B.F. Environmental Consultants based in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Poconos region has been providing professional geological soils hydrogeological environmental consulting services since 1985. The company specializes in the following areas: hydrogeological and wastewater evaluations for siting land-based wastewater disposal systems; soils consulting (soil scientists), environmental monitoring, overseeing the siting, exploration, and development of community/ commercial water supply sources; environmental training/ professional training courses, and other environmental services.

Because of Mr. Oram background in Environmental Pollution Control and research on removal mechanisms for the parasitic protozoan Giardia, B.F. Environmental Consultants has been involved with developing Sourcewater Protection Plans, Private Well Ordinances, and Regional Watershed/ Groundwater Assessments. The company has provided expert testimony in the fields of environmental science, hydrology, on-lot wastewater disposal, and geology.  The company has also assisted in the evaluation and remediation of both private wells and regulated water sources.   

Major Completed Projects

1.4 MGD gpd - Land-based wastewater disposal alternatives analysis and sizing for a seasonal spray irrigation wastewater treatment and disposal system and applications of water reuse through landscape irrigation, industrial use, drip irrigation, and forested irrigation.

360,000 gallon per week - Stormwater Management Spray Irrigation System for Low Impact Development.

Regional Baseline Water Eduation/ Testing Program - developing program, selecting parameters, and outreach program to educate citizens regarding Marcellus Shale.- "Getting the Waters Tested - The Marcellus Shale Factor", "Private Well Owner Education and Awareness Programs , Private Well Owner Survey (PA) with Radon in Water Testing (current web-based survey)- pdf version of survey", and Citizen Groundwater/Surfacewater Database at Wilkes University.

Most Recent Article - Baseline Testing It Is NOT Just About Collecting a Water Sample - ONG Marketplace (3/2013)

Geothermal - Evaluation and Rehabiliation of Exisitng Geothermal Systems and Developing Design Specifications for Geothermal Systems Using Mine Water in PA.

SRBC/ DRBC - Consumptive Water Withdrawal for Spring Water Development (> 100,000 gpd) - Consumptive Water Withdrawal for Golf Course Irrigaiton (> 100,000 gpd). Evaluation of Graywater Reuse for Golf Course Irrigation and Landscape Irrigation (Luzerne, Monroe, and Pike County).

Completing Preliminary and Detailed Hydrological Investigations, Nitrate Loading Evaluations, Groundwater modeling, and developing for groundwater monitoring plans for proposed spray irrigation, drip irrigation, and conventional large-volume land-based wastwater disposal systems (Design Flows ranging from 5,000 to over 1.5 MGD).

Wellhead Protection and Groundwater Capture Zone Analysis and Sourcewater Protection Plans for the development of water supply protection plan for Community Water Supplies in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Community Water Supply Development - Fracture Trace Analysis - Groundwater Resource Evaluations and Feasibility Studies in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, and Wayne County. Production flows ranging from 10,000+ to over 1,500,000 gpd.

Act 537 Planning - Land-based and Hybrid Wastewater Disposal Alternative Analysis for
the Lake Carey Region- 446 EDUs, Susquehanna and Wyoming County, PA.

Spring Development Projects, Groundwater Sources and Hydrogeological Evaluations for Bottled Water Facilities ranging from 35 to over 200 gpm- Carbon, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wyoming, and Pike County, PA , NY, and WV.

Evaluating the Use of Constructed Wetlands System, Drip Irrigation, Spray Irrigation and Evapotranspiration Systems for treating wastewater from a single family residence, agricultural waste stream, and low impact development and making recommendations regarding system configuration, pretreatment, design, and operation.

Developing a Certification Progarm and Training Program for Professionals related to Baseline Water Testing and Natural Gas Development-Students from NY, NJ, Ohio, Michigan, Kansas, Colarado, PA, and Texas.

Announcement - Private Well Owner and Watershed Survey - The Marcellus Shale Region Pennsylvania and Research Project Offering Free Radon in Water Testing (Act Now !)

Proposed PADEP Policy on Nitrates and Septic Systems in PA- Proposed Requlations and Our Blog Post,  Our Presentation to County Governments, News Article 1, News Article 2, Our Review of PADEP Myth and Fact On the Proposed Guidance and Formal Comments to PADEP (May 2013)

Featured Events and Outreach - Schedule A Workshop Today !

