At a recent OCBA meeting, Phil Brilliant, CHMM, LSRP, shared an inside look at the environmental challenges facing property owners across New Jersey—and how his firm, Brilliant Environmental Services, LLC, helps clients solve complex problems the right way.
With more than three decades in environmental consulting and contracting, Phil leads a firm that focuses on what he calls the “dirty side” of environmental work: contaminated properties, underground storage tanks, soil and groundwater remediation, and regulatory compliance. It’s technical. It’s highly regulated. And in New Jersey, it’s unavoidable.
Why Environmental Compliance in New Jersey Is Different
New Jersey is unlike any other state when it comes to environmental regulation.
According to Phil, there are currently over 16,000 contaminated sites listed statewide. Despite being one of the smallest states in the country, New Jersey has more Superfund sites than much larger states like California, Florida, or Texas.
Why?
- A long industrial history dating back to the 1700s
- Dense population and development
- Some of the strictest environmental standards in the country
Before the EPA was established in the early 1970s, contamination was rarely addressed. Industrial waste was often discarded without consideration for long-term impact. Today, those legacy issues still surface—especially during property transactions and redevelopment projects.
What Brilliant Environmental Services Actually Does
Brilliant Environmental Services is a full-service environmental consulting and contracting firm with offices in Toms River and Haddonfield, NJ. The company serves residential, commercial, industrial, and public clients across New Jersey, with select projects in New York and Pennsylvania.
Their core services include:
- Underground storage tank testing and removal
- Soil and groundwater investigation and remediation
- Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
- Brownfield redevelopment support
- Regulatory compliance guidance
- Childcare center environmental assessments
- Residential tank sweeps and due diligence
Phil emphasizes that most environmental work isn’t optional. It’s triggered by:
- Property sales
- Industrial site transfers
- Development approvals
- Regulatory requirements
- Suspected contamination
In many cases, environmental work must be completed before a transaction can close.
What Is an LSRP—and Why It Matters
In 2009, New Jersey privatized much of its site remediation oversight by creating the Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) program. Phil is not only an LSRP—he has served for over a decade on the state board that oversees and disciplines LSRPs statewide.
Here’s what that means for property owners:
An LSRP is licensed to:
- Investigate contamination
- Design remediation plans
- Oversee cleanup
- Issue the final determination that a site meets state standards
Instead of waiting months (or years) for state agency review, the LSRP program allows environmental professionals to move projects forward more efficiently—while remaining accountable to strict professional standards.
Phil currently has three LSRPs on staff, allowing his firm to manage projects in-house and keep timelines moving for developers, builders, and property owners.
Industrial Properties: What Sellers and Buyers Need to Know
In New Jersey, if you are selling an industrial property, environmental review is not optional. The seller is responsible for assessing and addressing contamination.
For other types of transactions, buyers are strongly advised to conduct environmental due diligence to avoid inheriting costly cleanup obligations.
Phil explained that many buyers underestimate how contamination can affect:
- Property value
- Development plans
- Financing approvals
- Future liability
Environmental due diligence protects your investment—and can prevent unpleasant surprises after closing.
Underground Storage Tanks and Residential Concerns
Brilliant Environmental also performs residential tank sweeps and oil tank removals.
Heating oil tanks are common in older New Jersey homes. If a tank has leaked, soil contamination can become a serious issue—especially during a real estate transaction.
Phil shared an important piece of advice:
If you know there may be contamination on your property, address it now. Regulations evolve. Delaying cleanup can make the process more complicated—and more expensive—for future generations.
Daycare Centers and Environmental Assessments
One little-known fact Phil highlighted:
New Jersey is the only state in the country that requires environmental assessments before opening a daycare center.
Brilliant Environmental performs these assessments to ensure sites meet state standards before children occupy the space. It’s one example of how New Jersey’s regulations are uniquely rigorous.
The Reality of Structural and Industrial Contamination
Phil noted that common contamination sources include:
- Former industrial facilities
- Printing operations
- Dry cleaners
- Fuel stations
- Manufacturing sites
- Legacy industrial properties
Once contamination is identified, it can remain on state lists for years—even after cleanup—depending on conditions and monitoring requirements.
Environmental remediation is rarely simple. It requires technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and long-term oversight.
A Trusted Resource in the Community
As a past president of OCBA and long-standing member, Phil reinforced an important principle: do the job right the first time.
OCBA members rely on one another for quality, responsiveness, and integrity. Environmental work is not the place to cut corners.
Barbara Farley of Chap Construction shared a testimonial during the meeting, noting that Phil’s team was responsive, thorough, and reliable during environmental review work on property acquisitions near their office.
When dealing with contamination and compliance, experience matters.
When Should You Call Brilliant Environmental?
You should contact Brilliant Environmental if you:
- Are buying or selling commercial or industrial property
- Suspect underground storage tanks on a property
- Are developing or redeveloping a site
- Need a Phase I or Phase II Environmental Assessment
- Are opening a childcare facility
- Own an older property with possible contamination
- Have inherited property with environmental concerns
Environmental issues don’t disappear on their own. The sooner they are properly assessed, the more options you have.
Call 732-818-3380 or Contact Brilliant Environmental Services Online at brilliantenvironmental.com
Brilliant Environmental Services, LLC
163 Route 37 West, Suite 201
Toms River, NJ 08755
If you’re facing an environmental question—residential, commercial, or industrial—reach out to Phil Brilliant and his team. They’ll help you understand your obligations, protect your investment, and move your project forward with clarity and confidence.