Representative Projects & Case Studies
A selection of completed environmental engagements and selected principal experience demonstrating Pacific Rim Eco's capabilities across business environmental consulting, environmental due diligence, environmental incident response, public-health investigation, habitability and dispute investigations, and expert technical services.
1. Business Environmental Consulting
Specialized facility evaluations, indoor atmospheric monitoring, industrial hygiene assessments, and environmental risk auditing designed to protect commercial infrastructure, corporate personnel, and mission-critical operations.
IT Data Center Atmospheric Corrosion & IAQ Investigation
Independent environmental investigation of indoor conditions associated with premature oxidation and corrosion of sensitive electronic components within a mission-critical IT data center. Pacific Rim Eco evaluated environmental conditions, collected field measurements and samples, reviewed indoor-air and facility factors, and provided technical recommendations for management.
Question
What environmental conditions within the facility could be contributing to premature corrosion and oxidation of sensitive data-center equipment?
Pacific Rim Eco's Role
Independent environmental investigator and technical consultant evaluating indoor environmental conditions and potential atmospheric contributors to equipment corrosion.
Work Performed
- Indoor environmental measurements and field observations
- Surface/swab sampling and laboratory analysis
- Chemical off-gassing and indoor-air-quality evaluation
- Relative-humidity and atmospheric-condition assessment
- Review of HVAC filtration and environmental controls
- Evaluation of conditions potentially contributing to corrosion
Deliverable
A comprehensive technical report documenting field observations, measured conditions, laboratory findings, potential environmental contributors, and recommended corrective or mitigation measures.
Decision Supported
The investigation provided facility management with independent environmental information to evaluate filtration, humidity control, source control, and other facility-management measures intended to protect mission-critical equipment.
2. Environmental Site Assessments & Due Diligence
Dedicated pre-acquisition due diligence, Phase I ESAs, subsurface testing, and SBA review support aligned with ASTM E1527-21, protecting commercial lenders, brokers, and institutional purchasers.
Commercial Industrial Property Phase I ESA & Subsurface Due Diligence
Comprehensive pre-acquisition environmental due diligence for an active commercial light-industrial complex. Pacific Rim Eco performed historical aerial reviews, regulatory database audits, physical site inspections, and targeted environmental risk screening to protect the acquiring entity from legacy liabilities.
Question
Did historical operations or adjacent industrial properties result in recognized environmental conditions (RECs) that could create liability or capital risk for the purchaser?
Pacific Rim Eco's Role
Independent Environmental Professional (EP) leading baseline historical investigation, regulatory agency file audits, and physical facility inspection.
Work Performed
- ASTM E1527-21 compliant historical records & fire insurance map review
- Regulatory agency database auditing & environmental agency liaison
- Comprehensive site inspection and chemical storage audit
- Evaluation of potential vapor encroachment conditions (VEC)
- Baseline property environmental risk synthesis
Deliverable
An executive-grade Phase I ESA report defining recognized environmental conditions (RECs), historical RECs, and de minimis environmental conditions to satisfy institutional lending criteria.
Decision Supported
Provided the institutional lender and CRE investor with defensible third-party due diligence necessary to satisfy underwriting criteria and close the commercial transaction.
3. Environmental Incident Response & Remediation Oversight
Environmental investigation, public-health response, incident management, response planning, remediation strategy, technical coordination, and independent verification for releases, contamination events, and complex environmental emergencies. Pacific Rim Eco's current role is environmental assessment and technical oversight; remediation construction, abatement, and cleanup contracting are performed by appropriately qualified contractors when required.
Selected Principal Environmental & Public-Health Experience
The following examples reflect prior professional environmental and public-health experience of Dr. Daniel Bárbara, Pacific Rim Eco's Managing Partner and Principal Consultant. These assignments occurred during his service in county, tribal, and public-health leadership roles and predate Pacific Rim Eco. They are presented separately from Pacific Rim Eco client engagements.
Historic Benzene Release Investigation, Cleanup Coordination & Regulatory Response — La Paz County, Arizona
While serving in La Paz County government, Dr. Daniel Bárbara participated in the environmental response to a historic petroleum-related benzene release associated with the former Ted's Truck Stop site. His work included environmental assessment and site characterization, contaminant and hazard evaluation, technical review, and service as the county liaison during the cleanup and regulatory-response process.
Question
What residual environmental conditions remained at the historic release site, how were contaminants distributed, and what investigation, cleanup, and regulatory actions were necessary to address the remaining environmental risk?
Dr. Bárbara's Role
County environmental/public-health liaison supporting site investigation, cleanup coordination, technical review, regulatory communication, and progression toward environmental closure.
Work Performed
- Field environmental assessment
- Soil-matrix/core sampling
- Benzene and petroleum-hydrocarbon evaluation
- Contaminant-distribution and hazard mapping
- Subsurface plume characterization
- Remedial-strategy evaluation
- County liaison and interagency coordination during cleanup
- Technical review of cleanup activities and environmental findings
- Regulatory documentation and closure support
Professional Contribution
Environmental findings, contaminant-distribution information, hazard mapping, technical recommendations, and county coordination supporting investigation, cleanup activities, regulatory review, and environmental decision-making.
