Hydrology Study & Water Use Estimating for a New 808-Unit Apartment Complex, Matrix Equities, Inc., Casa Grande, AZ
Courtney Consulting conducted a hydrology study to determine if groundwater resources were sufficient to support the installation of new wells to supply an 808-unit apartment complex in Casa Grande, AZ. This project included estimating water demands for the project & evaluating long-term groundwater withdrawal impacts at the site.
Work from this project determined there was more than sufficient groundwater resources & provided the client with a defensible negotiating tool to enter into a future agreement with the local water provider to drill & install new wells for the development.
Well Reconnaissance Study, Zonia Mine, World Coper Ltd., Kirkland, AZ
Courtney Consulting, with assistance from Bender Environmental, conducted a well reconnaissance study lo locate existing site wells to determine the best candidates for future APP groundwater monitoring. The work included visual inspections & photographs, collecting X, Y, & Z GPS coordinates & depth to groundwater measurements, & placing neon flag markers for aid in future locating. Desktop work (reviewing numerous prior consultant reports) was also performed to help narrow down the candidate well list. 20 wells were evaluated, 9 were located, and 6 were shortlisted as APP candidates.
This work could result in a potential costs savings of up to $500,000 by eliminating the need to drill new wells.
Phase II Environmental Soils Investigation at an Active Automotive Repair Shop, Mesa, AZ
In January 2024, Courtney Consulting on behalf of Joan Jacobs & Associates, LLC conducted a shallow soils investigation at an active automotive repair shop located in Mesa, AZ. Based on recommendations made in a November 2023 Phase I ESA report, drilling and soil sampling was conducted at the site to determine the potential for shallow soil contamination from automotive related practices. The investigation was conducted at the Lender’s request for future site renovations by the new owner. Drilling consisted of four soil borings to 10 feet below ground surface using a direct push drill rig. Chris Courtney oversaw and conducted all soil sampling activities, QA’d all laboratory data, and prepared the Phase II summary report.
Results from the sampling were all below respective Arizona Non-Residential soil remediation levels (SRLs).
SWPPP Revision & Stormwater Sample Collection Training, Page Municipal Airport, Page, AZ
Courtney Consulting revised the Page Municipal Airport’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to be compliant with ADEQ requirements. This included revisions to the former Sampling & Analysis Plan (SAP) and on-site training of airport staff to conduct future stormwater sampling events. Training airport staff to sample themselves instead of an environmental consultant resulted in an annual costs savings of approximately $10,000.
Groundwater Modeling Study for A Proposed In-Lieu Fee Wetlands at Watson Woods Preserve, Prescott, AZ
Prescott Creeks, a local non-profit, is proposing a project to create in-lieu wetland areas in the Watson Woods area located adjacent to the Watson Lake Reservoir. The proposed project would construct in-stream features in the Granite Creek floodplain to create Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdictional wetlands which may be utilized as in-lieu wetlands to mitigate impacts to CWA Waters of the United States (WOTUS) by other, unrelated projects. The City was interested in understanding the short- and long-term impacts that the proposed in-lieu wetlands project may have on the excess flow input volumes in the Watson Lake Reservoir.
In partnership with JE Fuller, Courtney Consulting conducted groundwater modeling work to help describe groundwater conditions for consideration of a proposed in-lieu fee wetlands (ILF) project in the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. The modeling work concluded that shallow groundwater in the Preserve exhibited higher lateral velocities than vertical velocities and that groundwater levels in the Preserve will respond relatively quickly to changes in reservoir water level.
Construction Management for an Active Superfund Site, Baker Development Corp, Phoenix, AZ
This project involved the demolition & redevelopment of a 66.38-acre parcel located at located N. of the 202 Loop & S. of McDowell Rd. due west of N. 52nd St. This project resides on the 52nd Street Motorola EPA Superfund Site, which was the site of the former Motorola semiconductor campus. The Site is impacted with contaminated groundwater including trichloroethene (TCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) & tetrachloroethene (PCE). BDC is currently building 800,000 square feet (74,300 sq m) of data center space or a 400,000 square-foot (37,100 sq m) Class A industrial project. Built in 1978, the site currently has a two-story building & houses around 35,000 sq ft (3,250 sq m) of office space & 70,000 sq ft (6,500 sq m) of data floor/manufacturing space. The site is located within an ON Semiconductor campus. The project includes the AZUL project & the “Park 52” project. The AZUL project will be a build-to-suit regional headquarters, office, medical, education, manufacturing, warehouses & data center. The Park 52 project will house business to include advanced manufacturing, quantum computing, R&D, office, warehouse & distribution.
