If you are in need of an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and are considering various consultants, ask them three questions:
1. Are ESAs a core business of your company, or are you primarily in another line of work, such as engineering?
At RMEA, ESAs are and always have been a core part of our business since our inception in 1991.
2. How much experience with Phase I ESAs and environmental consulting does the consultant assigned to my project have?
It is common in the industry, particularly with firms who perform ESAs as a side-niche, to assign these projects to junior staff. Often a more senior person may technically manage the project, but the junior person conducts the site inspection and background research. The use of inexperienced staff can result in accidental errors, omissions, oversights or other problems which can increase your timeline and overall cost. When you select RMEA, you will be working with professional staff, and they will conduct all the work on your site.
3. Does your staff have the knowledge to efficiently and effectively deal with potential or real environmental concerns identified by the Phase I?
This is a common problem with firms which dabble in ESAs. RMEA has taken many sites from the initial identification of a recognized environmental condition, through Phase II Investigation, and eventual regulatory closure. RMEA staff have close working relationships with regional and state regulatory staff, and in countless cases have used our knowledge and experience to creatively and efficiently address and reach closure of sites with environmental issues.
