Navigating Industrial Waste and Wastewater Permitting
Industrial waste and wastewater permitting involve obtaining necessary authorizations from federal, state, and local regulatory agencies before handling, treating, storing, or disposing of industrial waste. We all know that permitting ensures compliance with environmental regulations, protects public health, and minimizes potential harm from industrial activities. Nevertheless, federal mandates can change with new administrations, complicating the process and timing.
The timing for industrial waste and wastewater permitting can vary significantly depending on the specific type of permit and the regulatory authorities involved, and it is a significant cost factor. New permits may have a long approval cycle, so we provide advice to help expedite the permitting process in this article.
Stakeholder Involvement Early in the Permitting Process
Communicating the stakeholder goals upfront helps identify and address potential challenges before permitting submissions. Stakeholders include any agency involved in the permitting process, such as federal, state, and local agencies. Even the finest environmental consultant does not try to anticipate every potential issue – we work with facts.
Early communication and coordination prevent delays and provide valuable insights, perspectives, and, in our experience, innovation specific to an industry, facility, process, and locality. Aligning your permitting cycle with the needs and expectations of agency stakeholders builds trust and goodwill, smoothing the process and preventing unnecessary slowdowns to address questions.
Example: Working in Partnership with Miami-Dade County
For example, industrial facilities in Miami-Dade County must navigate a comprehensive permitting process to protect public health and the environment. For this article, we base our advice on permitting for a pet food manufacturer, an aircraft maintenance facility, and a water bottling facility – all very different but following a similar strategy. The Industrial Wastewater Facility (IW5) and the Industrial Waste Pretreatment (IW-P) Permits are among the most common and critical permits. While each serves a distinct regulatory purpose, both are essential for facilities that generate or manage industrial waste.
Facilities impacted include dry cleaners, automotive service providers, manufacturers, printers, and film processors. Understanding which permit applies and how to comply can significantly reduce project delays and keep operations on schedule.
Understanding the IW5 and IWP Permits
The IWP Permit regulates facilities that discharge significant volumes of industrial wastewater to the public sanitary sewer system. These discharges are subject to local and federal pretreatment regulations.
The IW5 Permit, the focus of this article, applies to facilities that store or use hazardous materials in smaller quantities and discharge relatively low volumes of wastewater. The permit outlines conditions that facilities must meet to minimize the volume and impact of their discharges on the County’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW).
Steps in the IW5 Permitting Process
The Miami-Dade Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER), Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) administers the permitting process. Facilities submit required documentation through the County’s Electronic Permitting System (EPS). The process typically involves the following phases:
Before submitting an IW5 permit application, facilities must prepare and upload the following documents:
Once the CU and Occupational License are secured:
Finding the Right Environmental Consultant
The IW5 and IW-P permitting process can be complex, but partnering with an experienced environmental consultant can streamline your path to compliance. Look for a partner who supports industrial clients —from aircraft maintenance and cleanrooms to chemical R&D and clinical pharmacology—through every stage of the permitting process.
Seek a partner who will assist you with early documentation, regulatory coordination, and ongoing compliance to help ensure timely approvals and avoid costly delays. An environmental consultant with in-house experts, including legal and construction, will bring more value to your permitting project.
About the Author: Kokil Bansal is a Professional Engineer and SCS Project Manager responsible for providing environmental services, site redevelopment, and sustainability planning for public and private clients. She is particularly adept at coordinating and managing new facilities and the redevelopment of contaminated sites. Contact her at SCS Engineers or on LinkedIn.
SCSers are excited to celebrate our clients who continue to make great strides toward sustainability this Earth Day. As one of the nation’s top environmental consulting and construction firms, SCS Engineers has been dedicated to helping companies develop sustainable solutions that balance today’s financial, environmental, and bureaucratic challenges since its founding a few weeks before the very first Earth Day in 1970. Below, we’ll share a few examples of how our team and clients are making eco-friendly and sustainable impacts.
Chris Jimieson, PE, a project manager in our Madison, Wisconsin office, is sharing his story with our SCS Young Professionals across the U.S. He’s describing his journey from a dedicated and concerned parent observing recyclables being landfilled, to teaching and engaging students, and now to developing policy around district recycling in the Madison Metropolitan School District. It’s a win-win for Madison and our Young Professionals!
