By Robert P. Blauvelt, Senior Vice President
November 2009 edition of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce's monthly newspaper "The Business Edge".

One of the most far-reaching regulatory reforms ever enacted in the Garden State will go into effect on November 3, 2009.  This is when the Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) program under the Site Remediation Reform Act will allow, for the first time, highly qualified and well-vetted environmental scientists and engineers (who are not employed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to assume direct responsibility for the oversight and closure of most types of environmental cleanups. 

An article by Robert M. Edgar, Director, Site Assessment - Remedial Investigatory Services titled "With Brownfield Properties, The Road to Success Is Always Under Construction" appeared in the November 2009 edition of Commerce Magazine.

EWMA was retained as ERA South’s environmental consultant to investigate, remediate, and obtain regulatory closure for 58 areas of environmental concern that had been identified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).  Over a 24-month period, EWMA was successful in obtaining regulatory closure for the majority of the areas.  Remedial activities were completed in a cost-effective and timely manner using methodologies consistent with the intended future use of the property.

An article by Paul V. Schatz, C.P.G., Assistant Vice President, titled "Requirements for Worker Notification by Labeling Rooms Containing Asbestos" appeared in the June 2009 edition of Modern Contractor Solutions magazine.

There is a common misconception that asbestos materials only need to be properly handled when they are located in schools or public buildings and then only if the material is damaged.  However, there are additional regulations which are overlooked by schools and commercial buildings alike.  These regulations require labeling rooms and areas with the potential of containing asbestos.  If the building was built earlier than 1980 some form of asbestos is probably present in the building material.  Labeling regulations have been adopted to require worker notification.

An article by William A. Kovach, Senior Project Manager, titled "Brownfields Redevelopment:  Understanding Your Environmental Responsibilities" appeared in the May 2009 edition of Modern Contractor Solutions magazine.

Brownfields are properties that have, or may have, contamination or the stigma of contamination that hinders the reuse of land for new development. The lure to these properties is great–seemingly prime, large tracts of land being sold for relatively inexpensive prices; the vision of unrestricted development; putting commercial or industrial buildings or residential communities on these lands and reaping a great return. To further entice the prospective buyer, the government offers reimbursement programs for qualified properties, through tax incentives and urban enterprise tax zones. A thorough understanding of environmental regulations and requirements is critical to understanding the potential costs and liabilities related to environmental considerations associated with most Brownfields sites.

An article by Alfred Moffit, C.P.G., Director, Site Assessment Remedial Investigatory Services, titled "A Success Story:  NJDEP Cleanup Star Program and its New Spin-off Program" appeared in the July 2008 edition of Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) began the Cleanup Star Program in February 2004 to expedite environmental investigations and cleanups at low-risk sites, and has succeeded in this program over the past three years.  The Cleanup Star Program allows certified environmental professionals/consultants to investigate and remediate specific qualifying sites and Areas of Concern (AOCs) with limited NJDEP oversight. 

The NJDEP has recently implemented The Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10B-21 requiring contractors performing work on unregulated tanks be certified.  As of November 30, 2007, any work performed on unregulated heating oil underground storage tanks (USTs) must be submitted under this program, rather than the Cleanup Star Program, provided that certain requirements are met.  The combination of the Cleanup Star Program and the new unregulated UST program allows consultants and their clients the opportunity to get NJDEP sign-off in an expedited timeframe.

An article by Alfred Moffit, C.P.G., Director, Site Assessment Remedial Investigatory Services, titled "Vapor Intrusion:  Important Aspect of Site Due Diligence" appeared in the October 2009 edition of Modern Contractor Solutions magazine.

Vapor intrusion investigation and remediation is quickly becoming one of the most important issues during the due diligence investigation of sites.  The cause of vapor intrusion is volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could be migrating into a building from soil or ground water contamination either on or near the subject property.  Health affects of these toxic vapors to the building occupants are the major concern with the vapor intrusion.

Spill-Prevention Practices And Equipment Are A Worthwhile Investment

By Christopher W. Richter
Technical Director, Secur-it Program

Published : Dry Cleaning News Oct. 2009

Historically, tetrachloroethene, also referred to as perchlorothylene (PCE) has been the primary solvent of choice for dry cleaning, though other, similar chemicals such as trichloroethene (TCE), Freon 113 and other, petroleum-based mixtures (paraffins, petrol, Stoddard solvent) have been utilized as well.  Though dry cleaning is a fairly closed loop system, opportunities for spills exist in nearly every stage of the process.

Robert M. Edgar
Director, Site Assessment - Remedial Investigatory Services

Published in Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal, Sept. 2009

Farms are cornerstones of American tradition, but in our quest for developable land, they are increasingly being swept away in the changing tide from an agricultural economy to residential development.  Unfortunately for today’s property developers and owners, one of those historical connections is the widespread application of pesticides which persist long after the crops are gone.

By Christopher Martell, Project Manager

Published: Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal, Dec. 19, 2008

Environmental stewardship, global sustainability, carbon footprints, alternative energy, LEED Certification…these are the current “buzz words” being thrown around by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to business owners and operators in an effort to influence change in the way businesses and building owners view their impact on the environment.  So much so that the NJDEP has recently launched an Environmental Stewardship Program to encourage compliance with NJDEP regulatory statues in excess of the minimum requirements.  What does this all mean?

By Robert P. Blauvelt, PG., CHMM
Senior Vice President

Published Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal, April 10, 2009

      As the country works its way through the current economic downturn, we are finding that a series of very fortunate events (to steal a phrase from a well-known book series) are taking place.  Brownfields redevelopment is becoming more and more mainstream thanks to a growing market maturity, streamlined regulatory approval processes, and cheaper, more easily implemented cleanup technologies.  This perfect storm (another book reference) of events represents a new way of evaluating and assessing the usefulness of a site; ranging from that old, long inactive corner gas station to the slowly rusting 20-acre chemical plant.