News, Media | Comprehensive Environmental Inc.

Lake Advance Restoration Plans (ARP) Project

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

This video is a recording of the public information session held on April 27th, 2026 for the MassDEP Lake Advance Restoration Plans (ARP) project.

EPA Finalizes 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP)

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:00:00 +0000

EPA Finalizes the 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP)

On January 18, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the 2022 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit (2022 CGP) for stormwater discharges from construction activity. This permit covers stormwater discharges from construction activities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire that disturb one or more acres of land. Construction activity includes earth-disturbing activities such as clearing, grading, and excavating land and other construction-related activities that could generate pollutants. The 2022 CGP will become effective on February 17, 2022, replacing the 2017 CGP, which expires on February 16, 2022. New construction projects in these areas may submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under the permit once it is effective. Key changes in the permit include new or clarified provisions related to erosion and pollution prevention controls, dewatering discharges, turbidity benchmark monitoring for dewatering discharges to sensitive waters, and inspection training.

For more information, visit EPA’s Construction Stormwater website: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activities

Fund Your Infrastructure Projects Using ARPA Funds

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 04:00:00 +0000

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law in March 2021 to assist with the country’s recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For state and local governments, ARPA provided $350 billion in emergency funding. Eligible uses for these funds include addressing drinking water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure. Communities have an opportunity to use these funds to leverage future infrastructure projects through planning and evaluation of their current systems with an eye on addressing problem areas and needs as well as future development and demand. Funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and expended by December 31, 2026.

Infrastructure Master Plan – CEI works with communities to protect and improve their infrastructure and has developed an Infrastructure Master Plan Scope of Work to provide an in-depth assessment of current stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water infrastructure limitations and future demands. Through this process, communities can be better prepared to manage their infrastructure appropriately. The general framework for an Infrastructure Master Plan includes the following:

Analysis of predicted future development and demand.
Assessment of existing infrastructure concerns and future needs.

Completion of comprehensive mapping and analysis of drainage infrastructure.
Assessment of surface and ground water resources and potential threats to these resources.
Investigation of potential flooding and resiliency problem areas.

CEI’s Approach– CEI has extensive experience in helping clients manage their infrastructure and are regional leaders in addressing climate change resiliency. If you would like more information about developing an Infrastructure Master Plan, please contact Michael Ohl at 800-725-2550 x359 or mohl@ceiengineers.com or Emily DiFranco at 800-725-2550 x 422 or edifranco@ceiengineers.com.

Fund Your Water Infrastructure Projects Through MassDEP's Loan and Grant Programs

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 04:00:00 +0000

The deadline for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Division of Municipal Services State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans is August 20, 2021. The SRF program provides low interest loan options to Massachusetts’ municipalities to improve drinking water, wastewater treatment, stormwater, and surface waters.

2022 SRF Priorities Projects eligible for SRF funding are listed below. Priorities for the 2022 SRF proposals include the following:

Addressing lead in drinking water (e.g., planning, lead service line inventories, and lead removal);
PFAS mitigation;
Stormwater management planning for compliance with the NPDES MS4 permits;
CSO discharges;
Green infrastructure and climate resiliency; and
Asset Management planning.

Asset Management Planning Grant Program

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and MassDEP developed this grant program to assist with the preparation of Asset Management Plans (AMPs) for existing water infrastructure for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. The Trust provides up to $150,000 or 60% of the eligible project costs for the development of these plans. CEI has successfully worked with municipalities to apply for and receive grants through this program.

The SRF Programs

MassDEP’s SRF Drinking Water program provides assistance for the engineering, design, and construction of drinking water projects. Eligible projects include:
- New and upgraded drinking water treatment facilities;
- Replacement of contaminated sources;
- Consolidation or restructuring of water systems;
- Installation or replacement of transmission or distribution systems; and
- Treatment for compliance with regulated health standards.
MassDEP’s SRF Clean Water program provides assistance for projects with meaningful water quality and public health benefits. Eligible projects include:
- CSO mitigation;
- New wastewater treatment facilities and upgrades of existing facilities;
- Infiltration/inflow correction;
- Wastewater collection systems; and
- NPS abatement projects including landfill capping, community septic system upgrades, Brownfield remediation, pollution prevention, and stormwater remediation.

