Cause and Origin Investigations for Environmental Matters
Determining the key factors that contributed to environmental damage is a central part of our environmental investigation and environmental remediation services. Our cause and origin investigations evaluate how environmental releases and contamination may have occurred, what mechanisms contributed to migration, and what site conditions influenced the extent of impact. We provide detailed analysis regarding the history of site operations, incident documentation, and the physical conditions that influence potential contaminant movement through air, soil, groundwater, and building environments.
Our expert reviews integrate operating history and document review with on-site observations and interpretation of field and laboratory data to connect observed conditions to plausible release pathways. Our evaluations help determine how contaminants may have moved, what conditions accelerated or limited migration, and whether observed patterns align with known activities, materials, or site changes over time.
When applicable, our analyses incorporate air sampling, soil contamination assessment, groundwater and surface water evaluation, and vapor intrusion testing. Our investigations address relevant issues regarding PFAS and other emerging contaminants, including review of potential source materials, transport mechanisms, and pathways for detection or distribution.
Our findings clarify the cause of contamination, source pathways, remediation planning and prioritization, and are used for regulatory closure, environmental claims consulting, and in legal disputes.