The Environmental and Social Studies (ESS) Department

The ESS Department at ERML seeks to impact decision making positively. The department was created as a distinct unit in November 2001 primarily to provide in- depth pre and post-activity assessment of environment/activity interactions with a view to identifying and articulating issues that impact the natural and socio cultural environment and more importantly, recommending practical and fit-for-purpose mitigative and corrective actions as necessary.

Recognizing that sustainable development options must treat the social and natural environments as inseparable, the ESS Department has been staffed and equipped not only with human and material resources for scientific assessments but also to effectively cover the social dimension. 

 Specific functions of the department include;

· Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)

· Social and Health Impact Assessments

· Environmental Evaluation Studies/Reports (EES/EER)

· Waste Management Studies

· Social Impact Studies

· Environmental Health Studies

· Environmental Audits

· Environmental Due Diligence

· Regulatory Advice

· Social Action Plans

· Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies

· Community Relations/Engagement/Development Plans

· Community Development Interventions – Design, Planning and Implementation

The Environmental Information Systems (EIS) Department

The fact that information technology systems are an integral part of life worldwide is well known. At ERML, we recognize that environmental information systems provide measurable added value to environmental management and sustainable development initiatives. An EIS Department is therefore essential to the company’s vision and mission.

Upgraded from the previous GIS Unit, the EIS Department functions now include the following:

· GIS Applications and Training

· GPS Applications

· Data base Development

· Digital Cartography and Mapping

· Remote Sensing Interpretation and Applications

· Reprographic Services

· Environmental Modeling

A few specific areas of expertise are the following:

· Environmental Sensitivity Index Mapping (ESI)

· Facility Management

· Land use mapping

· Habitat change detection

· Base maps for vehicular tracking

  The department is continually equipped and staffed to utilize the ever-evolving information technology tools.

  The Environmental Monitoring Department

Although a number of environmental studies involve environmental monitoring, at ERML, we identify Environmental Monitoring as a distinct area in the overall sphere of environmental management. It requires skilled staff, special training and appropriate tools. These, together with commitment, innovation, a good understanding of the local environment and perseverance of personnel, ensure that environmental monitoring programmes capture the relevant information and assure appropriate interpretation of data collected. 

The EM Department provides the following services.

· Environmental Baseline Surveys (Offshore and Onshore)

· Ambient Air Quality Sampling

· Ecotoxicology Assessments

· Degraded Ecosystem Restoration

· Implementation of Environmental Monitoring Plans

· Socio economic baseline Surveys

· Pollution Monitoring

· Oil Spill Response

The Oil Spill Response and Waste Management Department

We recently created a new department that specializes in the provision of oil spill response and waste management services.  This department is staffed by seasoned personnel and has access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to support its activities.  The strength of the department is further enhanced by strategic alliances with a number of foreign international organizations that are world renowned in the area of spill response and waste management services. 

The following are the department’s focus:

· Oil Spill Response Services, Exercises and Drills

· Preparation of oil spill contingency plans

· Oil impacted site investigation and monitoring

· R e m e d i a t i o n and Ecological Rehabilitation of impacted sites

· Design and implementation of innovative municipal and industrial waste handling options 

Laboratory Department

The ERML Laboratory Unit is located in Warri, Delta State in the Niger Delta and includes the Mail-In Oilfields Services Laboratory. Over the last 5 years, ERML has invested in the analytical capabilities of the Department. It boasts of equipment, ranging from those for the most basic scientific analysis to sophisticated analyses, such as those requiring the use of GC-MS. The ERML laboratory unit is indeed one of the best-equipped private laboratories in Nigeria.

The laboratory is sectionalized into:

· Water Chemistry laboratory  

· Soil laboratory 

· Microbiology laboratory 

· Toxicity laboratory

. Instrument laboratory 

. Extraction laboratory

Each section of the laboratory is well equipped to provide services that meet our client’s needs. Equipment and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) used in the laboratory are in line with Nigerian regulatory recommendations and internationally accepted practices. Essential to the laboratory operations is the periodic inter laboratory calibration with local and international scientific analytical laboratories.

The laboratory also provides human and equipment resources for environmental field sampling.