Position Summary: The Senior Wetland/Aquatic Scientist will lead wetland delineations and aquatic resource assessments in compliance with applicable regulations. This position requires expertise in wetland and stream ecology, permitting, and regulatory compliance. The selected candidate will manage projects, oversee junior staff, and support business development efforts. The role requires strong leadership and technical skills to
- Published in Environmental Consulting
This story cannot be told without giving proper respect to what started me down this rabbit hole. Strong Towns is a book I just read, after watching their YouTube channel for about 18 months. To be fair, Not Just Bikes, City Nerd and City Beautiful had a big impact too. The premise of the book
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Introduction Hello again to the elected officials of the City of Blue Island. You may remember me from my time at the podium of your December 17th 2024 board meeting. I’m Tim Allen, in Business Development for A3 Environmental Consultants, a woman owned environmental consultancy in Lisle, Illinois. We’ve been working in Chicagoland for 24
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A AAI (All Appropriate Inquiries): The process of evaluating a property’s environmental conditions and assessing potential contamination to satisfy legal protections under CERCLA. ACM (Asbestos Containing Material): Materials containing more than 1% asbestos, which can pose health risks if disturbed. AST (Aboveground Storage Tank): A tank used to store liquids above the ground. ASTM (American
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Project Overview This Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) project, designated under IDOT Job No. D-91-442-20, focuses on assessing potential subsurface contamination across sections of McConner Parkway in Schaumburg, Illinois. The investigation, covering areas between Meacham Road and Golf Road, seeks to evaluate recognized environmental conditions (RECs) that may impact the construction timeline and worker safety. Weston
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I’ve volunteered to head up a American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) Standard committee regarding Wetland Screens. Part of the process is to explain why I think the standard is necessary. This is my attempt to explain my thoughts. In the due diligence phase of a property transaction, assessing the buildability of a
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Commercial lenders who rely on Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) will inevitably face the challenge of determining whether they can trust the work presented by an environmental consultant. Trust in these reports is critical, as the findings directly impact the lender’s risk assessment and decision-making process. There are several reasons why a lender might
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or as we call them, drones, are finding their way into engineering applications. The price to fly (use) these machines is coming down and ideas about how they can be incorporated into the work we do is rising. At A3 Environmental Consultants, we find ourselves in the curious position of both
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The latest technology which is seeking applications in every industry is that of what is commonly known as “drones“. We call them “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” or UAV’s for short. A3 Environmental Consultants recognizes the need to keep up with what our engineering and government agency clients are looking for. To that end, we have partnered
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
College of DuPage is a public community college with its main campus in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The college also owns and operates satellite campuses in Addison, Carol Stream, Naperville and Westmont. With more than 20,000 students, the College of DuPage is the second largest provider of undergraduate education in Illinois, after University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Asbestos Containing Materials Survey Before starting any demolition, rehabilitation, or renovation of
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence, Project Profiles
In May of 2024, Taylor Closen, a project manager at A3 Environmental Consultants, managed and oversaw the removal of the fuel tanks and the contaminated soil from the site over the course of seven days. This project was not just a routine removal but involved meticulous planning and execution to ensure safety and compliance with
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The Illinois Air National Guard (IL ANG) is a reserve component of the U.S. Air Force and a state militia unit under the jurisdiction of the Illinois governor. Its 3000 employees are stationed with the 126th Air Refueling Wing, the 182nd Airlift Wing, and the 183rd Wing. In the spring of 2023, A3 Environmental Consultants
- Published in Project Profiles, Environmental Due Diligence
The largest airline in the world, consisting of over 100,000 employees, who is the leading United States carrier for flights across both the Atlantic and Pacific, offering direct flights to international destinations continually contracts A3 Environmental Consultants to perform preliminary environmental site assessments on various international airports nationwide, including but not limited to, Chicago O’Hare
- Published in Project Profiles, Environmental Due Diligence
The largest airline in the world, consisting of over 100,000 employees, who is the leading United States carrier for flights across both the Atlantic and Pacific, offering direct flights to international destinations contracted A3E in 2024 to perform PFAS groundwater sampling and tap water testing at the hangars on the northwest side of Chicago O’Hare
- Published in Project Profiles, Environmental Due Diligence
The Third Party Review will include a thorough and detailed review of the client provided report(s) (i.e. Phase I ESA, Phase II ESA, RSRA, etc.), an assessment of any conditions that could pose a potential environmental concern to the Subject Property, and professional opinion statements regarding whether the report is compliant and if any further