CEI’s Approach: CEI works with communities to protect and improve their infrastructure. Our drinking water services include design and construction of new or rehabilitated facilities to treat for specific contaminants including lead, manganese, arsenic, and PFAS. We also work with multiple Massachusetts’ municipalities on all aspects of permit compliance with the NPDES MS4 permit and are regional leaders in addressing surface water impairments and climate change resiliency. While many of the projects we work on are directly funded by municipalities and other entities, we assist communities with obtaining funding through outside sources such as this MassDEP SRF program.

Project Evaluation Forms (PEFs) for the 2022 MassDEP loans and grants are due on August 20, 2021. If you would like more information about applying for a MassDEP loan or grant through contact Stephanie Hanson at 603-424-8444 ext 318 or shanson@ceiengineers.com

MS4 Year 3 Coming to a Close

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 04:00:00 +0000

MS4 Year 3 Coming to a Close

With the end of June 2021 rapidly approaching, another year of NPDES Phase II MS4 work draws to a close. In summary, communities should have the following items completed by the end of June:

Year 3, July 2020 through June 2021 (current year)

Screen all municipally-owned outfalls for flow and illicit discharge indicators during dry weather conditions
Pass regulatory mechanisms covering stormwater discharges from sites disturbing 1+ acres during and after construction
For most communities with a phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), prepare a funding source assessment as part of a phosphorus control plan
Annual Requirements:
- Inspect all municipally-owned stormwater structural Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Complete training on how to recognize and respond to a suspected illicit discharge
- Complete quarterly inspections for facilities with Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs)
- Distribution of public education messages, including specific messages for bacteria and nutrient impaired waters
- Annual report (due at the end of September)

If any of the above items (with the exception of the annual report) haven’t been finished, we recommend that communities work towards completing these items by the end of September for annual reporting purposes.

Next year brings yet more requirements for communities. As a brief summary, communities should be looking to complete the following items during Year 4:

Year 4, July 2021 through June 2022

Assess existing regulations for ways to reduce impervious area and any barriers to implementing low impact development (LID) techniques
Assess town-owned sites for potential retrofit opportunities
For most communities with nitrogen or phosphorus impairments, complete pollutant source identification reports
For most communities with a phosphorus TMDL, continue work on a phosphorus control plan
Complete the annual requirements outlined above

If you would like assistance on any MS4-related items, please feel free to contact Nick Cristofori, P.E., at 800.725.2550 x303 or ncristofori@ceiengineers.com or Rebecca Balke, P.E., at x308 or rbalke@ceiengineers.com.

Plan Ahead for Accurate PFAS Sampling Results

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:00:00 +0000

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently finalized regulations establishing an MCL for drinking water of 20 ppt for six PFAS compounds. All PWS in Massachusettsare now required to sample for PFAS.

CEI’s PFAS ApproachCEI works with PWS to protect and treat their drinking water. Our services include source protection, sampling, design and construction of new facilities, and treatment for specific contaminants including manganese, arsenic, and PFAS.

CEI has extensive experience using complex military and hazardous waste sampling protocols. We also work with PWS to protect and treat their drinking water. We have written PFAS protocols and experience collecting PFAS samples without contamination. Our protocols consider all potential sources of contamination including those from the sampler, sampling equipment and procedures, and PWS sample location infrastructure.

PFAS Monitoring Requirements - All PWS in Massachusetts must sample for PFAS by the dates shown in the table. Cost per sample is approximately $300 and samples must be sent to a MassDEP approved laboratory.

