What is a Phase I and a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment?

MOST DRY CLEANERS HAVE HEARD THE DREADED PHRASE FROM THEIR COLLEAGUES, “THEY DID A PHASE I.” FROM THIS POINT ON, DRY CLEANERS ARE LEFT WAITING ON PINS AND NEEDLES TO HEAR WHEN THE RESULTS WILL BE READY. IN THIS ARTICLE, I’LL EXPLAIN WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT DURING A PHASE I AND A PHASE II ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT.

Environmental consultant conducting phase I inspection of property

BY: STEVE HENSHAW

WHAT IS A PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT?
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) or Phase I ESA, is short for a study conducted on a property to evaluate the likelihood of environmental contamination. There is a standard that must be followed under the American Standard for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to satisfy an All-Appropriate Inquiry (AAI), which is the process of evaluating a property’s environmental condition and assessing potential liabilities for any contamination. This is also under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

The Phase I ESA process in five steps.

The thing about conducting a Phase I ESA on real estate that has a dry cleaner is that invariably, because of the history of dry cleaning operations, a Phase II ESA is nearly always required as follow-up. In other words, one can be certain that if a property has an active or historical dry cleaner on the site is being considered for refinancing or purchasing, follow-up soil, soil gas or groundwater samples will likely be required.

Download a questionnaire to begin collecting helpful information about your dry cleaning property.

WHAT IS A PHASE II ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT?
This is a follow-up sampling called a Phase II ESA. While this common terminology is not accurate, it does convey a step further in the process of determining whether a dry cleaner has affected a piece of property. The Phase II ESA, also referred to as a “subsurface investigation” or more commonly “site investigation,” typically consists of collecting a series of soil, soil gas, which includes sampling for vapor intrusion, and groundwater samples and sending the samples to a laboratory to determine if dry cleaning operations have impacted the property negatively through environmental contamination.

Phase II ESAs initial soil and groundwater samples are collected at a few locations where the highest likelihood of releases has likely occurred. These samples can be collected by hand using hand-held equipment, or by small to large drilling rigs. The type of equipment used depends on the types of soil and depth of groundwater at the site, and whether the samples are collected from underneath the building or outside. These areas are typically current and former dry cleaning machine locations and/or dry cleaner solvent transfer locations. Once collected, the samples are then sent to a laboratory to determine how much, if any, dry cleaner solvents are present in the soil and groundwater. If impacts are present, additional soil and groundwater samples are collected at more locations until the entire area of soil and groundwater contamination has been determined. This process may take several months. Once the extent of soil and groundwater contamination has been determined with Phase II ESA activities, remediation activities can begin.

HOW MUCH DO PHASE I ESAS AND PHASE II ESAS COST?
While a Phase I ESA costs are generally low and predictable, Phase II ESA costs vary by many factors. Some of these factors are “site specific.” For example, the types of soil and depth to groundwater at the site, the length of dry cleaner operations, and even prior operations will influence the cost of a Phase II ESA. Other factors include the reason for conducting a Phase II ESA. For example, if the dry cleaner is thinking about refinancing, the Phase II ESA may consist of the fairly simple question, “Is my site affecting the environment?” If the desire is to know the costs to reach site closure, the cost of a Phase II will be higher than the first question.

The biggest cost factor associated with a Phase II ESA relates to the experience of the consultant chosen and their attention to the needs for the Phase II. One of the first needs is to consult with the dry cleaner on what the goals are, what the needs could be, and the costs associated with the range of possibilities for an initial Phase II ESA. The dry cleaner needs to understand what will be completed and for what cost, what the potential downsides are, and what makes the most sense for their situation. In order to do that well, your consultant needs to have experience with your business, business and technical savvy to understand the situation, and finally, the sense to know if there are other sources of funding that can eliminate or, at least, ease the cost burden.

Phase I ESA costs generally range from $1,000 to $2,500 while Phase II ESA costs vary as summarized above. Typically, a Phase II ESA can cost anywhere from $5,000 to well over $100,000. Phase II ESA initial sampling activities (to determine if there is a problem) usually cost around $5,000.

The success of the experience is tied to communication of needs and matching effort to the needs. The most important variable under the control of the owner is to pick a qualified, responsive consultant.

No matter your situation, we’re ready to find the best solution for you. Request a quote today.

As seen in Cleaner and Launderer


Stephen Henshaw, Founder at EnviroForensics & PolicyFind  has over 30+ years of experience and holds professional registrations in numerous states. Henshaw serves as a client manager and technical manager on complex projects involving contaminated and derelict properties, creative litigation, deceased landowners, tax liens, non-performing banknotes, resurrecting defunct companies and cost recovery. Henshaw’s expertise includes a comprehensive understanding of past and current industry and waste handling practices and the fate and transport of chlorinated solvents in soil and groundwater. He has served as a testifying expert for plaintiffs and defendants on high profile cases involving causation and timing of releases, contaminant dispersion, allocation, damages, past costs, and closure estimates. He has a strong knowledge of state and federal regulations, insurance law, RCRA, and CERCLA. He has managed several hundred projects including landfills, solvent and petroleum refineries, foundries, metal plating shops, food processors, dry cleaners, wood treating facilities, chemical distribution facilities, aerospace manufacturing facilities, and transporters and provides strategy instrumental in funding projects and moving them to closure.

