The New Year is a time for fresh starts, resolutions, and setting goals for the months ahead. But while many people are focused on personal improvements, there’s another area worth prioritizing: your property’s environmental health. Starting the year with proactive corrective action can save you stress, money, and time—and let’s face it, we all need less to worry about as the year progresses.
At CRG Texas Environmental Services, we’ve seen how taking action early can make a huge difference, and we’re here to guide you through the process.
What Is Corrective Action, and Why Does It Matter?
Corrective action involves steps to address and remediate environmental issues like contamination or violations of environmental laws. These actions are crucial for compliance, protecting public health, and reducing environmental liabilities for property stakeholders.
By taking corrective action early, you can:
- Avoid Regulatory Penalties: Prevent costly fines for environmental violations.
- Protect Your Property Value: Resolve environmental issues to maintain property worth.
- Show Responsibility: Demonstrate your commitment to environmental stewardship.
- Prepare for Property Sale or Financing: No Further Action (NFA) Letters from agencies such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) can help reduce liabilities and provide assurance to buyers or lenders.
Several programs help guide corrective action efforts:
- Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC): Oversees remediation for petroleum storage tank sites, including the LPST (Leaking Petroleum Storage Tank) program.
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): Manages programs like the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) to address contamination proactively and reduce liabilities.
- RBCA (Risk-Based Corrective Action): A risk-based approach to determine the best cleanup methods.
- Innocent Owner Program (IOP): Helps property owners who weren’t responsible for contamination avoid cleanup costs.
Using these programs— VCP, LPST, RBCA, and IOP—can reduce risks and liabilities, improve property marketability, and enhance financial opportunities.
Why January Is the Perfect Time to Start
Getting Ahead of Regulatory Inspections
Many regulatory agencies ramp up inspections as the year progresses. By starting corrective action in January, you’re ahead of the curve and can tackle issues before they’re flagged during an inspection. Think of it as spring cleaning—but for your property.
Spreading Out the Workload
Environmental remediation and corrective action can take time, especially for larger projects. Starting early in the year allows you to spread out tasks, making the process more manageable and less overwhelming.
Saving Money in the Long Run
Waiting until later in the year to address issues can lead to increased costs. For example, minor contamination that could have been resolved with a small cleanup might escalate into a larger, costlier problem if left untreated.
A Real-Life Example
One of our clients, a commercial property owner, came to us in mid-January after noticing some potential soil contamination on their site. By starting early, we were able to perform a thorough assessment, create a corrective action plan, and complete the remediation well before their busy summer season. The client told us how relieved they were to have it off their plate, especially as other priorities piled up later in the year. Starting early gave them peace of mind and allowed them to focus on growing their business without lingering environmental concerns.
Key Steps to Start Corrective Action
1. Conduct an Environmental Site Assessment
The first step in any corrective action process is understanding the current state of your property. An environmental site assessment (ESA) can identify potential or existing issues, such as soil contamination, groundwater pollution, or hazardous materials.
Pro Tip: If it’s been a while since your last ESA, now’s the perfect time to schedule one. The earlier you spot potential problems, the easier they are to address.
2. Develop a Corrective Action Plan
Once you’ve identified the issues, the next step is creating a plan. This involves outlining the necessary steps to remediate the problems and ensuring compliance with Rail Road Commission of Texas and Texas Commission of Environmental Quality.
At CRG Texas Environmental Services, we work closely with our clients to develop tailored corrective action plans that suit their specific needs and timelines.
3. Execute the Plan with Expert Help
Environmental remediation isn’t a DIY job. Partnering with experienced professionals ensures that the work is done efficiently, safely, and in compliance with regulations.
4. Follow Up and Monitor
Corrective action doesn’t end with remediation. Ongoing monitoring is often required to ensure the issue doesn’t resurface. Starting early in the year gives you time to establish a long-term monitoring plan.
The Benefits of Partnering with CRG Texas Environmental Services
With over 30 years of combined experience, CRG Texas Environmental Services has been helping Texas property owners tackle environmental challenges with confidence. Our team understands the complexities of environmental regulations and is committed to providing effective, efficient solutions.
When you work with us, you get:
- Expert Guidance: We’ll walk you through every step of the corrective action process.
- Tailored Solutions: No two properties are the same, and we customize our plans to meet your needs.
- Peace of Mind: Starting early with a trusted partner means you can focus on other priorities for the rest of the year.
Don’t Wait—Start 2025 with Confidence
The New Year is the perfect time to take charge of your property’s environmental health. By addressing corrective action early, you’re not just checking a box—you’re setting yourself up for a smoother, more successful year.
At CRG Texas Environmental Services, we’re here to help you make it happen. Whether you need an environmental site assessment, help developing a corrective action plan, or expert remediation services, our team is ready to assist.
Let’s make 2025 the year you don’t have to worry about environmental compliance. Contact us today to get started!