In this Brownfield Braintrust Podcast episode, we discuss environmental vapor sampling with two exceptional experts in the field, Will Rice of Enthalpy Analytical and Kevin Kelly of Langan Engineering. Those of you who are actively involved in brownfields assessment, remediation, and redevelopment have had to come to terms with new vapor intrusion agency guidelines and regulations that have tightened environmental screening. The reduced screening levels have prompted us to analyze more soil and soil vapor samples, so there is a greater need than ever to be efficient in the field and in the laboratory. To that end, we are going to examine one patented solution, VaporDeck™, a tool for soil vapor sampling everywhere. The VaporDeck™ provides a better solution to allow sample crews to simultaneously pull 2 or more samples from different depths, collect actual duplicates, and move from location to location faster, all while maintaining sample integrity and field documentation.
Our two esteemed guests:
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The CalEPA State Water Resources Control Board is Issuing Very Few No Further Action Letters!5/2/2024
This podcast episode is a companion discussion for the W&A February 26, 2024, Vapor Intrusion blog, which you can access here: https://www.winefieldinc.com/vi-blog/calepa-swrcb-site-closure-rates-continue-to-decline-likely-due-to-vapor-intrusion-guidance
Matt Winefield discusses the Winefield & Associates GeoTracker data review of No Further Action (NFA) letter issuance rates before and after the CalEPA Vapor Intrusion Guidance (VIG) was promulgated. The data is not pretty. There no longer appears to be a path to closure for remediation projects of sites impacted with volatile organic compounds. Absent the ability to eventually achieve an NFA, brownfield investments throughout California are precarious. Visit Winefield & Associates, Inc. at: https://www.winefieldinc.com/ Find Matt Winefield on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwinefield/ Calling all commercial and industrial brokers! Matt Winefield had the privilege of taking part in a virtual Q&A session with eXp Commercial. eXp industrial brokers peppered Matt with questions about how to get deals closed when faced with contaminated soil and groundwater. This podcast includes a 15-minute overview of strategies for divesting brownfield properties and transferring environmental liabilities. The remaining 40 minutes are filled with real world solutions to actual transactions in the brokers’ portfolios. We have provided time stamps below the video podcast so you can peruse subjects of interest: Time Stamp - Topic
2:20 - eXp Introduces Matt Winefield 5:30 - Presentation Begins – “Saving a Property Transaction with Recognized Environmental Conditions” 6:00 - Defining a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment 7:44 - Types of Contaminated Properties 8:30 - Typical Remediation Methods 10:00 - General Thoughts on Environmental Price Reductions 13:40 - Third-Party Sources of Environmental Funding 15:00 - Expected Investor Returns for Brownfields 16:00 - Success Story No. 1 – Industrial Cleaner/Launder 17:00 - Success Story No. 2 – Gas Station 18:55 - Pre-Screening Sites for Environmental Problems 20:15 - Conventional Debt Availability for Contaminated Sites 23:25 - Environmental Disaster Story No. 1 – Dry Cleaner 25:00 - Environmental Insurance Polices 26:00 - Environmental Due Diligence Periods 30:40 - Environmental Disaster Story No. 2 – Plating Shop 31:20 - Environmental Grant Resources 33:20 - Older General Liability Insurance Policies and Possible Environmental Coverage 36:40 - Soil Vapor vs. Soil Matrix Sampling 42:00 - Transparent Approach to Negotiating Environmental Cost Reductions with Sellers 44:30 - Auto Shop Environmental Risks 52:00 - Broker Listing Strategies for Environmentally Impacted Properties It was a privilege for Winefield & Associates to be on a panel during the September California Land Recycling Conference. Our founder, Matt Winefield, shared a stage with environmental attorney Allison Torbitt and affordable housing developer Mary Jane Jagodzinski. The topic was Navigating Brownfields from a Developer’s Lense. Attendees included over 150 developers, regulators, consultants, and attorneys. Our brief presentation starts at about minute 12 and Matt's inquiries to the audience about California No Further Action letters begins during minute 41. Much was discussed about remediation funding and how to address brownfield regulatory challenges from both the non-profit and for-profit perspectives. In our current Brownfield Braintrust Podcast, Matt Winefield of Winefield & Associates, Inc. sheds light on Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Systems (VIMS) with the help of Justin Conaway, Vice President and General Manager of Terra-Petra Environmental Engineering. Given evolving soil vapor mitigation standards, VIMS are currently much more prevalent than just three years ago. It is unlikely one can acquire, for example, a former dry cleaner site (with PCE releases), run a vapor extraction system, and then pour your foundation. The lead agency will likely specify a VIMS that operates for the life of the new building. Justin explains the three most common VIMS technologies now utilized. Visit Terra-Petra at: https://terra-petra.com/
