Your source for remediating damaged lithium and thermal runaway events
Your source for remediating damaged lithium and thermal runaway events
About Battalion Response Consulting LLC
Assessment & Remediation
Packaging Selection & US DOT Compliance
Packaging Selection & US DOT Compliance
On-site assessment and meticulous remediation planning for incidents involving fire-damaged lithium batteries and thermal runaway events.
Packaging Selection & US DOT Compliance
Packaging Selection & US DOT Compliance
Packaging Selection & US DOT Compliance
When regulatory packaging conditions extend beyond the bounds of 49 CFR 173.185 compliance, we provide quick access to US DOT Special Permits, facilitating safe and compliant transportation.
Function-Specific Training
Packaging Selection & US DOT Compliance
Function-Specific Training
Our comprehensive training and certification course aligns with the function-specific requirements outlined in 49 CFR 172.704(a)(1-4), equipping individuals with the skills necessary to ensure compliance and safety.
Testimonials
Stephanie Schnovel, VP @ Sustain Environmental LLC
We had the pleasure of working with Battalion Response on a large lithium battery fire project. I was confident that I was collaborating with an expert who could safely and compliantly see the project through to the end. Steve at Battalion was extremely responsive, able to travel to the site immediately, and provide the necessary expertise on safe packaging, transport, and disposal to our crew members on site. As an additional valuable bonus, they were able to provide the necessary training and certifications to our on-site team members.
Beyond their expertise, Battalion Response was very easy to work with, provided exceptional and timely updates, and was willing to provide comprehensive knowledge on multiple questions that we had. The clean-up and end disposal were a success in a large part to Battalion.
I would recommend them to anyone in need of their expertise and have them on speed dial in case of need.
Brian Derry, PE, Principal @ GR2 LLC
With regard to responding to a Lithium Ion battery and safely handling the DDR batteries that resulted from the event, Steve is the most knowledgeable person that I have worked with in this emerging field. During our first large scale project that involved over 1500 high watt hour batteries, his expertise was invaluable to my team and client.
Steve provided a wide range of assistance to our team, including DOT required training, help with lining up subcontractors, and onsite preparation of the batteries for shipment to a recycling facility. Steve was able to help us safely segregate, package and transport these DDR batteries to a viable recycling facility. Steve’s knowledge and access to the required materials and permits allowed us to cut our clients response costs by at least half!
Mark Steadman, Sr Environmental Services Manager @ Cirba Solutions
Steve's career journey is truly remarkable, a testament to his adaptability, expertise, and unwavering commitment to ensuring compliance and safety in hazardous waste management, with a particular focus on lithium battery remediation.
The launch of Battalion Response Consulting LLC should come as no surprise – Steve's entrepreneurial spirit and his desire to share his extensive knowledge with a wider audience have been evident in everything he undertakes. His career serves as an inspiring example of how expertise, adaptability, and an unwavering dedication to safety and compliance can pave the path to success in the hazardous waste management field, especially within the challenging context of lithium batteries. Steve's contributions to the industry will continue to be both substantial and invaluable.
Gio Fanelli, Director @ ACADISAFE, State and Federal Accredited Asbestos, Lead, and Mold.
I have been in the high risk industry of emergency response clean up for almost 40 years and rarely get to work with a subject matter expert like Steve. My firm contained a large Lithium Ion Battery (3 alarm fire) of e-bike roughly 340 of them in Southern CA. We were tasked by Local Health and Fire Department with stabilizing the debris piles, setting up command center, warm and hot zones, 3 to 4 baker tanks to collect rain and fire fighting water that we contained with 24 hour fire watch in case of battery flare up until Steve (Mr. Lithium Ion Battery Guru) could arrive onsite for this cleanup response. Like a General of a #BATTaLiOn Steve assessed the project in short order, step up strategy like a General and we were fortunate to be one of the two response teams to learn from the master on the pioneering work of Lithium Ion Battery cleanup. As our World becomes more unplugged and fires like this occurs more often, Steve Drueke is the one to call when this happens... period and mic drop.