The City of San Diego implements a waste reduction program that funnels unsold grocery store inventory to non-profit food programs for distribution to the community. In addition to directly benefiting the people of San Diego, this program resulted in a significant decrease in food waste in local landfills, thereby increasing the lifespan of those landfills and reducing the cost of that utility over time.
A power company using coal (many still do as they transition to renewable energy sources) has taken several eco-friendly steps, optimizing the sustainability of both the plant and the company. They’re now desulfurizing flue gas, preventing air pollution and creating a by-product to make gypsum. And fly ash, another by-product of creating energy, is now being sold to concrete companies for reuse. Wastewater is pretreated for safety and chemical characterization during the permitting process, and regular sampling during operations ensures fluids are non-hazardous and unchanged. These modifications have allowed them to provide energy at a reasonable cost, qualify for government incentives offered to companies that employ green practices, and protect health and human life. That’s sustainability!
Technology is impacting the waste management industry in amazing ways, too. Drones with sensors can fly over a landfill, detecting methane leaks and allowing technicians to visualize below-the-surface conditions. The result is safer, faster, and more efficient landfill operations. Captured methane is turned into Renewable Natural Gas as a clean-burning energy or fuel source. Special sensors and automation can remove organic waste reused as by-products to create compost. Plastics, paper, and cardboard become new products. The use of technologies significantly cuts the amount of greenhouse gases that once went airborne after being buried in a landfill. All you need to do is recycle!
Finally, we’re also excited to be joining an array of Earth Day 2025 community events nationwide and globally – you can too! Find an event close to you here!
Together with our clients, SCS Engineers remains committed to advancing sustainable practices that make a meaningful difference. This Earth Day, and every day, we celebrate progress, partnership, and the promise of a greener future.
SCS Engineers expands environmental solutions in Utah by welcoming Thomas P. Gordon as a senior project manager to the firm. Mr. Gordon leads full-service due diligence site assessment and hazard remediation practice for municipalities and public and private clients in the state from SCS’s Salt Lake City office.
“Tom joins SCS as a fully certified and tested professional with over two decades of expertise and specialization in petroleum, agricultural, and mining remediation. He works closely with all stakeholders and Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality CERCLA Branch,” states Justin Rauzon, SCS’s National Expert on Environmental Due Diligence.
SCS Engineers has supported industries and businesses nationwide seeking remediation solutions for over 50 years. All require thorough due diligence to keep project development and implementation on schedule and within budget. Today’s real estate transactions must consider environmental issues, as state growth is often exhausting Greenfields or virgin land. Complex laws can impose significant environmental liabilities on purchasers, sellers, and lenders, regardless of whether they caused contamination or still own the property.
Comprehensive services provided by certified experts, such as Tom Gordon, significantly reduce the risk of funding and development for commercial properties and are especially important for mixed-use and residential reuse projects. Typically, the most strategically located properties, often formerly used by an industry, business, or municipality, may have left behind trace amounts of hazardous materials at levels no longer acceptable under federal, state, or local regulations.
Purchasers must demonstrate that they have taken reasonable steps to mitigate the effects of hazardous substances on the property, utilizing comprehensive services; that’s where Tom Gordon and SCS Engineers provide valuable support. Mr. Gordon guides clients through the necessary steps based on an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and a due diligence report. Regardless of the complexity of the ESA results, the combination of environmental engineers, consultants, and contracting capabilities at SCS will provide purchasers with the most cost-effective and safe solution for fully remediating the property. Clients are covered from permitting through implementation and operational monitoring.
Mr. Gordon’s degrees, certifications, and licenses include an MBA from the University of the Pacific and a BS in Environmental Studies from the University of Utah. He holds certifications for HAZMAT (ACM, LBP, PCB, DEHP, and Mercury), Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), 811 Pre-Dig, and Permitting, as well as OSHA 40/8-Hour HAZWOPER. He holds the following Utah licenses: Groundwater and Soil Sampler, Asbestos Management Planner and Inspector, and General Contractor B100. His federal licenses include Underground Storage Tank Contractor, Lead Inspector, and Department of Transportation/Aviation Remote Pilot.
