Doug Cotton

CET and Integrated have worked together since 1995, when I brought them in as part of our emergency response team for the Houston Distribution Facility warehouse fires. Because of the hazardous nature of the stored chemicals, as well as the sheer size and destructive capacity of the fires themselves, we knew we would need experts in health risk analysis, communication, and management. In addition, as the post-fire site potentially posed a threat to neighboring residents, the already difficult situation took on added tension. I turned to Integrated based on their reputation among industry and agency insiders as unbiased and scientifically precise risk experts.

Everyone involved at the Houston site - from the property owners to the neighborhood residents and regulatory authorities - benefited from Integrated's involvement.

The expertise, resourcefulness and creativity that the Integrated staff exhibited on that job, and the continued excellence of their performance since, has given me the confidence to greatly expand our working relationship over the years. We now work together on a wide variety of environmental projects, from remedial investigations and feasibility studies to full-scale remediation and redevelopment projects. Integrated consistently provides first-class risk-based planning, effective regulatory and community interaction, and cost-effective field oversight. Their innovative approaches and clear vision of the path forward have paved the way for project after project to move from study phase to site closure and redevelopment.

The former Golden Eagle Refinery site is a spectacular example of Integrated's successful approach. This former state Superfund site is now home to the Carson Town Center, the busiest retail mall in the city and, according to community leaders, a "model development." Working closely with the client, agency and community leaders, and my engineering team, Integrated devised and implemented a practical closure strategy that protected human health while dramatically reducing the amount of soil needing excavation.

The state approved the new, risk-based levels, which were three times higher than the previous levels. In the process, the client saved $3 million in remedial costs.

On its World Wide Web site, Cal/EPA highlights the former Golden Eagle Refinery as one of its successful Brownfields conversions, and the job is similarly cited in the U.S. Congressional Record as well.

After five years of working closely together, it is without reservation that I recommend Integrated for their proactive management approach, technical expertise and exceptional responsiveness to the client's needs.