Engineering Technical Services

An experienced environmental engineering professional on your team is your best risk management strategy. Since 1987, Zimmerman Technical Services, Inc. (ZimTech), has dedicated itself to helping clients save millions of dollars in expenses related to environmental, health and safety (EH&S) issues. To learn more about your potential savings, contact us for a free initial consultation.

We specialize in helping industry, commercial developers, attorneys & municipal governments with economical compliance strategies and loss prevention techniques. We won't waste your time and/or money on unproductive efforts. Our long experience working with regulatory agencies, professional and trade associations, and environmental attorneys allows us to help our clients focus their EH&S management resources on those areas most important to their operation's success.

Our environmental engineering and risk management services include the following:

If you would like a handy one-page file reference on how ZimTech can lower your environmental liability expenses, and/or develop improved community relations, we have a one-page "Summary of Services" form that you can download in Adobe Acrobat format by clicking here or by clicking on the PDF icon near the top of the right sidebar. You can also use this form to tell us about your unique needs and request more detailed information by fax or regular mail. In the meantime, you can call us at 770-516-5902 if we can help with answers to more immediate questions; or continue to surf our website.
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Project management in the more complex cases is based upon a multi-disciplinary team approach with ZimTech providing a single point of contact for client service. Clients can enjoy the convenience and resources of a larger firm, along with the lower costs and responsive service typical of a small family-owned business.
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Results may help to define the economic tradeoffs involved in facility transfers or operations management. In many cases, no action is immediately required. However, the owner/operator may desire to improve the resale value of a property, promote positive community relations, limit potential liability issues, etc.

In that case, we can develop cost-effective compliance strategies. These may include storage tank, lagoon or landfill inspections, closures, and/or upgrades. Alternatively, we have been successful obtaining regulatory rulings for "no further action" using risk-of-exposure modeling techniques at hazardous materials release sites.
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ZimTech knowledge of the latest environmental technology and regulatory policies helps us design cost-effective environmental management strategies. To stay current, we maintain subscriptions to leading journals in environmental engineering and risk management, along with regular continuing education activities. Combined with our small business overhead, this up-to-date expertise allows ZimTech to satisfy your needs with economical, quality services.
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As an independent environmental management firm, we offer an unbiased and impartial evaluation of environmental issues and technology. We do not have a financial interest in construction contracting or equipment manufacturing, or their sales or service. We help clients avoid unnecessary work and ensure desired work is performed according to required standards.

Our independent status allows us to create a team of the best consulting associates dedicated to your satisfaction, rather than simply keeping an under-utilized corporate department busy. In addition to the practicing professionals described later, our network of associates includes leading faculty members at Georgia Tech, Georgia State, the University of Georgia, and other distinguished institutions.

ZimTech simplifies your project management. We can prepare a complete package of integrated services, coordinating environmental assessment activities, sample collection and analyses, reporting requirements, permits, design, construction oversight, operation and maintenance, etc., through a single ZimTech representative.

ZimTech manages environmental project budgets and schedules toward economical and timely regulatory site closures. Because of our close working relationship with federal and state regulators, we have enjoyed success in the past using risk-of-exposure assessment techniques to limit project activities to only those truly necessary for protecting public health and the environment.

When environmental challenges result in the need for litigation or administrative appeals to government agencies, ZimTech is experienced working with attorneys in the preparation and presentation of expert testimony. We also provide technical representation at public hearings required for issue of environmental permits or for promoting good environmental engineering practices in proposed regulations. We are experienced and good at what we do.
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ZimTech offers clients the following benefits and services:

Some environmental project sites have been turned into a "slice of swiss cheese" by "environmental consultants" more interested in constructing and sampling monitoring wells, and generating large fees for themselves, than in achieving an economical regulatory site closure. At ZimTech, we offer the problem-solving perspective lacking in those consultants not qualified to engineer optimal solutions.

We provide quality services in environmental hydrology narrowly targeted at performing only the data collection necessary to reliably achieve your environmental management goals. We have developed our own in-house mathematical and computer models to limit data collection costs while also working towards a cost-effective solution.

ZimTech applies these tools, or other more sophisticated commercial models, to achieve efficient management of water quality and hydraulics. We have used the results to design economical contaminant recovery capture zones, spill prevention controls, dewatering schemes, contaminant transport analyses, storm water runoff control, risk management studies, etc.

Numerous groundwater monitoring and recovery wells have been designed and constructed under the direction of ZimTech professionals for various groundwater engineering purposes. These wells have been constructed at a variety of industrial, commercial, transportation, solid waste management, and public utility facilities.

We have also developed economical solutions to the management of storm water and waste water at industrial facilities. These alternative designs have met with regulatory approval in the permit application process for industrial wash racks, spill control measures, waste water disposal, etc.
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ZimTech professionals are specialists in negotiating economical risk-based corrective actions (RBCA) with regulatory and public utility officials. Several site closures were achieved using limited-action alternatives approved by regulatory agencies in Georgia and South Carolina. Using risk-of-exposure assessment techniques we have also been able to successfully obtain regulatory rulings of "no further action required" at hazardous materials spill sites.

