Without a doubt, site owners, regulators, insurers and other stakeholders are eager to achieve closure status for remediation projects. Environmental remediation response completion plans, often referred to as decision documents (DDs) are a useful tool in developing an exit strategy. DDs often include:

• A definition of scope and type of environmental condition requiring remediation
• Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs) that must be met to control and mitigate risk
• Details of the type of remediation tactics implemented to achieve objectives
• A description of metrics used to determine if RAOs have been met

Here are a few key points to keep in mind when developing a DD:

1. All stakeholders should be involved in the drafting of a DD in order to ensure that RAOs are appropriate, cost-effective and necessary to protect human health and the environment.
2. DDs should incorporate a Conceptual Site Model (CSM), which is a summary of all site-specific information related to the contaminate sources and release mechanisms among other data. This is critical information used in assessing performance of remediation activities and monitoring ongoing efforts.
3. Exit strategies are dynamic, accounting for ongoing regulatory changes and site condition changes that can evolve over the life of the project.

Access a comprehensive report in PDF format on site exit strategies from the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council.

Looking for a checklist to get you started? Download one here.

Questions about the site closure process? Contact us.

Download an Exit Strategy Checklist to assist in reaching closure status at your site.

RALEIGH, N.C. –Piedmont Geologic, an environmental consulting firm, announced today the startup of a new groundwater remediation project at a major gasoline pipeline release site in the Ohio River valley. This represents the culmination of the site assessment and remediation planning/implementation phase of the organization’s work. Site cleanup is projected to be completed in three to five years.

The site is the location of an underground fuel pipeline leak which resulted in the accumulation of gasoline in the area water table. Approximately 70,000 gallons of gasoline have been recovered through the initial twelve months of interim site remediation efforts, which were focused mainly on preventing seepage of gasoline into the Ohio River. Both state and federal agencies have been pleased with the results achieved to date.

The final phase of work is the installation, startup, and operation of a groundwater remediation system. Using a total of 60 remediation wells, the system will involve a combination of fluid extraction to remove gasoline and contaminated groundwater from the water table and vapor extraction to remove gasoline from soil and the water table. Recovered gasoline will be recycled and recovered vapors will be destroyed using thermal oxidation technology.

“It was crucial to the site owners and their insurer that we were able to respond very quickly to both assess the scope of the release and design and implement a full-scale groundwater remediation system,” said Piedmont Geologic President and Principal Geologist, Pete Dressel. “Additionally, they were looking for a system designed and installed in a manner that would minimize impact on normal retail operations by property owners and we were happy to provide a solution to meet their needs.”

“Piedmont’s capability to rapidly respond to this loss and install efficient recovery equipment significantly reduced the potential for third party claims. These response efforts focused on immediate recovery rather than investigation which will reduce long term remediation expenses,” said Chris Fisher, Environmental Consultant with XL Specialty Insurance Company. “Following the response, Piedmont’s delineation of the impacts, remedial design and installation have produced excellent results. I look forward to working with Piedmont on future projects.”

About Piedmont Geologic
Established in 1994, Piedmont Geologic is a consulting firm specializing in environmental assessment and site remediation. With a professional staff of scientists, engineers, and technicians, the company has completed hundreds of projects for major petroleum companies, Fortune 500 companies, public agencies, and small and large businesses. Projects have ranged from rapid turn-around environmental site assessments for due diligence real estate assessments to long-term groundwater remediation efforts. The firm’s expertise in environmental regulations ensures regulatory approval for site closure to meet your goals. For more information, visit http://www.piedmontgeologic.com.

What is Nanotechnology and Nanoremediation?
Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at a molecular and atomic scale.  Nanotechnologies are currently used most frequently in semiconductors, memory/storage and energy sectors, among others, but has interesting implications in the field of environmental remediation.

