We are water resource specialists

Water nourishes our families, powers our schools, hospitals, and local businesses, and provides critical habitat for plants and wildlife. Since 2005 PG has been deeply committed to supporting state and federal agencies across the water sector to protect and restore this valuable resource.

PG Environmental has integrated as a division within ERG as of January 1, 2024. PG and ERG have operated as sister companies for a decade, supporting socially beneficial work nationwide to yield improvements in the environment and public health.

This strategic shift expands the range of services offered, enhances capacity, improves our operations, and provides additional opportunities for staff. One thing that hasn’t changed – PG’s technical team continues to work alongside our ERG colleagues to provide high-quality, impactful work for customers across the country. To read more about this transition, click here.

We offer professional services in

  • NPDES Permitting

    PG has provided extensive National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program support to multiple states and EPA, drafting over 1,000 permits spanning all aspects of the NPDES universe, including publicly owned treatments works, industrial facilities, industrial and construction stormwater, CAFOs, and MS4s. We have drafted permit packages, responded to public comments, provided expert witness testimony, developed implementation procedures, and delivered tailored on-site training. PG’s permitting experts can help optimize the NPDES process at the federal, state, or tribal level to reduce backlogs and help ensure timely issuance.

  • Compliance & Enforcement

    PG’s credentialed inspectors have reviewed hundreds of facilities, systems, and programs across the country for compliance with various regulatory programs (e.g., Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Oil Pollution Act). We have assessed combined and separate sanitary sewer systems, construction sites and industrial facilities, MS4s, industrial pretreatment programs, and CAFOs—not to mention countless major and minor NPDES dischargers. PG senior professionals are also uniquely qualified to support Clean Water Act enforcement efforts based on decades of real-world experience and extensive, detailed knowledge of water quality programs and their regulated communities. That’s why, for a variety of complex and nationally significant cases, U.S. EPA and the Department of Justice have frequently accessed our team to build cases, serve as expert witnesses, and support negotiations and settlement discussions. From routine site visits, diagnostic audits, and report submittal reviews to infrastructure analysis/cost estimation and monitoring/modeling to quantify water quality impacts, PG’s highly seasoned team supports a broad range of compliance and enforcement needs.

  • Ecological Monitoring & Assessment

    PG scientists design, execute, and manage projects that require an intimate understanding of the complex interactions between water and the environment. Our team has performed hundreds of assessment and monitoring activities designed specifically to inform clients of the ecological integrity of their resources. We specialize in aquatic sampling and monitoring, fish and macroinvertebrate sampling, wetlands assessments, Waters of the United States jurisdictional determinations, field surveys, and biotic assessments and evaluations. For projects big and small, PG leads expert water quality and ecological assessments across all types of U.S. waters and habitats, providing data and information that is a critical foundation for subsequent environmental protection efforts.

  • Drinking Water

    Drinking water safety is a top priority for PG and an area of growing focus for our customers. Our team of sampling technicians are well-versed in collecting samples at various points in public distribution systems, working with community stakeholders, and coordinating logistics to ensure sample integrity.  We can evaluate a system’s infrastructure, treatment, distribution, and storage, as well as facility operations and management, to help maintain public health and assess compliance with federal regulations.

  • Watershed Assessment & TMDLs

    PG scientists and engineers use data analyses, geographic information systems (GIS), and computer modeling, among other tools, to characterize and understand our watersheds. We assess waterbodies using a scientifically-sound approach that considers all possible sources and conditions influencing water, sediment, and tissue quality. Our team has evaluated hundreds of waterbodies, including efforts conducted as part of total maximum daily load (TMDL) projects, informing 305(b) reports and 303(d) listing decisions, monitoring recommendations, and implementation planning, including best management practice (BMP) selection. When completing TMDLs, PG professionals build on these assessments to develop the linkage between sources and water quality standards and to calculate existing loads and the loading capacity to attain applicable standards. We routinely combine these evaluations with our other service areas for a data-driven and comprehensive approach to improving water quality across all types of U.S. waters. PG’s experienced, thoughtful, and creative team helps our clients visualize, quantify, and communicate watershed conditions and impacts to pollutant loads associated with changes in land use, climate, and implementation activities, establishing a defensible foundation for their management decisions.

  • Nonpoint Source Program

    PG’s team of scientists and policy analysts supports regulatory partners in addressing stormwater runoff in urban and agricultural areas across the United States. Using both traditional and innovative approaches, we develop nonpoint source control solutions to mitigate the impact of this significant source of water quality pollution, including policy frameworks and program planning in accordance with Clean Water Act section 319 requirements. We also help our customers develop regulatory measures for nonpoint source concerns that are not adequately addressed through voluntary programs. Those solutions include development of full regulatory programs, draft code language, and land lease agreements. Regardless of approach, we work collaboratively with the customer and their agency partners throughout the process to identify the best option to fit local needs.

  • Water Infrastructure Engineering

    PG offers a wide range of water infrastructure and engineering support for our EPA and state partners. Improvement to water infrastructure is a top priority for communities and regulatory agencies throughout the U.S., and it is central to many of PG’s activities. Our team of engineers and scientists have engaged in significant efforts to identify opportunities for infrastructure enhancements through project design review, site assessments, long-term planning efforts, and consent negotiations. Whether considering gray, green, or something in between, our goal is to identify reliable, cost-effective approaches that reflect local priorities.

  • Regulatory & Policy Analysis

    PG offers expert knowledge to support sound regulatory and policy decision-making for successful implementation of Clean Water Act programs. We have evaluated treatment technologies and conducted cost-benefit/regulatory impact analyses; supported development of national technology-based effluent limitations, guidelines, and standards; developed TMDL implementation tools; and assessed climate change impacts. Our team provides the analytical basis for new or revised environmental policies and regulations at all levels of government.

  • Public Funding Program Support

    At PG, we are committed to maximizing the benefit of public dollars. Our team of analysts and engineers have conducted thorough proposal reviews for infrastructure projects to evaluate feasibility and assess stakeholder and environmental impact. We have also reviewed grant funding expenditures on drinking water, wastewater, and other environmental projects across the country to ensure responsible fund management. In the office or field, PG helps deliver swift and successful project outcomes to local communities.

  • Training

    Strengthening the knowledge and skills of both new and experienced agency staff has been a key strategy for many of PG’s federal and state customers. In support of these capacity-building initiatives, we have designed and delivered training for NPDES inspectors and permit writers, provided curriculum development support to in-house agency training programs, and created guidance and tools to support water quality professionals in doing their jobs. PG is particularly adept in tailoring our materials and approach to match the audience and local needs.

  • Climate Resilience

    The climate is changing, and federal and state agencies must develop plans, consider community needs, and design infrastructure with these changes in mind. PG scientists and engineers help clients develop and implement projects to evaluate risks and vulnerabilities to climate change and design climate adaptation solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to natural hazards that are projected to intensify due to climate change. Our team helps clients solve water resource challenges through holistic, integrated approaches to ensure safe and reliable water resources for future generations. We work collaboratively with state and state and federal agencies to identify strategies that best align with their communities and goals. We can also help plan, assess, communicate about, and support the implementation of more visible, dedicated adaptation or mitigation projects that aim to enhance water security, sustainability, and resilience.

  • Technical Assistance

    Our team supports federal and state-sponsored technical assistance (TA) programs to address water infrastructure needs and compliance issues in communities across the country. Many of these efforts are with smaller, under resourced communities that need additional assistance with technical, managerial, or financial aspects of their programs. Planners, scientists, operators, engineers, and finance specialists collaborate to provide the support needed to address the specific needs within a community.

See some of our work

Here’s a small sample of some of the things we’ve been up to recently.

A series of beige groundwater well pumps at a water facility under a clear blue sky.

Protecting Groundwater through Technical Review of Class VI UIC Permit Applications

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Protecting Groundwater through Technical Review of Class VI UIC Permit Applications

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Drinking Water, Technical Assistance

A series of beige groundwater well pumps at a water facility under a clear blue sky.

PG assisted EPA in the review of permit applications from facilities interested in operating Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) wells. This is a Class of UIC well for carbon sequestration. Technical review of these applications focused on the proposed plan of operations and design of the proposed wells, with specific attention to safeguards in place to protect Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDWs). Staff examined the geologic interval into which injection would occur, overlying geologic formations that lie between the injection interval and any overlying USDWs, any faults or fractures that may provide migration pathways, and well construction details to evaluate technical merits and potential risk of each proposed project.

Image of wastewater outfall adjacent to a waterbody lined by a rocky embankment with bare trees in the background.

Reducing Sewer Overflows through Flow Monitoring and Updates to Hydraulic Model

U.S. Department of Justice

Reducing Sewer Overflows through Flow Monitoring and Updates to Hydraulic Model

U.S. Department of Justice

Services: Water Infrastructure Engineering, Compliance & Enforcement

Image of wastewater outfall adjacent to a waterbody lined by a rocky embankment with bare trees in the background.

PG assisted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the development of injunctive relief to greatly reduce combined sewer overflows from a city in Iowa. The city failed for decades to adequately prioritize maintenance of its wastewater collection system, leading to frequent sanitary sewer overflows and combined sewer overflows. The city also implemented a program to disconnect building downspouts from its sanitary sewer system – a common problem within certain parts of its community. Upon review of the city’s flow monitoring data, PG was able to recommend an area-focused approach to collection system rehabilitation that would make the plan affordable while also quickly addressing the system’s most serious needs.

An aerial shot of a landscape in low light, bisected horizontally by a tree-lined river and vertically by a paved road dotted with orange streetlights and running through a town at the base of a mountain.

Building Long-Term Resilience through Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Planning

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Building Long-Term Resilience through Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Planning

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Services: Climate Resilience

An aerial shot of a landscape in low light, bisected horizontally by a tree-lined river and vertically by a paved road dotted with orange streetlights and running through a town at the base of a mountain.

PG and ERG supported the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in updating their State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (SHMCAP)—the Commonwealth’s primary risk reduction strategy that aims to reduce the statewide loss of life and protect people, natural resources, property, infrastructure, public health, and the economy from natural hazards and climate change impacts. We assessed the state’s existing capabilities and adaptive capacity to natural hazards, incorporated the 2022 Massachusetts Climate Assessment into the SHMCAP, and conducted a supplementary risk assessment to develop a hazards analysis for all Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) required hazards. We also supported cross-sector engagement to assess the range of risks, determine cascading consequences, and incorporate equity and environmental justice issues to ensure the most significant hazard consequences were captured in the assessment. Using findings from these analyses, and through a collaborative process across the Commonwealth, we helped to combine actions and identify hazard mitigation and climate adaptation strategies that increase resilience throughout Massachusetts.

Marshy wetlands with aquatic vegetation growing throughout and a thick treeline in the backgorund along the water's edge under an overcast sky.

Analyzing Pollutant Source Loading and Permitting Approaches in the Chesapeake Bay

U.S. EPA Region 3

Analyzing Pollutant Source Loading and Permitting Approaches in the Chesapeake Bay

U.S. EPA Region 3

Services: NPDES Permitting, Watershed Assessment & TMDLs

Marshy wetlands with aquatic vegetation growing throughout and a thick treeline in the backgorund along the water's edge under an overcast sky.

PG supported U.S. EPA Region 3 with a Residual Designation Authority (RDA) analysis for the Back River watershed in Maryland, which drains to the Chesapeake Bay. Staff conducted desktop reconnaissance of over 600 commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) sites to evaluate their location, proximity to impaired waters, parcel type, municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) drainage, and applicable permitted area. PG estimated the cumulative stormwater pollutant loading in the Back River watershed and, in particular, loads from CII sites meeting specific thresholds of imperviousness, proximity to impaired waters, and draining to different MS4 permittees. Loading analyses were performed using the Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool (CAST) developed to facilitate implementation of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. This technical work was performed under an approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), incorporating both the primary data developed as part of the GIS analyses as well as the secondary data used in the modeling.

Two people in white protective suits and blue gloves kneel with their testing equipment in front of a brick wall and insert a plastic tube in a vertical white pipe emerging from snow-covered ground.

Mitigating Virus Transmission through an Innovative Wastewater-based Surveillance Program

New Mexico Environment Department

Mitigating Virus Transmission through an Innovative Wastewater-based Surveillance Program

New Mexico Environment Department

Services: Technical Assistance

Two people in white protective suits and blue gloves kneel with their testing equipment in front of a brick wall and insert a plastic tube in a vertical white pipe emerging from snow-covered ground.

PG and ERG assisted the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) in combating local COVID-19 transmission by developing a surveillance program to detect COVID-19 in wastewater. Twice weekly, teams collected sewage samples from participating communal settings, such as shelters and correctional facilities, to help identify further action to mitigate the spread. For example, when the virus was detected in a facility’s wastewater several weeks into the program, subsequent nasal swab testing identified an asymptomatic COVID-19 positive person who was then able to isolate. This innovative, data-driven detection approach helped NMED to mitigate local outbreaks and potentially save lives.

Interior of a drinking water treatment plant with a row of white, blue, and green vertical pipes and tiled floor.

Performing Full-scale and Rule-specific Evaluations of Drinking Water Facilities

Multiple Federal and State Regulatory Agencies

Performing Full-scale and Rule-specific Evaluations of Drinking Water Facilities

Multiple Federal and State Regulatory Agencies

Services: Drinking Water, Compliance & Enforcement

Interior of a drinking water treatment plant with a row of white, blue, and green vertical pipes and tiled floor.

PG supports federal and state clients across the country in performing comprehensive drinking water utility audits as well as targeted inspections focused on specific components of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Efforts have spanned utilities of all sizes and system classifications, including public water systems in underserved communities and tribal areas. These in-depth drinking water utility assessments include evaluating asset and utility management practices and reviewing operational implementation and in-field equipment conditions. PG has also supported clients in assessing utility compliance with respect to Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requirements for aging infrastructure as well as rules specific to managing disinfection byproducts resulting from water treatment, transmission, distribution, and storage practices. PG’s efforts help regulators identify current and potential system failures to ensure confidence in the safety of the drinking water being delivered to the general public.

An ocean wave breaks over a rocky coastline, with vibrant low-growing plants in the foreground and bright white clouds overhead.

Developing Waikele’s Watershed TMDL and Implementation Plan

Hawaii Department of Health

Developing Waikele’s Watershed TMDL and Implementation Plan

Hawaii Department of Health

Services: Nonpoint Source Program, Watershed Assessment & TMDLs

An ocean wave breaks over a rocky coastline, with vibrant low-growing plants in the foreground and bright white clouds overhead.

PG developed an implementable watershed management plan for the Waikele Watershed in Hawaii to implement non-point source (NPS) nutrient and sediment load reductions specified in a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for sediment and nutrients. Under this project, PG further characterized sources of pollution, identified management strategies to reduce pollutant loads, and estimated load reductions. Tasks included evaluating watershed model output used to further characterize potential sources and the highest priority areas for load reductions, identifying and using appropriate BMP models to estimate load reductions, working with stakeholders to identify areas for BMP implementation, and comparing estimated reductions to TMDL load allocations to ensure water quality standards will be attained.

Aerial photo of several damaged boats are strewn across the landscape, surrounded by floodwaters following a severe storm.

Engaging Coastal Managers to Assess Resilience Financing Gaps

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Engaging Coastal Managers to Assess Resilience Financing Gaps

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Services: Climate Resilience

Aerial photo of several damaged boats are strewn across the landscape, surrounded by floodwaters following a severe storm.

PG supported the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in evaluating regional, state, and local coastal managers’ needs, successes, and challenges related to funding and financing coastal resilience projects. Staff conducted virtual interviews with over 30 coastal managers and representatives from local, financial services, non-profit, academic, technical, and other organizations, compiling information on the type of resilience projects, funding and financing mechanisms, and project funding barriers and gaps. A final report documented findings, common themes, and recommendations on funding and financing mechanisms to help address the identified resource needs and gaps for coastal resilience projects.

Overhead image of wastewater treatment facility adjacent to a river lined by trees.

Mitigating Discharge Exceedances through Holistic Evaluation of Collection System and Treatment Plant

U.S. Department of Justice

Mitigating Discharge Exceedances through Holistic Evaluation of Collection System and Treatment Plant

U.S. Department of Justice

Services: Water Infrastructure Engineering, Compliance & Enforcement

Overhead image of wastewater treatment facility adjacent to a river lined by trees.