How Insurance Archeology Can Assist Dry Cleaners When Environmental Contamination Claims Threaten Their Business

LEARN HOW OLD INSURANCE POLICIES CAN BE USED AS FUNDS TO PAY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION, REMEDIATION AND LEGAL COSTS.

old files on shelves found during insurance archeology

BY: STEPHEN HENSHAW & DAVID O’NEILL

Once I met with a dry cleaner who said he had gone to the attic in search of his old business package policies. He explained that he had no idea before visiting an attorney that these old expired insurance policies could be of any use to him. Since they were package policies, they contained multiple lines of insurance. Parts of the policy provided coverage against damage to his building, against break-ins, storm damage and even workers compensation coverage. As far as he knew all of this coverage had long ago expired. Why would he still have copies of these old policies? There was no reason, he thought, that he would want to have kept them. They would have to be in a box or two that he had neglected to put in the dumpster.

LEARNING THE VALUE OF OLD COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY POLICIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUPS

He had been told by his attorney to look for that part of the policy that addressed damage to the property of others. Not damage to others he might do in his delivery van. That was covered under the automobile insurance section of the policy. Rather, it was the part of the policy that covered his customers (the slip and fall coverage) that he was looking for. His attorney had told him that part of the old package policies could provide him the coverage he needed now to address the environmental contamination on his property from perchloroethylene (Perc) spills below ground that had occurred years earlier.

THE IMPACT OF PERC SPILLS WHEN REFINANCING A PROPERTY

It was these Perc spills that apparently had caused all the trouble. The landlord, a strip mall owner, had been refinancing and the bank required that he conduct a simple environmental audit that had included soil sampling. The samples had shown Perc in the soil at his end of the strip mall. The landlord was going to have to clean this up to get his refinancing. The cleanup would be expensive and the dry cleaner was expected to take care of the bill because he was the one who had accidentally put the Perc into the soil over the many years of his operation there. The attorney had assured the dry cleaner that this was indeed legal. The law in his state required that “the polluter” remove the pollution or at least reimburse the landlord if he had to have it done. Up until this time, the dry cleaner had not considered himself a polluter–it was a new role he was going to have to get used to before this nightmare would be over.

UTILIZING OLD CGL POLICIES TO FUND ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP

His attorney had explained that in his state, as in most states, it took policies issued before 1986 to pay for environmental investigations. This was because the later policies contained pollution exclusions that the courts in his state recognized as barring coverage for Perc spills. Paying the landlord’s environmental experts was likely to be too great for the dry cleaner to handle. After years of operating a successful business, he had significant savings, but these ongoing costs could deplete that savings account in no time. He may even need to consider bankruptcy unless he could find those insurance policies issued before 1986, and successfully file claims that would require his insurers to step in and defend him.

Learn more about old CGL policies by visiting Historical Commercial General Liability (CGL) Policies 101

CALLING IN THE INSURANCE ARCHEOLOGIST

Digging around in the attic, he succeeded in finding one collection of old policies, but these policies dated only to the late 1990s. Telephoning the insurance agent identified on the policies, the dry cleaner found that that insurance agency was no longer in business. Despairing, he reported his lack of success to the attorney, prepared to discuss bankruptcy instead of insurance recovery. However, the attorney suggested another option. He suggested that the dry cleaner hire an insurance archeologist to see what insurance might be located elsewhere.

Direct of Investigations at Policyfind David O'Neill conducting insurance archeology in office
Dave O’Neill, JD, Director of Investigations at PolicyFind, reviews historical policies.

Working backward from the earliest insurance policy, the insurance archeologist was able to discover that another insurance agency had purchased the defunct agency’s book of business prior to closing.

Contacting that insurance agency, the archeologist found that old policy files no longer existed, but that the agent would permit him to review his old accounting files. A review of these files identified some premium notices issued to the dry cleaner in 1985. These notices identified the policy numbers, dates and insurance carrier.

The insurance archeologist provided a specimen policy issued by the same insurance carrier to a different dry cleaner in his state from the 1985 policy period. This policy had a pollution exclusion on it but that exclusion, the attorney advised, was not a bar to coverage as long as the Perc releases had not been intentional, and had been “sudden and accidental.”

