Professional Environmental Associates, LLC began conducting Environmental Assesments/Audits in the late 1980’s. Since then we have conducted a multitude of:

  • PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS (PA’s)
  • PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS (Phase I’s)
  • PHASE II STUDIES (sampling and analysis)
  • VAPOR INTRUSION STUDIES
  • PHASE III ACTIONS (remediation)

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS AND PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS

Professional Environmental Associates, LLC has conducted a multitude of Preliminary Assessments (PA’s) and/or Phase I Environmental Assessments (Phase I’s). The PA’s were used to obtain “No Further Action” letters from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) under the Site Remediation and Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) Programs for residential, commercial and industrial sites and/or operations.

Most of the Phase I’s were conducted as part of the Due Diligence requirements/protections for real estate sales transactions including sales and purchases, especially if the transactions were “ISRA Triggers”. For perspective buyers, the Phase I’s assisted in determining investment strategies, managing environmental risks, assessing property values and managing property portfolios. PEA has been very active since its establishment in 1983, in analyzing regulatory permit requirements and compliance and applying for and obtaining development permits. This allows PEA to provide their clients with expert assistance in site or building development and redevelopment, not just assessing current site conditions.

Some of the Phase I’s proved very helpful to current landowners in managing their properties such as determining limitations/restrictions to further development of the site, implementing renovation and maintenance programs and managing tenants/leases.

For many of these PA’s and Phase I’s, Areas of Concern (AOC’s)/Recognized Environmental Conditions (REC’s) were identified. PEA subsequently addressed or resolved the AOC’s through additional studies (Phase II) including environmental sampling and analysis (soils, groundwater, air and ecological) and remediation (Phase III Studies/Action). Many also involved Indoor Air/Environmental Sampling and Analysis.

In 2004, 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. In anticipation of Indoor Environmental regulations subsequent promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDH&SS), PEA expanded the typical scope of these assessments by including analysis of the indoor environment by specifically addressing Mold, Lead, Asbestos, Radon, Vapor Intrusion, chemical exposure and general air quality.

PHASE II ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

For many of these PA’s and Phase I’s, Areas of Concern (AOC’s)/Recognized Environmental Conditions (REC’s) were identified and needed to be subsequently addressed or resolved. This was accomplished through additional/Phase II Studies including:

  • 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
  • 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.

VAPOR INTRUSION STUDIES

PEA has conducted Vapor Intrusion Studies (VI’s) under NJDEP’s Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) or Site Remediation Program for 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.

PEA’s staff has conducted indoor, outdoor and subslab air sampling 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.

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, Asbestos, Lead, Mold and/or Soil
  • Removal of lead, asbestos, mold, PCB’s
  • Chemical elimination and/or cleanup
  • Pump and treat
  • Bioremediation
  • Solidification/Stabilization
  • Engineering controls – Ventilation, coating/encapsulation, enclosure, etc.
  • Institutional Controls
  • Other site remediation methods

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.