Expertise
The Power of Sustainable Solutions
Tierra Group is an environmental engineering firm providing sustainable geoscience solutions to mitigate environmental challenges. Our multi-disciplinary teams provide clients with numerous critical support services for the energy generation, power transmission, government infrastructure, construction, healthcare, and real estate development sectors.
Tierra Group’s core solutions include environmental engineering, surveying and mapping, permitting and regulatory compliance support, subsurface utility engineering, and multi-stage soil and groundwater remediation, among others. Our expertise is central to regulatory compliance assurance, business growth, environmental sustainability, and the expansion of utility-generating capacity across legacy and new infrastructure.
Services:
Property owners, developers, and institutions are prohibited from impacting natural resources, such as wetlands, listed species, native habitats, and tree canopies, without the proper permits in place. Planning for Environmental Resource Permits and Water Use Permits is essential during the conceptual design and project feasibility stage, as these permits often require stakeholders to mitigate planned impacts through replacement, preservation, or penalties to offset the loss of natural resources.
Tierra Group provides:
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
- Phase I ESA evaluates potential environmental risks by reviewing historical and current site conditions, helping stakeholders assess project viability. It offers a cost-effective way to decide whether to proceed, investigate further, or terminate a project.
- Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
- Phase II ESA determines if contamination exists within a site caused by contamination of soil, groundwater, air, surface water, or building materials. It is typically conducted when visual evidence of contamination is observed, or historical records suggest a spill or release of contaminants.
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Planning (SWPPP)
- A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) identifies potential sources of stormwater pollution. It is required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for construction and industrial activities to manage stormwater runoff. The SWPPP ensures compliance with environmental regulations and protects water quality throughout the project lifecycle.
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits
- NPDES permits regulate water pollution by controlling the discharge of pollutants from point sources into U.S. waters. They set discharge limits, require monitoring and reporting, and ensure compliance with federal and state clean water standards.
Tierra Group, with over twenty years of experience, specializes in managing the complexities of environmental resource permitting and mitigation area management, establishing itself as a trusted partner for stakeholders, developers, and governmental agencies. Tierra’s ecological services and wetlands management approach is rooted in cost-effective, responsible stewardship practices tailored for the Southeast region, where navigating overlapping codes and compliance with complex regulations are vital due to the proximity to the Everglades, estuaries, bays, and reef systems of Florida.
Over the past twenty years, Tierra Group has supported the construction industry with environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, and field services for hundreds of utility infrastructure and commercial development projects. In today’s business environment, effective project planning and execution is necessary to deliver your projects on time and on budget. Tierra Group’s thorough and cost-saving approach to permitting, risk and loss mitigation, and project site support can help you achieve the desired results. We can guide you through the permitting maze when several municipalities and jurisdictions are involved. Regulatory requirements increase in complexity when subsurface contamination is present. 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 timeliest manner possible.
Tierra Group Assured Geoscience Solutions for construction:
- Agency Compliance, Regulatory Affairs, and Subject Matter Experts
- Pre-Renovation and Pre-Demolition Surveys and Permitting
- Due Diligence Assessments
- Site Feasibility, Geology, Soil, Groundwater, and Surface Water Assessments
- Contaminated Site Testing, Remediation Plans, and Filtration Systems
- Dewatering System Design, Permitting, Operations & Maintenance
- Drainage Wells and Impoundments for Construction Dewatering & Stormwater Management
- Turbidity Controls, Treatment, and Monitoring
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) for Sediment and Erosion Control
- Health and Safety Plans (HASP), Dust and Soil Management Plans (D/SMP), and Plan Oversight
Tierra Group’s staff of industry experts has supported the design, permitting, and build-out of hundreds of infrastructure and commercial development projects, with emphasis on dewatering for underground utilities and subsurface construction. Today’s regulatory and economic environment demands effective project planning and execution that begins with our knowledgeable, thorough, and deliberative approach to permitting.
Tierra Group Assured Geoscience Solutions for dewatering:
- Site Feasibility, Geology, Soil, Groundwater, and Surface Water Assessments
- Dewatering Permitting, System Design, Operations & Maintenance
- Drainage Wells and Impoundments for Construction Dewatering & Stormwater Management
- Turbidity Controls, Treatment, and Monitoring
- Contaminated Site Testing, Remediation Plans, and Filtration Systems
- Agency Compliance, Regulatory Affairs, and 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 and workable project designs are appropriate for obtaining prompt regulatory approval. 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 timeliest manner possible. Our mission is to move your project forward while maintaining compliance and ensuring the protection of the environment through all stages of dewatering with emphasis on turbidity management and contamination treatment.
