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When ONE Environmental Consultant Kaitlynn Bryan-Scaggs took on the Southeast 40 Mile Colorectal Cancer Challenge that benefits the American Cancer Society, it was in honor of her grandmother, Linda, who beat the disease decades ago.

The fundraiser called for walking, running or cycling 40 miles during March 2022. March is Colorectal Cancer Month, which calls attention to the third most common cancer in the United States. Casual conversation among Bryan-Scaggs and her co-workers in ONE’s Charlotte office sparked an idea.

“Why don’t we make it a group thing?” Environmental Consultant Austin Meyer suggested.

The ONE team in the Charlotte office — Meyer, Jenny Tang and Elli Woodward, also environmental consultants; and Founding Principal Eli Holland —joined Bryan-Scaggs, each working to compile 40 miles and soliciting donations to support the cause. Members from ONE’s other offices have contributed.

“We’re keeping each other accountable, and there’s a little friendly competition, too,” said Bryan-Scaggs, who has reached the 16-mile mark by jogging through her neighborhood.

Bryan-Scaggs visits her grandmother, 75 today, several times a month. She’s grateful to have a grandma who beat cancer, and she appreciates the support she received from everyone at ONE.

“We’re a close knit group,” she said. “It makes you feel good when other people have the same idea as you. It adds to the feeling of camaraderie we have here in the Charlotte office.”

To support the fundraiser, visit this link.

PE, LSS, Project Manager

Jason Volker brings 16 years of environmental management and regulatory experience to ONE Environmental Group’s expanding Raleigh, North Carolina, office. He is a Professional Engineer, a Licensed Soil Scientist, a certified Land Application of Residuals Operator and a Surface Irrigation System Operator.

Jason started at ONE in January 2022 and appreciates the culture of teamwork the company fosters. “Folks here are really dedicated and capable, and you’re afforded flexibility in your work and pursuit of business development opportunities,” he said. “It’s a great work environment.”

Jason grew up in Kansas and initially moved to North Carolina to attend college at Appalachian State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology (Industrial/Organizational) but discovered along the way to that degree that the hard sciences interested him more. He returned to Kansas to earn a Bachelor of Environmental Chemistry from Emporia State University and later was awarded a Master of Soil Science from North Carolina State University, where he graduated with honors.

“I was interested in water quality when I was pursuing my chemistry degree,” Jason said. A job as a wastewater laboratory analyst at Johnston County Public Utilities piqued his interest in land application of residuals and contaminant fate and transport. “During that time, I decided to get my master’s in soil science. I wanted to study the mechanisms in soil that mitigate risks to people.”

An outdoor enthusiast, Jason hiked more than 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail over two summers before starting a family. One day he hopes to return to Maine to finish the last part, but for now, he enjoys the North Carolina mountains and beaches with his wife Jennifer, and their sons — Max, 9, and Ellis, 6.

Jason also enjoys playing acoustic guitar and taught himself to play fingerstyle with the help of John Prine CDs.

ONE Environmental Group’s experience in environmental permitting and regulatory compliance can ensure companies that their next renewable energy project comes off without a hitch. Our team’s track record of established professional relationships at the federal, state, and local levels paves the path for efficient permitting required to jumpstart solar construction.

Solar construction sites require routine consulting, inspection, and maintenance, a process ONE can streamline.

While larger industries are often familiar with the permitting requirements necessary for new solar construction, smaller firms might not be. No matter the size of the company, ONE can navigate the permitting process to ensure everything is in place for construction to begin on time.

“Solar construction sites require a lot of permitting,” said ONE Environmental Consultant Jamison Clarke. “One service we provide is regulatory consultation to help the client along in the permit application process. Any permit negotiations or modifications that have to be made, whether it is with the local, state, or federal government, are areas we have expertise in.”

Permitting and plan services provided by ONE include:

• Erosion and Sediment Control Plan
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
• Spill Prevention Control, Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan
• Environmental Protection Plan
• Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
• Health and Safety Program
• Pre-Demolition: Well Abandonment, Asbestos/Lead Paint Inspection

Solar sites under construction require an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan and a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan to be in place. Most sites under development have oil containers on site and require a Spill Prevention Control, Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan.

“ONE boasts several DEQ-certified and NCDOT-certified ESC Inspectors that provide third party Erosion and Sediment Control Audits to ensure compliance with applicable regulations,” Clarke said. “Our team handles erosion and sediment control audits, making sure best management practices are being followed and working properly. We ensure there’s not a risk to resources or any other potential compliance issues that can lead to a setback.” If any deficiencies are observed, ONE can also provide field personnel to complete BMP maintenance and repairs.

In addition to inspections, ONE reviews Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans and Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan to ensure that all required documentation is up to date and in compliance.

“We are a second set of eyes,” Clarke said. “Often plans need to be revised and updated, and we make sure that none of these items is overlooked.”

ONE oversees and completes monthly inspections of oil tanks and containers required by 40 CFR  112.7 and can also assist with state requirements, such as Aboveground Storage Tank registrations or Oil Discharge Contingency Plans.

ONE also offers a plethora of additional services, including GIS mapping and drone flyovers/inspections and will work with clients to meet any additional needs that they may have.

ONE can address all the environmental services required for solar construction sites and handle a full range of other complex environmental and health and safety compliance issues that go hand-in-hand with sustainability.

Junior Project Manager

Sheridan Ferrand’s parents used to ask her if they could change the channel once in a while. They grew tired of The Weather Channel.

“That’s all I wanted to watch growing up,” Sheridan says.

Sheridan’s love of atmospheric science laid the foundation for a future related to the environment. She is the newest addition to ONE Environmental Group’s Atlanta office, where she is a Junior Project Manager and Certified Radon Measurement Professional.

