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Operations Assistant

Sara Elder joined ONE Environmental Group’s Richmond headquarters as Operations Assistant. The Orange County California native supports a variety of administrative and office management roles, including organizing events, ordering supplies and accounts receivable.

Sara came to ONE after spending time as a stay-at-home mother to her four boys ages 17, 12, 11 and 8. “The environment at ONE is truly special,” she says. “The people are amazing and so welcoming, making it such a great place to return to the workforce.”

Earlier, she served for a number of years as a credit analyst at eyewear manufacturer Oakley, Inc. She holds a Criminal Justice degree from Reynolds Community College and also attended Old Dominion University.

Away from the office, Sara enjoys spending time with her family and animals which include a pit bull mix, three cats and more than a dozen chickens. She is also an accomplished bass fisherman, having earned a citation for catching a nine-pound bass on Lake Shawnee.

Environmental Consultant

Vivian Sammler joined the ONE Environmental Mid Atlantic team with an Environmental Science degree from Western Carolina University. Vivian has the distinction of triple citizenship – originally from Illnau, Switzerland, she was raised in the United States and her father is a native of Germany.

In her Environmental Consultant role at ONE, Vivian puts her broad educational background to work performing a wide range of tasks across multiple projects helping clients meet important regulatory compliance requirements.

Some of her initial engagements have included supporting waste inspections, site assessments and groundwater data sample collections. The mix of field and office work in her day-to-day schedule is appealing.

“I really appreciate the job flexibility that ONE offers, and the people are extremely nice,” Vivian says. “It’s one thing to love your job and the work, but the people really matter the most.”

Vivian lives in Charlotte with her dog, Ben, a mix of pit bull and German shepherd and her feline companion George, known for having orange cat energy. In her free time, Vivian is getting into paper mâché and learning Spanish, and she loves to take advantage of any opportunity to travel. Soccer and tennis were her sports growing up, and she also enjoyed music, even teaching herself how to play the song Mo Bamba on the trumpet.

Today’s drone technologies are revolutionizing the way environmental monitoring, mapping, surveying and inspections are conducted, providing efficient, accurate, and cost-effective solutions for clients.

The ONE Environmental team has FAA Part 107-certified drone/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pilots on staff who are using next-generation drones to perform a variety of new services and augment existing ones. This includes using drone platform solutions from providers such as DroneDeploy to help integrate aerial and ground data and give clients a holistic view of their environment.

At ONE, drones are changing the game in the following areas:

Aerial Surveys and Mapping

Using advanced drone technology, we conduct aerial surveys and site maps sites with precision and detail. From large-scale land surveys to intricate mapping, our drones capture high-resolution imagery and generate accurate 3D models, allowing for better analysis and decision-making.

Erosion and Sediment Control

Drones are a powerful tool used in today’s erosion and sediment control programs. Our drone pilots can quickly survey large areas, capturing detailed visual data that aids in environmental impact assessments. By identifying potential risks and rapidly changing environmental conditions early on, we can help site operators design effective mitigation strategies.

Environmental Compliance Inspections

We offer efficient and thorough environmental compliance inspections using drones. From industrial sites to construction projects, our drone pilots conduct aerial inspections to identify potential environmental hazards, monitor compliance with regulations, and assess environmental impacts. Real-time imagery helps clients quickly identify problems during audits, minimizing risks and ensuring adherence to environmental standards.

Contact ONE today to learn more about our drone capability service offerings and how we can tailor our solutions to meet your specific requirements.

Senior Project Manager

Kevin Rideout joined the ONE Environmental Group Team in August of 2023, bringing with him a wealth of experience as an Environmental Superintendent. The native of Stony Creek, Virginia, located just south of Petersburg, now lives in nearby Prince George County and serves as Senior Project Manager at ONE.

Prior to ONE, Kevin spent over 25 years at Iluka Resources, serving in a variety of positions at the global mining company’s mineral sands processing location in Sussex County, Virginia. The company held one of the first Limited Scope Radiation Material Licenses for Naturally Occurring Radiation Material in the Commonwealth, and Kevin played a role in the program that was built around it.

Kevin is a licensed Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) with experience operating nuclear fixed density gauges, performing leak tests and other client activities requiring an understanding of the principles and safety fundamentals related to radiation.  

In addition to his mining and radiation expertise and credentials, Kevin also holds Wastewater Class III and Waterworks Class VI Operators’ licenses in Virginia. Kevin’s combined experience makes him well equipped to help ONE Environmental clients manage an evolving array of compliance and regulation requirements.

