Happy Black History Month from ERC! We wanted to take the time to honor some African American trailblazers in the environmental and construction industry. Let’s learn about these inspirational figures and how they have impacted the field we contribute to today. Environmental Wangarĩ Maathai (1940-2011) Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement which is a tree …
What Does a City Need to Host a Super Bowl?
For a city to be able to host the Super Bowl, it must meet numerous specific requirements to be an eligible candidate. Climate: A warmer climate is the most desirable factor when choosing a host city as the NFL wants the game to be enjoyed at a comfortable temperature for both the players and …
ERC February 2025 Newsletter!
Happy Black History Month!
Beware the Invisible Threat: The Link Between Asbestos Fibers and Mesothelioma
The Foundation of Asbestos For over 4,500 years, asbestos—known as the “magic mineral”—has been prized for its fire-resistant properties. Its origins trace back to Greece, where it was woven into fireproof textiles and named “amiantus,” meaning “resistance to fire.” Similar discoveries occurred in Finland, where asbestos was used to strengthen clay pottery. By the 1600s …
Keep Your Home Winter Resilient
On Monday, January 6, 2025, Texas was hit in the early morning with a polar vortex which is an area of low pressure that sends freezing temperatures from the Artic to the south 1. Texas experienced a polar vortex back in 2021 that lasted around eight days where at its peak, 10 million people were …
Cement Alternatives to Help the Earth
Cement is a strong binding agent, (and the most popular binder used in construction), which serves as the primary ingredient in concrete. Concrete plays an important role in construction as a critical component in foundations, structures, roads, bridges, highways, and more. The production levels of cement continue to rise every year. Last year, the world …
Disaster Recovery Planning
During hurricane season, ERC would like to offer the some guiding steps to prepare for a natural disaster and how we can help you recover. Preparing for a storm requires due diligence before the storm, as well as assessing what is needed to recover from one. Preparation for post-hurricane damage is critical. Questions you should …
Closing Out a UST Project with TCEQ
In 2012 a Houston area college purchased a plot of land for a parking lot. Part of the financing requirements included an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). During the ESA, Phase I, it was determined that there was an abandoned gas station on the premises. The underground storage tanks needed to removed and the groundwater and …
Lead and Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
ERC has seen an uptick in requests for HUD-related lead-based paint inspections. It seems HUD is cracking down on housing authorities and other organizations who receive HUD funding, looking for proper documentation of these required inspections. Housing (single and multi-family) supported by HUD, built before 1978, is required to have lead inspection documentation on file. …
What are ESAs?
What is an ESA? ESAs are typically conducted at properties with a history of commercial or industrial use. The Environmental Site Assessment is a process of evaluating the environmental liability of a real estate asset. Specifically, Environmental Site Assessment or “ESA” is the process of conducting “all appropriate inquiry” into the past or present uses …