“I love that ONE is such a close-knit company, that there’s not a lot of red tape to get your work done,” says Sheridan, whose early focus has been Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. “It’s so nice that everybody is willing to help out.”

Sheridan graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. She has worked in the environmental consulting industry since March 2017 and spent 3½ years at her previous employer before starting at ONE in January 2022.

Sheridan and her husband, Alex, reside in Martinez, Georgia with their Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Kirby. She has a knack for DIY interior decorating and is an avid reader. And yes, Sheridan remains a wannabe storm chaser, whose fascination with weather patterns and phenomena  dates back to watching the sci-fi flick “The Day After Tomorrow.”

“During high school, I took AP Environmental Science,” she says. “I decided to major in it in college because it encompassed atmospheric science but also allowed me to do other things.”

That turned into the right choice, because in college, Sheridan also developed a love for geology and water quality. Sheridan works remotely for ONE and anticipates traveling regularly for the company.

Environmental Consultant

Growing up in Chesterfield County, Virginia, Austin Beaudet could walk to Salem Woods Lake, and his fascination with the freshwater fish there piqued an early interest in preserving the environment.

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Freshwater Fish Conservation from Virginia Tech in 2020.

“I thought freshwater fish were thought about a lot less than they should be,” says Austin, who spent a summer assisting in Maymont’s environmental education programs before starting at ONE Environmental Group in December 2021.

“Everyone here has a similar mindset to me as far as caring about the environment,” Austin says. “I love learning new things and definitely am getting a full plate of learning every day.”

ONE is expanding its work in fish conservation and Austin will play a major role in that moving forward. Currently, he is an inspector for as many as 20 sites, ensuring each is compliant with EPA guidelines.

Austin was born a triplet, and his brother, sister and their older brother all graduated from Virginia Tech. All four siblings love Ultimate Frisbee, a sport Austin calls “a combination of being an athlete and being a nerd.” Austin competed on the Ultimate Frisbee team all four of his years at L.C. Bird High School, coached the women’s team at Virginia Tech, and today is at work building a startup youth league in Richmond.

“That’s a big passion of mine,” he says. “I love the fact that when I was learning and getting coached, those coaches have such an important place in my memory and will for the rest of my life. I want to go back and give the same passion and effort to other people so I can help them be the best that they can be.”

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Voluntary Remediation Program encourages hazardous substance cleanups that might not otherwise take place. The program allows site owners or operators to voluntarily address contamination sites with oversight and approval from DEQ. The main goals are site redevelopment and protection of human health and the environment.

The program provides regulatory oversight and facilitates the sale and/or reuse of industrial and commercial properties in the Commonwealth, which benefits all Virginians. Participation decreases potential environmental liabilities of reusing or further developing existing commercial properties.

When remediation is properly completed, DEQ issues a transferable Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Remediation.

How ONE Can Navigate What Can be a Cumbersome Process

Some property owners or developers may have a limited understanding of regulatory requirements for redevelopment projects or a lack of understanding of how to successful navigate the Voluntary Remediation Program. Fortunately, ONE Environmental Principal Jeff Duncan is among the team members with thorough expertise of the Voluntary Remediation Program, and his established history of collaborative relationships with the state’s regulatory agencies can prevent speed bumps from becoming roadblocks. His valuable experience can streamline what can be a staggeringly slow process for someone unfamiliar with the program’s precise requirements and guidelines. Most recently, his efforts for a Virginia Beach project earned the client a Satisfactory Completion Remediation Certificate in less than a year after contracting ONE.

In that case, a developer opted to complete DEQ’s Voluntary Remediation Program because a historic use of the property included an on-site dry-cleaning business. Dry cleaning operations raise a concern for potential contamination. While cleaning agents can be more eco-friendly today, chlorinated and petroleum-based solvents are often associated with dry cleaning and can linger in the environment for decades.

“One of those is Perchloroethylene or perc,” Duncan said. “These contaminants easily spread in the environment. Even spills that occur on concrete or asphalt will seep right through and enter the subsurface environment. It can migrate into soil and groundwater.  Once in the soil and groundwater, it can migrate, and vapors can impact indoor air in structures.”

Initial assessments for the property dated back almost 15 years. Multiple studies had been completed in that time for the former strip mall site that had since become dilapidated. ONE was engaged to streamline the project to completion.

Instead of spending additional time and monies on extensive site assessment, the focus was on risk assessment. Duncan relied on existing data sets and used his skills with the Virginia Unified Risk Assessment Model (VURAM) to set relevant remediation goals for the site.

ONE conducted a soil gas survey to ensure safety of nearby enclosed buildings and updated Risk and Remediation assessments. No additional studies were required as Duncan was able to move the project to completion by placing land use restrictions, ensuring health and safety measures, and groundwater prohibitions.

“The main remediation effort was to limit exposure,” Duncan said. “If you eliminate exposure, you limit risk.” Ultimately there was no excavation or treatment of soil and groundwater required.

The solution-based approach and streamlined effort “exemplify ONE’s relationship with the regulators,” Duncan said. “We have a great understanding of the program itself, and that, in turn, benefits the client.”

The certificate is transferrable and a valuable asset to a potential purchaser or a tenant. “The DEQ will transfer it to a new buyer as long as the buyer abides by the specified restrictions,” Duncan said.

Thanks to ONE’s efforts, the client can now secure tenants who may have been risk-averse. Any potential tenant can rest assured that the site is DEQ-approved.

ONE can help a wide range of clients address issues related to Voluntary Remediation Programs and other complex environmental, health and safety concerns.