Send Tom Greetings on LinkedIn!
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Over the past 55 years, SCS Engineers has established a leadership role in comprehensive solid waste management and environmental services, which would not have been possible without the support of our municipal clients and industry. There were fewer than a handful of engineering firms specializing in environmental consulting when SCS was founded in 1970.
Today, the firm supports a wide range of environmental solutions in different industries and business sectors. Fifty-five years ago, no one could have imagined using drones and satellites to collect information for landfill operations or utilizing carbon sequestration in an environmentally safe manner. CEO Doug Doerr says:
Our greatest reward is client satisfaction. Thanks to you, our clients, SCS Engineers has received numerous awards and industry recognition for its research achievements and technological innovations, which protect human health and the environment while enhancing operational efficiency. We take pride in operating and maintaining critical environmental infrastructure that the public and businesses depend on. Our employee-owners know how to solve problems and, drawing on our deep bench of engineers, scientists, and consultants, move forward as a team.
SCS’s business model features regional and satellite offices situated near client sites, with mobile offices co-located on project sites. “The model has always worked well for us,” President Curtis Jang recently stated. “Our professionals and technicians live nearby; our distributed network means we are nearby project sites instead of flying, or working online.”
“We’re proud of the care and contributions by our colleagues over the years, and now,” states Eddy Smith, COO. “That sense of responsibility and ownership, along with SCS’s camaraderie and high-quality results, brings our clients back.”
The environmental consulting firm started as a partnership between Bob Stearns, Tom Conrad, and Curt Schmidt on April 1, 1970, in Long Beach, California. The three engineers knew and respected each other’s strengths and capabilities: Stearns was an expert in solid waste, Schmidt was a water and wastewater engineer, and Conrad was a jack-of-all-trades with experience in civil engineering, solid waste, water and wastewater.
By the late 80’s, SCS Engineers had created new specialty practices, under the name SCS Field Services, to perform landfill and landfill gas system construction, operations, monitoring, and maintenance. The firm was proud to offer comprehensive services, but it knew from its experience that each landfill and solid waste operation is unique. SCS OM&M now operates 27,500 LFG extraction wells and supports over 650 landfills across the nation. SCS Field Services Construction is a Class A – General Engineering Contractor with Hazardous Materials Certification. SCS believes that by overlapping design, construction, and operational activities, it has led to the innovations listed as SCS Firsts on their website and saved their clients money.
In 1986, the firm also made a significant and strategic decision to create an employee stock ownership plan. Chairman Jim Walsh explains, “As an ESOP company, our employees own shares in SCS Engineers and all its practices. We felt that ownership inspires better performance and that our staff deserve control in the decision-making and direction of the company. It has proven to be a successful business model for the firm.”
Combining SCS’s expertise in solid waste management, landfills, and regulatory compliance, SCS Energy was created in 2001 to focus on the design and design-build of landfill gas-to-energy (LFGE) systems. SCS now has one of the longest and most successful biogas practices in the United States, primarily in Renewable Natural Gas. SCS designs, constructs, and operates more RNG, LDFE, and DGE facilities than any other environmental engineering firm in the nation.
Growing and expanding its environmental expertise to serve other industries and sectors, SCS draws on specialized practices to continue to support a growing number of public and private clients under the SCS Engineers umbrella.
SCS Field Services® Construction | SCS Field Services® OM&M
SCS Energy® | SCS Tracer Environmental® | SCS Technology Services®
SCS Management Services®
SCS continues to develop technologies and programs that help clients lower their operating costs and reduce their environmental impact. The technologies and applications used in landfills have found applications in agriculture, heavy industry, manufacturing, and municipal settings. These advances enable the development of more efficient infrastructure and processes, supporting companies in their transition to renewable energy resources while maintaining sustainable practices and minimizing additional expenses for consumers.