PG assisted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the development of injunctive relief to mitigate wastewater discharge exceedances from a treatment plant in Idaho. An experimental treatment plant that had been constructed ten years prior never performed as intended or designed, leading to persistent ammonia exceedances. In lieu of the already-proposed replacement treatment plant, PG assisted the defendant and DOJ in identifying several important contributors to the causes of ammonia exceedances that had not been adequately examined. This included a survey of all industrial users to better understand the variability of flow and concentrations in the plant’s influent. Wastewater samples were collected from multiple locations to better understand the variability within the collection system. Collectively, these measures will serve to protect the local community and aquatic life in the receiving stream.

Screenshot of slide from MS4 inspector training featuring a national map that shows the locations of regulated MS4s.

Building the Knowledge and Skills of NPDES Inspectors and Enforcement Staff

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Building the Knowledge and Skills of NPDES Inspectors and Enforcement Staff

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Services: Training, Compliance & Enforcement

Screenshot of slide from MS4 inspector training featuring a national map that shows the locations of regulated MS4s.

PG Environmental has hosted and led targeted training for federal and state National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) inspectors for more than 15 years. Drawing from our extensive compliance and enforcement support experience, PG’s team of NPDES compliance specialists and inspectors provide both classroom (virtual and in-person) and field-based training to educate inspectors and enforcement staff on NPDES regulations, stormwater management, wastewater treatment, pollution prevention practices, proper field investigation procedures, data collection methods, interviewing techniques, and inspection report development. PG-led inspection trainings are aimed at building the knowledge and skill sets needed to accurately evaluate and document NPDES stormwater and wastewater permit compliance. In addition to hosting various in-person training events, PG supports U.S. EPA and state NPDES regulatory agencies with the development of numerous NPDES inspector training resources such as fact sheets, presentations, technical manuals, and webcasts.

Aerial photo of wastewater facility in a field with several cylindrical and rectangular treatment tanks and buildings all connected by paved roads and paths.

Applying Engineering Expertise to Inform Infrastructure Funding Decisions

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Applying Engineering Expertise to Inform Infrastructure Funding Decisions

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Public Funding Program Support, Water Infrastructure Engineering

Aerial photo of wastewater facility in a field with several cylindrical and rectangular treatment tanks and buildings all connected by paved roads and paths.

As part of support for EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, PG provides engineering support services to assess planned improvements to wastewater facilities. For example, PG staff conducted a review of preliminary engineering plans for a city in Oregon to improve their wastewater conveyance and treatment system to address high inflow and infiltration (I/I) into the wastewater collection system experienced during winter months. The city proposed upgrading their treatment capacity by expanding and rehabbing their existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as well as constructing a new satellite facility featuring membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology to enable the city to treat projected peak wet weather flows. As part of the improvements, the city also plans to build a new outfall and construct a new wetland that can accept effluent from the existing and proposed WWTPs. PG reviewed the MBR WWTP, outfall and wetland projects’ design, cost and schedule for capability, accuracy, reasonableness, and use of industry best practices. These types of expert assessments are critical for helping EPA to make informed funding decisions.

A man stands on the sandy beach casting a fishing line into a large, still body of water; a developed shoreline dotted with trees is visible in the distance.

Addressing Legacy Pollutants through TMDL Development

U.S. EPA Region 9

Addressing Legacy Pollutants through TMDL Development

U.S. EPA Region 9

Services: Watershed Assessment & TMDLs, Ecological Monitoring & Assessment

A man stands on the sandy beach casting a fishing line into a large, still body of water; a developed shoreline dotted with trees is visible in the distance.

PG supported U.S. EPA Region 9 and Guam EPA in the development of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for Tumon Bay, on the west side of Guam. The Bay has legacy impairments for antimony, arsenic, total chlordane, dieldrin, trichloroethene, and tetrachloroethene. Efforts included collaboration with a local subcontractor to collect additional samples to assess groundwater springs to the Bay, quality of ambient marine waters, marine sediment, and fish tissue. PG compiled all other available data and evaluated the full suite of sample results over time in a detailed data assessment with comparison to applicable standards. Staff also confirmed impairment status and supported TMDL development for confirmed impairments, including loading calculations, linkage analysis, and allocations. PG ultimately developed a TMDL report and supported public comment response.

Jockeys race several horses on a sandy track with a large digital screen televising the action in the background among several mature trees.

Identifying Tailored Wastewater Management Approaches to Protect Public Health

U.S. Department of Justice

Identifying Tailored Wastewater Management Approaches to Protect Public Health

U.S. Department of Justice

Services: Water Infrastructure Engineering, Compliance & Enforcement

Jockeys race several horses on a sandy track with a large digital screen televising the action in the background among several mature trees.

PG assisted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the development of injunctive relief to greatly reduce the volume of wastewater discharge from a horse racing track in Louisiana. Wastewater facilities that normally capture and treat stormwater runoff from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), such as lagoons, were not viable for this facility given its residential setting. In lieu of conventional solutions, PG assisted the defendant and DOJ in identifying alternative compliance measures, including greatly enhanced best management practices and construction of focused gray infrastructure. Collectively, these measures will serve to protect the local community by minimizing the build-up of animal wastes on site and substantially reducing the volume of potentially contaminated stormwater runoff to sensitive waters of the US.

An instructor stands in a paved lot surrounded by green trees and faced by several people. Most wear high-visibility clothing, and one of the participants is also wearing a white hardhat.

Developing a Series of Water Quality Training Materials for State Staff

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Developing a Series of Water Quality Training Materials for State Staff

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Services: Training

An instructor stands in a paved lot surrounded by green trees and faced by several people. Most wear high-visibility clothing, and one of the participants is also wearing a white hardhat.

PG is providing training support for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to strengthen staff knowledge, skills, and capacity-building initiatives. As part of this effort, PG’s experienced training program developers generate and deliver tailored curriculum materials and plans for ADEQ water quality permitting, compliance, inspection, and sampling activities. PG also provides administrative support for logistics, planning, curriculum development and creates specific target audience knowledge assessments and feedback surveys. Training delivery takes many forms, including field- and classroom-based, virtual, and video formats. Examples of trainings PG has developed for ADEQ include construction / industrial stormwater general permit inspections, wastewater compliance evaluation inspections, sewer modeling, pretreatment inspections, underground injection control, water quality sampling, mixing zones, TMDLs, metal translator permitting, and biosolids training.

A person crouches next to a deep, round hole with the soil sample on a blue tarp to the left of the hole and a shovel and other tools to the right. The person holds an identifying sign.

Collecting Soil and Vegetation Data to Inform Land Management

Bureau of Land Management

Collecting Soil and Vegetation Data to Inform Land Management

Bureau of Land Management

Services: Ecological Monitoring & Assessment

A person crouches next to a deep, round hole with the soil sample on a blue tarp to the left of the hole and a shovel and other tools to the right. The person holds an identifying sign.

PG has supported the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Assessment Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) project since 2019 to inform sound decision-making and policy development for public lands in Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming. Each season PG trains teams of botanists, soil scientists, and technicians to deploy the AIM field protocol across the states, including remote areas that require heavy duty vehicles and camping for extended periods in extreme environments. Field teams collect information on soil stability, structure, and characteristics, gather botanical data, perform a vegetation gap analysis, and deploy a Line Point-Intercept (LPI) methodology. PG have worked closely with the corresponding local BLM field offices, tailoring data requirements and assessment methodologies for each office. PG has been performing BLM Terrestrial AIM work in Utah since 2019, completing more than 700 sites; in 2021, PG also supported 210 sites in Arizona and 190 in Wyoming and anticipates sampling an additional 1,500 sites across the three states in 2022.

Water flows through a concrete conveyance in an urban setting spanned by a bridge in the background with skyscrapers visible in the distance.

Mitigating Contaminated Transboundary Flows in the Tijuana River Watershed

U.S. EPA Region 9 and Headquarters

Mitigating Contaminated Transboundary Flows in the Tijuana River Watershed

U.S. EPA Region 9 and Headquarters

Services: Water Infrastructure Engineering, Public Funding Program Support

Water flows through a concrete conveyance in an urban setting spanned by a bridge in the background with skyscrapers visible in the distance.

Raw sewage and other waste flows from Tijuana, Mexico, into Southern California, polluting water resources and depriving communities of recreational and economic opportunities. PG is supporting EPA Region 9 and EPA Headquarters in evaluating technical alternatives to identify, assess, and assist with the selection of water infrastructure projects to address transboundary water quality issues in the Tijuana River Watershed in the San Diego-Tijuana area. Examples of these projects include expanding and upgrading wastewater conveyance and treatment, river water diversion and treatment, trash capture, and water reuse. These projects are expected to improve water quality in the Tijuana River watershed, reduce beach closures in Southern California, and create safer conditions along the international border.

An aerial shot of a person in a blue shirt bending over in a shallow waterbody with a floatation device for sample collection tethered to his waist.

Engaging Recreational Water Users and Collecting Data on Algae Growth

U.S. EPA Region 3 and Multiple States

Engaging Recreational Water Users and Collecting Data on Algae Growth

U.S. EPA Region 3 and Multiple States

Services: Ecological Monitoring & Assessment

An aerial shot of a person in a blue shirt bending over in a shallow waterbody with a floatation device for sample collection tethered to his waist.

PG is supporting EPA and a Mid-Atlantic state workgroup by collecting background and algae bloom data as they explore options to help control excess or nuisance algae in wadeable streams and rivers. PG is collecting field data to assess environmental conditions and developing a qualitative perception survey to gauge recreational water users’ views of algae levels and how they may inhibit recreational uses. The field and user perception data will be used to assess how perceived algae levels relate to quantifiable water quality parameters reflective of environmental conditions leading to excess algae development. This project is significant in its relation the potential impacts of climate change as warmer water temperatures can allow for increased algae growth and lead to the decreased beneficial uses of waterways and adverse human health impacts. In addition, the project addresses the potential impacts on nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

A shallow stream flows through a wooded rolling landscape with evergreens, with white froth where the water passes an over an exposed rock. There is a blue sky overhead with wispy clouds.

Assessing Streamflow Duration to Support Jurisdictional Determinations

Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. EPA Headquarters

Assessing Streamflow Duration to Support Jurisdictional Determinations

Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Ecological Monitoring & Assessment

A shallow stream flows through a wooded rolling landscape with evergreens, with white froth where the water passes an over an exposed rock. There is a blue sky overhead with wispy clouds.

Since 2019, PG crews have conducted more than 1,000 surveys at sites spanning the Eastern and Western United States as well as the Great Plains to support the development of a Streamflow Duration Assessment Method (SDAM) for U.S. EPA and Army Corps. As part of method development, PG’s field crews conduct rapid, field-based assessments to collect hydrological, geomorphological, and biological indicator data to classify streamflow duration as perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral at the reach scale. At each site, PG collects all data required in the SDAMs development protocol and submits data through a field-based GIS application. Further, at each visit PG retrieves flow duration data from data loggers deployed at the site. PG has also assisted in project data management and the implementation of automated quality control checks. Regulators and water resource managers rely on these assessments to help implement many federal, state, and local programs, including conducting jurisdictional determinations for streams under section 404 of the CWA.

A yellow backhoe is parked at an active worksite next to a trench in the ground where new water lines will be laid. Three men in safety vests and hardhats stand nearby with a parking lot in the background and a blue sky overhead.

Creating Resources to Help Communities Access Water Infrastructure Funding

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Creating Resources to Help Communities Access Water Infrastructure Funding

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Public Funding Program Support

A yellow backhoe is parked at an active worksite next to a trench in the ground where new water lines will be laid. Three men in safety vests and hardhats stand nearby with a parking lot in the background and a blue sky overhead.

Since 2019 PG has assisted EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center (WIRFC) with various tasks that support investments in communities across the country. For example, PG worked with EPA to develop a report highlighting innovative and successful funding mechanisms for stormwater funding in ten communities. Support entailed identifying and contacting the communities, setting up and conducting interviews, and developing the report, which included an overview of funding approaches and associated lessons learned. PG also assisted EPA with updating its Clearinghouse for Environmental Finance with relevant water management information and resources. After extensive research on water financing mechanisms, PG helped to compile and organize information through a lens of community revitalization and environmental justice. Additional support includes hosting and providing logistical assistance for a series of stormwater funding and financing mechanism webinars.

Blue and silver pipes at a water pumping station are pictured in the foreground as an operator makes adjustments through a square gray interface affixed to the far wall.

Delivering Hands-on Compliance Assistance to Rural Water Systems

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Delivering Hands-on Compliance Assistance to Rural Water Systems

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Compliance & Enforcement, Technical Assistance

Blue and silver pipes at a water pumping station are pictured in the foreground as an operator makes adjustments through a square gray interface affixed to the far wall.

PG is supporting EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance in two national initiatives that focus on long-standing noncompliance challenges at drinking water and wastewater facilities in small communities, including those in Indian Country. As part of this effort, PG provides hands-on technical compliance assistance to small community operators through site visits to selected public water systems. These site visits focus on helping systems address permitting and compliance issues, diagnose design and operational issues, and navigate financing, rate setting, and regionalization challenges. For example, PG provided on-the-ground assistance to a tribe in New Mexico that operates around a dozen small drinking water systems, helping them to reduce their number of significant deficiencies by 95 percent.

Several surfers floating on their boards in the bright blue ocean with clear skies overhead; in the background is a verdant mountain with several highrise buildings along the coastline.

Supporting Hawaii Nonpoint Source Regulatory Program Development

Hawaii Department of Health

Supporting Hawaii Nonpoint Source Regulatory Program Development

Hawaii Department of Health

Services: Nonpoint Source Program, Regulatory & Policy Analysis

Several surfers floating on their boards in the bright blue ocean with clear skies overhead; in the background is a verdant mountain with several highrise buildings along the coastline.

PG is supporting the Hawaii Department of Health’s (DOH) efforts to develop a nonpoint source water pollution control program. Support includes exploration of Hawaii’s existing statutory and programmatic framework to control nonpoint source pollutants and research into other state programs with effective nonpoint source control and coastal nonpoint source programs. PG presented a range of regulatory options and described the regulatory, programmatic, and organizational considerations for Hawaii to implement each example framework to help DOH develop and implement an approach that will better control nonpoint source pollutant discharges to inland and coastal waters. PG is working with the DOH to draft rules and regulations along with an implementation plan to establish a nonpoint source regulatory program consistent with Hawaii’s constitutional and statutory framework that incorporates and advances existing programs implemented by DOH and various partner agencies.

Detail of cover page of the National Water Reuse Action Plan, Collaborative Implementation (Version 1) document, released February 27, 2020. The cover includes a water recycling logo and several pictures of reuse activities.

Increasing Community Resilience through Water Reuse

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Increasing Community Resilience through Water Reuse

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Climate Resilience

Detail of cover page of the National Water Reuse Action Plan, Collaborative Implementation (Version 1) document, released February 27, 2020. The cover includes a water recycling logo and several pictures of reuse activities.

PG has been providing critical support to EPA’s Water Reuse Program in the development and implementation of the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) since its inception in 2019. The WRAP emphasizes critical actions to help build capacity for communities to consider and pursue reuse practices and ensure the security, sustainability, and resilience of the nation’s water resources. EPA is facilitating this initiative with strong collaboration across more than 130 federal, state, tribal, local, and water sector partner organizations. PG has been integral throughout the Action Plan development and action implementation, coordinating engagement, conducting research, compiling information, supporting communications (e.g., website updates, public docket management), synthesizing stakeholder input, compiling and editing documents, and providing overall project management support. PG also facilitates strategic planning for the WRAP and its constituent parts, including the 60+ actions, to help identify emerging priorities and continue to advance the consideration of water reuse as a tool to help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Detail of example slide from hazard mitigation planning training module. Five light blue boxes that are stacked vertically describe water quality programs. Collectively, these feed into the light green box labeled “Agency Coordination to Integrate Water Quality Risks, Goals, and Action Items into an HMP.” Examples of Water Quality and Hazard Mitigation Professionals are listed in 5 green ovals within this box.