Find Justin Conaway on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinconaway/ Visit Winefield & Associates, Inc. at: https://www.winefieldinc.com/ Find Matt Winefield on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwinefield/ To listen to an audio-only version of this podcast episode, click here. In this episode of the Brownfield Braintrust Podcast, Matt Winefield switched roles. He was a guest on “Straight Talk Schools,” a commercial real estate YouTube broadcast sponsored by Dusty Bates, broker extraordinaire of EXP Commercial. Dusty interviewed Matt in a discussion that could be entitled either “The Basics of Brownfields Investments” or “How to Save a Commercial Transaction When You Have a Bad Phase I.” For all of those new to sites with contaminated soils and groundwater, here are some guidelines on assessing environmental risks/costs as well as strategies to close your property sale or purchase. Winefield & Associates was delighted to interview Clark Henry, one of the organizers of the EPA ICMA National Brownfields Training Conference, August 8-11, 2023, Detroit, MI. The Brownfields Conference brings together stakeholders from government, industry, and the community to share knowledge and best practices on the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated properties, known as brownfields. The conference features a range of sessions, workshops, and networking events that cover topics such as financing, liability, and community engagement, with the goal of promoting the cleanup and revitalization of contaminated sites across the United States. Register for the National Brownfields Training Conference at: https://brownfields2023.org/
Visit International City/County Management Association at: https://icma.org/ Find Clark Henry on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clark-henry-11950630/ In this podcast episode, Matt Winefield interviewed one of the nation’s leaders in Licensed Site Remediation Programs (LSRP), Sue Boyle. LSRPs are used in many states to supplement environmental agency oversight of remediation programs to expedite site assessments, remediation, and closures. Ms. Boyle was kind enough to present with Winefield & Associates at our March 10, 2023, Brownfield Seminar in Santa Monica, CA. Here were some of the highlights:
Find Sue Boyle on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-boyle-86a255a/ Brownfield Braintrust Podcast w/ Matt Winefield, Jeremy Squire & Jay Tufano: SWRCB Resolution 92-492/14/2023
And now for a brownfields topic that, at first, seems esoteric but will actually impact just about every facet of site cleanups in California. We get into the weeds about proposed changes to Water Code Resolution 92-49. This resolution conveys policies and procedures to the State Water Board and Regional Board officials relating to the investigation and cleanup of discharges into groundwater, surface water and even soil. The topic was much too detailed and cerebral for Matt to tackle alone, so he invited two special guests: Environmental attorney Jay Tufano, Partner at Ring, Bender, LLP and environmental engineer Jeremy Squire, Vice President at Murex Environmental, Inc.
Ring Bender LLP can be found at: https://ringbenderlaw.com/ Jay Tufano is on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaytufano/ Murex Environmental is at: https://murexenv.com/ Jeremy Squire is on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-squire-pe-5659001/
So, you’ve decided to sell your contaminated property. Our tenth Brownfield Braintrust Podcast discusses a three-leg support system to ensure you’re protected from future environmental liability after the deal closes. You’ll want to consider (1) an environmental indemnification, (2) how to manage your selling entity (LLC, trust, etc.), and (3) the brownfield expertise of the buyer. What could be more riveting than a 15-minute indemnification discussion?!
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