SCS clients entrust the firm with managing more than 40 million metric tons of anthropogenic CO2e greenhouse gases annually. The firm collects and beneficially uses or destroys enough methane to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from more than 8.7 million passenger cars annually. These figures do not include the significant emission reductions achieved through carbon sequestration, waste diversion, recycling, and repurposing waste into useful products, such as Renewable Natural Gas, compost, or supporting municipal programs that donate perfectly edible food to those in need.
“We attribute our success to our loyal clients who entrust us to address the complexities of environmental challenges,” says Nathan Hamm, CSO. “We are proud of our employee-owners who create the technologies, practices, and systems that make a sustainable, positive impact while being economically feasible.”
Over the years, SCS expanded and hired many talented people. They guide the firm, maintaining the founders’ focus on adopting their clients’ environmental challenges as their own and fostering a culture of success for employees by sharing equity ownership. The firm helps clients minimize waste and pollution while providing GHG-lowering carbon capture, monitoring, control, and accounting solutions, as well as sequestration solutions, with a proven ability to mitigate and remediate air, water, and soil pollution.
“SCS’s culture attracts professionals with diverse expertise, enabling the firm to grow organically. It is on track to reach nearly 1,400 employees this year and has achieved year-over-year record-breaking revenues,” says CPO Stacey Dolden. SCS’s core capabilities include solid and hazardous waste management, renewable energy, remediation, and environmental compliance and sustainability, aimed at reducing or preventing GHG emissions. Over the last two decades, the demand for SCS expertise has expanded into various areas, including remote monitoring and control technology, wastewater and water reuse, composting, sustainable materials management, industrial health and safety, and risk management planning. The firm maintains a deep technical bench, a wide range of industry experts, and extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulatory systems, which enables clients to shorten project timelines, control costs, and meet evolving regulations.
Earth Day is also celebrating its 55th Anniversary this year – the first Earth Day took place just a few weeks after the start of SCS. We’ll be at Earth Day events around the country serving hundreds of communities, charities, and associations. We hope to see you there! SCS Engineers remains passionate about continuing to provide superior client service and solving the environmental challenges of the 21st Century.
SWANA Western Regional Symposium will naturally feature SCSers talking landfills! We hope to see you at these sessions.
L’ is for Landfill Redevelopment – From Golf Courses to Graveyards, Adventures in Landfill Redevelopment with Vidhya Viswanathan and Ray Huff
Landfill redevelopment transforms sites into valuable community assets, such as parks, solar farms, or warehouses, addressing environmental concerns and supporting sustainable land use. This presentation explores the benefits of redevelopment, emphasizing environmental, community, and financial advantages. It also addresses technical, financial, and regulatory obstacles, with strategies for overcoming them through stakeholder collaboration, using case studies to highlight lessons learned.
Landfill Construction for Integrated Gas Systems with William Haley and Evan Guignon
With ever-increasing regulations pushing more and earlier methane capture, including during landfill filling, how can we design and construct our landfill cells to allow the integrated gas collection and gas collection infrastructure to be built alongside our landfill cells? This presentation will cover regulatory requirements for cell construction and gas capture and how landfills can be designed and constructed to allow the gas collection system to work in tandem with the landfill leachate collection system. We will cover several examples of integrated cell/gas collection systems and delivered performance since installation.
Explore the full list of sessions from SCSer’s at the SWANA Western Regional Symposium, we look forward to seeing you! Register today!
Current State of the Regulation of Composting Facilities under Air Quality Programs with Pat Sullivan
Composting facilities are becoming increasingly regulated across the country, particularly for air quality permitting requirements. It is important to know where these requirements stand in the various jurisdictions in the U.S., so facility developers can properly plan any new facilities or expansions. Further, estimating air emissions is an integral part of the air permitting process, and many of the emission factors currently in use, and being prescribed regulatory agencies, are dated and based solely on data from open windrow composting.
The proposed presentation would include a survey of how compost facility air permitting is presently handled in various states and local jurisdictions across the country with focus on the western U.S. The types of information to be covered would include whether air permits are required and under what circumstances, how emissions are regulated and whether they are considered fugitive or not, how ancillary equipment is permitted (e.g., grinders, windrow turners, etc.), whether controls are required and what levels of control are deemed necessary, what is best available control technology (BACT) for composting, and if the agency has any specific rules for composting. The presentation will include a summary of the current state of emission factors for composting.
