environmental consulting

September 13, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting
EPA anticipates awarding a total of 73 Cleanup Grants for an estimated $60 million. Fund your Brownfields projects.

 

The FY 2023 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grant Guidelines are now available (go to Open Solicitations). The application submission deadline is November 22, 2022.

Please see the link below for Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Application Resources: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/multipurpose-assessment-rlf-and-cleanup-marc-grant-application-resources#Open%20Solicitations

From the official guidance:

  • Brownfields Cleanup Grants
    • Cleanup Grants provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the applicant. An applicant may only submit ONE Cleanup Grant application in the FY23 competition cycle.
    • FUNDING/AWARDS: EPA anticipates awarding a total estimated 73 Cleanup Grants for an estimated total of $60 million
      • Up to $500,000 to clean up one brownfield site or to allocate up to $500,000 among multiple sites;
      • Between $500,001 and $1,000,000 to clean up one brownfield site or to allocate among multiple sites; or
      • Between $1,000,001 and $2,000,000 to clean up one brownfield site or to allocate among multiple sites.
  • Brownfields Assessment Grants
    • Assessment Grants provide funding for developing inventories of brownfield sites, prioritizing sites, conducting community involvement activities, conducting planning, conducting site assessments4, developing site-specific cleanup plans, and developing reuse plans related to brownfield sites. A portion of the Assessment Grant funding must be used to conduct site assessments. Assessment Grant funds may not be used to conduct cleanup activities.
    • Coalition Assessment Grants
      • FUNDING/AWARDS: EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 20 Assessment Coalition Grants for an estimated total of $20 million
    • Community-Wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes
      • FUNDING/AWARDS: EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 17 Community-wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes for an estimated total of $35 million
    • Community-Wide Assessment Grants
      • FUNDING/AWARDS: EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 61 Community-wide Assessment Grants for an  estimated total of $30.5 million
  • Brownfields Multipurpose Grants
    • A Multipurpose Grant is appropriate for communities that have identified, through community engagement efforts, a discrete area (such as a neighborhood, a number of neighboring towns, a district, a corridor, a shared planning area, or a census tract) with one or more brownfield sites. Multipurpose Grants provide funding to carry out a range of eligible assessment and cleanup activities, including planning and additional community engagement activities. Applicants can apply for funding up to $800,000 per grant under this solicitation.
    • FUNDING/AWARDS: EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 17 Multipurpose Grants for an estimated $800,000 per grant
  • Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants
    • Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants provide funding to a grant recipient to capitalize an RLF program. RLF programs provide loans and subgrants to eligible entities to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites contaminated with hazardous substances4  and/or petroleum5. Site eligibility will be determined by EPA after grant award and prior to expending grant funds at any site. Sites where hazardous substances and petroleum contamination are distinguishable must meet eligibility requirements for both contaminants.
    • FUNDING/AWARDS: EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 10 RLF Grants for an estimated total of $10 million

 

SCS Engineers has a successful track record supporting communities interested in land recycling and obtaining EPA MARC Brownfields grants. Please visit our website for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 2:41 pm

September 12, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting

 

On Friday, September 9, SCS attended a meeting with CCLR and the State of Arizona on Land Reuse Grants.  CCLR’s Ignacio Dayrit said that the guidance for EPA’s MARC Brownfields grants is expected to be released this week, opening the 60-day application period. If you plan to speak to any communities/non-profits about grant applications, now is the time to reach out to them.  EPA Brownfield grants are often a significant funding source for assessing and cleaning sites with potential environmental contamination. This year, historical funding levels from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) mean more grants and significantly larger awards, making it a good investment to apply.

