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 California
How ESLs are being misused as cleanup goals instead of screening tools
When self-directed remediation works—and when agency oversight is still required
The role of soil vapor extraction and vapor intrusion mitigation
How lenders evaluate risk on self-certified brownfield cleanups

This 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.com

Host: Matt Winefield📞 (562) 618-0037 | 📧 mw@winefieldinc.com

Brownfield Braintrust Podcast with Matt Winefield: Solving California’s No Further Action Dilemma