About Us

Air and Earth LLC (A&E) was established in 2007 and filed to do business in New York State as an LLC.  A&E elected listing under Environmental Services Application Section XI, Professional Scientific Research and Development Services.  A&E’s primary areas of interest lie within the Environmental, Energy and Agricultural arenas.  The company mission is the development and commercialization of patented technologies that operate in a sustainable and social manner for the benefit of the environment.

Historically, aquatic sediment is the final resting place for the sins of mankind.  Sedimentation is the result of both air and water erosion and it is now taking place at a record pace, thanks in part to climate change.  Along with natural erosion runoff, there is direct, indirect and accidental introduction of contaminants.  Sedimentation of water bodies is a concern, not only due to the loss of a valuable transportation system, but as a loss of drinking, bathing and recreational water due to contamination.

Dredging technology has evolved over the years to encompass mechanical style bucket dredges, hydraulic/pneumatic and specialty dredges. There are several elements to consider in selecting environmental dredges, knowing that there is no one single dredge type that is best for all projects.  Selection depends on a number of factors, including the site, sediment, project conditions, goals and engineering standards.

The Hudson River PCB cleanup is an example of a contaminated sediment removal project. It has a varied list of conditions for sediment makeup, water depth and speed. Two important factors to consider when removing sediment are efficiency and the effective results of the project. Not only is the quantity of sediment removed important, but also the 3 R’s of dredging present a perfect storm: the amount of sediment resuspended, sediment released and the residuals left behind.

According to the US Army Corps, the limitations of mechanical bucket dredges are “difficult to retain fine-grain loose material and production can be low compared to hydraulic pipeline dredges” (Palermo et al. 2008).

Efforts were made in the design by Air & Earth to incorporate remedial alternatives directed to CERCLA Sect.121(d),42 U.S.C. Sect 9621(b)(1), which mandates that remedial actions must be protective of human health and the environment, cost effective and utilize  permanent solutions and alternative treatment technologies and resource recovery alternatives to the maximum extent practicable.  Section121(b)(1) also establishes a preference for remedial actions which employ, as a principal element, treatment to permanently and significantly reduce the volume, toxicity or mobility of the hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants at a site.

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