Don Edgington, Regional Vice President @ Environmental Restoration LLC
I’ve had the pleasure of working a rather large and notable battery response with Steve and was impressed by his wealth of knowledge and expertise. His ability to plan the work, schedule resources and manage costs were a tremendous asset to the project team.
About
Steve Drueke, Founder & CEO of Battalion Response Consulting LLC
BIO
With a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades as a software business analyst within the corporate real estate and facilities management domain, Steve transitioned into the dynamic field of environmental hazardous waste management over six years ago. Leveraging the expertise and insights gained from his previous role, he seamlessly embraced his previous position at Environmental Restoration, LLC (ER) as Field Services Manager.
As the Field Services Manager and Subject Matter Expert for ER's Lithium Battery Task Force, Steve's journey is marked by multifaceted contributions. His professional evolution encompasses diverse roles, including field accounting, GPS software procurement, talent acquisition, respiratory fit testing program management, and even the skilled operation of 30-ton off-road dump trucks. This eclectic background converged into an opportunity in 2020, when Steve played an instrumental role in remediating a USEPA Superfund site involving over 400,000 lbs. of mixed chemistry and damaged lithium batteries. This pivotal project ignited his passion and drove him to immerse himself in the intricate realm of 49 CFR regulations, with a keen focus on 49 CFR § 173.185.
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
To date, Steve's remarkable journey has culminated in the successful remediation of three of the nation's largest EPA Superfund battery sites—situated in Mt. Horeb, WI, Morris, IL, and Atlanta, GA (encompassing USEPA Regions IV and V). This endeavor encompassed the safe handling and management of over 300,000 lbs. of lithium batteries, encompassing both damaged and non-damaged units, alongside an impressive accomplishment of handling 600,000+ lbs. of mixed chemistry batteries.
In addition to his significant contributions to battery-related Superfund sites, Steve's achievements include:
- The skillful remediation of seven distinct battery fire incidents across Texas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and California. Collectively, this involved the safe and strategic management of 50,000+ lbs. of lithium batteries.
- Spearheading the development and optimization of protocols for identifying battery chemistry, assessing condition, implementing proper packaging, and ensuring accurate DOT markings. All of these efforts were accomplished while adhering rigorously to DOT regulatory compliance, particularly under 49 CFR § 173.185.
- Pioneering comprehensive quality assurance and quality control procedures, underpinned by visual aids, to enhance the safety and effectiveness of packaging and shipping endeavors.
- Innovating a bespoke lithium battery function-specific training program that aligns seamlessly with US DOT Subpart H and the regulations stipulated in 49 CFR § 172.704. This holistic program encompasses intricate subjects such as lithium battery awareness, secure handling, and robust security protocols.
- Navigating the complex landscape of drafting and obtaining multiple US DOT Special Permits, which served as instrumental regulatory mechanisms for the secure removal of substantial volumes of damaged lithium batteries. Notably, these accomplishments are rooted in the tenets of 49 CFR § 173.185(f).
Steve's exceptional collaboration and strategic alliances with entities such as the US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the USEPA, battery recyclers, and environmental contractors have been pivotal in orchestrating and securing remediation of these diverse and challenging sites.
Embarking on a fresh chapter, Steve founded Battalion Response Consulting LLC, aimed at delivering specialized proficiency in the remediation of incidents involving damaged lithium batteries. This novel undertaking is poised to guide the industry through the intricate landscape of secure packaging and rigorous regulatory adherence when transporting compromised lithium batteries for purposes such as recycling, disposal, or failure analysis. Steve's wealth of expertise will undoubtedly be an indispensable asset, complemented by his unwavering commitment to disseminating his insights through comprehensive training programs, catering to a wide spectrum of industries engaged with lithium batteries.
“Extinguishing a burning lithium-ion battery is temporary…You’re only prolonging the inevitable.”
- Steve Drueke, founder of BATTaLiOn Response Consulting LLC.