Site Characterization & Clean Up

You want to be confident that your due diligence is done correctly. MFA has conducted hundreds of Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs) at sites ranging from vacant properties and gas stations to complex industrial, timberland, and landfill sites. We routinely help clients find protective and cost-effective environmental solutions for sites large and small. 

Sites with overlapping contamination and multiple environmental forces—such as wind, stormwater runoff, and wave action—require expert knowledge and tools to unravel issues. Our environmental scientists lead the industry in performing complex, multifactor modeling analyses to paint a clear picture of how contaminants are affected by and move through the environment.

Understanding how water moves through the ground can be key to understanding site contamination and what needs to be done to protect or clean up a site. Our hydrogeologists analyze groundwater movement for contaminant fate and transport and data visualization and to study the effects of climate change, inform sampling plans, and support the allocation and litigation phases of a project.

Seeing patterns of contamination in soil and sediment can be challenging. We use 3D surface and subsurface tools to provide comprehensive assessments and gain data-driven insights. Providing modeling results and related visualizations speeds up review time, supports decision-making, and reduces the cost of characterizing the site.

MFA data analysts set new standards for the collection, management, interpretation, and understanding of data. Through our decades of experience, we have developed streamlined workflows that result in consistent, high-quality chemical and environmental data along with visualizations to communicate complex conditions. We ensure that your data are sufficient, quantifiable, and of legally defensible quality.

Our scientists have significant experience completing risk assessments for a wide variety of habitats, upland and in-water uses, contaminants, and jurisdictions. We have conducted risk assessments for small and localized hazardous-substance releases as well as comprehensive risk assessments at facilities involving multiple release sites, complex sediment sites, and properties in and near Superfund sites. The scope of each risk assessment is tailored to meet client goals, is based on current scientific approaches, supports decision-making, and follows the requirements of state and federal regulations.

Understanding sediment quality is critical in any in-water work—from cleanup to development to maintenance dredging. Our approach is customized for each site’s regulatory and legal requirements to meet data quality objectives for permitting and developing an implementable and cost-effective design for successful long-term cleanup.

Environmental justice assessments are becoming more prevalent. Regulatory requirements, such as for permit applications and funding programs, include analysis of the environmental, social, and economic effects on the community associated with a proposed project. MFA’s environmental justice assessments have guided community engagement, site design, and operational considerations for both straightforward and complex sites.