Courtney Consulting oversaw contractor work related to demolition & replacement of an aged water distribution line for the 52nd Street Motorola EPA Superfund Site that transports contaminated groundwater from a myriad of wells to the pump-&-treat system. The pump-&-treat system is required to operate 24/7 by the USEPA except for emergency purposes such as construction & redeveloment. Courtney Consulting’s scope involved interacting with various contractors, consultants, stakeholders, & neighboring property owners to ensure that all required environmental regulations were adhered to that engineering designs were followed.
Groundwater Dewatering Management & Reporting, Kinella Capital LLC, Phoenix, AZ
Courtney Consulting assisted the new owner of a former 11-story high-rise building located at E. Camelback & N. Central in Phoenix, AZ with a 10 well groundwater dewatering system. The site is undergoing renovations to become a 141-unit luxury apartment complex & consists of a 5-level underground parking garage. Due to shallow groundwater conditions, historical depth to groundwater data at & near the site determined that future well operation/dewatering was not required. By eliminating the need to pump the dewatering system the client is no longer required to conduct quarterly sampling & related reporting. The 10 wells (& adjacent sewer discharge system) were abandoned in the Spring of 2026 utilizing creative cost-savings methods executed by Yellow Jacket Drilling. Lifetime project savings to the Owner from this work is estimated at $300,000. https://www.onecamelback.com/
Phase II Environmental Soils Investigation at an Active Luxury Limousine Rental & Repair Shop, Phoenix, AZ
In January 2023, Courtney Consulting on behalf of Joan Jacobs & Associates, LLC conducted a shallow soils investigation at an active automotive repair shop located in Phoenix, AZ. Based on recommendations made in a December 2022 Phase I ESA report, drilling and soil sampling was conducted at the site to determine the potential for shallow soil contamination from automotive related practices. The investigation was conducted at the Lender’s request for future site renovations by the new owner. Drilling consisted of two soil borings to 7 feet below ground surface using a direct push drill rig. Chris Courtney oversaw and conducted all soil sampling activities, QA’d all laboratory data, and prepared the Phase II summary report.
Results from the sampling were all below respective Arizona Non-Residential soil remediation levels (SRLs).
UST Removal & Replacement & a Phase II Soil Drilling investigation, Falcon Airfield, Mesa, AZ
On behalf of another environmental consultant, Chris assisted with a UST removal and replacement soil sampling project. Representing Falcon Executive Aviation, Inc, Chris also oversaw a site-wide Phase II drilling & soil sampling investigation where he acted as an independent 3rd party to ensure that the work conducted by another environmental consultant who was representing an interested buyer of the air hanger property was done in accordance with industry standards and their Work Plan.
Nancy Severt (VP), Falcon Executive Aviation, Inc. - “We would highly recommend Chris to others. We found him to be very dependable, super knowledgeable, trustworthy and worth every penny we paid him! He far exceeded our expectations and we can’t even imagine navigating the environmental soil sample process without him. Our company retained Chris to oversee an aviation fuel tank project. Our old underground aviation fuel tanks were removed and new tanks installed. The soil had to be tested many times in many locations. We knew nothing about the process and were in the midst of selling our fuel dept. assets. We found out if you don’t know what you’re looking at things can get complicated and expensive very quickly. Chris’s expertise and always friendly and helpful approach got us through the lengthy process. Had it not been for his expertise and direction we can see how other unscrupulous companies could easily take advantage of costly “opportunities” that could have cost us or our buyer a lot of money. Chris always did his best to make himself available when we needed him most which we found out can often be last minute! We purchased another commercial property not long after and Chris was also instrumental in directing us with the environmental process and helped us make sure we did everything to protect our interests and not fall victim to potential issues in the future. Thanks Chris!”
Paul Lessaongang: 480-797-1379 paul@falconaviation.com
Nancy Severt: 480-797-1603 nancy@falconaviation.com