Sarah Kalika, PG, CAC

Principal Geologist

As a California Certified Asbestos Consultant and licensed Professional Geologist, Ms. Kalika has a unique combination of expertise with applying regulations (originally written for asbestos in building materials) to construction projects that impact Naturally Occurring Asbestos within rock and soil.   

Ms. Kalika is skilled in navigating the often complicated assortment of regulations that apply to asbestos minerals and environmental contaminants on construction sites. 

For more than 25 years, Ms. Kalika has helped owners, developers, property managers, contractors, and regulatory officials understand the risks and mitigations needed below the ground and behind the walls.

We listen first, translate data into plain language, and interpret regulations so you don’t have to - because getting answers should feel personal, not painful.

Smiling blonde woman in a white lace top posing in front of a brick wall

Licensure & Certifications

Professional Geologist (California)

Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC)

AHERA Inspector / Assessor, Supervisor, Management Planner, Project Designer

Lead Paint Inspector / Assessor, Supervisor (CDPH)

40-hour HAZWOPER with current refreshers

8-hour HAZWOPER Supervisor

Professional Association Affiliations

Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG)

Environmental Information Association (EIA)

American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM) D22.07 & D40

International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG)

Portfolio of Public Speaking & Presentations

AEG Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, woman behind podium

AEG Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, 2024

Group selfie of friends gathered around a restaurant table during a presentation, with a projector screen and fireplace in the background.

AEG San Joaquin Valley Chapter, Fresno, CA, 2024

Selection of Recent Topics:

  • Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Eastern United States: America’s Forgotten Problem? (Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG) Annual Meeting, Chattanooga, TN, 2026)

  • History of NOA Regulations (AEG 5th Symposium on Naturally Occurring Asbestos, Oakland, CA, 2026)

  • NOA Basics & Case Studies (Environmental Information Association (EIA) National Conference, Phoenix, AZ, 2026)

  • The State of NOA Regulations: A Call for Unity and Harmonization (ASTM International Johnson-Rook Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, 2025 & AEG Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 2025)

  • Site Characterization and Mapping: Information for Educators (presented as part of an American Geosciences Institute / AEG K-14 Teachers Workshop, Chicago, IL, 2025)

  • Using Elevated Concentrations of Chromium and Nickel as an indicator for the presence of Chrysotile Asbestos (presented to multiple AEG Chapters as part of Presidential Speaking Tour, 2024)

  • AEG Opportunities for Students (presented at multiple Universities as part of Presidential Speaking Tour, 2024)

  • What’s in that soil? Site Characterization, Sampling Hazards, and PPE (presented to multiple AEG Chapters as part of Presidential Speaking Tour, 2024)

  • Challenges and Opportunities for Environmental & Engineering Geologists in Professional Practice (American Institute of Professional Geologists National Conference, Durango, CO, 2024)

  • Intentional Inclusion (AEG Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, 2023)

  • NOA: When Regulations Don’t Match Reality (AEG Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, 2023)

  • NOA Basics and Case Studies (AEG Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2022)

  • Let’s Get Real: Stories from Women in the Geoscience Workplace and Listening to Learn (AEG Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, 2021)

  • Asbestos Monitoring in Construction Site Air - Unexpected Challenges (AEG Annual Meeting, Virtual, 2020)

  • Asbestos Dust Mitigation Plans: What to Consider when Preparing for Ground Disturbing Activities at an NOA-containing Construction Site (AEG Annual Meeting, Asheville, NC, 2019)

  • Using Sanborn Maps as an Historical Resource (AEG Annual Meeting, Colorado Springs, CO, 2017)

  • Evaluation of Naturally Occurring Asbestos Mitigation Measures in California Construction Projects (AEG Annual Meeting, Kona, HI, 2016)

Dozens of presentations for industry professionals, geologists & engineers, educators, college students, and middle-school aged children on topics including Naturally Occurring Asbestos, Environmental Site Characterization, Inclusion & Belonging, and Career Opportunities in the field of Geoscience.

Group selfie of college students and an instructor in a classroom with desks, laptops, and a ceiling-mounted projector

Presentation to Clemson University Geoscience Students, Clemson, SC, 2024

Five panelists seated behind a table at a conference discussion

Workforce Development & Support Committee Panel, AEG Annual Meeting, Chattanooga, TN, 2026

Group of six diverse colleagues posing indoors, with one woman holding a glass award.

Presentation for students at York College / City University of New York, Queens, New York, 2024

  • Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists

    • San Francisco Chapter Board Vice Chair & Chair

    • 15 years on the Board of Directors, including as Association President in 2024

    • Co-founded the Naturally Occurring Asbestos Technical Working Group

    • Planned and moderated 5 Naturally Occurring Asbestos Symposia (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2026)

    • Co-chaired 2 Annual Meetings (2018 San Francisco, 2025 Chicago)

    • Current Operational Committee involvement (Meetings Advisory Committee co-chair, Workforce Development & Support Committee member, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator)

    Speaker at 20+ Annual Meetings, Symposia, Association-level webinars.

  • Environmental Information Association

    Member of the EIA Women’s Committee

    Mentor for the 2027 mentorship cycle

    Speaker at the 2026 Annual Conference in Phoenix (April 2026)

    Speaker at the NorCal Chapter Dinner Meeting (March 2026)

  • American Society for Testing and Materials

    Member: D-22.07 Air Quality, Sampling, Analysis, and Management of Asbestos and Other Microscopic Particles

    Speaker at D-22.07 Johnson - Rook Asbestos Conference (Pittsburgh, 2025)

  • International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment

    Founder and Co-chair of Commission 39: Naturally Occurring Asbestos

    Co-chair of the 13th IAEG Congress (jointly planned with AEG) in San Francisco, 2018

    10+ year Member