In the State of New Jersey, there is a significant difference between a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) and an Indoor Environmental Consultant (IEC), both in license and responsibility/capabilities.
An LSRP and an IEC have different licenses. The State Of New Jersey Department Of Health and Senior Services (NJDH&SS) issues licenses to IEC’s. In contrast, an LSRP is licensed through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
In the State of New Jersey, an LSRP and an Indoor Environmental Consultant also have different responsibilities. An LSRP can investigate contamination into any property, though in the case of childcare centers and schools, he/she cannot conduct the required Indoor Environmental Health Assessments (IEHA’s). Instead, the IEHA is the responsibility of an IEC.
An LSRP investigation of site contamination includes contamination of the site or in the unit/building or to the outside environment because of past usage of the unit/building or past or existing use of an adjacent site or unit/building. This gets complicated because the investigation of site contamination can include vapor intrusion (VI), i.e. the emission of chemicals/gases into a structure/building from soils and/or groundwater. A vapor intrusion study addresses subslab gases as well as indoor air quality resulting from vapors from the ground and outside/background air quality. Often it includes sampling. Such a study is conducted by a LSRP who can either sample himself/herself or employ the services of another qualified professional.
The IEC is responsible for assessing the indoor quality in a child care center or school because of past and present site or unit/building usage. Such assessments address mold, chemicals, bacteria, asbestos, lead and other contaminants/pollutants and exposures to children, staff and visitors. Besides past site and unit/building usage, the potential for VI must also be considered as it impacts indoor air quality. Sometimes as part of an IEHA, sampling is required not only in the building/unit but also outdoors (background sampling). The IEC can conduct the sampling himself/herself or can employ the services of another qualified professional.
If the LSRP finds during his/her investigation of a child care center or school that there is a potential of vapor intrusion or poor air quality because of past or current usage of the site, or unit/building or past or existing use of an adjacent site or unit/building, the services of an IEC is required to conduct an IEHA and/or sample indoor and outdoor air quality. IECs may not have the capability and/or the LSRP may not be “comfortable” with the IEC conducting the subslab sampling and depending on it for a VI Study if required. Along the same lines, the IEC may not be “comfortable” with the LSRP conducting the indoor air or outdoor/background sampling during his/her vapor intrusion study and depending on it for the IEHA. In any case, the VI Study is the responsibility of the LSRP while the IEHA is the responsibility of the IEC. As such, there may be situations where two (2) sampling and evaluations are required, one for VI and the other for the IEHA, increasing costs for the landowner/operator.
David L. Poling, President of PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATES, LLC, has both licenses and the ability to perform as an LSRP and Indoor Environmental Consultant. We have not only handled both Site Remediation and Indoor Environmental Health Assessments for particular sites but because of our professionalism, discreetness and trustworthiness, we have subcontracted the IEHA, VI Study or other portions of the remediation from other LSRP’s. This included sampling for either or both the IEHA and VI. In fact, we have been subtracting environmental studies from one specific LSRP company for almost twenty (20) years.