Taylor GeoServices

Providing Geological, Environmental, Water Supply, Geotechnical & Mapping Services

Environmental Services

 

Brownfield Redevelopment of Former Fuel Oil Distribution Facility

A brownfield property had been historically used as a gasoline service station, heating oil distribution terminal and sewing factory.  Around 1990 the heating oil business was closed and the property was abandoned, but several storage tanks and the infrastructure associated with the oil terminal and historical uses remained.  Between 1990 and 1997 the storage tanks were removed and several preliminary environmental assessments were conducted on the property.  However, limited work was done to address the environmental conditions of the property, and the condition of the property deteriorated.  The property was eventually sold by the county to an individual with no previous association with the property.  The new owner began to renovate the property and restore the existing buildings.

 

Located within a State designated Enterprise Zone, the property qualified as a Special Industrial Area under the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Act.  In accordance with the Act, a Baseline Remedial Investigation was conducted to characterize the site conditions.  The findings from the investigation indicated there were not an imminent threat to human health or the environment associated with the property, the owner was provide with an Act 2 release of liability, and the historic building was redeveloped into a local community health center.

 

 

 

Hydrogeologic Site Characterizations at Gasoline Service Stations

TGS has completed numerous site characterizations at gasoline service stations through the Pennsylvania Storage Tank Corrective Action process.  Characterizations are typically triggered by a confirmed release from the tank system and center around a detailed hydrogeologic investigation to obtain a thorough understanding of the contaminants in the subsurface environment.  A sound understanding and conceptual model of the hydrogeological conditions and contaminant fate and transport mechanisms is critical to limiting liability risks, reducing project costs, selecting effective remedial options, and gaining closure in a timely and successful manner.  The scope of a characterization can include soil sampling, monitoring wells, groundwater sampling, pumping tests, water level recordings, contaminant fate & transport modeling, vapor intrusion evaluation, risk assessment, potable well survey, geophysics, geologic interpretation and data evaluation.  More involved efforts depend largely on the type of contaminant, the magnitude of the impact, and the complexity of the geology.  Findings from the characterization are used to confirm the release had no impact or design and implement a pilot study and remedial action plan.  In cases where significant contamination is present or presents an imminent risk to human health or the environment, the corrective action process may involve a interim remedial action to mitigate or prevent an impact to local receptors such as drinking water wells or surface water bodies.  A properly timed  interim remedial action can also limit the impact to soil and groundwater, greatly reducing subsequent long-term cleanup costs.

 

Groundwater Remediation at Automobile Garage - Managing Cleanup Costs

An automotive repair facility had a leaking underground storage tank on the property.  The extent of the groundwater contamination was minimal and there was no imminent threat to human health or the environment.  The client planned to continue operating the property for a long time and wished to manage cleanup costs over time.  Therefore a combination of both active and passive remediation objectives were planned.  After a limited in-situ bioremediation of injecting a slurry of oxygen release compound, the site was allowed to mitigate through natural attenuation processes.  A simple fate and transport evaluation was then completed for the property to demonstrate that the remaining residual concentrations of benzene around the source area would not migrate to the property line above the State's cleanup standard.  Attainment of the groundwater Statewide Health Standard was demonstrated and an Act 2 release of liability was provided to the property owner.

 

 

 

Soil and Groundwater Remediation to Meet Real Estate Transaction

Concentrations of gasoline constituents, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and total xylenes (BTEX) were identified in the soil and groundwater from a leaking fuel oil tank; preventing the pending sale of the property.  Approximately 100 tons of contaminated soil was excavated and incinerated at an off-site asphalt recycling facility.  To address the contaminated groundwater and obtain Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) closure, an in-situ bioremediation was designed and implemented. Within approximately three months of initiating the bioremediation, BTEX concentrations in the groundwater were below laboratory detection limits.  PADEP closure was granted after quarterly samples confirmed the results.

 

 

 

 

 

Chemical Oxidation & Bioremediation for Shallow Groundwater Contamination

Four leaking gasoline underground storage tanks (LUSTs) were removed from a former automobile dealership and gasoline service station in preparation for the sale of the property.   Others had removed the tanks and contaminated soil, and conducted the initial site characterization and remedial action.  However, after three years there had been no progress in the remediation of the property and persistent concentrations of BTEX prevented the pending sale of the property.  After reviewing the existing information and conducting a supplemental pilot study, an in-situ interceptor trench using chemical oxidation and bioremediation additives was designed and implemented.  Within the first month after implementing the remediation, BTEX concentrations were within acceptable levels for closure and a "No Further Action" letter was obtained from the state regulator.

