Brownfield and Site Redevelopment

SynTerra is a leader in the sustainable reuse of Brownfields.

Brownfields are sites where redevelopment or reuse is hampered by the presence or perception of undesirable materials. Reinvesting in these properties not only improves and protects the environment, Brownfield projects can facilitate job growth, boost community health, increase local tax bases, and use existing infrastructure.

SynTerra’s experience with Brownfields projects funded by the private sector and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants has established our firm as an industry leader. We have experience working with regional and national clients, as well as local and state-level governments. Our staff understands Brownfields transactions from technical, land-development, and regulatory perspectives.

We currently oversee projects at sites totaling hundreds of acres and more than $250 million in investments in the Southeast. These projects vary in size, history, and environmental challenges. The work includes two high-value, high public-benefit properties.

SynTerra capabilities for Brownfield and site redevelopment

Phase I/II ESAs

Environmental management plans (EMPs)

Materials management plans

Erosion and sediment control

Vapor intrusion and mitigation

Asbestos inspections and abatement

Lead-based paint inspections and management

Solar site development

Brownfield assessment work plans

Site-specific remedial goals

Stormwater BMPs

Site assessment and remediation

Health and safety – plans, oversight, training

Mold and indoor air assessment and remediation

Post-closure land use

Project example: City of Greenwood, South Carolina

Client challenge

The City of Greenwood sought assistance with administration and environmental activities related to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Brownfields Cleanup Grant. The funds were to be used for cleanup of the former Greenwood Mills Foundry and redevelopment of the site as a community park with walking trails and recreation areas. Greenwood — which had submitted a draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) — was told additional assessment would be needed to ensure the proposed cleanup remedy would be sufficient for reuse as a park.

SynTerra solution

As the city of Greenwood’s partner, SynTerra has been participating in monthly conference calls with SCDHEC and the USEPA to discuss project progress, problems encountered, and resolutions. SynTerra has also been providing quarterly project reports to the City of Greenwood for submittal to the USEPA.

In response to additional SCDHEC requests, SynTerra prepared an updated Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to ensure that the scientific data were acquired according to established methods and procedures designed to obtain results that are objective, true, repeatable, and of known accuracy. The QAPP also serves as a work plan for the additional assessment activities. After SCDHEC and the USEPA approved the QAPP, SynTerra conducted additional soil assessment activities, with preliminary data confirming that constituents of concern are present beyond the corrective action area. SynTerra completed additional assessment activities and submitted a final ABCA addendum, which SCDHEC approved.

Kathy Webb, P.G.

Senior Market Leader | Principal

Kathy Webb, who co-founded SynTerra (then known as The Fletcher Group) in 1992, has completed remedial investigations and regulatory compliance projects associated with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities, state and federal Superfund sites, solid waste landfills, brownfield redevelopment, utility coal combustion residual (CCR) management units, and regulated industrial facilities. She has supported litigation as an expert witness related to chlorinated solvents, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Kathy is known for her practical assessment strategy with the perspective of the client’s business objectives. She routinely evaluates groundwater corrective action systems for effectiveness and progress toward achieving compliance objectives. She has co-authored a trade journal paper with case studies of low-impact remedial strategies. Kathy is a licensed Professional Geologist in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Mark Taylor, P.G.

Principal

Mark has worked more than 40 years in natural-resource based industries. His expertise includes mine geology and mine engineering, hydrogeologic and geotechnical investigations, solid and hazardous waste management, and regulatory negotiations. He has published peer-reviewed papers about coal geology, ore geochemistry, mineralogy, and solid waste management. He is a leading expert in mining and environmental permitting for litigation support.

Mark is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington. He serves on the boards of the Upstate Red Cross and Upstate Forever. He served on the South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists for six years. Mark holds a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Science from Harvard University.

Andrea Kehn, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering | Principal

Andrea Kehn, leader of our Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit, has 28 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and environmental consulting. She leads and supervises staff professionals on multidisciplinary projects for a variety of industrial clients. Andrea’s vast experience and expertise includes: air quality construction and operating permitting; air quality modeling; air permit record-keeping and reporting; Oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP); NPDES permitting; water quality modeling; process safety management; risk management compliance and auditing; and RCRA compliance.

Andrea is registered as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ruth Albright, P.E.

Vice President | Principal

Ruth has led projects for major industrial facilities throughout the Southeast and beyond. She built her knowledge of environmental regulations and their application to manufacturing operations while working for the second largest chemical manufacturing company in the United States. At SynTerra, she has expanded both her knowledge and reputation working for chemical manufacturing operations of all sizes. She has also worked extensively with other manufacturing operations, including pulp and paper, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive parts and assembly. Her experience includes air and wastewater permit compliance, solid and hazardous waste management, solid waste construction permitting, hazardous materials transportation, wastewater treatment systems, air pollution control equipment operations and maintenance, and ambient air monitoring systems.

Ruth is a professional engineer registered in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She is an active member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee and serves as the chair of the water subcommittee. She has previously served as the program and committee chair for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs committee. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.