Risk Assessment
Overview
Many businesses and government organizations today face increasing conditions of risk presented by sources both internal and external to their operations. Managing risk programmatically with EI's help puts organizations in a position of being proactive and prepares them for adversities. Risks associated with hazardous materials loom especially large.
A public that is increasingly scrutinizing regarding responsibility and transparency from corporations and government demands that leaders address these issues. One important step is improved risk communication, emergency planning and empowerment of employees to respond to threats. Facilities already have an obligation to protect workers' safety and to have emergency plans under OSHA and EPCRA regulations. However, employee education, development of new contingency plans, and community outreach programs will benefit organizations in th epublic and private sectors, especially those whose facilities store or handle hazardous waste.
EI is committed to benefiting workers, industry and communities through our extensive experience in risk assessment, risk communication and environmental management systems. EI has a depth of knowledge related to CERCLA-compliant human health and ecological risk assessment.
EI's experts in industrial hygiene, microbiology, process engineering, and security provide services to those organizations seeking to mitigate risks from hazardous substances:
- Emergency Response, Contingency or Prevention Plan Development and Review
- Employee Training Sessions
- Strategic Planning
- Facility Audits and Vulnerability Assessment
- Training Materials Design
- Stakeholder Facilitation and Community Outreach
If you would like to discuss how EI can assist you regarding risk and vulnerability assessment, please contact us at (206) 525-3362, or email us at staff@eiltd.net.
Example Projects
Lamprey Consumption Risk Assessment
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI)
As an adjunct to EI's RIFS and risk assessment support for six Tribes at the Portland Harbor Superfund site, EI prepared a report on behalf of the CTSI regarding the risks to tribal members from the consumption of lamprey from the Portland Harbor Superfund site. The analysis described in EI's report was conducted to consider the implications of the lamprey data from a study conducted by the US EPA and Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). EI's report presented risk assessment principles, methods, and assumptions specific to the tribal context; background information on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and their health effects; the lamprey PCB data from the EPA/ODHS study that were used for the assessment; and the results of the ingestion rate analysis, including tables that provide the details of ingestion rates based on varying levels of cancer risk and non-cancer hazard. The report also included brief conclusions and possible next steps for further study.
CERCLA Spport
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
EI is working with the Colville Tribes to address contamination of tribal lands and waters, including the waters of the Upper Columbia River (UCR). For more than a century, Tribal lands have been contaminated by discharges from mine and mills, smelters and a pulp and paper mill located on the UCR and its tributaries. EI is working with Colville Tribes to ensure that the U.S. EPA effectively incorporates Tribal concerns into the CERCLA-like remedial investigation and feasibility study process under which it is investigating the site. EI is coordinating efforts of tribal representatives, consultants, and government agencies to address the contamination. EI risk assessors are determining ecological and human health risks from contaminants and assessing impacts to tribal subsistence living. EI's work involves collecting, evaluating, and analyzing existing site data for potential damages and identifying areas of critical importance.
TESTIMONIALS
The Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council was very impressed by EI's exceptional understanding of State and Federal law, through research, perceptive analysis, and their ability to work effectively with various stakeholders.
- Rory Dabney
Program Coordinator
CIRCAC
TESTIMONIALS
"We would like to commend EI for your creative and thorough approach to address these issues of concern to the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council (CIRCAC), stakeholders, and the public-at-large ... CIRCACV was very impressed by EI's exceptional understating of State and Federal law, through research, perceptive analysis, and their ability to work effectively with various stakeholders. "
- Rory Dabney
Program Coordinator
CIRCAC
TESTIMONIALS
“The Siletz Tribe appreciates the work you have done to provide information on the state of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and the effect of pollutants on tribal members who consume fish from the Willamette River."
- Brenda Bremner
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
TESTIMONIALS
"The Siletz Tribe appreciates the work you have done to provide information on the state of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and the effect of pollutants on tribal members who consume fish from the Willamette River."
- Brenda Bremner
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
TESTIMONIALS
“I have been consistently impressed by the high quality of the written work your office produces, as well as the remarkable breadth and depth of technical know-how you and your team have. I have been extremely satisfied with EI's ability to produce high-quality work while staying on time and on or under budget."
- Cathy Hendrickson
Georgetown Crime Prevention & Community Council
TESTIMONIALS
"I was impressed with the efficiency of the audit team members, who worked closely together to interview personnel in various positions …covering many environmental areas including the hazardous waste facility. The Team's ISO 14001 knowledge was extensive. The recommendations you provided in the audit report have helped ISC Kodiak further develop their EMS and improve their EMS implementation Process."
- Sunsan L. Boyle
Lead Environmental Specialist
US Coast Guard
TESTIMONIALS
"I was impressed with the efficiency of the audit team members, who worked closely together to interview personnel in various positions …covering many environmental areas including the hazardous waste facility. The Team's ISO 14001 knowledge was extensive. The recommendations you provided in the audit report have helped ISC Kodiak further develop their EMS and improve their EMS implementation Process."
- Sunsan L. Boyle
Lead Environmental Specialist
US Coast Guard
TESTIMONIALS
“I want to commend you and EI for your facilitation. The results of the facilitation were exceptional, with all parties leaving the table happy, surprised, and incredulous at how you got the group to come to consensus over issues on which we had been stuck for a long time.
- Jon Gornick
US Army Corps of Engineers
TESTIMONIALS
“ Dr. Bridgen obviously has a great deal of EMS implementation experience, which gives her a wealth of examples to broaden and deepen the understanding of the principles and techniques that we are now incorporating at our facilities.“
- Laura Halterman
Department of Veterans Affairs
TESTIMONIALS
"I want to commend the performance of EI and, in particular, Valerie Lee in the community involvement and communication effort associated with development of the Kalispel Tribe's EMS...This project is setting a precedent by developing an ISO 14001 compliant EMS to ensure that environmental issues receive the amount of attention that the Tribe, as a steward of the environment, believes they deserve."
-Scott Hall
Kalispel Tribe of Indians
TESTIMONIALS
“EI's ability to coordinate among our partners in the cooperative process is impressive … EI has shown tremendous ability to ensure open channels of communication with us, with our partners and with those on the other side of the table. Even when negotiations have gotten particularly difficult, EI has demonstrated a sense of ethics and diplomacy, all the while ensuring that the Tribe's voice is heard. “
-Delores Pigsley
Tribal Council Chairman
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
TESTIMONIALS
"Throughout the two-year process of developing the rule [under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act], Dr. Bridgen was able not only to juggle the many tasks involved, and to produce high quality products on time, but to offer good alternatives for approaching problems encountered in the course of the project. Her involvement enabled the Agency to develop a good rule, within the time and budget allotted."
-Christine Augustyniak
Deputy Director
Environmental Assistance Division
US EPA
TESTIMONIALS
"Attendees appreciated the opportunity to interact, communicate and relate their experiences and issues with one another. We were very successful in establishing a springboard for further interaction and resolution to the many issues facing the Native American communities …"
- Douglas W. Grosse
National Risk Management Research Labratory
US EPA
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