Pacific EcoRisk

What Pacific EcoRisk does

Pacific EcoRisk is an environmental consulting firm headquartered in Fairfield, California, founded in 1994, that provides integrated aquatic toxicology testing, environmental chemistry analysis, and regulatory consulting services. The firm operates a 18,500+ sq. ft. facility combining 13,500+ sq. ft. of accredited laboratory space with 6,000+ sq. ft. of office and conference facilities, staffed by 40+ scientists and technicians with specialized expertise in environmental toxicology, aquatic biology, and environmental chemistry. Its service portfolio spans aquatic toxicity testing, sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation testing, terrestrial soil testing, dredged material assessments, Toxicity Identification and Reduction Evaluations (TIE/TRE), Water Effect Ratio (WER) studies, field sampling and bioassessment, chemical product and hazardous waste testing, and custom method development. Testing follows EPA and ASTM standardized methods, supplemented by proprietary TIE/TRE methodologies and a co-development relationship with the UC Davis Civil and Environmental Engineering Department on high-resolution mass spectrometry for non-target contaminant screening.

The firm serves industrial, agricultural, ports and marinas, Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), US military services, and local/state/federal regulatory agencies — addressing pain points around NPDES compliance, effluent toxicity identification and reduction, dredging permit applications, and basin plan / TMDL development. Six active accreditations — California ELAP, Oregon ELAP, Washington DOE, DoD ELAP, NELAP, and USDA Soil Permit — qualify the laboratory for regulated testing work across multiple Western states and federal defense contracts.

Pacific EcoRisk generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts delivered via direct client engagement, with quote-based pricing that is not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with a leadership team — President Jeff Cotsifas (30+ years), VP/Technical Director Dr. Brant Jorgenson (nearly 30 years), and VP/Technical Director Stephen Clark (joined 1999) — functioning as the firm's primary client-facing assets. The company remains privately held with no recorded external funding, no parent company, and no acquisition history, operating as an organically funded independent firm with a career page signaling ongoing technical hiring.

Name

Pacific EcoRisk

Legal name

Pacific EcoRisk

Website

https://pacificecorisk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific EcoRisk is a privately held environmental consulting firm in Fairfield, California, providing accredited aquatic toxicity testing, sediment and soil analysis, TIE/TRE studies, and regulatory consulting to industrial, agricultural, military, and government clients across the western United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Testing and Consulting Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wastewater & Industrial Effluent Monitoring (NPDES/Permit Compliance) (EUAHACAD), Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH), Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) (EUANAJAF), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Aquatic toxicity testing
• Environmental consulting services
• Sediment bioaccumulation testing
• NPDES compliance testing
• Dredged material assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Environmental Testing Services: Project-based laboratory testing services including aquatic toxicity testing, sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation testing, terrestrial soil testing, dredge materials evaluations, and TIE/TRE studies. Revenue generated through consulting contracts and testing service agreements with industrial, agricultural, and government clients.
2. Consulting Services: Expert consulting services for complex environmental issues including dredged material assessments, criteria development, permit negotiation and compliance, monitoring program design and implementation, and data management and review.
3. Field Sampling and Monitoring: Field sampling services for water, sediment, soil, and bioassessment. Services include collection of high-quality field samples using specialized equipment and vehicles.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Pacific EcoRisk is an environmental consulting firm delivering laboratory aquatic toxicity testing, sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation testing, terrestrial soil testing, dredged material evaluations, TIE/TRE studies, Water Effect Ratio studies, Whole Effluent Toxicity testing, field sampling, biological assessments, and regulatory consulting. Services are performed in an 18,500+ sq. ft. accredited laboratory facility in Fairfield, California, supported by a fleet of specialized field sampling vehicles, and serve industrial, agricultural, ports/marinas, POTW, US military, and government regulatory clients needing NPDES compliance and contamination evaluation.