Although this information is subject to change before the guidance is finalized, here are the anticipated funding details:

  • Multipurpose
    • Activities: inventory, assessment, cleanup and redevelopment planning for one or more sites
    • Ownership: applicant must own site(s) for cleanup
    • Funding: up to $1M
  • Assessment
    • Activities: inventory, environmental site assessments, community engagement, cleanup planning and cost estimates, market evaluation, infrastructure and land use assessment, site design, transportation and streetscape studies
    • Funding: Coalitions up to $1M; State-led up to $2M; Communitywide up to $500k
  • Revolving Loan Fund
    • Activities: provides loans and subgrants to carry out the cleanup of brownfields sites
    • Funding: up 10 $1M, match requirement waived for FY 23
  • Cleanup
    • Activities: site cleanup, reuse planning, community involvement, regulatory oversight fees
    • Ownership: applicant must own site(s)
    • Funding: up to $500k for one or more sites within one application and only one proposal per applicant per year

 

SCS Engineers has a successful track record supporting communities interested in land recycling and obtaining EPA MARC Brownfields grants. Please visit our website for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am

July 18, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting
SCS Engineers’ team coordination with our clients and full service helps increase efficiencies in our work.

 

Engineering News Report’s Top 500 Environmental Sourcebook was published today.  SCS continues to rank #1 in Solid Waste services and top-tier rankings in Sewer & Waste, Hazardous Waste, Chemical & Soil Remediation, and Site Assessment & Compliance.

ENR is one of the premier companies tracking the A&E industry, and these rankings are closely followed as they publish throughout the year. The ENR Top 500 Design Sourcebook, which publishes annually in April, also ranks SCS Engineers among the top 100 of 500 global design-engineering firms at #59.

 

We thank our clients and our employee-owners for helping SCS continue to rank as an ENR Top 500 environmental services engineering, consulting, and construction firm.

 

Climate change and reducing our nation’s carbon footprint are important challenges facing our planet. SCS Engineers remains a leader in recovering and utilizing methane from landfills, a potent greenhouse gas. In the last two decades, we’ve expanded our role to include the utilization of biogas from agriculture, carbon sequestration, management of other greenhouse gas, and environmental impacts for multiple sectors while reducing methane production in landfills by diverting organics.

SCS designs and supports innovative environmental solutions with our in-house award-winning technologies to help our clients. With more data and control available 24/7, our clients can make more informed decisions, operate more efficiently, running cleaner and safer while delivering essential services, products, and properties.  As employee-owners, we aim to seek the most efficient and clean operations for our clients, who are responsible for delivering essential services and supporting our nation’s economy.

Our environmental work is ongoing with many new exciting ways to support our clients and communities; it’s rewarding to share this recognition with our thanks to you.

 

Join SCS Engineers!

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:02 am

July 14, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting

Governor Pete Ricketts has recently made appointments to fill Nebraska’s boards and commissions, including Michael J. Miller to the Governor’s Council to Keep Nebraska Beautiful (KNB). This is Miller’s third term on the nonprofit’s Board of Directors.

Mike Miller is a Vice President and Project Director in SCS Engineers’ Omaha, Nebraska office. As an environmental due diligence expert, he provides environmental management and consulting to the private and federal sectors. These services help municipalities, businesses, and industries operate efficiently and cleanly. He develops and implements environmental health & safety programs and solutions at industrial facilities in the agricultural processing, chemical processing, distribution/transportation, metals, and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors.

An avid outdoorsman, Mike is a big fan of the School Chemical Clean-Out program and is impressed that KNB has affected projects at hundreds of schools. There is a big need for technical and financial support, and this program provides both for schools large and small, urban and rural, public and private.

Miller has this to say about getting his start on the Keep Nebraska Beautiful Council in 2013,

A landfill client of mine got me involved with KNB through its annual golf event. As an environmental consultant to the solid waste sector, I was very impressed by and supportive of his and his company’s support of KNB and the Mission to ‘take actions to improve and beautify our communities’ to promote healthy environments to live, work, and play within.

Nebraska is making great strides toward cleaner, greener, and more beautiful places to live through Keep Nebraska Beautiful. The nonprofit coordinates events in the State of Nebraska, such as the Great American Cleanup, America Recycles Day, Recycle Bowl, and National Planting Day. This effective community partnership includes representation from the public, private, and civic sectors.

Over the years, local affiliates throughout the state have joined Keep Nebraska Beautiful as Keep America Beautiful affiliates. These include educational and community-improvement programs addressing local needs such as litter awareness, cleanups, beautification, reuse and recycling programs, and neighborhood revitalization.