Nanoremediation tactics include the application of reactive nanomaterials to transform and detoxify pollutants. Because of their very small size, nanoparticles may be able to infuse minute spaces in the subsurface and remain suspended in groundwater, resulting in the particles dispersing more widely and traveling farther than larger particles. This EPA fact sheet provides a snapshot of the current uses of nanotechnology in remediation.

Benefits of Nanotechnology in Environmental Engineering
In-situ nanoremediation could possibly reduce the overall costs of remediating contaminated sites, make cleanups faster, reduce the need for treatment and disposal of contaminated soil and reduce some contaminant concentrations to nearly zero.  For example, for nanoremediation in situ, groundwater does not need to be pumped for above ground treatment and soil is not required to be transported to elsewhere for treatment and disposal.  Because the average pump-and-treat system operates for about 18 years, early results from nanotechnology suggest faster, less expensive cleanups.

In addition to groundwater remediation, nanotechnology holds promise in reducing the presence of NAPL. A material utilizing mostly calcium nano-sized oxides was used in situ to clean up heating oil spills from USTs.  Access a list of sites and a map where nanotechnology is currently in use.

The Next Steps in Nanoremediation
Although available data indicate that risks of manufactured nanoparticles to environmental and human health are likely minimal, significant research on their potential impact to the environment and on human health is scant. A full review of benefits and potential risks is available here.

Looking for assistance on your site cleanup?  Ready for new options?  Learn how Piedmont Geologic can help!

Do you have land that is idle, vacant, or less productive than it ought to be? Are concerns about environmental contamination contributing to the problem? If you answered yes to both questions, then you might be sitting on a gold mine - a brownfield ready for redevelopment.

Despite the state of the commercial real estate market, savvy investors continue to find opportunity in brownfields. A recent spike in interest in brownfield projects can be attributed to an increase in brownfield development incentives from regulatory bodies at both the state and Federal levels. But that’s not the whole story.

Greater Demand for Green
Regulators at both the state and federal level have increasingly given priority to streamlining approvals for projects that carry a green dividend. Not surprisingly, most brownfield redevelopment projects fit the bill by creating green jobs and encouraging smarter land use that builds healthier communities.

Lower Remediation Costs
The refinement of remediation technologies like aerobic biodegradation has helped to dramatically slash remediation costs. Technological advances have also gotten greener over the years. The EPA’s call for an increase in green remediation practices has spurred new interest in using more fuel-efficient, eco-friendly and recycling-conscious techniques in the remediation process. Many of these new technologies help dramatically lower overall cleanup costs.

Time is Ripe for Brownfields
Even in a challenging economy, opportunities for brownfield redevelopment remain strong. Financing the cleanup and development of these projects is increasing as all parties - lenders, developers, regulators, the community and other stakeholders - work together to push the envelope on the enormous possibilities in redeveloping contaminated land.

Click to read about a Louisiana brownfield that is being transformed into a biomedical research facility expected to employ 300 staff members.

Learn more about how Piedmont Geologic can help pave the way for successful Brownfield redevelopment.

The Situation

One of the most common sources of soil and water contamination is ruptured underground pipelines. Piedmont Geologic recently assessed a site in the Southeast where gasoline released into a shallow aquifer near a major river. A deeper aquifer providing drinking water was also threatened.

The Challenge

The challenge to remediate the site was three-fold:
–Contain migration of gasoline on the water table to the river
–Identify and mitigate the impact on the municipal water supply
–Identify the lateral and vertical spread of contamination resulting from the release

The Solution

After quickly assessing the situation, Piedmont Geologic implemented a containment and long-term remediation plan. Through riverbank recovery efforts, seepage into the river has been largely mitigated. State and Federal authorities have expressed satisfaction regarding the efforts of Piedmont Geologic at the site.

Read more case studies here.

Concerned about pipelines or USTs at your site? Contact Piedmont Geologic at 919-854-9700.

