Environmental Consulting Department

Environmental Evaluation Studies/Reports (EES/EER)

Environmental Evaluation Study (EES) is performed for existing operations or project activities in Nigeria. EER focuses on the present environmental impacts of existing operations/activities and their corresponding management.  It uses the data in the EIA of the project or Environmental Baseline Survey of the same project area as the reference for comparison and for assessment of cumulative or any incremental environmental impacts, positive or negative. In Nigeria, EES is required by the DPR while FMEnv refers to it as an Environmental Audit, focusing on the environment and not project process.

Environmental Audit

Environmental audit (EA) is an independent assessment of the current status of a party’s compliance with applicable environmental requirements or of a party’s environmental compliance policies, practices, and controls.  It is an independent assessment of a property or business premises to evaluate any environmental risks that may be present.  It is a systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of how well organizations, management and equipment are performing with the aim of helping to safeguard the environment by facilitating management control of environmental practices and assessing compliance with company policies which would include meeting regulatory requirements.   EA involves periodic assessment of positive and negative impacts of an existing or commissioned project for which an EIA has already been approved. The actual impact of project operation, the accuracy of the predictions, the effectiveness of the mitigation measures, and the functioning of the established monitoring program are determined and evaluated through environmental audits.

Environmental Compliance Monitoring

Environmental Compliance Monitoring is carried out to determine the compliance of existing industrial project activities with relevant regulatory requirements.  Its implementation is similar to the environmental auditing process explained above.

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring

Ambient air quality monitoring involves the establishment (i.e., installation and calibration) and operation of air quality sampling and monitoring equipment in monitoring stations or networks for the measurement of ambient air quality parameters such as COx, NOx, SO, H2S, THC, O3, PM10 etc. Ambient air quality sampling can be either in form of grab sampling or continuous 24 hours sampling.  In continuous monitoring of ambient air quality, air quality monitors are set up for each parameter in air quality monitoring shelters and the air quality data collected by the monitors has to be downloaded, reduced and checked for consistency and validation purposes.  In case of grab sampling of air quality parameters, handheld and other portable air quality sampling equipment are used.

Environmental Baseline Study (Onshore and Offshore)

Environmental Baseline Survey or study (EBS).  The major goal of the survey is to provide a comprehensive description of the existing environment before any development comes into that area. The survey is carried out in both Nigerian wet and dry seasons. EBS is an integral component of an EIA and Environmental Evaluation Studies/Report (EES/EAR). The environmental baseline data collection concentrates on the environmental components that can be affected by a proposed project.  It can be carried out as a stand alone study or with EIA, EER or EAR studies, especially where no previous information on the environment of interest does exist.

Environmental Management Plan

The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is an environmental management strategy that involves explicit documentation of aspects of a project activity that are regarded as environmentally important; identification of related environmental impacts, in-situ during project implementation; and implementation of relevant environmental impact mitigation measures recommended for the amelioration of such impacts.  Conceptually, the EMP implementation for specific project activities consists of two major components: Mitigation Measure Monitoring and Environmental Impact Monitoring. The mitigation measure monitoring component of an EMP focus mainly on monitoring the implementation of the impact mitigation measures recommended by the EIA, while the environmental impact monitoring component adopts scientific methodologies and standard operation procedures to monitor and capture, among others, the occurrence of predicted and fresh unpredicted environmental impacts of the project as well as the effectiveness of the impact mitigation measures executed.

Waste Management Studies

Waste management studies and program development involves the characterization and quantification of waste generation, storage, collection, transportation, treatment and ultimate disposal in appropriate disposal site, in acceptable manner.  The development of a waste management program or plan for a company or a facility involves detail consideration of how hierarchical application of the practices of source reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, treatment and responsible disposal of wastes can be incorporated in the waste management process of the company or facility. Options for waste inventory, characterization, segregation, minimization, and disposal are clearly stated in such plan. The waste management program is area-specific in coverage and relates the choice of waste handling and disposal options to ecological sensitivities, regulatory requirements, and available waste disposal facilities/infrastructure of the geographical area involved. 

Environmental Due Diligence

Environmental due diligence (EDD) is an important aspect of any merger and acquisition transaction especially in business sectors at risk from Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) issues. EDD is performed to assess the potential environmental liabilities associated with mergers, acquisition, and divestitures in property transfers. It helps to reduce unpleasant post acquisition liabilities when undertaken in a merger and acquisition transaction at a time of change in ownership or financial structure.  The outcome of an EDD is a management decision support, which greatly influences the economy of a property or business transaction.

Pollution Monitoring

Pollution monitoring involves regular or periodic observation of an environment or site that is deemed to be adversely impacted by the release of substances or energies. The aim of such monitoring is both to document the environmental effects caused by the presence of these substances or energies in the environment and/or to be able to follow and aid the recovery processes.

Contingency Plan Preparation

The purpose of contingency plan preparation is to produce an emergency response plan which outlines response strategy, responsibilities among other things. When such plan is followed in an oil spill situation the following will be achieved: (1) Maximize the effectiveness and timeliness of oil spill response by responsible parties and response contractors; (2) Ensure readiness of equipment and personnel; (3) Support coordination with state, federal, and other contingency plans; and (4) Provide improved protection of water and natural resources from the impacts of oil spills.

Site Investigation and Monitoring

Site investigation and monitoring involves the performance of field visits, observation and sampling of relevant environmental media (soil, water, sediment, ambient air quality, vegetation, etc) of an environment or site that is deemed to be adversely impacted by the release of substances or energies. The aim of such monitoring is both to document the environmental effects caused by the presence of these substances or energies in the environment and/or to be able to follow and aid the recovery processes.

Remediation and Ecological Rehabilitation

Remediation and ecological rehabilitation involves the clean up of a polluted or contaminated environmental medium and integration of native species of vegetation cleared from a site (e.g. mangrove restoration).  This concept is more applicable in terrestrial environment where soil contamination, clearance of vegetation cover and topographic changes has taken place.

Health, Safety and Environmental Equipment Supplies 

We supply all range of Health, Safety and Environmental Management equipment and see to the successful installation of the ones that require it.

Environmental Monitoring and Site Assessment

We carry out long and short-term monitoring programs for historical factors affecting site environmental conditions with respect to air, water, soil, noise and vegetation for Statutory Compliance or Corporate Insurance purposes.

Preparation of HSE-MS Manual for Production and Operation Facilities

We undertake preparation of HSE-MS manuals for Production and Operation Facilities.

HSE-MS Audit to ISO 14001

We undertake facilities and operations HSE-MS to Audit to ISO 14001 Standard.

Pollution Control and Waste Management

We give strategic advice on  cost-effective safe management  of  all  domestic, industrial, toxic  and  hazardous wastes,  including  appropriate  technology  for the  minimization, recycling, remediation  and  safe  disposal of wastes in an  environmentally   friendly  way.

Quantitative and Qualitative Sampling and Analysis of Effluent Streams

We carry out periodic sampling, qualitative and quantitative analysis of effluent streams and interpret the data accordingly. 

Corporate Representation

GSEC offers to represent the interest of corporate organizations/industries before Governments’ Regulatory Authorities, by making available our technical know how in Environmental/Pollution management.