Decision Supported
The work supported characterization of remaining contamination, selection and implementation of an appropriate cleanup strategy, coordination among the county and other involved parties, and progression toward regulatory closure.
PCB Contamination Investigation & $3 Million Cleanup Coordination — La Paz County, Arizona (2006–2007)
During 2006–2007, while serving in La Paz County government, Dr. Daniel Bárbara served as county liaison and responsible project manager for a major PCB contamination response and approximately $3 million cleanup. The project required coordination among La Paz County, Arizona Public Service, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and other response participants.
Question
How could the County coordinate a large-scale PCB cleanup while managing environmental requirements, public infrastructure, rights-of-way, road access, agency responsibilities, and community impacts?
Dr. Bárbara's Role
County liaison and responsible project manager coordinating the County's environmental and operational responsibilities during investigation and cleanup.
Work Performed
- County project management
- Environmental-response coordination
- Coordination with Arizona Public Service
- Coordination with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- County rights-of-way management
- Road-closure planning and implementation following investigation
- Coordination of County operational responsibilities
- Interagency communication during cleanup
- Environmental and infrastructure logistics management
Professional Contribution
County project leadership integrating environmental coordination, public infrastructure responsibilities, rights-of-way management, road closures, and interagency communication during an approximately $3 million PCB cleanup.
Decision Supported
The project supported safe implementation of a major environmental cleanup while coordinating regulatory requirements, utility participation, County infrastructure responsibilities, public access, and cleanup logistics.
Cibola Manganese Community Contamination Investigation & Cleanup Response — La Paz County, Arizona (2006)
In 2006, while serving in La Paz County government, Dr. Daniel Bárbara served as a county project manager during a community-scale environmental and public-health response involving manganese-bearing mine material that had been sold by a private individual for use as driveway paving material in Cibola and other communities within La Paz County. Reports of possible manganese-related health effects, including suspected cases of manganism, led to investigation and cleanup activities.
Question
What environmental and public-health risks were created by the widespread residential application of manganese-bearing mine material, and what coordinated response was necessary to investigate potential exposures, protect residents, and address affected areas?
Dr. Bárbara's Role
County project manager coordinating the Health Department, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and County Public Works response to the manganese contamination incident.
Work Performed
- County project management and interdepartmental coordination
- Public-health investigation and response coordination
- Environmental coordination with ADEQ
- Coordination of County Public Works cleanup activities
- Evaluation of community locations where manganese-bearing material had been applied
- Coordination of response to reported potential manganese-related health concerns
- Public-health risk communication and community-response support
- Environmental cleanup planning and implementation coordination
Professional Contribution
County-level coordination of environmental, public-health, and Public Works functions required to investigate the distribution of manganese-bearing material, respond to community health concerns, and carry out cleanup activities.
Decision Supported
The response supported decisions regarding community investigation, public-health intervention, cleanup priorities, interagency coordination, and management of manganese-affected residential areas.
Railroad Right-of-Way Environmental Cleanup Coordination — La Paz County, Arizona (2007)
In 2007, while serving in La Paz County government, Dr. Daniel Bárbara served as a county project manager during a cleanup response involving dead cattle and affected railroad lands within the railroad footprint. The response required coordination among the railroad, tribal representatives, the Town of Parker, La Paz County, and County Public Works.
Question
How could the County safely coordinate cleanup of an unusual environmental incident affecting railroad property while addressing overlapping governmental, tribal, municipal, transportation, and Public Works responsibilities?
Dr. Bárbara's Role
County project manager coordinating participating governmental and property stakeholders during investigation and cleanup.
Work Performed
- County project management
- Coordination with the railroad
- Coordination with tribal representatives
- Coordination with the Town of Parker
- Coordination of La Paz County responsibilities
- Coordination with County Public Works
- Cleanup logistics and intergovernmental communication
- Management of activities within the affected railroad footprint
Professional Contribution
County project management integrating railroad-property considerations, tribal and municipal coordination, and County Public Works cleanup operations.
Decision Supported
The project supported coordinated implementation of cleanup activities within an operationally and jurisdictionally complex railroad setting.
Wildfire Smoke Public-Health Response & Community Protection — Colville Reservation, Washington
While serving as Chief Public Health Officer for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Dr. Daniel Bárbara held ongoing responsibility for population-level public-health response during major wildfire and smoke events. The work required coordination across tribal, state, federal, academic, emergency-response, and community partners.
Question
How could the tribal public-health system reduce wildfire-smoke exposure, protect vulnerable residents, support evacuation operations, and coordinate longer-term understanding of smoke-related health impacts during recurring wildfire emergencies?
Dr. Bárbara's Role
Chief Public Health Officer responsible for coordinating the tribal public-health response to wildfire smoke and related community-health impacts.
