Compliance, Auditing and Sustainablitity

A written compliance assurance program (CAP) establishes types of assessments and audits, reporting results to management, corrective actions, tracking status of open items, confidentiality of information, record retention, and roles and responsibilities. GBK compliance specialists will assist our clients in the development and implementation of basic to multi-tiered programs that include: ongoing self-assessments, focused self-assessments, an audit program, as well as periodic compliance reviews.

OSHA Compliance Auditing and Comprehensive Safety and Health Programs

GBK will conduct a wall-to-wall simulated OSHA inspection of your operation to identify gaps in our client's compliance profile. Existing safety and health programs can be audited to assist in the development of new programs to meet the needs of your workplace and to comply with State and Federal requirements.

Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Compliance Auditing

GBKs experienced HazMat professionals can conduct a cradle-to-grave inspection of our client's hazardous materials inventory through use, waste generation and disposal. GBK can not only provide an assessment and gap analysis of RCRA compliance, but also assess hazardous materials storage and segregation protocols, green procurement practices and waste minimization procedures.

Pollution Prevention Opportunity Assessments

We have a long history of providing pollution prevention solutions to organizations around the world. Successful identification of opportunities to reduce or eliminate waste and pollutants leads to financial savings, improved operational efficiency, reduced regulatory liability and smaller environmental footprint. Typically, GBK will secure commitment at a management level and then work alongside client organization personnel to implement the opportunity assessment. The assessment is performed by completing tasks broken down into eight functional areas:

Process selection
Assessment team creation
Process examination
Establishment of baseline
Opportunity identification
Opportunity ranking
Selected opportunity implementation
Result review.

This systematic approach has proven successful time and again for our clients. GBK professionals have both completed full PPOAs for clients and also trained organization personnel on how to competently perform their own.

GBK provides a full range of environmental assessment, site investigation and consulting services. Our abilities range from Phase I surveys to sample plan design to on-site evaluations of potential environmental, occupational health and safety risks and compliance aspects.

GBK will apply established industry procedures to provide cost-effective solutions, reducing analytical costs and optimizing project turnaround time. Through our project path management system, you can keep track of progress on a daily basis.

GBK offers its services in the following areas:

Surface and groundwater sampling and analysis
NPDES compliance determinations
Drinking water quality investigations
Landfill gas monitoring
Contaminated land sampling and analysis
Result interpretation and statistical and trend analysis
CAA GDC risk assessment and air release modeling
Work plan and QAMP development
EPA Data Quality Objectives conformance
CERCLA/SARA Title III reporting
Phase I/II investigations
Phase III remediations performed in conjunction with our experienced partners
Hydrological/Hydrogeological studies

GBK is dedicated to providing its clients the highest level of professional services through the use of Board Certified Professionals and nationally accredited laboratories. Developing and Implementing Compliance Assurance Programs

GBK conducts environmental site assessments to include Phase I/II Site Assessments anywhere clients have need of the service. With years of experience you can be assured that the report you receive from GBK will be detailed, accurate and performed by an qualified environmental professional.

Our Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report is prepared in general accordance with ASTM Standard E 1527 and may include:

Thorough site inspection with a review of adjacent property use
Review of multiple historical source, including aerial photographs, historical maps, and city directories
Review of regulatory agency records, including contacts with local fire, health, building and water quality agencies
Thorough interviews of knowledgeable property representatives, including owners, occupants, neighbors, etc.
Review of physical setting information, including site topography, geology, and hydrology
Thorough and concise conclusions and recommendations from an Environmental Professional
Complete confidentiality of report findings; and
Assessment will be stopped immediately upon any "Red Flags"

Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessment and Due Diligence

On November 1st, 2006 the All Appropriate Inquiry rule (AAI) became effective as the requirement for Phase I audits meeting the liability requirements for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) protection. GBK has always conducted assessments in compliance with ASTM E 1527-05 standards meeting the higher professional qualifications required.

Reference Project:

Former Air Force Small Arms Range Site Investigation

Altus AFB, OK

Designed and performed a detailed field investigation to determine the extent of potential lead contamination at the Altus AFB former small arms range. The range had been used for a short period of time during the 1950s for training purposes. The survey was performed to determine whether remediation would be required under the terms of EPA guidance. Evidence of the range is still evident in the form of an earth berm and some concrete and metal detritus to the south of the berm. The area was scanned with a metal detector to help identify any further evidence of anthropogenic activity at the macro-scale. Evidence of activity was identified at the 50 and 100 yard transects from the berm (likely firing distances to the berm). A series of soil samples was taken from the berm and also along the 50/100 yard transects. All sample points were logged using a Trimble GeoXT GPS handheld device to sub-meter accuracy and a digital map produced showing this data for the final report. All samples were analyzed for potential lead contamination, but no tests were found to be positive found above naturally occurring background levels. The analysis was performed using EPA ‘Guidance on Systematic Planning Using the Data Quality Objectives Process.

Some milestones and deliverables included:

Design of H&S plan, work plan and QAMP to Corps of Engineers specification
Performed preliminary visit in order to facilitate work plan development
Developed ‘null hypotheses’ for use with EPA Data Quality Objectives process
Performed investigative procedures to assess contamination at micro and macro scales
Delivered report with findings and recommendations for action