Independent Peer Review Services
[Who] Independent Peer Review Is For
Independent technical reviews prove to be most beneficial when decisions regarding subsurface geology, hydrogeology, or environmental factors depend on complex data, modeling, or interpretations prepared by others. Consultants of record conduct the field investigation work, after which AA GeoEnvironmental offers an objective, third-party scientific evaluation to enhance clarity—without taking on regulatory, design, or implementation responsibilities.
[When] Independent Peer Review Adds Value
Environmental (Engineering) Consulting Firms:
- Internal peer review capacity is limited.
- Independent verification strengthens technical credibility for clients or stakeholders.
- Projects are high-profile or controversial.
- Subsurface conditions are complex, and defensible external opinions are needed.
Developers and Property Owners:
- Environmental conditions, groundwater impacts, or remedial strategies influence feasibility, risk, or long-term liability.
- Divergence of technical opinions among multiple consultants.
- Redevelopment hinges on model assumptions and risk allocation.
Insurer, Attorneys, and Risk Managers:
- Technical data require objective interpretation to support negotiations, expert strategy, or due diligence—outside of enforcement contexts.
- Unbiased technical analysis of legal and insurers’ distrust towards advocacy-driven reports.
Industrial and Institutional Clients/Public Agencies and Utilities:
- Long-term environmental management decisions rely on reliable interpretation of site investigations, monitoring data, or modeling results.
Our Services
AA GeoEnvironmental provides focused technical assessment of existing environmental and subsurface documentation, offering an independent perspective to support well-informed project and infrastructure decisions. The firm’s work is limited to desktop review and advisory analysis and does not include field investigations or regulatory filings
Geologic & Hydrogeologic
Interpretation of subsurface conditions, geologic maps/cross-sections, aquifer types/yields, well logs, lithology, stratigraphy, groundwater flow direction, and seasonal fluctuations.
Surface & Borehole geophysical data interpretation
Evaluate interpretive reports, raw plots, and processed outputs for EM, GPR, ERT, and seismic methods. Evaluate downhole geophysical logs for consistency with geology/hydrogeology.
Well Supply Installation & testing
Private/Public supply well documentation, well driller's log, well construction & completion record evaluation, pump/step tests, specific capacity interpretations, wellhead protection area, and water quality analysis.
PFAS Investigation & Modeling Review
PFAS investigations are data-driven. Modeling are inherently interpretive and depends on conceptual assumptions. Parameters are highly sensitive, making uncertainty a dominant factor in PFAS modeling.
Vadose zone & Groundwater modeling
Third party review of subsurface water flow and contaminant transport modeling. Examining boundary conditions, model selection, calibration datasets, sensitivity analyses, scenario assumptions, and results interpretation.
Environmental site assessment (phase I & II)
High-level peer review of Phase I & II ESA reports to evaluate data quality, rationale, historical records, sampling representativeness, model consistency, and completeness. No REC/HREC/CREC determinations.
environmental data & QA/QC
Assessment of data quality against project specific objectives, datasets analysis for accuracy, completeness, and defensibility. Evaluation of laboratory's QA/QC project plan, statistical evaluation, and concentration trend analysis.
Indoor air & vapor intrusion modeling
Review of subsurface investigations, building characteristics, and soil gas data, evaluation of indoor air, and assessment of vapor intrusion. mathematical modeling, attenuation factors, and building diagnostics. No regulatory determinations.
Non-Regulated UST & Voluntary Cleanup
Evaluating and remediating non-regulated underground storage tanks (USTs) and petroleum impacts. Review of leak documentation, conceptual site models, soil and groundwater contaminant distributions. No regulatory interaction.
Geochemical & Statistical Data Interpretation
Review of geochemical datasets, redox interpretation, speciation trends, geochemical fingerprints, plume stability metrics, isotopic data, background comparison, Mann-Kendall trend analysis, and multivariate analysis.
Infrastructure & Geohazards
Document-based interpretation of slope stability assessments, erosion and drainage analyses, subsurface hazard screening, geotechnical boring logs, geologic hazard mapping, and infrastructure integrity documentation.
Educational & Training Services
Customized training Includes short courses, webinars, and internal staff training on geology, environmental datasets, modeling developments and principles. All training is educational- no regulatory or compliance instructions.
Our Review Process
Initial Inquiry
You tell us what type of document needs review.
Conflict-of-Interest Screening
We confirm the project is eligible.
Secure Document Transfer
You submit the materials for review.
Scientific Evaluation
We conduct an objective, document-based peer review.
Delivery of Findings
You receive a clear, organized review memo (docx/pdf) with key insights.
What Sets Us Apart
Independence & Neutrality
The firm does not engage in regulatory processes, conduct field investigations, make REC determinations, or perform design services.
Advanced Expertise
All reviews completed by a senior-level geologist, hydrogeologist, and environmental engineer with extensive technical experience.
Scientific Rigor
Logical evaluation of conceptual models, modeling assumptions, data defensibility, and QA/QC.
Efficient Turnaround
Timely, well-documented technical feedback to support time-sensitive decisions.
Confidentiality Assurance
All documents are handled securely and privately.
Clear & Concise Deliverables
Actionable findings, comments matrices, and peer review summaries. All deliverables are clear, concise, and professionally formatted.
Frequently Asked Questions
AA GeoEnvironmental focuses exclusively on independent, document-based peer reviews that strengthen clarity, accuracy, and defensibility in environmental and hydrogeologic reports.
Our practice is intentionally 100% document-based, allowing us to deliver fast, unbiased scientific evaluations without field delays or logistical constraints.
To maintain strict independence and avoid conflicts of interest, we do not participate in state or federal environmental regulatory projects of any kind.
We support the following firms: Environmental Consulting, Private companies, Lenders, Developers, and Law Firms
Any entity seeking a neutral geoscience and engineering peer review benefits from our services.
No. We review modeling documentation but do not generate new models or provide engineering design services.
We provide high-level technical peer review of Phase I & II ESA reports. Formal REC/HREC/CREC determinations remain the responsibility of the primary consultant, ensuring a clear and COI-safe scope.
- Peer review memorandum.
- Annotated comments or marked-up PDFs.
- Comment/clarification matrix.
- QA/QC notes.
- Recommendations to strengthen clarity and defensibility.
Following conflict-of-interest screening and receipt of complete documentation, most independent desktop reviews are completed within approximately 3–7 business days. Review timelines may vary; more complex or multi-disciplinary reviews may require additional time, which will be discussed in advance. Our document-based workflow supports efficient turnaround while maintaining scientific rigor.
Simply contact us through the Contact Page.
We will then perform a COI screening before receiving any documents.
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