The Illinois Department of Natural Resources administers the state-financed Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants. This cost-sharing grant program between the state and local governments helps Illinois communities acquire and develop land for public parks and recreational spaces. Whether it is a small neighborhood park or a la...
In an industrial setting, it's common that hazard communication standards are followed. You've likely seen one without realizing it. Consider even the warning label on a bottle of bleach in a janitor's closet. Workplaces with greater potential hazards use these standards more. And now, updates to those longstanding policies could require an overhau...
Renovating a property listed on the historic registry is difficult. Doing it while also changing the property's intended use is even harder. Taking that on after a fire and with hazardous contamination present is the kind of challenge that requires experts from across industries to work together. When they do it successfully, the results can be spe...
Anytime you sweep dirt into a dustpan, there's always that little line that remains on the floor. So you back the dustpan up an inch, start again, and keep going until the dirt line has all but vanished. No matter how well you sweep, there will always be a small amount of dust left. It's the same with residual contamination in the world of environm...
You've purchased brownfield property, conducted Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, installed a vapor intrusion mitigation system, completed a site investigation, and conducted remediation. But have you done enough? Site contamination has potentially lethal consequences and shouldn't be taken lightly. That's why engineers have a va...
Some scents, like chocolate chip cookies or fresh linen, evoke delight. Others, like smoke from a fire, serve as a warning, signaling that something could be wrong. But what if something was wrong – and you couldn't smell it? Those smells – or vapors – are perhaps the most harmful because you're breathing them without knowing it. Then, you don't ta...
Ongoing compliance with MS4 permits is among the most critical aspects of maintaining clean stormwater systems within your community. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires municipalities that are MS4 permit holders to conduct ongoing monitoring and reporting. There are six minimum control measures expected under MS4 permits: P...
Keeping bodies of water clean is a priority for everyone, which is why the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates MS4 permits. What are MS4 permits? Short for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, MS4 permits are required for municipalities that have water discharging into state or federal waters. Because that encompasses n...
For industries required to obtain an Illinois General Stormwater Permit, subtle changes went into effect this summer that will change a company's environmental responsibilities. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for stormwater discharges from industrial acti...
Groundwater monitoring refers to monitoring water underground in saturated zones of soil and rock. Within these saturated zones, groundwater fills the cracks and spaces in rock and soil. Collectively, these underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock and rock fractures hold 97% of global freshwater resources. "In the United States, groundwat...
For brownfield redevelopment projects, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) might uncover evolving environmental concerns, including leaking underground storage tanks, contaminated soil or water and illegal waste disposal, among others. If a Phase I ESA identifies Recognized Environmental Conditions, including emerging contaminants of conc...
Environmental due diligence — the first step in any commercial land transaction — is critical to evaluate environmental conditions and risks associated with a property. Whether you are a property owner, developer, lender or local government official, environmental due diligence and proactive risk management can help you make informed decisions duri...
The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) International, which has established standard practices for Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), defines a Phase I ESA as a method of assessing the environmental condition of commercial real estate. As a customary due diligence practice of commercial real estate transactions, a Phase I ESA incl...
The phrase "orphaned wells" describes approximately 3.5 million oil or gas wells abandoned by fossil fuel organizations across the U.S. Disconnected because of viability, bankruptcy or neglect, these wells have no legal owners, operators or responsible parties to plug and restore them. Orphaned wells pose serious threats to human and environmental ...
Approval for construction projects might require additional time and money moving forward, but for a good reason: protecting the balance of the natural ecosystem throughout Illinois. In 2015, the Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat were listed as a threatened species, after a deadly disease of hibernating bats spread through their populations. ...
From small, boarded-up gas stations to abandoned factories, variously sized brownfields comprise familiar parts of the landscape across the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates more than 450,000 brownfields are situated throughout remote and urban settings. Often in economically distressed communities, the proximity of...
A critical source of drinking water and irrigation, groundwater makes up about 90% of total available freshwater in the United States. When chemicals from pesticides, fertilizers, road salt, petroleum products, leaking underground storage tanks, landfill waste and other sources seep into groundwater over time, contamination occurs. Because groundwa...
As of March 2022, more than 566,000 underground storage tank (UST) releases were confirmed across the United States. Leakage from USTs often contains hazardous substances like toluene, benzene, ethanol, lead scavengers and methyl tert-butyl ether, which can contaminate soil, groundwater, surface water and air if left untreated. Such toxic releases ...
The high resistance of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals to heat, water and oil makes them useful for a range of commercial and industrial applications. However, these commercially valuable qualities also impede environmental remediation. The limited reactivity of PFAS chemicals inhibits their combination with other elements and ...
For brownfield sites, the specific contaminants and extent of contamination — unsafe levels found in soil, water or air from industrial and commercial use — determine specific steps used for the cleanup process. While one location may only need an independent cleanup, another site may require the involvement of state and federal regulators. Regardl...