Recently Completed - November 14 and November 15, 2011 - 2011 Private Well Symposium - The importance for Fixing Private Wells in Pennsylvania - The Marcellus Shale Factor-Concurrent Session 3: Hydrofracturing and Its Impact on Groundwater (November 14, 2011 - 3:30 to 5:00 pm)- pdf version of presentation

Recently Completed - "Getting the Waters Tested- Working as a Community" - Dimock PA - Feb. 2, 2012 - - 6:00 - 8:00 pm- Host Enough is Enough.  Presentation Video (Q/A Session)-    
Presentation Video

Recently Completed - "Getting the Waters Tested - An Industry Perspective" - PIOGA Winter Conference - Feb. 8, 2012.

Recently Completed -  Getting the Waters Tested - The Marcellus Shale Factor - An Industry Perspective and How to Work With Private Well Owners and the Community. March 9, 2012- 9:00 - Noon - Hosted by Wilkes University  (Webinar may be available).

Recently Completed Presentation - PWEA Conference on Marcellus Shale - March 16, 2012.

Groundwater / Private Well Owner Education Events in Lackawanna County, PA - Event 1,
Event 2 (March 20, 2012), and Event 3 (April 24, 2012)

Recently Completed -Marcellus Shale for Young Adults (pdf) - Presentation for DCNR (March 2012)

Recently Completed -Marcellus Shale 201 -Lackawanna College- Outreach to Citizens and Private Well Owners - April 2012

Recently Completed -Fact Based Presentation for Girl Scouts in Carbon County, PA and Carbon County Groundwater Guardians- Marcellus Shale - Water Issues, Groundwater Quality, and Private Wells (May 2012)

Recently Completed -Nature Abounds - Meeting, QA Session, and Dialogue about Private Wells, Marcellus Shale Drilling, Toured a Local Well Site and More- The Forest Summit.

Internal Project -ON-GOING- A Fact Based Well by Well Review of the EPA Data for Dimock, PA.

Recently Completed - Franklin Forks, PA - Introduction to Groundwater, Private Wells, Groundwater Quality, The Citizens Database, and Methane Gas Migration - Working as a Community to Make Positive Change, June 2012.

NEW - Certified Sampler Training Program - July 28, 2012, Cleveland, Ohio - Register by
June 29, 2012- Flier.  To register, contact Marianne Metzger 800-458-3330 or mmetazger@ntllabs.com.  Note: Looking to Schedule More Events for 2013 contact Marianne or Mr. Brian Oram- bfenviro@ptd.net.

August 5, 2012 - Presentation on Black Shale Unconventional Gas in Lithuania - Lessons Learned in the United States - Presented to Simonas Satunas - Deputy Chief of Mission and Evaldas Stankevicius - First Lithuanian Cultural Attache to the United States, Scranton Chamber, and Local Watershed Groups.   The event ended with a tour of natural gas drilling and development activities in Susquehanna County, PA.

November 3, 2012 - Getting the Waters Tested - Working as a Community to Track Change  in Corry, PA - This was an education event that was sponsored by the Brokenstraw Watershed Council, Caldwell Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited and B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.  Color Pdf of presentation .

November 9, 2012 - Soils - Soil Morphology and Stormwater and Wastewater Management - Continuing Education Course taught by Mr. Brian Oram at Wilkes University, plus handouts on Confined Space issues and Alternative Septic Systems)

December 6, 2012, Izaak Walton League of America - Getting the Waters Tested - The Marcellus Shale Factor (Washington, PA) - Presentation (pdf) - Methane Website / Citizen Database.

Featured Training Programs- Schedule A Workshop Today !

Register ASAP - -Open Registration for LEED-AP, LEED-AP Training Courses, Green Associate, AIA Continuing Education, and Sustainability Certification, Crediential Maintenance, and Exam Prep

NEW- Energy Auditor Training and Energy Audit Certification - RESNET- BPI- NEASI Energy Auditor Certification

NEW - Hand-on Soils and Wetland Training Courses/Workshops for 2013 and Online Training
in Wetlands and Hydrology. 

Register ASAP -- Open Registration of Online OSHA, HAZWOPER, and Industrial Health & Safety Training

Open Registration for Contining Education Courses (CEU) and PDH for Licensed Professional in Pennsylvania (Engineers, AIA, Geologists). (2013)

More Training Courses
Continuing Education Courses (Multi-State Approval) for Licensed Professionals