(Photo provided by Ben Cowdery) The Washington County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday to approve the firm who will be conducting environmental assessments through the Brownfields Assessment Grants for Washington, Guernsey and Pike counties.

The Washington County Commissioners selected Partners Environmental Consultants Inc. as their first option to conduct work under a Brownfields Assessment Grant at the regular meeting Thursday.

Washington County Special Projects Manager Philip Schaffer participated in interviews for five firms for the Southeast Ohio Brownfields Assessment Coalition Planning Grant committee, which also includes William Arnett from the Cambridge-Guernsey Community Improvement Corporation, attorney Todd Book and Carrie Kessinger-Berry with the Pike County Land Reutilization Corporation.

Schaffer said that they interviewed the firms last week and selected the top three which they felt were the best options to conduct the assessments: Partners Environmental Consultants Inc., Tetra Technical Consultants and Civil and Environmental Consultants Inc.

“They’re all quality, so whoever you select will do a good job,” said Schaffer. “You just need to weigh and consider how much the local factor is important to you.”

Partners and Tetra both have foundations in the community with workers in the county.

“I’m inclined to look at it from the information that Philip has given us and to work with someone who has local ties here,” said Commissioner Charlie Schilling.

The Brownfields Assessment Grants provides community-wide assessments for sites contaminated by pollutants, hazardous substances and waste. The selected firm will then conduct cleanup plans, site assessments and engagement in Washington, Guernsey and Pike counties.

Commissioner James Booth had concerns about if the smaller firm like Partners would be able to handle all three counties.

“We know that they all have the capacity to work on sites in all three counties,” said Schaffer.

The next step would be for Schaffer to alert all of the firms of this decision and then negotiate a price with Partners before moving forward. The commissioners approved Tetra Technical Consultants as the second option if things didn’t work out with Partners.