SSCI has been approved by ISNetworld for Safety & Health Procedures. Through ISNetworld’s review and verification services, SSCI has been approved as meeting all necessary government safety & health policies.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has proposed new rules for Mold Assessors and Remediators. The proposed new rules are necessary to implement the transition of the Mold Assessors and Remediators program from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) to TDLR. Texas Senate Bill 202 proposed transferring Mold licensing from TDSHS to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) effective on November 1, 2017. The proposed rules are published in the April 21, 2017, issue of the Texas Register (42 TexReg 2057). The TDLR will accept comments on the proposal until May 22, 2017. The proposed Read More »
Oil spills consisting of crude oil or drilling “mud” are often found at oil and gas drilling sites. Drilling fluids are captured during drilling in pits and held for later disposal. The frequency of spills and improper maintenance and disposal of drilling mud results in soil, surface water, and groundwater impacts. Once the drilling field has been exhausted or abandoned due to economic reasons, the wells, drilling equipment, tanks, pits, gathering lines, and other equipment (as seen in the pictures above) are left behind for property owners to cleanup. Because there are no requirements in most states for property owners Read More »
Buyers, beware of unknown chemical containers stored on your potential properties. All properties should be thoroughly inspected prior to buying, selling, leasing or refinancing. SSCI specializes in performing Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) on every property type to assist our clients that may be eligible in qualifying for Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)’s Innocent Landowner (ILO) defense and/or assist with cleaning up a property through remediation practices. Our assessments are conducted by Environmental Professionals in accordance with the Standard Practice of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E 1527-13 . Don’t get caught in environmental liability; SSCI offers Read More »
With pollution experts, look before you leap. Experience counts; bargains can prove costly. Here are some common fallacies: A limited asbestos survey is sufficient to determine the presence of asbestos. Environmental regulations are the same in every state. A consultant who has identified an environmental problem with a Phase I assessment can then just clean it up; there is no need to pay for a Phase II assessment. Historical use of the property is not a source of concern. If the environmental consultant makes no recommendations for further study or cleanup, there are no problems. This article appeared in the Read More »
The greyhound Takota is a former race dog who needed space to run! Takota is shown here running laps in a three-acre detention pond in Webster maintained by SSCI. Read more about Takota in SSCI’s blog: A doggone good deed, https://dev.sscienvironmental.com/a-doggone-good-deed/ Separation Systems Consultants Inc. (SSCI) would like to remind you that the time is fast approaching to have your annual Detention/Retention Pond Inspection renewed to comply with your City’s Stormwater Enforcement Policy. SSCI has worked with many Detention and Retention Pond owners in the City of Webster, the City of Clear Lake, and other municipalities on understanding and following the Read More »
Advantages of Utilizing a Contract with The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN): Do you ever use Buy Boards or Cooperative Purchasing Networks for your Products and Services? Do you know you have the option of using SSCI’s TCPN Contract? It is free of charges to you. No fees. No dues. Why you might choose the TCPN option? State & Federal Laws “Strongly Encourages” participation in Purchasing Networks & Buy Boards. TCPN is mandated to follow all State Procurement Laws & Regulations. Audited by State Controller’s Office twice/year. Saves time & money (“Soft Costs”) in the Procurement Process. Eliminated bidding process, associated Read More »
Like the rest of us, mold loves Houston. The warm, humid climate makes our city as natural a home for molds as it is for the energy industry. At normal levels, mold is harmless. There are lots of types of molds that grow outdoors as well as indoors like inside your home and office building. The problem comes when moisture problems inside those structures cause mold to grow beyond normal levels. “Normal levels” is a subjective term – even the government has yet to place regulations on what constitutes as natural levels or unhealthy levels. If mold levels grow beyond minimum levels, the indoor Read More »
If your company maintains a total aboveground oil storage capacity of greater than 1,320 gallons, or a total underground oil storage capacity of greater than 42,000 gallons located where there is a “reasonable potential” for a discharge to reach navigable waters, your company is subject to Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires SPCC plans in an attempt to prevent oil from entering navigable waters and adjourning shorelines, which can have a costly impact on the environment and your financial bottom line. Of note: Aboveground storage containers with a capacity of 55-gallons or Read More »
Since the passage of the Superfund Cleanup Acceleration Act of 1998, anyone interested in selling, buying or financing a commercial property is encouraged or required to have an environmental site assessment (ESA) performed to uncover evidence of environmental site contamination. To obtain Innocent Landowner status, the buyer must assure that the Phase I ESA meets the specific requirements of ASTM E1527-13: Standard Practice for Environmental Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process. If there’s indication of contamination, a Phase II environmental investigation is used to determine the presence, or absence of, petroleum products or hazardous waste in the subsurface of Read More »