PROGRAM OPTIMIZATION

NES provides services to optimize ongoing and proposed environmental management programs.  We have a proven track record of achieving significant cost savings and reducing the time required for completion of the remediation activity.

In many instances environmental management programs were initiated and have continued to operate in accordance with premises that are not routinely reviewed and questioned.  For example, the QA/QC requirements established for the investigative phase of a project normally require a higher level of precision and accuracy to ensure that adequate data is obtained for good decision making.  After the project has been constructed and the operation and maintenance phase is in place, significantly reduced data quality objectives may be appropriate but often the project continues to operate under the original QA/QC requirements.  Revising operation and maintenance requirements to meet the applicable data quality objectives is one example of the potential for achieving significant cost savings through review and optimization of environmental programs.

The nature of projects that NES has successfully applied Program Optimization Services are itemized below.

CERCLA Site RI/FS Development

The RI/FS stage of the project offers the greatest opportunity to identify near and long term cost savings for a remediation project.  The scope of activities to be performed to complete the project may be reviewed in the context of the desired outcome and work plans developed to streamline operations and minimize unnecessary tasks.

ROD Review and Implementation

The ROD for CERCLA sites is often written in nonspecific terms with respect to the actual work that will be required to meet the remediation objectives.  The opportunity exists to identify several alternate ways to achieve the action identified in the ROD and implement only the most cost effective solution considering capital expenditures, O&M requirements, and intangible expenditures.

Operation and Maintenance Activities

O&M activities are often carried out in a manner to meet remediation objectives established long before the O&M phase of a project began during the RI/FS or the ROD stage of the project.  At many sites, however, the remediation objectives evolve during construction of the remedy or as O&M is conducted.  As a result, initial assumptions used to set O&M procedures and protocols may be outdated.  A detailed review of the O&M phase of a project frequently provides an opportunity to significantly reduce labor and equipment costs.