After soil and groundwater impact have been fully delineated and all risks to human health and the environment have been evaluated, the next step to getting a Certificate of Completion or No Further Action (NFA) status for your site is to confirm that any impact to the groundwater is decreasing or stable in concentration, and …
A New Definition for Waters of the United States
On December 11, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of the Army (Army) proposed a revised definition for “waters of the United States.” The government first issued the final rule in 2015, but that was soon updated, in November 2015. Why is this new definition so significant? It affects which waters fall …
Industrial Hygiene 101
To protect the health and safety of employees and the surrounding community, many businesses must invest in industrial hygiene. What is industrial hygiene? According to the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), it is “a science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, prevention, and control of those environmental factors or stresses arising in or …
High-Resolution Site Characterization
The term “high-resolution site characterization” has recently become a buzz phrase in the world of site characterization, clean up, and remediation. But what is it? The technical definition is “the use of scale-appropriate measurement and sample density to define contaminant distribution and the physical environment they exist in, with greater certainty, supporting faster and more …
Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys
Do you know if threatened species, endangered species, or critical habitats are present at your project site? You may need to schedule Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys to scope out the situation and ensure that you comply with the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Passed by Congress in 1973, the ESA aims to prevent the extinction of …
EWI Presents at MWCC Environmental Conference 2018
On July 17, 2018, EWI Senior Project Manager Bobbilynne Koepke and Drilling Services Manager Daniel Yoakum presented at the Missouri Waste Control Coalition (MWCC) Environmental Conference at Tan-Tar-A Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks. The MWCC Environmental Conference is held annually to help bring together citizens, regulators, business members, and industry professionals to discuss …
EPA e-Manifest System to Launch June 30th
June 29, 2018 US EPA has announced the e-Manifest System will be launched on June 30th. This system promises to change the way we manage not only manifests for shipments, but also all information related to the generation, treatment, transportation, and disposal of hazardous wastes. However, at this time significant components of the system remain …
Construction Near A Wetland 101
Wetlands provide valuable habitat for plant and animal communities, and they serve as a natural filter for water flowing into water bodies and groundwater. They can also act as a buffer during storm events, helping to soak up heavy precipitation or rising water levels to prevent flooding and erosion.
History of the Clean Water Act
Our nation’s commitment to protect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of our waters began in 1899 with the Rivers and Harbors Act. It furthered in 1948 with the establishment of the Federal Pollution Control Act and then transformed into the Clean Water Act in the 1970s. In the past few decades, the Clean Water …
SPCC Inspection Requirements
Your SPCC Plan details what your facility will do in the event of an oil spill. Within it, you must demonstrate that you’re prepared for such an incident by describing your facility’s oil handling operations, spill prevention practices, discharge/drainage controls, and all of the personnel and equipment used to prevent oil spills. You must also …