Creating Training Materials on Green Infrastructure for Hazard Mitigation

U.S. EPA Region 3

Creating Training Materials on Green Infrastructure for Hazard Mitigation

U.S. EPA Region 3

Services: Training, Climate Resilience

Detail of example slide from hazard mitigation planning training module. Five light blue boxes that are stacked vertically describe water quality programs. Collectively, these feed into the light green box labeled “Agency Coordination to Integrate Water Quality Risks, Goals, and Action Items into an HMP.” Examples of Water Quality and Hazard Mitigation Professionals are listed in 5 green ovals within this box.

PG supported EPA Region 3 in refining six learning modules that will assist communities in understanding how to successfully integrate green infrastructure and other water quality planning strategies into hazard mitigation approaches at the state and local levels. The curriculum was refined by reviewing existing modules, identifying information gaps and essential concepts through stakeholder engagement, and condensing the material to fit a one-day workshop format. PG worked with several emergency response agencies, including FEMA and USACE, to develop a curriculum that covered how green infrastructure and nature-based solutions may be used to address water quality, manage stormwater, and achieve hazard mitigation goals. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, PG modified the in-person workshop to fit a virtual platform and created interactive sessions including a funding/financing panel discussion and hazard scenario breakout groups. PG facilitated three pilot workshops for Chesapeake Bay states in 2019/2020 and developed a “how-to” guide, presentation materials, and workshop logistics documents to enable communities to hold additional workshops in the future.

A man in a yellow safety shirt cleaning a walkway at a wastewater plant aeration basin. Several long pipes line the edges of long brownish basins. A view of a cloudy day looking towards a horizon with big tanks and cranes.

Revising the NPDES Permit Application Forms to Reflect Public Input

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Revising the NPDES Permit Application Forms to Reflect Public Input

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: NPDES Permitting

A man in a yellow safety shirt cleaning a walkway at a wastewater plant aeration basin. Several long pipes line the edges of long brownish basins. A view of a cloudy day looking towards a horizon with big tanks and cranes.

PG has supported EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management in assessing public comments provided on multiple rulemakings. For example, more than 450 organizations and individuals submitted comments, and approximately 14,000 additional letters associated with mass letter writing campaigns were received and processed related to the 2016 NPDES Applications and Program Updates rulemaking. We worked with EPA to develop web-based comment coding system and trained a support team on protocols to ensure that all comments could be processed within one week of the close of the comment period. Once EPA comment responses were finalized, PG compiled the comment excerpts and EPA responses into a final comment response document. PG conducted a burden assessment and developed an Information Collection Request supporting statement for the final rulemaking. Finally, PG developed eight new NPDES application forms that reflect the final rulemaking and are easier to use and understand. The new forms are expected to reduce the rate of incomplete NPDES permit application submissions and improve the quality of information being collected.

Sunrise at your back at the edge of a pond with a large tree on a lush green bank, surrounded by purple wildflowers. Some homes off in the distance.

Exploring Alternatives to TMDLs

U.S. EPA Region 1

Exploring Alternatives to TMDLs

U.S. EPA Region 1

Services: Watershed Assessment & TMDLs, Regulatory & Policy Analysis

Sunrise at your back at the edge of a pond with a large tree on a lush green bank, surrounded by purple wildflowers. Some homes off in the distance.

PG has provided EPA Region 1 with support in developing a water quality study of the Mystic River watershed in the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area since 2016. The watershed faces multiple water quality impacts related to cultural eutrophication, including excessive algal growth, harmful cyanobacteria blooms, and excessive native and invasive macrophyte growth. This study serves as a regulatory alternative to a TMDL which will result in the restoration of a nutrient impaired waterway. Focusing on the Mystic River and seven associated nutrient impaired lakes, we supported the assessment of available data sources, data gaps, and modeling alternatives for characterizing loadings and waterbody behavior within the watershed. All activities were closely coordinated with guidance and input from a technical steering committee composed of federal and state regulators and local community stakeholders.

Satellite view of swirling blue green algae encompassing the area closest to the coast of a city in the open waters of a deep blue bay.

Researching HABs Disinfection Byproducts

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Researching HABs Disinfection Byproducts

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Ecological Monitoring & Assessment, Drinking Water

Satellite view of swirling blue green algae encompassing the area closest to the coast of a city in the open waters of a deep blue bay.

PG assisted EPA in developing and conducting a “Proof of Concept” study to assess harmful algal blooms (HABs) and disinfection byproducts (DBPs) at five public water systems across the country using standardized methodologies and various laboratory analyses of HABs. PG recruited qualified laboratories to perform HAB analyses and coordinated with public water suppliers to ensure sampling was being performed in accordance with sampling methodologies. The knowledge gained will allow utilities and regulators to make better-informed, long-term decisions regarding operating and modifying treatment processes to optimize toxin removal.

Stormwater flowing towards you down a tiered concrete channel through a grassy area.

Helping Communities Plan for Long-Term Stormwater Management

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Helping Communities Plan for Long-Term Stormwater Management

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Regulatory & Policy Analysis, Technical Assistance

Stormwater flowing towards you down a tiered concrete channel through a grassy area.

In close coordination with EPA, PG assisted multiple communities across the country to develop long-term stormwater plans that address stormwater management issues and also support broader community goals. In order to establish an approach that meets local needs, we are working alongside community members and leaders to address unique stormwater-related issues that affect public health, quality of life, and long-term growth potential. For example, with a Gulf Coast community, PG is focusing on the city’s current issues with flooding, natural disaster response, asset management, resiliency (including use of green infrastructure), and program funding. Each community’s plan will identify opportunities to integrate stormwater management with broader plans for economic development, infrastructure investment, community health, and environmental compliance.

A dark river with a still surface flows at the base of tall rocky banks in an arid landscape with a reddish mountain range in the background under clear blue skies.

Developing and Populating a Statewide TMDL Database

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Developing and Populating a Statewide TMDL Database

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Services: Watershed Assessment & TMDLs

A dark river with a still surface flows at the base of tall rocky banks in an arid landscape with a reddish mountain range in the background under clear blue skies.

PG supported the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) in designing an Oracle relational database to capture descriptive information on all the state’s total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), watershed restoration plans (i.e., nine element plans), and TMDL-Alterative plans. Staff compiled plan administrative information, water quality standards, impaired segment information, sources of impairments, and allocations, and entered critical information into the database. In addition, PG supported ADEQ’s program by developing TMDL document templates for TMDLs, TMDL-Alternative Plans, and for watershed restoration plan.

Instructor stands in front of screen with presentation materials in a large, wood-paneled conference room facing several rows of long tables with seated participants taking notes.

Facilitating Delivery of the NPDES Permit Writers’ Course

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Facilitating Delivery of the NPDES Permit Writers’ Course

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Training, NPDES Permitting

Instructor stands in front of screen with presentation materials in a large, wood-paneled conference room facing several rows of long tables with seated participants taking notes.

PG supports EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management in the development and delivery of the popular National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Writers’ Course. The instructional course covers the regulatory framework and basic elements of NPDES permit development for an audience of permit writers, dischargers, and state and local officials, with options for both in-person or virtual participation. PG staff maintain and develop course material, provide logistical support for the course, and present materials alongside EPA. PG draws on our deep experience with applicable federal statutes and regulations and common implementation practices to help EPA regional and state permit writers navigate complex issues and apply technically sound permitting approaches to keep local waterways clean and healthy.

Looking up at the belly of a large grey water tower amid blue skies on a sunny, clear day.

Assessing Drinking Water Safety in Native American Communities

U.S. EPA Region 9

Assessing Drinking Water Safety in Native American Communities

U.S. EPA Region 9

Services: Drinking Water, Compliance & Enforcement

Looking up at the belly of a large grey water tower amid blue skies on a sunny, clear day.

PG helped the Navajo Nation EPA and EPA Region 9 strengthen protections for Native American communities by performing 16 sanitary surveys to evaluate public water systems at Navajo Nation schools. These assessments covered all components of drinking water infrastructure, including treatment plants, distribution systems, and storage facilities, as well as proper management and operations, to ensure the provision of safe drinking water in compliance with federal regulations.

A skyline made up of buildings in the distance with a control tower standing at the edge of a lake. The sky is cloudy, but the water is calm.

Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollutants in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollutants in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Services: Nonpoint Source Program

A skyline made up of buildings in the distance with a control tower standing at the edge of a lake. The sky is cloudy, but the water is calm.

PG is supporting the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) in updating its Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Program Plan to improve water quality throughout the state. Revisions to the current plan involve extensive coordination with MassDEP staff as well as NPS partners, including all state and federal agencies whose policies and programs impact nonpoint source management throughout the state. The plan describes Massachusetts’ NPS program and current water quality status, discusses all partners and their related programs, sets forth goals with associated objectives and milestones along with a prioritization approach for directing available funding, and identifies sources of funding and relevant information.

Holding Quagga/zebra mussels in the fingers of a hand. Small grey and brownish shells, one to one and a half inches in length.

Assessing a Pipeline and Potential Effects on Biota in the Great Lakes Area

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Assessing a Pipeline and Potential Effects on Biota in the Great Lakes Area

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Ecological Monitoring & Assessment, Compliance & Enforcement

Holding Quagga/zebra mussels in the fingers of a hand. Small grey and brownish shells, one to one and a half inches in length.

PG supported EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance in performing an assessment of the integrity of a submerged pipeline in the Great Lakes from invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels. The analysis focused on a review of the pipeline monitoring plan and analysis of the structural risk of the pipeline due to mussels. Very few environments resemble the Great Lakes’ deep non-saline water, making comparisons to other plans extremely difficult. We reached out to experts in academia to compile their opinions on the effect of biota on the pipeline, performed extensive literature review, and worked closely with structural engineers to merge biota findings with pipeline structural concerns. Based on this background research, PG made recommendations for enhancements to the monitoring plan methodology to ensure the scientific integrity of the study.

Multiple people sitting in a meeting room in a circle, water bottles and laptops on the tables and handwritten notes lining the walls.

Reimagining Stormwater Permitting and Program Approaches

U.S. EPA Region 9

Reimagining Stormwater Permitting and Program Approaches

U.S. EPA Region 9

Services: Regulatory & Policy Analysis, NPDES Permitting

Multiple people sitting in a meeting room in a circle, water bottles and laptops on the tables and handwritten notes lining the walls.

In close collaboration with EPA Region 9 and the State of California, PG helped organize and facilitate two workshops with stormwater experts from around the country to identify opportunities for programmatic improvement. The first workshop focused on stormwater program implementation requirements in MS4 permits, including minimum control measures. PG helped orient discussions to identify the evolution of these programs, challenges, and recommendations for improvement. PG also supported a follow-on workshop to identify tangible ways to enhance MS4 monitoring, tracking, and reporting and establish meaningful program metrics. Both workshops engaged approximately 30 national experts from EPA, state Clean Water Act permitting agencies, local stormwater programs, national associations, consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations. PG developed white paper reports for each workshop that provide broader context for workshop discussions and present specific recommendations suggested by stakeholders.

A grey concrete pipe exposed on the coast of a Hawaiian island. Some overhanging tree above looking out to the horizon on a misty day.

Developing Asset Management Program Capabilities in Hawaii

U.S. EPA Region 9

Developing Asset Management Program Capabilities in Hawaii

U.S. EPA Region 9

Services: Water Infrastructure Engineering, Technical Assistance

A grey concrete pipe exposed on the coast of a Hawaiian island. Some overhanging tree above looking out to the horizon on a misty day.

PG is supporting EPA Region 9 to help the County of Hawaii implement better asset management protocols for their wastewater system. With significant contributions by the Southwest Environmental Finance Center, our team is conducting an in-depth analysis of the County’s asset management and assisting them in identifying and assessing critical assets. Specifically, we have conducted field evaluations of all the utility’s vertical wastewater assets, evaluated horizontal assets based on historical data, identified gaps in the existing geographic information system, evaluated and ranked wastewater asset risk, analyzed water and energy efficiency related to wastewater operations, and helped to develop level of service goals. By the end of the project, PG will provide the County with recommendations for acquiring and implementing a computerized maintenance management system to more effectively operate, maintain, and manage their wastewater infrastructure.

An image of Hawaii taken from space, depicting the developed coastline and the surrounding deep blue seas with just a few small white clouds over the scene.

Supporting Keehi Lagoon TMDL Development

Hawaii Department of Health

Supporting Keehi Lagoon TMDL Development

Hawaii Department of Health

Services: Watershed Assessment & TMDLs

An image of Hawaii taken from space, depicting the developed coastline and the surrounding deep blue seas with just a few small white clouds over the scene.

PG Environmental led a contractor team supporting Hawaii Department of Health’s (HDOH’s) Clean Water Branch in compiling data, summarizing information, and conducting modeling in support of development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) applicable to Kalihi Stream, Moanalua Stream, and Keehi Lagoon. Under the Task Order, PG compiled data and analyzed data for purposes of watershed characterization and coordinated with team partners to perform a land use analysis, identify and quantify sources of pollutant loading to the watershed, develop a technical approach for performing linkage analysis modeling, perform the modeling, calculate load and wasteload allocations, and provide general assistance to HDOH in completion of the report and responding to public comments. The ultimate aim of this TMDL is to restore this watershed and its waterbodies to attainment with water quality standards.

Standing on the bank next to a gear packed raft. Two people prepare to take samples on a free-flowing section a light brown colored river.

Evaluating the Impacts of the Gold King Mine Spill

U.S. EPA Region 8

Evaluating the Impacts of the Gold King Mine Spill

U.S. EPA Region 8

Services: Ecological Monitoring & Assessment

Standing on the bank next to a gear packed raft. Two people prepare to take samples on a free-flowing section a light brown colored river.

PG has been active with response efforts related to the Gold King Mine Spill in Silverton, Colorado, that released 3 million gallons of wastewater into the environment in 2015. Our team provided macroinvertebrate assessment at 29 locations along the Animas and San Juan Rivers and conducted a physical habitat assessment at all New Mexico and Utah sites utilizing EPA’s National Rivers and Streams Assessment protocols. PG has also assisted in the development of a Long-Term Monitoring Plan for the watershed, coordinating with Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Navajo Nation, Southern Ute, and Ute Mountain Ute to understand their needs and goals for the program.

Fingers gently holding a live sunfish with red and green scales along a metal ruler on a wooden board.

Monitoring the Health of our Nation’s Water Resources

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Monitoring the Health of our Nation’s Water Resources

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Ecological Monitoring & Assessment

Fingers gently holding a live sunfish with red and green scales along a metal ruler on a wooden board.

PG has been monitoring the health and vitality of our nation’s water resources continuously since 2012 in support of EPA’s National Aquatic Resources Survey (NARS). We provide broad-based technical assistance for three NARS assessments: the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA), the National Wetlands Condition Assessment (NWCA), and the National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA). Our work includes managing the complex logistics involved; mobilizing field sampling teams at hundreds of stream, wetland, and coastal locations across the U.S.; and coordinating with laboratories to ensure accurate sample analysis and processing.

A person in the distant right stands in a plant-filled pond holding a piece of field equipment. A green forest is visible in the background with blue, partly cloudy skies.

Reducing Impacts from Excessive Nutrients

U.S. EPA Headquarters and Multiple States

Reducing Impacts from Excessive Nutrients

U.S. EPA Headquarters and Multiple States

Services: Regulatory & Policy Analysis, Watershed Assessment & TMDLs

A person in the distant right stands in a plant-filled pond holding a piece of field equipment. A green forest is visible in the background with blue, partly cloudy skies.

PG provides critical support to regulatory agencies in managing nutrient pollution to ensure the sustainable health of our nation’s waters and protect citizens’ ability to enjoy these resources. We have assisted with all aspects of NPDES program development, including establishing practices and procedures for nutrient criteria implementation in Hawaii, reviewing nutrient control plans for Phase II MS4s in Virginia, and conducting audits of watershed-based nutrient credit trading program participants in EPA Region 3. In addition to regulatory development and implementation work, PG has provided critical support to EPA’s Office of Water in creating research reports like “A Compilation of Cost Data Associated with the Impacts and Control of Nutrient Pollution,” which serves as an important reference for regulators and the public. We have contributed to the development of a national survey of municipal wastewater plant nutrient treatment capabilities and supported modeling and analysis tasks such as assessing nutrient loads and developing protective nutrient water column targets in Massachusetts and Michigan watersheds.