MassDEP isoffering to cover the cost of the initial PFAS laboratory analysis as part of the Free PFAS Lab Analyses Program, a voluntary statewide sampling program for PWS and private wells. This program will offset the cost of the initial sample and is available until June 30, 2021. Sign up for the free sampling program through this website: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S7QHNF2

If PFAS are detected in your sample, a confirmatory sample must be taken. If the level of PFAS in the sample is higher than the proposed MCL (20 ppt), the PWS would be required to do the following:

Contact and inform the public health official in your community within 30 days.
Notify the PWS consumers within 30 days.
Certify to MassDEP and the local Board of Health that you have issued a health notice.
Develop and implement a plan to reduce PFAS to a level below 10 ppt.
Conduct additional monitoring, if required.

PFAS Sampling - Sampling for PFAS is a complex process that requires strict adherence to sampling protocols significantly more strict than a water systems standard sampling progams. Special handling and care must be taken to avoid false positives due to contamination as many everyday items, including common gear and equipment used in daily activities at a PWS, contain PFAS and are easily transferred to your sample. The risk of getting a false positive due to contamination of the sample is high.To mitigate this risk, PWS should either:

Follow complex MassDEP protocols for collection; or
Have the sampling performed by someone familiar with PFAS protocols.

If you would like more information about PFAS or to discuss PFAS sampling, please contact Michael Ohl at 800-725-2550 x359 or mohl@ceiengineers.com or Emily DiFranco at 800-725-2550 x 422 or edifranco@ceiengineers.com.

CEI Wins Best Firms Award!

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:00:00 +0000

We are so proud to once again be named a winner of the 'Best Firms to Work For' Award from the Zweig Group! This marks the 10th year in a row we have been honored with this award, and we ranked in the top of two separate categories! CEI was ranked #1 Best Firm to Work For in the Firm Size 1-49 category, and ranked #2 in the Multidisciplinary category! This video is our thank you shout-out to all of our fantastic employees, our amazing clients, and the Zweig Group!

Innovation Webinar 10/15: sUAS for Wetlands & Storm Control Monitoring

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Webinar Description:

This session will include presentations on two pilot studies that were conducted by the MassDOT Highway Division in collaboration with the MassDOT Aeronautics Division, on the use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) for environmental monitoring. The first study investigated the use of sUAS with multi-spectral sensors to assist with wetland construction compliance and long-term monitoring. The second study evaluated the effectiveness of using sUAS for inspecting Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs).

The presentations will discuss the type of data collected in these studies, the data collection processes and protocols, and the integration of these data with information from other sources for documenting current conditions and changes over time. The session will also cover the benefits and strengths of these new technologies as well as potential challenges.

Panelists:

Dr. Scott Uebelhart, MassDOT Aeronatuics Division, Drone Program

Robin Grace, MassDOT Aeronautics Division, Drone Program

Melissa Riley, MassDOT Highway Division, Environmental Compliance

Henry Barbaro, MassDOT Highway Division, Stormwater Management

Matt Lundsted, Comprehensive Environmental Inc.

Time: Oct 15, 2020 @ 2:00p.m. EST

Is Manganese Regulated?

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Manganese is a naturally-occurring mineral found in soil, groundwater, and surface water. It is considered a toxic trace element, a naturally occurring metal that is essential for humans to survive, while also toxic when concentrations in the body are too high. It is naturally prevalent throughout the United States with higher concentrations in the Northeast. A focus on manganese in drinking water for both human health and nuisance effects has led to the development of methods to reduce manganese through treatment.

Is Manganese Regulated?

Yes and No. Though the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) does not have a specific drinking water standard or Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for manganese, it has developed a secondary standard of 0.05mg/L. The secondary standard is non-regulatory but is a strongly recommended target concentration set by the US EPA for drinking water treatment and is based on the potential to cause cosmetic or aesthetic effects in drinking water. Other states are considering or already have tougher standards for manganese based on the impact on children as summarized below.

If you would like more information about manganese or to discuss how manganese may impact your drinking water supply, please contact Michael Ohl, P.E., CFM at 800.725.2550 x359 or mohl@ceiengineers.com

Drone Ecological Investigations Webinar

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 04:00:00 +0000

CEI has developed a technical webinar on utilizing drone technology to perform ecological investigations.

Please contact Bob Hartzel, CLM, CPESC (rhartzel@ceiengineers.com) for questions regarding ecological investigations or CEI's drone technology.