Over the past twenty years, Tierra Group’s staff of industry experts has supported the design, permitting, and build-out of hundreds of infrastructure development projects with special emphasis on dewatering for underground utilities and subsurface construction.  Today’s tightening regulatory environment demands effective project planning and execution that begins with our knowledgeable, diligent, and deliberative approach to permitting. Tierra Group provides turn-key solutions including:

• Site Feasibility, Geology, Groundwater, and Surface Water Assessment
• Dewatering System Design, Permitting, Operations & Maintenance
• Drainage Wells and Impoundments for Construction Dewatering & Stormwater Management
• Turbidity Controls, Treatment, and Monitoring
• Contaminated Site Testing, Remediation Plans, and Filtration Systems
• Regulatory Affairs & Subject Matter Experts
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) for Sediment and Erosion Control

Customized dewatering plans are a critical and necessary component of the permitting process, and Tierra Group ensures that its cost-effective project designs are well-received by regulatory agencies.  Federal, state, county, and city permit regulations are a maze of requirements that increase in complexity when subsurface contamination is present beneath a job site.  Discharges to protected wetlands and surface waters bring another series of challenges, and Tierra Group’s broad experience with environmental rules governed by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Florida Administrative Code (FAC) is key to obtaining permit approvals in the most timely manner possible.  Our mission is to get your project out of the ground as quickly as possible while maintaining compliance and ensuring the protection of the environment through all stages of project dewatering with emphasis on turbidity management and contamination treatment.

• Tierra Group is highly experienced and over the years has become a trusted partner for stakeholders, developers, and governmental agencies. Their vast experience and seasoned staff have served Florida for over fifteen years. Regulatory environmental resource permitting will involve multiple agencies and overlapping codes and compliance requirements. A trusted environmental advisor is key.
• Tierra Group provides comprehensive site evaluation studies that assist owners and developers during project planning stages — before costly mitigation is required. Regulatory permitting for natural resources is an extensive and prohibitive business; therefore Tierra Group works with its clientele to develop efficient and environmentally-responsible project plans that streamline the process.
• Property owners, developers, and institutions are prohibited from impacting natural resources (i.e., wetlands, listed species, native habitat, and tree canopy) unless proper permits are in order. Planning for Environmental Resource Permits and Water Use Permits is essential for all parties to consider during the conceptual design and project feasibility stage. These permits usually require the stakeholder to mitigate for planned impacts through the replacement, preservation, or payment of penalties to offset the loss of a natural resource. Tierra Group is specialized to manage the necessary details of environmental resource permitting and mitigation area management. The company’s ecological services and wetlands management approach are rooted in cost-effective and responsible stewardship practices for the southeast region where land use restrictions are numerous due to the geographic location and proximity to the Everglades, estuaries, bays and reef systems of Florida.

About Seagrass Surveys
One aspect of permit compliance for dock and seawall construction is the performance of a benthic survey. Benthic surveys are performed to evaluate conditions of the marine environment. Tierra Group’s resource survey activities are completed using an approved quadrat sampling methodology. Survey methodology includes the determination of percent coverage and location of ecological resources (i.e., seagrasses, corals, shellfish, etc.) and the presence or absence of Halophila johnsonii (Johnson’s seagrass), a threatened and protected species of seagrass sometimes present in benthic communities of the south Florida region.

About Species Monitoring
Tierra Group also provides endangered species surveys and monitoring for land development and mitigation area management. Tierra Group’s team evaluates project areas using an approved meandering transect sampling methodology. Along each meandering transect, observed species are recorded. For long-term projects, Tierra Group conducts daily species monitoring to evaluate the movements of identified species and assess the impact of land development activities on the species observed.

About Phase I & Phase II ESA Processes
Tierra Group has developed a variety of innovative and practical due diligence solutions for buyers, sellers, and lenders that minimize environmental liabilities while maximizing value. From standard Phase I Environmental Site Assessments to asbestos surveys and remediation cost evaluation, Tierra Group rapidly and accurately assesses potential environmental liabilities that may otherwise lead to a “deal killer.???

The Phase I ESA provides a good general indication of past and existing site conditions that may indicate a recognized environmental condition (REC). The assessment report provides a review of known and observable conditions that allow a stakeholder to evaluate environmental risks at a relatively low cost. Based on the Phase I ESA findings, a stakeholder should be able to decide whether to continue with a project, investigate further, or terminate a contract based on the level of environmental risk identified. Potential compliance violations are also found during the assessment, which will clarify the necessity for the BMPs.

The Phase II ESA evaluates the potential for environmental impairment of a site caused by contamination of soils, groundwater, air, surface water, building materials or other environmental risks on the property or a nearby site. It is commonly needed when visual evidence of a contaminant spill is identified during the site inspection. Likewise, if historical records indicate the occurrence of a spill or release of contaminants, it is prudent to conduct a Phase II investigation to determine the presence and / or extent of contamination.

Today, the number of laws and agencies regulating industry can be overwhelming; CERCLA, RCRA, EPA, OSHA to name a few. Facility managers are challenged to meet many stringent environmental regulations, and unfortunately, a last minute call due to a compliance violation can be costly. Picking the right environmental partner to quickly assess and respond to these issues will save hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Tierra Group is Florida’s premier full-service environmental consulting firm offering quality, cost-effective environmental compliance, permitting, and health and safety solutions in a timely manner.

