Environmental Services From AB Consultants, Inc.

Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Virginia are all home to an array of unique ecosystems and landscapes. With any type of construction or design projects, a large consideration should be given to the environmental impact of the work. When you work with AB, you can trust that our environmental services will ensure your project is completed in an eco-friendly manner.

Environmental Site Assessments From AB

Our staff is very familiar with the ESA process, as it is involved in almost every one of our projects. Whether we are surveying a site or digging test holes for SUE work, we will first provide ESA services to ensure our work will not impact the local ecosystem in any way. If our crews come across any contaminated material that needs to be assessed, they know how to properly report, permit, handle and dispose of it.

AB is able to provide ESA services for any of our projects when required, as well as on a stand-alone basis.

Hazardous Materials Surveys

AB also conducts Hazardous Materials Surveys to evaluate suspect asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), lead-based paint (LBP) and other select hazardous materials present in residential, commercial or industrial buildings.

These surveys help us to determine how to handle any potentially hazardous materials before proceeding with a project. Our step-by-step procedure depends on the specific material at hand:

• Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs): For asbestos, the procedure for bulk sampling consists of collecting the materials and sending them to an accredited laboratory for asbestos determination with Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM).
• Lead-Based Paint (LBP): For lead-based paint, inspections are conducted with a Direct-Read X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometer analyzer. In Maryland, this tool is utilized to detect any surfaces that contain lead paint above 0.7 milligrams.

If AB crews ever do discover hazardous materials at a project site, we will always work with the client to provide solutions.

Wetland and Forest Delineation

AB recognizes the sensitivity of impacts to the environment, which is why we always work to minimize our effect. The two major environments we encounter in our service areas are wetlands and forest:

• Wetland Impact Consideration: In Maryland, there are laws that require avoidance and minimization of wetland impacts, and wetland mitigation is costly. For this reason, impacts to wetlands with an area of less than 5,000 square feet typically qualify as a Minor Project with MDE. Therefore, these projects do not require an alternative site analysis, public notice, or mitigation by the applicant. If wetlands impacts cannot be avoided, AB will work diligently, providing possible design solutions, in order to qualify the project as a Minor Project with MDE. If mitigation is required, AB has experienced staff to provide design and permitting. Depending on project specifications, AB will work with the appropriate local, state, and federal agencies to obtain required approvals and permits.
• Forest Impact Consideration: AB is also experienced in performing Forest Stand Delineations, filing for and obtaining tree clearing permits (RTI) through DNR, as well as abiding by Local and State Forest Conservation Regulations as they pertain to linear projects and site plans. With consideration to both regulatory agency requirements, we work with our clients to minimize impact. In turn, this minimizes construction clearing costs and afforestation and/or reforestation costs — or the costs to create and possibly acquire conservation easements.

Contact AB for More Information About Our Environmental Services

To learn more about AB’s environmental services and how we can contribute to the success of your project, contact us today. We proudly serve clients in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware and Virginia.