As part of the presentations, more detailed air permitting information would be supplied for several example air jurisdictions in California, including the Bay Area AQMD and San Joaquin Valley APCD. The examples would cover the range of complexities from the most stringent air permitting requirements to the simplest and most basic requirements.
The attendees to this presentation will learn about:
Can We Get Credit for That? with Victoria Evans and Erik Martig
To reduce GHG emissions to meet climate goals, numerous strategies encourage lowering the carbon intensity of operations and supply chains. Here, Victoria and Erik answer the question of ‘Can we get carbon credit for that?” by addressing offsetting and insetting projects applicable to waste related commodities. They focus upon compost and biochar providing relevant examples for both offsetting and insetting. Insetting involves directly reducing emissions within the company’s own operations and value chain. Victoria and Erik will provide examples of carbon accounting quantification for both project types.
Explore the full list of sessions from SCSer’s at the SWANA Western Regional Symposium, we look forward to seeing you! Register today!
AW&MA’s most popular specialty conferences, the Air Quality Measurement Methods and Technology Conference, is April 23-25, 2025. This conference provides extensive coverage of all aspects of air measurement methodologies, including associated quality assurance protocols and how to use and interpret data. Sessions will also focus on the assessment of key substances of concern for humans and the environment, including criteria pollutants, greenhouse gases, and air toxics.
Jose Landeros and Sergio Valenzuela will be presenting “Empowering Imperial County AB617 North End Communities With Low-Cost Monitoring Sensors.”
The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) has become a model for Assembly Bill 617, demonstrating how collaborative efforts in environmental justice can address complex air quality challenges, including pollution from agricultural, industrial, and cross-border sources. This conference is a unique opportunity to engage with local experts and explore solutions across scientific, legal, regulatory, policy, and communication domains, empowering professionals to address pressing environmental justice issues.
Eva Luu and Armando Hurtado will be presenting “Real-Time Monitoring of Odor Using Sulfur as a Surrogate,” during the Agricultural Emissions and Odor Measurements track.
Cannabis remains a contentious topic in the United States. While a majority of Americans support legalization, challenges such as nuisance odors have emerged, complicating the landscape. Geographical location plays a significant role in the success of cannabis cultivation, particularly in outdoor and greenhouse settings, where moderate temperatures benefit crop production. These same favorable weather conditions often align with increased population density, heightening the need for effective odor mitigation strategies. Although the distinctive “skunky” odor has traditionally been linked to terpenes, recent research suggests that other compounds play a critical role.
To address cannabis odors, various mitigation methods have been implemented, including misting systems, carbon filters, and advanced scrubber units using ozone and photocatalytic oxidation (PCO).
Each of these methods can be effective for odor controls in the appropriate settings and when applied to specific cultivation methods.
While these techniques can reduce onsite odors, offsite locations frequently continue to detect the characteristic smell. Odor samples can be collected onsite and analyzed in Odor Labs, but they do not provide real-time data for cultivators to make immediate adjustments to operations.
Through meticulous planning and iterative rounds of testing, we identified total reduced sulfurs (TRS) as a reliable surrogate for real-time measurements of cannabis odors in enclosed spaces. This approach allows operators to identify odor problems in situ and take necessary action in a timely manner. The findings underscore the importance of innovative measurement techniques in improving odor management practices and enhancing the sustainability of cannabis cultivation. This work aims to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of odor dynamics in cannabis production, ultimately assisting cultivators in effectively addressing community concerns while optimizing operational integrity.
Learn more at SCS Engineers.
Remote monitoring and control (RMC) is revolutionizing how the solid waste industry collects, processes, and visualizes critical data. With a fleet of FAA-licensed drone pilots nationwide, RMC is at the forefront of developing drone services that enhance operational safety, improve efficiency, and optimize data management processes. By leveraging cutting-edge drone technologies and GIS-based data assessment tools, the waste management industry can streamline remote data collection and decision-making processes.