A group of people standing in a parking lot on a sunny day. The group is congregated around a storm drain, with one person pointing down to it. A service truck is parked in the background.

Strengthening Puerto Rico’s MS4 Program

U.S. EPA Region 2

Strengthening Puerto Rico’s MS4 Program

U.S. EPA Region 2

Services: Compliance & Enforcement

A group of people standing in a parking lot on a sunny day. The group is congregated around a storm drain, with one person pointing down to it. A service truck is parked in the background.

For more than a decade, PG has supported municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) program audits and inspections in Puerto Rico for EPA Region 2’s Caribbean Environmental Protection Division (CEPD). Our team of inspectors recognizes the impact that extreme weather and flooding events can have on stormwater infrastructure—we conducted MS4 inspections in the greater San Juan area from a stance of compliance assistance in light of recovery efforts in Puerto Rico from the 2017 hurricane season. Yet we also recognize the importance of establishing a strong program that protects local water quality, sewer infrastructure, public health, and safety. Over the years, PG has also conducted multiple MS4 program audits, which include interviews with municipality officials, document reviews, as well as field activities. Following the audits, PG composes in-depth reports outlining the findings for CEPD.

Standing at a stream flowing into the ocean on the coast of a Hawaiian island. A rocky coastline contrasts with the blue of the sky and ocean. A large, steep cliff meets the ocean in the background on the left.

Analyzing Economic Impact of Proposed Water Quality Regulations

U.S. EPA and Multiple States

Analyzing Economic Impact of Proposed Water Quality Regulations

U.S. EPA and Multiple States

Services: Regulatory & Policy Analysis

Standing at a stream flowing into the ocean on the coast of a Hawaiian island. A rocky coastline contrasts with the blue of the sky and ocean. A large, steep cliff meets the ocean in the background on the left.

PG supports EPA and states in conducting economic analyses of new water quality standards for the protection of aquatic life and human health. Our economic analysis team develops a framework for assessing likely effects of new policies on the regulated community and provides an estimate of financial impact on stakeholder communities. Whether on the state, watershed, or national scale, we produce technically sound and defensible economic analyses.

An overhead view of a pipe galley in a concrete pit with grey piping, valves, and pumps. A spare pump sits on the floor next to a person in a yellow safety vest and hardhat preparing to replace it. Some grey scaffolding is disassembled on the floor to the left.

Upgrading Water Infrastructure in Guam

U.S. EPA Region 9

Upgrading Water Infrastructure in Guam

U.S. EPA Region 9

Services: Water Infrastructure Engineering, Public Funding Program Support

An overhead view of a pipe galley in a concrete pit with grey piping, valves, and pumps. A spare pump sits on the floor next to a person in a yellow safety vest and hardhat preparing to replace it. Some grey scaffolding is disassembled on the floor to the left.

PG has supported EPA Region 9 in evaluating the performance of drinking and wastewater infrastructure in Guam as the territory upgrades its infrastructure to serve a growing population. Specifically, PG assessed Guam Waterworks Authority’s (GWA) Water Resources Master Plan and Capital Improvement Program; helped with identification, costing, and prioritization of infrastructure needs and financial capability to operate and maintain current and proposed infrastructure; and identified overarching water and wastewater system issues requiring the attention of GWA and other stakeholders. This comprehensive overview of their drinking water treatment and distribution systems, as well as infrastructure for wastewater collection, treatment, and discharge has been critical for ensuring safe and reliable service.

A person wearing a hat, blue and white plaid shift, and blue rubber gloves works on well plumbing.

Evaluating the Safety of Domestic Water Wells

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Evaluating the Safety of Domestic Water Wells

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Services: Drinking Water

A person wearing a hat, blue and white plaid shift, and blue rubber gloves works on well plumbing.

During a week-long sampling event with ATSDR—a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—PG collected over 1,000 drinking water, groundwater, and bulk water samples across 25 private residences in a Pennsylvania town to analyze for multiple parameters of concern. The town, which falls within a natural gas patch, tested positive for several harmful contaminants in an EPA survey in 2012. PG and ATSDR’s onsite activities included an evaluation of the homeowners’ wellheads, well venting assets, general well recharge rates, historic well operating conditions, and operation of the well system’s pressure tank. PG developed a quality assurance project plan and a sampling and analysis plan, managed laboratory subcontracts, and coordinated sampling logistics as part of the effort to ensure accurate, timely testing that protects the health of local residents.

An offshore oil rig stands above the ocean surface while a helicopter flies above and to the right. It is a clear, sunny day with a faint mountainous coastline visible in the distance.

Protecting California Coastlines from the Impacts of Offshore Drilling

U.S. EPA Region 9

Protecting California Coastlines from the Impacts of Offshore Drilling

U.S. EPA Region 9

Services: Compliance & Enforcement

An offshore oil rig stands above the ocean surface while a helicopter flies above and to the right. It is a clear, sunny day with a faint mountainous coastline visible in the distance.

In collaboration with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and EPA Region 9, PG performed onsite assessments of several oil and gas platforms off the California coast to review wastewater generating processes and evaluate the accuracy and reliability of self-monitoring and reporting. In addition to the onsite efforts, our team reviewed and summarized information obtained from EPA 308 Information Requests and performed Clean Water Act and NPDES compliance inspections. PG has supported various U.S. EPA Regions and states in oil and gas sector compliance and enforcement activities throughout the years, ranging from expert technical analysis to support in negotiation of a consent decree.

A layered map of Los Angeles County, California, is color coded for different soil types. The hydrology manual from which the map is sourced is visible in the background.

Developing More Effective Regulations through GIS Analysis

U.S. EPA Region 9

Developing More Effective Regulations through GIS Analysis

U.S. EPA Region 9

Services: Watershed Assessment & TMDLs, NPDES Permitting

A layered map of Los Angeles County, California, is color coded for different soil types. The hydrology manual from which the map is sourced is visible in the background.

PG supported EPA Region 9 and the state of California in strengthening water quality protections in Los Angeles County through the creation of a watershed-based MS4 permit that required significant consideration of GIS data and analysis. To achieve targeted reductions in pollutants like trash, metals, nutrients, and bacteria, we began by using geographic information systems to perform spatial analyses of the local soil, hydrography, urban area, and stormwater infrastructure. We then recommended a wide range of innovative and progressive components and requirements such as Low Impact Development, hydromodification controls, and implementation of all effective TMDLs throughout the county. PG’s maps and illustrative data set combinations of various soil, urban areas, and hydrography contributed directly to the successful development of a permit that benefited nine sub-watersheds and 84 jurisdictional entities.

People wearing high visibility safety vests and hard hats gathered around a blue tent shelter on an overcast day. The area is grassy and lightly forested, with pine trees in the distance.

Building Community Capacity for Stormwater Management

U.S. EPA Region 3

Building Community Capacity for Stormwater Management

U.S. EPA Region 3

Services: Training, Compliance & Enforcement

People wearing high visibility safety vests and hard hats gathered around a blue tent shelter on an overcast day. The area is grassy and lightly forested, with pine trees in the distance.

PG helped develop and facilitate multiple municipal stormwater training forums for MS4 permittees in Virginia and Maryland to build additional program capacity and enhance environmental compliance. PG coordinated the events with staff from EPA, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ), Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and representatives from state transportation departments. Several hundred attendees representing permittees across Virginia and Maryland took advantage of this free opportunity for classroom and field instruction and idea-sharing.

An overhead view of an open-air round clarifying tank at a wastewater treatment facility on a clear day. With the opening at ground level, the tank is surrounded by handrails and bisected by a catwalk that leads to a small red shed. The tank is located in a grassy elevated coastal area overlooking the ocean, with a cliff visible in the back left.

Streamlining Clean Water Act Permitting Processes

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Streamlining Clean Water Act Permitting Processes

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Services: NPDES Permitting

An overhead view of an open-air round clarifying tank at a wastewater treatment facility on a clear day. With the opening at ground level, the tank is surrounded by handrails and bisected by a catwalk that leads to a small red shed. The tank is located in a grassy elevated coastal area overlooking the ocean, with a cliff visible in the back left.

For more than a decade, PG has helped EPA and states to better leverage their internal resources by optimizing aspects of their NPDES programs. Our innovative methods, tools, and guidance are designed to simplify and streamline the process of meeting Clean Water Act requirements. We have prepared hundreds of legally defensible permits for many point source categories, saving programs money and minimizing backlogs. Our expertise includes both individual and general permits and spans all types of regulated discharges, including industrial/commercial wastewater, POTWs, industrial/construction stormwater, MS4s, CAFOs, vessels, SSOs, and CSOs.

An inspector stands in a large parking lot in a light rain. He is holding a fiber optic camera and wearing a yellow high-visibility vest over a blue jacket with the hood up. A few white work vehicles are parked in the background.

Ensuring Water Quality through Environmental Inspections

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Ensuring Water Quality through Environmental Inspections

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Services: Compliance & Enforcement

An inspector stands in a large parking lot in a light rain. He is holding a fiber optic camera and wearing a yellow high-visibility vest over a blue jacket with the hood up. A few white work vehicles are parked in the background.

PG staff have conducted thousands of NPDES inspections at facilities of varying types and sizes in support of EPA and states  across the country. We are well-versed in both wastewater and stormwater collection, conveyance, and treatment systems, as well as associated data management and assessment tools and technologies. Our knowledge extends from small construction sites to the largest POTWs in the country and includes complex industrial and manufacturing facilities. After completing hundreds of MS4 inspections of both traditional and non-traditional programs, we are also keenly aware of the current state of the regulatory landscape and dischargers’ ability to achieve the maximum extent practicable standard.

Looking down toward a concrete stormwater catchment structure with brown water pooling at the bottom. With angular concrete towards the back and a half dome slope in the front, the basin slows the drainage from an incoming metal pipe.

Enhancing Environmental Compliance in Arizona

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Enhancing Environmental Compliance in Arizona

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Services: Compliance & Enforcement

Looking down toward a concrete stormwater catchment structure with brown water pooling at the bottom. With angular concrete towards the back and a half dome slope in the front, the basin slows the drainage from an incoming metal pipe.

As a recognized national leader in the MS4 field, PG has been supporting Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) with implementation of its regulatory compliance programs for more than ten years. Most recently, we helped ADEQ develop a “Lean” municipal stormwater program inspection process that prioritizes collaboration and immediate feedback to better assist MS4s in reaching compliance. This revised approach has now been used by ADEQ for numerous Phase II permittees, including non-traditional facilities such as military installations.

A crowd of people dressed in business attire with lanyards around their necks gather together in the foreground to pose for a photo. They are standing in front of EPA’s tall exhibit booth, featuring blue and white informational signage inside a convention hall.

Fostering Innovation in the Water Sector

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Fostering Innovation in the Water Sector

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Regulatory & Policy Analysis, Climate Resilience

A crowd of people dressed in business attire with lanyards around their necks gather together in the foreground to pose for a photo. They are standing in front of EPA’s tall exhibit booth, featuring blue and white informational signage inside a convention hall.

PG has supported EPA Office of Water’s efforts to catalyze and foster the adoption of innovative practices and new technologies in the water sector since 2012. With concurrent activities in water reuse, resource recovery, green infrastructure, and advanced monitoring, PG has helped EPA frame the business case for continued progress in these areas to ensure the sustainability of our water resources. To address policy and implementation issues surrounding water innovation and technology, PG regularly collaborates with multiple EPA offices, federal and state entities, and water sector non-profits.

A view of Chesapeake Bay standing from shore and looking out. A grassy area in the foreground includes a walkway going out to a boat dock. The silvery water of the bay stretches off into the distance, while large white tanks and an industrial area line the left banks.

Improving Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

U.S. EPA Headquarters and Multiple States

Improving Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

U.S. EPA Headquarters and Multiple States

Services: Compliance & Enforcement

A view of Chesapeake Bay standing from shore and looking out. A grassy area in the foreground includes a walkway going out to a boat dock. The silvery water of the bay stretches off into the distance, while large white tanks and an industrial area line the left banks.

PG supports EPA Region 3 in protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed through environmental compliance evaluations under the NPDES program. Specifically, PG has evaluated numerous MS4s, wastewater treatment facilities, combined and separate sewer collection systems (including CSO and SSO assessments), construction and industrial dischargers, and state- and federally owned facilities covered under NPDES permits. We have helped conduct baseline assessments of the stormwater programs in each of the region’s five member states, as well as spearheaded an effort to identify potential NPDES permit non-filers in the District of Columbia. In addition to field compliance work, PG has assisted EPA Region 3 and the Department of Justice in developing and pursuing enforcement cases to affect environmental change from some of the most prominent dischargers. Further, PG has worked collaboratively with EPA and the states to develop and conduct training sessions to educate staff on how to evaluate compliance, as well as inform local municipalities and dischargers on ways to achieve success in NPDES program implementation.

Looking down at a storm drain in a parking lot. It is surrounded by sand and a rainbow-colored oil sheen flowing into it.

Helping the State of Virginia Implement the Chesapeake Bay TMDL

U.S. EPA Region 3

Helping the State of Virginia Implement the Chesapeake Bay TMDL

U.S. EPA Region 3

Services: Compliance & Enforcement, Watershed Assessment & TMDLs

Looking down at a storm drain in a parking lot. It is surrounded by sand and a rainbow-colored oil sheen flowing into it.

PG supplemented Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (VADEQ) review capability for Chesapeake Bay TMDL implementation to provide permittees with constructive guidance on their pollutant reduction action plans. Specifically, PG supported EPA Region 3 and VADEQ in the review of Phase II TMDL action plans, assessing whether they met permit requirements as well as the requirements of DEQ’s Chesapeake Bay TMDL Special Condition Guidance Memorandum. Permittee types evaluated included municipalities, state and federal agencies, universities, public school districts, and other non-traditional MS4s.

People dressed in green camouflage with hard hats are building a foundation, directing the flow of concrete out of a grey pumping hose hanging from above. A pile of bricks is visible in the background in front of a white and green exterior wall.

Assessing Environmental Impacts of Development Projects

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Assessing Environmental Impacts of Development Projects

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Regulatory & Policy Analysis, Ecological Monitoring & Assessment

People dressed in green camouflage with hard hats are building a foundation, directing the flow of concrete out of a grey pumping hose hanging from above. A pile of bricks is visible in the background in front of a white and green exterior wall.

PG supports EPA with assessing the environmental impact of development projects for federal facilities subject to the National Environmental Policy Act. In this capacity, we coordinate with local agencies to determine potential repercussions of development activities associated with federal facilities and evaluate various approaches to protect social, cultural, economic, and natural resources. Thorough scientific research, data analysis, and report development are all paramount to these efforts. The resulting environmental assessment reports are used as communication tools to engage local citizens in decisions about projects that may affect their community.

View looking down towards the deep blue ocean on a calm, partly cloudy day. A section of lush green coastline sticks out into the ocean from the upper right side of the photo.

Improving NPDES Data Management in California

U.S. EPA Headquarters and the State of California

Improving NPDES Data Management in California

U.S. EPA Headquarters and the State of California

Services: NPDES Permitting

View looking down towards the deep blue ocean on a calm, partly cloudy day. A section of lush green coastline sticks out into the ocean from the upper right side of the photo.

PG helps EPA and California meet modernized environmental reporting requirements with greater accuracy at lower cost. By leveraging our extensive knowledge of the Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, we were able to quickly mobilize to ensure that California was in compliance with the Electronic Reporting Rule. We continue to help California track permitting activities all over the state and manage associated data sets within the Integrated Compliance Information System, the national database of record for the NPDES program.

An environmental field technician wading in a shallow, brown stream holding a flow measuring device, wearing a life jacket, hat, and sunglasses. A measuring tape is stretched across the stream, which flows through a forested area with leaves on the ground.

Providing Jurisdictional Waters Support for EPA

U.S. EPA Headquarters and Regions

Providing Jurisdictional Waters Support for EPA

U.S. EPA Headquarters and Regions

Services: Ecological Monitoring & Assessment, Compliance & Enforcement

An environmental field technician wading in a shallow, brown stream holding a flow measuring device, wearing a life jacket, hat, and sunglasses. A measuring tape is stretched across the stream, which flows through a forested area with leaves on the ground.

