ST-180 Environmental Compliance
We provide senior technical services and support to BLM offices related to the evaluation and cleanup of hazardous substance releases, cost recovery/cost avoidance associated with the cleanup/restoration and resource injury resulting from releases of hazardous substances, air and water quality issues related to the public lands, and compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Site Evaluation and Cleanup Design
We provide services in response to releases of hazardous substances affecting public lands, such as an evaluation of the release and the cleanup of those sites that pose a risk to human health and welfare or the environment. These sites include abandoned mine lands, landfills, trespass dumps, underground storage tanks, oil and gas sites, mine and mill sites, and other hazardous waste sites. Services provided to BLM offices specifically related to these response activities include:
- National Contingency Plan and RCRA Site Evaluations (Removal and Remedial PA s and SI s, EE/CA s, RI/FS, Facilities and Corrective Measures Studies)
- Design of cleanup actions (removal, remedial, corrective measures)
- Site Characterization Support (hydrology/hydrogeology, sampling, chemistry, toxicology, air quality, water quality, geophysical investigations, site mapping, GPS/GIS/photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, XRF)
- Risk Assessments
- Environmental Site Assessments for land acquisition/exchange
- Training support (various NTC classes such as 1703-14, health and safety training)
- Project Management
Contact:
| Brent Lewis 303-236-0550 (voice) brent_lewis@blm.gov |
Karl Ford 303-236-6622 (voice) karl_ford@blm.gov |
Dave Schafersman 303-236-1143 dave_schafersman@blm.gov |
Cost Recovery/Cost Avoidance Support
We provide services related to cost recovery/cost avoidance activities, such as identifying potentially responsible parties, or PRPs, liable for cleanup costs (PRP searches). In addition, we:
- Draft CERCLA Section 104(e) information request letters, demand letters for PRP payment, and general/special notice letters
- Develop case strategy
- Draft litigation support documents for the DOI Solicitor's Office and the Department of Justice
- Draft nonbinding allocation of responsibility reports
- Negotiate settlement agreements
- Draft Consent Agreements between BLM and PRPs
Contact:
| Janet Youngdahl 303-236-1734 janet_youngdahl@blm.gov |
Dave Schafersman 303-236-1143 dave_schafersman@blm.gov |
Air and Water Quality Support
We provide a variety of services to BLM offices related to air and water quality associated with the management of the public lands. Services specifically include:
- Impact analysis for proposed actions on public lands to meet BLM NEPA responsibilities
- Collection and evaluation of air and water quality analytical data
- CWA and CAA compliance assessments and assistance
- Water quality site characterization support for abandoned mine sites
Contact:
| Scott Archer (Air Quality) 303-236-6400 scott_archer@blm.gov |
Dave Schafersman 303-236-1143 dave_schafersman@blm.gov |
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR)
We provide services related to NRDAR activities when cleanups do not fully restore the resources to their original pre-release conditions of healthy, functioning, and productive.
Under NRDAR, we identify or provide an assessment of resource injuries, determine the cost of restoring the damaged resources, and then negotiate or sue to get the polluters to pay. In addition, we provide:
- Assistance in planning projects, preparing proposals for funding, working with contractors, and overseeing projects
- Help coordinating with other involved bureaus and agencies
Contact:
| Paul Meyer 303-236-8858 paul_meyer@blm.gov |
Dave Schafersman 303-236-1143 dave_schafersman@blm.gov |
External Support
Due to the demand for environmental compliance support, BLM’s senior technical staff cannot staff every request for assistance. To help fill this need, the Branch has access to an extensive cadre of expertise and resources external to BLM available to work on most environmental compliance issues. We can assist with the arrangement and procurement of these resources and can aid BLM offices with contractor or project oversight.
Contact:
| Ken Smith 303-236-0206 ken_p_smith@blm.gov |
Dave Schafersman 303-236-1143 dave_schafersman@blm.gov |