Fugitive Dust Ordinance in Effect for the City of Detroit

The City of Detroit has enacted a fugitive dust ordinance designed to limit dust emissions and improve air quality across the city. This regulation applies to a broad range of properties and operations, including construction sites, industrial facilities, and certain residential structures.

Under the ordinance, businesses and property owners are required to develop and implement site-specific dust control plans. These plans must include strategies to limit dust emissions and ensure compliance with opacity standards—which govern how visible dust emissions can be during site activities.

The Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED) has been granted authority to enforce the ordinance, including the ability to halt dust-generating operations until violations are corrected. Non-compliance may result in fines and project delays.

ASTI Environmental encourages clients operating within the City of Detroit to review the ordinance requirements carefully. Our team is available to assist with preparing dust control plans, performing site evaluations, and ensuring your operations meet the new compliance standards.

If you have questions about whether your site is affected or need help navigating this new regulation, please contact Bruce Bawkon at 616.485.3832 or bbawkon@asti-env.com.

Methane: Are You Following the Latest Guidance from EGLE?

The State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has a new methane monitoring guidance document titled Development on or Near Methane Generating Sources, dated April 10, 2025.

The guidance defines a methane-generating source as “subgrade soil, waste, groundwater, or other material that is actively generating methane above 25% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL).” Methane sources can come from historical municipal landfills, decomposing peats, or other buried organics such as animal waste, leaves, or wood.

Methane is not toxic, but it is dangerous. Fire and explosion can result when:

• Methane accumulates in a confined space at concentrations between 5% (the LEL) and 15% by volume air (50,000 to 150,000 ppmv)

• Oxygen is present

• An ignition source exists (such as electrical outlets, appliances, static electricity, pilot lights, or open flames).

Because methane can accumulate beneath and into buildings, soil gas sampling (exterior and/or interior sub-slab) may be conducted to evaluate the presence and concentration of methane in soil gas on your property. The new guidance outlines updated action limits and provides direction for developing a conceptual site model for properties near methane-generating sources.

Every site requires a customized solution and ASTI Environmental has extensive experience working on and near methane-generating sites across the State of Michigan.

To discuss your site with ASTI Environmental, please contact Carrie Kempf (ckempf@asti-env.com) or reach out to us here.

Project Spotlight: Orchardview Apartments

ASTI Environmental is proud to be part of the Traverse City Housing Commission’s efforts to expand and renovate Orchardview Apartments. This project will add 33 new housing units and renovate 21 existing units, offering one- to four-bedroom affordable housing options for households earning 40-60% of the area’s median income.

As part of the due diligence process, ASTI recently completed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA, which included a thorough review of the property’s history, environmental conditions, and potential contamination risks. The site, historically used as an orchard, underwent subsurface investigations in 1991, 2001, and 2012 by other firms. In 2019, a site-specific human health risk assessment was completed and approved. In 2021, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued a No Further Action report, confirming that no further environmental remediation was required. The site had previously been featured in local news when arsenic was discovered in the soil, but the EGLE report reassured the community that the site is safe for development.

Alongside the ESA, ASTI conducted a noise assessment to measure current noise levels and determine whether mitigation strategies were necessary to support a comfortable living environment. Our team also reviewed development plans to ensure all noise regulations were satisfied.

ASTI has a longstanding partnership with the Traverse City Housing Commission, having supported projects such as Parkview Apartments and Riverview Terrace Apartments, including assistance in securing Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) funding.

The Orchardview Apartments project was recently awarded $1,360,500 in tax credits through MSHDA’s competitive Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. This funding reinforces the project’s importance and its impact on affordable housing in Traverse City. ASTI remains committed to working alongside EGLE and MSHDA to ensure the expansion is environmentally safe and compliant with all regulations. 

ASTI Environmental Celebrates 40 Years and Welcomes New Leadership

ASTI Environmental, a division of PEA Group, is proud to celebrate 40 years of environmental leadership, a milestone that reflects decades of innovation, impact, and dedication. As we mark this anniversary, we are also embracing a new chapter with the appointment of Jaime Timmins-Bertan as Director of Environmental Services.

Jaime succeeds Tom Wackerman, ASTI’s founder and leader for the past 40 years, who has guided the firm to become a respected name in environmental consulting. Tom’s vision and expertise have shaped ASTI’s role in the industry, influencing projects across the region, state, and country. Since ASTI’s acquisition by PEA Group in 2024, Tom has served as interim Director, ensuring a seamless integration while continuing his lifelong commitment to environmental solutions. We extend our deepest gratitude for his leadership and lasting impact.

Jaime Timmins-Bertan, Director of Environmental Services

Looking ahead, we are excited about the next 40 years and the leadership that will drive ASTI forward.

Jaime brings over two decades of experience in environmental consulting and project management, most recently serving as a Program Regional Manager at AECOM, where she oversaw remediation projects of all sizes across multiple states. She has extensive expertise in regulatory advocacy, strategic planning, and business development and holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Biology, and an MBA.