Using the premium notices and specimen policy together, the dry cleaner’s attorney was able to file a claim with the insurance company. The company stepped in to defend the dry cleaner, paid his attorney fees and paid the landlord’s environmental experts.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

Don’t give up. Get some professional help and look under every rock. Ask your attorney about how insurance archeology can help you locate the records you need to defend against environmental claims.

To find out if you have historical assets, contact us for a Confidential Insurance Archeology® consultation.


As seen in Cleaner and Launderer

Headshot of EnviroForensics CEO Stephen HenshawStephen Henshaw, Founder at EnviroForensics & PolicyFind has over 30+ years of experience and holds professional registrations in numerous states. Henshaw serves as a client manager and technical manager on complex projects involving contaminated and derelict properties, creative litigation, deceased landowners, tax liens, non-performing banknotes, resurrecting defunct companies and cost recovery. Henshaw’s expertise includes a comprehensive understanding of past and current industry and waste handling practices and the fate and transport of chlorinated solvents in soil and groundwater. He has served as a testifying expert for plaintiffs and defendants on high profile cases involving causation and timing of releases, contaminant dispersion, allocation, damages, past costs, and closure estimates. He has a strong knowledge of state and federal regulations, insurance law, RCRA, and CERCLA. He has managed several hundred projects including landfills, solvent and petroleum refineries, foundries, metal plating shops, food processors, dry cleaners, wood treating facilities, chemical distribution facilities, aerospace manufacturing facilities, and transporters and provides strategy instrumental in funding projects and moving them to closure.

Headshot of PolicyFind's Director of Investigations, David O'NeillDavid O’Neill, JD, Director of Investigations at PolicyFind has 30+ years of experience in claims recovery on behalf of corporate policyholders involving environmental property damage and toxic tort and asbestos exposure claims. O’Neill has extensive experience in locating and retrieving insurance coverage evidence on behalf of potentially responsible parties responding to environmental investigation and remediation demands. His former investigative work includes unique matters involving Holocaust victims rights, mergers & acquisitions of a national landfill operator, and on matters involving national archives.

How to Find a Qualified Remediation Contractor

Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 8.48.20 PMBy 2016, more than $14 billion will be spent annually worldwide on cleaning up groundwater pollution, according to Site Remediation World Markets, a database published by the McIlvaine Company.

In U.S. metropolitan areas, that money is often spent to remediate property beneath dry cleaners, gas stations and other businesses. And, yes, parking lots are included because oil drippings and water runoff often contaminate groundwater beneath them.

So, what’s lurking under these sites? Nasty stuff such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oil, gasoline and metals including arsenic, chromium, lead, zinc, nickel, and cadmium. Bacteria may also complete this unappetizing stew.

What does $14 billion buy? If applied by professionals, the money pays for reliable technologies including thermal, biological, chemical and physical remediation.

The result should be cleaner property that may continue to be used for commercial activity or be listed for sale.

In thinking about these possibilities, you may already be sensing a bigger drain on your company’s budget.

Here’s the problem: you may not know about groundwater pollution hiding under your property until a neighbor complains or you are cited by a local or state authority. And then it will be up to you to locate the problem and deal with it; or prove you are not the source.

Of course it’s best to plan ahead and remove any problem before you are cited or want to sell the property. But, either way, you need to find a qualified remediation contractor. Cleanup is never inexpensive — and be wary if it is — but your best shot at reducing or eliminating groundwater pollution and guarding yourself against further liability (for environmental damage or health issues arising for workers on your site) is to work with a qualified contractor.

Asking key questions of any potential contractors will help you evaluate who is best for your remediation job.

These questions should include:

  1. What type of remedial work has the company conquered (VOCs, metals, other chemicals of concern)?
  2. Have they actually implemented groundwater remedial efforts successfully, rather than simply designed and implemented failing approaches?
  3. How many regulatory closures have they procured on behalf of their clients? (Note: “closure” is a regulatory term. It means that the property requires no further remedial action and — with continued monitoring — may be made available for commercial activity or put up for sale.)
  4. In how many states has the chosen remedial technology been accepted or denied by state and local regulatory agencies, or by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency?
  5. Do they have any references of work or prior scenarios they are willing to share?
  6. How long have they been in the business?
  7. What are their core values/would you feel comfortable taking on a business relationship with them?
  8. Can the contractor help you locate and execute old insurance policies that may help pay remediation costs?

These are basic questions that should help you dig for the truth. If you get good answers, you may be confident that you are hiring a responsible and qualified team and avoiding opportunistic and unprofessional carpetbaggers.


About the Author

Steve Henshaw, P.G.
President & CEO
866-888-7911
shenshaw@enviroforensics.com

 

Steve Henshaw is certified as a professional geologist in several states and is President and CEO of Enviroforensics, an Indianapolis-based environmental engineering firm.

