Developers Can Streamline Environmental Cleanup By Working With a Qualified, NCDEQ-Approved Consultant
By Elizabeth Romano, Principal, National Client Manager at Partner
North Carolina’s Registered Environmental Consultant (REC) Program can significantly streamline environmental cleanup and redevelopment of impacted sites. For commercial real estate owners, developers, and investors, the program offers a more flexible and efficient path to address contamination, particularly at lower-priority sites enrolled in voluntary cleanup.
The REC program was created to help the state manage a large number of contaminated properties by allowing qualified private consultants to oversee remediation activities. Instead of relying solely on direct state oversight, approved REC firms and their designated Registered Site Managers can guide assessment and cleanup work and certify that it meets North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality standards.
This structure translates into tangible benefits for the real estate community. By shifting day-to-day oversight to experienced consultants, the program can reduce regulatory bottlenecks that often delay projects. It also gives property owners more control over timelines, budgets, and decision-making during remediation. Many participants find that the REC pathway improves predictability, accelerates cleanup, and supports faster property repositioning or disposition.
In a market where speed to closing and certainty of execution are critical, these advantages can be meaningful. Projects that might otherwise stall due to environmental complexity can move forward more efficiently, helping unlock value in underutilized or contaminated assets.
Owners of projects in North Carolina have a new option when seeking an approved REC: Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. Partner is a global consulting firm with a regional office in Charlotte and a long history of environmental projects in North Carolina. The firm was recently approved by NCDEQ as a Registered Environmental Consultant under the state’s Inactive Hazardous Sites Program. This designation authorizes Partner to oversee voluntary remedial actions and certify that investigation and cleanup activities comply with REC program rules.
As part of this approval, Wendell K. Johnson, a senior project manager based in Charlotte, was recognized as a Registered Site Manager, the professional responsible for certifying compliance on behalf of the firm and its clients. Partner has indicated plans to expand its bench of certified professionals, further supporting clients across the state.
For CRE stakeholders, working with an approved REC like Partner can help reduce uncertainty while maintaining regulatory compliance. The firm notes that participation in the program allows it to help clients accelerate timelines, minimize delays, and bring greater predictability to the remediation process.
As environmental considerations continue to shape dealmaking, the REC program offers a practical framework for turning challenged sites into viable opportunities. With experienced consultants empowered to lead more of the process, North Carolina provides a model for balancing environmental stewardship with development momentum.
