The ELM Group, Inc. (ELM) services

Sustainability is a mindset and an increasingly important component of corporate management. ELM supports client corporate and project-specific goals to enhance environmental performance by delivering sustainable solutions. ELM’s focus on sustainability complements its analytical and results-oriented approach to all projects. This focus improves environmental planning and integrates the goals and values of the client while recognizing regional influences, limits of natural resources, and community needs in the project area.

ELM maintains a team of professional staff including Certified Construction Project Managers and Professional Engineers experienced in construction implementation that provides high quality construction oversight that meets/exceeds industry standards. Our team has implemented projects ranging in size from a few thousand to tens of millions of dollars. ELM’s collaborative approach between the design engineers and construction managers promotes innovative solutions to complex remediations leading to substantial cost savings for our clients. ELM provides construction management services to manage remediation contractors retained by the Client or contracted directly by ELM. In this role, ELM can serve as the Owner’s Representative to manage the project on your behalf. ELM manages the project implementation, tracks/controls the project budgets and schedules, and monitors/manages potential risks and changes to optimize project implementation and limit potential cost increases.

ELM provides award-winning environmental services for Brownfields redevelopment projects. ELM provides a number of services, including: Environmental due diligence. Site/remedial investigations. Remedial plan development and implementation. Remediation cost projections. Site planning. Assistance in the procurement of Brownfields reimbursement incentives.

ELM excels at providing our clients with sensible and cost-effective solutions for the investigation and remediation of known or suspected discharges to the environment. ELM provides consulting support to clients on a variety of environmental issues, from straightforward tank closures to the most complex remedial efforts driven by CERCLA, RCRA, State Enforcement, ISRA, Brownfields or other conditions. ELM focuses on the collection of decision-relevant data and information to develop practical solutions in line with our client’s business needs. A senior-level ELM principal or manager with extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in this field develops client and site-specific objectives that support site regulatory closure and ensure compliance with project deadlines and directs all site investigation and remediation work. The senior manager is supported by a project team assembled based on site-specific needs.

ELM has a team of experienced due diligence experts to assist with all your environmental due diligence needs. ELM completes Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) in accordance with the 2021 ASTM Standard (E1527-21) to satisfy the federal requirements of CERCLA’s innocent landowner defense and provide the client with a baseline of conditions and potential liabilities/risks associated with a property it may be planning on purchasing or occupying. ELM’s due diligence program is structured to identify and communicate potential and/or existing environmental concerns early in the transaction negotiation process and/or prior to occupying the property.

ELM has supported the solid waste and scrap recycling industries for decades and understands the unique business and regulatory compliance challenges associated with both related industries.

In addition to wetlands and related permitting (see Land Use Licensing and Permitting Services), ELM has extensive experience in designing and preparing other environmental permits for both Federal and state agencies, including: Stormwater discharge permits. Discharge to Surface Water (DSW) permits. Discharge to Groundwater (DGW) permits. DGW Permits-by-Rule. Air quality permits. ELM utilizes a site-specific approach to preparing permit applications that are sensitive to facility and regulatory requirements as well as cost.  ELM also prepares reports and other deliverables pursuant to these permits, such as Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) and emission inventories.

ELM has an advanced group of environmental professionals that collaborate to manage projects along waterways and has successfully managed waterway projects for a range of clients for over 30 years. These projects have refined our staff’s capabilities to formulate unique approaches to complex problems using strategies that bring stakeholders together and optimize the benefits of actions over the short- term and long-term planning horizons. In particular, ELM’s waterways management approach recognizes that large projects along and within waterways pose a unique set of management challenges. We have a deep understanding of the relationships between stakeholders, regulatory standards, climate, watershed and landscape factors, and project sustainability. To manage these complex projects, ELM’s team of inter-disciplinary professionals uses a combination of scientific methods, technologies, engineering knowledge, socio-economic analysis, and planning tools.

ELM serves as the Project Coordinator for two large multi-party CERCLA sites including the Berry’s Creek Study Area (BCSA) in northern New Jersey and the Bridgeport Rental and Oil Services (BROS) Site in southern New Jersey.  In this role, ELM assists the BCSA and BROS client groups navigate the remediation process from developing collaborative technical teams, scoping, and implementation of the Remedial Investigation through coordination and management of the Feasibility Study, Remedial Design and Remedial Action phases.  ELM serves as a primary contact with EPA and other stakeholders.  Project management activities include detailed risk and decision-analyses, budget development and tracking, invoice review and processing, funding needs assessment and management of contracts.  ELM has successfully guided challenging and complex projects to positive and effective outcomes. 

CERCLA cost allocation is the process that evaluates and assigns Superfund site cleanup costs among potentially responsible parties (PRPs) based on equitable factors. ELM provides expert technical support to private clients and attorneys involved in CERCLA PRP cost allocation cases. These cases include both legacy Superfund sites, where remedial costs have been well established as well as emerging Superfund sites. ELM’s scientists and engineers review and analyze large volumes of historical data and information to determine a fair and defensible cost-share allocation that stands up to scrutiny from opposing attorneys and allocators. In doing so, ELM brings to bear expertise in chemistry, industry processes, historical waste management practices, contaminant fate and transport, and regulatory context to build a weight-of-evidence analysis that advocates for its clients.