As President and CEO of EnviroForensics, Mr. Henshaw serves as a client and technical manager on projects associated with site characterization, remedial design, remedial implementation and operation, litigation support and insurance coverage matters. He has acted as Project Manager or Client Manager on several hundred projects, involving dry cleaners, manufacturers, landfills, refineries, foundries, metal plating shops, food processors, wood treating facilities, chemical blenders, and transportation facilities.

Mr. Henshaw has built a leading edge environmental engineering company that specializes in finding the funding to pay for environmental liabilities. By combining responsible party searches with insurance archeology investigations, EnviroForensics has been successful at remediating and closing sites for property owners and small business owners across the country, with minimal capital outlay from clients.

He is a regular contributing writer for several dry cleaning trade publications on environmental and regulatory issues and remains active with dry cleaning associations by providing insight on changes in law and policy.

Mercury Cleaners Are Environmental Stewards

Mercury CleanersMercury Cleaner chose to be environmental stewards and participate in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) in an effort to clean up the environment.

Brett Dygert says, “With EnviroForensics help they were able to not only get the clean up started, but found the money to pay for it to let me stay in business.”

To accomplish environmental remediation (“cleanup” of contaminants in the ground), businesses work with geologists, scientists and engineers to characterize the extent of contamination so that the appropriate amount of remediation can be designed and implemented. Sometimes the removal of impacted material off-site is the best management practice. Other times remediation can be accomplished through an in-situ (in-place) remediation technology, which often leaves a smaller carbon footprint.

Stewarding the environment can protect our resources, and provide an improved and sustainable quality of life for communities.

To accomplish environmental remediation, businesses work with geologists, scientists and engineers to design an in-situ (in-place) remediation system that will clean the soil and groundwater in the area of the property. A simple graphic of the Soil Vapor Extraction system for your reference.

How It Works: The Soil Vapor Extraction “sparging” system shown on the infograph will inject compressed air approximately 45 feet into the ground to treat groundwater and remove the soil impacts with a heavy duty industrial vacuum (called Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE)). This method of treatment effectively cleans up the environment (soil, groundwater and air), reduces potential waste to landfills, and minimizes associated local concerns.


EnviroForensics is an environmental engineering firm specializing in soil and groundwater investigation and remediation and vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation. EnviroForensics® is the leading environmental engineering company in the country addressing environmental liabilities and finding funding by locating and bringing to your defense old insurance policies. EnviroForensics® has pioneered and perfected the utilization of Comprehensive General Liability insurance policies as a resource to pay for the high costs associated with soil and groundwater investigations, remediations, and legal defense.

Winterize Remedial Systems to Protect Project Objectives

snowy-winter-pine-tree-branches-snow-free-stock-photoGone are long, sunburned work days in the field. They have been mercilessly, cruelly replaced by short and grey days of shivering in insulated overalls while coaxing a few more readings from a dying PID’s dimly lit screen. Site-specific Health & Safety Plans no longer warn of dangers associated with heat stroke and wasp nests; but rather, frostbite, hypothermia and slick ice. Remediation system trailers have become refuge from the cold…places to steal periodic warmth from motorized equipment as it whines and screams to keep it for itself.

Winter-time O&M visits are many times fraught with troubles directly associated with seasonally cold temperatures, which threaten to shut our systems down. Although we are not unaccustomed to handling system down-time due to mechanical fault, the problem in winter becomes a matter of restarting. Most commonly, water recovery tanks freeze solid. Special design and O&M considerations are often called for in colder climate regions where winter temperatures average below freezing. The degree to which these measures are necessary is dependent upon the winter severity in the region where the system is required to function. For example, in mid-latitude North American states such as Kentucky or Tennessee, nighttime freezing temperatures are common during winter months, but average daytime temperatures may hover near or above freezing. In these types of areas, a layer of insulation in the system building or trailer walls may be necessary. Coupled with warmth emanating from operating remediation equipment, this is enough to ensure operable temperatures. In more northern areas, auxiliary heaters will be necessary. In extreme cold areas, remediation system are many times shut down entirely for winter to avoid the losing battle of keeping systems up and running.

There are other measures that can be taken to help make wintertime O&M visits a bit less miserable:

  1. Make sure that you know exactly where system wells are located. Drive a stake or flag or collect precise GPS coordinates to make sure that you can find them once snow falls.
  2. Replace gaskets in well vaults before winter sets in to help keep water out that will be solid blocks of ice when you return on a bitter cold day.
  3. System well vaults that are located in parking lots or streets will likely be repeatedly subject to snow plow blades. Make sure that well pads and vaults are in good condition with no vertical lips or protrusions that may catch the edge of a snow plow blade. There are ways of installing well pads that can help with this. Most cold-weather drillers know how.
  4. System equipment itself should be maintained more frequently during winter to keep bearing grease fresh, filters clear and pump diaphragms in good shape. Malfunctions in this equipment will be the end of your remediation season.

