Services

Helping our clients navigate the environmental maze since 1987.

Radon.

There is radon in Texas, and at high levels in densely populated areas. Buying a new home or commissioning a new apartment complex. Contact ESS for radon testing and if applicable reduction options.

Asbestos.

ESS offers comprehensive asbestos operations and management plans from initial inspections to abatement design, contractor selection, oversight, and project clearance testing.

Brownfields.

ESS has assisted the investment community with economic redevelopment for many years. ESS redevelopment projects on Lamar Street in Dallas and adjacent the American Airlines Arena became the first EPA Region 6 Brownfield Model Sites. These were pioneering projects for the TCEQ, formerly TNRCC, to develop Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) standards.

Through the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through competitive grant programs, one of which is the assessment grants. Qualifying Cities may be awarded a Site Characterization and Assessment Grant of generally $200,000. The City is to develop a Brownfield Assessment Pilot (Pilot Project) to inventory, characterize, assess, conduct planning, and foster community involvement. Ultimately the Pilot Project will inventory and rank all of the Brownfield sites within the City and then begin detailed site assessments.

Industrial Hygiene.

Contact ESS regarding assistance with your OSHA VPP program updates and employee health and safety monitoring.

Sample employee exposure assessments include:

Asbestos
Bacteria
COVID-19
Dust
E Coli
Formaldehyde
Hydrogen Sulfide
Lead
Legionella
Mold
MRSA – Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Noise
PFOS – Perfluorooctane sulfonate
PAH
PFAS – Perfluoroalkyl substances
RLU – Relative (Luminescence) Light Units
Semi Vols
Silica
Vinyl Chloride
Volatiles

NEPA.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was enacted during the 1969 Nixon Administration. The act sets requirements for early agency coordination and community involvement. ESS has managed and conducted over 300 such assessments and activities relevant to proposed Transportation, FDIC/RTC, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and TDHCA projects.

NOISE.

ESS routinely works as a team member with leading Engineering Firms during the schematic design of transportation projects to determine potential noise issues. This is included in field studies for field verification of actual conditions and sensitive receptors prepared by hand. Interpretation and experience remain important requirements to evaluate potential issues impacting a client’s site.

FHWA’s TNM model is utilized to evaluate design alternatives, scenario assessments, sound barrier design, community noise studies, and planning assistance.

PHASE 1 ESA.

ESS pioneered Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) beginning in 1988. ESS developing a Phase 1 scope of work for large corporate clients and financial institutions. Database inquiries were requested directly from the EPA and an encrypted Fortran printout was delivered. ESS interpreted the coding and presented the relevant information in table format and ultimately generated the first graphical radius site maps prepared by hand. Today, ESA reports are prepared to current ASTM 1527 Standards or Customer specifications.

Indoor Air Quality

Comprehensive Indoor Air Quality assessments evaluate baseline thermal comfort and air quality levels to Building Industry ASHRAE Standards. Trendlines are evaluated from data logging over time of temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide relative humidity and particle counts by size. Other air quality testing may include Mold, Bacteria, Endotoxins, Mycotoxins, Allergens, Insect parts, Pollens, Legionella, Avian microbes. Other specialized testing may include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), MVOCs, and COVID-19 on surfaces and in air by PCR analysis.