Jaime will lead ASTI’s environmental departments, ensuring strong performance, growth, and client relationships. She will work closely with Dianne Martin, who continues to lead ASTI’s Ecological Division. Together, the team will build on ASTI’s legacy while charting an exciting path forward. Tom Wackerman will continue to serve as an advisor to the firm and select clients.

As we honor 40 years of ASTI, we remain committed to the same principles that have defined us: technical expertise, innovation, and service to our clients and communities. Please join us in welcoming Jaime and celebrating Tom’s remarkable legacy as we step confidently into the future.

PFAS Explained: Understanding Risks, Realities, and Environmental Impact

PFAS, or Per- and Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances, are becoming well known for their use in common household products and industrial processes. Known for their ability to repel both oil and water, PFAS keep microwave popcorn bags grease-free and help make GORE-TEX jackets water-resistant. PFAS are also used to control fires because they act as a barrier between fire and the oxygen that fuels fire.

The long history of PFAS usage has led to their presence in the environment. Lately, PFAS have been making headlines, largely due to detections in drinking water. Should you be concerned? For most people, the answer is no. The real risk is from ingesting PFAS. Whereas you may reconsider microwave popcorn or use of Teflon cookware, the exposure risk from PFAS is generally low.

PFAS molecules are too large to enter your body through direct contact, like wearing your waterproof jackets or even wading in lakes or rivers that have PFAS. Because they are very stable molecules that don’t vaporize, you don’t have to worry about breathing air with PFAS. These substances are so stable that they do not decompose over time, and therefore, they can linger for years when released to soil or water. The largest risk is when we drink water with PFAS in concentrations that could be unhealthy.

While most people don’t need to worry about PFAS in their homes, certain properties—such as former industrial sites, airports, or firefighter training facilities—may be at risk for contamination. Scientists and regulators continue to understand more and more how PFAS have been used and how they increase risks to human health and the environment. Protecting human health and the environment from hazardous substances is our business. Considering PFAS risks during environmental assessments can help address potential concerns.

ASTI Environmental Acquired by PEA Group

ASTI Environmental is excited to announce that we have been acquired by PEA Group. With this strategic partnership, PEA Group solidifies their leading position in the industry and expands their expertise in environmental and ecological sectors. ASTI Environmental will continue to operate with the same exceptional leadership, personnel, and high-quality environmental services we are known for. Additionally, our clients will have access to the additional professional services provided by PEA Group, further enhancing our project capabilities.

As per the agreement, both PEA Group and ASTI Environmental will maintain their trade names. ASTI Environmental will now operate as a division of PEA Group, ensuring a smooth transition for clients of both organizations. This collaboration enables the provision of an extensive range of professional services to benefit our valued clients and support their local and regional projects.

Learn more here.

Happy 38th, ASTI Environmental!

A warm thank you to our 7,600+ clients and staff, boosters, contractors, and suppliers. ASTI Environmental just turned 38! We have had the privilege of providing environmental assessment, compliance, remediation, restoration, and incentive services in all four corners of Michigan, coast-to-coast, and overseas since 1985.

Since its creation by Tom Wackerman and Peter Collins on February 1, 1985 in Ann Arbor, ASTI Environmental has grown significantly completing 15,000+ projects nationally and has diversified into multiple service lines, adding the following to the core services mix: Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys, Sub-Slab Depressurization System Design and Installation, Redevelopment Incentives (having obtained more than $300 million in gap financing), PFAS Investigations, Habitat Management, Hazard Mitigation Plans, Stormwater and Shoreline Management, and Property Condition Assessments. We continued to provide Phase I ESAs, Phase II Investigations, Asbestos and Lead Assessments and Management, Compliance Assistance, Due Care Plans, Remediation, and Restoration.

For information on any of the services you see here on our website, please contact Doug Brown at dbrown@asti-env.com 810.599.8131.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Welcome, Kate Young

One of ASTI’s many new additions this year is Kate Young, who will be working on Phase Is with our Property Services Group. Although she has recently been teaching, Kate has over 10 years of environmental consulting experience, particularly in Phase I ESAs. She has a BS in Rangeland Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University. When she is not hard at work, Kate enjoys hiking, reading, gaming, and spending time with her two kids.

Summertime Celebrations at ASTI

Employees enjoyed an afternoon of laughter, food, drinks, and fowling this August at the annual ASTI Summer Party! Whether attending a baseball game, trying their hand at axe throwing, or just sitting down to a meal together – the ASTI team loves to get together and have fun!

15,000 and Counting!

ASTI Environmental recently completed our 15,000th project. Since we were established in 1985, ASTI has learned that each client wants to be treated as if they are the only one we serve and it has been our pleasure to oblige them 15,000 times and counting. ASTI President Tom Wackerman recalls the beginning, “To think that we were scrambling to welcome our first client to our makeshift office in 1985 and here we are 37 years later still mitigating our client’s risk and expense one project at a time is remarkable.”

We are only as good as our last project, so if you have yet to engage ASTI for Environmental, Ecological, and Restoration Services, please consider giving us a call at 810.599.8131.