It is common that remediation work is performed by consultants or contractors based on an assumption that contaminant mass removal will continue non-stop during seasonal changes. Any interruptions to that may mean significantly extended remediation time-frames and budgetary repercussions. The cold, harsh reality is that winter is here and remediation systems need to be prepared. Focus, however, on the warmth of the cup of coffee that you will be offered you as you are congratulated on reaching remedial objectives on time and on budget.


About the author:
mainjeffEnvironmental Expert

Jeff Carnahan, L.P.G.
866-888-7911
jcarnahan@enviroforensics.com

Jeffrey Carnahan is a Vice President and the Director of Technical Services at EnviroForensics, Mr. Carnahan holds a M.S. in Geology and is a Licensed Professional Geologist (LPG) with 17 years of environmental consulting and remediation experience.  Mr. Carnahan’s expertise has focused on the investigation and interpretation of subsurface releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of evaluating and controlling the risk and cost implications to his clients.  While managing sites ranging in size from retail gas stations and dry cleaners to large manufacturing facilities, Mr. Carnahan has amassed extensive experience working with releases of chlorinated solvents within voluntary and enforcement cleanup programs for various State agencies and the U.S. EPA.  In his role as Director of Technical Services, Mr. Carnahan leads, supports and encourages the entire EnviroForensics team of experts as they guide their clients through the process of turning environmental liabilities to assets.


EnviroForensics is an environmental engineering firm specializing in soil and groundwater investigation and remediation and vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation. EnviroForensics has all have the tools available to us to perform the highest caliber science in the market today, which allows designing and implementing clever, innovative and effective solutions to PCE and TCE contamination. EnviroForensics® has pioneered and perfected the utilization of Comprehensive General Liability insurance policies as a resource to pay for the high costs associated with soil and groundwater investigations, remediations, and legal defense. 

6 Necessary Steps to Securing A Thorough Environmental Site Investigation

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO ENSURE LIABILITIES AND RISKS ARE PROPERLY EVALUATED AND ADDRESSED.

Several reasons may prompt the need for conducting environmental site investigations. Sale or refinancing of a property/business will require a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). These ESAs recommend further evaluation of recognized environmental conditions (RECs) to determine potential risks and liabilities. This can be very costly and reveal the obligation for even costlier remediation. Sudden and accidental releases of chemicals from industrial facilities such as machine shops, dry cleaners, plating operations, or many other industrial operations can also bring regulatory notice for action.

The investigation of environmental conditions is critical and therefore needs to be conducted methodically and thoroughly so that liabilities and risks are properly evaluated and mitigated. Without this there can be significant financial exposure for property owners and potential health risks for occupants of neighboring commercial and residential neighboring properties. Here are the necessary steps to securing a thorough investigation of environmental conditions.

6 STEPS TO SECURING A THOROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL SITE INVESTIGATION

1. Review Your History and Your Surrounding Properties
Review of former business uses at your Site, along with past and current operational areas. This will help determine where chemicals of concern may have been used. This is important not only for your property but for properties near you that may impact your property.

2. Line up Your Defense
Defense wins championships, so start building your team. Gather all information you have on insurance assets (quotes, policies-new and old, checks, letters, bills, etc.). Organize a file of agency inspections and correspondence that may have occurred. Hire a qualified environmental consultant and seek counsel from an experienced environmental defense attorney. Continue to keep up with the regulatory reporting requirements with each step conducted below.

Learn how we can help you uncover funds to offset environmental costs through insurance archeology

3. Build a Conceptual Site Model (CSM)
This is an ongoing process that depicts characteristics of a site (largely environmental conditions of soil, groundwater and soil gas) and the processes by which contaminants may move from source areas to receptors. With each step of investigation and remediation, this CSM is tested, proven and/or refined.

4. Define Nature and Extent
Through a combination of strategic testing of soil, groundwater and soil gas, the CSM is refined by assessing Site Conditions physically and chemically to understand what contaminants are present in those media. This process is referred to as defining the nature (what chemicals and how concentrated) and extent (migratory pathways and distribution) of contamination.

5. Evaluate Risks
Regulating Agencies provide guidance on what are unacceptable concentrations for chemicals, evaluated under specific exposure scenarios. This is where expert interpretation is necessary to evaluate potential risks the contaminants present to exposed or potentially exposed populations. The continuum of exposure pathway to receptor is a key concept to identify where unacceptable risks (e.g. harm to human health and the environment) exist.

6. Remediate Appropriately
Conducting the first five points thoroughly will help in the determination and design of the most appropriate method of remediation. If there are (or will be in the future) completed pathways of exposure, those pathways need to be eliminated.  This is often most productively done by removing the source (or sources) of contamination to both a manageable size and level, such that remaining exposure pathways to receptors are at acceptable risks levels.

Learn more about our site investigation and remediation services.