Successful organizations like these are sustainable through the generous support of their members and supporters like Mike Miller and you. Join in, or see what’s happening in your community.

 

We’re proud of Mike and all the staff at SCS Engineers who serve our communities and clients.

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am

July 5, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting

 

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST SCS ENGINEERS STAFF!

 

Congratulations on joining SCS Engineers! You’ll work on projects alongside our employees and management in the next months. Jump in, ask questions, and take advantage of working with some of the finest environmental engineers, geologists, scientists, and consultants in the U.S.  You are now part of a national team solving some of the most challenging problems for our planet and our society. You’ve got the smarts and the desire, and we’re here to help build your skills.

Best wishes from your colleagues!

 

If you are interested in making a difference, find your fit here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am

June 10, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting
Stormwater treatment systems help scrap metal recycling facilities mitigate and avoid corrective actions.

 

Scrap facilities’ stormwater permits incorporate strict sampling requirements, numeric limits (generally referred to as benchmarks, numeric action levels, or numeric effluent limits), and mandated corrective actions. Furthermore, facilities face emerging challenges with increased regulatory scrutiny within environmental justice communities and communities implementing new stormwater utilities. Good planning can ease the operational, maintenance, and reporting requirements and provide positive results for your facility’s relationship with local communities and regulators.

If your facility is facing scrutiny or requires additional best management practices (BMPs) to meet stormwater permit requirements, follow this simple stepped approach:

  • Walk the site and identify:
    • Where flows and drainage pathway issues exist (e.g., ponding areas, flow paths that lead to stockpiles or key operational areas);
    • Where fluff or sediment may accumulate;
    • The presence of discoloration of soils or pavements;
    • Where potential wetlands or other areas that should be avoided; and
    • Areas where additional stormwater BMPs may be incorporated without interfering with site operations or environmentally sensitive areas.
  • Improve water flow through problem areas, including re-grading areas to promote gravity flow or incorporate pumped conveyance systems.
  • Incorporate stormwater treatment systems.
    • There are many options for treating runoff, including pre-treatment devices, stormwater basins, biofilters, media filters/filtration systems, enhanced vaults, treatment trains, and proprietary systems.
    • Each site need is different, but a typical approach might consider a BMP that prioritizes 1) removing solids, 2) removing oil, 3) providing reserve area for future additional treatment if needed (i.e., dissolved metals, PFAS, PCBs, etc.),
    • Where regulations allow, consider constraining treatment capacity to manage the “first-flush” of potential pollutants to optimize the treatment system and reduce the footprint needed, thereby reducing potential impacts on operations.

Good planning and design create effective conveyance and treatment systems that improve stormwater quality and help you meet benchmark requirements. Proactive measures to plan for stormwater treatment systems will help existing scrap metal recycling facilities address corrective action and avoid Additional Implementation Measure (AIM) levels based on their benchmark monitoring results.

 


 

Need assistance with managing stormwater runoff at your scrap facility? Contact our Author, Scott Knoepke, to set up a meeting at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ 2022 Safety and Environmental Conference.  Or reach out anytime; SCS’s environmental professionals are nationwide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am

June 9, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting

 

The construction cranes dotting suburban and urban areas indicate many cities’ new residential, office, and commercial building developments. Mixed-use development continues rising in popularity; the pandemic accelerated a swing already in motion. But there are other factors at play here, and one may surprise you. Today, our blog discusses these two factors and how brownfield redevelopment can play a role in addressing both.

 

One: Sustainability

According to Architecture 2030, a non-profit, non-partisan organization established to transform the building sector away from being a major emitter of greenhouse gases, there is work to do. As with almost all industry segments, tracking and reducing their carbon footprint is considered an essential element of doing business. It’s important to Americans and shareholders.

Brownfield redevelopment presents adaptive reuse of existing buildings and properties and is a sustainable form of construction. Completing the due diligence and environmental studies associated with redevelopment shows brownfields can provide cost benefits from a development perspective and in excellent locations with existing infrastructure. The conversion of existing land or buildings, as opposed to new-build construction, is far more environmentally sustainable.

