Environmental Analysis and Remediation

In the in-situ remedial technology of soil vapor extraction (SVE), the following occurs:

• Vacuum is applied to the unsaturated zone through extraction wells.
• Vacuum causes movement of vapors toward extraction wells.
• Volatile constituents are removed through the extraction wells.
• The extracted vapors are discharged to the atmosphere.

• Proven performance; readily available equipment; easy installation; agency approved.
• Minimal disturbance to site operations.
• Short treatment times (usually six months to two years under optimal conditions).
• Easily combined with other remedial technologies.
• Can be used under buildings and other locations that cannot be excavated.

The disadvantages of in-situ SVE are the following:

• Concentration reductions greater than about 90 percent are difficult to achieve.
• Effectiveness less certain when applied to sites with low-permeability soil or stratified soils.
• May require costly treatment for atmospheric discharge of extracted vapors.
• Air emission permits generally required.
• Only treats unsaturated-zone soils; other methods may also be needed to treat saturated-zone soils and groundwater.

The ex-situ pump and treat cleanup technology results in the following:

• Contaminated groundwater is removed from the subsurface by pumping
• It is often used with treatment technologies such as Air Stripping and Granular Activated Charcoal
• Requires understanding of aquifer characteristics (pilot-testing)
• Requires discharge to sanitary (POTW permit) or storm sewer (NPDES)

• Effective for capturing contaminant plumes and controlling migration
• Mass removal
• POTW discharge parameters negotiable

• Difficult to clean up sites, generally only contains. (Rebound issues)
• Long operation period
• Annual operation and maintenance costs
• Potential air emission issues

The ex-situ landfarming technology results in the following:

• Contaminated soils are removed by physical excavation from the ground and placed in open-air cells
• Excavated soils are usually placed onto plastic lining with side berms to contain all soils and moisture
• Contaminants are reduced in the soil by aeration and evaporation or by biodegradation
• Source area of contamination is eliminated
• May require some type of permit for evaporation of contaminants
• Confirmatory soil samples are collected from the landfarmed soils to confirm effectiveness
• Soils need to be managed after treatment

• Relatively simple to design and implement
• Short treatment times
• Cost competitive
• Removes potential contributors to groundwater impacts

• Very difficult to eliminate 100 percent of contaminants
• May not be effective for high contaminant concentrations
• Disruptive to site operations – requires large land area
• Presence of metals in soils may inhibit progress
• Dust and vapors may pose air quality concerns
• Impacts may have to remain under structures and utilities and along property boundaries
• May require state-approved air permits
• Requires routine O&M (tilling, etc.) and water collection

The Ex-Situ removal and disposal cleanup technology results in the following:

• Contaminated soils are removed by physical excavation from the ground
• Source area of contamination is eliminated
• Soils need to be profiled through an appropriate landfill
• Removal technique requires extensive pre-planning and scheduling
• Confirmatory soil samples are collected around the excavation to confirm effectiveness

• It is effective on all soil types
• It is an agency accepted cleanup method
• The timeframe for cleanup is short
• It removes potential contributors to groundwater impacts

• Must understand full extent of impacts
• Disruptive to site operations
• Depth limitations
• Challenging with shallow groundwater present
• Impacts may have to remain under structures and utilities and along property boundaries

Potential safety issues with an open excavation in a populated area.

House Enrollment Act (HEA) 1162 requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to consider risk-based solutions to environmental impacts. An important part of risk based thinking is the use of “Multiple Lines of Evidence”. This webinar with summarize risk-based closure thinking and explain how “Lines of Evidence” are used in the process of obtaining environmental closure. You will learn what specific “Lines of Evidence” are most helpful and why.

If a confirmed release has occurred, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations require that an appropriate cleanup response, or Corrective Action, be conducted

The purpose of the corrective action process is to ensure that releases of petroleum and regulated substances do not threaten human health and the environment. The steps in the process are:

1. Release discovery and reporting
2. Initial Abatement
3. Investigation
4. Corrective Action
5. Incident Closure/No Further Action

An underground storage tank (UST) Systems may be closed voluntarily if owner or operator chooses, or by mandate if system is not in compliance with regulations.

The guidelines for a temporary UST closure are:

• Corrosion protection must be maintained
• If UST is temporarily closed for 3-12 months:
• Leave vent line open
• Cap and secure all other lines, pumps, equipment, etc.

Keep in mind that if an UST is temporarily closed for more than 12 months it must be permanently closed.

The guidelines for a permanent closure or changes in service are:
 

• Notify implementing agency 30-days before beginning closure or change-in-service
  • Empty tank and clean residual product/sludges
  • Remove from ground or fill with an inert solid
  • Perform UST closure assessment
• Before Closure or change-in-service is complete, owners and operators must measure for presence of contamination.
  • Sample types, locations, and methods dependent on site conditions
  • If contamination is identified, Corrective Action must be initiated

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPAs) technical regulations for underground storage tanks (USTs) are designed to:

• Reduce the chance of releases from USTs (Construction & Installation)
• Detect leaks and spills when they do occur (Design)
• Secure a prompt cleanup (Notification)

The notification performance standards are:

• USTs must be registered with the agency and appropriate fees paid
• Releases (suspected and confirmed) reported within 24-hours to implementing agency

Spills, or other releases of hazardous constituents to the environment, can have many forms including emergency response situations like fuel releases to a ditch during an accident, a release of petroleum from an underground storage tank (UST) or a release associated with waste storage. Regardless of the nature of the release, once a release has been identified, the responsible party must take actions to prevent further release, investigate the nature and extent of impacts and if warranted, conduct remediation prior to achieving “closure” of the incident.

To learn more about environmental assessment and remediation, click here to read an article written by an environmental remediation specialist at August Mack Environmental.

• Reduce the chance of releases from USTs (Construction & Installation)
• Detect leaks and spills when they do occur (Design)
• Secure a prompt cleanup (Notification)

• Secondary containment and interstitial monitoring
• Automatic tank gauging (ATG) systems
• Vapor monitoring
• Groundwater monitoring
• Statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR)
• Manual tank gauging
• Tank tightness testing and inventory control

• Interstitial monitoring
• Vapor monitoring
• Groundwater monitoring
• Statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR)
• Grading and check valves Leak detection requirements vary for Pressurized and Suction delivery systems

• Reduce the chance of releases from USTs (Construction & Installation)
• Detect leaks and spills when they do occur (Design)
• Secure a prompt cleanup (Notification)

The installation performance standard for a new or upgraded UST installation Performance Standards for New or Upgraded USTs requires that:

• Installation of USTs must be performed by Qualified Contractors and Certification of Installation must be provided to Agency

August Mack Environmental offers an average of 6 webinars a month, all of which are FREE! If you missed a webinar, most are recorded and available here.

We have offices throughout the Midwest in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In order to deliver the best quality, our webinars are presented by environmental compliance specialists, environmental remediation specialists and due diligence experts from each of these offices. Topics range from corporate environmental compliance, new regulations from EPA, OSHA and state-specific agencies, environmental analysis and remediation as well as health & safety compliance.

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The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPAs) technical regulations for underground storage tanks (USTs) are designed to:

• Reduce the chance of releases from USTs (Construction & Installation)
• Detect leaks and spills when they do occur (Design)
• Secure a prompt cleanup (Notification)

The construction standards for new or upgraded USTs are the following:

• Tanks and piping can be constructed of Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic or Cathodically-Protected Steel
• USTs must also have Catchment Basins to contain small spills