EnviroForensics Mitigates Dry Cleaner Pollution for Wisconsin Based Company

Neon thank you signTeamwork by Klinke Cleaners, Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin environmental consultants Enviroforensics keys successful dry cleaner cleanup

The success of Enviroforensics’ cleanup of a busy Wisconsin dry cleaning site may be summed up in one word: teamwork. In this case, a three-pronged project involving Klinke Cleaners — a familiar business in southern Wisconsin — the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Enviroforensics, Inc.

Enviroforensics’ team of environmental experts cleaned decades-old pollution from under Klinke Drycleaners on University Avenue near the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison. For several weeks, workers drilled for soil samples, captured vapor samples (including from two area homes) and installed a vapor mitigation system under the building. All this was done without disrupting Klinke workers and customers and those of other nearby businesses.

“We hardly noticed,” says Katrina Sprang, manager of Ancora Coffee, a cafe sharing Klinke’s building.

The pollution is no longer a danger to the environment, and it will not return thanks to continued monitoring and Klinke’s conversion to modern drycleaning solvents. Remediating the site is a triumph of forward-thinking technology developed over the years by Enviroforensics.

The project started when the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources cited Klinke Cleaners, asking the company to examine the ground beneath its University Avenue store in Madison.

As a leading small business owner, Rich Klinke keeps abreast of his company’s 21 stores and their impact on its communities. He also monitors the changing state and federal regulations affecting drycleaners. He is a board member of the Wisconsin Fabricare Institute (and president in 2007-2008) and is a former president and board member of the Wisconsin DNR Drycleaners Environmental Response Fund (DERF). Klinke was ready when the WDNR made its request. He called Enviroforensics to find and root out the pollution.

Registered geologists Wayne Fassbender and Brian Kappen of Enviroforensics’ Waukesha office headed the Enviroforensics team. Fassbender points out that residue of old drycleaning solvents — such as PERC (Perchloroethylene) — is a known pollutant. Many drycleaners — including Klinke — are switching to more environmentally-friendly solvents, including DF-2000. The willingness and resources to remove old pollutants varies from company to company.

“Rich Klinke was ready and willing to tackle the problem,” says Fassbender. “The challenge was to remove the threat of vapor intrusion into the dry cleaners and, in one case, an adjoining coffee shop/cafe, and also remove the threat to groundwater.”

As the soil and vapor sampling progressed, contamination was found in soil beneath the building Klinke owns on University Avenue. The impacts were significant enough that vapors were accumulating beneath the building slab in amounts exceeding WDNR screening levels. Luckily, the soil contamination did not migrate to the groundwater table.

Enviroforensics enlisted help from an expert mitigation contractor, Vapor Protection Services (VPS) to address the vapor intrusion concerns. A sub-slab depressurization system (SSDS) was installed to mitigate sub-slab vapor concentrations and protect the building’s occupants from exposure to indoor air contaminants via vapor intrusion. Fassbender says the system includes a “slotted piping below the slab — in a gravel bed — to collect vapor. The vapor is pulled up above the roof line (by a fan) and vented out. A monitoring device is installed; the slab is under negative pressure to collect vapor in the below-slab system.”

The WDNR approved Klinke Cleaners for a DERF grant to begin the work. It issued a site closure for the University Avenue location in September of 2014. “Site closure” is a regulatory term indicating that no further environmental remediation is needed. The only condition to closure is to maintain and operate the SSDS until such time as the risk of vapor intrusion is no longer present.

Ask the geologists:


Wayne Fassbender, P.G., P.M.P.
Senior Project Manager
866-888-7911
wfassbender@enviroforensics.com

 

brian
Brian J. Kappen, P.G.
Project Manager
866-888-7911
bkappen@enviroforensics.com

 

 

 


Klinke Cleaners LogoThe headquarters building of Klinke Cleaners is located at the site of the Klinke family’s first business — Klinke Hatcheries — that Maurice and Trudy Klinke opened in the 1930s. The Klinkes pioneered coin-op laundries and self-serve drycleaners in the 1950s and 60’s, and opened their first full-service drycleaners in Madison in 1969. Now, the third generation of the Klinke family operates 21 drycleaning locations in greater Madison and Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources inspects and supervises cleanup of pollution sites relating to small businesses. Its Small Business Environmental Assistance Program helps businesses deal with federal and state regulations. The Drycleaners Environmental Response Fund (DERF) is targeted to assist drycleaners with the expense of remediating soil and groundwater pollution.

Enviroforensics investigates and cleans soil, groundwater pollution and assesses and removes harmful vapors that may intrude into commercial workspaces. Its affiliate company, PolicyFind, Inc., locates old insurance policies that may help business owners pay for extensive pollution abatement and control. Enviroforensics is based in Indianapolis and handles projects in Wisconsin through the company’s Waukesha office.