Tierra Group is a leading environmental remediation consultancy dedicated to addressing and mitigating environmental challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. Our expertise spans a wide range of services, including site assessment, risk evaluation, remediation design, and project management. We utilize advanced technologies and methodologies to identify and remediate soil, groundwater, and surface water contamination. Our goal is to protect human health and the environment while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
A core aspect of our services is contamination cleanup, where we employ cutting-edge techniques and equipment to efficiently remove hazardous substances from affected areas. Our team is adept at managing complex cleanup projects, from initial assessment to final site restoration, ensuring minimal disruption to surrounding communities and ecosystems. We prioritize the use of environmentally friendly methods and materials, striving to achieve the highest standards of safety and effectiveness in every project.
Tierra Group also has extensive experience in partnering with utilities, developers, and government agencies on remediation projects. We understand the stringent regulatory requirements and the need for transparent communication and collaboration in these initiatives. Our team is skilled in navigating the complexities of government contracts and is committed to delivering high-quality results within budget and on schedule. By leveraging our expertise, clients and government agencies can rely on us to effectively manage and remediate contaminated sites, contributing to safer and healthier communities.
At Tierra Group, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence, integrity, and client satisfaction. Our tailored solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of each project, whether it involves industrial facilities, brownfield redevelopment, or emergency response situations. By partnering with us, clients can trust that their environmental challenges will be addressed with the highest level of expertise and professionalism.
Surveying and Mapping, Geospatial Awareness, and Bathymetry are critical components to ensuring project success from the start. These key disciplines have been the basis of human development since the beginning of recorded history. By using the art and science of these techniques, Tierra Group’s team of licensed professionals can determine your project’s critical three-dimensional positions and points wherever they are on earth, air, or water.
Our clients come from across the Commercial, Dredging, Healthcare, Industrial, Government, Residential, and Utility sectors and our services include:
- Acreage Surveys
- Aerial Surveys (unmanned aircraft systems, drones, etc.)
- American Land Title Association (ALTA)/American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM)/ National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Land Title Surveys
- Annexation Surveys
- As-Built (Record) Surveys
- Bathymetry—Surface (on the water, shorelines, etc.)
- Bathymetry—Subsurface (underwater, riverbeds, canal beds, lake bottoms, shoreline erosion, etc.)
- Berthing and Dock Surveys
- Boundary Surveys
- Boundary Dispute Surveys
- Condominium Surveys (conversions, renovations, etc.)
- Construction Layouts and Surveys
- Curative Services
- Data collection for Engineering & Utility Design
- Digital Terrain Models / Digital Elevation Models
- Easement Releases and Vacations
- Encroachments, Overlaps, Gaps, Gores determination
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Elevation Certificates, LOMAs and LOMRs
- Global Positioning System (GPS) Control Network Surveys/GIS Data Management
- Homeowner’s Association (HOA) Surveys
- Horizontal Control Surveys
- Laser Imaging, Detection, and Ranging (LIDAR; high definition 3-D laser scanning)
- Leases, Utility Corridors, Aerial Corridors, View Restrictions
- Marine Insurance Surveys
- Mortgage Surveys
- National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA), Letter of Map Change (LOMC), and Letter of Revision (LOMR)
- Plats and platting approval process
- Property Legal Descriptions
- Radius Maps / Radius Surveys for different applications
- Right of Way Surveys (roads, utilities, easements, etc.)
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) witness testimony
- Surveyor’s Affidavits
- Sound Navigation Ranging (SONAR)
- Spot Elevations
- Title Surveys
- Topographic Surveys
- Tree Surveys
- Vertical Control Surveys
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 is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is naturally occurring in rocks, soil, and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes. Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine if you or your family is at risk of high radon exposure.” (Sources: https://www.floridatracking.com/healthtracking/topic.htm?i=20)
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.
Sectors
Our team executed comprehensive geotechnical and environmental sampling and analysis at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania, facilitating the removal and replacement of underground storage tanks. At the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center in Miami, Florida, Tierra Group secured regulatory agency approval for a No Further Action with Conditions (NFAC) site closure. This project involved the planning and installation of engineering controls as outlined in our Engineering Control Maintenance Plan, preparing a Declaration of Restrictive Covenant, and providing detailed subsurface assessment and surveying data to achieve site closure. These projects exemplify our expertise in managing complex environmental and geotechnical challenges at government facilities.
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.
Tierra Group specializes in conducting comprehensive environmental assessments to support site restoration and redevelopment in the industrial and commercial sectors. Our services include subsurface assessment, field screening, data logging, and historical analysis of site operations. We identify and document environmental impacts, such as contamination and waste management issues, to facilitate effective site evaluation and remediation. By employing advanced technologies and methodologies, our team collects reliable data to inform strategic decision-making for site restoration and development projects. Our expertise helps clients meet environmental standards while promoting sustainable practices in the private sector.
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 programs 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.
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.