Ponderosa Environmental is a full service environmental solutions company offering a diverse suite of environmental services. Established in 2005, Ponderosa is preparing to celebrate 20 years of service, during which we have achieved a respected and trusted status through our collaboration with government, industry, and the community. With decades of experience in nearly all aspects of environmental business, our employees have the capabilities and experience to provide cost‐effective options that match our clients needs. Our expertise spans key sectors including aviation, banking, real estate development, manufacturing and industrial, and energy exploration, storage, and transportation.
Environmental assessments are conducted to obtain information about a subject property and analyze its historical uses. An assessment may be required if a property goes through a change in use, zoning, or ownership. The assessment will be performed to ensure that there is no potential for contamination that may pose risks to human health or the environment.
There are many types of assessments. Some assessments, like an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) evaluates the environmental impact that a proposed process, project, policy, or program may have on the land. An EIA may also attempt to convey the cause-and-effect impact of human and natural interaction. More conventional site assessments attempt to identify potential or known environmental conditions associated with the property’s natural resources, and generally fall into one of 3 categories:
Regardless of the type of assessment, methodical planning, data collection, field execution, and analytical testing are critical for successful site evaluation. Ponderosa’s level of expertise in this area is simply unmatched. We have performed hundreds of assessments, collected thousands of analytical data points, and evaluated dozens of contaminants in some of the most strategically challenging settings that exist.
Environmental remediation is the process of removing contaminants from environmental media like soil and water. It is important because it helps to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of pollution. Environmental remediation may be required on soil and water (both groundwater and surface water). Soil and water remediation may be conducted separately or together, depending on the type and extent of the pollution.
Water remediation is the process of removing contaminants from water. Surface water in lakes, streams, and rivers can be contaminated by pollutants released directly into the water or by runoff from the ground. Groundwater, which is underground water that saturates porous material, can become polluted by contaminants seeping through the soil above it. The majority of the United States population depends upon groundwater as a source for drinking water and for agricultural use. Unfortunately, many areas have experienced groundwater pollution from waste materials that were disposed of or stored incorrectly. Groundwater pollution can occurs because of industrial practices such as mining or drilling for natural gas, oil, or metals.
Soil remediation refers to strategies that are used to purify and revitalize the soil. Soil contamination is caused by many of the same factors that cause groundwater contamination. Often, the soil and groundwater are contaminated from the same source, and both must be remediated at the same time. Soil contamination can result from chemical spills, industrial activity, and the use of certain fertilizers and pesticides.
Environmental remediation is highly regulated and subject to an array of legal requirements, which are generally based on assessments of human health and environmental risks. Most remediation projects are extremely expensive and may last for years or even decades. For this reason, an effective remedial technology is critical.
Ponderosa has developed a niche and a reputation for being able to remediate contaminants from impacted media that have very limited access. Many of our remediation sites fall under refineries, bulk storage facilities, industrial complexes, and even airport terminals that may not be moved or modified in any manner. As a result, we have designed and implemented innovated systems and processes to extract and treat contaminants for our clients in the most efficient manner possible. Ponderosa has a 100% success rate at closing our remediation sites and obtaining regulatory closure for our clients.
In Situ Remediation
Ex Situ Remediation
Ponderosa's remediation expertise results in superior performance:
The most effective way to deal with environmental issues and concerns, is to avoid them in the first place. That is why effective environmental compliance management is a critical component of both good business and environmental stewardship. At Ponderosa, our highly experienced consultants work closely with clients to provide tailored solutions that:
Deep analytical, technical, and operational expertise underpins the development of environmental management systems and plans, compliance and risk management, and operational support. Our integrated and practical approach can be applied to all industries and sectors, and in all environmental and social contexts.
At Ponderosa, we pride ourselves in addressing environmental issues in a practical way. Any sustainable approach must meet operational needs, demonstrate a focus on relevant statutory requirements, and facilitate real improvements in environmental performance, community relations, and business outcomes. We can work with existing client compliance systems, or deliver tailored compliance management systems that complement on-site and corporate management programs.
Whether looking to mitigate environmental concerns associated with a new venture, or audit environmental compliance with an ongoing operation, Ponderosa is uniquely qualified to provide environmental management and compliance solutions that are relevant, practical, and add value to our clients’ operations.
Some of Ponderosa's most loyal clients are International companies, with environmental issues scattered across the continental United States. Our clients trust us to stay abreast of ever-changing environmental rules to maintain compliance with all the regulations that apply to their operations. We are proud of our unblemished track record while providing these services.
Ponderosa is responsible for the continuous environmental management of an 11,000-acre International Airport's Fuel Storage and Distribution System. The system comprises over 18,000,000 gallons of storage, 35 miles of underground pipelines, 500 hydrant fueling pits, and over 100,000 gallons of mobile refueling tankers. The operation dispenses over 1,700,000 gallons daily, necessitating constant environmental management to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, and Local environmental rules and regulations.
Ponderosa conducted a comprehensive site assessment of a 26,000,000-gallon Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Expansion activities at the 35-acre facility necessitated consolidating multiple underground storage tank (UST) and above-ground storage tank (AST) projects into a single facility-wide program managed under the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP). The assessment included installing and sampling soil and groundwater from hundreds of borings and monitoring wells in known and potential contamination areas, using various techniques. Ponderosa compiled, evaluated, and reported the assessment data in the TCEQ Affected Property Assessment Report (APAR) format, which was then used to establish Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) closure standards for the site.
Ponderosa was tasked with managing and expediting the remediation of a project previously handled by another environmental consulting firm. In the preceding 8 years, the prior firm had recovered approximately 1,000 gallons of Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL), but this had little discernible impact on the LNAPL plume.
