Project Examples

MKv-9.2

Providing Exceptional Technical Support

AVESI, Inc. has over 20 years of complex project experience with a history of excellence in execution strategies. We have worked at various sites nationwide, including Missouri, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Virginia, South Carolina, New York, and more. Below are examples of our technical expertise and support at select sites.

US Army Corps of Engineers

FUSRAP NORCO/SLDS Sites, St. Louis, MO

Us Army Corps of Engineers

All St. Louis Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) sites contain radioactive soil contamination consistent with Manhattan Engineering District (MED) project waste streams, which include all decay isotopes associated with the Uranium 238 natural decay series. Since 1998 AVESI personnel have been involved in nearly every aspect of this remedial project.

Our footprint in St Louis FUSRAP remains extensive, and AVESI professionals are providing:

Site Characterizations

Participated in the radiological characterization of over 100s vicinity properties (VP) in north county (NORCO), St Louis Downtown Site (SLDS), and city properties including:

  • GPS assisted gamma walkover survey
  • Investigational sampling:
    ◦ Surface/sub-surface soil sampling
    ◦ Surface water sampling – Outfalls and runoff sampling
    ◦ Concrete and building material sampling
  • Bounding surface and subsurface extent contamination
  • Review analytical results of soil samples collected
  • Preparing GPS data and GIS mapping using Arcview software
  • Prepared Predesign Investigation report
  • Instrumentation and GPS quality control and quality assurance

Remediation and Verification

  • Executed MARSSIM-based verifications and preparing Final Status Surveys (FSS)
  • On-site radiological laboratory support
  • Planning and implementation of site characterization, remedial action support, environmental monitoring, and CERCLA documentation addressing final remedy for two NPL sites contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides
  • Instrumental in remedial action designs which included detailed information on excavation, contaminated materials removal, site control, environmental compliance, particulate control, water and stormwater control, sampling, transportation, and disposal
  • Radiation Protection Manager (RPM) for all MARSSIM based field activities including, oversite of the sampling process, data collection, staffing, and execution of all independent verification requests. Prepared MARSSIM final status release reports including supporting documentation such as ArcView maps and sample data tables.

Laboratory Services Support

Providing radiological laboratory support:

  • Sample preparation for gamma and alpha
  • Gamma spectroscopy analysis
  • Data management
  • Data validation and verification

On-Site Training Services

Providing on-site safety training

  • HAZWOPER course work
  • First Aid and CPR and other compliance training
  • OSHA Excavation Competent person training
  • FUSRAP Health Physics Technical Course

USACE FUSRAP Jana School Investigation, St. Louis, MO

Us Army Corps of Engineers

Jana Elementary School located in Hazelwood, MO made national news as having “unacceptable high” levels of radioactive waste found near the school. The safety concerns for the Hazelwood School District children required immediate action to assess the risks. Under the FUSRAP umbrella, the AVESI field teams prepared their strategies to provide the necessary answers to the community and performed this accelerated work under the scrutiny of the national media and local organized groups.

AVESI personnel performed expanded soil sampling and structure surveys inside/outside of Jana Elementary School in record time. Field work performed by AVESI personnel included total radiological activity and removable surveys on the interior and exterior of Jana School. This task encompassed parcel soil characterization surveys and sampling; soil remediation verification surveys; air, SW, and sediment environmental compliance monitoring; and safety and health inspections.

Once the investigation and characterization data collection phase were completed, AVESI personnel prepared MARSSIM-based FSS Evaluation (FSSEs), PDI WPs, PDIRs, PRARS, EMPs, and safety audit and QC reports.