This presentation, Advancing Drone Technologies for the Solid Waste Industry explores how drone technologies are reshaping industry practices, offering solutions that reduce operational costs, minimize environmental impact, lower health and safety risks, and improve overall site efficiency. Attendees will gain insights into the latest advancements in drone applications and learn practical strategies for integrating these technologies into their operations.
Specifically, attendees can expect to learn:
Meet SCSers, Phil Carrillo, National RMC Director/VP and Melissa Russo, Business Manager – Drones & GIS.
Phil is a systems integrator with over 24 years of experience in the operations and maintenance (O&M) of landfill gas (LFG) extraction and treatment systems. Phil has managed the design and installation of over 180 RMC systems for 100 clients. In addition to serving clients with customized design, installation, and support of SCS RMC solutions, Phil is an FAA Part 107 drone pilot and leads the development of advanced drone technologies and custom software applications that enhance data management and operational efficiencies for the solid waste industry.
Melissa Russo leads SCS RMC’s drone services. She is instrumental in managing the administration and installation of approximately 150 RMC projects and as an FAA-licensed drone pilot, she leads the development of SCS’s drone services, identifying the latest applications to benefit clients in optimizing remote data collection, GIS integration, and data management. Melissa has managed and performed numerous aerial inspections nationwide and internationally for purposes such as thermal surveillance, methane leak detection, topographic mapping, stockpile calculations, aerial 2D imagery, and 3D mapping. She is responsible for integrating GIS with drone-collected data to enhance field data collection and analysis, enabling more precise and actionable insights for clients.
Explore the full list of sessions from SCSer’s at the SWANA Western Regional Symposium, we look forward to seeing you! Register today!
A Fieldwork Guide for Navigating Biohazards in the Southeastern US
South Florida, as is the US Southeastern region, is experiencing rapid development, and there is a high demand for land, especially in regions such as abandoned golf courses, old plant nurseries, cow pastures, and other neglected parcels of land. While these areas often appear overgrown and poorly maintained, they are ideal habitats for diverse flora and fauna. Having worked in the environmental field, I’ve had firsthand experience with the biological hazards in these areas.
Flora: The Dangers of Plants
South Florida has many plant varieties, some of which can be poisonous, hazardous, or even deadly. Toxic plants can cause harm to humans or animals through contact or ingestion. Poison Ivy, for example, is a common plant in South Florida that can cause skin irritation if contacted for an extended period. It grows in various forms, including as a vine, shrub, or ground cover. The best way to identify it is by its distinctive “leaves of three, let it be” pattern. Be cautious, as it can often be confused with the native Virginia creeper, which has five leaves.
Poisonwood, another dangerous plant, is commonly found in native hardwood hammocks. Its leaves, stems, and roots carry urushiol oil, a potent irritant that causes severe skin reactions. The oil is difficult to remove, and contact with any part of the tree can result in intense itching and irritation. It is critical to avoid leaning on or touching poisonwood trees.
Deadly plants such as Angel’s Trumpet, Coral Bean, Milkweed, and Lantana are often used in landscaping but are highly toxic if ingested. While it’s unlikely someone would consume plants from an undeveloped site, avoiding eating any fruits or vegetables found in field sites is wise, particularly if contamination levels are uncertain.
Hazardous plants like Saw Grass and Saw Palmetto are common in South Florida’s natural areas. Saw Grass is abundant in the Everglades and has razor-sharp serrated edges. To handle them safely, move parallel with its serrations to avoid running your hand against them. Saw Palmetto, with its sharp thorns, also poses a risk. In both instances, gloves are best to prevent injury when working around thorny plants.
Fauna: The Wildlife of South Florida
South Florida also has various mammals, reptiles, and arachnids; many can be dangerous. The Florida Panther, Black Bear, and Bobcat are among the region’s most notable mammals. I always take precautions when I have not encountered a panther or bear in the wild. If you encounter one of these animals, please ensure the animal has an escape route, avoid turning your back or running, and make yourself appear larger to avoid provoking it.