After evaluating the previous approach, Ponderosa conducted a comprehensive site investigation. This delineated the extent of the LNAPL plume and enabled a proper assessment of remedial options. Pilot testing different methods, Ponderosa implemented its proprietary High Vacuum Remediation (HVR) technology. HVR recovered and recycled over 8,000 gallons of LNAPL, and also recovered and treated hundreds of thousands of gallons of groundwater. As a result, Ponderosa was able to remediate the site to closure standards within just 5 years. Three years of subsequent monitoring confirmed no recharge of the LNAPL plume, leading to the site being issued a Closure Letter.
Ponderosa has provided comprehensive Construction Environmental Management (CEM) services for numerous construction projects at a major International Airport. The company has been responsible for developing and implementing detailed CEM Plans (CEMPs), which identify potential environmental impacts from the construction work, applicable laws and regulations, risk-based environmental objectives, required best management practices, and any necessary monitoring and reporting. Ponderosa's "boots on the ground" approach has successfully managed complex construction projects that generated tens of thousands of cubic yards of potentially contaminated soil and hundreds of thousands of gallons of potentially contaminated surface and stormwater, all while maintaining the client's spotless environmental record.
Ponderosa has assessed and closed over a dozen projects located throughout the Aircraft Operations Area (AOA) at a major international airport. Most of these projects arose with no known source, extent, or timeline for the contamination, and access to these sites was extremely limited, making assessment complex. Ponderosa developed a tailored approach for each scenario, designed to expedite assessment and closure based on project-specific factors. In some cases, conventional assessment techniques were used, while in others, non-traditional geophysical methods proved most advantageous. Ponderosa has successfully completed site assessments under terminals, in roadways, taxiways, tunnels, and other AOA locations requiring extensive coordination with airport, state, and federal agencies. In every instance, the projects were closed without the need for prolonged regulatory oversight.
Ponderosa managed all aspects of the removal and abandonment of approximately 1,000,000 gallons of underground storage tanks (USTs). The project involved a pre-construction assessment of the tank hold for planning purposes, followed by removal activities including testing, classification, segregation, and proper disposal of potentially contaminated media (tanks, fueling infrastructure, soils, groundwater, and petroleum products). In total, eighteen 50,000-gallon USTs and six 12,000-gallon USTs were decommissioned and disposed of in compliance with RCRA regulations. The project also generated over 13,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil, which was excavated, segregated, remediated, and either reused onsite per TCEQ PST guidance or disposed of per RCRA regulations. Ponderosa used pre- and post-construction assessment data to establish site closure criteria, which were used to obtain a TCEQ Closure letter for the site. Site closure was particularly important, as a new 1,296,000-gallon above-ground storage tank (AST) facility was built over the abandoned tank field. Ponderosa oversaw every aspect of the project, including pre-planning, assessment, remediation, construction oversight, and new facility permitting and compliance.
As the president and principal geologist of Ponderosa Environmental, Greg Ponder oversees a range of multidisciplinary environmental and hazardous waste projects for diverse clients. He is actively engaged in all daily operations to ensure that the environmental liabilities and related costs of all of Ponderosa’s clients are effectively managed.
Mr. Ponder commenced his professional journey in 1996 as a geologist and project manager at CK Associates, Inc., located in Beaumont, Texas. During his tenure at CK Associates, he cultivated a specialization in phased site assessment, executing and overseeing such assessments for real estate developers across the continental United States. Furthermore, Mr. Ponder acquired significant knowledge in environmental compliance, engaging with nearly all federal, state, and local compliance programs for various petrochemical plants and facilities throughout southeast Texas.
In 1997, Mr. Ponder transitioned to a role as a project geologist at Fluor Daniel GTI, Inc. in Coppell, Texas, where he provided assessment and remediation services for a diverse array of clients. It was in this capacity that he honed a comprehensive skill set in field services, overseeing the installation, sampling, monitoring, abandonment, and closure of numerous monitoring wells, remediation wells, and soil borings throughout the southwestern region. Throughout his time at Fluor Daniel GTI, Mr. Ponder conducted site assessment activities across hundreds of locations and addressed a wide range of contaminants. Equally important, he established valuable professional relationships with numerous environmental service contractors and regulatory field operatives, which continue to benefit him in his current endeavors.
In 1999, Mr. Ponder assumed the role of project manager at KEI Consultants, Inc. (KEI) in Carrollton, Texas. During his tenure, his distinctive combination of practical field experience, pragmatic management style, and natural interpersonal skills enabled him to establish a strong reputation among the Oil and Gas and Aviation sectors. Consequently, when KEI ceased operations in 2000, Mr. Ponder played a pivotal role in founding H2A Environmental, Ltd. to continue addressing the needs of his clients. In 2005, he established Ponderosa Environmental, where he serves as owner and president, maintaining relationships with his long-standing clients while also earning the trust of numerous new ones.
Over the course of 28 years in the environmental industry, Mr. Ponder has collaborated with a diverse array of clients, including Real Estate Developers, Oil and Gas Corporations, Native American Tribes, Energy Leaders, Financial Institutions, and International Airlines. The success of Mr. Ponder and Ponderosa can largely be attributed to his commitment to treating even the smallest clients with the same level of professional and personal respect as his International Fortune 500 clients. While the technical knowledge he has acquired throughout his extensive career is invaluable, it is the client relationship skills he has honed that he values most.
Mr. Ponder possesses a Masters Degree in Geology with an Environmental Emphasis from Stephen F. Austin State University, and he is licensed as a Professional Geologist, Corrective Action Project Manager, and Registered Environmental Manager. His extensive training encompasses environmental laws and regulations, along with their practical applications across various industries. Mr. Ponder frequently represents his clients at meetings and conferences, discussing a broad spectrum of environmental issues.
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