Dynamic Environmental Associates (DEA) is a consulting company that performs environmental due diligence and regulatory compliance for the telecom, wireless, alternative energy, WISP and ISP industries. DEA focuses on regulatory compliance and completion of environmental assessments, investigation and permitting that is needed for infrastructure development.
The multi-disciplinary firm was founded in 1993 by David Jermakian in Lake Worth, Florida. A year later, DEA began working with its first wireless clients, GTE MobilNet and PrimeCo Communications. They have been serving the wireless infrastructure industry ever since.
Lately, DEA has been performing environmental due diligence related to fiber deployments. “We are part of the continued growth in the wireless industry, but the $42 billion in BEAD grant from the Infrastructure Act will require the environmental and regulatory compliance services that we offer,” said David Jermakian, President, DEA. “Both broadband fiber deployment and alternative energy projects tend to have a bigger footprint than a cell tower site. So, the environmental assessment process can be more complex.”
Evolving Services for Evolving Regulations
DEA’s services include environmental due diligence, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, cultural resource surveys and historic preservation as well as hazardous waste management, lead paint and asbestos surveys and electromagnetic energy (EME) studies.
“Those core services will probably never change, as long as there are environmental regulations for wireless deployment,” Jermakian said. “But we’re constantly seeking to improve our processes and adapt to changing regulations.”
For example, while all projects with a federal nexus require compliance with NEPA, each federal agency has their own policies and their processes, including individual lists of what is required. “We will do NEPA assessments for the FCC, the NTIA, HUD, Department of Defense, but what is done and how can vary from agency to agency,” Jermakian said.
DEA has expanded to provide compliance services to companies as an extension of their own in-house staff. Many small tower companies, WISPs and ISPs don’t have staff dedicated to environmental or regulatory compliance, so DEA has begun functioning as their regulatory compliance department, similar to how outside counsel handles a company’s legal work. “We are working with their internal people who just don’t have the time or the resources to handle the day-to-day regulatory and environmental compliance work,” Jermakian said.
Tackling the Difficult Cases
Over the years, Jermakian’s favorite projects have been the tough ones. DEA has had cell sites approved where the only possible location for the structure was in a wetland, an archaeology site, a floodplain, and in the migratory path of an endangered species.
“These projects can take years of concerted effort, but there is a feeling of satisfaction when you get it done,” he said.
Another DEA differentiator is the trust and relationships they have established with clients, according to Jermakian. “Having a good relationship with the customer helps us to gain their confidence, so if we are in negotiations and believe compromise is necessary, our client will tend to take our advice,” he said.
“We do the research and assessment, investigation and data collection, which then allows the project to move forward with certain provisions,” Jermakian said. “We excel on the projects that are technically challenging and require working with multiple stakeholders to develop solutions that all the parties can agree upon.”
A Positive Indicator for 2024
The first quarter of 2024 was DEA’s busiest period for environmental compliance in the last 10 years. Jermakian believes that it is a bellwether for digital infrastructure deployment to see growth later this year. “If we’re reviewing design work for projects to be built — either new builds or modifications — at some point in time that work has to actually be done,” he said.
Entering the alternative energy and broadband fiber industries has enabled DEA to grow over the last year, bringing in new senior level talent. They have added Courtney Gaskill as Director of NEPA services; Rob Wilkins as Director of Due Diligence Services; and Chris Beetham as a Senior Project Manager.
“Because of the growth in the industry, we are bringing in some really excellent people with their own levels of expertise,” Jermakian said.
DEA was founded to provide high quality, environmental services in an efficient and cost-effective manner, according to Jermakian. He says his team will work tirelessly to provide clients with complete solutions to environmental concerns.
“Our goal has always been to help the customer achieve their goal, whatever that goal is,” Jermakian said. “That requires us to be thorough and efficient and timely in the completion of our projects.”
For more information about DEA, click here.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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