Product overview

Pacific EcoRisk is an environmental consulting firm that operates as a single integrated service platform combining laboratory testing, field sampling, and expert consulting. The portfolio consists of aquatic toxicity testing, sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation testing, terrestrial soil testing, dredge materials evaluations, toxicity identification and reduction evaluations (TIE/TRE), water effect ratio studies, field monitoring and sampling, biological assessments, chemical product testing, hazardous waste testing, and custom method development. These services are delivered through the company's own 18,500+ sq ft accredited laboratory facility in Fairfield, CA, supported by a fleet of field sampling vehicles and equipment. The services are designed for regulatory compliance (NPDES, WDR), environmental impact assessment, and contamination problem-solving for clients including industry, agriculture, ports, POTWs, military services, and government agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aquatic Toxicity Testing Laboratory testing services evaluating the toxicity of water samples using EPA and ASTM methods with freshwater, estuarine, and marine test species. Delivered to industrial, municipal, military, and regulatory clients requiring NPDES-related aquatic toxicity assessment.
• Sediment Toxicity and Bioaccumulation Testing Laboratory evaluation of sediment samples for toxicity and bioaccumulation potential using standardized protocols. Used by dredging projects, military remediation, and regulatory programs assessing sediment quality.
• Terrestrial Soil Testing Testing services for soil samples to assess environmental contamination and toxicity levels. Performed under the firm's USDA Soil Permit for regulatory and remediation clients.
• Dredged Material Evaluations Comprehensive assessment services for dredged materials including sediment sampling, analysis, and regulatory compliance evaluation for permitting. Supports port/marina and military dredging projects and federal permitting requirements.
• Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIE) and Toxicity Reduction Evaluations (TRE) Specialized forensic toxicology services to identify unknown contaminants causing toxicity in effluents and develop reduction strategies. Delivered to NPDES clients, military facilities, and industries with failed WET tests.
• Field Monitoring and Sampling On-site environmental sample collection services for water, sediment, soil, and bioassessment across various aquatic environments including creeks, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Provided with the firm's own field sampling vehicles and equipment.
• Biological Assessments (Bioassessment) Field-based biological evaluations to assess environmental conditions and aquatic ecosystem health. Used by regulatory agencies and engineering firms for ambient monitoring programs.
• Water Effect Ratio (WER) Studies Scientific studies to determine site-specific water quality criteria adjustments for aquatic life protection. Used in permit negotiations between industrial clients and regulatory agencies.
• Environmental Consulting Services Expert environmental consulting including permit negotiation, compliance support, monitoring program design, criteria development, and regulatory representation. Delivered to NPDES clients, military services, POTWs, and local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.
• Chemical Product Testing Laboratory evaluation of chemical products for environmental toxicity and regulatory compliance. Supports manufacturers and importers needing aquatic toxicity data for product registration or compliance.
• Hazardous Waste Testing Laboratory testing services for hazardous waste characterization and regulatory compliance. Supports waste generators, disposal firms, and remediation projects needing RCRA-style characterization data.
• Analytical Method Development Custom analytical method development for specialized testing requirements beyond standardized protocols. Enables the firm to support unique client matrices and contaminant profiles not covered by standard EPA/ASTM methods.
• Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Acute and chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity testing for NPDES compliance, evaluating the effects of effluents on aquatic organisms. Delivered to industrial and municipal NPDES clients throughout California.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest wetland restoration project in California (Montezuma Wetlands Restoration Project) - managed water, sediment, and tissue monitoring program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UC Davis - Civil and Environmental Engineering DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacific EcoRisk collaborates with faculty of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of the University of California at Davis. This partnership focuses on the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry for non-target contaminant screening of toxic effluents. Dr. Jorgenson works to expand PER's TIE toolbox in collaboration with UC Davis faculty, representing a significant co-development relationship in analytical methodology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS Environmental Services: International testing, inspection, and certification firm offering environmental laboratory services including water, soil, and sediment analysis to industrial and government clients. Comparable as a national/global competitor to Pacific EcoRisk.
• Pace Analytical Services: Large national environmental laboratory providing WET, sediment, and chemistry testing services to industrial and municipal clients nationwide. Competes with Pacific EcoRisk on routine NPDES work and on multi-site contracts.
• Columbia Analytical Services: Environmental chemistry and toxicology laboratory (now part of Eurofins) historically providing NPDES, sediment, and emerging contaminant testing to U.S. clients. Comparable to Pacific EcoRisk on testing services and regulatory client mix at broader geographic scale.
• ALS Environmental (USA): Global environmental testing provider operating in the U.S. with a full portfolio of water, soil, sediment, and biological testing services. Comparable on routine testing scope and accreditation footprint, though at substantially larger scale.
• Eurofins Environment Testing (US): Major national environmental testing network offering NPDES, sediment, soil, and air testing across the U.S. with much broader geographic reach and instrument capacity than Pacific EcoRisk; a key large-scale competitor on routine testing.
• TestAmerica Laboratories: National environmental testing laboratory network (now part of Eurofins) serving industrial, municipal, and government clients with water, soil, and air testing. A direct broad-scale competitor to Pacific EcoRisk for multi-site NPDES and sediment testing contracts.

Emerging players

• EA Engineering, Science, and Technology: Environmental and engineering consulting firm providing environmental sampling, monitoring, and remediation services to federal, state, and municipal clients. Comparable to Pacific EcoRisk in providing integrated field sampling, testing, and consulting services to government agencies.

Direct peers

• Pacific Toxicology Laboratories: Environmental and aquatic toxicology laboratory serving California NPDES permittees with WET testing, TIE/TRE, and bioassessment services. Directly comparable in service offering, regulatory focus, and customer type.
• Nautilus Environmental: California-based aquatic toxicity testing laboratory offering WET, TIE/TRE, and sediment toxicity services to NPDES and municipal clients. Closely comparable to Pacific EcoRisk in service scope, customer mix, and California-centric regulatory focus.
• CoastalBio LLC: Aquatic toxicology and bioassessment laboratory providing WET testing, bioaccumulation, and bioassessment services to NPDES permittees and regulators. Directly comparable niche overlap with Pacific EcoRisk's aquatic toxicology practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific EcoRisk