Professional Environmental Consulting, Remediation, Regulatory & Assessment Services
Regulatory Compliance By NJ LSRP & Non-LSRP & PG
The very experienced team at Pioneer Environmental Group LLC provides outstanding environmental consulting services for the NJ Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP), non-LSRP and Subsurface Evaluation sites and cases. With approximately thirty-three (35) Response Action Outcome (RAO) filed since the program’s inception, formerly known as No Further Action (NFA), Pioneer knows what it takes to get your case in compliance and closed. Pioneer’s personnel as the hired consultant and Subsurface Evaluator have completed several hundred NFAs in NJ since the late 1980s. Pioneer is also certified & licensed in SC, PA and started services in August 2020 in Colorado.
Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA)/Pre-Purchase Property Transfer Evaluations
DUE DILIGENCE MATTERS. A comprehensive and thorough site investigation and historical review of all documents is critical. Previously conducted ‘Phase I Assessments, along with No Further Actions (NFAs) and Response Action Outcomes (RAOs) conducted in New Jersey, are only as meaningful as the quality of work and ethics put into the documents. These can provide a false sense of security and be very misleading, so protect your assets. Pioneer will provide excellent pre-purchase assessment services.
Pioneer provides environmental assessment services for both buyer and seller for the transfer of properties. The former Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) has been replaced by the new North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and both are used to classify establishments by their primary type of activity.
Regardless of whether the business to go through NJDEP’s ISRA program, or not the responsibility is still with the purchaser and the proper Due Diligence is a must do activity.
The pre-purchase assessment can either be done per NJDEP’s Preliminary Assessment (PA) method, the national American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) procedures, or designed specifically by a financial lending institution’s requirement. Pioneer’s services include USTs, site Areas of Concern, soil and groundwater, and potentially (subcontracted) sampling for lead paint and asbestos. Pioneer does not conduct lead paint or asbestos remediation. Our reports provide an executive summary listing Areas of Concern or deficiencies, and recommendations.
Testimony, Contamination Dating & Forensics
Pioneer has significant experience in conducting assessments in soils and groundwater associated with USTs. Discharges by leaks and spills, and surface spills by petroleum suppliers can be very complicated. Pioneer uses state of the art technology and methods for assessment including record reviews, sampling, mapping, historical searches and forensic analyses. Forensic assessment of samples for discharge dates and their sources are conducted to assist litigation.
If there are ‘skeletons in the closet’ remaining in the ground from past practices on a property, then you need Pioneer, a subsurface expert to find them to help your case. Litigation can be a costly and time-consuming venture and Pioneer knows the assessment strategies from multiple experiences. Pioneer’s personnel have conducted several very successful projects for its clients since 1992.
Professional 3rd Party Reviews
- Regulatory Compliance by LSRP and Non-LSRP
- Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA)/Pre-Purchase Property Transfer Evaluations
- Expert Testimony, Contamination Dating and Forensics
- Professional 3rd Party Review of Litigation Cases
- Remediation Management for Case Closure
- Insurance and Remediation Funding
- Brownfield Assessments
Pioneer's owner Steven K. Jones, CPG, PG, is available for professional environmental 3rd Party Review to aid in settlement of soil and groundwater petroleum contaminant litigation. Being on-site for direct assessment of approximately 1,250 underground storage tanks removals and subsurface evaluations with the subsequent remedial actions and groundwater assessments, Mr. Jones has significant experience with the evaluations of source contaminants, history of fuel equipment as pollutant sources, spills and apportioning claims. Several factors are used in the assessments such as flow rates through soils and groundwater, soil and rock types, corrosion, distances, forensic data and other site-specific factors to establish the desired criteria for the cases. Five years of soil / rock identification and testing for geotechnical engineering in the middle Atlantic States region enhances Mr. Jones’s experience. Pioneer works closely with attorneys and its clients to perform these environmental services. Since 1992, Mr. Jones, has been the expert witness and geologist in several very successful cases for its clients and to assist settlements.
Remediation Management For Case Closure
Remediation Case Management for Closure
Pioneer is significantly experienced in multiple remediation methods and performs full time management throughout its process. Working with clients using Project Management, the site activities and the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) are closely monitored for the best results.
Pioneer can evaluate the contaminated conditions at the site to provide optimum remediation methods and management. The method used to cleanup a property is based on several factors and has to be closely evaluated. Pioneer reviews the remedial options and conditions with the client. So, whether the selected method(s) is excavation, pumping groundwater/hauling, pumping and treatment with carbon, or ozone sparge, and ozone treated injected groundwater, Pioneer has the experience for your needs.
Environmental Case Management
Pioneer has extensive experience with remedial investigations and actions conducted under NJDEP regulations. Pioneer has implemented corrective action analyses of numerous projects requiring strategy development, remedial alternative development and implementation of remedial actions to be consistent with our clients’ goals and objectives in accordance with applicable laws and guidance documents. From initial assessments to final closure, our case management strategy includes evaluating and applying various remedial solutions to provide the most cost effective and practical solution to each case.
As in most of our cases, the final remedial solution is governed by complex Federal, state, and local regulations and can vary considerably. Meeting federal, state/provincial, and local regulatory requirements for remediation of sites is increasingly challenging and costly. Our extensive knowledge of New Jersey regulations/requirements and our understanding of the full range of services of regulatory and financial reimbursement policies/practices at all levels can save you time and money. Pioneer has the regulatory understanding to develop creative approaches to assessment, monitoring, and developing compliance strategies. Our diverse services range from initial assessments to active remediation systems and implementation of long-term monitoring under a natural attenuation scenario to take sites to closure.
Insurance & Remediation Funding Experience
Assisting clients with insurance coverage to help pay for the cleanup contamination is not new to Pioneer. The service is conducted with your attorney to work as a team for you. Pioneer’s personnel is also exceptionally experienced at assisting its clients with the funding process through the NJDEP and the NJ Economic Development Authority. The activity includes a Scope of Work and Workplan to the NJDEP and application to the NJEDA
Brownfields Assessment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines a Brownfield as real property that may be contaminated by the presence or the potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Some examples of Brownfield properties include gasoline service stations, junkyards, dry cleaners, former manufacturing facilities or vacant land exposed at some time to contaminants.
Brownfield contamination impacts redevelopment and re-investment opportunities in our community. When brownfields are assessed, cleaned up, and returned to productive use by reducing the environmental hazards on these sites our community benefits.
Pioneer can assist in the navigation of the financial and regulatory requirements of Brownfield redevelopment. Pioneer's personnel have over fifty years of collective experience with environmental site evaluation, navigating the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) requirements and remedial site cleanups for private, public and industrial clients to obtain case closures.