Because underground contaminants are hidden from view, and each site is unique, every in-situ remediation project represents a dynamic challenge in subsurface process engineering. ZimTech manages a remediation project toward an economical and timely regulatory site closure by using several stages of pilot operations, from initial design through full scale implementation, to engineer optimal results and avoid wasted efforts.

We input the data obtained during pilot operations into computer models, and other analytical tools, then engineer subsurface processes towards optimal fulfillment of your objectives. Three hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater sites managed by our principal engineer achieved final regulatory closure less than two years after corrective actions were begun, at a total cost for each of less than 90K.

We are knowledgeable in the latest innovative technologies useful for cost-effective site closures. These include in-situ or ex-situ bioremediation, air sparging, soil venting, and other "no-discharge" alternatives. Our principal engineer was able to successfully optimize use of innovative technologies at several hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater sites in Tennessee and Kentucky.
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Tank management services and benefits include:

ZimTech offers clients the peace of mind that comes from working with experienced and licensed professionals. The client's exposure to the significant liabilities involved in storage tank management can be minimized by using professionals who are careful to follow appropriate environmental, health and safety regulations including waste management requirements.

ZimTech professionals have experience with engineering inspections for corrosion, cracks, and existing repairs in fuel tanks and other above-ground liquid storage structures, including certification of RCRA compliance and spill prevention, control, and countermeasures (SPCC) plans. Our engineering-certified SPCC plans have included cost-effective compliance strategies and loss prevention techniques. These have been reviewed and approved by state and federal regulatory agencies.

ZimTech recommendations for further actions, if any, are closely coordinated with your requirements. Once a plan of action has been agreed upon, we can coordinate the activities of equipment contractors, repair technicians, and design professionals, creating a team dedicated to serving your needs.

If a UST closure is desired, ZimTech can complete appropriate notifications and reports required by regulatory authorities. During tank work, an on-site ZimTech professional will direct environmental sample collection, observe activities of contractors, and document compliance with appropriate environmental standards. In the unfortunate event a release has occurred, ZimTech specializes in the use of risk-of-exposure assessment methods to limit the need for unduly expensive corrective actions.
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Phase I assessments can help a property purchaser qualify for the Superfund "innocent purchaser" defense. At a minimum, ZimTech uses the procedures in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practices E 1527 and E 1528 as a guide for "all appropriate inquiry." Following these standards provides greater assurance that the assessment will survive challenges by private attorneys or regulatory agencies.

If the Phase I ESA indicates a potential for "recognized environmental conditions," ZimTech can collect samples for laboratory analyses in a Phase II assessment. If contamination is verified, further sample collection and/or use of various survey techniques can be used in a Phase III assessment to define the limits and severity of the impairment. Results may help to define the economic tradeoffs involved in facility transfers or operations management.

A recent requirement for many industrial and construction activities is completion of a storm water pollution prevention plan (SWP3) according to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit conditions. The SWP3 requires best management practices (BMP) for pollution prevention, including improved housekeeping, secondary containment, erosion and sediment controls, personnel training etc.

Disturbance of soils for construction of new developments or facility improvements may require a land disturbance permit incorporating an erosion and sediment control plan. This generally requires a drainage study and structural controls to limit storm water runoff to the pre-construction condition, along with erosion controls similar to an SWP3.

As a qualified environmental engineering firm, ZimTech uses cost-effective engineering practices to develop economical compliance with the NPDES and land disturbance permit requirements. These practices have received favorable reviews from local, state and federal regulatory agencies.
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Residential, commercial, and industrial realtors use aerials for many applications, such as sales and appraisals. Developers use aerials for land evaluation, structure layout, to secure financing, to document construction progress, for printed advertising and other marketing programs. Attorneys use aerials for evidence in construction liability and environmental litigation.

To assist with financing, developers and financial institutions may find aerial photography very useful during Phase I assessments of large tracts of land. Aerial reconnaissance can serve to limit the scope of the ground-based visual assessment, leading to a lower overall project cost.

Aerial reconnaissance and photographic documentation have been used when performing initial assessments at hazardous materials spill sites. ZimTech professionals have used these techniques at several train derailment and tank car spill sites to assist with planning corrective actions. This documentation has proven very cost-effective when negotiating limits of remedial activities with regulatory officials.

ZimTech has an in-house aerial photography capability. Our principal engineer is an experienced former military aviator. While serving in the USAF, he performed several aerial photographic missions. Missions were flown for both publicity photos and operational military purposes.

Mr. Zimmerman holds a civilian Federal Aviation Administration Commercial Pilot's license with single and multi-engine ratings. He has accumulated more than 1500 hours of safe, accident-free flying and is qualified for flight in inclement weather conditions.

While aerial photography is only conducted in clear weather, our all-weather capability gives ZimTech the flexibility and extra safety margins to mobilize according to your schedules. For our clients with their own corporate aviation department, we offer contract pilot services.
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