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For over three decades, First Environment has been a trailblazer in the realm of climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) management, establishing itself as a trusted authority in environmental consultancy. Founded in 1987, First Environment’s legacy of excellence spans far longer than most other companies in the industry, underlining its deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Building upon this rich legacy, First Environment proudly announces our accreditation as a third-party verification body under Washington State’s Cap-and-Invest program. This milestone represents a significant advancement in the state’s efforts to combat climate change and promote environmental accountability.

In 2022, the Greenhouse Gas Reporting regulation underwent crucial updates to encompass a broader spectrum of industries and align with the requirements of the Cap-and-Invest program. Notably, the update introduced a pivotal quality assurance mechanism: third-party emissions verification.

Under this updated rule, entities subject to reporting requirements are mandated to submit their emissions reports to third-party verifiers, such as First Environment. The accredited verification body meticulously reviews and verifies these reports, ensuring accuracy and adherence to regulatory standards.

The Cap-and-Invest program represents a cornerstone of Washington State’s efforts to combat climate change and achieve ambitious emissions reduction goals. By implementing rigorous reporting and verification mechanisms, the state aims to foster transparency, accountability, and progress towards a sustainable future.

As an accredited verification body, First Environment brings extensive expertise and a proven track record in environmental verification. With a team of highly skilled professionals and a commitment to integrity and accuracy, First Environment is poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of Washington State’s Cap-and-Invest program.

For additional information about First Environment and the other verification programs in which we participate, please visit our verification and validation services page.

First Environment

Stephanie Raiani

Environmental Specialist

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Ms. Raiani is an environmental specialist and biologist with 15 years of experience in environmental consulting and regulatory compliance services. Her expertise spans various areas, including environmental compliance and stormwater management. Throughout her career, she has conducted thorough environmental compliance audits, developed updated industrial Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SPPPs) provided SPPP training, developed and authored environmental alerts for the New Jersey Environmental Joint Insurance Fund, which emphasized critical issues and fostered awareness among stakeholders. Ms. Raiani is also versed in navigating environmental permitting processes, including NJDEP Freshwater Wetlands General Permit and Flood Hazard Area Individual Permit applications. She has also participated in wetland delineation, wetland mitigation monitoring, and surveys of threatened and endangered species.

Regarding site investigation and remediation, Ms. Raiani has experience in managing contaminated site investigations and remediation at residential, commercial, and industrial properties. She has prepared various reports to the NJDEP under the LSRP program. These submittals included Preliminary Assessments for the Green Acres Program, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Site Investigation Reports, Remedial Investigation Reports, Remedial Action Reports, Remedial Action Workplans, and various NJDEP Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA) forms.