Visualization of Subsurface Impacts Is Key to Designing An Effective Remediation Solution

Successful environmental cleanup projects are a result of thorough and well developed understanding of the distribution of impacts. A good investigation strategy is designed to provide a higher density of data, thereby avoiding confusing data gaps. Fewer investigation data points can lead to misinterpretations of subsurface plume geometry, a miscalculation of contaminant fate and transport mechanisms and timing, and an underestimation of costs to remediate the impacts. It’s important to promote the implementation of thorough investigations that incorporate a greater amount of subsurface soil and groundwater screening data at early project phases, which avoid the “blinders” that can sometimes result from an improperly designed or incomplete well network. To know how to clean it up, you have to know exactly where all of the impacts lie in the subsurface. Experienced environmental consultants at complex PCE and TCE chlorinated solvent contamination sites, like dry cleaners, know that a small increase in early costs to support a better investigation plan will pay off exponentially during the subsequent cleanup phase.

Key strategies to enhance the environmental process:

  1. Promote a higher data density derived from grab sampling methods during investigation to yield a more precise understanding of contaminant distribution, thereby allowing the installation of permanent wells after we already know where the impacts are located.
  2. Implement 2D fate and transport models early on to get a rough idea of the downgradient extent of impacts as you scope groundwater investigative phases.
  3.  Employ the use of state of the art 2D or 3D visualization tools to not only help identify data gaps and plan for next phases; but also to create accurate graphic depictions for reports to help explain the conceptual site model to your clients and regulators.
  4. Collect key hydrogeological and geochemical parameters from the subsurface early on, which can be input to groundwater modeling tools if larger-scale plumes are under study.

for Liz with Legend

 


About the author:
mainjeffEnvironmental Expert

Jeff Carnahan, L.P.G.
866-888-7911
jcarnahan@enviroforensics.com

Jeffrey Carnahan is a Vice President and the Director of Technical Services at EnviroForensics, Mr. Carnahan holds a M.S. in Geology and is a Licensed Professional Geologist (LPG) with 17 years of environmental consulting and remediation experience.  Mr. Carnahan’s expertise has focused on the investigation and interpretation of subsurface releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of evaluating and controlling the risk and cost implications to his clients.  While managing sites ranging in size from retail gas stations and dry cleaners to large manufacturing facilities, Mr. Carnahan has amassed extensive experience working with releases of chlorinated solvents within voluntary and enforcement cleanup programs for various State agencies and the U.S. EPA.  In his role as Director of Technical Services, Mr. Carnahan leads, supports and encourages the entire EnviroForensics team of experts as they guide their clients through the process of turning environmental liabilities to assets.


EnviroForensics is an environmental engineering firm specializing in soil and groundwater investigation and remediation and vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation. EnviroForensics has all have the tools available to us to perform the highest caliber science in the market today, which allows designing and implementing clever, innovative and effective solutions to PCE and TCE contamination. EnviroForensics® has pioneered and perfected the utilization of Comprehensive General Liability insurance policies as a resource to pay for the high costs associated with soil and groundwater investigations, remediations, and legal defense. 

Groundwater Remediation to Exceed $14 billion in 2015

8HIn 2015, over $14 billion is projected by analysts to be spent worldwide to remove metals, VOCs and other contaminants from groundwater. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major component of the chemicals of concern and are present in over 2/3 of all superfund, EPA Resource Recovery Act and Department of Defense sites. Besides VOCs, metals, including: arsenic, chromium, lead, zinc, nickel, and cadmium are also a leading chemical concern in groundwater. Groundwater remediation is a way to clean-up these once spilled chemicals using a variety of techniques, including: thermal, biological, chemical, and physical technologies.

The United States is said to be the world leader for groundwater remediation and is expected to be the largest global market in 2015 and beyond. With this groundwater remediation market growth, it can be expected that some unqualified companies will look to capitalize. It is important for those looking to hire qualified experts to choose the right company for their particular problem. It will be even more important in the future to ask some key questions when evaluating potential groundwater remediation experts, whether it is an environmental consultanting firm to engineer the remediation, a vendor to perform subcontracted remedial activities, or the developer of a new remedial technology.

These questions should include…

  1. What type of remedial work has the company conquered (VOCs, metals, other chemicals of concern)?
  2. Have they actually implemented groundwater remedial efforts successfully, rather than simply designed and implemented failing approaches?
  3. How many regulatory closures have they procured on behalf of their clients?
  4. In how many states has the chosen remedial technology been accepted or denied by regulatory agencies, or by the US EPA?
  5. Do they have any references of work or prior scenarios they are willing to share?
  6. How long have they been in the business?
  7. What are their core values/would you feel comfortable taking on a business relationship with them?

By performing appropriate due diligence through asking a few small questions, those parties responsible for performing and paying for groundwater remediation can be confident that they are hiring a responsible and qualified team and avoiding opportunistic and unprofessional carpetbaggers.


