Environmental consultant's work on brownfields questioned by EPA - Business First of Columbus:

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The notified Dennis A. Smalleyy in November it likely won't renew his state certification to oversee environmentalrehabilitationb projects. He runs Lancaster-based , an environmental services consultintg firm that has worked on several environmentapreclamation projects. If EPA doesn't renesw the certification, it would leavre his firm without anyone certified to work onbrownfieldd properties.
Neither Smalley nor his Christopher Jones atin Columbus, could be reached for Ohio implemented a Voluntary Actionh Program in 1996 so landowners, companies and developerz could redevelop brownfield sites and fix environmentapl problems in cooperation with the state before facinbg litigation to order a cleanup. Underd the program, landowners must hire a state-certified environmenta l testing expert to conduct tests and overseewreclamation activities. Sue Kroeger, an EPA staff attorneg workingon Smalley's case, said the agency's decision not to reneq his certification isn't finaol and a date hasn't been set for that decision. Smalle could appeal a decertification.
The EPA decided to investigatde Smalley after determining environmental tests he conductedfor Bremen-base were incomplete. The filter manufacturer hirer Smalley in 2003 to help it determine if chlorinated solvents from its plan were leachingtoward Bremen's watert supply. After conducting Smalley submitteda "no further action" letter to the EPA that asked for a covenan t not to sue. Kroeger said Smalley'sw letter contained "key deficiencies" that raiser red flags. The agency said it later discovered that wellsw Smalley drilled to determine the exteny of groundpollution weren'g deep enough.
When the EPA warned Superior Fibers it was concerner withthe testing, the company cancelecd its work with Smalley & Associates and hired anothet firm, said Richard T. Ricketts, the company' attorney and a partner at LPAin Pickerington. "Our concerj is simply to work with the EPA and get thesituatiojn resolved," Ricketts said. Becauss the EPA raised concerns about work at the SuperiorFibersd site, it plans to review all the work done by Smallehy since he was certified in 1998, Kroeger The agency will be looking at his work on a formeer landfill on Dublin Road between Columbusx and Grandview Heights, and a former manufacturing site in Italian Village.
Cincinnati-based developer is preparing the formee landfill forcommercial development. Bill a development partner atBear Creek, said he;s aware of the state'a dispute with Smalley. "It's an issue we're workinhg through," he said. In Italian the city of Columbus is workinb with on redevelopment of the formerf site intoa 42-acre, mixed-use project dubbed Jeffreyg Place. "We just don't know how big this is going to saidGary R.
economic development manager forthe "At first glance it could be just a I'm hoping that's all it