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Site Investigation & Corrective Action
The goal of this phase is to identify:
1.whether contamination exists on the subject property or not and the degree to which it exists; and
2.the extent of the contamination when it does exist.
The reasons for conducting a Phase II / Site Characterization may include RECs discovered during an Environmental Site Assessment, the possibility of a release from any of numerous sources (underground storage tanks, pipelines, industrial activities, container storage or transfer areas, etc.), or site development due diligence. The Phase II / Site Characterization is usually intrusive in nature and involves collection and analysis of soil and/or ground water samples. Isoconcentration maps are developed, sometimes in three dimensions that delineate the contamination plume. Blackshare Environmental has performed these services on hundreds of sites.
Once the site has been characterized and a risk assessment has determined the necessary cleanup levels, a system designed to clean the site to risk assessment established levels will be implemented. Technologies such as onsite cell construction, dig and haul, pump and treat, air sparging, vapor extraction, bioremediation and phytoremediation are considered and the best combination of technologies is evaluated for feasibility and implementation after approval by the client/regulatory agency. The remediation is sometimes referred to as Phase III. Tank removals are included in this category. Blackshare Environmental's staff of engineers and technical specialists routinely specify cleanup remedies for impacted sites and have removed hundreds of tanks.
If the Phase II / Site Characterization is performed in association with a UST release, regulations specify a process the site must undergo that usually involves a risk assessment. The Risk Assessment process is not exclusive to UST cases and is often used in other instances when the goal is to determine acceptable clean up levels based on sensitive receptors and other factors. Blackshare Environmental has experts with extensive experience in this area.
If the Phase II / Site Characterization is performed in association with a UST release, regulations specify a process the site must undergo that usually involves a risk assessment. The Risk Assessment process is not exclusive to UST cases and is often used in other instances when the goal is to determine acceptable clean up levels based on sensitive receptors and other factors. Blackshare Environmental has experts with extensive experience in this area.
System Operations & Maintenance
Once the remediation system is installed and operating, it must be maintained. Blackshare Environmental provides these services and periodically monitors the progress of the remediation, many times as required by agreement with the regulatory agency.
Blackshare Environmental conducted an investigation of the subsurface beneath two concrete transformer pads where PCB laden dielectric fluid had leaked over a substantial period of time. Using direct push technology to delineate the PCB contamination, our team discovered elevated levels of PCBs at depths up to five feet. The concrete pads were removed and disposed of as PCB contaminated waste. An excavation plan was developed based on the subsurface investigation and a grid pattern was established for the initial excavation and removal of contaminated soil.
Cleanup of Illegally Dumped Glass Furnaces
Blackshare Environmental completed investigation of three separate sites where waste from the routine demolition of glass furnaces was illegally dumped. The material consisted mainly of fire brick, glass cullet and silica sand. Upon discovery of the sites, the ODEQ issued Notice of Violation (NOV) to both the waste generator and the disposal contractor who actually dumped the waste. The ODEQ required full characterization of each of the sites.
Groundwater Recovery and Treatment System
Blackshare Environmental was contracted by a large manufacturing company to operate and maintain the operation and maintenance of a groundwater recovery and treatment system. The treatment system was installed to remediate a plume of dissolved-phase aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons which resulted from two leaking underground storage tanks. Over twenty monitor/recovery wells have been installed and the treatment uses soil vapor extraction and aquifer air sparging technology.
Vents Natural Gas From Foundation
Complaining of natural gas accumulating around the foundation of his house, a Tulsa homeowner engaged Blackshare Environmental to disperse the gas and locate its source. Blackshare designed and installed a collection system which consisted of a series of buried collection pipes and a blower which safely vented the gas above the roof line. We then assisted in locating the natural gas source, which turned out to be an unplugged gas well. The well was plugged and the source was eliminated.
Investigations of Subsurface Hydrocarbon Contamination
Blackshare Environmental routinely conducts investigations of subsurface hydrocarbon contamination, usually resulting from USTs, for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and/or municipalities. These investigations are often done as part of larger road construction widening projects.
A pipeline company discovered a gasoline release at its Glenpool,OK storage terminal near Tulsa. The initial site investigation confirmed that subsurface soil and groundwater near the point of release were affected by petroleum products. A series of geoprobe borings located and delineated the gasoline plume. Free product ranging in thickness from a sheen on the water to over two inches was recorded in twenty-one of the borings.
Risk Based Closure for a Chlorinated Solvent Plume
Blackshare Environmental is performing investigations and regulatory interaction for a former modular building manufacturing plant in Houston, Texas. Previous investigations revealed significant chlorinated solvent contamination onsite as well as migration to adjacent residential properties. The site was transferred from the previous TCEQ Risk Reduction Standards program to the TRRP to take advantage of closure options more favorable to the client. Due to offsite migration to residential properties, this project involves extensive agency interaction/negotiation to achieve closure terms amiable to both the client and the agency. This site should be issued a Certificate of Closure in 2012 under the Remedy Standard B TRRP Standard.
Risk Based Closure for a former Concrete Batch Plant
Blackshare Environmental is managing the closure of a former concrete batch plant property with arsenic contamination in soil and groundwater. Arsenic contamination is associated with the use of coal power plant fly ash in the concrete process. The property was part of a large land acquisition project in Lewisville, Texas for a major real estate developer. The site was enrolled in the TCEQ Voluntary Cleanup Program, site investigations were performed and reporting was completed under the TCEQ TRRP guidelines. This project involved extensive agency interaction/negotiation on an accelerated timetable to meet client’s financial goals. This project received the conditional certificate of closure in 15 months and will receive a final certificate of closure in August 2011.