By Susan E. Campbell
Every building site, redevelopment and manufacturing company faces a complex set of regulatory requirements at the federal, state and local levels designed to protect the environment. Even the public sector and green spaces like trails, parks and cemeteries must comply.
This is the challenge of environmental engineering and consulting, a highly specialized, professional field that is thriving here in Saratoga County. Companies like C.T. Male Associates and The LA Group navigate the ever changing regulatory process by seeking permits, performing research and testing, and resolving when and how a project should best proceed so that the strict standards of the regulators may be met.
“Avoid, minimize and mitigate” is the mantra at The LA Group, said Kevin Franke, director of environmental services. Â
The LA Group serves a wide range of clients but specializes in open spaces. The firm designed the National Cemetery in Stillwater, jump-starting a relationship with the Veterans Administration and ongoing projects both statewide and nationwide.
The avoid-minimize-mitigate process flows this way: A building site has been identified by the Army Corp of Engineers as having wetlands. Priority one is to avoid building on the affected acreage if possible. Otherwise, minimize any environmental risk by reconfiguring the site plan or adjusting the building design.Â