An EPA 2020 study examines and reports the environmental benefits that continue accruing when brownfield sites are redevelopment. The study finds that accomodating housing and job growth decreases the need for more roads and reduces emissions from commuting.

As population density increases, real estate prices continue to rise, and less land is available, mixed-use development is an economical choice for developers. It is also one of the best-case scenarios for end-users because it prioritizes practicality and sustainability. Many potential sites exist in desirable locations or emerging areas. They should be available below market value and may have been on the market for a long time. The development of Comm-22 is a great example of a mixed-use community. Businesses find brownfields attractive options because they are closer to their customers – good for business and the environment.

 

Two: Grant Programs and Offsetting Expenses

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has grant programs that can pay for the assessment and cleanup of brownfields, but these programs are only available to governmental and non-profit organizations. However, a private entity may be able to team with these eligible parties. The bipartisan Congressional action has delivered the single-largest investment in U.S. brownfields infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests more than $1.5 billion through EPA’s highly successful Brownfields Program.

In addition, grants are available from some state agencies and the private sector through EPA regional programs – these are most often found within the transportation sector. Your environmental engineer or consultant can help you find funding; the firms with comprehensive environmental services keep watch as substantial federal infrastructure funding trickles down to the states in 2022 and next year. Note that each grant program will have its eligibility criteria, but many of these are designated for mixed-use developments supporting

Obtaining a grant or loan with the help of a qualified environmental consultant or an environmental attorney can be the difference in acquiring, cleaning up, and redeveloping a property. The grants don’t typically cover all the costs associated with the necessary cleanups, but they can cover most of these costs.

A new property owner can obtain an environmental insurance policy to cover cleanup requirements, third-party claims for bodily injury and property damage, and associated legal expenses resulting from pollution or contamination. These insurance policies are available with various term lengths and deductible amounts to satisfy the concerns of lenders or equity investors.

Other solutions include “insurance archaeology” to find old insurance policies that may have coverage for “pollution conditions.”  

 

Comprehensive Environmental Support Keeps Redevelopment on Track

Mixed-use development provides a healthy, safe place to work, play, and live along with job creation. The most important risk management strategy is to keep the project on schedule. Your environmental engineer and consultant have a thorough understanding of the environmental issues on the site and how those issues can impact your redevelopment plans and bottom line. It is critical to have environmental and legal support experienced in identifying, anticipating, and managing risks on brownfields.

SCS evaluates brownfields by performing a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) first to study historic site information and previous uses. SCS will perform a Phase II study if the Phase I ESA identifies potential issues (known as Recognized Environmental Conditions). Phase II includes collecting and analyzing samples (i.e., soil, soil vapor, and groundwater) to assess whether environmental impacts are present. If enough sampling is completed, the extent of the impacts can be estimated.

SCS Engineers has a long and successful track record with brownfields projects. Our clients appreciate the security of having comprehensive and experienced professionals who lower their risk keeping projects on schedule, safely remediating in-situ that lowers greenhouse gas emissions and can provide cost savings.

With proper planning and the help of a qualified environmental consultant, the mitigation or remediation of impacts can be incorporated into the acquisition and development processes and result in a vibrant, profitable project that is protective of human health and the environment.

 

Learn more about mixed used development, affordable housing, and the multitude of uses Brownfields open up by speaking with the SCS experts at the 2022 National Brownfields Conference and the 2022 California Land Recycling Conference.

 

About the Author: Luke Montague is a Vice President of SCS Engineers and a Project Director. He is a Professional Geologist and licensed contractor with two decades of experience in environmental consulting, general contracting, commercial and residential development, and property and asset management. He has performed and reviewed hundreds of Phase I environmental site assessments (ESAs), and has completed subsurface investigations, human health risk assessments, removal action work plans, site remediation activities, geotechnical investigations, asbestos and lead-based paint surveys, and asbestos air monitoring.

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am

May 17, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting
Welcome to SCS Engineers Arizona! We’re excited to have more employee-owners serving our clients.

