Environmental Consulting Fundamentals

Book excerpt: Written by an environmental consultant with more than 20 years of experience, and based on a course he taught for 10 years, Environmental Consulting Fundamentals: Investigation and Remediation introduces the basic building blocks of environmental consulting. Rather than formulas and equations, it emphasizes the thought processes that go into designing an environmental study, interpreting the data, and selecting the next step—be it further investigation or remediation. The book begins with an overview of environmental consulting, the regulatory structures that impact the work, and the underlying science of environmental processes. It then takes you through the steps of subsurface investigations and remediations, from Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments through to remedial actions. This is followed by an outline of ecological risk assessment and mitigation and a chapter on environmental impact assessments, a large subfield in environment consulting. Moving indoors, the book then covers environmental issues related to buildings, including asbestos, lead-based paint, radon, mold, and indoor air quality. The final chapter describes a typical environmental consulting project, from designing the scope of work to developing a prospective budget and project schedule. Throughout, photographs, illustrations, and examples of environmental problems make the theoretical concepts more concrete. A primer for those interested in a career in this dynamic, multidisciplinary field, this is also a handy reference for practicing consultants. Combining theory and practical advice, it provides an accessible introduction to the type of projects you may encounter as an environmental consultant.