils, and hydrophytic vegetation (water-loving plants) to comply with environmental laws like the Clean Water Act. Wetlands are regulated and protected by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Wetland Consulting
Our environmental experts provide wetland consulting services to help your business stay up-to-date with ever changing wetland regulations as well as helping avoid costly penalties.
Wetland and stream disturbance permitting
Wetland Permitting
Wetland permitting is a regulatory process, primarily under the federal Clean Water Act, requiring approval from agencies like the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and state bodies before altering wetlands for construction or other activities. The process emphasizes avoiding impacts through design, minimizing unavoidable impacts, and then mitigating them (restoring/preserving other wetlands). It involves identifying wetland boundaries, applying for permits, and proving alternatives were considered, with permits like Nationwide Permits (NWP) for minor impacts or individual permits for larger ones.
Nationwide Permit
A Wetland Nationwide Permit (NWP) is a general permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that streamlines authorization for specific, minor activities in wetlands and other waters of the U.S., provided they have minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects, requiring adherence to strict conditions and often a pre-construction notification (PCN) for verification. These permits cover various common projects, like utility line placement or minor road crossings, across the nation, replacing the need for individual permits for qualifying activities.
Individual Wetland Permit
A wetland individual permit (or standard permit) under the Clean Water Act is a specific authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for projects with more than minimal adverse impacts on wetlands, requiring a detailed public interest review and environmental analysis, unlike nationwide permits (NWP) for minor activities. It's a site-specific, case-by-case approval for discharging fill material into "Waters of the U.S.," ensuring compliance with strict guidelines and considering broad environmental, economic, and public welfare factors.
Wetland Permit Consulting
EWS personnel are highly trained and experienced in all facets of wetland permitting. EWS staff can provide assistance with initial planning, wetland delineation, selection of the wetland permit that is appropriate for a project as well as helping navigate the permitting process.
Threatened and endangered species surveys
Threatened Species
A threatened species is a plant or animal population at risk of becoming endangered (facing extinction) in the near future due to factors like habitat loss, disease, or human threats, requiring conservation efforts to prevent its decline, with legal protections often triggered once classified as "threatened" under laws like the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Essentially, they're on the path to endangerment but aren't in immediate peril of vanishing entirely yet.
Endangered Species
An endangered species is a plant or animal defined as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, often due to rapid population decline or habitat loss. These species are at high risk of disappearing completely, with many threatened by human activities such as pollution, climate change, and poaching.
Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys
Each species of concern has to be looked at individually and if presence/absence surveys are needed then a permit for that species is required by United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS). EWS personnel are happy to help our clients determine what threatened or endangered species could be present on a Site, as well as perform presence absence surveys as needed.
Environmental Consulting
EWS provides environmental consulting services to help our clients navigate the regulations that are in place to protect threatened and endangered species. EWS will make sure a project stays compliant as well as exploring the most cost effective way to proceed. Our experts can help you develop a customized plan for your unique needs.
Phase I - Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
What is a Phase I - ESA
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is the standard first step in due diligence for commercial real estate transactions, conducted to identify potential environmental contamination (Recognized Environmental Conditions) from past or present activities, involving records review, site visits, and interviews, without physical sampling, to provide liability protection under CERCLA for potential buyers or lenders.
Key Components of a Phase I - ESA
- Records Review: Checking local, state, and federal environmental agency records, plus historical records like maps, photos, and directories.
- Site Reconnaissance (Walk-through): A physical inspection of the property to observe current conditions and potential issues.
- Interviews: Talking with current/past owners, occupants, and local officials.
- Report: A final document summarizing findings, conclusions, and recommendations (e.g., a Phase II ESA for sampling).
What is not part of a Phase I - ESA
- Soil Sampling: Is not included in a Phase I.
- Groundwater Sampling: Is not included in a Phase I.
- Air Sampling: Is not included in a Phase I.
- Wetland Delineation: Is not included in a Phase I.
- Archaeological Survey: Is not included in a Phase I.
Phase I - ESA Standard
EWS personnel stays current with ASTM standards required for Phase I's to be admissible in court. Currently ASTM E1527-21 is the approved standard for all Phase I's. This standard was approved for use by environmental consultants and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on February 13, 2023. One year of for over lap of the previous standard with Feb 13, 2024 being the date at which only the E1527-21 standard would be accepted.
Brownfield Site assessment and remediation
What is a Brownfield?
A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment. (EPA - Brownfield Overview and Definition)
Brownfield Site Assessment
The task of assessing a Site to verify if it will qualify to enter the Brownfield program varies greatly from state to state. EWS personnel can help navigate the nuances of each state to make the process as painless as possible.
What does a Brownfield Site Assessment Consist of?
A Brownfield Site Assessment will include review of all documents related to the Site and neighboring properties. EWS personnel will review/perform all of the following:
- State file review
- Historical aerials review
- Topographical map review
- Review of neighboring properties
- FOIA requests of all pertaining agencies
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
- Phase II Environmental Site Assessment
- Soil and groundwater analytical result review
Upon completion of all of these activities, EWS will make suggestions on the viability of entering the Brownfield Program.
Brownfield Site Remediation
EWS personnel will work with the landowner, developer, and state agencies to develop a redevelopment plan that takes into account public safety, worker safety, cost, and timing. The main purpose of the Brownfield Program is to make locations that previously were cost prohibitive to redevelopment a feasible option. This is done by the state offsetting some of the redevelopment costs through incentive programs.
Examples of Remediation on Brownfield Site
There are many methods of remediating that can be used on a Brownfield site. Selecting the method of remediation will depend on the type of contamination, extent of the contamination, and the site layout. Below are a few examples of remediation methods:
- Soil Removal (dig and haul)
- Groundwater remediation (injection or filtration)
- Asbestos Abatement
- Vapor Barrier
- and more
How EWS can help.
EWS can perform the site assessment, contamination modeling, complete correspondence / document submittal to get a site entered into the Brownfield Program, design remediation plans, and even perform the remediation of the Site. EWS staff are highly versed in Brownfield Programs throughout multiple states, thus allowing EWS to plan in advance of state agencies making requests. This allows the process to move quickly, smoothly, and in return bring cost savings to a project.