Environmental Remediation Management

Industrial Waste Water Lagoon Closure - Paris, Illinois
The operation of a two-stage industrial waste water lagoon for 25 years resulted in heavily contaminated sediments, prompting the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) oversight of a voluntary closure and monitoring program conducted in accordance with RCRA facility Closure Guidelines. Following approval of a Lagoon Closure Work Plan with cut and fill grading plans, IEPA issued a Water Pollution Control Permit and closure of the 2.5 million-gallon capacity lagoons was conducted. Owing to the finding of contaminants of concern remaining in ground water and subsurface soils, IEPA placed the site in a Voluntary Pre-Notice Site Cleanup Program.

In order to verify site conditions several years later, an investigation was conducted to confirm the absence of environmentally significant concentrations of hazardous substances in surface soils, subsurface soils, and ground water in the areas of the former lagoons and discharge sloughs. Upon review of the findings of this investigation,additional monitoring and investigation activities, including complete replacement of the eroded remedial cover were requied by IEPA. A five-year monitoring program was required by IEPA to monitor the presence of inorganic metals and minerals in the ground water beneath the site.

Midwest Corporation - Pearland, Texas
As a result of a real estate transfer, Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments revealed the presence of lead and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in soils and ground water beneath the site. The facility formerly contained a battery smelting operation. Following several independent attempts to excavate and disposematerials in obvious areas of contamination, the site was listed in Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) Voluntary Cleanup Program. a Response Action Site Investigation Report of Soils and Ground Water, coupled with a risk assessment, was submitted in order to derive cleanup levels for approved remedial actions at the site. The approved remediation allowed for installation of a cap at the site with an operations and maintenance plan to be implemented for a period of five years. The remediation was completed under a site specific health and safety plan that included a highly scrutinized ambient air monitoring program in response to the presence of neighboring commercial areas.

Foundry Sands Corrective Action - Hammond, Indiana
Historical use of foundry sands as fill material at a valve manufacturing facility was the focus of a RCRA clean-up in Hammond, Indiana. The investigation and clean-up activities were conducted under the oversight of Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Following the approval and implementation of several work plans for the determination of the extent of contamination, soil removal activities were begun. In conducting soil removal activities, a pre-approved verification sampling plan was implemented and, upon completion of backfill activities, additional ground water monitoring wells were installed at the site. These wells were monitored for a period of five years prior to abandonment to verify unchanged conditions at the site following remediation. The site has since been designated as a closed file by IDEM.

Universal Manufacturing Facility - Bridgeport, Connecticut
The transfer of the Universal Manufacturing site, a manufacturer of electrical capacitors in Bridgeport, Connecticut triggered a review of the environmental condition of the site under Connecticut’s Environmental Transfer Act. The site was listed on the State’s Superfund List as a result of PCB contamination observed on interior building surfaces, subsurface soils and ground water beneath the facility and off-site. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT-DEP) required pre-approved work plans in accordance with a schedule set forth in a Consent Order. The Consent Order required compliance with the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) in order to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations. The first of several investigative studies focused on interior surfaces, soils, and ground water beneath the plant and in exterior areas adjacent to the plant. Additional investigations focused on floor drain and storm sewer systems and the nearby tidal creek receptor, Yellow Mill Channel.

In determining remedial options, economic considerations of an operational manufacturing facility employing over 200 plant workers from neighboring residential areas of the plant were used in the arguments for in-situ remediation strategies. Remedial activities were conducted in accordance with USEPA’s PCB Clean-Up Policy under TSCA. These activities were conducted in a phased approach, each addressing specific areas including wet capacitor areas of the plant, dry areas of the plant, soils beneath parking areas and off site storm sewers. In addressing contaminated soils beneath the plant and ground water in the vicinity of the plant, several geologic and hydrogeologic investigations were conducted to verify contaminant fate and transport mechanisms in these media. Remedial action goals and objectives were identified and activities including pump and treatment in conjunction with isolated areas of subsurface soil removal were implemented to the satisfaction of CT-DEP.