1987-2022: 35 Years of Excellence
Over the last 35 years, HGL has grown from a small niche groundwater modeling firm to the diversified and innovative environmental firm it is today. HGL’s outstanding reputation for integrity and hard-work utilizing highly adept, experienced, and knowledgeable technical staff has only grown with the test of time. Please join HGL as it celebrates 35 years in business. Happy Anniversary!
1987
The Inception of HGL
HGL is founded by Peter S. Huyakorn, Ph. D., BCEE (left), and John “Jack” Robertson, PG (right), who both possess an enterprising spirit and passion for hydrogeology, environmental engineering, science, and technology.
1988
Citizenship
HGL founder, Dr. Huyakorn, becomes a U.S. citizen.
1989
Early Clients
In the 1980s, HGL’s clients include the U.S. EPA; the St. Johns River, Southwest, and Northwest Florida Water Management Districts; several private industry clients; and Management & Operations contractors at multiple U.S. DOE facilities, including Hanford, Washington; Savanah River Site, South Carolina; and Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico.
1990
8(a) Certification
Dr. Huyakorn officially becomes HGL’s president.
HGL’s application for 8(a) status is approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a decade of growth begins.
1994
Winning Proposals for USACE Contracts
HGL wins the first three of many contracts with USACE: 1) Kansas City District for Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste Architect/Engineering (A/E) Services; 2) Omaha District for Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) Services; and 3) Tulsa District for Environmental Technical Support/PRP Services.
1995
HGL Firsts
HGL wins its first contract with the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE) (now Air Force Civil Engineer Center).
Work starts at Langley Air Force Base (AFB), Virginia (now Joint Base Langley-Eustis) – where HGL continues to support environmental restoration projects to this day.
HGL is awarded a contract to provide technical support services to the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).
1996
Continued Growth
Gross revenues increase rapidly as HGL begins providing 9 years of comprehensive environmental restoration services at former Carswell AFB, Texas.
HGL develops MODFLOW-SURFACT™ – a powerful 3-D finite-difference flow and transport modeling code that offers substantial advancements over public-domain versions of the USGS MODFLOW code. MODFLOW-SURFACT™ is fully compatible with the latest version of Groundwater Vistas for preparing input files for the code, running the model, and viewing output from MODFLOW-SURFACT simulations.
1997
U.S. Air Force (USAF) Tour
Dr. Huyakorn participates in a three-day USAF Environmental Civic Leader tour and meets with USAF Major General Gene Lupia (now an HGL consultant).
HGL’s computer modeling is evaluated by AFCEE as part of an on-site assessment and AFCEE rates its “proprietary models” and “optimization procedures” as Excellent.
1999
One of DC’s Fastest Growing Companies
HGL is the sole environmental firm to receive a FastTrack ’99 Award, which recognizes Washington, DC’s 50 fastest growing companies.
Ernst & Young honors HGL as an Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.
HGL’s Remediation and Construction Division is established.
The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) merges with the SERDP contract, and HGL provides continued support to SERDP/ESTCP through 2016.
2000
Expansion
HGL graduates from the 8(a) Business Development program and expands its regional operations by opening offices in Kansas, New York, Texas, and Colorado.
HGL wins the EPA Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.
The Blue Chip Enterprise Award, co-sponsored by Mass Mutual and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is presented to HGL.
2001
New Office in Arizona
HGL wins a PRP and Cost Allocation Support contract from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and opens an office in Phoenix, Arizona to support this contract, thereby expanding HGL’s footprint in the western United States.
Work begins on performing Long-Term Operation and Long-Term Maintenance for the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Groundwater Treatment System in Nebraska.
HGL develops MODHMS® – a cutting-edge, MODFLOW-based integrated Hydrologic Modeling Software, capable of combined simulation of surface water and groundwater flow and contaminant transport. MODHMS® interfaces seamlessly with the popular MODFLOW code to provide a physically based, spatially distributed, integrated surface/subsurface modeling framework hydrologic system.
2002
Mentor-Protégé
The DoD honors HGL in 2002 and again in 2003 with Nunn-Perry Awards for successfully advancing the technical, business development, and infrastructure capabilities of its protégé, MicroPact Engineering, Inc.
HGL completes construction of World’s Longest (1,176-ft long) Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB) at former Carswell AFB, Texas.
HGL’s number of employees expands to 200.
2003
First of its Kind
HGL wins its first performance-based contract – the USACE, Omaha District Fixed Price Remediation with Insurance (FPRI) contract (which requires cost cap cleanup insurance) – the first contract of its kind awarded to a Small Business (SB) by USACE.
Under the FPRI contract, work begins at the former Fort Ord, California, where it continues under multiple HGL contract vehicles for 15 years.
HGL wins a contract from the Southwest Florida Water Management District to develop an integrated model of the Peace River Basin in west-central Florida.
HGL is listed as #162 in the Engineering-News Record’s (ENR’s) list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms.
2004
Transformation
The HGL logo is updated to reflect transformation from a company focused on hydrogeology and modeling to a full-service environmental engineering firm.
