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Regulatory Services


Biotech Firm

GEC helped a biotech firm reduce EPA fines from $155K to $20K.  GEC performed an EHS audit, identified regulatory deficiencies, trained employees on hazardous waste, IATA, DOT, and wrote programs to help get them into compliance.  In addition, GEC wrote and certified their TURA Plan, filed Form R & S reports, and introduced them to OSHA’s VPP program for free safety consulting services. 

Plastics Manufacturer

GEC consulted on indoor air quality issues, collected samples, evaluated and advised on the impacts related to worker exposure for a Massachusetts plastics manufacturer.  GEC also prepared the company’s initial air permit application and later a second permit as their business outgrew the first permit.  GEC performed site assessments of new buildings as they expanded, and conferred during DEP regulatory inspections and worked with the company to negotiate a mutually agreeable settlement.

Hospital

GEC filed air quality reports (SSEIS and ARESCR) with DEP as outside EHS contractor for a Massachusetts hospital.  GEC also assisted with asbestos permit questions during a building demolition and renovation project.  Finally, GEC audited the hospital’s autoclaving of infectious waste and tested their cooling towers for Legionella bacteria.

Property Management Firm

For a large property management firm, GEC prepared and submitted Source Registration for large facility boilers, found surcharges from DEP and applied for a rebate, resulting in $13,000 back from DEP.  GEC also advised on hazmat issues with tenant companies who did not have required permits or had outgrown their initial permits.  GEC performed site assessment, oversaw proper regulatory closure and follow-up for a former plating manufacturing company that was successfully converted to multi-use commercial spaces.

Medical Device Manufacturer

GEC designed a wastewater pretreatment system, including a mercury trap, for a medical device manufacturer’s laboratory wastewater.  Later, when the company expanded and moved to a new building, GEC handled the permitting at the new site and regulatory closure at the old site.   Once the company discovered it had become a Large Quantity Generator, GEC reclassified their status with DEP and trained their employees in the proper handling and management of hazardous waste.

Air Quality Permitting

GEC prepared, submitted and obtained a new air permit for a large cement storage and transfer terminal.  The permit application involved new barge unloading and distribution equipment, including dust collectors sized for barge unloading of dry cement at a rate of up to 600 tons per hour.  GEC negotiated with DEP during permit review to allow some construction activities to proceed in order to keep the project on track.  GEC coordinated regulatory site inspections, wrote the performance test protocol, and coordinated standard operating and maintenance procedures. 

Paint & Coatings Company

GEC provided outsourced EH&S services to meet a paint and coating company’s compliance requirements under ISO14001.  Services included permitting, hazardous waste training, response to regulatory inquiries, audits, TUR Plan and Form R&S filing, as well as MSDS preparation, and periodic wastewater sampling and reporting.  The company continued to meet their recertification under ISO and never received a Notice of Non-Compliance during GEC’s 7+ years of outsourced services.

Chemical Company

GEC staff provided training and support as a chemical company client achieved ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) certification.  Using GEC’s “toolbox”, the company satisfied state regulators that its EMS actually reduced the likelihood of serious events.  Implementation of the EMS reduced penalties and expedited permit modifications.

Marine Port

GEC responded to a major marine port’s desire to document its “beyond compliance efforts” using GEC’s “Stages of Sustainability” approach to drive toward its goal of becoming the “greenest port” in the world.  The GEC team analyzed the port’s EMS and participation in U.S. EPA’s Performance Track and comparable state program to provide a roadmap for future excellence.

Law Firm

Greening a service provider, such as a law firm, is challenging because there are a variety of larger and smaller tenants in the same buildings that the firm occupies.  GEC’s “Opportunities Survey” showed how a greener path could also provide significant payback for the firm.  GEC’s expertise was also used in interfacing with building management and janitorial services to improve overall building performance and sustainability.