Client Spotlight: John Brusenhan, Senior Project Manager for InControl Technologies LLC

Within the broad environmental remediation industry, areas of specialization continue to emerge, and when it comes to treating chlorinated volatile organic compounds (Cl-VOCs), John Brusenhan, Senior Project Manager for InControl Technologies LLC, a valued REGENESIS client, continues to leverage his vast experience in creating positive outcomes for clients faced with in-situ treatment issues.

By managing virtually every aspect of in-situ treatment projects for InControl Technologies, an Environmental Consulting and Engineering Firm, Brusenhan finds fulfilment in converting contaminated, underutilized properties into those which are revitalized and productive. In addition to providing effective planning and treatment remedies for contaminated sites, he enjoys applying technical response actions, such as complex in-situ treatment regimens, and seeing positive results from lab analyses. He shares, “I find these complex sites intriguing because, although many are similar, each site has unique characteristics that need to be accounted for in the design.”  In addition, InControl Technologies has been a State Lead Contractor for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Dry Cleaner Remediation Program (DCRP) for the past 10 years, and Brusenhan manages assessment and remediation for roughly 15 dry cleaner projects annually. Prior to joining InControl Technologies 19 years ago, Brusenhan served as a Senior Project Engineer for an environmental engineering firm for close to a decade. He earned his BS in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, and completed his Master’s in Environmental Engineering, also at Texas A&M University.

Brusenhan first became interested in a career centered around the environment when he was still in middle school. He shares, “My interest in environmental remediation began in the 8th Grade. I still remember the science fair project I conducted on acid rain.  The early love of science channeled my attention and studies toward remediation and over the years I continued my education  working toward a career as an environmental engineer.” To stay current in developments in remediation and as a requirement of his Texas Professional Engineering license, he takes at least 15 hours of continuing education annually through seminars, webinars or conferences.  Brusenhan enjoys his work and believes InControl Technologies is well-positioned for a bright future. He continues, “InControl Technologies plans to continue to grow within the market and remain one of the leading experts in chlorinated VOC assessment and remediation in the State of Texas.  And by doing so, we will continue to provide efficient solutions and customer service to our client base.” And while he’s enjoyed success in his work, suffice it to say, there are some challenging aspects. He shares, “The most demanding part of my job is explaining to clients that site remediation is not achieved overnight once a remedy is implemented. It can take years to achieve the desired regulatory goals.” He continues, “Another challenge is working within available budget or time constraints. Sometimes, it means extending a remediation project out over a longer period of time in order to accommodate the client’s financial goals or working weekends to meet an expedited deadline.  Ultimately, we do what we can to be flexible and accommodate client needs.”

When it comes to working with REGENESIS, Brusenhan appreciates the company’s vast experience and commitment to its clients. He shares, “I appreciate REGENESIS’ technical expertise in design and their willingness to allow InControl to take their design and customize it to meet our budget constraints of the TCEQ or other clients.” Brusenhan continues, “They also provide great assistance in tracking and shipping our product orders, which is important to meeting project and client deadlines.” To meet the demands of project requirements and ensure successful outcomes, Brusenhan and InControl Technologies use 3-D® Microemulsion and CRS® amendments because they perform well in anaerobic conditions. He continues, “Ninety percent of the remediation projects I am involved with are related to chlorinated VOCs.  As a result, the majority of product we purchase from REGENESIS is 3DME® coupled with CRS®.  We also purchase a fair amount of BDI® PLUS.  I have learned over the past 20 years that shallow groundwater in the Gulf Coast region is almost always naturally near anaerobic.  Therefore, it makes sense to use a product that flourishes in anaerobic environments.” When asked how he’s seen the environmental remediation industry change over the years, he points to an emergence of treatment alternatives that began approximately 20 years ago. “At the beginning of my career,” he shares, “Environmental remediation almost exclusively consisted of pump and treat methods, which were very expensive to implement and maintain, and provided limited results over time in low permeability formations.  In the early 2000’s, in-situ treatment alternatives began to be much more prevalent, especially when integrated with other response actions.”

Residing in the Houston area, where InControl Technologies is headquartered, Brusenhan lives with his wife of 26 years, and has a son who is a senior at Texas A&M University, where Brusenhan attended. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing, being outdoors, and hanging out with their two Labrador retrievers. He’s also an avid supporter of Texas A&M and the Fighting Texas Aggie Band. When asked what he sees the future holds for environmental remediation, he feels regulations are going to continue to play a key role in the years ahead. He shares, “Regulations have allowed the use of more institutional controls to manage the environmental exposures which allows the funds that were historically used for cleanups to hopefully be reinvested elsewhere.” And how would he encourage others to join in his field of study? He concludes, “One needs to be detail -oriented.  Sometimes the smallest details are critical to a successful site remediation.  Also, be prepared to wear multiple hats.  One day you could be collecting soil or water samples in the sun, and the next day you may be at a computer writing a summary, but this variety is one reason I enjoy it so much.”

REGENESIS is proud to have John Brusenhan, Senior Project Manager for InControl Technologies LLC, as a valued client and partner in environmental remediation, and appreciates his highly specialized experience and knowledge base in providing successful remediation outcomes for REGENESIS and its clients.