- Published in Environmental Consulting
A desktop analysis will be conducted to identify any known or potential wetlands located at the site in relation to the planned site development locations. This analysis will determine the floodplain boundaries, hydric soils, topography, wetlands on the National Wetlands Inventory, signs of aquatic resources on aerial imagery considering rainfall conditions of the dates analyzed,
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The Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) will be performed in overall conformance with the scope and limitations of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process (E1527-21) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) All Appropriate Inquiry (40 CFR 312). The
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The Records Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA) will be performed in overall accordance with the Small Business Administration’s standard Practice (SOP 50-10 7.1). The Scope of Work will include of the following activities: A limited review of historical records, such as construction plans, topographic maps, fire insurance maps, aerial photographs, and city directories, to identify
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The Environmental Screen with Risk Interpretation (ESRI) will include a thorough regulatory database review of all federal and state database listings for the Subject Property, adjoining properties, and surrounding properties within a 1/8-mile radius. A3E will complete an analysis and interpretation of these database listings providing a professional opinion as to whether the Subject Property
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You are here because you are annoyed that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t have a spreadsheet version of the Tiered Approach to Corrective Action Objectives (TACO) on their website. Well, I do and I’d like to share it with you. Tiered Approach to Correction Action Objectives (TACO) (Illinois) Download XLS Here There are some
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
You’re looking for the Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) Table to download as a spreadsheet (xlsx) because you want to do something fancy with a database. I wanted that too and was frustrated to find that Illinois doesn’t have an official download. I had to make my own. Let’s get you taken care of. Maximum Allowable
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Phase 1 Environmental Reports serve as pivotal documents in assessing environmental risks associated with a property. Central to their integrity is the assurance of confidentiality, a cornerstone of professional practice within the environmental consulting industry. Access to these reports is typically restricted to parties directly involved in the contractual agreement governing their production. Without such
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In 2012, what began as the site for a new Saint Anthony Hospital to replace its 121-year old facility and continue providing services and employment to the west and southwest sides of Chicago, evolved to a vision for greater access to the other areas of critical need for healthy communities, including education, safe housing and
- Published in Project Profiles, Environmental Due Diligence
In 2012, what began as the site for a new Saint Anthony Hospital to replace its 121-year old facility and continue providing services and employment to the west and southwest sides of Chicago, evolved to a vision for greater access to the other areas of critical need for healthy communities, including education, safe housing and
- Published in Project Profiles, Environmental Due Diligence
In 2012, what began as the site for a new Saint Anthony Hospital to replace its 121-year old facility and continue providing services and employment to the west and southwest sides of Chicago, evolved to a vision for greater access to the other areas of critical need for healthy communities, including education, safe housing and
- Published in Project Profiles
In 1868 Chicago Gas Light and Coke Company built a Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP Plant) to produce coal gas at 1180 N. Crosby Street, Chicago, Illinois. In the early 1960’s, People’s Gas, the subsequent owner, closed the plant. ComEd, an Exelon company, purchased a 5.5 acre parcel, one of several which the MGP site was
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence, Project Profiles
Commercial Real Estate Professionals can benefit from building a warm relationship with A3 Environmental Consultants. A good environmental consultant can help a CRE professional close deals that would otherwise have blown up at the first sign of a bad environmental report. Let’s discuss… Sell-Side CRE Professionals: Sell-Side CRE Pros often don’t believe there’s anything
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After the promulgation of the Clean Construction or Demolition Debris (CCDD) rulemaking on August 24, 2006 (modified on August 27, 2012) by the Illinois Pollution Control Board, CCDD facilities began operations all across the state. However, to date, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), has yet to establish a good database of these facilities. The
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
If you’d like a wetland delineation cost and you’re not interested in reading a bunch of information about how we price a project, the best thing to do is call us at (888) 216-3201. For the rest of you that are interested in the components of a wetland and how they come together to create
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Air Monitoring Project Profile 2023 (Manufactured Gas Plant) Wetland Project Profile in DuPage County Illinois Wetland Survey for Cell Tower Industry – Project Profile 2023 Pre-Demolition Hazardous Building Materials Survey: Why it’s Important for Safe & Compliant Demolition Lake Villa School District UST Remediation Project Profile 2023 NFR Letter for a Federal Prison –