With years of direct casework experience, PG helps EPA arrive at sound, defensible Waters of the United States (WOUS) determinations through compelling demonstrations of flow pathways and potential connectivity. We gather on-the-ground information and rapidly assess site conditions using such techniques as computerized mapping, historical research, and field sampling. We routinely perform WOUS analyses for EPA headquarters and have supported Regions 4, 5, 6, and 8. Each case and environmental situation is unique, and PG has the enforcement scenario knowledge and proven field experience to be effective.

Looking out of a windshield, driving on a busy highway towards the city in a rainstorm. High-rise buildings line the horizon as they stick up and disappear into the clouds. All the other vehicles have their headlights on to see through the daytime fog and rain.

Reducing Pollution from Urban Stormwater Runoff

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Reducing Pollution from Urban Stormwater Runoff

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Services: Compliance & Enforcement

Looking out of a windshield, driving on a busy highway towards the city in a rainstorm. High-rise buildings line the horizon as they stick up and disappear into the clouds. All the other vehicles have their headlights on to see through the daytime fog and rain.

Through engagement with EPA regions and state entities, PG has evaluated hundreds of stormwater management programs (i.e., MS4s) across the country, protecting the water-related recreational opportunities that we cherish from runoff pollution and ensuring the vibrancy of local communities. Our program evaluations range from rapid desktop evaluations of stormwater program reports to intensive onsite reviews that include site visits, staff interviews, assessment of procedures and documentation practices, and compliance assistance. As stormwater programs evolve, we are eager to deploy new approaches that support the efforts of regulatory entities and communities alike.

A stack of turquoise PVC water main piping still bailed together from transport. With the open ends facing towards you, the mid-day sun highlights the blue color.

Reviewing Public Infrastructure Funding Proposals through WIFIA

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Reviewing Public Infrastructure Funding Proposals through WIFIA

U.S. EPA Headquarters

Services: Public Funding Program Support, Water Infrastructure Engineering

A stack of turquoise PVC water main piping still bailed together from transport. With the open ends facing towards you, the mid-day sun highlights the blue color.

PG assisted EPA with assessing large-scale water infrastructure project funding proposals through the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. We provided support in conducting the first-ever preliminary review of 38 eligible drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and green infrastructure submissions, performing cost feasibility and floodplain assessments for projects such as collection and distribution pipelines, pump stations, storage tanks, water wells, and desalination treatment facilities. To streamline the process for future reviews, we developed full suite of project assessment tools, including an engineering design standards library, checklists to assess an applicant’s operation and maintenance plan, and a method for evaluating the feasibility of estimated capital costs.

A person in a yellow safety vest and hard hat lays down on the right, watching an excavator dig a trench for a water pipe. On the left the large, yellow excavator arm extends down into the trench. In the distance, the rest of the work crew is connecting pipe as the trench gets opened and graded.

Supporting Responsible Grant Management

U.S. EPA Headquarters and Regions

Supporting Responsible Grant Management

U.S. EPA Headquarters and Regions

Services: Public Funding Program Support

A person in a yellow safety vest and hard hat lays down on the right, watching an excavator dig a trench for a water pipe. On the left the large, yellow excavator arm extends down into the trench. In the distance, the rest of the work crew is connecting pipe as the trench gets opened and graded.

PG supports the EPA Special Appropriation Act Project grant funding activities critical for improving drinking water, wastewater, and other water infrastructure across the country. We conduct financial management reviews to verify that project funds are properly allocated and tracked and perform on-site evaluations to assess progress of construction and evaluate compliance with the terms of the grant. We have supported EPA Regions 6 and 9 and, most recently, EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management in these efforts to help ensure successful project outcomes that benefit local communities.

An inspector walking inside a building wearing a white hardhat and looking down at a chemical containment area beneath a fifty-gallon drum. The drum is sitting in front of a grey tank marked “Selector Tank Non-Hazardous.” The green floor has white residue around the yellow plastic containment area.

Promoting Safe Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Processes

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Promoting Safe Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Processes

U.S. EPA Regions and Multiple States

Services: Compliance & Enforcement

An inspector walking inside a building wearing a white hardhat and looking down at a chemical containment area beneath a fifty-gallon drum. The drum is sitting in front of a grey tank marked “Selector Tank Non-Hazardous.” The green floor has white residue around the yellow plastic containment area.

PG supports multiple EPA regions in assessing industrial facilities that generate wastewater to ensure pollutants are properly handled and treated prior to discharge to a public utility. During site visits, PG reviews the manufacturing processes that create wastewater and inspects wastewater treatment technologies, chemical storage, waste management practices, and sampling locations. When a wastewater treatment plant is experiencing operational issues or NPDES permit exceedances, we use these visits to conduct a root-cause analysis to evaluate the impact of industrial contributions.

A large brown steel drainage pipe discharging into a stream surrounded by grasses. Light brown water is rippling out of the pipe and meeting the receiving water.

Training Permit Writers on Mixing Zone Policies in EPA Region 9

U.S. EPA Regions 1 and 9

Training Permit Writers on Mixing Zone Policies in EPA Region 9

U.S. EPA Regions 1 and 9

Services: Training, NPDES Permitting

A large brown steel drainage pipe discharging into a stream surrounded by grasses. Light brown water is rippling out of the pipe and meeting the receiving water.

PG supported EPA Region 9 in developing and delivering advanced NPDES training for state permit writers charged with preserving the integrity of our nation’s waters. The two-day course on the fundamentals of dilution studies emphasized a pragmatic and consistent method for the review and implementation. Given to permit writers from California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada in EPA Region 9, and from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine in EPA Region 1, the training was intended to build capacity to properly evaluate the impact of mixing zones on local receiving waters. PG has long supported the region’s regulatory program and has provided mixing zone policy assistance since 2015.

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Singular focus. Unparalleled expertise.

The best support, from a team you can trust.

We work with federal and state agencies to protect and restore our nation’s water resources. Our unyielding commitment to our regulatory partners and our drive to provide the highest-quality service in the business are reflected in our governing philosophy: Be a good person and do good work.

This is exemplified by our core values, which include:

Customer-Centric. We have the best interest of our customers in mind, not just our own. We prioritize “doing the right thing” over seeking profits. We strive to build relationships with our customers and help enable success in their vision.

Constant Learner. We are eager to expand experiences/capabilities, adapt, and grow. We are willing and capable to be flexible in applying our skillsets. We seek the answer by asking questions when we don’t know. We are willing and able to take constructive criticism and make improvements.

Good Communicator. We engage in proactive communication with our internal team and customers. This includes being responsive to requests, forecasting issues, and doing our best to keep the appropriate people in the loop and up to speed.

The Finisher. We have a high level of attention to detail and optimize work products for their intended use (externally or internally). We create deliverables that are truly ready for the customer. We do what it takes to get the work done.

True Professional. We are trustworthy and reliable. We prepare and follow through. Our colleagues and customers can depend on us. We take responsibility when appropriate (don’t hide; communicate).

Good Colleague & Ambassador. We are good representatives for our company in everything we do. We are respectful of our colleagues, customers, and others we interact with. We seek to understand the perspectives of the partners and communities with which we work and can put ourselves in “others’ shoes.” We promote and recognize principles of fairness, equity, and social justice in the work we do, partnerships we foster, and culture we value both within and outside of our organization.

  1. Unparalleled Expertise

  2. Singular Focus

  3. Quality Products

  4. Great Rates

  1. Provide unparalleled technical expertise.

    We’re able to recruit—and keep—the highest caliber water quality specialists because they share our passion for protecting water quality. We are proud of our staff’s longevity and our ability to bring in excellent new team members who appreciate a work environment where diversity is valued and everyone supported as their authentic self.

  2. Maintain a singular business focus.

    Our dedication to people and the planet drives us to continually pursue work at the intersection of water resource management, public health, and climate resilience. That’s how we build—and maintain—longstanding, highly successful partnerships with our customers.

  3. Deliver the highest quality products and services.

    Every product we deliver comes with our unfailing attention to detail and commitment to technical quality. We also embrace opportunities to innovate, working with our customers to develop new processes and programs to support their goals.

  4. Offer great rates.

    Being privately owned, we focus on our customers (not on shareholders), and that keeps our rates where we want them: highly competitive.

Our Team

The PG team is comprised of individuals that come from a variety of backgrounds. We are true professionals dedicated to addressing the full spectrum of water issues with our federal and state partners.

Wesley Ganter, Founder and CEO of PG Environmental, stands in business casual attire in front of a sunlit leafy green background.

Wesley Ganter

Founder and CEO
Wesley Ganter, Founder and CEO of PG Environmental, stands in business casual attire in front of a sunlit leafy green background.

Wesley Ganter

Founder and CEO

Protecting and restoring water quality has been Wesley Ganter’s career-long mission. For more than 30 years, he has specialized in Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act implementation work for federal and state agencies. Since founding PG Environmental in 2005, he has led the company on a path of continuous growth and developed long-standing relationships with his customers and colleagues. He takes great pride in PG’s staff retention and its involvement with nationally significant water projects and programs. He has long supported EPA’s compliance and enforcement programs and has helped both EPA and state agencies develop and improve their permitting and compliance programs. He has served as an Expert Witness for the U.S. Department of Justice on numerous wastewater and stormwater cases and has facilitated resolution of some of the largest water infrastructure issues in the country.

As Founder and CEO, he has direct responsibility for PG’s technical, contract, and finance operations and its overall financial performance. He assists with PG’s near- and long-term visioning, provides leadership for business development, mentors technical and administrative staff, and works to ensure PG’s culture and adherence to its core values. He also ensures PG’s close and collaborative relationship with sister company Eastern Research Group.

He lives and works in Golden, Colorado and is an avid skier, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast. He has B.A. degrees in environmental conservation and economics from the University of Colorado.

PG Team Member Since 2005

Jake Albright, Environmental Scientist, sits in front of a window with open blinds wearing business casual attire. Trees are showing their fall foliage in the background.

Jake Albright

Sr. Environmental Scientist, Compliance & Enforcement Practice Lead
Jake Albright, Environmental Scientist, sits in front of a window with open blinds wearing business casual attire. Trees are showing their fall foliage in the background.

Jake Albright

Sr. Environmental Scientist, Compliance & Enforcement Practice Lead

Mr. Albright is a Senior Environmental Scientist with a B.S. in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary. He has 15 years of experience in environmental science, engineering, and compliance, with a particular focus on water quality programs, as well as infrastructure and asset management. He has extensive experience managing and supporting NPDES compliance and case support activities for EPA, DOJ, and other state and federal entities. Mr. Albright has supported activities in all 10 EPA Regions, through which he has developed a national perspective on the various programs, policies, and assets that are critical for preserving water quality. Prior to his career with PG, Mr. Albright conducted technical consulting work for a civil engineering firm specializing in post-construction stormwater BMP design and construction. He has also served as a laboratory technician in a municipal water quality lab, where he conducted water quality monitoring and testing for sanitary sewer treatment, drinking water systems, and industrial pretreatment program permittees.

PG Team Member Since 2012

Megan Annis, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in a grassy landscape holding a colorful bouquet of wildflowers.

Megan Annis

Environmental Scientist
Megan Annis, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in a grassy landscape holding a colorful bouquet of wildflowers.

Megan Annis

Environmental Scientist

Megan originally joined PG Environmental as a Field Crew Lead for the Bureau of Land Management’s Assessment Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) program and now provides a wide array of support in coordinating ecological assessment efforts. She has experience in ecological assessments, botanical identification, stream morphology assessments, soil structure classifications, macroinvertebrate collection and identification, rare plant and animal surveys, and botanical transplant studies. Megan graduated from Colorado State University in 2016 with a degree in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.

PG Team Member Since 2021

James Ashby, IT and GIS Team Leader, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a flowering garden area and a sunlit light-colored brick background.

James Ashby

Sr. Information Technology Manager
James Ashby, IT and GIS Team Leader, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a flowering garden area and a sunlit light-colored brick background.

James Ashby

Sr. Information Technology Manager

Mr. Ashby is an experienced compliance specialist, senior environmental scientist, cartographer, and computer specialist who has led and supported a variety of Clean Water Act (CWA) NPDES compliance evaluations, investigations, and litigation support efforts. Mr. Ashby is well-versed at working in the field with permittees and representatives from U.S. EPA and State-level environmental departments. As well, he is an experienced technical writer and researcher, focused on providing functional work products in a timely manner that fit the budget and needs of the client. Mr. Ashby is a capable environmental scientist and has extensive on the job experience in wetlands assessment and restoration, and drinking, stormwater, and wastewater field sampling and laboratory analyses. In addition to his compliance and environmental roles, he is the primary provider of geographic information systems (GIS) and cartographic needs for PG, including advanced spatial analyses, workflows, and automation. Mr. Ashby is skilled with major cartographic software, such as ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop 10.2, and in addition has experience with ArcGIS Server 10.2 and developing Java-based web mapping applications. He also has significant experience with SharePoint development.

PG Team Member Since 2008

Deniece Brooks, Corporate Controller and Human Resources Manager, stands smiling in front of a light-colored background.

Deniece B

Corporate Controller and Human Resource Manager
Deniece Brooks, Corporate Controller and Human Resources Manager, stands smiling in front of a light-colored background.

Deniece B

Corporate Controller and Human Resource Manager

Deniece joined PG as the Corporate Controller and Human Resource Manager with more than 20 years of experience in the government contracting industry. Her background focuses on financial management, financial administration, and project control. Deniece has two degrees in business administration and is pursuing a certification in human resources.

PG Team Member Since 2019

Tiffany Brackett, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business attire on a balcony in front of a red terracotta and white stucco structure. Palm trees are visible in the background to the right.

Tiffany Brackett

Sr. Environmental Scientist
Tiffany Brackett, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business attire on a balcony in front of a red terracotta and white stucco structure. Palm trees are visible in the background to the right.

Tiffany Brackett

Sr. Environmental Scientist

Ms. Tiffany Brackett is a Senior Environmental Scientist with more than 15 years of experience in water resources, environmental compliance, and resource management. At PG, she primarily applies her knowledge to Clean Water Act (CWA) related activities, including performing stormwater compliance inspections, supporting U.S. Department of Justice cases, assisting environmental research projects, developing trainings for Federal and State agencies, and assisting with permit development. She has presented at conferences about watershed management, integration of LID into municipalities, and approaches to collection system rehabilitation.

Ms. Brackett is a U.S. EPA CWA Credentialed inspector and holds degrees from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Environmental Science: Environmental Affairs and a M.S. in Resource Administration and Management. Prior to her work at PG, Ms. Brackett worked as a manager at an environmental consulting firm that provided municipal support and at UNH, where she assisted academic research focused on environmental resource economics, watershed assessments, and freshwater plankton studies.

PG Team Member Since 2014

Bob Brobst, Senior Environmental Engineer, stands in business casual attire in front of a natural background.

Robert Brobst

Principal Environmental Engineer
Bob Brobst, Senior Environmental Engineer, stands in business casual attire in front of a natural background.

Robert Brobst

Principal Environmental Engineer

Bob is a Principal Environmental Engineer with expertise in the treatment and use of biosolids. He joined PG after 28 years as a senior environmental engineer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Denver. Bob’s responsibilities at EPA included serving as Regional Biosolids Program Manager, Co Chair of EPA’s Pathogen Equivalency Committee, and National Subject Matter Expert for biosolids. He has performed inspections and process evaluations of wastewater facilities and biosolids land-application sites for the last 30 years. Bob has also conducted research in the beneficial use of biosolids in reclaiming arid and semiarid lands and areas devastated by wildfires, and his current research interests include enhancing biophysical properties of soil to remediate contaminated soils. He holds an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado-Denver and is a registered Professional Engineer in Colorado. In his spare time Bob is a faculty affiliate, teaching introduction to soils labs at Colorado State University, Department of Soils and Crop Sciences.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Natalie Brunel, Junior Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Natalie Brunel

Jr. Environmental Scientist
Natalie Brunel, Junior Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Natalie Brunel

Jr. Environmental Scientist

Natalie joined PG to support sustainable watersheds efforts primarily through EPA Office of Compliance’s (OC) Compliance Advisor Program, delivering technical assistance to small, often under-resourced wastewater and drinking water systems. She previously worked as a project manager at a laboratory specializing in analysis of drinking water and wastewater, providing quality services to a diverse customer base. Natalie graduated from Regis University in 2020 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and is passionate about natural resource management as it relates to climate change. Her hobbies include hiking, running, and spending time with her family and friends.

