VERTEX supports developers with complex site design, regulatory compliance, and construction demands that arise during the redevelopment of contaminated properties.
Our clients benefit from VERTEX’s remediation services that are tailored to resolve environmental risks responsively, professionally, creatively, and cost-effectively to regulatory closure when possible. Given the broad range of our expertise – from remediation, construction, demolition, and redevelopment – we bring a unique perspective that goes beyond engineering and environmental issues to incorporate all aspects of owning, developing, and operating real estate.
Underground Storage Tank Related Services
VERTEX has worked on thousands of residential, commercial, and industrial tank removals. We also provide emergency spill response, in-compliance tank testing, and/or remediation management. Whether it’s routine compliance work for a permitted tank or if a leaking tank is unexpectedly encountered during construction, VERTEX has the experience and contractor network available to work quickly to address our clients’ needs.
Subsurface and Waste Assessment
The site characterization and investigation process often drives the entire evaluation and remedial progression at a site and can affect site management for years into the future. For this reason, VERTEX has extensive experience in managing the investigation and construction processes in a manner that maximizes the control of the overall scientific and regulatory process. Our engineers and scientists are experts in the management of site investigations under various state and federal programs. Depending on regulatory and site conditions, VERTEX scientists and engineers use a variety of strategies to help minimize unnecessary data collection and sampling. We also incorporate phased approaches to ensure that investigations remain focused and cost-effective.
Demolition Support
As a key team member at the start of a development project, VERTEX is able to assist our clients with the regulatory, logistical, and technical challenges of demolishing buildings containing regulated materials. We augment our core asbestos, lead paint, and mold assessment and abatement oversight experience with a deep understanding of the complicated regulatory structure related to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) containing building materials. VERTEX has successfully negotiated PCB Remedial Action Plans with USEPA that meet the stringent regulatory requirements of TSCA while still advocating for our client’s business interests in the project. VERTEX also works with clients to promote the cost-effective and beneficial reuse of demolition materials as fill material in accordance with state and local laws.
Vapor Mitigation Design and Implementation
The installation of building vapor mitigation systems in areas of volatile contamination is becoming increasingly common as more states continue to adopt and refine their indoor air protection regulations. Even in the absence of regulation, the installation of a chemically-resistant vapor barrier with or without a sub-slab depressurization system can be a cost-effective risk management tool to protect site users. VERTEX’s engineers have extensive experience in evaluating, designing, and implementing the construction of these systems either as a retrofit installation or incorporated into new building design. We work directly with project civil and structural engineers to provide stamped engineering drawings and specifications. This allows systems to be integrated into construction bid documents at the beginning of the project and installed concurrently with the building utilities with minimal impact on the project schedule.
Third-Party Management Services
VERTEX assists clients during the development and construction process by providing third-party management of environmental contractors from investigation through design and remediation. Additionally, VERTEX can provide invoice/change order reviews as well as design reviews as needed.
Remedial Design and Construction
As an industry leader, VERTEX routinely performs risk assessments, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, agency negotiations, design, construction, and implementation of remedial systems, and operation and maintenance of these systems. Our engineers use many different technologies, including excavation and dewatering, pump and treat, oxidation, vacuum extraction, bioremediation, solidification/stabilization, low-temperature thermal extraction, soil washing, air stripping, capping, and vaulting. VERTEX works closely with clients to achieve the most efficient and best possible result at their contaminated sites.
Risk Assessment
Nearly every remediation project culminates with a human health and/or ecological risk assessment to achieve regulatory closure. At VERTEX, we continually keep the risk assessment goals of a project in sight to streamline the remedial response actions required to achieve closure. This approach often results in significant cost reduction through efficient project management. Our risk assessors possess the expertise necessary to address risk assessment issues under USEPA and state regulations.
