Environmental Inspection and Reporting Requirements

This event qualifies for Varied CLE, CC, ENG

Be prepared for an inspection and know your reporting requirements to avoid costly penalties.

In today's business world, we all wear many hats and business owners, managers, engineering, and line personnel often become responsible for matters that they have little practical experience /training or do only occasionally. This includes organizing and participating in company mandated environmental inspections or audits as well as working effectively and proactively with federal, state, and local regulatory agency inspectors. Failure to do so can have significant career and legal ramifications. For example, in FY2014 U.S. EPA conducted over 15,600 facility inspections and evaluations resulting in nearly $100 million in federal administrative and civil judicial penalties. Many state environmental inspection and enforcement programs reported similar, proportional results. This topic helps the persons directly responsible for environmental compliance at a facility to understand the objectives of these inspections or audits and to successfully prepare, respond, and document findings and follow-up actions. The information will serve as a valuable tool for those who regularly advise these type of businesses in how to respond to an audit or inspection finding that is incorrect or not consistent with actual facility practices. It includes information on the steps to take before an audit or inspection, how to interact with the auditor or government agency inspector, what key areas the auditors or inspectors will focus on, and useful tips on how to challenge an audit or inspection finding.

Learning Objectives

- You will be able to describe the differences in objectives and outcomes between and company mandated environmental compliance audits and regulatory driven facility inspections.

- You will be able to identify and dispute those factually incorrect or over zealously listed deficiencies.

- You will be able to recognize how to organize and prepare for an environmental compliance audit or inspection and successfully manage the on-site (in-plant) audit or inspection process.

- You will be able to discuss when to ask for help in negotiating penalties and when to institute more formal administrative or legal proceedings.

Speaker and Presenter Information

Robert Blauvelt

Gei Consultants, Inc.

Senior environmental consultant and manager of GEO Consultants northern New Jersey office
Assists clients in complex, multimedia compliance audits and regulatory inspections along with nationwide due diligence environmental assessments related to business mergers and acquisitions
Extensive experience in ground water remediation
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager
Adjunct professor at New York University and Rutgers University
Chair of the New Jersey’s Environmental Business Council’s Sustainability Committee
Master and bachelor degrees in geology
Can be contacted at 973-873-7127 or rblauvelt@geiconsultants.com

Gary A. Rozmus, P.E.

GEI Consultants, Inc

Senior consultant at GEI Consultants, Inc. directing Brownfield redevelopment, freight and transit projects and real estate acquisition and development environmental services including site assessment, remediation, facility decommissioning and closure, risk-based closure, environmental permitting and compliance, natural resources assessments, and environmental construction management
New York City SPEED portal (Searchable Property Environmental E-Database) ACEC Diamond and National Recognition Awards
Member of the New York City Brownfield Partnership Board of Directors and first board president, American Railway Development Association Board of Directors, secretary-treasurer
Conference planning committees and presenter at numerous events including EPA Brownfield Conference and Railroad Environmental Confer-ence
Bachelor and master of engineering degrees, Manhattan College and Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute of NY
Can be contacted at 631-479-3510 or grozmus@geiconsultants.com