HGL adds two additional AFCEE contracts: 1) the Worldwide Environmental Restoration and Construction contract, and 2) the Environmental, Construction and Operation & Services contract.
A new regional HGL office is opened in Florida.
2005
A New Division
The Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) Division is established by opening a new HGL office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and adding key new hires.
HGL is awarded its first munitions and explosives of concern removal action TO at the former Badlands Bombing Range, Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
Contract capacity is expanded by winning the SB EPA Region 7 Architect and Engineering Services (AES) contract.
HGL is listed as #150 in ENR’s list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms in both 2005 and 2006.
2007
20th Anniversary Celebration
HGL’s 20th Anniversary is celebrated by a dinner with employees and clients and presentation of a portrait of founders John “Jack” Robertson (left) and Peter S. Huyakorn (right).
The SB EPA Region 3 Remedial Action Contract is awarded and HGL opens a regional office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to support the contract.
The number of HGL employees expands to 300.
HGL is listed as #134 in ENR’s list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms for 2007 and as #128 for 2008.
2009
Cross-Over Task Order
Work begins on the Area IV Radiological Remedial Investigation at Santa Susana Field Laboratory, California, under a cross-over task order under HGL’s EPA Region 7 AES contract.
HGL is listed as #124 in ENR’s list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms.
2010
New Client
The U.S. Army Engineering Support Center, Huntsville (Huntsville Center) awards HGL with the Worldwide Environmental Remediation Services Contract – the first of many contracts with Huntsville Center.
HGL is listed as #119 in ENR’s list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms.
2011
Accolades
HGL wins the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Group Achievement Award for outstanding work in developing and supporting the Safety and Mission Assurance Requirements Tracking System (SMARTS).
A new regional HGL office is opened in Ohio.
HGL is listed as #115 in ENR’s list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms.
2012
HGL’s 25th Anniversary!
HGL celebrates 25 years in business!
A regional HGL office is opened in Huntsville, Alabama, as a new base for the MMRP Division.
HGL develops an integrated system called Physics-Based Management Optimization (PBMO™) that links environmental modeling and management optimization. PBMO™ identifies optimal remedial design and operational approaches that lead to timely and cost-effective cleanups and long-term management strategies.
HGL is listed as #108 in ENR’s list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms.
2013
Challenging Projects
HGL begins a removal action at the Umiat Air Force Station (AFS), Alaska.
Work starts on two performance based remediation (PBR) TOs in Florida: 1) MacDill AFB and Avon Park Air Force Range, and 2) Cape Canaveral AFS, Patrick AFB, and Homestead Air Reserve Base.
HGL is awarded its first chemical warfare material investigation and removal project at former Williams AFB, Arizona.
Work begins with the EPA Superfund Program to develop a basin-wide comprehensive approach to remediating sediments in the Big River Watershed, Missouri. HGL continues this work under multiple contract vehicles through 2022 (and beyond).
HGL enters into an SBA-approved Mentor-Protégé relationship with ATI Inc., under the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program.
The National Safety Council (NSC) presents HGL with the Occupational Excellence Award.
HGL is listed as #107 in ENR’s list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms.
2014
Project Completion
Work is completed on a USACE PBR task order at Scott AFB, Illinois, and HGL receives a USACE Project Safety Recognition Award for safe execution of all work, completing over 80,000 labor hours without a single lost-time incident.
The NSC presents HGL with 24 Perfect Record awards for offices and long-term project sites operating without an occupational injury or illness involving days away from work, and the Million Hours award for the entire company for operating 1,000,000 employee hours without an occupational injury or illness involving days away from work.
HGL also receives the Citation of Merit Award from the State of New Jersey for working one year without a lost-time injury or illness at multiple groundwater treatment plants.
2015
Acquisition
HGL acquires Spectrum Engineering of Billings, Montana, and changes the name to Spectrum Engineering and Environmental, LLC (SEE) to reflect the combined capabilities of the two companies. SEE is established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of HGL.
Under a new DoD contract, HGL begins providing Community outreach, sampling, investigation, and time critical removal action support on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)-related sites at former Fort Ord, California.
HGL receives 18 NSC Perfect Record awards for HGL offices and long-term project sites for operating without an occupational injury or illness involving days away from work.
The New Jersey Governor’s Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Safety presents HGL with an Achievement award for consecutive hours without a disabling injury, and the Citation of Merit for working one year without a lost-time injury or illness at multiple groundwater treatment plants.
HGL is listed as #88 in ENR’s list of the Top 200 Environmental Firms and as #23 in the Top 30 All-Environmental Firms list.
2016
New Business Line
An office is opened in Hazelwood, Missouri, to support HGL’s first Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) contract with the USACE, St. Louis District.
HGL receives 20 NSC Perfect Record awards for HGL offices and long-term project sites for operating without an occupational injury or illness involving days away from work.
The State of New Jersey presents HGL with the Award of Merit and Commissioner’s Continued Excellence Award for consecutive hours of work without lost time due to work-related injury or illness at multiple groundwater treatment plants.
