The spread of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, around the world wreaks havoc on economies and populations. However, with a reduction of human activity around the globe, one area that’s benefitting from the new normal is the environment.

With most of the world’s populations facing extended lockdowns and governments enforcing social-distancing guidelines, the natural environment is thriving. Social media posts about wildlife roaming around city centers show that our effect on the environment remains concerning.

Profound and Lasting Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Researchers around the world agree that the COVID-19 pandemic will have lasting effects on human industry. While many people view the virus as an invisible enemy, responses from national governments are equal to wartime controls and mandates on populations. While there have been positive environmental impacts from the coronavirus response, researchers warn that the benefits shouldn’t be overestimated.

The Costs of the COVID-19 Response

As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been visible positive impacts on the environment. Although media outlets report improvements in air quality and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the effects are only temporary according to researchers. At the same time, studies indicate that secondary pollutants like ground-level ozone have increased in some regions.

Nitrogen dioxide have decreased in the US, China, and Western Europe by as much as 60% during the pandemic. According to atmospheric scientists, these levels are unprecedented since they started monitoring air quality using satellites in the 1990s. While most of the environment is healing during the pandemic, researchers did find one concerning increase in pollution.

Surface Ozone Pollution at Ground-Level

One pollutant that has increased according to studies was surface-level ozone. This happens when there’s a drop in nitrogen dioxide pollution in major industrial centers around the world. Surface-level ozone is a secondary pollutant that forms when sunlight and high temperatures catalyze and create chemical reactions in the lower atmosphere.

Although researchers found an increase in these pollutants around the world, the decrease in nitrogen dioxide over major population centers remains promising. Considering this unintended experiment’s data can help researchers to develop strategies and methods that can improve atmospheric conditions in the future.

EEC Environmental and Pollution Control in the Future

Once the pandemic subsides and the world returns to normal, there will still be environments that require remediation and pollution control. EEC Environmental has a team of experts that can help public and private entities to understand the scope of these problems and develop innovative solutions to remediate environments.

The industrial revolution led to large-scale changes in our environment. What the COVID-19 pandemic shows is that taking any effort to reduce environmental pollution and remaining committed to the environment’s wellbeing remains a noble pursuit.

To find out how EEC Environmental can help your organization remediate a site or if you need to design a pollution prevention program, reach out to one of our experts today.

Three Maryland food processing facilities to receive free assistance

The Maryland Department of the Environment has contracted with EEC Environmental to provide environmental opportunity assessments and technical assistance to three food or beverage manufacturing/processing facilities in Maryland.  EEC Environmental, a nationally recognized environmental consulting firm, will work directly with three selected facilities to identify opportunities and solutions for improving energy and water use efficiency, reducing chemical usage, hazardous and non-hazardous waste reduction, wastewater reduction and process optimization.  The purpose of these visits is not to advise on environmental compliance issues, but rather to identify voluntary actions that will reduce environmental impacts and reduce costs for the facility.

The participating organizations will be asked to provide facility access and information

to the EEC Environmental consultants and in exchange will receive the following services free of charge: 

• A facility-wide audit to identify opportunities that increase the efficiency of resource use, reduce waste and related environmental impacts and save money.
• A written report identifying opportunities related to energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, recycling, composting, procurement, transportation, and cleaning.
• Assistance in prioritizing these opportunities based on return-on-investment, payback period, environmental impact, feasibility, and owner/management priorities, and an outline of next steps for implementation.

Interested companies should contact the following individuals as soon as possible, but no later than June 1, 2020 in order to take advantage of this valuable program.

Contact:

Tina Bickerstaff, EEC Environmental
Tbickerstaff@eecenvironmental.com
410-279-7252

Laura Armstrong, Maryland Department of the Environment
Laura.Armstrong@maryland.gov
410-537-4119

EEC presented at the 22nd Annual California Unified Program Annual Training Conference (CUPA) February 3-6, 2020 in Burlingame, California. EEC’s Emily Vavricka presented on the emerging contaminant PFAS, focusing on PFAS sampling procedures, analytical methods, and current regulatory updates.

The California CUPA Forum is a non-profit 501(c)(6) statewide association that works with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the California Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the State Water Resources Control Board and Cal EPA to update and continuously improve the Unified Program for the agencies, businesses and the communities that are served. For the past 21 years, the California CUPA Forum Board has invited both government entities and industries to attend and receive the same training at the annual training conference.

EEC is a nationally recognized leader in the field of soil, soil vapor, and groundwater assessment, remediation, due diligence, and compliance through “Out of the Box” unique technical solutions blended with industry proven strategies.

For more information on the 22nd Annual California CUPA Training Conference, please click here.

EEC is excited to announce the addition of Project Geologist and Emerging Contaminant Specialist Keith Foster to our west coast team. Keith brings nearly a decade of environmental consulting and water treatment experience to EEC.  Prior to joining EEC, Keith worked for Emerging Compounds Treatment Technologies (ECT2) as a Sales & Applications Engineer, focused on supporting the commercialization of water and vapor treatment technologies to remove emerging contaminants such as 1,4-Dioxane, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and traditional and specialty volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

In this role, Keith provided up front process engineering evaluations and designs, constructed and commissioned pilot and full-scale treatment systems, and routinely reviewed performance data and made process recommendations. This role also included modelling the capacity of various medias as a function of influent water characteristics and effluent quality parameters/client objectives. While focusing on this specialist field, Keith has developed relationships with many leading institutions and experts in emerging contaminants.

