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Brownfield Braintrust PodcastAuthor: Brownfield Braintrust Podcast
The Brownfield Braintrust Podcast is brought to you by Winefield & Associates, Inc. and includes conversations between founder Matt Winefield and industry experts, focusing on contaminated property investments, remediation efforts, regulatory and compliance issues, and much more. Language: en Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Brownfield Braintrust Podcast with Matt Winefield: Self-Directed Brownfield Remediation in California
Monday, 26 January, 2026
Why are No Further Action (NFA) letters for PCE and VOC vapor sites becoming nearly impossible to obtain in California?In this episode of the Brownfield Brain Trust, host Matt Winefield, founder of Winefield & Associates, sits down with Don Kellar, MS, REP, PG, Executive Vice President of Fulcrum (A Blew Company), to break down a practical alternative: self-directed (self-certified) brownfield remediation.They discuss how California’s 2023 Vapor Intrusion Guidance and increasingly conservative Environmental Screening Levels (ESLs) have stalled property transactions—often without improving human health or environmental outcomes. Don explains when self-directed remediation is appropriate, how site-specific attenuation factors and indoor air testing can replace default assumptions, and why some lenders are now accepting consultant-certified cleanups in lieu of agency-issued NFAs.In this episode, you'll learn:Why NFAs for PCE vapor sites have nearly disappeared in CaliforniaHow ESLs are being misused as cleanup goals instead of screening toolsWhen self-directed remediation works—and when agency oversight is still requiredThe role of soil vapor extraction and vapor intrusion mitigationHow lenders evaluate risk on self-certified brownfield cleanupsThis episode is essential listening for developers, investors, brokers, lenders, attorneys, and environmental professionals navigating contaminated property transactions in California.Guest: Don Kellar, MS, REP, PG📞 310-876-4128 | 📧 don.kellar@blewinc.comHost: Matt Winefield📞 (562) 618-0037 | 📧 mw@winefieldinc.com