PG Team Member Since 2023

Nick Bruno, Licensed Operator, stands wearing hiking gear with a slot canyon in the background.

Nick Bruno

Environmental Specialist
Nick Bruno, Licensed Operator, stands wearing hiking gear with a slot canyon in the background.

Nick Bruno

Environmental Specialist

Nick joined PG with 12 years of experience as an operator of water, wastewater, and industrial wastewater treatment systems. He has held various positions in the operations and maintenance of multiple treatment plants throughout the Colorado area, with knowledge in metals precipitation, food/beverage production, municipal water/wastewater treatment and reclaimed water. He is adept in developing SOPs and maintenance plans and troubleshooting treatment issues. Nick also spent three years as an environmental field technician, focused on groundwater monitoring and surface water sampling.

PG Team Member Since 2020

Stephen Clark, Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Stephen Clark

Lead Environmental Scientist
Stephen Clark, Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Stephen Clark

Lead Environmental Scientist

Since graduating from James Madison University in 2011, Mr. Clark has focused his career on protecting our nation’s natural resources as well as human health. At PG, Mr. Clark has provided technical support to the U.S. Department of Justice for CWA enforcement cases and performed NPDES compliance activities across the country. Such activities include the evaluation of stormwater, industrial pretreatment, and POTW operation and maintenance programs. Prior to PG, Mr. Clark was employed as an Industrial Hygienist at an environmental, health, and safety consulting firm that assisted private companies assess occupational exposures and comply with various environmental regulations. Mr. Clark holds a B.S. in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University.

PG Team Member Since 2014

Tammy Cohen, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands in business casual attire on a rocky beach with a water body in the background and a bright sun in the cloudless sky.

Tamira Cohen

Sr. Environmental Scientist
Tammy Cohen, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands in business casual attire on a rocky beach with a water body in the background and a bright sun in the cloudless sky.

Tamira Cohen

Sr. Environmental Scientist

Tamira (Tammy) has almost twenty years’ experience supporting Virginia’s water programs. She currently supports projects for EPA’s Office of Water Management, including training and technical support. She joined PG from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality where she led the Virginia Stormwater and Erosion Training and Certification Program, including development of regulatory and technical training and materials, online courses, instructor and instructional design skills; management of certification exams and subject matter expert committees; and leading innovations for learning improvements. She also has extensive experience supporting Virginia’s Pollution Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) program for major and minor municipal and industrial individual permits and stormwater industrial general permits and is an experienced researcher with extensive training and expertise in water quality work, including trace metal analysis in water, stormwater runoff, sediments, and biota and stormwater management practices. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science/Zoology from the University of British Columbia and a M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences from UCLA.

PG Team Member Since 2022

Dan Connally, Virginia Operations Manager and Senior Permit Writer, wades in a stream up to his knees. He is bent over with his hand in the still water, wearing chest waders and a grey tee shirt. A grassy stream bank is visible in the background.

Dan Connally

Sr. NPDES Specialist, PG Operations Manager
Dan Connally, Virginia Operations Manager and Senior Permit Writer, wades in a stream up to his knees. He is bent over with his hand in the still water, wearing chest waders and a grey tee shirt. A grassy stream bank is visible in the background.

Dan Connally

Sr. NPDES Specialist, PG Operations Manager

Dan Connally has more than 15 years of experience in the NPDES permit development and the enforcement Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations. Mr. Connally currently manages PG Environmental’s NPDES permit support for EPA Region 9 and provides technical, managerial, and financial leadership and oversight. Throughout his career he has provided NPDES permit support to the U.S. EPA, the States of California, Hawaii, and Alaska, as well as the U.S. territories of Guam and Northern Marianas Islands. Mr. Connally has personally been involved in the development of over 250 municipal and industrial NPDES permits, and been part of a permitting team that has assisted with the development of more than 1,000 NPDES permits. For the past several years, Mr. Connally has worked closely with EPA and State clients to implement EPA’s new test of significant toxicity (TST) for whole effluent toxicity within NPDES permits. He also serves as an NPDES compliance inspector and has direct experience evaluating wastewater treatment, wastewater control measures, and best management practices. He has authored numerous complex permits for the discharge of industrial storm water, municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), and wastewater that have required the application of unique and technologically innovative operational and treatment controls. In addition, Mr. Connally has extensive experience conducting storm water inspections, sanitary sewer overflow inspections, and MS4 inspections.

PG Team Member Since 2006

Stephanie Crabtree, SDWA Compliance Specialist, stands inside wearing business casual attire in a grayscale photo.

Stephanie Crabtree

Sr. Environmental Scientist
Stephanie Crabtree, SDWA Compliance Specialist, stands inside wearing business casual attire in a grayscale photo.

Stephanie Crabtree

Sr. Environmental Scientist

Stephanie is a Senior Environmental Scientist with a wide spectrum of experience ranging from surface water sampling and protection, managing plant and distribution systems, and supervising a State certified water quality laboratory. She began her water-focused career nearly 20 years ago operating a mid-size system and maintains a State of Colorado Water Treatment Operator Certification. Most recently she was the Lab Manager for the City of Golden, Colorado, providing technical assistance and regulatory support and problem solving to the laboratory, water plant, and distribution system. Stephanie annually authored Golden’s Consumer Confidence Reports and co-authored a CO Postfire Wildfire Playbook and other monitoring and procedural plans for the lab. While working for Golden, she was honored to serve on several boards, including the Colorado Water Utility Council and Upper Clear Creek Watershed Association. She has a passion for water and protecting public health and finds satisfaction helping the underserved have access to safe water.

Stephanie recently moved to Crested Butte, Colorado, to be closer to the things she loves to do. She enjoys spending time with her family floating on rivers, adventuring in the backcountry, mountain biking, skiing, and traveling.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Chuck Durham, Principal Engineer and Senior Project Manager, stands in business casual attire in front of a light-colored brick background.

Chuck Durham

Principal Engineer, Pretreatment Practice Lead
Chuck Durham, Principal Engineer and Senior Project Manager, stands in business casual attire in front of a light-colored brick background.

Chuck Durham

Principal Engineer, Pretreatment Practice Lead

Mr. Durham is a principal engineer and senior project manager and serves as the leader of PG’s Pretreatment & Community Assistance practice area. Mr. Durham has over 30 years of regulatory experience in the water pollution control field, with emphasis on the federal pretreatment program, serving clients at the federal, state, municipal, and industrial level. He has provided pretreatment technical support to nine EPA Regions and 25 States, having conducted more than 550 audits and inspections. Mr. Durham has served as an instructor for numerous EPA-sponsored training courses. Prior to entering the consulting arena in 2001, he served as a Program Manager for the Tennessee Division of Water Pollution Control. Mr. Durham is the Chair of the KY-TN Water Environment Associations’ Pretreatment Certification Committee.

PG Team Member Since 2017

Jennifer Ferrando, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands in business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Jennifer Ferrando

Sr. Environmental Scientist, Sustainable Watersheds Practice Lead
Jennifer Ferrando, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands in business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Jennifer Ferrando

Sr. Environmental Scientist, Sustainable Watersheds Practice Lead

Jennifer is a Senior Environmental Scientist with more than 20 years of experience in Clean Water Act program implementation. Areas of specialty include National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program development and implementation, with emphasis on concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) regulation and compliance, water quality trading, and pretreatment program implementation; nonpoint source management, including agricultural pollution control and nutrient management; and watershed management and planning. Jennifer is a project manager experienced in technical oversight, staffing, scheduling, progress reporting, and financial management. She leads PG’s Sustainable Watersheds practice, helping to guide projects related to watershed assessments, nonpoint source management, total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and alternatives development and implementation, water reuse, and climate and hazard adaptation, resilience, and mitigation. Jennifer also provides support for PG’s leadership team, helping to ensure our goals, operations, activities, and work culture support PG’s core values.

PG Team Member Since 2017

Taylor Fontaine, Environmental Scientist, stands in business casual attire in front of a sunlit leafy green background.

Taylor Fontaine

Lead Environmental Scientist
Taylor Fontaine, Environmental Scientist, stands in business casual attire in front of a sunlit leafy green background.

Taylor Fontaine

Lead Environmental Scientist

Taylor graduated with a master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of Maryland University College. His work has included National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit development for EPA Region 9 in California and Hawaii and NPDES training logistics for all 10 EPA regions. Taylor has over seven years of experience in the application and enforcement of Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations and has supported EPA Regions 2, 3, 4, and 10 in NPDES compliance evaluation inspections. He has supported EPA’s Office of Water and their technology and innovation efforts, facilitating ideas for advancing water technology innovation and assisting with the development of the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP). Additionally, Taylor has provided support for the NPDES Updates Rule Comment Coding task order and EPA’s Office of Enforcement, Mobile Emissions branch. Through his PG work experience, Taylor has accrued sufficient knowledge in CWA rules and regulations and California-specific water quality criteria.

PG Team Member Since 2015

Kate Forsmark, Environmental Scientist, stands outside in casual attire in front of a snowy, forested landscape.

Kate Forsmark

Lead Environmental Scientist
Kate Forsmark, Environmental Scientist, stands outside in casual attire in front of a snowy, forested landscape.

Kate Forsmark

Lead Environmental Scientist

Kate is a Lead Environmental Scientist at PG. She graduated from University of Colorado in 2014 with a degree in Environmental Science and a certificate in Hydrology and Water Resource Management. After graduation she began working in the geosciences, completing spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC) and stormwater inspections at upstream oil and gas sites around Colorado. She expanded her experience into groundwater compliance sampling and remediation at locations impacted by petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinate solvents. She has also completed numerous Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for clients looking to acquire real estate as well as subsequent Phase II subsurface investigations. Kate is passionate about outdoor adventures, traveling to new countries, and has been a competitive highland dancer for 25 years. On the weekends spent in Colorado, she can be found climbing, hiking, or backcountry skiing with her Irish Terrier Scout.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Ann Foxwell, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a light brown and grey background.

Ann Foxwell

Sr. Environmental Scientist
Ann Foxwell, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a light brown and grey background.

Ann Foxwell

Sr. Environmental Scientist

Ms. Foxwell is a senior environmental scientist with more than 20 years of NPDES program implementation experience. Prior to her career with PG, Ms. Foxwell provided technical and project management support to federal clients in the areas of NPDES permit development, permit quality reviews, and compliance evaluations. She has provided support for the development of over 180 individual and general NPDES permits in California, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Puerto Rico. In addition, Ms. Foxwell supported EPA Region 9 with permit coding and data entry for the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) and previously performed training for State staff on the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS). She supported EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) conducting NPDES permit quality reviews. Ms. Foxwell has also supported Pretreatment Compliance Audits (PCAs) and Pretreatment Compliance Inspections (PCIs) for California while under contract with EPA Region 9 and for Pennsylvania through EPA OWM and Region 3. She has also supported NPDES permit compliance evaluation inspections in California.

PG Team Member Since 2016

Adriane Garnreiter, Environmental Scientist and Communications Specialist, stands in business casual attire with a grassy field as background.

Adriane Garnreiter

Lead Environmental Scientist

Adriane Garnreiter, Environmental Scientist and Communications Specialist, stands in business casual attire with a grassy field as background.

Adriane Garnreiter

Lead Environmental Scientist

Adriane is an environmental scientist with expertise in project management and strategic communications. Since joining PG, she has supported various national and regional efforts to advance sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change. For example, Adriane has played an instrumental role in the development and implementation of EPA’s National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) since its inception in 2019 to help build capacity for communities of all sizes to pursue reuse practices. She provides ongoing programmatic and operational support for this collaborative of more than 100 federal, state, tribal, local, and water sector partner organizations and coordinated the development of the draft Action Plan (2019), Action Plan—Collaborative Implementation (2020), and WRAP Update on Collaborative Progress (2021). She supported a related effort, EPA’s Water Technology Innovation Blueprint, which sought to help communities meet their water and energy goals through forward-thinking applications of new technologies and approaches. Adriane has a M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and her passion for water can be traced back to a childhood spent at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers.

PG Team Member Since 2016

Michele Glover, Accounting Administrator, stands in front of a light-colored wall wearing business casual attire.

Michele Glover

Accounting Administrator
Michele Glover, Accounting Administrator, stands in front of a light-colored wall wearing business casual attire.

Michele Glover

Accounting Administrator

Michele Barcliff Glover joins PG as the Accounting Administrator with over 25 years of accounting and finance experience, from consulting to government contracting, in accounts receivables/payables, invoicing/billing, payroll, financial analysis, human resources, and more. She proudly holds a B.S. in Accounting from the great Virginia State University! Michele enjoys sharing her knowledge as well as nuggets she has learned along the journey of life because she believes sharing is caring. When Michele isn’t doing any accounting related work, you may find her event planning, sewing, reading, writing or reciting poetry, playing video games, doing volunteer work, or seeking other new adventures!

PG Team Member Since 2020

James Hollibaugh, Engineer, stands in business casual attire with a stream and trees in the background.

James Hollibaugh

Sr. Engineer, Infrastructure Engineering Practice Lead
James Hollibaugh, Engineer, stands in business casual attire with a stream and trees in the background.

James Hollibaugh

Sr. Engineer, Infrastructure Engineering Practice Lead

Mr. Hollibaugh brings a variety of valuable engineering, project management, and scientific experience to PG. Previously, he worked as a project manager, leading and managing power plant performance engineering and environmental projects across the world as well as supporting business development, staffing, contract management, accounting, and engineering tasks. He also assisted with the startup of several new business lines, including air emissions testing. Prior to that Mr. Hollibaugh worked as a project manager and environmental scientist conducting air emissions tests across the U.S., employing a variety of EPA test methods to determine compliance with the Clean Air Act at power plants, oil and gas facilities, ethanol plants, and a variety of industrial facilities.

Mr. Hollibaugh has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Colorado and enjoys spending his free time in the rivers, mountains, and deserts of the western U.S.

PG Team Member Since 2019

Emily Isaacs, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire. Trees are showing their fall foliage in the background.

Emily Isaacs

Environmental Scientist

Emily Isaacs, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire. Trees are showing their fall foliage in the background.

Emily Isaacs

Environmental Scientist

Emily is an Environmental Scientist dedicated to supporting federal and state climate resilience and nonpoint source management projects. For example, she has been a key contributor to the development and implementation of the National Water Reuse Action Plan for U.S. EPA. Previously, Emily served as a Research Fellow in EPA’s Office of Water, where she assessed integrated water resources management strategies to promote water resilience and the consideration of water reuse. She holds a M.S. degree from Ohio State University in Sustainability Education and Communications and a B.S. degree from Penn State University in Environmental Resource Management.

PG Team Member Since 2020

Bobby Jacobsen, Colorado Operations Manager and Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a light-colored brick wall and some leafy plants.

Bobby Jacobsen

Sr. Environmental Scientist, PG Operations Manager
Bobby Jacobsen, Colorado Operations Manager and Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a light-colored brick wall and some leafy plants.

Bobby Jacobsen

Sr. Environmental Scientist, PG Operations Manager

Bobby has dedicated the majority of his professional career to supporting EPA and other state and federal partners to help protect and restore our nation’s water resources. He has performed array of environmental compliance evaluations across all 10 EPA regions, supported enforcement case development activities, conducted policy and regulatory analysis, coordinated and facilitated training for federal, state and municipal staff, and currently supports other wide-reaching efforts related to water technology innovation. Through these efforts, Bobby has developed a strong working knowledge of multiple national water quality programs and their implementation throughout the country. In addition, he is an experienced project and contract manager, and provides significant support for PG’s operations. Bobby is passionate about our natural environment and enjoys just about any water-related sport or activity—swimming, canoeing, paddle boarding, surfing, fishing, tubing…you name it!

PG Team Member Since 2008

Sirese Jacobson, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Sirese Jacobson

Lead Environmental Scientist
Sirese Jacobson, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Sirese Jacobson

Lead Environmental Scientist

Ms. Jacobson is a Lead Environmental Scientist with a M.S. in Environmental Science from Indiana University. She has more than seven years of experience in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and compliance, pretreatment program implementation, concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) regulatory compliance inspections, and watershed monitoring. Her primary support areas include regulatory compliance; data collection, analysis, and management; research; and technical writing. Ms. Jacobson has also supported development of total maximum daily load (TMDL) reports and assisted in research efforts for projects regarding water affordability and funding programs, as well as innovative program implementation solutions.