  

 

Natural Attenuation of Heating Oil Spill using Wetlands

A leaking underground home heating oil tank released several hundred gallons of product into an adjacent spring.  Following a preferential fracture through the underlying gneiss bedrock and sapprolite, heating oil from the tank flowed directly toward a nearby springhouse and into the downstream creek and wetlands.  After the initial emergency response to control the spill and remove the existing heating oil, tank and impacted soil, a baseline characterization was conducted. Sampling identified that the product was being contained within the springhouse and the dissolved constituents in the surface water were naturally degraded by the wetlands.  Natural attenuation monitoring was used to address the remaining groundwater contamination. 

 

 

Soil Remediation of Heavy Metals in Coal Mine Region

An investigation was implemented to identify hydrogeologic conditions and groundwater quality at a former battery recycling facility.  The project site was located within a former coal strip mine and was underlain by 11 previously worked deep bedrock mines.  Preliminary work included reviewing geologic publications and mining maps to outline the hydrogeologic conditions present around the study area.  An extensive rock coring and soil boring program was conducted to evaluate local subsurface conditions.  Field activities included drilling observation and logging, rock core evaluation, down hole camera logging, monitoring well construction design (both bedrock and overburden wells), monitoring well installation observation, and rising head aquifer testing.  The field data and previous documentations were used to prepare geologic cross sections and establish stratigraphy, groundwater occurrences (e.g., the water table within mine pools) along with potential vadose zone groundwater flow directions (e.g., vertical flow through fractures or horizontally along bedding planes), and potential mine subsidence. 

 

A soil removal project was initiated at a former battery recycling facility where the facility and an adjacent residential neighborhood contained elevated levels of lead. Project tasks included addressing surface water and groundwater contamination, stabilizing stormwater runoff, conducting a background soil lead study, identify and negotiating soil removal criteria, and planning the soil removal and restoration activities on the residential properties.  Part of the project involved the use of a stormwater retention basin and a man-made wetlands filtration system to remove heavy metals prior to discharging surface water to a nearby river.  The design and implementation of the wetlands filter allowed the use of naturally occurring wetland plants to immobilize lead within the plant's root systems. 

 

 

Chemical Fingerprinting to Distinguish Historic MGP Source

A Phase I hydrogeologic investigation identified elevated levels of volatile organic and semi volatile compounds in the groundwater beneath a gasoline service station.  A review of historic records indicated the property had been previously owned and occupied by a manufactured gas plant.  A sampling and chemical analysis program was developed to distinguish between gasoline and manufactured gas residuals (e.g., coat tar) contamination.  The results of the sampling program confirmed the contamination was from the previous manufactured gas production and not the client's gasoline service station.  The results were corroborated by the state regulatory agency.

 

 

Phase I Environmental Site Assessments 

 

Employees of Taylor GeoServices, Inc. have performed hundreds of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) throughout Pennsylvania and across the east coast from Connecticut to Florida.  Our ESAs will generally follow the American Society for Testing and Materials' (ASTM) "Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process"  with more stringent requirements followed when needed.  These activities are generally the requirements normally associated with the due diligence process conducted as part of bank financing agreements or property acquisitions. 

 

The objective of a typical Phase I ESA is to identify the presence or likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products that indicate an existing release, a past release, or a material threat of a release into structures, subsurface, groundwater or surface water of the property.  Site conditions vary considerably from inner city redevelopment projects, to commercial and industrial properties, to rural farmland.  And the scope of work can vary accordingly to meet these various conditions or the time constraints required by the client.

Phase I ESA's include a background review of pertinent information to identify past activities or operations on the subject property and surrounding area that may have resulted in adverse environmental conditions to the subject property, including:

 

A site visit is conducted to identify present activities or operations at the property that may result in adverse environmental conditions.  Visual observations are made for the presence of such things as hazardous substances or wastes, storage tanks, drums, PCB containing items, groundwater monitoring wells, industrial, municipal or household dumping, discolored or disturbed soil, discolored surface water, sparse or stressed vegetation and unusual or noxious odors.

 

At the completion of the project, our clients are provided with a comprehensive report that outlines in detail the objective, scope of work, findings, conclusions and recommendations obtained during the ESA. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taylor GeoServices, Inc.

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Updated 01/22/09