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Ask Tracey Mulhern, Associate Geologist with Farallon Consulting, a leading environmental consulting firm and valued REGENESIS® client, what she likes most about her work and you’ll likely learn that providing superior client service is just one of the many aspects she enjoys. She begins, “I enjoy working with clients to come up with environmental solutions to meet their individual needs. I also enjoy the planning that goes into a site investigation or cleanup and seeing it completed. In addition, I like working with other members of the Farallon team and our vendors to solve problems and meet project goals. It really is a collaborative effort!” Currently, Mulhern conducts project management of contaminated site investigation and cleanup at various sites throughout Washington, and over the years has managed a variety of remedial investigations and cleanup actions.
To help prepare her for a career in environmental remediation, Mulhern studied at Central Washington University, where she earned a BS in Geology, followed by a MS in Environmental Geology from Western Washington University. An appreciation for the environment and interest in geology formed the catalyst for her professional development early on. She shares, “I knew I wanted a career that made a difference in the environment. After studying Geology as an undergraduate I decided to pursue a career in environmental remediation because it combined both and benefitted the environment.” To stay abreast of current trends and emerging technology, she participates in various webinars and attends conferences and classes whenever possible, especially those that involve real-world examples. Continuing to learn as much as possible within her industry has served to expand her background, similar to the continued geographic expansion of Farallon Consulting. She shares, “I’m excited about the growth of the company. Farallon started in Issaquah, Washington, and the Bellingham, Washington office was the only branch office for many years. We now have offices in Seattle, Washington; Portland and Baker City, OR; as well as offices in California in Oakland, Folsom, and Irvine. Farallon also became a 100 percent employee-owned company a few years ago. It’s an exciting time to be a part of Farallon as we continue to grow and strive to provide service-oriented environmental consulting support to clients throughout the west coast.”
When it comes to working with REGENESIS, Mulhern appreciates the company’s level of expertise and rapid response, especially in challenging circumstances. “REGENESIS has been terrific,” she says. “This past summer we completed an extensive injection project at a site with restricted room to maneuver equipment. Some of the work was inside a warehouse and the tenant had products stored on the ground. REGENESIS was careful to minimize surfacing of the injected chemicals, and when surfacing did occur, they worked quickly to contain it without damaging any of the tenant’s product stored in the warehouse.” In terms of REGENESIS product usage, RegenOx®, PlumeStop®, and PetroFix®have been used with success. She continues, “We have used RegenOx most frequently because it can be used around subsurface utilities. Most of our sites where we need to use an in-situ remediation technology contain subsurface utilities. We also use PlumeStop and PetroFix to prevent recontamination of clean backfill when contaminated soil is left in place where excavation was not feasible, such as beneath a roadway or building.” When asked what she likes most about her work, Mulhern feels the most rewarding aspects are the interactions with co-workers and vendors, “Like REGENESIS!” she adds, along with helping clients to reach a common goal that benefits the environment. And the most demanding aspect? “Juggling multiple projects and deadlines at the same time is a challenge.”
Away from the demands of work, Mulhern finds time to enjoy the abundant variety of outdoor activities in and around Bellingham, Washington, where she lives with her husband and daughter- with skiing and boating topping the list of favorite activities. “We enjoy skiing in the winter and boating around the San Juan’s in the summer, along with hiking. We ski at a local mountain, Mt. Baker, although because of the pandemic this year it is a little different not having a lodge to go hang out in, so we’ve been tailgating in an insulated tent in the parking lot for lunch. For hiking we enjoy the Heather Meadows/Artist Point area in the summer (Mt. Baker ski area) especially the Chain Lakes loop trail. Boating is especially nice in the summer. We spent a week last summer staying on our boat at various harbors and enjoyed hiking on the islands and beaches, and watching Orca whales and other wildlife!”
When asked how she’s seen the industry change over the years, she quickly points to the advancements in technology, and how it impacts day-to-day work. She shares, “Technology continues to make a big difference in how we do our work. Working remotely, having computers in the field to collect data, GPS, drones, etc.” As for the future of environmental remediation, she feels vapor intrusion will continue to develop. “Although vapor intrusion is not new, I think it will continue to evolve with changes in cleanup and screening levels as new information becomes available. We are also seeing more work from PFAS sites.” And how would she encourage others to join in her field of study? She concludes, “College is an excellent way to explore a multitude of paths and directions one can take if they have an interest in environmental science. Farallon Consulting has participated in presentations at Whatcom Community College regarding career paths so I’m sure we’ll see more interest from those who want to pursue a career in this industry in the future.”
REGENESIS is proud to have Tracey Mulhern, Associate Geologist with Farallon Consulting, as a valued client and partner in environmental remediation, and appreciates her experience and dedication in providing successful remediation outcomes for REGENESIS and its clients.