Keith’s project work in emerging contaminants has included everything from research and development trials to hydrogeological evaluations throughout the United States, Germany, Sweden, and Australia.  As part of the ECT2 team, Keith helped with the design and deployment of PFAS remediation systems utilizing proprietary regenerable Ion Exchange Resin processes to remediate PFAS-impacted waters (surface and groundwater) at several sites throughout Australia.  Prior to working with ECT2, Keith managed a full range of core environmental environment projects including Phase I ESAs, site investigations, installation of soil borings and monitoring wells, underground storage tank (UST) removal and closure, and groundwater and soil gas sampling and surveying. Keith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the University of California, Berkeley. Keith’s foundation in Geology coupled with his focus on unique constituent and engineering solutions brings an unmatched level of technical expertise to EEC’s growing focus on PFAS assessment and remediation.  

Keith is a member of the ITRC PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane teams and recently joined colleagues to author a peer reviewed article titled “1,4-Dioxane: Emerging Technologies for An Emerging Contaminant” that was published in Remediation in 2019.

If you have any questions regarding the investigation, evaluation, or remediation of PFAS compounds or any of the other emerging contaminants, we welcome you to contact Keith and discuss your particular project needs. 

The spread of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, around the world wreaks havoc on economies and populations. However, with a reduction of human activity around the globe, one area that’s benefitting from the new normal is the environment.

With most of the world’s populations facing extended lockdowns and governments enforcing social-distancing guidelines, the natural environment is thriving. Social media posts about wildlife roaming around city centers show that our effect on the environment remains concerning.

Profound and Lasting Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Researchers around the world agree that the COVID-19 pandemic will have lasting effects on human industry. While many people view the virus as an invisible enemy, responses from national governments are equal to wartime controls and mandates on populations. While there have been positive environmental impacts from the coronavirus response, researchers warn that the benefits shouldn’t be overestimated.

The Costs of the COVID-19 Response

As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been visible positive impacts on the environment. Although media outlets report improvements in air quality and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the effects are only temporary according to researchers. At the same time, studies indicate that secondary pollutants like ground-level ozone have increased in some regions.

Nitrogen dioxide have decreased in the US, China, and Western Europe by as much as 60% during the pandemic. According to atmospheric scientists, these levels are unprecedented since they started monitoring air quality using satellites in the 1990s. While most of the environment is healing during the pandemic, researchers did find one concerning increase in pollution.

Surface Ozone Pollution at Ground-Level

One pollutant that has increased according to studies was surface-level ozone. This happens when there’s a drop in nitrogen dioxide pollution in major industrial centers around the world. Surface-level ozone is a secondary pollutant that forms when sunlight and high temperatures catalyze and create chemical reactions in the lower atmosphere.

Although researchers found an increase in these pollutants around the world, the decrease in nitrogen dioxide over major population centers remains promising. Considering this unintended experiment’s data can help researchers to develop strategies and methods that can improve atmospheric conditions in the future.

EEC Environmental and Pollution Control in the Future

Once the pandemic subsides and the world returns to normal, there will still be environments that require remediation and pollution control. EEC Environmental has a team of experts that can help public and private entities to understand the scope of these problems and develop innovative solutions to remediate environments.

The industrial revolution led to large-scale changes in our environment. What the COVID-19 pandemic shows is that taking any effort to reduce environmental pollution and remaining committed to the environment’s wellbeing remains a noble pursuit.

To find out how EEC Environmental can help your organization remediate a site or if you need to design a pollution prevention program, reach out to one of our experts today.

Three Maryland food processing facilities to receive free assistance

The Maryland Department of the Environment has contracted with EEC Environmental to provide environmental opportunity assessments and technical assistance to three food or beverage manufacturing/processing facilities in Maryland.  EEC Environmental, a nationally recognized environmental consulting firm, will work directly with three selected facilities to identify opportunities and solutions for improving energy and water use efficiency, reducing chemical usage, hazardous and non-hazardous waste reduction, wastewater reduction and process optimization.  The purpose of these visits is not to advise on environmental compliance issues, but rather to identify voluntary actions that will reduce environmental impacts and reduce costs for the facility.

The participating organizations will be asked to provide facility access and information

to the EEC Environmental consultants and in exchange will receive the following services free of charge: 

• A facility-wide audit to identify opportunities that increase the efficiency of resource use, reduce waste and related environmental impacts and save money.
• A written report identifying opportunities related to energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, recycling, composting, procurement, transportation, and cleaning.
• Assistance in prioritizing these opportunities based on return-on-investment, payback period, environmental impact, feasibility, and owner/management priorities, and an outline of next steps for implementation.

Interested companies should contact the following individuals as soon as possible, but no later than June 1, 2020 in order to take advantage of this valuable program.

Contact:

Tina Bickerstaff, EEC Environmental
Tbickerstaff@eecenvironmental.com
410-279-7252

Laura Armstrong, Maryland Department of the Environment
Laura.Armstrong@maryland.gov
410-537-4119