PG Team Member Since 2017

Karishma Kibria, Water Resources Engineer, wearing business casual attire in front of a light grey background.

Karishma Kibria

Lead Water Resources Engineer
Karishma Kibria, Water Resources Engineer, wearing business casual attire in front of a light grey background.

Karishma Kibria

Lead Water Resources Engineer

Karishma is a Lead Water Resources Engineer with seven years of NPDES permit development experience. She has supported USEPA Region 9 in the State of California and EPA Office of Water by providing technical assistance in the development of individual and general NPDES permits and wastewater discharge requirements.

Besides permitting tasks, Ms. Kibria has provided technical assistance to PG regional board leads in the development of special studies that include dilution study, nutrient source study, 316 (a) and 316 (b) rule implementation study, Water-Effect Ratio (WER) study and distributional analysis. Other specific projects to which Karishma has contributed expertise include the economic analysis of proposed toxicity, bacteria and sediment objectives amendment, preparing mixing zone training materials and developing white papers to analyze various aspects of nutrient permitting practices and procedures. Ms. Kibria also assisted PG regional board leads to code public comments received on the proposed NPDES Applications and Program updates using ERG’s web-based Comment Response System. Karishma pursued her B.Sc. in civil engineering with an emphasis in water resources in 2013. She has graduated from South Dakota State University in 2015 with a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.

PG Team Member Since 2016

Blue square illustration with two curvy s-shaped white lines like an abstract river form the logo for PG Environmental.

Joe Kiel

GIS Analyst
Blue square illustration with two curvy s-shaped white lines like an abstract river form the logo for PG Environmental.

Joe Kiel

GIS Analyst

Joe first joined PG as a field technician for the Bureau of Land Management’s Terrestrial Assessment Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) project in Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, and Utah and is now a GIS Analyst supporting an array of geospatial projects. Prior to joining PG, he gained valuable experience leading soil and groundwater sampling events and performing data analysis related to environmental investigations at commercial and industrial sites as well as petroleum pipeline release sites. Joe holds master’s degree in Environmental Observation and Informatics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. His hobbies include anything and everything related to basketball, finding new lakes to paddleboard, and playing guitar.

PG Team Member Since 2020

Kort Kirkeby, Team Leader, Ecological Services, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Kort Kirkeby

Sr. Biologist, Ecological Services Practice Lead
Kort Kirkeby, Team Leader, Ecological Services, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Kort Kirkeby

Sr. Biologist, Ecological Services Practice Lead

Mr. Kirkeby is an aquatic biologist with experience through field projects involving Fisheries, Wetlands, Aquatic Biomonitoring, Intermittent and Perennial Stream Determinations, Macroinvertebrates, MesoHABSIM Aquatic Habitat Mapping, ArcGIS Mapping, Wetland Restoration/Mitigation, Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse, Southwestern willow flycatcher, Nesting Raptor, T & E Species studies, and Integrated Mosquito Management. He has conducted numerous fish surveys using backpack, bank, and boat electrofishing; snorkeling; gill netting; resistance board fish weir construction, operation, and underwater videography; aerial salmon surveys; fyke netting; radio telemetry; fish tissue metals analysis; larval fish trap netting; and others. Additionally, Mr. Kirkeby has over 1,500 hours of electrofishing experience and has successfully worked with numerous state and federally threatened and endangered fish species as well as fish species of special concern. He was the field crew leader responsible for a team assessing 51 stream sites in Colorado and Wyoming as a part of the National Rivers and Streams Assessment.

PG Team Member Since 2011

Lynn Kurth, Principal Scientist, stands outside wearing business attire in front of a green and red leafy background.

Lynn Kurth

Principal Scientist
Lynn Kurth, Principal Scientist, stands outside wearing business attire in front of a green and red leafy background.

Lynn Kurth

Principal Scientist

Ms. Kurth is a principal scientist with more than 38 years of experience in managing water resource planning and environmental / civil engineering projects. She has provided technical and managerial support on contracts with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and other state and local agencies. Ms. Kurth manages water resource projects related to implementation of EPA’s water quality protection programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act. Her water quality protection and infrastructure management experience includes source water protection, control of stormwater runoff and combined sewer overflows, developing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to control wastewater discharges from municipal and industrial facilities, and compliance inspections to determine whether regulated entities are meeting NPDES and industrial pretreatment program permit requirements. Additionally, Ms. Kurth has managed the development of large databases to store and disseminate water quality data. She has also managed several large site development / infrastructure construction projects and was responsible for stormwater runoff control and water quality protection. Ms. Kurth’s experience includes design of water and wastewater distribution / collection systems; regional and urban planning; and water policy analysis. This experience has provided her with a broad-based understanding of water contamination, treatment, and protection.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Mindi Lundberg, Ecologist, stands inside in business casual attire.

Mindi Lundberg

Lead Ecologist
Mindi Lundberg, Ecologist, stands inside in business casual attire.

Mindi Lundberg

Lead Ecologist

Mindi graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Conservation and Restoration Ecology with an emphasis on Wildlife Science. She has held numerous roles, including conducting Range Trend studies with the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources, conducting Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive plant species surveys and compiling corresponding NEPA documents to monitoring sage-grouse populations, and completing habitat studies with the U.S. Forest Service. Mindi also has extensive field work experience monitoring many raptor species, including Goshawks, Flammulated Owls, and Mexican Spotted Owls. For the past several years, she has been managing 10+ crews throughout Utah in the implementation of the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) protocol on U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands. Since joining PG, Mindi has continued her work as a Program Manager overseeing AIM operations in Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Sonrisa Macharia, Junior Engineer, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Sonrisa Macharia

Water Resources Engineer
Sonrisa Macharia, Junior Engineer, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Sonrisa Macharia

Water Resources Engineer

Sonrisa joined PG to support permitting and drinking water efforts. She has experience working with data management, communications support, and quality assurance. Sonrisa holds interests in the nexus between water accessibility and quality, especially when it comes to sustainability and resiliency in the context of climate change. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a BS in Civil Engineering with a focus in Water Resources. In the past, Sonrisa has participated in water reuse research and completed international projects with the goal of providing equitable access to safe drinking water.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Abe Margo, Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a grassy landscape with a water body visible in the distance.

Abe Margo

Ecologist
Abe Margo, Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a grassy landscape with a water body visible in the distance.

Abe Margo

Ecologist

Abe joined PG Environmental following the completion of his Master of Science degree in Marine Biology from the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, where his research focused on the ecology of tidally influenced coastal stream systems. He has over five years of experience conducting freshwater and brackish stream assessments and water quality monitoring throughout numerous states. He also has specialized experience with data visualization, statistical analyses, data management, GIS, habitat restoration and monitoring, fish and benthic macroinvertebrate identification, and multi-metric index development. Abe supports a range of projects for PG, which include field assessments for water quality, geomorphology, physical habitat, hydrology, and biological indicators in rivers, streams, and wetlands. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Butler University in 2017. Abe developed his passion for aquatic systems and water resources while growing up in Minnesota’s northern lakes region.

PG Team Member Since 2020

Zak Maurer-Erickson, Environmental Scientist, holding yellow field equipment and wearing a hat, jacket, and waders. A stream flowing from a pine tree covered mountain is visible in the background.

Zak Maurer-Erickson

Lead Environmental Scientist
Zak Maurer-Erickson, Environmental Scientist, holding yellow field equipment and wearing a hat, jacket, and waders. A stream flowing from a pine tree covered mountain is visible in the background.

Zak Maurer-Erickson

Lead Environmental Scientist

Mr. Maurer-Erickson has field experience involving Ecological Assessments, Aquatic Resource Assessments, Stream Morphology and Habitat Classification, Fisheries, Macroinvertebrates, Watershed Mapping and Analysis, and ArcGIS Mapping. He sampled over 100 sites as a field crew leader and technician for the EPA’s National Rivers and Streams Assessment, conducting water chemistry sampling and analysis, benthic macroinvertebrate collection, fisheries surveys, collecting stream flow data, and stream morphology data collection. Mr. Maurer-Erickson was also a field crew leader for the EPA’s National Wetland Condition Assessment, sampling 68 sites and was responsible for describing soil profiles, vegetation surveys, and hydrologic assessments. Mr. Maurer-Erickson has supported EPA Region 8 with their Gold King Mine Long Term Monitoring project, collecting fish tissue samples, benthic macroinvertebrate samples, and stream morphology data in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. He has performed jurisdictional determinations and other Waters of the United States impact analyzes in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Ohio.

PG Team Member Since 2013

Kelly Meadows, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Kelly Meadows

Sr. Environmental Scientist
Kelly Meadows, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Kelly Meadows

Sr. Environmental Scientist

Kelly has over 25 years’ experience in the environmental sector, most of it in support of federal and state water programs, including NPDES permits and regulatory support. He currently supports EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) and multiple EPA Regions and states on a variety of projects for PG. These include support for Permit Quality Reviews (PQRs); development of MS4 permits and identification of non-traditional MS4s; support for the Pesticides General Permit; development of TMDLs, TMDL alternatives, and TMDL implementation plans; development of Use Attainability Analyses (UAAs); and support for several training courses.

Kelly joined PG from Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), where he managed the TMDL and nonpoint source programs for the Commonwealth. Prior to joining PG, he supported a number of EPA programs, including extensive support for the CWA Section 316(b) rulemakings and implementation. Kelly supported the development of NPDES permit conditions for dozens of facilities and has visited over 50 power plants and other industrial sites to review intake structure technology and configuration. He has also supported EPA’s green infrastructure program, developed information collection requests (ICRs), and conducted pretreatment audits and inspections.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Taylor Mears, Contracts Representative, stands in business casual attire in front of a yellow and green grassy area.

Taylor Mears

Contracts Representative
Taylor Mears, Contracts Representative, stands in business casual attire in front of a yellow and green grassy area.

Taylor Mears

Contracts Representative

Mr. Mears obtained his Undergraduate degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. He then graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from Washburn University School of Law. During the time Mr. Mears attended law school, his coursework included classes pertaining Contract Law, Contract Drafting, Natural Resources Law, and Water Law. Prior to joining the PG Team, Mr. Mears performed surface and mineral title examinations and legal research for different oil and gas companies in Denver, CO.

PG Team Member Since 2019

Yatasha Moore, Environmental Engineer, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a sunlit leafy green background.

Yatasha Moore

Sr. Environmental Engineer
Yatasha Moore, Environmental Engineer, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a sunlit leafy green background.

Yatasha Moore

Sr. Environmental Engineer

Ms. Moore is a Senior Environmental Engineer with over 18 years of regulatory experience in the water pollution control field with an emphasis on the federal pretreatment program. She has provided technical support to federal, state, and local government clients. Ms. Moore was previously the State Pretreatment Coordinator for the Tennessee Division of Water Resources. She has also developed and provided training to local pretreatment program and industries and is a member of the KY-TN Water Environment Association’s Pretreatment Certification Committee.

PG Team Member Since 2017

Kenna Morgan, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of an urban park.

Kenna Morgan

Environmental Scientist
Kenna Morgan, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of an urban park.

Kenna Morgan

Environmental Scientist

Kenna is an environmental scientist and botanist working on various climate-related projects with the EPA. She first worked with PG Environmental as a lead ecologist for the Bureau of Land Management’s Assessment Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) program in Arizona and Utah. Kenna has experience studying lichen in the Uinta Mountains, working as a riparian botanist on streams in Oregon, and leading a team on rare and endangered plant surveys through Wyoming and Colorado. Most recently, she worked closely with her local community, promoting advocacy and environmental policy at a Utah-based nonprofit. Kenna graduated with a bachelor of science degree in botany and environmental studies from Weber State University. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in environmental studies and conservation biology from Prescott College and will graduate in the fall of 2024. Kenna is passionate about people and the planet and spends as much time outdoors as possible with her favorite furry hiking companion, Aurora.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Collin Mummert, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business attire in front of a leafy green background.

Collin Mummert

Lead Environmental Scientist
Collin Mummert, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business attire in front of a leafy green background.

Collin Mummert

Lead Environmental Scientist

Collin Mummert received his B.S. in Biology-Ecology and Evolution with a Minor in Sustainability Studies from the University of Maryland-College Park in 2014.  Since joining PG, he has been associated with supporting EPA Region 9 in NPDES permit writing for POTW’s and industrial facilities. As part of the permit writing process, Mr. Mummert is responsible for collecting and compiling wastewater data and developing reasonable potential analyses (RPA’s) for site-specific discharges. Prior to PG, he worked as an Environmental Scientist supporting coal ash management initiatives for utility companies in the state of North Carolina. Mr. Mummert was tasked with overseeing compliance with NPDES permits for land disturbing activities and ensuring all site-specific wastewater and stormwater best management practices were properly maintained. Additionally, he has worked on contracts with the EPA Clean Air Markets Division (CAMD) providing technical support for electronic emissions reporting systems.

PG Team Member Since 2016

Rob Naeser, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands in business casual attire in front of a black background.

Rob Naeser

Principal Environmental Scientist
Rob Naeser, Senior Environmental Scientist, stands in business casual attire in front of a black background.

Rob Naeser

Principal Environmental Scientist

Mr. Naeser is a senior environmental scientist with more than 20 years’ experience providing Clean Water Act (CWA) technical support to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Headquarters, EPA regions, states, municipalities, tribes, and private-sector clients in the areas of program management; compliance assistance; water quality monitoring; inspections and enforcement; and training. Mr. Naeser has led hundreds of CWA compliance evaluation inspections (CEIs) at industrial and municipal facilities nationwide, as well as industrial, municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), and construction stormwater compliance inspections. Clients benefit from his in-field compliance experiences through clear communication of technical information to meet regulatory requirements as well as site-specific conditions. In addition to his work on behalf of the regulatory community, he spent more than five years working for Phase I, II, and non-traditional MS4 programs as an MS4 program administrator and technical resource.

Mr. Naeser has provided CWA compliance training to private and public sector clients including EPA Headquarters, EPA Regions, California Regional Water Quality Control Boards, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Washington DC Department of Energy and Environment, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (Kentucky), and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Danny O’Connell, Licensed POTW Operator, CWA and SDWA Compliance Specialist, in business casual attire with wooden interior paneling and a darkened window in the background.

Danny O’Connell

Principal Compliance Specialist
Danny O’Connell, Licensed POTW Operator, CWA and SDWA Compliance Specialist, in business casual attire with wooden interior paneling and a darkened window in the background.

Danny O’Connell

Principal Compliance Specialist

Mr. O’Connell has 40 years of experience in the design, development, implementation, administration and evaluation of POTW compliance and industrial pretreatment programs. Prior to working for PG Environmental, Mr. O’Connell worked for consulting engineers, the City of Houston’s Wastewater Division, the Texas Department of Water Resources, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, an international private water/wastewater company, United Water, and as a consultant to the EPA. Mr. O’Connell has extensive experience in coordinating and managing detailed evaluations of POTW activities associated with the operation and maintenance of their collection and treatment systems as well as compliance monitoring for both the POTW and their industrial users. He has developed and implemented a number of environmental programs across the nation. These environmental program activities included the development and administration of training; SOP development; surveys; site inspections; monitoring of industrial wastewaters; analyzing data; estimating capital, operation, and maintenance costs of wastewater treatment; and assessing best management practices and pollution prevention approaches and technologies. Mr. O’Connell is an EPA credentialed CWA and SDWA Inspector and a licensed POTW operator.

PG Team Member Since 2005

Jake Okun, Environmental Scientist, stands outside in hiking attire with a mountain range in the background.

Jake Okun

Environmental Scientist
Jake Okun, Environmental Scientist, stands outside in hiking attire with a mountain range in the background.

Jake Okun

Environmental Scientist

Jake originally joined PG Environmental as the Logistics Coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Wetland Condition Assessment Survey. He now assists on a variety of projects related to ecological services and water compliance and enforcement. Jake has experience quantifying human impact on macroinvertebrate species’ health in the Finger Lakes of upstate New York, evaluating patterns of climate change and El Niño intensity through the geochemistry of Galápagos corals, and conducting wetland surveys across the country. Jake graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Sciences and from the University of Michigan in 2021 with a Master’s in Earth and Environmental Science. He enjoys hiking, camping, and playing lacrosse.

