When David Hanley, Principal Engineer and founder of Hanley Environmental, PLLC, formed his own firm, he felt the environmental remediation industry was ripe for a smaller engineering and consulting services company that was both agile and responsive. He begins, “I founded Hanley Environmental because I felt there was an opportunity to provide a high level of individualized service, responsiveness, and creative problem solving for clients, along with creating unique opportunities for talented employees.” At Hanley Environmental, David and his team provide a broad range of environmental engineering and consulting services. One focus area is preparing engineering designs for vapor intrusion mitigation systems that allow for the redevelopment of contaminated sites, and provide an environmental solution for ensuring safe breathing air for building occupants. In addition, Hanley Environmental regularly partners with other environmental consulting firms on brownfield redevelopment projects to provide these engineering designs. He continues, “I think the growing market for vapor intrusion mitigation system design services created a recipe for success. I’ve recently expanded our engineering support to keep up with the workload, and we’re seeing repeat business from satisfied clients.”
Prior to founding Hanley Environmental, David worked in similar environmental engineering consulting roles with several large environmental consulting firms. His university studies culminated with a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan, and his MS in Environmental Engineering, also from the University of Michigan. He says initially, the multi-disciplinary aspects of remediation work are what attracted him to a career in environmental remediation. He shares, “Our work is often completed alongside larger construction and redevelopment projects or industrial operations, so working with other disciplines involved is important for a successful project- I like this aspect. I also like that we are applying knowledge related to chemical, biological, and physical processes that create tangible results by cleaning up the land.” To stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies, he often attends in-person conferences. “With professional engineering licenses in 7 states, keeping up with continuing education takes some effort. I recently attended the Association of Vapor Intrusion Professionals (AVIP) conference where I gave a presentation on designing vapor intrusion mitigation systems. I was impressed with the quality of content at the conference and the collective expertise of the people there.”
In working with Land Science®, David appreciates the advanced level of technical support he receives when it comes to solving difficult vapor intrusion projects, and as a division of REGENESIS,® demonstrates a deeper understanding of issues involving remediation sites, beyond a typical provider of contaminant vapor barrier systems. He continues, “I’ve had a good experience working with Land Science from the design phase when selecting contaminant vapor intrusion barrier solutions, as well as troubleshooting issues in the field during construction. The Land Science team is easily accessible. As a small firm, we rely on the expertise of specialized partners like Land Science on our projects.” When it comes to working with specific Land Science products and solutions, MonoShield® has been used with success. He shares, “I appreciate MonoShield as a product that provides chemical resistance in a durable single-layer system, with the advantage of spray-applied seams, penetrations, and terminations. With spray-applied seams, this system has the benefit of a continuous, airtight barrier at a competitive price point. As a big believer in the importance of construction quality assurance/quality control, the fact that Land Science’s product installations are approved by certified inspectors is important to me.” With his firm’s recent success in vapor intrusion mitigation design, David feels Hanley Environmental is on pace to achieve its long-term goals. He adds, “If our clients keep coming back and we’re having fun doing the work, we’re on the right track.”
When asked what he likes most in his work, David says it’s all about creating safe environments. He shares, “Our work is rewarding because it ensures a safe place for people to live and work in areas that might not have been considered for redevelopment in the past due to environmental impacts. I enjoy visiting buildings that include our contaminant vapor mitigation systems after they are opened to see the tangible results of our work.” And the most demanding aspect of his work? “On design and construction projects schedules can be demanding, and design services are usually performed under a tight timeline. During construction, changing schedules are common. Our work is usually a small but important piece of a much larger project, and we work hard to make sure it is implemented smoothly.”
With Charlotte, NC serving as both a home and work base, David works on a variety of sites around the country. Outside of work, much of his time revolves around family. “With two kids in diapers and a thriving business, it’s mostly work and family time.” When he can, he enjoys mountain biking on trails around Charlotte, and traveling with his wife. “My wife and I love to travel, and we have big plans to visit some far-away places with the family when our kids are older. Alaska is definitely on the list, and I’ve got family roots in Ireland and love going there. Ultimately stepping foot on all seven continents is on my bucket list, but I have a feeling I might have to travel to Antarctica solo!” When asked how he would encourage others to join his field, he shares that while he initially felt the industry would mature and face diminished job opportunities as contaminated sites were remediated, he’s since realized that will not be the case. He concludes, “I can now see there is plenty of work to do as demand for reuse of industrial land increases and we continue to better understand the risks associated with emerging contaminants. The work done in environmental remediation has a real, positive impact on human health in our communities. While the mainstream focus recently has been on global-scale issues like climate change, local impact is something to think about for aspiring environmental engineers.”
Land Science is proud to have David Hanley, Principal Engineer and founder of Hanley Environmental, PLLC, as a valued partner in environmental mitigation, and appreciates his diversified experience and leadership in providing successful remediation and mitigation outcomes for Land Science and its clients.