Environmental Assessment Consultant

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.

Building owners and managers should keep in mind the following asbestos management requirements:

• Training - Maintenance and custodial (housekeeping) personnel must be trained regarding asbestos if they will be working adjacent to asbestos or asbestos dust
  • 2-Hour Asbestos Awareness Training - Required for maintenance and housekeeping personnel that will be working adjacent to asbestos at no cost to the employee.
  • 16-Hour Asbestos O&M Training - Required for maintenance personnel that perform Class III work (repair and maintenance where asbestos will be disturbed.
• Exercise due diligence to identify asbestos containing materials (ACMs) before disturbing any potential ACMs
• Always investigate the possibility of ACM which may included testing. Do not rely on the word of any person regarding the presence or absence of asbestos.

An asbestos inspection conducted by a licensed state asbestos inspector usually entails the following:

• Visual Inspection
• Bulk Sample Collection
• Asbestos Laboratory Analysis

While building owners have many responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the building, below are their asbestos-related responsibilities:

• Identify asbestos containing materials (ACM) in buildings – Surveys or Presume
• Labeling / Signs
• Develop asbestos operations and maintenance plan
• Conduct periodic assessments of ACM
• Abate ACM prior to renovation or demolition projects
• Asbestos abatement
• Training
• Record keeping

Asbestos-containing material (ACM) is not generally considered harmful unless it is releasing dust or fibers into the air. When asbestos dust or fibers are released into the air, many of the fibers will become trapped in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat where they can then be removed, but some may pass deep into the lungs. Once they are trapped in the lungs, the fibers can cause health problems.

To learn more about asebestos, click here to read an article written by one of the environmental assessment consultants at August Mack Environmental.

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.

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.

• When does ICP apply?
• What is necessary to complete the ICP?
• How long will the ICP process take?
• What closure document is offered by ICP?
• What are ICP limitations?

Mold is naturally-occurring, microscopic fungi that are found almost everywhere. In nature, mold break down organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees. But indoors, and at high concentrations, mold can affect the health of certain individuals. Exposure to mold and the mycotoxins they can produce, can lead to adverse health effects in sensitive individuals including rash, fever, headache, fatigue and asthma.

• Asbestos
• Lead in drinking water
• Lead-based paint
• Radon
• Wetlands
• Regulatory compliance
• Cultural and historic resources
• Semi-public water supply
• Industrial hygiene
• Health and safety
• Ecological resources
• Endangered species
• Indoor air quality
• Biological agents
• Mold
• High Voltage Transmission Lines

Owning a commercial or industrial building can present unexpected environmental liabilities. A property owner is ultimately responsible for the environmental condition of the property which includes contamination caused by past or current tenants. Most of these environmental concerns and potential liabilities are unknown until a Phase One Environmental Site Assessment is performed. Unfortunately, a Phase 1 Site Assessment is typically driven by a property transaction and not by an expired lease. That does not mean an evaluation of your tenant’s hazardous material handling practices cannot be performed. This can be done quickly and in a cost-effective manner by having an Environmental Tenant Assessment performed. This assessment can be performed prior to leasing a space to a tenant in order to evaluate the environmental risks associated with that tenant and their operations or towards the end of a lease term prior to the tenant vacating the premises to evaluate what environmental liabilities have been left behind. This will provide the valuable information you need to take control of your environmental liability.

To learn more about environmental tenant assessments, click here to read an article written by one of the environmental assessments consultants at August Mack Environmental.