The Company

Lucas Environmental, LLC (LE) was founded by Christopher M. Lucas in 2008. Lucas Environmental is built on the principles of performing quality work and providing reliable service, in the field and in the office.

Based in Quincy, Massachusetts, Lucas Environmental has an extensive background in soil and wetland science, ecology, wildlife biology, marine biology, ornithology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). As a small business working in the Boston area, our responsibilities include preparation and coordination of the environmental science and regulatory aspects of a variety of market sectors including commercial and residential development, telecommunications, energy infrastructure, residential, municipal services, and transportation. Our team is skilled in wetland delineations, wildlife habitat evaluations and analysis, and preparation of documents associated with environmental permit applications.

Our expertise lies in document preparation and coordination for environmental permitting. We have prepared documentation for federal and state permits under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, National Environment Policy Act, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, and Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Regulations. Additionally, we have extensive experience with local environmental permitting throughout New England.

The environmental planning and permitting experience of Lucas Environmental adds value and streamlines successful project design, implementation, and development.

Mission Statement

Lucas Environmental is built on the principles of performing quality work and providing reliable service, in the field and in the office. The Lucas Environmental philosophy and approach is to ensure timely delivery and cost-effective design solutions uniquely suited to client needs and establish long-term client relationships.

Our Team

  • Christopher M. Lucas
    Christopher M. LucasManaging Principal & Owner

    Christopher Lucas is a Professional and Certified Wetland Scientist (PWS/CWS) and a Registered Professional Soil Scientist working in New England since 2000. Chris is the Managing Principal and Owner of Lucas Environmental, LLC. Chris holds a B.S. in Biology with a double concentration in ecology/evolution & marine biology from Cornell University, a M.S. in Biology from Stanford University, and a M.S. in Soil Science from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Chris is skilled in wetland delineations, wildlife habitat evaluations and analysis, and preparation of documents associated with environmental permit applications. He also is experienced and qualified to work with various rare species, specializing in birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Chris also received his Certification in Geographic Information Systems from San Francisco State University and is certified in Invasive Plant Management through UMASS – Amherst.  

  • Thomas E. Liddy
    Thomas E. LiddyProject Manager/Scientist

    Thomas Liddy is a Professional and Certified Wetland Scientist (PWS/CWS) and a Registered Professional Soil Scientist working in New England since 2001 assisting clients with environmental permit issuance at the federal, state, and local levels. He routinely conducts wetland delineations and identification of regulated wetland resource areas, as well as natural resource site assessments, including rare species surveys, wildlife habitat assessments, and terrestrial and aquatic vegetative cover type mapping. Tom’s project experience ranges from siting and permitting of energy generation facilities and infrastructure, commercial development, lake and pond management and ecological and environmental monitoring. Tom is also experienced as an environmental monitor for erosion control and endangered species, and he performs peer reviews of permit applications for various municipalities. His technical expertise includes wetland delineation, soil profile descriptions, soil evaluations, terrestrial and aquatic vegetation mapping, and rare species survey and habitat assessments. Tom has knowledge in a variety of ecological disciplines including soil science, wetland ecology, biology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and watershed hydrology and is experienced in regulatory disciplines.  Tom  is certified in Invasive Plant Management through UMASS – Amherst.

  • Matthew D.C. Varrell
    Matthew D.C. VarrellProject Manager/Wetland Scientist

    Matthew Varrell is a Professional and Certified Wetland Scientist (PWS/CWS) with over 25 years of experience in wetland science/wildlife biology and regulatory permitting for private and public projects throughout the Northeast. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management and specializes in wetland identification and wildlife ecology, with experience in numerous wildlife habitat evaluations and rare species surveys.  Matthew has completed hundreds of complex wetland delineations and participated in numerous studies involving the identification of important rare species habitat, and the tracking and trapping of rare species.  Such studies have included studies of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. In addition to wetland delineation projects and wildlife habitat evaluations, his expertise includes vernal pool identification and certification.reach, extending across all six New England states, as well as New York, Minnesota, Ohio, and Maryland. Matthew is also certified in Invasive Plant Management through UMASS – Amherst.

  • DawnMae Lucas
    DawnMae LucasBusiness Development/Office Manager

    DawnMae Lucas is the Business Development & Office Manager at Lucas Environmental.  DawnMae has a background in mechanical engineering and nursing. She currently handles all of the daily administration at Lucas Environmental, in addition to helping grow the business name and expand our reach.  Skilled in internal and external communication, DawnMae consistently contributes to customer relations and provides exceptional administrative and operational support to the LE team. Specialties include Bookkeeping, Accounting, A/R Billing, Collections, A/P, Taxes, Job Costing, and Marketing.

  • Joseph H. Orzel
    Joseph H. OrzelProject Manager/Wetland Scientist

    Joseph Orzel is a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) and has assisted clients with environmental permit issuance at the federal, state, and local levels since 1994.  Joe holds a B.S. in Biology from the State University of New York College at Fredonia, and completed research and coursework requirements toward a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of New Hampshire. Joe routinely conducts wetland delineations and identification of regulated wetland resource areas, as well as natural resource site assessments, wildlife habitat assessments, and has conducted fisheries research and radio-telemetry. Joe’s project experience ranges from construction, planting, and monitoring of wetland restoration/replication areas to environmental and construction monitoring.  Joe is also experienced in vernal pool evaluations, and performs peer reviews of permit applications for various municipalities. Joe technical expertise includes wetland delineation, wildlife habitat evaluations, vernal pool surveys, and rare species work.

  • Curtis R. Young
    Curtis R. YoungWetland Scientist/Independent Consultant


    Curtis R. Young was President and Senior Consultant of Wetlands Preservation, Inc. since its inception and until the firm was acquired by Lucas Environmental.  Curtis has over 35 years of environmental consulting experience in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, managing multi-disciplinary environmental studies.  Curt’s background includes a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial ecology investigations, including the evaluation of wetland resource areas and rare species studies.  All of the studies have been conducted with emphasis on the appropriate application of scientific principles to resolving site development issues and on cost and schedule control.  Curt’s focus has always been on integrating engineering, science, and the regulatory community in solving development-related problems.

Staff Certifications

Professional Wetland Scientists (PWS) – Society of Wetland Scientists

Certified Wetland Scientists (CWS) – Joint Board of Licensure and Certification, State of NH

Registered Professional Soil Scientists (RPSS) – Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England

Certified Professional Wetland Delineator (CPWD) – Commonwealth of Virginia

Invasive Plant Management –UMASS, Amherst

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certification – San Francisco State University

Professional Affiliations

MassDOT Prequalification

Society of Wetland Scientists

Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions

Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists

Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England

Soil Science Society of America

New Hampshire Association of Natural Resource Scientists

Environmental Business Council of New England

Quincy Chamber of Commerce