7 Key Capabilities of a PFAS Worksite Remediation Partner

If you discover per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or other forever chemicals at your worksite, will you be prepared to address them efficiently, safely, and compliantly?

This is a key and very pressing question: The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is increasing its scrutiny of PFAS and related substances. And environmental professionals are prone to encounter PFAS in contaminated groundwater and soil during site cleanup and remediation projects.

But if you are in doubt about your forever chemicals management capabilities, there is great news: There are outstanding environmental remediation support services partners that can parachute into a project rapidly and assist you, as this blog has noted.

Of course, your team must first thoroughly evaluate and then select the best vendor for your needs. Unfortunately, by picking a substandard or inappropriate remediation vendor, you risk delays, disruptions, and loss of time. And that’s something we can never recover.

PFAS: Growing Risk

The threat of forever chemicals is likely to continue to grow worse as federal focus on PFAS continues to expand. The EPA recently announced, for example, that PFAS presence will now count toward Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis and reporting—yet another challenge for construction teams to overcome. The EPA also announced the first enforceable drinking water standard aimed at containing PFAS. 

This scrutiny—and potential funding implications—will directly and indirectly affect construction and environmental engineering projects nationwide, both now and in the long term. If you discover forever chemicals onsite, addressing them immediately and swiftly can help avoid:

• Citation and fines
• Long-term shutdowns
• Missed deadlines
• Health risks to employees and the larger community
• Ecosystem contamination
• Reputational damage

Promising Environmental Engineering Horizon

The PFAS threat looms just as the industry is heating up. There are huge opportunities for important and profitable projects in construction, renovation, and remediation. We’re in the midst of an environmental engineering services project boom—which is great news to an industry that has faced steady decline in recent years.

In fact, billions in federal and state funding are still available nationwide for Superfund, lead and asbestos removal, and construction projects. According to one research firm, the overall environmental consulting industry hit $23 billion in 2023. That same year saw the market grow by 2%, after five years of steady decline (1% annually from 2018-2023).

This is exciting, and a terrific opportunity for engineering firms to make up for the lost time. Obviously, project deadlines and compliance continue to be crucial. But evidence of forever chemicals at the job site means there is a potentially huge threat to success.

These substances are an obstacle that can mean lost time, increased costs, and the application of stopgaps that are a drag on efficient operations. And in such a competitive industry, no engineering consultancy wants to lose precious time and resources if PFAS appear on their worksite. 

PFAS: Coping in the Field

While most environmental remediation and construction pros know that PFAS scrutiny will increase, few know how to respond when these dangerous forever substances are found in the field. The process is long and complex: It runs from detection to analysis and on to disposal and reporting.

Professionals must execute these tasks compliantly, swiftly, and efficiently. Unfortunately, proper remediation is beyond many construction and environmental engineering companies. This is where a strong, capable partner can make a huge difference. If partner team members know what they’re doing and are properly vetted for the organization’s needs, they can ensure operational continuity. 

PFAS Partnership Checklist

A good partner must:

1. Be prepared to treat PFAS and other similar forever chemicals as hazardous substances—with all that implies—from start to finish. This way there are no future chances of citation or litigation because of substandard disposal processes.
   
   
2. Demonstrate that it can detect, handle, and dispose of PFAS substances without endangering the community.
   
   
3. Employ field and professional team members who can closely work with engineering teams to deploy PFAS cleanup solutions.
   
   
4. Fully, compliantly, and swiftly process contaminated soil—with accountability and documentation.
   
   
5. Possess high-tech systems for sensing, monitoring, and reporting on chemical presence.
   
   
6. Be current with all PFAS-related legislation and guidelines—including waste classification—and be able to comply with all these ever-changing rules.
   
   
7. Utilize a disposal facility that’s available to fully eliminate the chemicals.

The Right Forever Chemicals Partner for You

The general public is sensitive to exposure that can contaminate their drinking water or pollute their environment. Additionally, state and federal investigators want full ecological compliance. So, there is immense pressure on construction and remediation companies to follow the letter of the law and best practices—without losing valuable time.

This explains the extensive partner qualifications discussed above—and why it’s so important to choose a partner that meets them all. Triumvirate Environmental is one such partner. Our qualified and experienced team members can help you manage and dispose of forever chemical materials, including PFAS, in a proper and effective way. Contact us today to learn more.