PG Team Member Since 2021

Mariah Papac, Junior Environmental Engineer, sits outside on a wooden bench wearing business casual attire in front of a lilac bush in bloom.

Mariah Papac

Environmental Engineer
Mariah Papac, Junior Environmental Engineer, sits outside on a wooden bench wearing business casual attire in front of a lilac bush in bloom.

Mariah Papac

Environmental Engineer

Mariah joined PG to provide regulatory support and regularly goes into the field for sampling and inspections. Previously, she worked primarily on hydrologic and hydraulic design, which encompassed hydrologic channel modeling, performing stormwater infrastructure inspections, designing storm sewers and BMPs, as well as providing design review services for municipalities. She graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 2020 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. She spends most of her free time outside, enjoying the Colorado sunshine!

PG Team Member Since 2022

Blue square illustration with two curvy s-shaped white lines like an abstract river form the logo for PG Environmental.

Chris Pardo

Jr. Environmental Scientist
Blue square illustration with two curvy s-shaped white lines like an abstract river form the logo for PG Environmental.

Chris Pardo

Jr. Environmental Scientist

As a recent graduate from the College of William & Mary with a B.S. in Geology, Chris joined PG to promote water resource sustainability primarily through technical support in NPDES Permit Development and Policy. He also provides technical support in the field related to ecological monitoring and assessment. Chris has previous experience in Geochemical and Isotopic Characterization of Lacustrine Sediments and ArcGIS Mapping.

PG Team Member Since 2022

Hilary Rains, Environmental Scientist, stands outside in business casual attire in front of leafy green trees and a pond in the background.

Hilary Rains

Lead Environmental Scientist
Hilary Rains, Environmental Scientist, stands outside in business casual attire in front of leafy green trees and a pond in the background.

Hilary Rains

Lead Environmental Scientist

Hilary is an Environmental Scientist with over 10 years of experience in environmental sciences and 7 years’ experience supporting NPDES permit development. Since joining PG, she has provided technical assistance to U.S. EPA Region 9 for development of NPDES permits for the states of California, Oregon, and Hawaii and the territory of American Samoa. Hilary has also assisted with ICIS-NPDES data entry, reviewing sewer use ordinances and TMDL Action Plans, and drafting multiple innovative wastewater treatment technologies reports for U.S. EPA. Hilary has a M.S. in Environmental Science from Indiana University with numerous publications in the fields of ecology and biogeochemistry.

PG Team Member Since 2016

Matt Reusswig, Civil Engineer, Permitting Tools, Analysis, and Cost Estimation, stands outside wearing business casual attire by a tree with a sunny, forested background.

Matt Reusswig

Sr. Water Resources Engineer
Matt Reusswig, Civil Engineer, Permitting Tools, Analysis, and Cost Estimation, stands outside wearing business casual attire by a tree with a sunny, forested background.

Matt Reusswig

Sr. Water Resources Engineer

Mr. Reusswig is an Senior Water Resources Engineer with an emphasis in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, water resource management, pollution prevention, and ecological restoration. He is currently providing technical engineering support to the U.S. EPA Headquarters and Regions in support of the development of NPDES permits and related tools. Mr. Reusswig has supported U.S. EPA in developing a cost-benefit analysis of proposed human-health criteria for the State of Washington and supported the development of a nationwide cost-analysis. Other specific projects to which Mr. Reusswig has contributed expertise include the development of a preliminary treatment alternatives analysis for the southwestern region of Guam, which includes the communities of Agat, Merizo, and Umatac; the development of cost estimates to a redevelopment of the Guam potable water system; and a technical review of a cost analysis for a proposed treatment system upgrade to the City of Sacramento’s wastewater treatment plant.

PG Team Member Since 2010

Jared Richardson, Team Leader, Oil and Gas and OPA Support, stands outside wearing business attire in front of a leafy green background.

Jared Richardson

Principal Environmental Scientist
Jared Richardson, Team Leader, Oil and Gas and OPA Support, stands outside wearing business attire in front of a leafy green background.

Jared Richardson

Principal Environmental Scientist

Mr. Richardson is a Senior Program Manager, Principal Environmental Scientist, and Compliance Specialist dedicated to providing a positive impact on protecting our nation’s water resources. He has over 25 years of experience in the areas of program/project management, environmental consulting, water resources management, oil program and national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) technical applications, compliance, enforcement, and training. Throughout his career, he has managed small to large, complex projects and provided support to private, public, and regulatory sector clients. He is an experienced program/project manager, providing direction and technical oversight, managing and training project teams and inspectors on multiple contracts, leading and supporting technical and cost proposals and responses, and managing progress reporting and financials simultaneously for multi-year contracts ranging from $10,000 to over $1 million per year to ensure efficient use of project resources. Mr. Richardson also has extensive experience managing project teams and inspectors conducting numerous routine and event-driven inspections and audits of oil and gas facilities, chemical manufacturing facilities, petroleum refineries, wastewater facilities, industrial, construction, and municipal stormwater entities, and concentrated animal feeding operations for EPA and other state and federal partners throughout the United States.

He enjoys working with such a diverse and accomplished group of staff at PG and strives to provide the highest customer satisfaction by being responsive to client’s changing needs and priorities. In his free time, Jared enjoys the outdoors as an avid skier and outdoor enthusiast in the mountains of Colorado where he lives.

PG Team Member Since 2007

Andy Rimelman, Junior Engineer, stands outside in business casual attire in front of a dense pine forest in the background.

Andy Rimelman

Water Resources Engineer
Andy Rimelman, Junior Engineer, stands outside in business casual attire in front of a dense pine forest in the background.

Andy Rimelman

Water Resources Engineer

Mr. Rimelman graduated from Montana State Engineering with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. Since joining PG, he has worked with EPA Region 9 to evaluate the technical feasibility, impacts, and costs of proposed wastewater infrastructure projects. The projects have included treatment plants, conveyance systems, and sediment basins. Mr. Rimelman has also provided technical support for EPA Headquarters on NPDES general stormwater permits. His efforts have included assisting in literature reviews, assessing state permit requirements, and processing public comments.

PG Team Member Since 2020

Jason Rose, Senior Environmental Engineer, stands in business casual attire in front of a white and green wall.

Jason Rose

Sr. Environmental Engineer
Jason Rose, Senior Environmental Engineer, stands in business casual attire in front of a white and green wall.

Jason Rose

Sr. Environmental Engineer

Since joining PG as a Senior Environmental Engineer, Mr. Jason Rose has provided expert witness support to DOJ for several CWA cases. He has supported OECA and DOJ on several enforcement cases, providing expert witness support in cases such as U.S. v. Houston, TX, U.S. v Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. v. Churchill Downs, Louisiana, and U.S. v. Duke Energy. In addition to the USEPA/DOJ support, Jason has performed Compliance and Enforcement Inspections and written subsequent Inspection Reports for EPA Regions 1, 3, and 9.

In his work experience prior to coming to PG Environmental, Mr. Rose has over 17 years of experience as a hydrogeologist, managing and performing baseline hydrogeology studies for mining companies, constructing and running groundwater models, and performing environmental site assessments.  Mr. Rose is a Colorado School of Mines graduate with a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences and Engineering.

PG Team Member Since 2014

Lisa Rowlett, Administrative / Technical Assistant, stands in business casual attire in front of a yellow textured wall.

Lisa Rowlett

Administrative / Technical Assistant

Lisa Rowlett, Administrative / Technical Assistant, stands in business casual attire in front of a yellow textured wall.

Lisa Rowlett

Administrative / Technical Assistant

Lisa joined PG as an Administrative / Technical Assistant with eight years of experience. She provides administrative assistance for contract preparation, contract management, and accounting and technical assistance for research, data management, and editorial reviews. Lisa graduated from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a degree in Education: Special Education. Lisa’s personal interests include hiking, exploring new places with her dog, college sports — particularly football, activities with her church, and spending time with her family.

PG Team Member Since 2020

Tom Rowlett, Senior Civil Engineer, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a white background.

Tom Rowlett

Principal Civil Engineer
Tom Rowlett, Senior Civil Engineer, stands wearing business casual attire in front of a white background.

Tom Rowlett

Principal Civil Engineer

Mr. Rowlett has over 40 years of experience in civil/sanitary engineering, and is recognized both region­ally and nationally for his expertise in sewer rehabilitation. He has supported OECA and DOJ and is currently providing expert witness support in several enforcement cases. Mr. Rowlett has expertise in the following areas: computerized hydraulic modeling; design of storm, sanitary, and combined sewers; soft-ground and rock tunneling; combined-sewer runoff control systems; SSO/CSO control systems; combined-sewer overflow analysis; facilities planning; municipal wastewater treatment planning and design; and value engineering (VE). Previous to his employment with PG Environmental, Mr. Rowlett was most recently responsible for managing large dollar value munici­pal civil and sanitary engineering projects. He has worked closely with the United States Department of Justice offering technical assistance and with the United States Environmental Protection Agency assisting in the review of construction cost estimates for a series of alternatives for capture of CSOs incorporating both conventional and high-rate treatment of captured combined flows. Mr. Rowlett offers Technical Expertise to assist USEPA and NAVFAC in the development of a potable water transmission system to interconnect various existing and proposed United States Navy, Air Force and Marine installations on the Island of Guam.

PG Team Member Since 2009

Kettie Holland Rupnik, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a hiking trail with pine trees in the background.

Kettie Holland Rupnik

Lead Environmental Scientist and Quality Assurance Officer
Kettie Holland Rupnik, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a hiking trail with pine trees in the background.

Kettie Holland Rupnik

Lead Environmental Scientist and Quality Assurance Officer

Kettie has dedicated her profession to supporting EPA in protecting our nation’s water resources. She has conducted hundreds of stormwater and wastewater compliance assessments across eight EPA regions and an array of states. Kettie is a credentialed U.S. EPA CWA Inspector and serves as project manager for wastewater and stormwater projects in addition to hazard mitigation planning/green infrastructure implementation, harmful algal bloom management, drinking water projects, and biological evaluations. She has facilitated multiple training events and has direct experience evaluating NPDES regulatory compliance and program development, gathering information for enforcement cases, supporting DOJ, and coordinating aquatic ecological activities through her role as a Field Logistics Coordinator. Kettie has a master’s degree in Environmental Management from Duke University.

PG Team Member Since 2012

Audrey Signorelli, Senior NPDES Program Specialist, Permitting & Regulatory Support Practice Area Leader, stands in front of a light-colored wall in business attire.

Audrey Signorelli

Sr. NPDES Specialist, Permitting & Regulatory Support Practice Lead
Audrey Signorelli, Senior NPDES Program Specialist, Permitting & Regulatory Support Practice Area Leader, stands in front of a light-colored wall in business attire.

Audrey Signorelli

Sr. NPDES Specialist, Permitting & Regulatory Support Practice Lead

Ms. Signorelli has over 16 years of NPDES program implementation experience, including NPDES permit development and programmatic support for EPA and state agencies. She is an expert permit writer, providing clients with support for all aspects of the permitting process. Additionally, she provides basic and advanced training for permit writers, evaluates state programs, supports rulemaking and policy development, develops standardized procedures and tools to support implementation, and performs research and data analysis. Her extensive NPDES program experience provides her with an in-depth knowledge of the permitting process and the challenges that states and EPA face in implementing the program.

PG Team Member Since 2006

Kevin Stockton, Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in a grassy landscape with a line of trees visible in the distance.

Kevin Stockton

Environmental Scientist
Kevin Stockton, Environmental Scientist, stands wearing business casual attire in a grassy landscape with a line of trees visible in the distance.

Kevin Stockton

Environmental Scientist

Kevin grew up in Golden, Colorado, and graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics. He is a seasoned Clean Water Act compliance inspector who has helped keep essential water resources clean throughout the United States and its territories. Kevin also specializes in the design, construction, and evaluation of water infrastructure in communities of all sizes. When he’s not thinking about protecting and managing our Nation’s water resources, Kevin can be found working on his golf game or stargazing in the Rocky Mountains.

PG Team Member Since 2015

Ali Sutphin, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Ali Sutphin

Environmental Scientist
Ali Sutphin, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire in front of a leafy green background.

Ali Sutphin

Environmental Scientist

Ali originally joined PG Environmental as the logistics coordinator for the Bureau of Land Management’s Assessment and Inventory Monitoring (AIM) program and now provides logistics support for a broad array of ecological monitoring and assessment activities. She has experience performing data management and quality control, habitat restoration and management of wetlands, forests, and grasslands, wildlife surveys, wastewater sampling, and environmental education. Ali graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Biology in 2018.

PG Team Member Since 2020

Alex Martinez, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire with a sunlit tree and clear creek flowing in the background.

Alex Swain

Lead Environmental Scientist
Alex Martinez, Environmental Scientist, stands outside wearing business casual attire with a sunlit tree and clear creek flowing in the background.

Alex Swain

Lead Environmental Scientist

Alex is a Lead Environmental Scientist and joined PG after receiving his Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Purdue University. He has more than five years of data management and analysis experience, including extensive experience analyzing and visualizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data. Further, Alex has over five years of experience conducting stream surveys assessing water quality, biological indicators, geomorphic attributes, and hydrology across the central and western United States. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and his passion for protecting water resources stems from fishing and backpacking throughout the Colorado Rocky Mountain region while growing up.

PG Team Member Since 2018

Sarah Torres, Environmental Scientist, stands outside in business casual attire in front of trees, with white siding visible in the background to the right.

Sarah Torres

Sr. Environmental Scientist
Sarah Torres, Environmental Scientist, stands outside in business casual attire in front of trees, with white siding visible in the background to the right.

Sarah Torres

Sr. Environmental Scientist

Ms. Torres is an Environmental Scientist with over fifteen years of experience in the environmental field. She currently supports several U.S. EPA Regions in a variety of tasks, including permit writing, ICIS coding, training, and outreach. Ms. Torres is HAZWOPER certified, and prior to joining PG, supported various aspects of remediation projects at Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS), Superfund sites, and DoD facilities.

PG Team Member Since 2016

Martha Williams, Contracts Manager, stands outside wearing business attire in front of a sunlit leafy green background.

Martha Williams

Sr. Contracts Manager
Martha Williams, Contracts Manager, stands outside wearing business attire in front of a sunlit leafy green background.

Martha Williams

Sr. Contracts Manager

Ms. Williams brings a variety valuable science and business experience to her second career as PG’s Senior Contracts Manager. Prior to PG, Ms. Williams gained business experience with JSW Energy, LLC, a small start-up oil and gas prospecting company. Ms. Williams assisted in generating, developing, and marketing oil and gas prospects in several states and was responsible for many aspects of the business, including business development, administration, land and title review, and accounting. Through this experience, Ms. Williams learned the necessity and challenge of fulfilling a variety of roles in small company environments.

During her first career as a high school Physics teacher, Ms. Williams spent 20 years engaging students in scientific discovery. She enjoyed challenging her students by providing opportunities to compete in various international science-related competitions such as Science Olympiad and the Aerospace Industries Association sponsored Team America Rocketry Challenge. She believes growth occurs through the challenges we face and enjoys the problem-solving process of overcoming any obstacle.

Ms. Williams dedicates her personal time to supporting the Scleroderma Foundation-Rocky Mountain Chapter, currently serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors and co-chair for the foundation’s Food Fight Chef’s Challenge fundraiser.

PG Team Member Since 2015

Contract Vehicles

We hold numerous prime contract vehicles that make it easy for federal and state customers to access our services. To view a list of clients and contract vehicles, please visit ERG’s website.

Join Our Team

We do one thing. But we do it better than anyone else. And there’s a reason that PG and ERG team members are so dedicated and enjoyable to work with—we work in a friendly, flexible, inclusive environment with customers who are committed to making the world a better place. Our colleagues are well-respected leaders in their field who provide support, mentorship, and valuable learning opportunities for new team members.

There are many exciting job announcements posted on ERG’s website, including opportunities with the PG Division for the following positions:

Entry Level Environmental Scientist

Entry Level Environmental Scientist / Engineer

Aquatic Field Ecologist

Field Ecologist (multiple)