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If you need a consulting firm to investigate and/or clean up petroleum or other hazardous substances, this page is for you...
Investigating and cleaning up a release of
petroleum or other hazardous substances can
be expensive. Selecting an unqualified or
inexperienced environmental consultant to do
the work, however, may end up costing even
more.
Asking questions and checking references is
essential. A competent consultant will help
you define the problem and develop solutions
that are protective, in compliance with
environmental regulations, and cost-effective.
Your consulting team should have:
- A thorough understanding of Alaska’s
environmental cleanup regulations, related
laws, and guidance documents.
- Experience in projects that are similar to
yours in scope and nature.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral
and written.
1....Where to Begin
After a hazardous substance discharge is
discovered and reported (see Reporting a Spill), the first step is to
compile all the information you can about the
property, including the history of operations
at the site, potential sources of contamination,
and any company or personal records on
where and how hazardous substances have
been used or stored.
Prepare a brief, written description of the site,
including current use, the problem as you
understand it, and the potential work that may
need to be done. Providing as much
information as you can will enable consulting
firms to give you more consistent and
accurate estimates. This can save you time
and money!
2...Initial Contacts
Next, put together a list of companies that
perform contaminated site characterization or
cleanup work in that area. Companies can be
found in the yellow pages under headings
such as “Engineers - Environmental,” or “Environmental and Ecological Services.”
A search of the internet can also be useful, using the same terms and entering the name of the city. Contact several of the companies and inquire
about their experience, training, fees, and
insurance coverage to determine which
company best suits your needs.
The firm you select should demonstrate that it
is capable and has qualified staff on board
who will be available when you want the
work done.
Ask the consulting firm to estimate the time
needed to complete the work required and
how they might phase the work to fit your
budget and your plans for the site. Keep in
mind that environmental investigations often
turn up new information that may change the
scope, adding both cost and time to the
project.
3...Questions to Ask Prospective Consultants
- What projects have they managed in the
past? How similar are the projects to
yours?
- Are they qualified to do the full scope of
work you require, or would they need to
team with another company?
- Who serves as their subcontractors for
services such as excavation, monitoring well
installation, laboratory, or other
services?
- Who would manage your project?
- What is their experience in working with
DEC or other regulating agencies, and do
their site work staff meet DEC's
requirements for “qualified persons?” (see Qualified Persons page)
- What potential impact will your project
have on customers, neighbors, or traffic?
4...Check References!
Checking references is probably the most
important part of the selection process. Before
choosing a consulting firm, it is critical to talk
with businesses the firm cites as references.
Some questions you may want to ask include:
- Were you satisfied with your consultant’s
work?
- Did you have any concerns about the
firm’s performance or fees?
- What specific staff members were on your
team?
- Was your project completed on time and
within budget?
- Did you encounter any unexpected delays
or staff turnover? If so, were these
handled to your satisfaction?
- Did the firm have to “re-do” any part of
your project because it wasn’t done
adequately the first time?
5...Last Step: Request Proposals
After your discussions with prospective
consultants, re-visit your project summary
and refine what services you believe you
require. Using that as a basis, ask for
proposals from firms or individuals that you
believe will best meet your needs.
Proposals you review should include a scope
of work, staff resumes, an estimated work
schedule, anticipated costs and related fees,
estimated total project cost with an itemized
fee schedule, and references.
For some small projects, such as a Phase I
Environmental Site Assessment, the
consultant may provide only a lump-sum
amount. You must decide if you are
comfortable with the level of detail provided
and the total cost—don’t be afraid to request
additional information if you have any
questions about the cost!
Make sure the estimated work schedule also
includes time for DEC review and approval.
Here are some things to watch out for in
reviewing proposals:
- Bids significantly lower than those of
competing firms.
- “Hard sell” approaches.
- Minimizing or maximizing potential
technical or legal problems.
- Strong biases toward or against certain
investigation techniques or cleanup
alternatives.
- Conflicts of interest, and
- Overly optimistic timelines.
- Interviewing prospective consultants,
checking their references, and reviewing their
proposals will help you make an informed
decision about which consultant to hire for
your project.
For more information
DEC’s Contaminated Sites Program:
Anchorage: 907-269-7503 / Kenai: 907-262-5210
Fairbanks: 907- 451-2153 / Juneau: 907-465-5390
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