Professional Environmental Associates, LLC (PEA) has assisted a multitude of Child Care Centers in obtaining new licenses, renewing their licenses and/or resolving environmental problems/site contamination. Our services include conducting:

  • Phase I Environmental Assessments/Audits
  • Phase II Studies (sampling and analysis/additional evaluation)
  • Phase III Studies (remediation)
  • Indoor Environmental Health Assessments (IEHA’s)
  • Vapor Intrusion Studies

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS

Five (6) years ago, New Jersey promulgated regulations requiring environmental evaluation of Child Care Centers/Facilities. Since early 2007, PEA has conducted about two hundred (200) Preliminary Assessments and obtained “No Further Action” letters from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for Child Care Centers. All existing facilities needed to have applied for their PA by June of 2010. PEA is still conducting NFA’s and obtaining NFA’s but for new centers.

In anticipation of Indoor Environmental regulations subsequent promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDH&SS), PEA had expanded the typical scope of these assessments. We have included analysis of the indoor environment by specifically addressing Mold, Lead, Asbestos, Radon, PCB’s, Vapor Intrusion, chemical exSposure and general air quality.

PHASE II ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

For many of the PA’s, Areas of Concern (AOC’s)/Recognized Environmental Conditions (REC’s) were identified and were subsequently addressed or resolved. These included:

  • Soil contamination from current and past site usage
  • Groundwater contamination
  • Underground storage tank (UST) releases
  • Air Quality Problems
  • Vapor Intrusion into the buildings
  • Asbestos
  • Lead
  • Radon
  • PCB’s
  • Mold and/or Water Damage/Infiltration

These required sampling and analysis in order to determine the degree or extent of these substances, contamination or problems. PEA has extensive experience in sampling, having samples analyzed by a licensed laboratory.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS

In 2009, NJDH&SS promulgated regulations requiring Indoor Environmental Health Assessments. Professional Environmental Associates, LLC was one of the first companies to become licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services (NJDH&SS) an Indoor Environmental Consultant. We have pulled together a team of experts/specialists trained and experienced in Mold, Lead, Asbestos, Radon, Vapor Intrusion, Chemistry, Toxicology, Indoor Air Quality and Outdoor Air Quality, in order to address all issues concerning the indoor environment. Our experts/specialists hold individual Federal and State Certificates and Licenses as well.

Since promulgation of the New Jersey Indoor Air Quality Regulations and their implementation by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDH&SS) for schools and child care centers, PEA has been conducting Indoor Environmental Health Assessments, (IEHA’s) for these facilities, as well as for residential dwellings.

Several of the buildings/sites which are now schools and child care centers were previously agricultural fields, factories, gasoline stations, drycleaners or other problem sites, and/or were adjacent to such sites or facilities. As such, PEA conducted additional studies including sampling (soils, groundwater, air and ecological), underground storage tank or asbestos removal and/or other site remediation actions.

For the Indoor/Outdoor Air Quality Studies and IEHA’s, PEA’s staff has also conducted indoor and outdoor air sampling and vapor intrusion studies using Field Screening Test Kits, Direct-Reading Instrumentation (DRI) such as Photo-ionization Detectors (PID’s), Summa Canisters [one (1) and six (6) Liter], air pumps with filter or carbon cartridges or filters, Drager (or similar) colorimetric tubes and other portable monitoring equipment.

VAPOR INTRUSION STUDIES

PEA has conducted Vapor Intrusion Studies (VI’s) under NJDEP’s Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) or Site Remediation Program for child care centers, residential, commercial and industrial sites and/or operations including as part of NJDEP’s Immediate Environmental Concern (IEC) program. The VI’s were not only to determine contaminant exposure but to identify the source(s) of the vapors such as groundwater contamination, leaking Underground Storage Tanks (UST’s), contaminated Historic Fill, nearby Known Contaminated Sites, past site uses or operations and spills or releases. Major Indoor Air and Vapor Intrusion problems which PEA has identified and addressed include such contaminants as Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Benzene, Trichloroethene (TCE), Trichoroethane, Tretrachloroethene (PCE), 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Methylene Chloride, Methyl Tert Butyl Ether (MTBE), Acetone, Freons, Chlordane, Radon and Asbestos.

PHASE III/SITE REMEDIATION

Professional Environmental Associates, LLC has conducted and/or supervised a multitude of site remediation projects for eliminating or managing contamination of buildings and sites. Remediation includes:

  • Excavation/Removal – Underground Storage Tanks and/or soil
  • Removal of lead, asbestos, mold, PCB’s
  • Chemical elimination and/or cleanup
  • Engineering controls – Ventilation, coating/encapsulation, enclosure, etc.
  • Institutional Controls – Operational controls
  • Other site remediation method

These projects have involved such contaminants/chemicals as Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Benzene, Trichloroethene, Trichoroethane, Tretrachloroethene, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Methylene Chloride, Acetone, Freons, Chlordane, Radon, Asbestos, Methyl Tert Butyl Ether (MTBE), lead and arsenic.