Environmental Consulting
Environmental Assessments
Understanding environmental risk is vital in today's complex regulatory climate — and risk tolerance is unique to each client. We work closely with you to identify your goals and pinpoint potential environmental concerns. Whether it's CERCLA liability protection, a business environmental risk evaluation, or a contaminated-site characterization, we identify the concerns and recommend the appropriate response.
Assessment services
Identify risk before it becomes liability
Our assessment work spans the full range of environmental due diligence and investigation:
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) for property purchases and financing
- Leaking Underground Storage Tank (UST) investigations and cleanup
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessments
- CERCLA Remedial Investigations & Feasibility Studies for National Priorities List sites
- Brownfield site characterizations and conceptual site models
- Threatened & endangered species surveys and cultural resources investigations
- Wetlands & stream delineation for Section 404/401 permitting
- Groundwater modeling, ecological and human health risk assessments, and aquatic biology analysis
Phase I ESAs & UST investigations Phase I ESAs & UST investigations
Manage CERCLA liability with confidence
Developers, lenders, and businesses that purchase or finance property need to understand potential environmental liabilities to establish a defense to CERCLA (Superfund) liability. Our trained professionals perform Phase I ESAs that meet evolving regulatory requirements and help you manage environmental risk.
We are a UST Engineering Response Action Contractor (ERAC) licensed by the MDEQ to perform UST investigations and cleanup through the Petroleum UST Trust Fund, and we are a certified UST removal contractor in several states.
Brownfields & resource surveys Brownfields & resource surveys
Redevelop complex sites responsibly
A brownfield is real property whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence — or potential presence — of a contaminant. We investigate these sites, develop conceptual site models, and perform risk assessments. EMS is an approved brownfield consultant in several states and serves as the brownfields contractor on sites funded and led by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
Projects involving federal action also require evaluation of sensitive habitats and historic resources. Our experienced biologists perform threatened & endangered species surveys, we conduct cultural resources investigations to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and our wetlands scientists identify and map wetlands and streams for Section 404 permitting.
Risk & modeling
Sound data for sound decisions
At sites with complex geology or multiple plumes, computer model simulations help us evaluate hydrologic conditions, understand contaminant migration, and predict the effects of proposed remediation. Our hydrogeologists bring extensive real-world modeling experience.
We also perform ecological risk assessments — the probability of harm to plants and animals exposed to hazardous substances — and human health risk assessments that estimate the nature and probability of adverse health effects from exposure to contaminated media. For sediment, pore-space, benthic, and biota work, our aquatic biology analysis uses field-proven methods that preserve sample quality and support sound decisions.
Have a property or site to evaluate?
Tell us about your project and we'll recommend the right assessment approach.