By being proactive, facility management can keep this myriad of regulatory requirements in check. Proactive organizations striving for environmental compliance must identify and implement Best Management Practices (BMP). Tierra Group specializes in helping clients create, implement, and maintain solid BMPs. An average client saves up to 20% on related overhead costs when they have a Tierra Group environmental management strategy in place. Tierra Group has built a solid reputation by understanding clients’ needs before costly investigation activities are undertaken. A preliminary risk evaluation is key to identifying the true cost of ownership.

Tierra Group custom tailors its services to fit the level of risk and degree of thoroughness demanded by stakeholders. The company understands the need to control costs and establish an appropriate plan of action suited to facility operations.

Services

• Response to Agency Notices/Violations for Testing and Contamination Assessment.
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessments compliant with ASTM and SBA standards.
• Phase II Site Investigations to identify contamination, evaluate cleanup options and provide risk evaluations.
• Facility compliance audits and Health & Safety evaluations.
• Third-party review and mediation support for Negotiating with Regulatory Agencies.
• Insurance claim review & restoration management service.

Subsurface utility engineering  helps round out the three critical areas where Tierra can add value for clients. That includes, environmental risk assessment for project stakeholders; site evaluations, surveying and mapping for engineering designers; and permitting and environmental compliance for project managers.

“Radon causes lung cancer. More than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer every year. If you smoke or vape, your risk of lung cancer from radon exposure is much higher.” (Sources: https://www.epa.gov/radon www.adph.org/radon/assets/surgeon_general_radon.pdf)

Indoor Radon Gas Dangers
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that comes from the decay of uranium found in natural soils and rocks all over the world. This gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and presents a significant hazard because it can infiltrate any type of structure and become concentrated, resulting in high indoor radon levels.

Tierra Group is a licensed radon testing and mitigation solutions provider with decades of experience addressing indoor air quality and occupational health issues for Class A commercial and luxury residential structures. Our expertise includes testing, reporting, engineering design, contaminant remediation, and litigation support.

Radon is most harmful to humans and pets when it is inhaled. It gets into homes and other buildings through cracks or openings in the foundation as well as from building materials containing natural rock such as limestone, granite, or marble. If not ventilated outside, radon can build up within a structure to harmful levels. Drinking water containing radon is much less of a health risk than inhaling radon. However, radon can also get into indoor air from water containing radon, mostly during bathing, cleaning, and cooking. Radon gas is heavier than air. Small children are at greater risk for radon exposure because they breathe air closer to the ground where levels are highest, and they breathe a greater volume of air in relation to their body size.

Reducing Radon Levels
Radon gas cannot be destroyed, but it can be exhausted from a building. Homes with radon test results at or above the U.S. EPA’s radon action level of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L), which are considered high, should be thoroughly inspected for cracks and openings in the foundation.
These should be sealed to prevent radon from entering. A radon reduction system and/or permanent ventilation improvements can also be permanently installed.

Tierra Group Radon Services
Concerned owners and property managers should have testing performed to assess the concentration of indoor radon gas. If short-term test measurements below 4 pCi/L, the building owner/manager may adopt an annual schedule of future monitoring to ensure no increase. However, if test results are equal to or greater than 4 pCi/L, Tierra Group will conduct verification testing to help provide an owner with information to make an informed decision on whether to mitigate to reduce radon levels.

From the materials, air exchanges, and air quality in and around patients and staff, these factors combine to affect the provision for and quality of healthcare.  A depth and breadth of understanding of the various analytical methods, engineering, techniques, work practice controls, and other methods are essential to health and life safety.

Tierra Group has a national team of award-winning dental and medical infection control experts to help your practice install the right plans and procedures to mitigate the effects of infectious and communicable disease pathogens in settings from routine to emergency pandemic conditions.  Understanding the unique requirements for dental clinics, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, physical plants, and other care facilities is critical to providing the right assessment to determine and mitigate any negative impacts. Let our professional staff the critical analyses and measurements and create a tailored Infection Control Plan (ICP), to ensure the highest quality EOC for your staff and patients.

Our multi-disciplinary teams provide customers with nearly
forty critical support services for the energy generation,
power transmission, and government infrastructure sectors.

Tierra’s solutions range from environmental engineering, surveying and mapping,
subsurface utilities, to multi-stage soil and groundwater remediation.

These initiatives support repowering projects that expand new generating
capacity across legacy infrastructure.

• Environmental Risk Assessment for Project Stakeholders
• Subsurface Evaluations, Surveying and Mapping for Engineering Designers
• Permitting and Environmental Compliance for Project Managers Experience That’s Smart.

Tierra Group combines over a quarter-century of direct experience working
alongside America’s largest power and water utilities with a mastery of government
program and project management. That makes us an ideal fit to fulfill your
assessment of needs and build a smart priority list of mission-critical tasks.
Geoscience For Your Mission.

Every day, Tierra Group engineers, geologists, surveyors and scientists tackle the
complex projects other firms may shy away from. And this is why our reputation
and customer list is growing to meet the needs of the sometimes uncertain
environmental regulatory landscape.

Since we accomplish these missions every day, Tierra Group is specifically
qualified to solve the complex and diverse geoscience challenges facing power
utility operators today.

• Assisted with various dewatering projects for underground duct installation. Activities included dewatering permit application submission and approval, turbidity monitoring during dewatering activities, and satisfaction of permit requirements.
• Soil and groundwater assessment, monitoring, and remediation management activities at power distribution and generation facilities in accordance with all applicable environmental regulations and standards.