WEM provides consulting and hydrogeological services to engineers, municipalities, lending institutions, law firms, realty agencies, residential and commercial property owners, and general industry throughout Vermont and eastern New York. A list of common services provided by WEM is shown below. Many of these services are provided using a team of professionals overseen by WEM. Subcontracted services include drilling, laboratory testing, geotechnical testing, excavation, and waste disposal.
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
Brownfield Redevelopment
Underground Storage Tank Closures
Groundwater and Soil Remediation
Environmental Hydrogeology
Groundwater Monitoring
Low Flow Sampling
Drinking Water Quality Testing
Water Source Development
Source Protection Planning
Aquifer Testing
Surface Water Testing / Lake Studies
Soil Logging and Classification
Soil Quality Testing
Air Quality Testing
Land Development and Subdivision Permitting
Wastewater System Design
Potable Water System Design
Site and Soil Evaluations
Site Capacity Analysis
Site Plan Surveying
GIS Mapping
Geological Mapping
Groundwater Modeling
Geothermal Planning and Design
Stormwater Permit Assistance
Hazardous Waste Disposal Consulting
Spill Prevention Planning
Litigation Support
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
WEM conducts Phase I ESAs in accordance with the Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process (ASTM E 1527-05). The ESAs involve conducting a field reconnaissance, interviewing landowner(s), conducting a database search to assess potential onsite & offsite contaminant threats, reviewing state files related to previously conducted environmental work, and reviewing land records at the municipal offices to understand the land use history. The objective of the Phase I is to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) in order to satisfy the “all appropriate inquiry” requirement for due diligence.
Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
If merited by the Phase I or required to assess the conditions after a release of hazardous material to the environment, WEM will conduct a Phase II ESA. This work follows the general procedural guidance from the Standard Guide for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Process (ASTM E 1903) as well as the Vermont DEC’s “Site Investigation Guidance”. WEM works with the client to prepare a work scope that is tailored to individual site needs. Elements of a typical Phase II ESA include soil testing, soil boring/monitoring well installation, groundwater testing, and evaluation of sensitive receptors (indoor air space, potable water supplies, etc.). WEM has the capacity to subcontract services for testing of mold, asbestos, and lead paint.
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Brownfield Redevelopment
Brownfields are contaminated properties that have been abandoned or are under utilized. WEM provides the services necessary to assess, remediate, and manage risks to allow for redevelopment while minimizing liability to the property owner/developer. Brownfield assessments involve the Phase I/II work described above, but with additional requirements for data acquisition, quality control/assurance, and community involvement. Because these assessments are typically funded by EPA grant money funneled through a planning commission or municipal entity, WEM works in close conjunction with the property owner/developer, the funding agency, the EPA, and the Vermont DEC.
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Underground Storage Tank Closures
WEM works with commercial and residential property owners to assess environmental conditions during the removal or replacement of USTs. In addition to conducting the sub-tank soil assessment and filing the report required by Vermont regulations, WEM can also work as the general contractor and line up the appropriate subcontractor services (excavator, waste disposal, tank disposal). WEM works closely with clients to ensure that applicable costs are reimbursed by Vermont’s Petroleum Cleanup Fund.
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Environmental Hydrogeology
WEM performs a wide range of hydrogeological evaluations that involve contaminated groundwater and clean groundwater. Groundwater Monitoring is conducted in accordance with State protocols to evaluate seasonal high water table as part of the wastewater permitting process. WEM more commonly conducts Groundwater Monitoring, including Low Flow Sampling, at a wide variety of contaminated sites with testing for a wide range of organic, inorganic, and microbial parameters. WEM also performs Drinking Water Quality Testing for commercial and residential clients, including sampling of water treatment systems.
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Aquifer Testing and Water System Permitting
WEM has experience in conducting aquifer pump tests to determine aquifer parameters and long-term yield for projects requiring Water Source Development. Clients range from single-family residences to public community water systems. If required, WEM will coordinate and oversee a constant discharge pump test in accordance with Vermont standards. This involves pumping the well at a constant rate for a specified time and then conducting interference monitoring within a specified radius of the well. WEM works with water system owners and operators through all aspects of the permitting system, including the preparation of Source Protection Plans, DBP Sampling Plans, Bacteriological Sampling Plans, and Operation and Maintenance Manuals.
Geothermal Planning & Design
WEM has professional training in the design and planning of geothermal and ground source heating systems. For larger commercial systems, WEM can work with HVAC contractors, mechanical engineers, and well drilling contractors to assist in the feasibility and peformance testing for Open Loop and Standing Column systems. Hydrogeological services include performing well drawdown tests to evaluate depth and spacing of wells, downhole temperature monitoring, water quality testing to evaluate scaling potential, and state and federal permitting if required. WEM can also perform fracture trace analysis, bedrock geology review, and well log review to best determine where to site a geothermal well field. For large Closed Loop systems, WEM can coordinate and oversee the thermal conductivity testing, borehole field design and installation, and loop contracting.
Air Quality Testing
WEM conducts indoor air quality and soil vapor testing in several manners: air screening using a photo-ionization detector, air sampling using a pump and glass sorbent trap, and air sampling using a stainless steel air canister with flow controller. The contaminants most commonly tested are volatiles stemming from petroleum or solvent leaks, but WEM also has assisted clients in testing for mold, asbestos, and radon gas.
Land Development and Subdivision Permitting
WEM has worked with dozens of clients all over the State in evaluating land development and subdivision opportunities. Work typically starts with Site and Soil Evaluations, which involves excavating test pits and percolation testing to classify soil properties and water table conditions, with the objective of evaluating Site Capacity and compliance with State guidelines. This is commonly followed by State and local permitting, which includes Wastewater System Design, Potable Water System Design, topographical and Site Plan Surveying. WEM also has experience in the realm of Act 250 permitting.
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