2017
Grand Prize
HGL receives two American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists® (AAEES) Grand Prize awards: 1) PBMO™ technology, and 2) highly complex environmental remediation project at the former Fort Ord, California.
The NSC awards HGL with 25 Perfect Record awards for HGL offices and long-term project sites for operating without an occupational injury or illness involving days away from work.
HGL receives the Award of Merit and Commissioner’s Continued Excellence Award from the State of New Jersey for consecutive hours of work without lost time due to work-related injury or illness at multiple groundwater treatment plants.
2018
Continued Growth
HGL is awarded three EPA contracts: 1) Environmental Services and Operations (ESO), 2) Design and Engineering Services (DES), and 3) Remediation Environmental Services (RES). The contacts allow HGL to provide a full range of environmental services at Superfund sites nationwide.
A HGL regional office is opened in Atlanta, Georgia, to support the new EPA contracts.
HGL is accredited to perform advanced geophysical classification under the DoD Advanced Geophysical Classification Accreditation Program (DAGCAP).
HGL develops PlumeSeekerTM technology that integrates site investigation data with flow/transport models and high-performance computing to identify the best locations for plume boundary definition. The technology is particularly relevant for sites in the investigative stage (e.g., emerging contaminant PFAS sites), newly identified groundwater plumes, or existing plumes with data gaps.
The NSC awards HGL with the Million Hours award for the entire company working without occupational injury or illness involving days away from work, and 24 Perfect Record awards for HGL offices and long-term project sites for operating without an occupational injury or illness involving days away from work.
HGL is awarded the State of New Jersey’s Award of Merit and Commissioner’s Continued Excellence Award for consecutive hours of work without lost time due to work-related injury or illness at multiple groundwater treatment plants.
2019
New Client
HGL wins its first prime contract with NASA to provide A/E environmental remediation services at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral AFS, Florida. This contract can be used for work at other NASA centers for similar work.
USACE, St. Louis District awards HGL the follow-on contract to continue support at FUSRAP sites in St. Louis, Missouri.
HGL enters into an SBA-approved mentor-protégé relationship with APTIM Federal Services, LLC, under the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program.
HGL receives the NSC Million Hours award for the entire company working without occupational injury or illness involving days away from work and 23 NSC Perfect Record awards for HGL offices and long-term project sites for operating without an occupational injury or illness involving days away from work.
The Award of Merit and Commissioner’s Continued Excellence Award are presented to HGL from the State of New Jersey for consecutive hours of work without lost time due to work-related injury or illness at multiple groundwater treatment plants.
2020
A Prestigious Award
An HGL-led Joint Venture (JV) consisting of HGL and APTIM Federal Services, LLC, wins a contract to provide environmental remediation services in support of the cleanup of the Welsbach/GCM Superfund Site, New Jersey.
The HGL-APTIM JV is also awarded a contract to support the Defense Logistics Agency at Defense Fuel Support Point Ozol, California.
HGL is also selected as an awardee on the USACE, Omaha District SB Preplaced Remedial Action Contract.
HGL enters into an SBA-approved Mentor-Protégé relationship with AOR International.
The HGL 3Rs – Recognize, Retreat, Report – Safety Education project wins a prestigious AAEES Honor Prize Award for communications.
The NSC presents HGL with the Million Hours award for the entire company working without occupational injury or illness involving days away from work and 21 Perfect Record awards for HGL offices and long-term project sites for operating without an occupational injury or illness involving days away from work.
HGL is presented with the Award of Merit and Commissioner’s Continued Excellence Award from the State of New Jersey for consecutive hours of work without lost time due to work-related injury or illness at multiple groundwater treatment plants.
2021
More Opportunities
HGL adds to its contract capacity through numerous contract awards from the USACE, Omaha, Kansas City, Baltimore, and Sacramento Districts as well as from the Huntsville Center.
A new HGL regional office in Hawaii is established.
The number of HGL employees expands to over 400.
HGL creates PFAS-Decision Support System (PFAS-DSS) – an integration of modeling and optimization tools with HGL’s PFAS-Data Exchange database. Use of PFAS-DSS will ensure more confident decision-making regarding investigation and response actions at sites contaminated with various PFAS compounds.
The NSC presents HGL with the Million Hours award for the entire company working without occupational injury or illness involving days away from work, and 18 Perfect Record awards for HGL offices and multiple long-term project sites.
2022
Celebrating 35 Years!
The AAEES presents HGL with the Superior Achievement Award for its project work at Joint Base Andrews, Brandywine Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office Yard, Maryland.
HGL adds a new area of expertise – climate change – to its service line and wins the USACE, Los Angeles District Formerly Used Defense Site Multiple Environmental Government Acquisition Multiple Task Order Contract.
SEE merges into the HGL company, becoming the HGL Montana office.
HGL is listed as #20 in ENR’s list of the Top 30 All Environmental Firms.
HGL proudly celebrates our 35th Anniversary!
2022+
Cheers to the Future!
HGL is resilient, driven toward excellence, and looking forward to what the future brings!