This was an extremely high-profile project that was required to be completed on an accelerated schedule under intense public scrutiny:

  • The Jana School property borders Cold Water Creek, a known corridor for FURSAP related radiological contamination. This response required extreme urgency to determine if the children in this area were at risk.
  • In just under four weeks, AVESI field teams were dedicated to the investigation and characterization activities providing smear, pavement sediment, and soil samples resulting in laboratory-generated data for the Jana School investigation resulting in over 1700 datapoints as detailed under Accomplishments.
  • AVESI field crews collected 922 structural measurements and 790 soil samples. Our lab personnel analyzed the samples collected at the on-site lab and our data management group conducted 100% validation/verification of the data packages.
  • Interior and exterior radiological surveys were performed equal to 4.7 acres of the total area.
  • Performed radiological surveys on 927 structure surfaces.
  • Performed GWS, including 305,101 measurements, over an area of 74,709 m2 (18.5 acres).

Laboratory Services Support

Us Army Corps of Engineers

Radiological laboratory support includes sample preparation, gamma spectroscopy analysis, data management, and validation.

On-Site Safety Support and Training

Us Army Corps of Engineers

We offered on-site safety training, HAZWOPER refresher, first aid, CPR, and OSHA excavation competent person training.

 

Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAP)

Us Army Corps of Engineers

The IAAAP is a weapons testing and production facility and the major contaminant of concern is Depleted Uranium fragmentation. AVESI provides:

  • Radiation Protection program for MARSSIM based soil sampling
  • Perform Health Physics over-site for characterization sampling
  • Perform on-site Radiation worker training for subcontractors
  • GPS assisted gamma radiation walkover surveys and data collections for site characterization and verification of remedial activities

Harshaw Chemical, Cleveland, OH

Us Army Corps of Engineers

AVESI provided programmatic level support for FUSRAP site including:

  • Health physics support conducting field investigations
  • Developed an analytical database to summarize and interpret radiological survey results
  • Completed MARSSIM based survey on buildings and soils
  • Developed a sampling procedure/protocol for building roof material
  • Health Physics support for all investigations including well installations, Thorium Data gap investigation, subsurface soil sampling, well development and waste characterization and disposition of Investigative Derived Waste (IDW)
  • Soil sampling and analyses on all adjacent Investigation Areas
  • XRF survey and sample preparation

Niagara Falls Storage Site, Lewiston, New York

Us Army Corps of Engineers

AVESI provided the Project Manager and Field Manager for the remedial investigation and feasibility study at the Niagara Falls Storage Site.

  • Completed MARSSIM-based gamma-walkover survey of the entire 200-acre site
  • Actively participated and served as key-presenter in Public Workshops to inform public stakeholders of the past, current and future activities at the facility
  • Field Manager oversight to the installation of soil borings and monitoring wells to further delineate contaminant plumes
  • Characterized and containerized legacy hazardous and radioactive wastes stored at the facility
  • Provided health-physics support during trenching activities for the installation of a site security system
  • Development and management of an efficient data management system and GIS interface. The system incorporated analytical and lithological data from hundreds of soil borings and wells and housed over 100,000 analytical data records.
  • Lead support during the data analysis phase of radiological risk assessment

Superior Steel, Carnegie, PA

Us Army Corps of Engineers

AVESI conducted the data gap investigation requiring concrete floor demolition to access historical trenches used as catch basins during Uranium metal rolling activities.

AVESI provided:

  • Radiation Protection Program and implementation
  • Hand-held Gamma Spec Analysis, Radiation Detection Instrumentation
  • Site Safety and Health Field Officer for the project
  • Pre-demolition area gamma radiation surveys
  • Radiation soil, water and sediment sampling
  • Sample prep for shipment to the laboratory
  • Excavation gamma radiation surveys
  • IDW control and shipping
  • Site release surveys for equipment and field demobilization

US Air Force

Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM

U.S Air Force

Our team conducted the radiological investigation of an asphalt covered landfill in preparation for utility service line installment. Contamination suspected was Magnesium/Thorium aircraft parts and radio luminescent products.

AVESI provided:

  • Comprehensive Radiation Protection Program
  • Radiological gamma radiation walkover surveys (Pre and Post excavation)
  • Radio Isotope characterization of radioactive materials using a handheld gamma spectroscopy
  • Radiological soil sampling and surveying
  • Sample preparation and shipping surveys

Ellsworth AFB, Box Elder, SD

U.S Air Force

Our focus was the remediation of 2 radiologically controlled monoliths and remedial investigation of 91 additional anomalies.