“You have the best of both worlds at ONE,” said Kevin. “Clients get the freedom, access and quick reaction of a small company, but we also have the expertise and horsepower of much larger environmental consulting firms.”

Outside of work, Kevin is often found in the field, managing two small timber farms and enjoying the occasional hike with his wife and teenage daughter who dances on the regional dance competition circuit.

Environmental Consultant I

Northeast Texas native Jacey Sturch joined ONE Environmental Group’s Atlanta office in January 2024. Her focus there is due diligence projects, including Phase I ESAs and Phase II site investigations, as well as assisting with on-going groundwater monitoring and site remediation projects. She will also be completing industrial compliance work including groundwater and soil sampling, storm water monitoring and inspections, and overall environmental compliance field work.

Jacey earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a biology minor at Stephen F. Austin University and worked for three years in environmental consulting before joining the team at ONE. “After researching the company and its values, I was impressed by how ONE operates and what it stands for,” she said. “Seeing how they care for their employees made me want to accept the job once it was offered.”

Jacey grew up planning to be a professional author and had her first book, the high fantasy “Night of a Thousand Lights,” published in 2021. As much as she enjoys writing, her devotion to the environment stems from being raised in the culture of the Native American tribe Choctaw.

“A big part of our culture is to be a good steward to the Earth and leave it in a good place, not just for my children but for the next seven generations,” she said. “I was taught to care about the environment ever since I was a very little kid.” Jacey is writing a second book in her free time. She also enjoys co-op video games, especially Baldur’s Gate 3, and loves to travel. She vacationed last summer on a cruise to the Caribbean, which included a stop in Haiti. She’s hopeful that Ireland and Scotland are next.

When it comes to compliance, adhering to the myriad of environmental reporting requirements is key. As industries and businesses continue to evolve, so do the regulations governing their environmental impact. Among the crucial obligations that organizations face are the annual reporting mandates set forth by various environmental agencies.

ONE Environmental understands the significance of these reporting obligations and the complexities that come with them. Below is a friendly reminder of just a few of the major reporting requirements and deadlines that the ONE team can help operators manage, prepare for, and submit.

As we close out 2023, it’s a great time for operators to summarize key data to get the jump on reporting in the new year.

EPCRA Reporting: Tier II (Section 312) Due March 1 annually, TRI (Section 313) Due July 1 annually.

Passed in 1986, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) addresses chemical-related safety and environmental concerns, specifically around how hazardous chemicals are stored and handled. In general, Tier II reporting is required under Section 312 of EPCRA for any facility with 10,000 pounds or more of a hazardous chemical at any one point in a calendar year. Note that certain chemicals may have lower thresholds. Also, other sections of the EPCRA have different reporting requirements. For example, Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting is due annually on July 1^st, Section 302 notifications are due within 60 days after receiving a chemical shipment or producing a hazardous substance and Section 304 release notifications must be made immediately.

RCRA Biennial Reporting for LGQs: Due March 1 of even years.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) has its own set of reporting requirements related to hazardous wastes. All RCRA Large Quantity Generators (LGQs) of hazardous waste in most states must file a Biennial (every other year) Report. This report is due each even year for the previous odd year’s hazardous waste generation. Keep in mind that this is a biennial report, and it is only required for Large Quantity Generators. Facilities that are generating within Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) or Small Quantity Generator (SQG) limits are exempt from this particular reporting requirement.

EPA Refrigerant Reporting: Due March 1 annually.

The EPA requires facilities to document and retain service and maintenance records for certain appliances containing refrigerants, depending on the unit type and refrigerant capacity. Facilities are also required to submit a report to the EPA by March 1st of each year for specific types of units, if in the calendar year 125% of the unit’s capacity is added to the appliance.

EPA Air Reporting Requirements: Due annually.

The EPA’s Air Emissions Reporting Requirements (AERR) authorize state and local agencies to collect and submit emissions data each year. This includes Air Emissions Inventories that are due to state agencies often by March 1^st, April 15^th, or June 30^th. Most states require these to be submitted electronically or online. Some facility operators must submit reports under the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) that cover emissions from the prior calendar year that are due by March 31st of each year. In addition, Annual Compliance Certification (ACC) under the EPA’s Title V air quality requirement must be submitted to many state agencies and the EPA by March 1^st of each year.

Remember that simply knowing when reports must be submitted is just the start. Properly preparing and filing each report is also critically important. The fines and penalties can be steep for operators who let their programs slip out of compliance due to incomplete reporting or missed deadlines.

The ONE team has vast experience in these areas and stands ready to offer guidance and assistance throughout the entire reporting process. Contact us to discuss your specific environmental reporting requirements and how we can help you keep your programs compliant year-round.