 

SCS Engineers is expanding its Phoenix, Arizona, office to meet the growing demand for sustainable environmental consulting and engineering. Recent employee-owners joining the firm are pictured upper left to right, including Samantha Montgomery, a technical associate; Mike Bradford, senior professional engineer; Cynthia Neitzel, a professional engineer; and Taylor Goins, field services working as part of SCS’s comprehensive team.

Montgomery’s focus is to prepare monthly, semi-annual, and annual greenhouse gas reports, along with processing and analyzing the data associated with those reports. She specializes in air quality compliance and permitting, particularly for landfills.

Bradford brings more than 20 years of experience in civil engineering and project management. He has been the principal engineer and engineer of record for a wide range of public and private sector capital projects in Arizona and across the country for solid waste landfills and other public works civil projects.

As a landfill project manager focusing on landfill gas collection and control systems and compliance reporting, Neitzel brings more than 20 years of experience. She has a background in landfill design, construction quality assurance, and air quality permitting and compliance.

Goins provides clients with landfill gas monitoring and other related environmental monitoring services, helping them reduce operational costs and protect air quality. He also operates and maintains other environmental pollution control systems.

“Mike and Cynthia bring invaluable experience creating and overseeing environmental solutions for municipalities and businesses, which provide essential services in our region,” said Pat Sullivan, senior vice president of SCS Engineers. “They, along with the rest of the team, join SCS to serve our clients who are actively seeking to protect public health and the environment as part of doing business, whether that’s remediating property, operating a landfill, lowering their carbon footprint, or running a fuel station.

 

Welcome to SCS Engineers! Award-winning sustainable environmental consulting and engineering.

 

SCS Engineers’ environmental solutions and technology directly result from our experience and dedication to our clients responsible for safeguarding the environment as they deliver their services and products. For more information about joining this remarkable national firm, please visit SCS Engineers Careers.

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am

May 5, 2022

SCS Engineers Environmental Consulting and Contracting

 

Engineering News Report publishes the ENR Top 500 List, which ranks global design/engineering firms by revenue. SCS Engineers again ranks in the top 100, moving up this year from #73 to #59. We thank our clients and our employee-owners for helping SCS continue to rank as a top-tier environmental services engineering, consultanting, and construction firm.

ENR is one of the premier companies tracking the A&E industry, and these rankings are closely followed as they publish throughout the year. SCS Engineers is also recognized in the Sewer & Waste List of Top 20 companies globally, ranking at #5, up from #10 the previous year.

Climate change and reducing our nation’s carbon footprint are important challenges facing our planet. SCS Engineers remains a leader in recovering and utilizing methane from landfills, a potent greenhouse gas. In the last decade, we’ve been expanding our role to include more utilization of biogas from agriculture, carbon sequestration, management of other greenhouse gas and environmental impacts for multiple sectors while reducing methane production in landfills by diverting organics.

SCS designs and supports innovative environmental solutions with our in-house award-winning technologies to help our clients. With more data and control available 24/7, our clients can make more informed decisions, operate more efficiently, running cleaner and safer while delivering essential services, products, and properties.

 

Our environmental work is never done, and it’s nice to share this ENR Top 500 recognition with our thanks to you.

 

scsengineers.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am

April 29, 2022

growing green careers in scs engineers environmental services

 

If you thrive in a friendly, collaborative, and client-focused company, SCS Engineers is the place for you, and we’re growing! We’re looking for field technicians to work collaboratively on our Field Services teams nationwide. Specific information is posted for each open position. Use our job search to find your desired location.

Under general supervision, our technicians operate, monitor, and maintain gas migration control and recovery systems, including gas well monitoring and adjustment, troubleshooting, and system repairs. These systems capture emissions that keep our planet cleaner. SCS clients entrust us with the management of more than 35 million metric tons of anthropogenic CO2e greenhouse gases every year. We collect and beneficially use or destroy enough to offset greenhouse gas emissions from 7.4 million passenger cars annually.

 

Growing Positions at SCS Engineers

 

Become one of the growing engineers, consultants, scientists, and technicians helping private and public entities run cleaner and more efficiently. A very rewarding place to have a career!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am
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