AVESI provided:

  • Radiation Protection Program
  • On-site personnel and perimeter air monitoring
  • Dose Rate Surveys
  • Gamma radiation surveys (pre and post-remediation)
  • Radiation Shipping surveys
  • Equipment and personnel surveys – incoming and release
  • MARSSIM based Radiological soil sampling and surveying
  • Sample preparation and shipping

Joint Base Elmendorf and Richardson (JBER) Anchorage, AK

U.S Air Force

This work encompassed a building vapor intrusion study in support of the JBER to comply with the Alaska EPA recommendations focused on known TCE groundwater contamination areas and adjacent buildings.

AVESI support included:

  • Inspected over 120 buildings and assessed the best candidates for vapor intrusion sampling.
  • Demarcated 30 buildings and scheduled them for vapor sampling
  • Met with each building superintendent to discuss historical building use and any events resulting in building damage or structural breaches
  • Mapped and diagramed buildings including utilities and flooring materials
  • Identified likely sample locations

US Environmental Protection Agency

USEPA Region 3 Peck Iron Facility

US Environmental Protection Agency Logo

AVESI provided radiation health physics support to the NASA research team during a research and development project. The project included the use of a linear particle accelerator in an attempt to activate metals containing certain physical properties and/or characteristics.

  • Provided health physics oversite during radiological scanning, sample removal, and building entrance and exit
  • Provided sample preparation for analysis
  • Operated a beta scintillation machine and reported the results
  • Operated the gamma spectroscopy unit and recorded the results and reported data
  • Operated the Tennelec multiple smear counter and documented the results

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA Glen Research Center Plum Brook Station, Sandusky, OH

NASA Logo

The Peck Iron facility is a 32-acre Superfund site located in Norfolk, VA. Superfund site contaminant of concern is Lead and PCB soil contamination as well as radiological hazards in the form of radio luminescence products containing radium 226.

AVESI provided:

  • Support to field investigation activities including soil sampling, water sampling, sediment sampling as well as creek, river and tributary water sampling.
  • GPS assisted gamma walkover survey and color-coded map locating over 132 areas of elevated activity
  • Comprehensive radionuclide identification of 15 areas of elevated activity
  • Prepared a radiation protection plan and submitted it for approval to the EPA. The plan was approved with no comments or recommendations
  • Implemented the radiation protection plan for all field activities
  • Radiation Worker Training to all personnel entering and working in excess of 80 hours on-site
  • An air monitoring program
  • A dosimetry program
  • Sample preparation for shipment

Commercial Work

Commercial Client - An American Multinational Conglomerate Corporation

Koch Logo

AVESI supports various Koch Industries facilities across the United States by conducting annual safety and compliance audits. AVESI provides a subject matter expert and lead auditor who acts as an advisor within the organization to other auditors. This professional has significant experience supervising audit teams including serving as lead auditor with full field responsibility.

Our audit team includes subject matter experts who have worked in a compliance role at a large manufacturing facility, or in a corporate organization, or with a regulatory agency, or consulted for industry in technical topics, or a combination of those roles.

AVESI professionals also provide compliance based training for Koch Industry personnel as part of this service.

Commercial Client – Pharmaceuticals Company

Mallinckrodt Logo

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals plant in downtown St. Louis has WWII era uranium, radium and thorium leached into the land around the plant during the 1940s and 50s when Mallinckrodt Chemical Works manufactured uranium to create atomic bombs for the Manhattan Project.
AVESI supports Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals on the commercial side of our business providing health physics support to ongoing construction and demolition activities throughout the plant facilities.

AVESI provides:

  • Radiation Protection Program and implementation
  • Radiation contamination investigation activities
  • Hand-held Gamma Spec Analysis, Radiation Detection Instrumentation
  • Pre-demolition area gamma radiation surveys
  • Excavation gamma radiation surveys
  • Site release surveys for equipment and field demobilization
Environmental Protection Agency
NASA Logo
U.S. Department of Energy

Connect With Us

These are just a few examples of AVESI’s extensive environmental experience and expertise in providing radiological technical support and services. Our company has a proven track record of delivering comprehensive solutions and support across various projects and sites in numerous locations throughout the United States. For more information regarding our works, please reach out to our team today.

