What Our Consulting Service Actually Looks Like and Whether It’s the Right Fit for Your Business
If you’re researching environmental consulting, you’re probably trying to answer a few practical questions. You want to know how this actually works, whether it’s something your business needs, and what happens if you decide to reach out. You’re not looking for a textbook definition. You’re trying to understand what this looks like in real life and whether it makes sense for your operation.
Environmental consulting covers a wide range of services, from preparing a single permit to managing an entire environmental program. The technical details vary from facility to facility, but the structure of how the service works stays consistent. The scope expands or narrows depending on where you’re starting and what your site requires.
Let’s begin with the common situations that lead companies to contact us, then we’ll walk through the process step by step, and finally we’ll talk clearly about who this service fits best. If you’d rather skip ahead and talk through your situation directly, you can start here!
Table of Contents
The Different Points Where Companies Reach Out (and How It Affects Your Consulting Services)
When You’re Not Sure What Applies to You
Many companies contact us because something has changed and they are unsure what that change triggered from a regulatory standpoint. You may have just started a new facility, added fuel tanks for fleet vehicles, increased production output, introduced new raw materials, or taken over an older facility that came with very little documentation. There is usually an underlying sense that environmental regulations are involved, but no one internally feels confident defining what applies or how serious the exposure might be.
In that situation, environmental consulting typically begins with a structured assessment, often under an environmental audit. We evaluate things like what you store, how you operate, whether water leaves your site, what types of waste you generate, and whether regulatory thresholds are met. From that review, we determine which environmental programs apply and what actions are required. That gives you a defined understanding of your responsibilities instead of operating on assumptions or incomplete information.
When You Already Know What You Need
Other companies reach out because the need is already clear. You may know that you need an SPCC plan for fuel storage, a stormwater permit for industrial discharge, a TRI report because you crossed a chemical threshold, or environmental training for employees. In some cases, a regulatory agency has already contacted you. In others, corporate leadership or an insurance provider identified the requirement.
In these situations, environmental consulting is project-based and clearly scoped from the beginning. We define the deliverable, gather the necessary information, perform any required site work, prepare the documentation, and coordinate submission if it must go to an agency. The objective is straightforward: complete the requirement correctly and ensure it reflects your actual operations and site conditions.
When Multiple Requirements Apply at Once
Many facilities operate in a space where several environmental regulations apply at the same time. For example, a manufacturing facility may store diesel fuel above regulatory thresholds, discharge stormwater from material handling areas, generate hazardous waste, and operate equipment that triggers air permitting considerations. Each of those programs carries separate documentation, inspection schedules, and reporting obligations.
Environmental consulting in this context becomes about coordination and structure. We map out all applicable requirements, prioritize what needs immediate attention, and create a system to manage ongoing responsibilities. Instead of handling issues one at a time as they surface, your facility operates within an organized framework where compliance activities are scheduled, documented, and maintained consistently.
When You Want to Go Beyond Basic Compliance
Some companies reach out because they are not just trying to meet minimum legal requirements. They want a stronger, more organized environmental program that actually supports the way they operate. This often happens when leadership starts thinking long-term. They may be preparing for growth, positioning the company for acquisition, responding to customer expectations, or simply wanting tighter internal systems. They understand that having permits and plans in place is one thing, but having a well-managed environmental program that is integrated into daily operations is something different.
In those situations, environmental consulting expands beyond preparing documents. We help build structure. That can include improving inspection processes, organizing documentation systems, standardizing procedures across multiple facilities, strengthening employee training, and developing internal accountability. The goal is not just to satisfy regulators, but to create a program that runs smoothly and supports the business. If you are looking for more than box-checking and want a system that holds up over time, this is often where we provide the most value.
How RMA’s Process Works
Step One: The Initial Conversation
Everything begins with a conversation. When you reach out, we chat about what's going on. That might be all through email, over the phone, or on an online video meeting. Whatever you prefer. Now to be clear, this isn't a sales pitch, it's not scripted, and our goal isn't to push you into some sort of onboarding funnel. It's simply two groups of people having a real discussion about what is going on at your facility and whether we can actually help.
We'll ask you about your operations, what materials you store, what changes have happened recently, and what prompted you to contact us. You can ask us anything you want about how we work, what projects typically look like, and what this might cost. The goal of that first call is to talk things through and figure out whether we are a good fit for each other. If it makes sense to move forward, we will outline next steps. If it does not, we will tell you that honestly. It is simply a starting point, and it is completely pressure-free.
Step Two: Defining the Scope of Work
Once we understand your needs, we prepare a detailed scope of work. This outlines exactly what will be completed, what information we will need from you, whether site visits are required, how long the project will take, and what how much everything will cost. The purpose of the scope is to remove uncertainty and ensure everyone understands expectations before work begins.
You review the scope, ask questions if needed, and decide whether to proceed. If you sign the agreement, that document becomes our roadmap for the project. And once it's officially signed, we're on your team!