About the authors:
mainjeffVP of Technical Services at EnviroForensics and Vapor Intrusion Expert

Jeff Carnahan, L.P.G.
866-888-7911
jcarnahan@enviroforensics.com

Jeffrey Carnahan is a Vice President and the Director of Technical Services at EnviroForensics. Jeff holds a M.S. in Geology and is a Licensed Professional Geologist (LPG) with 17 years of environmental consulting and remediation experience.  Mr. Carnahan’s expertise has focused on the investigation and interpretation of subsurface releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of evaluating and controlling the risk and cost implications to his clients.  While managing sites ranging in size from retail gas stations and dry cleaners to large manufacturing facilities, Jeff has amassed extensive experience working with releases of chlorinated solvents within voluntary and enforcement cleanup programs for various State agencies and the U.S. EPA.  In his role as Director of Technical Services, Jeff leads, supports and encourages the entire EnviroForensics team of experts as they guide their clients through the process of turning environmental liabilities to assets.

micheleStaff Geologist

Michele Murday
866-888-7911
mmurday@enviroforensics.com

Michele Murday is a staff geologist at EnviroForensics. Michele has performed project tasks such as extensive site investigation, delineation studies, and remediation at dry cleaner/chlorinated solvent facilities using traditional methodology in Indiana; correspondence with clients, project managers, and regulators; and preparation of technical reports. Michele has performed multiple Phase I and Phase II investigations, where she conducted Geoprobe® soil sampling and groundwater investigations and historical property research for property transactions. Michele’s activities included, developing site health and safety plans, gauging groundwater levels, utilizing survey equipment to determine on-site groundwater flow, determining soil and groundwater sampling locations, determining constituents to be analyzed based on information discovered during research and on-site observation, lithologically classifying soils, collecting soil and groundwater samples, installed groundwater monitoring wells, and completion of a soil and groundwater sampling report. Michele holds her Bachelor of Science in Geology, is OSHA certified, has Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training and is a member of Indiana Association of Environmental Professionals.


EnviroForensics is an environmental engineering firm specializing in soil and groundwater investigation and remediation and vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation. EnviroForensics® is the leading environmental engineering company in the country addressing environmental liabilities and finding funding by locating and bringing to your defense old insurance policies. EnviroForensics® has pioneered and perfected the utilization of Comprehensive General Liability insurance policies as a resource to pay for the high costs associated with soil and groundwater investigations, remediations, and legal defense.

Out with the Old, In with the New: EPA Drops 2005 ASTM Standard from AAI Rule

EPA LogoThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has amended the standards and practices for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) for satisfying All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) under CERCLA. The final rule, published October 6, 2014, officially removed the reference to the previously accepted ASTM E1527-05, making ASTM E1527-13 the acceptable standard for completing Phase I ESAs. The new rule will become effective October 6, 2015.

Consultants, landowners, and prospective purchasers have been walking the confusing line of using both ASTM E1527-05 and ASTM E1527-13 to satisfy AAI since the EPA adopted a new rule in December 2013, which allowed for the use of either standard to satisfy AAI. The effective date of the recent amendment to no longer allow the use of the 2005 standard gives interested parties one (1) year to make the transition to exclusive use of the 2013 standard.

The primary differences between E1527-05 and E1527-13 are:

  1. The 2013 standard specifically identifies vapor migration as a type of release and potential source of impact to the subsurface, making vapor migration a potential recognized environmental condition.
  2. The 2013 standard clarifies definitions within the 2005 standards and adds new definitions, revising the potential scope of assessment. Notably, the term “Controlled Recognized Environmental Condition” was added to include past releases that have satisfied regulatory requirements, but left contaminants in place, such as the use of an Environmental Restrictive Covenant (ERC).
  3. The 2013 standard requires a more extensive regulatory file review for the site and surrounding properties.

The Final Rule is published in the Federal Register.


About the Author

Project Manager and Due Diligence Expert

Midwest, East Coast & South East
Darci Thomas, L.P.G.
866.888.7911
dthomas@enviroforensics.com

Darci Thomas has over 16 years of experience in environmental management, geologic studies, and associated fields. Darci has focused her career on working closely with stakeholders in real estate transactions to manage environmental risk and liability during due diligence activities. She is proficient in field activity management from soil and groundwater sampling events to well installation, site investigation activities, indoor air quality monitoring, and building investigations for lead based paint, asbestos, and microbial contamination. Darci works hard to provide aggressive and innovative solutions. Contact Darci Thomas for more information on  Environmental Due Diligence.


EnviroForensics is an environmental engineering firm specializing in soil and groundwater investigation and remediation and vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation. EnviroForensics® is the leading environmental engineering company in the country addressing environmental liabilities and finding funding by locating and bringing to your defense old insurance policies. EnviroForensics® has pioneered and perfected the utilization of Comprehensive General Liability insurance policies as a resource to pay for the high costs associated with soil and groundwater investigations, remediations, and legal defense.