What are Underground Storage Tanks?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines an underground storage tank system as “a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground.” Leaking or corroding USTs are one of the most common causes of site contamination. According to the EPA, there are over 600,000 USTs nationwide that store petroleum or hazardous substances. Leaking USTs can contaminate groundwater, which is the most common source of drinking water for Americans.

What happens if a UST is leaking?

If a leak has been detected or there has been a release from overfilling the UST, a site assessment is required to determine the scope of contamination.  Be sure to work with a firm that has expertise in USTs.

How much does it cost to clean up?

Very contaminated sites at which drinking water resources have been adversely impacted may involve cleanup activities that can cost millions of dollars. Other sites that exhibit relatively minor or no contamination may allow cleanup contractors to restore the site quickly and at less cost. Some contaminated sites have impacted only surrounding soil and not groundwater; these are generally easier and less expensive to remediate.

UST cleanup can be costly, but the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provides a supplemental appropriation of $200 million from the LUST (Leaking Underground Storage Tanks) Trust Fund (Recovery Act funding) for LUST cleanup activities authorized by the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA).

Here in North Carolina, the EPA announced the distribution of $7.5 million under the ARRA of 2009 to assess and clean up UST petroleum leaks.

How can contaminated sites be remediated?

Depending on the extent and nature of the contamination, clean-up processes are varied.  Examples of cleanup technologies include: soil vapor extraction (SVE), air sparging, biosparging, biopiles, bioventing, in situ groundwater bioremediation, dual-phase extraction, monitored natural attenuation, enhanced aerobic bioremediation, and chemical oxidation.

Questions or concerns about potential UST issues at your site?  Contact Piedmont Geologic at 919-854-9700.

Carrying out due diligence is an essential step in a property or real estate transaction. For many sites, conducting environmental due diligence studies can help ensure that a deal stays on-track and any issues regarding air, soil and water quality at the site are uncovered and remediated or accounted for in negotiations.

Download our checklist to help execute your next environmental due diligence project.

Here’s a quick-glance guide to the steps in environmental due diligence process:

Determine which type of due diligence is required.
An ASTM Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is usually conducted at the request of financial institutions or lenders and is a good idea for any property purchase where soil, groundwater or air conditions may be impacted.

Select a qualified environmental consultant.
If you are executing due diligence for a regulatory agency, work with an environmental consultant such as Piedmont Geologic who has appropriate state qualifications.

Partner with an environmental consultant who understands the entire process.
Should the Phase I ESA uncover problematic environmental conditions, then a Phase II ESA is required. The Phase II ESA uses site sampling to determine if previous onsite or offsite hazardous uses have impacted the soil and/or groundwater conditions. The goal of the Phase II is to quantify the extent of the cleanup and predict remediation costs.

Negotiated agreements must comply with current environmental law.
All parties that are involved in the potential transaction should be notified and negotiations begin to determine the appropriate course of action.

This short tutorial is a good introduction to the property due diligence process.

Recent news from the EPA is that the agency will not be experiencing the budget cuts other agencies are suffering. Quite the opposite, in fact. With a fiscal 2010 projected increase in EPA grant money going to state and local governments, an uptick in activity on many local environmental projects is expected to result.

Superfund hazardous waste cleanup projects that had slowed from sparse funding during the Bush years are receiving some $600 million in new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. See the EPA list of Superfund sites receiving funding.

The EPA’s Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) program is getting $190.7 million in new money thanks to the stimulus bill. View the EPA list of state allocations under the LUST program.

The EPA-funded Brownfields Program, which returns contaminated and abandoned industrial properties to productive use will get some $100 million in new money under the Recovery Act (a five-fold increase). Read the EPA list of local Brownfields projects receiving Recovery Act grants.

All of these amounts are dwarfed, however, by some $6 billion in Recovery Act funding for water quality, wastewater, and drinking water infrastructure projects. Most of this money is applied in the form of loans to local governments through state-administered revolving funds. Review the EPA list of state allocations for Recovery Act money going into state revolving funds.