Who We Are
Environmental Standards is a National Brownfields award-winning, internationally recognized environmental consulting firm with 12 offices including an office in Wheeling, West Virginia. Our professionals are associated with some of the most successful brownfields projects as recognized by the US EPA. Our brownfields site redevelopment professionals have assisted economic development authorities, municipal clients, and the many Fortune 500 members of our client portfolio to efficiently redevelop properties and maximize investment and return for real estate transactions valued at more than $1 billion.
Our Northern Appalachia Team
Lydia M. Work, LRS, Principal Chemist
Ms. Work has over 25 years of analytical quality assurance experience as well as extensive applied geoscience experience in the area of remediation >>>
Patricia A. Hickman, Senior Advisor
Ms. Hickman has over 30 years of experience in environmental education, compliance, site remediation, site redevelopment, and grant administration >>>
Leah D. Mistick, Project Geoscientist
Ms. Mistick is a Project Geoscientist whose 15 years of professional experience includes the management and performance of Voluntary >>>
John F. Bolakas, MBA, P.G., LSRP, Project Director and Energy Executive
Mr. Bolakas provides energy clients with technical and business expertise. He is a Professional >>>
Kelsey M. Morton, Staff Geoscientist II
Ms. Morton is a Staff Geoscientist II who has experience in groundwater sampling, wetland delineation and invasive species plant identification >>>
Overview
Environmental Standards’ Northern Appalachia Team has long-term success with US EPA Brownfield grants and experience with the unique challenges of industrial sites. We use our experience to be strategic in completing the requirements of the West Virginia Voluntary Remediation Program, Ohio Voluntary Action Program, Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program, remedial planning, grant management, public involvement, and site remediation. We have mutually respectful relationships with state and federal organizations and are familiar with US EPA brownfields reporting procedures, including minority and disadvantaged business/women business enterprise (MBE/WBE) utilization requirements, SF-424 financial reports and drawdown requests, and the US EPA’s ACRES database.
We understand the importance of using strategies that make the best use (and sense) of the flexibility allowed in various environmental programs – with successful remediation and redevelopment the result. We take pride in being a responsive firm, with projects and redevelopments completed on time and within budget. Our Team has direct experience working with public-sector clients on more than $500 million worth of US EPA brownfield grant and related funding projects. All Phase I and, Phase II site assessments are completed to the most current ASTM International standard and the US EPA All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) Regulation (40 CFR 312).
Let the Environmental Standards Northern Appalachia Team work for you:
- Certificates of Completion at impacted properties via the WV VRP
- Served as the lead environmental consultants for the implementation of successful private and public-funded redevelopment in West Virginia valued in the $100Ms.
- Act 2 experience on more than 100 brownfield sites in Pennsylvania.
- Successfully closed (i.e., received a release of liability from PA DEP) more than 70 Act 2 projects.
- Extensive energy sector expertise, including:
- State and federal oil and gas Permitting and compliance in PA, WV, and OH
- Stray gas investigations
- Compliance monitoring
- Environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
- Auditing
- Emergency release responses
Environmental Standards’ Management Team is known for providing energy clients with technical and business expertise, including with their ESG programs. Environmental Standards has accreditation as an independent Equitable Origin (EO) and Methane Intelligence (MiQ) assessment body, helping operators achieve market recognized and certified natural gas.
Case Studies
Upshur County Youth Camp VRP Project – US EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant
Environmental Standards provided Licensed Remediation Specialist and remediation design services at a former disposal area adjacent to the Buckhannon River. Ms. Work, LRS, negotiated remediation changes with >>>
City of Grafton VRP Project – Historic B&O Freight Station
The City of Grafton acquired the Historic B&O Freight Station from CSX Inc. to have a permanent home for the Grafton Farmer’s Market. Originally built in the mid 1880s and is the oldest >>>
City of Wheeling, WV – Brownfields Support and Environmental Consulting Services
The City of Wheeling has repeatedly selected Environmental Standards to provide a broad range of environmental consulting services related to redevelopment and revitalization >>>
Olivette Market Act 2 Closure Project – Emporium Shurfine Food Market
History of the Emporium, PA property included the presence of several aboveground and underground storage tanks (ASTs and USTs) used to store fuel oil and >>>
PA Oil and Gas – Stray Gas Migration Project
When an oil and gas client received notice from the PADEP to investigate a plugged and abandoned (P&A) gas well, Environmental Standards was brought in to perform a >>>