ERS Latest News

ERS Recognized as Georgia Airports Association’s Corporate Member of the Year

Environmental Resource Solutions (ERS), a division of SES Energy Services LLC, is the proud recipient of the 2019 Jim White Memorial Corporate Member of the Year award, selected by the Georgia Airports Association for the firm’s significant contributions to Georgia Airports. ERS provides aviation with a variety of ecological services through a thorough understanding of the challenges airports face when implementing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and guidance in conjunction with environmental agency regulations.  By understanding airport operations and having scientific knowledge of natural resource regulations, ERS provides innovative approaches to address client needs. In Georgia, ERS has specifically been providing wildlife hazard management assistance and NEPA documentation since 2012.

ERS has extensive experience working with Georgia Airports. Airports, for which ERS has provided ecological services includes:

  • Brunswick Golden Isles (BQK)
  • Atlanta Regional/Falcon Field (FFC)
  • Middle Georgia Regional (MCN)
  • Southwest Georgia Regional (ABY)
  • Polk County Airport/Cornelius Moore Field (4A4)
  • Augusta Regional Airport (AGS)
  • Richard B Russell Regional Airport (RMG)
  • Cook County Airport (15J)
  • Heart of Georgia Regional (EZM)
  • McKinnon St. Simons Island (SSI)
  • Thomasville Regional Airport (TVI)
  • Valdosta International Airport (VLD)
  • Henry Tift Myers (TMA)
  • Columbus Airport (CSG)
  • Cartersville Airport (VPC)
  • Newnan-Coweta Airport (CCO)
  • West Georgia Regional Airport (CTJ)
  • Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (GVL)

Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc. Joins the SES Group of Companies

Oak Ridge, Tennessee — Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) announces the January 1, 2019 acquisition of Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc. (ERS), a Jacksonville, Florida-based ecological consulting firm. The company has become the ERS Division of SES Energy Services LLC (SES Energy), which is a part of the BBNC-owned SES group of companies headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The SES group, under the management of President/CEO, Basil Skelton, includes nine companies with combined revenues in 2018 exceeding $150M, and provides construction, engineering, fuels, and environmental services to a wide range of government and private sector clients nationwide.

ERS was founded in 1995 by Ms. Kim Allerton, President/CEO and joined shortly thereafter by Ms. Charlie Cruz, CFO and part owner. Staff includes environmental biologists, ecologists, marine scientists, botanists, AutoCAD/GIS analysts and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) qualified airport wildlife biologists. ERS clients include over 30 county, state, and federal governments, 24 airports in 7 states, and over 100 in the private sector.

SES Energy is a Small Business Administration (SBA)-certified 8(a) small disadvantaged company established in 2015, which provides construction, fuels systems, and environmental services to clients across the country. SES Energy is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certified in multiple states, including Florida. The ERS Division will continue to operate under the leadership of Ms. Allerton and Ms. Cruz, and under the overall management of SES Energy’s General Manager, Jim Madaj, from the group’s Jacksonville, Florida office.

Mr. Skelton stated, “I am extremely excited about this acquisition and am very pleased to have this talented and experienced company join the SES group to expand our offered services.”

180FW Hosts BASH Team Visit

180FW Hosts BASH Team Visit

The unique wetland environment on and surrounding airfield at the 180th Fighter Wing
Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker

SWANTON, OH, UNITED STATES
Story by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker
180th Fighter Wing Ohio National Guard

Wildlife-related incidents were documented as the leading cause of F-16 fighter jet mishaps in the first quarter of 2017.

In an effort to mitigate impact to the mission and maximize the safety of pilots, aircraft and the abundant local-area wildlife, the 180th Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, hosted a Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard team visit, April 13, 2017, to assess potential bird and other wildlife hazards located on and around the airfield at Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio.

ERS is selected as Air National Guard BASH Program Contract

ERS is selected as Air National Guard BASH Program Contract

ERS was selected as the prime consultant for the Air National Guard's Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) contract.  ERS teamed with DeTect, Inc. and sole proprietor, Robert Dogan, to provide the Air National Guard (ANG) with a depth of resources and expertise to complete installation site visits, written BASH assessments, BASH plans and updates. 

The team provides multiple qualified airport wildlife biologists, commercial service and military wildlife hazard management experience, avian radar expertise, and a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) training accident investigator. 

The team will begin BASH site visits and plan updates at ANG facilities across the country in early 2016 

Did you do your due diligence?

Did you do your due diligence?
Several times a year ERS receives telephone calls from property owners who have been referred to us by clients or regulatory agencies, to assist with newly discovered wetland issues on their sites. The callers explain that they recently purchased a property and that they now have been told that the site includes or entirely consists of wetlands. The information that the property owners received after buying the site is usually correct - their recently purchased sites do include jurisdictional wetlands. 
 
In instances where the wetland is small and out of the way of proposed development, it may be of little real consequence (other than the owner having paid too much for the property). However, in other cases, the location and extent of the wetland often interfere with the property owner’s desired use of the site. When the wetland is consequential to land use, the owner has three choices: (1) modify their site plan to avoid wetland impacts (and wetlands permitting/mitigation), (2) apply for a permit to impact the wetland or (3), in extreme cases, abandon their project altogether. Regardless of their decision, the wetland usually interferes with their original plan, and time and money are required to solve the problems posed by the wetland.
 
Fortunately, the above scenario does not play out for people who are familiar with land development issues. They (and their lenders) protect themselves by undertaking “due diligence” with respect to wetlands and protected species issues (as well as zoning, contamination, concurrency, utilities, drainage title issues, etc.), prior to purchasing land. Due diligence identifies development constraints specific to a site and explains the process of overcoming temporary obstacles.
 
The term used for the ERS due diligence service which identifies wetlands occurrence/ nonoccurrence and the likelihood of protected species occurrence on prospective project sites is Preliminary Environmental Assessment. These assessments include ground-truthed wetlands mapping, sensitive habitat mapping, protected species occurrence information, and a discussion of the regulatory processes affecting the property in question. The assessments identify land development constraints, permitting implications and available solutions, allowing our clients to make informed decisions. 
 
Please call us to learn more about how our preliminary assessment work can benefit your land purchase and land use decisions.