Environmental Assessment and Remediation

The in-situ remediation technology of dual phase extraction (DPE) is also known as multi-phase extraction or vacuum-enhanced extraction. During DPE, the following occurs:

• DPE uses vacuums to remove contaminated groundwater, free-phase product and contaminated vapors from soils.
• Extracted liquids and vapor are treated and collected for disposal.
• DPE pulls air through pore space in contaminated soils and pulls contaminated groundwater and free product from the same well location.
• Requires permits for discharge of water into POTW or back into the ground.
• May require permits for the discharge of treated vapors to the atmosphere.
• DPE requires regularly-scheduled O&M and sampling.
• Effectiveness depends on type of soils and depths of groundwater.

• Minimal disturbance to site operations.
• Medium length treatment timeframes.
• Flexible applications.
• Can aid in the continuous removal of free product.
• Can be utilized underneath of structures.
• Proven performance.
• Agency-accepted cleanup technology.
• Containment technology.

• Requires extensive knowledge of subsurface conditions (pilot test).
• Above-grade equipment and associated noise.
• Requires continual O&M and sampling.
• Extracts a large volume of groundwater.
• Treatment techniques for vapors removed from soil may be expensive.
• Seasonal temperature changes may affect performance.

In today’s economic condition, an abundance of commercial and industrial properties have been surfacing in the marketplace. While the list of availability grows, the environmental stigma associated with past business at these facilities has continued to rise and continues to be one of the largest deterrents for perspective buyers.  It seems unless the property is “clean”, no one wants to assume “the environmental skeletons” that may reside in the property’s proverbial closet. But “How clean is ‘clean’?” remains the underlying question.   

The advent of risk-based closures has helped define “clean” and the ultimate goal of any cleanup program is a “No Further Action” (NFA) status letter. While this has helped alleviate some buyers’ concerns, unless the words “No Further Action” were uttered by a regulator, the presence of contamination still added a stigma to a property causing most investors, developers and bankers to shy away.

To learn more, click here to read an article written by one of the environmental assessment and remediation experts at August Mack Environmental.

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.

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

August Mack Environmental, Inc., a full-service environmental, health and safety (EH&S) consulting firm, is pleased to the promotion of Bennett Thayer to Office Manager for the Dublin, Ohio office. Since joining August Mack in 2004, Thayer has served as a field scientist, staff scientist and project manager.

With more than eight years of experience, Thayer specializes in local, state and federal environmental compliance; environmental, health and safety (EH&S) servicing and reporting; environmental management program development and implementation; biological assessment and environmental investigations; groundwater monitoring; subsurface investigations; underground storage tank (UST) closure; environmental site assessments; wetland determinations and delineations; remedial system operations and maintenance; work plan design and implementation; asbestos surveys; Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) preparation and implementation; and Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan preparation and implementation. In his new role as an office manager, Thayer will be responsible for managing the office’s daily operations, providing technical oversight for projects and managing the office’s growing staff. According to Bryan Petriko, vice president and principal environmental engineer for August Mack, “During the past six years at August Mack, Ben has shown exemplary strength in leadership, technical knowledge, resource management and client management. These qualities made him an excellent choice for the Office Manager position of our Ohio office. I am confident that our Ohio office will continue to flourish under his leadership.”

Thayer received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science from Otterbein College.

August Mack Environmental, Inc. is a full-service environmental, health and safety (EH&S) consulting firm specializing in regulatory compliance; environmental due diligence and risk management; site investigation/remediation/closure; and sustainability services to the industrial, legal, financial, health care and government sectors throughout North America. August Mack has offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. For more information on the company’s products and services, call 317.916.8000 or visit www.augustmack.com.

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.

• Indiana
• Ohio
• Michigan 
• Pennsylvania 
• Missouri

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