Transportation Projects

As the environmental consultant for the project, EC performed the Asbestos Containing Materials and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) assessment of 17 buildings on the campus of the NJDOT headquarters.  EC’s findings and recommendations for abatement were presented in a full written report, as well as orally to the project stakeholders. Upon consensus for the project approach, EC developed specifications to be included in the overall bid package.  The project was designed in such a manner as to facilitate the renovations and have minimal impact on building operations, due to the facility’s important function.

During the abatement work, EC performed daily air monitoring and visual inspections to ensure regulatory and project compliance.  There were no deviations or scope changes from the specified abatement work.  EC issued the final report indicating the scope of work was completed as specified, and all air samples and visual inspections met the applicable regulatory criteria.

At the direction of the project Architect, EC performed the hazardous material assessment specific to the renovations to Lobbies in the Finance and Administration Building, Engineering and Operations Building and Main Office Building at the NJDOT Complex.  EC utilized the assessment data to develop technical specifications for asbestos abatement and lead safe work practices. EC has provided construction administration and air monitoring for three (3) phases of asbestos abatement.

Environmental Connection, Inc., (EC) was contracted to assist with professional, technical and analytical services in support of a project (Project) related to improper disposal of materials at a New Jersey Department of Transportation site located at the underpass of Route I-78 and Route 22, in Newark, New Jersey.   

In light of illegal disposal, the State of New Jersey, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, (OAG) was engaged as part of an ongoing investigation, rendering the Site a crime scene.  The project intent is to properly and effectively clean the site of all materials deposited at the Site in concert and full cooperation with the ongoing investigation, while meeting the project objectives.

EC’s task was to take on the role as the site Owner’s independent environmental representative in an effort to assist with the Project objectives, as required.  To that end, upon project commencement, EC mobilized a senior environmental representative to the Site to meet with pertinent Project executives to discuss program logistics, perform initial visual site inspection and to discuss a project work plan.  As part of the process, EC reviewed available pertinent facts related to the project, and developed an environmental statement reflective of EC’s observations and opinions in an effort to guide the Contractors’ activities related to various environmental and health hazards.  

The materials found at the Site consisted of comingled construction and household debris, inclusive of potential hazardous materials, and as a result, all parties engaged in the Project were required to assume that the materials present at the Site may potentially be hazardous, and to treat all the waste as such, unless determined otherwise.  The following materials were identified:  friable and non-friable asbestos containing materials, E-waste (televisions, computers, and other electronic devices), Universal waste tires, various containers with unknown content, biological waste (including hypodermic needles, scissors, knives, and blood stained household items), guano and histoplasmosis associated with bat, pigeon, rodent and other animal droppings. Once the materials were effectively characterized, EC provided oversight of the removal and disposal.  

EC was engaged to perform a study of the existing HVAC systems for the Finance and Administration Building, and develop recommendations for cleaning. In conjunction with the HVAC cleaning, NJDOT requested that EC also incorporate removal of asbestos containing flooring materials, removal of non-asbestos ceiling tiles and cleaning of various surfaces throughout the 3-story building.

The project design was developed to efficiently move the project through the different types of remediation without cross-contamination. Stringent clearance criteria were specified for the protection of occupants’ health and safety.

During the remediation work, EC provided construction administration via an on-site project manager who coordinated remediation work with maintenance/construction, liaised with the Owner, building representatives and regulatory agencies, collected all required samples and recorded all project-related activities.  EC closed the project with the final report indicating all specified work was complete and all samples met clearance criteria for re-occupancy of the building.  Due to the extensive nature of the work within the building, EC was also able to identify asbestos containing materials that were previously obscured/inaccessible, and documented the same for reference in future projects.

EC has worked with the Right of Way (ROW) section within NJDOT, since the 1980’s.  EC has been called in to perform detailed assessments of structures prior to demolition in order to facilitate road construction.  EC also provided assessment, design, project monitoring and project close-out of numerous DOT highway projects and moveable bridges.  This work involved careful coordination with Department of Transportation personnel, at times Architectural and Engineering (A/E) firms as well as the Construction firms involved with these projects.    These included locations such as Route 8 & 35, the Route 46 and Hackensack River Bridge, Route 295 Section 1BB, Berkley Road Bridge and the Route 1 & 9 Bridge, Route 78 in Bedminster, and others.