Reptiles, including the alligator and crocodile, are common in South Florida. While alligators are generally not a threat, it’s important to be alert and never feed or approach them unnecessarily. Encountering alligators is inevitable when working in South Florida, making situational awareness crucial. Early in my career, we worked near a canal and parked our truck just off the water’s edge. Suddenly, we heard a deep, whooshing sound- almost like a V8 engine. It turned out to be a protective mother alligator guarding her nest right next to our parking spot. Recognizing the risk, we carefully moved the truck and left the area to avoid disturbing her and her nest. This experience serves as an important reminder to always be mindful of your surroundings, especially near bodies of water.
Similarly, venomous snakes, such as the Water Moccasin and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, pose significant risks. Wearing protective gear like snake chaps and being mindful of your surroundings can reduce the chances of a snake bite. If bitten, seek medical attention immediately, and do not attempt to suck out venom or apply ice.
In the region, we find spiders such as the Black Widow and Brown Recluse. If bitten, it’s important to wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, apply a cold compress, and seek medical attention immediately.
Staying Safe in the Field
The flora and fauna of South Florida create a unique and vibrant ecosystem, but they also pose distinct risks to those working in the field. Knowledge of these biological hazards and proper precautions can ensure safety while navigating these wild areas. Remember to respect the plants and animals you encounter and use the proper protective equipment. By applying these lessons, you can safely engage with one of the most diverse and beautiful natural habitats in the United States.
About the Author: As a Project Professional, Rafael Aberle coordinates and performs site assessment activities, including soil and groundwater sampling. Rafael works across SCS’s southeast regional offices and clients. Rafael’s expertise is in environmental assessments and environmental study projects for municipal and private clients. He also has extensive experience overseeing construction projects, including methane gas management systems. You can reach Rafael at SCS Engineers.
Additional Resources: Health & Safety Training
Each year EBI, Inc. and its award selection committee present Business Achievement Awards in a number of categories to worthy recipients in the environmental and climate change industries. EBI has two business achievement award programs: one for Environmental Business Journal® (EBJ) and one for Climate Change Business Journal® (CCBJ).
The EBJ Technology Merit Award goes to Melissa Russo and the team leading the SCS RMC Drones with GIS program. This RMC program provides landfills and solid waste operations across North America with the technologies to optimize operations and address major challenges. As presented at the U.S. EPA’s recent Landfill Technology Workshop, SCS RMC combines sensors with SCS drone-based technologies and GIS to monitor landfill gas (LFG) emissions and detect leaks, eliminating a significant portion of the manual effort from quarterly compliance while performing operations more safely and accurately. Captured emissions data is useful for optimizing well fields, tackling odor issues, and quantifying emissions for renewable natural gas projects. The secure application enables supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), data management, and can automate regulatory reporting needs. Aerial surface emissions monitoring collects real-time, accurate data, which is critical for operations to keep a wellfield balanced. Data collected can also visualize below-surface conditions for individual wells or well clusters in trouble areas; zoom in to inspect an individual well’s liquid levels, pump locations, surface, subsurface, and perforated piping; and detect which wells need servicing and their impact on emissions. Thermal imagery and a 360-degree camera inspect the structural integrity of landfill flare systems, and a combination of aerial and terrestrial LiDAR imagery creates Building Information Modeling, detailing the physical and functional characteristics of buildings and other assets.
The EBJ Project merit Award goes to SCS Engineers & Grow America for the Casa Ramona remediation work. Grow America and Casa Ramona won a $4.9-million Site-Specific Cleanup Grant. SCS Engineers led the grant application and is the environmental consultant implementing funded restoration efforts. Casa Ramona has served the San Bernardino, California, community for several decades as a community-based non-profit organization. Debris from fire and demolition had left lead and asbestos-containing materials on its proposed site for community services, including childcare and senior housing. With funding under the ECRG grant, SCS performed the priority cleanup activities: removal, packaging, and disposal of lead and asbestos materials and removal of possible asbestos-impacted soil following the South Coast Air Quality Management District Procedure 5. The community can reuse the site for crucial low-income senior housing and a community center. Congratulations to Cristobal Ramirez and his team.
The awards will be presented at the 2025 Environmental Industry Summit in April.
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