Environmental Consulting Fundamentals: Investigation and Remediation - Tapa dura

"In one very readable volume, Ben Alter has managed to write both an excellent primer for students and aspiring environmental consultants as well as a handy reference guide for even the most experienced consultants and environmental managers. It is well written and supplemented by many helpful graphics and illustrations. Above all, it reflects the invaluable and extensive experience that the author has garnered over years of successful consulting."
―Howard N. Apsan, Ph.D., University Director of Environmental, Health, Safety and Risk Management, The City University of New York, USA

"The book is a solid overview of the type of work and projects that an environmental consultant should expect to engage in if they are employed by an environmental consulting office."
―Carrie Anne Vinch, Ryder Truck Rental, Inc, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA

"It is straightforward and easy to follow. It touches on exactly what an environmental consultant would need to know when walking into a job. It is a great blend of theory and practical information―something hard to find in most texts. ... It provides guidelines that can be easily taught to students or followed by professionals."
―Monica Tischler, Benedictine University, Lisle, Illinois, USA

Written by an environmental consultant with more than 20 years of experience, and based on a course he taught for 10 years, Environmental Consulting Fundamentals: Investigation and Remediation introduces the basic building blocks of environmental consulting. Rather than formulas and equations, it emphasizes the thought processes that go into designing an environmental study, interpreting the data, and selecting the next step-be it further investigation or remediation.

The book begins with an overview of environmental consulting, the regulatory structures that impact the work, and the underlying science of environmental processes. It then takes you through the steps of subsurface investigations and remediations, from Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments through to remedial actions. This is followed by an outline of ecological risk assessment and mitigation and a chapter on environmental impact assessments, a large subfield in environment consulting.

Moving indoors, the book then covers environmental issues related to buildings, including asbestos, lead-based paint, radon, mold, and indoor air quality. The final chapter describes a typical environmental consulting project, from designing the scope of work to developing a prospective budget and project schedule. Throughout, photographs, illustrations, and examples of environmental problems make the theoretical concepts more concrete.

A primer for those interested in a career in this dynamic, multidisciplinary field, this is also a handy reference for practicing consultants. Combining theory and practical advice, it provides an accessible introduction to the type of projects you may encounter as an environmental consultant.