Work Performed
- Wildfire-smoke health education and prevention
- Public-health risk communication
- Coordination with multiple tribal, state, federal, and community agencies
- Public-health management and support of evacuation sites
- Development of material-distribution programs for air filtration
- Targeted support for tribal elders and other vulnerable community members
- Coordination of smoke-exposure mitigation activities
- Collaboration with universities and public agencies on wildfire-smoke health-impact studies
- Integration of environmental-health evidence into public-health response planning
Professional Contribution
Population-level environmental-health leadership integrating wildfire-smoke exposure prevention, evacuation support, vulnerable-population protection, interagency coordination, and research collaboration.
Decision Supported
The work supported decisions regarding public-health messaging, exposure prevention, evacuation-site management, resource distribution, protection of vulnerable residents, and longer-term evaluation of wildfire-smoke health impacts.
Lake Roosevelt & San Poil River E. coli Investigation and Public-Health Closure — Colville Reservation, Washington (2022)
In 2022, while serving as Chief Public Health Officer for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Dr. Daniel Bárbara led the tribal public-health investigation and response to significant E. coli contamination affecting the San Poil River and the southern access area of Lake Roosevelt. The investigation attributed the contamination to upstream cattle-related pollution along the San Poil River near Republic, Washington, outside the reservation. Dr. Bárbara directed the investigation and ordered closure of the affected southern access area while coordinating with tribal, state, and federal partners.
Question
What was causing the elevated E. coli contamination affecting tribal and recreational waters, what risks did the contamination present to the public, and what immediate measures were necessary to protect residents and recreational users?
Dr. Bárbara's Role
Chief Public Health Officer and incident lead responsible for the public-health investigation, closure decision, intergovernmental coordination, and management of the tribal response.
Work Performed
- Directed the environmental/public-health investigation of E. coli contamination
- Evaluated water-quality and public-health evidence
- Investigated upstream contamination pathways
- Identified the off-reservation upstream cattle-related pollution source
- Ordered closure of the affected southern access area to Lake Roosevelt
- Coordinated with Washington State, federal agencies, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Managed tribal public-health response and risk communication
- Coordinated investigation of off-reservation pollution affecting downstream tribal waters
- Supported interagency decisions regarding public access and environmental-health protection
Professional Contribution
Tribal public-health leadership integrating water-quality investigation, environmental source identification, recreational-water risk management, public-access closure, and state/federal interagency coordination.
Decision Supported
The investigation supported immediate closure of the affected access area to reduce public-health risk, identification of the upstream contamination source, intergovernmental coordination regarding the affected watershed, and management of subsequent public-access and environmental-health decisions.
4. Habitability, Disputes & Expert Services
Independent third-party environmental evaluations, habitability investigations, mold and moisture forensics, and expert technical support for commercial and multi-family properties, risk professionals, counsel, and property owners.
Post-Remediation Failure & Insurance Technical Audit
Independent post-remediation investigation of a commercial property following contractor cleanup that did not fully resolve the environmental concerns. Pacific Rim Eco evaluated residual conditions, reviewed remediation performance, performed verification work, and provided technical findings supporting reconsideration of the corrective scope.
Question
Did the prior remediation adequately address the identified environmental conditions, and were unresolved conditions still present following contractor completion?
Pacific Rim Eco's Role
Independent environmental investigator providing post-remediation verification and technical review of remediation scope and performance.
Work Performed
- Post-remediation field reassessment
- Independent clearance/verification testing
- Review of contractor remediation scope and completed work
- Evaluation of residual environmental conditions
- Identification of scope deficiencies or unresolved conditions
- Technical recommendations for corrective follow-up
Deliverable
An independent technical report documenting verification findings, unresolved environmental conditions, deficiencies in the prior scope where identified, and recommendations for appropriate corrective action.
Decision Supported
The findings assisted property and claims stakeholders in evaluating whether additional corrective work was warranted and whether the prior remediation scope adequately addressed the documented environmental conditions.
Multi-Family Residential Habitability & Environmental Dispute Evaluation
Independent third-party environmental assessment of alleged mold and bioaerosol contamination within a multi-tenant residential complex subject to habitability disputes. Delivered objective scientific sampling, root-cause moisture mapping, and defensible reporting.
Question
Did physical conditions within the units meet statutory habitability thresholds, and what was the objective extent of mold and indoor bioaerosol impact?
Pacific Rim Eco's Role
Neutral third-party environmental science investigator providing unbiased sampling, visual inspection, and objective documentation.
Work Performed
- Thermal imaging & precision wall moisture mapping
- Spore trap air sampling & surface bioaerosol testing
- Building envelope & HVAC ventilation assessment
- ANSI/IICRC S520:2024 compliance review
- Objective report preparation defensible for dispute resolution
Deliverable
Comprehensive third-party audit report identifying exact moisture intrusion sources, laboratory analytical results, and objective environmental findings.
Decision Supported
Provided legal counsel and property owners with unbiased empirical data to evaluate claims objectively and establish appropriate corrective measures.