Step Three: Site Work, Documentation, and Delivery
After the agreement is in place, we move into execution. For many projects, that includes visiting your facility to document storage areas, containment systems, equipment, drainage patterns, and operational practices. We do things like measure tank capacities, review records, and gather the information necessary to prepare accurate compliance documentation.
Once the data is collected, we prepare the required plans, permits, calculations, maps, and supporting materials. If the project involves agency submission, we coordinate that process and respond to follow-up questions. If it involves internal programs or training, we tailor materials specifically to your operation. At the end of this phase, you receive completed deliverables that align with regulatory requirements and reflect your actual facility conditions.
Step Four: Ongoing Support, If It Makes Sense
Some companies choose to manage ongoing inspections, reporting, and documentation updates internally once the initial work is complete. Others prefer continued support to track deadlines, update plans when operations change, and assist during inspections.
We offer both approaches. Ongoing support can function as an extension of your team, helping you maintain organization and consistency as regulations evolve and your facility grows. The level of involvement depends on your internal resources and how much support you want.
Is RMA the Right Fit for You? Companies We Work Well With (and Companies We Don't)!
This is the part that matters most. Environmental consulting is not for everyone, and we are not the right consultant for every facility. The key question is whether your size, structure, and level of regulatory exposure line up with the type of work we do best.
We’re a Strong Fit for Growing, Mid-Sized Industrial and Commercial Facilities
We work best with commercial and industrial facilities that have real regulatory responsibilities but do not have a large in-house environmental department. These are typically businesses with one to several dozen locations, not hundreds spread across multiple continents. They are established operations with meaningful activity on-site, yet they rely on operations managers, plant managers, safety directors, or general managers to juggle environmental responsibilities alongside everything else.
Think facilities like warehouses, manufacturing facilities, industrial plants, marine operations, mid-sized factories, distribution centers, recycling facilities, metal fabrication shops, asphalt plants, and similar operations. That kinda thing.
These companies are usually in growth mode or experiencing operational changes. They may have added storage capacity, expanded square footage, increased throughput, or opened additional locations. Leadership recognizes that environmental compliance has real financial and operational consequences, yet hiring a full-time environmental manager does not make sense for their size. That is where structured consulting support provides practical value.
We’re a Good Fit for Companies Managing Multiple Locations
We also work well with companies that operate several facilities across one or multiple states and need consistency in how environmental compliance is handled. These are organizations that may have anywhere from two or three sites to several dozen locations. They want standardized plans, consistent documentation, and a partner who understands how to manage compliance across multiple facilities without overcomplicating it.
In these situations, we often serve as an outsourced environmental department. We help track deadlines, update plans when operations change, coordinate reporting, and support inspections. The goal is to create a manageable structure across locations without requiring the company to build a large internal compliance team.
We’re Not the Right Fit for Very Small, Low-Exposure Operations
If you are a one-person shop operating out of a small commercial space with minimal material storage and limited regulatory exposure, you may not need environmental consulting support at all! For example, a small office with no industrial processes, no significant fuel storage, and no regulated discharge may have only minimal environmental obligations.
In those cases, bringing in a consulting firm would likely be unnecessary or excessive for what you need. We will tell you that! If your regulatory footprint is small and manageable internally, we're not going to try to turn it into something bigger than it is.
We’re Also Not Built for Massive Global Heavy Industrial Corporations
On the other end of the spectrum, we are not structured to serve extremely large multinational corporations with hundreds of facilities worldwide, highly complex heavy industrial operations, and full internal environmental, health, and safety departments already in place.
Organizations of that scale often require enterprise-level consulting firms capable of managing global regulatory frameworks, massive compliance teams, and highly specialized heavy industrial permitting across multiple countries. That is a different level of infrastructure and staffing than what we focus on.
If you already have a large internal environmental team managing complex global compliance programs, you likely need a different type of consulting partner than what we provide.
The Middle Is Where We Work Best
Where we consistently provide the most value is in the middle. These are established commercial or industrial facilities with real regulatory exposure, meaningful operational activity, and leadership that understands the cost of getting it wrong. They may be growing, expanding, or simply looking for more structure and confidence in how compliance is managed.
They do not want to ignore environmental responsibilities, and they do not want to build a full internal department. They want experienced professionals who can step in, define what applies, handle what is required, and build a system that works for their operation. If that sounds like your situation, there is a good chance we are aligned.
How to Get Started with RMA's Consulting
If you are reading this and recognizing your facility in these descriptions, the next step is straightforward. Start with a conversation. Reach out here and tell us what is going on at your site.
We'll talk through your operation, identify where you stand, and outline what support would look like if you decide to move forward. From there, you decide how much help you want and how quickly you want to move.
Environmental regulations are not going away, and the consequences of mishandling them can be significant. Addressing them in an organized way allows you to focus on running your business instead of worrying about what you might be missing.