Curtis Crawford

Project Manager

As a Project Manager, Curtis Crawford provides project oversight and engineering expertise. With a technical background spanning over 20 years, he leverages a multifaceted experience including project engineering, safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and has served as Project Engineer on numerous projects.

Curtis’s expertise includes experience in commercial and government client spaces including complex geotechnical design, innovative excavation design and implementation, project management, and more.

Melissa Metzger photo

Melissa Metzger, MAFM

Controller

Ms. Metzger joined the AVESI team in February of 2024 as the company Controller. Melissa has over 15 years of corporate finance and accounting experience at the executive level. Ms. Metzger has a Master of Accounting and Finance Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Her expertise lies in government accounting practices. 

Ms. Metzger is a successful government contracting GovCon accounting/finance/operation senior leader with experience in multiple industries and company structures. She is skilled in regulatory compliance, contract management, ongoing internal controls, process improvements, cost control, profit optimization, and strategic business planning. She has built finance divisions from the ground up actively developing and driving company strategy with cross-functional peers in a senior leadership role lending finance and GovCon experience as needed to shape innovation and ensure compliance.

Ross O professional Photo

Ross Obernuefemann

Assistant Radiation Safety Officer

Ross Obernuefemann serves as AVESI’s Assistant Radiation Safety Officer at the St. Louis FUSRAP Downtown Site. Ross has a B.S. in Environmental Science and over ten years of unique industry experience.

Ross has a long history as a Field Leader and an Environmental Scientist for the St. Louis FUSRAP. Ross has supported the FURSAP program through data management and analysis, radiological surveys, and procedural oversight. Ross specializes in implementation and design of complicated field characterization execution strategies.

David Kirkton, Business Services Manager

Jessica Kirkton

Office Manager

As AVESI’s Office Manager in the Panama City Beach office, Mrs. Jessica Kirkton has performed a vast array of support functions in her many years of service. Jessica has a Bachelor’s in Biological Science.

Jessica’s technical experience began in the environmental laboratory industry working with several commercial laboratories and Military based projects. She conducted various analyses, procured laboratory supplies, prepared technical writing/editing of standard operating procedures, and collected/processed various data for human health studies.

At AVESI, Jessica currently provides document quality control, procurement services, marketing and payroll services. Jessica understands the impact of AVESI marketing strategies cultivating our unique culture while nurturing the AVESI brand.

Brittany Heppermann smiling

Brittany Heppermann

Data Manager and Office Lead

Mrs. Brittany Heppermann has served AVESI as the Data Manager/Office Lead in St Louis for over 9 years. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and has specific expertise with FUSRAP projects for data verification and validation.

Leading the AVESI FUSRAP data management department, Brittany safeguards that verification and validation protocols are followed correctly and guarantees data integrity for all AVESI clients.

Matt Roofe professional photo

Matt Roofe

Assistant Radiation Officer

As Assistant Radiation Safety Officer for AVESI, Matt Roofe oversees field operations at the St. Louis FUSRAP Airport Site and North County projects. Matt studied at University of Missouri St. Louis and trained at the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) center, the global leader in geographic information systems (GIS).

With over 25 years of direct field experience and expertise in Arc GIS utilization, Matt brings a unique perspective to the team. He has worked on numerous MARSSIM final status surveys and characterization projects, creating detailed radiological investigation maps and surveys. 

David Cowell professional photo

David P Cowell

Radiation Safety Officer St. Louis FUSRAP

David Cowell serves as AVESI’s Radiation Safety Officer at the St. Louis FUSRAP, overseeing the project’s radiation protection program. With over 25 years of experience in environmental health physics, David has demonstrated exceptional leadership and managerial skills.

David holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics and is responsible for various aspects of the radiation safety program, including dose tracking/reporting, waste management, training, and more.

Stephanie Lavinghouse professional photo

Stephanie Lavinghouse

Project Controls Manager

Stephanie Lavinghouse joined the AVESI team in 2022 and brings nearly 20 years of experience as a project business administrator. She has worked on various projects, including emergency response, civil construction, hazardous waste, and environmental remediation.

Stephanie’s expertise lies in government contracts, supporting multi-million-dollar projects under various government agencies including USACE, EPA, DOD, and FEMA. She has supported several multi-million-dollar projects as a cost tracker and her tenacious efforts have held each of those projects to a high operational standard.

For AVESI, Ms. Lavinghouse is responsible for government accounting practices, project cost tracking set-up and controls, procurements and invoice processing.

David Kirkton professional photo

David Kirkton

Business Services Manager

Mr. David Kirkton has served as the AVESI Business Services Manager for over 8 years, and began his journey with AVESI in 2007 as a Health Physicist/Radiation Control Technician supporting commercial and government clients in MO, IN, VA, IL, IA, ID, SD, and FL. David has a B.A. in Finance from Eastern Illinois University.

David has developed himself into an invaluable asset by adapting to each new project/task/challenge/schedule requirement and performing his duties to the best of his ability wherever needed. In David’s journey with AVESI, he has developed the confidence required to solely setup a project on the company’s behalf and see that project through to completion.

For AVESI, Mr. Kirkton is directly responsible for payroll processing, employee benefits, oversight of insurance policies and plans, expense processing, accounting compliance, and invoicing.

Randy Hansen professional photo

Randy Hansen

CHP, CSP, CPEA Corporate Safety Officer

As AVESI’s Corporate Safety Officer, Randy Hansen promotes and ensures “safety” is integrated as a value within all business and decision-making processes. With over 30 years of experience in the radiation protection and health and safety field, Randy has unique insight into effectively combining safety and operations to achieve both compliance and business goals. As a Navy veteran, he is a Certified Health Physicist, Certified Safety Professional and holds a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Protection.

As a Certified Health Physicist (CHP), Mr. Hansen provides a wide range of expertise in radiation safety including Regulatory Compliance, Dose and Risk Assessment, Incident Prevention and Investigation, Personalized Protective Equipment (PPE), Respiratory Protection, and Radiation Protection implementation.

As a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Mr. Hansen is well known for his regulatory compliance experience and auditing capabilities. He remains in step with the leading safety technology and information as well as current advances within the safety profession. Randy brings real-world implementable safety solutions which are innovative, practical and compliant.

As a Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA), Mr. Hansen provides clients with comprehensive third-party auditing experience that focuses on value-added solutions for program improvement. He has conducted numerous regulatory audits of programs and facilities nationwide ranging from Maine to California and Florida to Washington, as well as Puerto Rico. He has conducted third party health and safety management systems and compliance audits for a national brewery, power generation and distribution plants, a major petroleum/fertilizer company, chemical companies, Georgia Pacific, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the National Cancer Institute, the Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserves.

David C Lyerla, Vice President

David C Lyerla

Vice President

As AVESI’s Vice President, David C Lyerla oversees field operations focusing on business development. With over 25 years of direct field experience and oversight, David has a strong background in complex and unique field implementation strategies. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and has served as a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and Radiation Protection Manager (RPM) on numerous projects.

David’s expertise includes Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) final status surveys, radiation protection programs, hazardous material transportation/disposal, and more.

Michele J Lyerla, President and Owner

Michele J Lyerla

President and Owner

With over 30 years of experience, Michele J Lyerla is a growth-driven and performance-focused professional. She brings a wide-ranging skill set in operations and human resource management, project administration, and service delivery life cycle. Michele’s technical background includes waste transportation and disposal, radiological contaminant remediation, and regulatory compliance for the Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) landscapes.

With a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Findlay, Michele excels at translating innovative schemes, leading enterprise-wide integrations, and creating scalable procedures that drive the company toward excellence.