Environmental Services

BSK Associates’ Environmental Services Group grew out of our expertise with water, groundwater, and geologic environments during the early 1980s throughout California. Since then, we have developed expertise with not only the regulatory environment that has grown up around our client’s industries, but also around the business and operational needs of our clients, themselves. Our clients have come to appreciate and depend on BSK to help them through the maze of permitting and regulatory compliance requirements in a sensible and productive way. The highly experienced professional staff at BSK provides common-sense and creative solutions to environmental problems.

BSK’s wealth of knowledge and experience enables us to create solutions for projects ranging from permitting new facilities or discharges, through restoration of water and soil quality to meet the objectives of our clients, to achieving regulatory compliance. Our solutions often turn environmental liabilities into assets. We have successfully performed environmental projects for our clients in numerous markets and applications including:

Phase I / Phase II Environmental Site Assessments & Remediation

BSK assists our clients in their real estate transactions by conducting Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. Our Phase I assessments are typically compliant with the ASTM Standard. However, sometimes specific lender or other guidelines also may be appropriate.

Our services have been provided for transactions such as:

Property purchases
Real estate portfolio divestments

Refinancing
Redevelopment

Our more in-depth environmental assessments, including remediation and clean-closure experience includes work at:

Superfund sites
Landfills Underground storage tank sites
Wastewater treatment plants

Industrial sites
Food processing, and metals and pesticide-contaminated sites.

Brownfields Revitalization Services
Our team is nationally recognized for their contributions to Brownfields development practices. Brownfields properties are properties that may not be of interest for development due to real or perceived environmental concern(s). BSK’s emphasis on obtaining and using Brownfields grants and other funding tools can convert blighted areas into areas of economic opportunity. This funding mechanism has resulted in over millions of dollars being granted to California communities to leverage additional funds and private sector interest.

Working with communities, owner, developers and regulators we collaborate on:

Award winning EPA grant applications
Grant management and reporting
Effective community outreach and planning
Inventory and priority of sites in GIS format (including planning level studies)
Comprehensive Phase I and Phase II investigations

CEQA/NEPA and other environmental analysis
Cleanup planning integrating with Best Reuse Plans
Addressing legal and regulatory concerns
Cost saving cleanup actions

Hydrogeologic and Water Quality Services

BSK has completed a variety of surface water and groundwater hydrogeology projects, including water resource studies and contaminant investigations. Our experience includes projects in environments as hydrogeologically diverse as the soft muds of the San Francisco Bay Area and the dry, collapsing sands of California’s Central Valley.

We have developed and used efficient investigative methods tailored to each site. We employ those methods, ranging from basic hydrogeological measurements to sophisticated computer modeling, using data collected during field investigations. BSK’s broad range of water resources capabilities includes:

BSK’s broad range of water resources capabilities includes:

Recycled water
Salinity and nutrients characterization
Surface water hydrology
Watershed delineation
Water resources planning
Flood hazard mapping
Water use efficiencies
Automation
Water policy
Litigation support

Groundwater exploration
Water quality investigations
Water supply well design and construction
Safe yield studies
Aquifer testing
Groundwater modeling
Wellhead protection
Aquifer recharge investigations

Oilfield (Upstream) Environmental Consulting Services

California’s new well stimulation permitting law-SB 4, increases regulatory oversight over all well stimulation activities, including hydraulic fracturing. Regulatory oversight agencies have also placed a focus on underground injection abandoned sumps and exempt aquifers. BSK can take the guess work out of complying with specific provisions of all regulations governing oilfield facilities and activities including SB 4. We have served the engineering and water-related needs of municipalities, agriculture and industry throughout Central California for over 55 years.

Our expertise includes:

Groundwater planning & development
Groundwater monitoring & reporting
Water regulatory compliance
Aquifer characterization
Computer modeling
Production well & water delivery systems design

Contaminant plume characterization & remediation
Water treatment systems
Environmental assessments & compliance
Analytical testing
Data Management Services

Stormwater Services

BSK provides turnkey professional industrial and construction Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) assistance to our clients throughout California. Our construction storm water staff are Qualified SWPPP Developers (QSDs) and Qualified SWPPP Practitioners (QSPs), as required by the current state construction permit. Our QSDs and QSPs are fully trained and qualified to assist you on Risk Level 1, 2, and 3 traditional projects, as well as Type 1, 2, and 3 linear underground projects.

Our SWPPP services include:

Preparation and submittal of the notice of intent and related permit registration documents.
Evaluation of projects with regard to current storm water regulations and prepare a site-specific SWPPP
SWPPP awareness and field training.
Preparing rain event action plans

Updating BMP drawings, reviewing and amending the SWPPP as necessary, and conducting site inspections.
Performing storm water sampling and laboratory analysis.
Providing regular weather updates to alert you to any predicted rain event.
Providing a smooth and seamless permitting process so our clients can focus on their primary business concerns.

CEQA/NEPA and Environmental Permitting

The BSK California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) team works closely with lead/trustee/responsible agencies, project proponents, regulators, and stakeholders to achieve timely and cost-effective project approvals.

The BSK environmental team along with geologists, geotechnical engineers, hydrologists, and chemists work together to provide a seamless, integrated response to initial site reconnaissance, special studies, CEQA, and permitting documents. This service begins in the initial phases of the project and extends well beyond project buildout.

Environmental Resources

Geology (https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/mapview/)
Groundwater (http://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/)
SB4 – Recommendations on Model Criteria for Groundwater Sampling, Testing, and Monitoring of Oil and Gas Development in California
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/groundwater/sb4/docs/llnl_recommendations_report.pdf
Oil Field Produced Water:
Underground Injection Control
Produced Water Ponds
US EPA’s Aquifer Exemption Guidance Document provides a brief history of the aquifer exemption process
Groundwater Resources Association of California | GRA
EPA’s Brownfields Program
Caltrans Contamination Decision Tree
http://www.dot.ca.gov/ser/vol1/sec3/physical/ch10haz/chap10.htm#contam_decision_tree
DTSC School Site Environmental Evaluation Process
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/Schools/Schools3Step.cfm

Environmental Services

Environmental Resources

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West Hills Community College

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