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence, Project Profiles
If you have a vacant property which you’d like to purchase and you need to make absolutely certain your project won’t be blocked because of a wetland, you will need to submit a jurisdictional determination request. Essentially this is a letter you will receive back from the US Army Corp of Engineers and / or
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
In the universe of services termed “environmental due diligence” one of these services is determining if a property has a wetland. There are different levels of due diligence needed to answer important questions before the sale of a commercial property. Wetland due diligence is no different. We created four different levels with four different price
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A wetland delineation report is the “deliverable”, the thing you receive, when you purchase a wetland delineation. This work is performed during the due diligence process which happens in advance of purchasing a commercial property. Not every project is the same. Not every client needs the same level of inspection done on their property. Because of
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Wetland Project Background In April 2023, A3 Environmental Consultant’s joint venture with Olson Ecological Solutions (A3E+OES) conducted a wetland project for an approximately 1.2-acre parcel planned for minor development by the landowner in Section 1, Township 40 North, Range 10 East, located in Medinah, Illinois in DuPage County. The purpose of the wetland delineation was
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
In April 2023, a wetland survey was conducted for a 3-acre project area in the town of Wyanet, found in lovely Bureau County, Illinois, intended for cell tower construction. The land use at the time was grazing pasture with a pond and drainage ditch, a wooded area to the east, and a naturalized area to
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence, Project Profiles
Jurisdictional vs Non-Jurisdictional Wetlands Wetlands can be considered jurisdictional if they meet certain criteria established by the government agency that has jurisdiction over them. In the United States, the primary agency responsible for wetland regulation is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which administers the Clean Water Act. It’s important to note, the USACE
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
In January 2023, A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) was commissioned to perform an asbestos containing materials (ACM) survey on a residential property slated for demolition in Aurora Illinois. The survey was critical to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to asbestos abatement and to protect public health and safety during the demolition process.
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Demolition is a crucial process in the construction industry that involves removing a building or structure to make way for a new project. However, it’s essential to ensure that demolition projects are executed safely and efficiently, which is where the pre-demolition hazardous building materials survey comes in. The purpose of a pre-demolition hazardous building materials
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence, Project Profiles
The Lake Villa Illinois School District purchased a property back in 2000. The site is a former gasoline station that had three underground storage tanks (UST) removed in 2009. A release was declared during removal of the USTs because of corrosion and overfilling. Early Action and Stage I Investigations took place from June to September
- Published in Project Profiles, Environmental Due Diligence
A3 Environmental Consultant’s client is the owner of several gas stations. One of these gas stations, located in Alsip, Illinois, experienced a LUST incident (IEMA Incident #20150675, IEPA LPC #0310035069) in 2015. Following the release, approved Stage 1 and Stage 2 investigations were undertaken from 2016 to 2019. However, shortly after submission of the Stage
- Published in Project Profiles, Environmental Due Diligence
The site is a Federal Correctional Institution. A3 Environmental Consultants performed a UST Environmental Project at a facility located at 2600 South Second Street in Pekin, Illinois (the ‘Site’). On June 14-15, 2021, Earth Services, contracted by Greenwave Consultants (Greenwave) of Springfield, IL removed one (1) 1,000- gallon used oil Underground Storage Tank (UST), one
- Published in Project Profiles, Environmental Due Diligence
. . . . . . . . . . When it comes to environmental consulting, typically the laboratories and environmental scientists get all the glory. Labs prove definitively what’s in the soil. But what do you do if you can’t do lab work because there’s nothing there to test? Gather ’round the children and
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence, Project Profiles
Part of the services we provide at A3 Environmental Consultants is Environmental Screening for Wellhead Protection Areas (WPA) for Point Source Pollution. The logical first question everyone asks is “What does a Environmental Screen for a Wellhead Protection Area look like?” Well, click through this link and download a sample. A3E provides these services for
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Wellhead Protection Area (WPA) is a type of designation made by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to safeguard underground sources of drinking water, such as aquifers, from potential contamination. The purpose of designating a WPA is to prevent or limit the migration of pollutants from the surface into the aquifers which supply
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
In the State of Michigan, any property which is known to contain contamination at concentrations which exceed the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Part 201 Residential Cleanup Criteria (RCC) is defined as a “facility.” Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) of 1994 contains two sections (Part 201 and Part 213) which allow
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence